Throwback Thursday - Neon Stripes

Hey everyone! It's almost the end of the week, just one more final hurdle and we'll have reached the weekend. I've got lots of birthdays this weekend (sister, mum and grandma), and it's fathers day too, so not only am I busy, I'm also poor! It'll be nice to have a meal with the family though, and eat cake. Diets have to go out of the window when there are so many birthdays to celebrate. Anyway, it's been a while since I did a Throwback Thursday post, despite the fact I've actually had these images for well over 2 months. Thursdays just seem to pass me by, and suddenly it's Friday and I have missed the day to post once again, but this week I finally remembered! 

This was the original post for these nails, which I did for the 31 Day Nail Art Challenge back in 2012. They ended up being quite popular, which I wasn't expecting, and a few years later I recreated them in pink here. But I wanted to go back to my original design and give it a new lease of life. The first time around I remember waiting hours and hours for tape to dry and getting frustrated at how messy it was. This time around Seche Vite was my friend, and so was liquid palisade, which made it a lot easier and a lot quicker to do.

Daisy Dixon Rose Gold Floral Nail Art

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a lovely weekend, I spent mine exploring the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and eating ice-cream in the unusually warm weather. It was nice to have a whole day relaxing and not having to think about anything. Normally I spend Sundays doing all the washing (it's boring being an adult sometimes), but our washing machine is currently broken so I managed to escape that task for this week. In my review of Gelish - Last Call I mentioned that I wouldn't be able to resist using it again, and it seemed like the perfect colour to use for this nail art inspired by this Daisy Dixon watch*. Daisy Dixon recently contacted me and asked if I would like to pick out a watch from their collection, and of course I said yes. It took me a while to decide which I wanted as there are so many to choose from on their site, but I eventually decided on the Chloe White Floral Print watch*, mainly because I knew it would work so well for nail art. 

March Monthly Favourites

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I last did a monthly favourites post. In fact, the last one was all the way back in October! But I decided that it was time to bring it back, especially as I'm home from university for Easter and it's a lot easier to take the photos at home! (AKA my dad takes the photos for me haha). My March favourites feature quite a few nail polishes, including the Speedy Quick Dry Collection* from Barry M, and I'll Make It Fit* from the Gelish Cinderella Trends collection. I've also got Easy Nails Fast and Fruity Nail Polish Remover, and Barry M's Orion Gelly Hi Shine Lipgloss.* Last but not least I have this gorgeous Classic Sheffield Lady* watch from Daniel Wellington, which is my new favourite accessory. Click below to find out why these were my favourites this month.

Orange Pastel Paisley with River Island

Hey everyone! Today I have something a little different to show you. I've come together with River Island to do some nails based on their new Spring/Summer pastel collections. It's been a while since I tried any paisley. I wish that I'd done the detailing in a lighter colour to keep with the pastel theme, but at the same time I like how they came out. My inspiration for these nails and information on how to create them is after the jump!

VVB Victoria Beckham Nails Inc Collaboration Collection 2014: Review and Swatches

Hey everyone! Today I have a super exciting new release to show you from Nails Inc: two new polishes designed in collaboration with Victoria Beckham. The collection contains two colours, Judo Red*, and Bamboo White*. The press release reads: 'The covetable and collectible duo features two new polish shades – Judo Red and Bamboo White - developed with an exclusive formulation featuring Stretch-To-Fit technology and Bamboo Extract with Silica and is presented within a sleek new bottle design ... Designed by Fabien Baron and customised by Victoria Beckham'. These retail at £25 each so they are very high end but they're absolutely beautiful and the quality is amazing. They're not for everyone but if you're the kind of person to like expensive nail polish these are definitely for you.  

Etoile Pumpkin Bunting Washbag Inspired

Hey everyone! mybag.com sent me this gorgeous Etoile washbag* which is called 'Pumpkin Bunting' on their website, and I was instantly inspired to create some nail art from it. I was going to do all orange bunting but I decided to add a couple of accent nails in lime green to make it a bit more interesting and I really like how they turned out. I feel like I maybe should have used a darker lime green so it showed up on the white a bit more, but in person they weren't as contrasty so it wasn't an issue. 

Tutorial Tuesday: Prada Floral Colour Blocking for Divine Caroline

Hey everyone! Today I have another Divine Caroline tutorial for you, which I based around the recent Prada Spring/Summer 2014 Resort collection. I noticed on the runway that most of the dresses/outfits combined floral print and colour blocks and I wanted to translate that on to my nails. You can see the dress I was inspired by and the tutorial itself here on Divine Caroline.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Alice

Tutorial Tuesday: Pastel Geometric For Clothes Show Live

Hey everyone! You might notice that it's not actually tuesday, so I shouldn't really be calling this tutorial tuesday, but I completely forgot to post this last night and I don't want you to go without! Today's (or yesterday's) tutorial is another that I created for Clothes Show Live, which means that it's a video rather than a pictorial but hopefully you don't mind. For the design I was inspired by this cardigan from Topshop. You can see the colours I used in the video but if you're unsure just ask and I'll let you know!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Alice

Nails Inc. Collaboration with Teatum Jones - Swatches and Nail Art

Hey everyone! Today's post is an exciting new release from Nails Inc, who have released 3 new colours in collaboration with emerging design talent for London Fashion Week. The three colours are Sloane Street, which is the hot pink you'll see below, in collaboration with Teatum Jones. Colville Mews, which is a gorgeous nude, in collaboration with Emma Shipley. And finally Hallam Street, which is a lovely dusky purple, in collaboration with David Longshaw. These polishes will be available for 6 weeks only, or whilst stocks last, so grab them while you can! I received the amazing Sloane Street to show you all, I know you're probably all sick of plain reviews after last week's review week, so I decided to combine today's post with a bit of simple nail art just to tide you over! I'll post the full review after the jump

Daisy Nail Art + TUTORIAL for Clothes Show Live

Hey everyone! So, as you may remember me mentioning, last week I went to London to film some tutorials for Clothes Show Live. The first tutorial is now live and I can't wait for you to see it! I've also done my own nails to accompany the tutorial. I absolutely love the simplicity of these nails, they're easy to create yet they really stand out. I definitely think this is a design to do if you're in a rush but you still want something that looks good.

For these I started off with a base of MASH - Black, then I used acrylic paint for the white flowers and dots, and then I used Butter LONDON - Jasper for the yellow centres of the flowers, all topped off with a coat of Seche Vite. 

And here's the tutorial on Clothes Show Live TV:

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Alice

Butter LONDON Polka Dots

Hey everyone! Today I have some very bright polka dot nails for you. I know polka dots have been done a million times, but I always like to come back to them now and again because there's something about them that just entices me. These nails were inspired entirely by these wellies* - or 'rain boots'/'galoshes' (definitely didn't google that) from Shop On My Go Go. I got mine in the post a few weeks ago and I absolutely love how warm and comfy they are. Also, now it's starting to snow (yay!) I can finally wear them without looking like a fool. As you can probably see, the nails don't exactly match the colouring of the wellies, but I wasn't at home and the only colours I had to hand were the Butter LONDON Colour Clash collection, I'm sure you don't mind too much?

The base for these nails was Butter LONDON - Cake Hole, and then I used striping tape for the accent nails, along with Butter LONDON - Cotton Buds and a dotting tool, which I also used on the alternate nails.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Alice

*some of the products in this post were provided to me for review but all opinions are entirely my own and were not influenced in any way. Please see my disclosure policy

Romwe Superhero Leggings GIVEAWAY!

Hey everyone! Today I have a brand new giveaway for you, once again sponsored by Romwe. If you missed the annoucement of the winner of the Then and Now giveaway on twitter, the winner was Linda Hagen. Perhaps those of you who weren't lucky in that will have a better chance in this, as this time there will be 2 winners, who will each get their choice of 1 pair of superhero leggings.

All entries are within the Rafflecopter widget and all rules are noted in the 'terms and conditions' section of the widget so make sure to read them carefully. The giveaway is open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you can't wait for the giveaway to end, Romwe are currently having a sale of up to 60% of their best selling products, but it's only on for 72 hours, so be quick! You can see it here
Good luck

Alice

Digital Dozen Does Fashion: Day 5

Hey everyone! Today I have the final post of the digital dozen does fashion week today, albeit a day late. It was inspired again by a La Moda bag, this* one, which is currently on sale!

For these I used a base of Barry M - Green Berry, and Barry M Gold Foil Special Effects, then I used striping tape from MASH and MASH Black polish. Then I used drops of Seche Vite to add the studs, and then topped off all nails with Seche Vite. 

What do you think? Let me know in the comments

Alice 

*some of the products in this post were provided to me for review but all opinions are entirely my own 

Digital Dozen Does Fashion: Day 4

Hey everyone! First of all I just wanted to announce that the giveaway winner has been chosen and contacted, and she has replied. Nail Girl's will announce her name on their Facebook page in the next few days I think. Anyway, I'm really sorry I didn't post last night, I was just too tired. I'm so happy to have a day off tomorrow! Day 5 will be tomorrow, and my very delayed 'which is best' for matte top coats will hopefully be Sunday so there's quite a bit coming up in the next few days. 

Today's post is based on another La Moda satchel, which has unfortunately sold out in this particular colour, but this is similar for those who fancy it.

The base of this is MASH - White, the nude is Butter LONDON Cuppa, the red is Jacava - Crimson Crush and the black is acrylic paint.

I decided to again mix the outside and the inside into one design, but it took me quite a while to work out how. This design was actually a bit of an accident because I had originally intended to post my nails fully with Cuppa but I forgot and painted them all with white and had to improvise! Nevertheless, I'm really happy with how it came out!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Alice

*some of the products in this post were provided to me for review but all opinions are entirely my own

Digital Dozen Does Fashion: Day 3

Hey everyone! Another quick post so I can go to sleep tonight, but today's fashion inspiration isn't THAT closely related to the nails. I was loosely inspired, but hopefully you can still see where I was coming from.  I have quite a few photos so I'll put the rest after the jump

Digital Dozen Does Fashion: Day 2 (and GIVEAWAY)

Hey everyone! I'm not going to write much today because I have to be up in 6 hours for work. I'm beginning to regret this week's digital dozen, I've only just started a full time job and I'm struggling to find the time to post twice a week, let alone once a day for 5 days! But I shall soldier on ;) 

Today's nails are based on this* jumper from Romwe, who have kindly offered to sponsor a giveaway for my blog. More information on that at the end of the post, first up: the nails!

The jumper design is a simple gradient, and as I was in a rush I felt it best not to over-complicate that. However, I do quite like the look of the gradient alone, even if it seems a bit boring for my taste. 

The colours are Butter LONDON - Cuppa and Essence - Stuck on You, topped off with a coat of Seche Vite. 

As I only received this top yesterday, I didn't have time to take a picture of me wearing it or of it in full, so for a full picture see the website here. I promise you it's worth the look! I absolutely love this jumper and I will certainly be wearing it a lot, especially as the British summer seems to have ended already

Now for the giveaway! Romwe.com have kindly offered to give away this dress and this dress to one lucky reader. All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. It is open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For those of you who cannot wait, or don't wear dresses, Romwe currently have a sale on back to school clothes here, or you can visit their website here

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

Alice

Additionally, if you have time, I would super appreciate it if you could vote for me for 'Best New Beauty Blog' in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013 here

*Some of the products in this post were provided to me for review but all opinions are entirely my own and were not influenced in any way 

Digital Dozen Does Fashion: Day 1

Hey everyone! I'm back with another week of digital dozen posts for you. I unfortunately missed July but hopefully I'll be able to keep up with this week's post. I've just started a new job though so I might dwindle later in the week but we shall see. I apologise in advance if that does happen! 

So for the first day I'm bringing you some nails inspired by this* gorgeous La Moda satchel. I'm going to put the rest of this post after the jump because it's going to be a pretty long on.

Fruit and veg anyone?

After seeing Rebecca Likes Nails' apple post the other day I was inspired to try these nails, but I knew I didn't want just apples, but a mix of fruit and veg. So I present to you, grapes, carrots, lemons, apples and oranges miniaturized! Hope you like them :) 

Alice

Day 25: Inspired by fashion

Hello everyone, I'm afraid I'm not a massive follower of fashion, in fact most of the 'fashionable' pieces of clothing in my wardrobe are those that I barely ever wear, so for this challenge I turned to trust Google images and put in 'fashion' and then chose the first thing that caught my eye.


I used Orly - Glowstick and Barry M - Matt White and Black with tape to create these nails, hope you like them!

Of course as is always the case with neons it was difficult for the camera to pick up, but I promise you it was incredibly bright, and you'll just have to take my word for it ;)

Alice