Holiday Nail Trends 2011 – Nail the Perfect Holiday Look

Nicole    Nail Polish, Nails, Style

‘Tis the season for holiday parties.  Your holiday look can be fabulous with the right accessories and makeup, but a gorgeous nail color will really tie it all together. Check out the below guideline from Nail expert and Creative Director of Pretty Woman USA (www.prettywomanusa.com) Aija Vilemsonne, and be sure to nail your holiday look at your next event!

All that Glitters

Nail art, though fashionable, may not be appropriate for your annual holiday office party. Since you are steering clear of patterned nail art to make a statement, experiment with sparkle. Perfect for the holiday season, a gold or silver glitter polish makes a statement without being too loud. Glitter polish goes great with black, darker colors and even basic colorful and patterned outfits. Sparkle and stand out in the crowd.  If you prefer to steer clear of glitter, try metallic colors for the same effect. Wearing a basic nude dress? Try a navy metallic polish.

Go bold

For those planning to wear black and darker colors, splash on two coats of red polish to play up your holiday look. With a plethora of shades at your disposal, you can play up your LBD and suit your personal style. Feeling hot?  Opt for a fire engine red. Want to play it safe? Go with a copper or burgundy polish.  It doesn’t end at red. If you would like to opt for a different shade, Aija recommends a shade of violet, a great color this season for a similar effect.

Neutrals and Pastels

You can’t go wrong with neutrals. This universal look is very easy to wear with any outfit. If you are wearing a heavily embellished or colorful patterned outfit, stick to the basic neutrals. A basic color will better suit your overall look.  If you plan to wear a basic color, for instance a dark purple, add some flair and go with a festive pastel mint green polish. Pastels, though neutral, compliment and transform a basic look into a fun, appropriate holiday party look.

For more nail tips and trends, visit www.PrettyWomanUSA.com.

What do you think of these tips?  Add yours in the comments below!

Fall 2011 Nail Color Trends – Tips from Aija Vilemsonne

Nicole    Fashion, Nail Polish, Nails, Style

Each year, fashionistas around the world eagerly await the trends that will grace the runways of New York Fashion Week. From head to toe, we take note as the industry’s top designers tell us what will be stylish for the coming season. Nails are no exception to this rule. Just like the other elements of a show, the nails of the models tell a story and offer a defined point of view. Creative Director of Pretty Woman USA, Aija Vilemsonne, offers her take on the forecasted nail trends for Fashion Week 2011, and gives advice on what skin tones look best with what colors, so that you can make an impact while keeping up with fashion’s elite.

A Note on Skin Tone

Knowing your skin tone is essential to maximizing your look, from clothing to makeup. Armed with this knowledge, we are able to make subtle changes to enhance our best features. Most of us are familiar with the old adage that skin tone can be defined in terms of seasons. Here, Aija provides a quick refresher course for determining your skin tone:

• Winter skin tones range from pale, to olive, to dark. Undertones are typically blue or pink, with dark eyes and hair.
• Spring complexions are pale, with pinkish or bluish undertones. Spring skin tones are often blondes, or brunettes with light eyes.
• Autumn skin tones have golden undertones. Most women who have autumn skin are red-heads or brunettes with brown eyes.
• Summer complexions have golden undertones, with peachy skin. It’s common to see straw-colored or red hair with light eyes.

Now, onto the trends!

Still Got the Blues

As more and more celebrities show off their “blue crushes” with everything from navy to sky blue, and fashion’s top designers crank out denim-themed collections, it’s become apparent to the beauty world that these hues are full steam ahead for fall. Aija cautions, “Choosing the right blue for your skin tone can be tricky; not every blue is flattering for every individual.”

• Winter: Go for high-impact colors like a deep navy or an icy-tinged pastel for the most flattering look.
• Spring: Stick to something defined like bright navy or a light whitish-blue to help make nails more striking.
• Autumn: With golden undertones, blue isn’t your most flattering color. Understated is the name of the game.
• Summer: Go with a soft blue pastel for maximum impact against your peachy skin. Go bold: you can afford it.

Shine On

It appears that the fashion industry wants you to keep on blinging: fall metallics have hit the stores with a vengeance. It’s become clear that it doesn’t really matter which shade you decide on, because if it’s metallic, it’s in. In that case, Aija suggests taking advantage of the fact that this trend is colorless: “You can customize the trend to work for you.”

• Winter: This is your chance to go bright! Whether an orange-red or shocking pink, take the plunge.
• Spring: Avoid dark colors and embrace something soft in the lavender or rose-brown category.
• Autumn: Go with gold or a color that has golden flecks. Orange and brown work best.
• Summer: From lavender to plum, the purple family is the way to go to maximize your look.

Go Nude

Nude nails can be difficult. Finding the right hue can be challenging, and though you’ll generally reach for a color that’s closest to your skin tone, even if something seems perfect, it might clash with your skin once it’s applied. Aija explains, “Here, you should focus on your own undertones and those of the color you choose.”

• Winter: Subdued tones are not your most flattering, but sticking close to your skin tone will help.
• Spring: Go with a camel or a peachy color. Also, zero in on the brown family to complement your complexion.
• Autumn: Golden undertones are the name of the game. Particularly, beige and camel will work well.
• Summer: No matter what shade you decide, stick true to your skin’s undertones. Go with a rose-tinged nude.

“The most important thing to remember about nails is to have fun with it. Make mistakes, test out new colors, and see what you think works best for you,” says Aija. After having read these tips, you’re already ahead of the pack!

For more tips on nail care and trends, or more from Aija Vilemsonne, visit Pretty Woman USA at www.prettywomanusa.com.

Alternative Wedding Trends for 2011 – Unique Wedding Style

Nicole    Style

Weddings expert Cara Davis,  the author of Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot, has shared with me these awesome alternative wedding trends of this year.  Are you planning an alternative wedding, or just want to incorporate some unique styles into your ceremony?  Check out the ideas below:

1. Mini Wedding Dresses
Whether it’s glammed up, vintage or breezy casual, knee-length wedding dresses are more practical and more personalized for today’s bride. As more stores roll out wedding boutiques like J.Crew and White House Black Market, brides can pick up a wedding dress from their favorite retail store. And let’s not forget that for some, that’s Etsy, where they can pick up a custom hand-made gown for as little as $40.

2. Fun with Color
From black accents to bold color blocks, color is king this year. And it’s not limited to the bride. Non-matching bridesmaids are coordinating in patterns or complementary color combinations like this crafty DIY wedding of mega-blogger Elsie Larson. In addition to bold color palettes, shades of gray and stripes continue to be big color trend for the year.

3. Alternative Gift Registries
Many couples are registering for gifts that will help them in a practical way. Travel agencies are starting to offer honeymoon gift certificates and some auto dealers are offering gift certificates toward the purchase of a new vehicle. CardAvenue.com allows couples to create a gift card registry for national retailers. Couples can get creative as they want: they can request gift cards to home improvement stores to offset costs of home renovation, or register for local restaurants so they can continue dating as newlyweds on a budget.

4. Punchy Personalization
While the structure of the wedding remains the same (you’ve got a bride and groom, an officiant, a group of family and friends, a ceremony and reception) the look is anything but. The time may be different (think brunch), the seating may be smarter (seated at tables & staying put for reception), the furniture may be funky (varying size and shape or non-traditional choices), and forget the wedding favors, today’s couples are giving personalized takeaways, like souvenir photo booth picture strips.

5. Eco-friendly Finds
Outdoor spaces, reclaimed furniture, flea market finds and even wooden rings are helping eco-conscious brides and grooms celebrate in a big way without the environmental impact. Green weddings can feature locally grown food and seed-lined wedding invitations that can be planted.

CarbonFund and Terrapass offer wedding carbon footprint calculators, where air travel is most likely to be the big offender. Couples can purchase carbon offsets to lessen the impact, or request contributions as gifts.

6. The Rustic South
There’s been a rise in rustic weddings in the past several years and it mirrors a growing hunger in popular culture for all things Southern (think The Civil Wars, J.Crew fashion, artisan jeans, home-brewed beer). Today’s vintage and rustic weddings are all about embracing simplicity and infusing new life into old things. From location (barns or old warehouses) to furniture & decor (antiques and flea market favorites) to apparel (vintage clothes and even broach bouquets), many couples are going for the nostalgic feel of the old South.

7. Cultural Cues
Couples looking to add levity to their big day are incorporating pop culture trends. Food cart fare is showing up in pre-wedding cocktail hour and the after-party. Culturally significant themes like retro Asian flavors and ethnic icons like sushi, ninjas, geisha girls and Chinese lanterns are being used in inventive ways. Vintage board games are showing up as Monopoly pieces in bouquets and Scrabble letter tiles as signs for the buffet.

8. Death of the Wedding Cake
The exorbitant cost of traditional tiered wedding cakes have given way to nontraditional desserts like square mini-cakes and cupcake tiers or a dessert buffet that might feature pies, macaroons, Whoopie Pies, cake pops, color-coordinated candy and even ice cream sundae stations or cookies and milk bars.

Personally, I love the idea of a tiered cupcake display instead of a cake and creative personalized items for a wedding.  What do you think of these tips?  Add yours in the comments below!

Trendy Glasses – Iconic Celebrity Eye Glasses in Pop Culture

Nicole    Fashion, glasses, Shopping, Style, Summer

For years, celebrities who wear glasses have been setting eyeglass trends with funky and original styles.   According to CoastalContacts.com, eyewear styles like these are seeing an increase in sales due to pop culture trends:

• Wire-Rimmed Eyeglass Frames: Harry Potter, John Lennon and Rainn Wilson from “The Office”
• Signature Eyeglass Frames: Tina Fey, Lisa Loeb and Sarah Palin
• Ray Ban Styles: “The Revenge of the Nerds”

Remember when Paris Hilton started sporting huge sunglasses a few years back?  I don’t know a single girl that didn’t follow that trend!  Do you follow an eyeglass trend, or stick more with what fits your own personal style?  Let me know what kind of glasses you wear in the comments below!

Faux Fur for Winter – Trashy or Trendy?

Nicole    Fashion

I am intrigued by the current resurgence of faux fur jackets.  I think I like the trend, but not all forms of it.  I’m not exactly an animal activist, but I like that the newer forms of faux fur feel more realistic and are softer and more luxurious than the fake styles of yesteryear.  In fact, some faux styles feel better than the real deal.

From left to right:

• Laundry by Shelli Segal Black Acrylic Faux Fur hooded skirted coat, $279.
• Bebe Faux Fur Snap Capelet, $139.
• Fred Flare Faux Fur Leopard Gigi coat, $78.

What do you think of this style endeavor?  Would you wear faux fur?

Winter Manicure Trends: Deep, Metallic Nail Polish For All!

Nicole    Nail Polish, Nails

Young celebrities like Blake Lively, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato are pairing their skinny jeans with bright nail hues for a rocker edge. Others are trailing to shades of gray, nude and mauve. However, it seems that the hottest and most overpowering trend in nail polish this season is dark, yet gleaming metallics in every shade from merlot to pewter.

You don’t have to be a ‘tween or twenty-something to sport chic, dark nails. Check out the deep metallic navy hue on Sarah Michelle Gellar (left)!

So, how can you transition metallic nails to the workplace? Want to wear a gray or blue shadow without being too goth? Follow these tips for stylish nails that will sparkle all season:

• For a fun, casual look, try shimmery violet nails in a color like Nicole by OPI Virtuous Violet, $7.

• Avoid the “over trendy” style and choose a metallic in a “safe” shade of plum, burgundy, or wine. A good staple is Nicole by OPI Star of the Party, $7.
• Go all out! It is just nail polish after all. Try a shade like Caviar Dreams by Laura Mercier, $15. to really embrace the metallic trend! Just keep ‘em classy by filing nails to a square or sq-oval shape and, of course, not too long!