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Chanel Cosmic nail polish review

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Photo: Chanel Cosmic nail polish from the “Nuit Magique” collection. Shown with one base coat and two coats of color. Photo taken in direct sun.

Chanel Cosmic is the second of two nail polish hues from Chanel’s limited edition collection “Nuit Magique.” This beautiful, special collection of nail polish was inspired by the fall/winter 2013/2014 runway collection and offers a bridge from the nail polish colors of fall and winter to the darker hues of spring 2014.

That’s right! Spring 2014 will be all about dark nail polish; despite the fact that the apparel of the season will be in medium to pale hues! Chanel Cosmic offers a neutral black background with sparkling star-like shimmer. Inside of Chanel Cosmic nail polish are thousands of beautiful, silvery circles which are tiny and powerful. The sparkles add a “cosmic” element to the nail polish which evokes the feeling of star gazing at night with a loved one.

I wore Chanel Cosmic nail polish with one base coat and two coats of color, no top coat, for a full week. Chanel Cosmic did not chip! The nail polish, which is seemingly black with silver sparkles, looks like a deep chocolate brown in artificial light. I am still convinced it is black and the deep, dark chocolate hue I see while indoors is due to poor lighting. Please leave a comment below if you have tried Chanel Cosmic nail polish and have experienced a similar color phenomena.

Chanel Cosmic nail polish is priced at $27 and can be found at Chanel Boutiques as well as Chanel.com. I have also found a few similar nail polishes around the web at softer price points which  assembled into the shopping widget below. Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉


Trend of the moment: black metal

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Gloves / Bracelets / Watch / Ring / Shoes

One of the big trends to come out of Paris and Milan is the black metal trend. Over the past few years we have seen a big uptick in non-traditional colored metals used in jewelry. One of the popular colored metals in fine jewelry has been black. While this may not seem like an odd color for metal, being that iron is often black, it is not a traditional metal color for jewelry. David Yurman even used blackened silver in his special “Ice” collection for Neiman Marcus several years ago.

As we entered 2013, designers began to use black on items such as handbags and shoes in lieu of traditional yellow, silver or rose-gold metals. The black metal hardware used in accessories offered an edgy yet understated look to luxurious items such as Chanel’s “So Black” classic flap handbag and Valentino’s “Rockstud” handbags and shoes.

With the uptick in black metal being used in accessories, more designers and brands are starting to use black metal in their pieces as an alternative to traditional metals. While black metal will never replace gold, silver or rose-gold metals, it is definitely enjoying its’ place in the accessory spotlight at the moment. It may even be possible that black metal becomes a quiet classic in the accessories hardware department; and possibly in the jewelry department too!

What are your thoughts on black metal? Is this a trend you enjoy wearing? Do you envision it becoming classic over time?

Black metal accessories from around the web:


Street Style Trends 2013 into 2014: Laced Up High Heel Sandals

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Photo: Rebecca Minkoff shoes / Essie Nail Polish For The Twill of It

There is a hot trend in shoes on the streets, and it is taking fashionable closets by storm. Fashionistas have been spotted everywhere wearing high heeled, black sandals, which can double as pumps, with laces! That’s right! The hottest shoe trend to hit the streets is the laced up high heeled sandal.

This hot shoe trend hit the streets back in spring 2013, but it did not explode until winter 2014. Not dominant on the runway, consumers favored the style when it hit store shelves earlier this year and in response, designers, brands and stores have stocked their shelves for the fall/winter 2013/2014 season with the daring style. This is not a conservative look; these shoes are attention grabbers!

There are several variations of the laced up high heel shoe. Some designers have a true lace-up where the wearer must tie her shoes, while others have false laces that look more like a series of thin straps rather than laces. Both styles are relevant, and fit perfectly into this hot trend.

The laced-up high heel is a great addition to any Fashionistas’ wardrobe. The shoe style can be worn dressed up with skirts, dresses and trousers as well as casually with denim skirts, jeans and sweat-suit trousers. They can be worn during the day, or for evening events. This is one versatile shoe style!

I found a few fabulous pairs of laced-up high heels in black; the hottest hue for this even hotter street style trend. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉