Outfits Inspired by Essie Nail Polish

I think this is officially the most random post I've ever done! I was choosing what colour to paint my nails the other day and I noticed I had a lot of pastel shades, all from the brand Essie. And I thought it would be cool to put together some spring outfits inspired by them, since it's finally spring (well, almost, we are getting there!). Pastel shades never go out of style for spring in my fashion books!

The Polishes

Left to right: Turquoise & Caicos, Mint Candy Apple, Muchi Muchi, and Lilacism

Outfit #1: The Blues

Top: Forever 21; Cardigan: Hudson's Bay; Pants: Smart Set; Necklace: Accessorize

At the end of winter last year, I remember all I wanted was a pair of bright blue pants. It was a big jump for me, since I usually just stick to jeans. But I went for it and I'm so glad I did! These pants are great for spring and summer because they are very lightweight and breathable. Pairing different hues of the same colour is a very chic look, and a simple upgrade to the basic jeans and tee outfit!

Outfit #2: Purple & Mint

Camisole: Garage; Cardigan: Bluenotes; Shorts: Aeropostale; Necklace: Forever 21

I love pairing spring colours together- especially deep purple with mint. And you didn't think I'd do a blog post without something floral, did you? You could definitely substitute the shorts for jeans, especially here in Canada- it won't be warm enough to wear shorts for another two months at least!

Outfit #3: Pink & Lace

Dress: Forever 21; Cardigan: Jacob; Necklace: Forever 21; Belt: Garage

Of course, I save my favourite for last. I bought this dress towards the end of the summer and I can't wait to start wearing it again! As you know, aside from floral, lace is also one of my must-haves. Paired with the cardigan, this look is the most classic of the three. 

And just in case you were wondering, I ended up painting my nails lilac :)

Spring Ahead!

I've been back creating sets on Polyvore, so you know what that means...

This look combines the pastel trend with something I've been meaning to try- denim shirts. They look very comfortable and laid-back, but still stylish tucked into fitted skinny jeans. Paired with some gold jewellery, cute ballet flats, and your favourite sunglasses, this look is casual-chic. 

 For this look I came across a picture of Jessica Simpson and I really liked her outfit so I recreated it here. Again, it's another casual-chic outfit- a loose top tucked into jean shorts will keep you cool on those hot summer days (okay, it's not summer yet, but it's always good to dream...). A brown belt and sandals add a bohemian edge to this look.

You can tell what trend I had in mind when creating this set. Pastels come back every spring, and it's no surprise why. Banish the black, grey, and other dark colours that you lived in all winter and replace them with pastel pinks, purples, greens, blues, and yellows for a look that screams spring!

I touched on these colours in my last post, and since then they have gained popularity in the fashion world. Referred to as 'water colours,' these shades of turquoise, aqua, cobalt blue, and lilac not only go perfectly together, but also have an exotic feel to them, as if you just took a trip to the Caribbean. Make a splash in your wardrobe this spring break even if you're staying at home!

Spring Trends 2012

The post you've all been waiting for (well, I have in any case)...

One year ago, I started this blog as an assignment for my grade 12 writer's craft course, and I really enjoyed making posts about fashion (and beauty) so I continued it and here I am a year later with nearly 30 posts and almost 400 page views! Thank you so much to my subscribers and anyone else who happens to stumble across  my blog on a random Google search! I have many ideas for my blog so hopefully this year will be as exciting as the last! And now on to the latest trends for spring!

Floral
I am not surprised that floral print is back for another year. Who doesn't love wearing a small floral print to be girly or a bright colourful one to be bold? It is definitely my favourite trend of all time. Here are some ideas to build a garden...in your closet.

Lace

Also back again this year are the sweet and girly lace edges and necklines in tops, skirts, and dresses. A variation of this trend are eyelets, sort of like a hole punch pattern, but cuter, and also crochet, which is like lace, but with more detail. As well, this year lace comes in all different colours, not just white! Notice that the top pictured above combines floral and lace! So cute!!!

Bright Pants

This trend is hard to miss. Skinny jeans and jeggings are available in every colour of the rainbow this year, paired either with neutral  or brightly coloured tops to create fun outfits that you can literally see from a mile away.  Here are some outfit ideas from DailyLook. Notice that this trend can carry on into the middle of summer with brightly coloured shorts. I don't have too many ideas for this one, but you can check out American Eagle, Garage, and Aeropostale for more looks with bright jeans and shorts. 

Wild Prints
If you're headed to the jungle, you'll blend right in with animal prints, tribal patterns, and earth tones.  Silhouettes include shirt dresses, wrap skirts, cargo pants, and cross-body bags.

The Colour Palette and Accessories

Colours that are in this season include water colours such as turquoise, aqua, indigo, and sea green; bright colours especially in the red-orange area (think tangerine, a deep orange), and, of course, pastels such as light pink, mint green, soft yellow, and sky blue. 

These colours will be seen mainly in jewellery and other accessories, as well as makeup (especially pastel nail polish, which I absolutely love). Set the trend with dangling earrings, tangerine coloured lipstick, pastel nail polish, or stacks of multicoloured bracelets. 

Enjoy looking fabulous this spring!

Photo Credits

AEO Floral Scarf, $19.43, http://www.ae.com

Daisy Dolman Top, $12.25, http://www.aeropostale.com

AE Floral Corset Dress, $39.36,  http://www.ae.com

Floral Boatneck Tee with lace inserts, $24.90, http://www.garage.ca

Cooperative Mixed Media Bag, $39.99, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Solid Eyelet Woven Dress, $20.00, http://www.aeropostale.com

AE Lace Panel Tee, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

AE Paneled Lace Tee, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

Belted Eyelet Skirt, $22.25, http://www.aeropostale.com 

AE Crochet Detail Top, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

See http://www.dailylook.com for the three looks with bright bottoms. 

Geometric Contrast Dress, $17.90, http://canada.forever21.com

Sparkle and Fade Roll-Tab Shirtdress, $59.00, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

Truly Madly Deeply Slouchy Printed Tunic in brown and black & white, $34.00, http://www.urbanoutfitters.com

AE Artisan Dolman Sweater, $39.93, http://www.ae.com

AEO Suede Fringe Cross-body bag, $29.46, http://www.ae.com

Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipcolour, drugstores and http://www.maybelline.ca 

Maybelline Eye Studio Colour Plush Silk eyeshadow, drugstores and http://www.maybelline.ca

Sun Medallion Earrings, $6.80, http://canada.forever21.com

AEO Beaded Turquoise and Pink bracelets, $15.48 each, http://www.ae.com  

Turquoise and Purple Makeup Look

I haven't done a makeup look in a long time so I thought I'd share my other favourite look (besides the purple and gold one): purple and turquoise. I also originally saw this in a very old issue of Seventeen (I still have the page somewhere), but I switched it up a bit, mainly since I'm not a huge fan of bright green eyeshadow / liner.
I remember the first time I wore this look I had to match it with my outfit so I wore a turquoise polo with a grey cardigan that had a purple argyle pattern on the front. Nowadays I wear it to glam up an otherwise plain jeans and t-shirt. Anyways, enough of me rambling on; grab your makeup brushes and let's get started!

Products used:
Rimmel London Eyeshadow Quad in Romantic Cool
Loreal High Intensity Pigments Bright Eyeshadow Duo in Showy
Gosh Kohl Eyeliner in Black
Covergirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara (number 845)

1. With a small eyeshadow brush, apply the lilac shade in the Rimmel quad all over the eyelid. This eyeshadow, in contrast with the turquoise, isn't very pigmented, so you may need to pack it on.
2. Using a fluffy crease brush, apply the turquoise shade of the Loreal duo to the crease of your eye. Warning!!!! (okay, it's not that dramatic) When they say high intensity pigments, they mean it. Tap off most of the shadow before applying it (we're going for a subtle daytime look here).
3. Take a small angled brush and apply more of the turquoise shadow (again, tap it off first) to your lower lash line.
4. Line your upper lashes with black eyeliner (you can smudge it out a little if you want).
5. Curl your lashes and apply mascara.
6. Finish off the look by applying your favourite light pink lip gloss.

I couldn't find a good photo on the Web, (so I decided to post random photos of the products...) but I assure you, it looks good! If you try it, post a picture and let me know how it went!