Susan Says: The Seven-Day Chip-Free Manicure

CND Vinylux @ BeyondPolish.com

When I read about a new nail polish that lasts a full week without chipping, I had to give it a try. Not a gel yet not a regular polish, CND Vinylux Polish is the newest hybrid nail polish and it promises to give you a week-long manicure. The secret is something that the company calls ProLight Technology, which means that the topcoat actually strengthens when exposed to natural light, preventing chipping.

Begin with well-cleaned nails -- you can purchase their nail polish remover or I used my own. Be sure that you do not use a base coat, since base coats can prevent this polish from lasting. Apply two coats; I found that the polish went on very smoothly -- just like a regular polish, if not easier.  Finally, apply a coat of the CND sealer and your polish will dry in about eight minutes. Remember to expose your newly polished nails to natural light.   

I'm now going on four days and counting chip free! The line, which is sold at nail salons, features 62 different colors and retails for $10 for the color polish and $10 for the top coat.

Slim-Down Styles For Fall

  

Blake Lively in White House Black Market Leggings / Lucky Magazine

This fall, you can shop your way to a slimmer appearance with new slim-down styles:

• White House Black Market has introduced their Instantly Slimming Collection, which features leggings, dresses and skirts, all of which the company says feature "size-dropping fabric" which "narrows your figure." After spotting Blake Livey (who certainly doesn't need slimming and is pictured above) in Lucky magazine wearing the Instantly Slimming Leggings, we are eager to give them a try!

• Spanx is launching a new denim line, which come in seven colors, and are a new way to look great and beat the battle of the bulge. InStyle Magazine's fashion editors reported the jeans run a bit large, so for an ultra-smoothing fit, they suggest going a size down. Jeans retail at $98, with very cool-looking waxed denim styles priced at $108.

 

Spanx Jeans Featured in Glamour Magazine

Well Suited for Fall

How fabulous is Jerry Hall in this Armani runway photo from 1980?

Everything old is new again as an iconic look from the 1980s is back for Fall 2013. Twenty-three years ago Vogue  declared the era of "power suiting" for women was over. Fast forward to the Fall 2013 runways and designers including Dior, Gucci and Armani all featured updated "power suits" for women, according to a great report from The Wall Street Journal.

Armani made his first women's suits in the 1970s, inspired by his sister Rosanna, who was looking for clothes to wear professionally.  For the new movie "Elysuim," which opens tomorrow, Armani created two suits for star Jodie Foster. 

Gone are the old silhouettes with their broad shoulders and padding. The new look is narrower and slimmer. Today's suits of moderate prices can be found this fall at places like J.Crew.

J.Crew

In the Nude

As the mercury rises this summer, consider going nude - manicures, that is!

The Wall Street Journal had a great article this weekend about the trend away from wild and crazy nail art towards simple nude manicures. We love this trend for summer since, while we often admire avant-garde manicures on other people, we are way too uncoordinated to pull of such complex works of art on the mini-canvas of our fingernails.  It's just so easy to give yourself a DIY manicure using these colors, and the best part of a nude mani is that the inevitable chips don't show up as badly, making these manicures last so much longer. 

The Journal highlighted five high-end designer nude shades which manage to look super-glamorous even as they are barely there. We'd love to try all of their picks! 

• Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Nudite: (Nordstrom, $20) The Journal mentions that this shade is totally opaque, which is great since we love shades that provide total coverage.

• By Terry Terrybly Nail Lacquer in Skinny Latte: (Barneys, $30) This polish has the added plus of containing Okoume resin, which strengthens and protects nails, so while it looks sheer and barely-there, it's actually improving your nails while you wear it. 

• Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in Beige: (Chanel.com, $27) The Journal says that this color is reminiscent of the brand's iconic quilted bags in beige, which sounds to us like reason enough to covet it. 

• Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Nude: (Saks, $24)  This made-in-Italy shade is described as soft, creamy and easy to apply.

• Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Toasted Sugar: (Bergdorf Goodman, $30) The Journal advises that this shade combines beige and pink tones and looks great with a summer tan.

Spring Ahead with Ulta Makeup Steals & Deals

As we changed our clocks today, let's spring forward with fresh, coveted makeup!

Ulta is among our favorite beauty destinations- especially during its yearly "21 Days of Beauty," which begins today, March 10th and ends on March 30th. Some of the most coveted brands are on sale, both in store and online.  You can text "ULTA21Days" to 80565 to receive daily reminders during the duration of the sale.

If you shop today, the "steal" of the day is bareMinerals 100% Natural Lipgloss or Lipcolor regularly $15 is on sale for $9 and Philosophy Just Release Me Makeup Remover,on sale for $12, regularly price $18

Here are a few more of our favs:

• Friday, March 15th - Butter London Nail Lacquer for $9, regularly $15 
• Thursday, March 21st - Stila Stay All Day 10 in 1 HD Beauty Balm regularly $38 for $20
• Friday, March 22nd - Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Greed - 50% off, on sale for $10
• Monday, March 25th - Anastasia Tinted Brow Gels 50% off $11
• Saturday, March 30th - Smashbox Lash Layer Prmer and Full Exposure Jet Black Mascara Regular $18-$19.50; sale $10 each

Also, remember that online you can print a $3.50 coupon off a purchase of $10 or more; while that does not apply to their "Prestige" makeup, they are great for Ulta's many shampoos and other makeup and skin care. There are also many fabulous gifts with purchase on steal days.

Also- Ulta shopping is worry-free since the store honors returns with receipt for makeup mistakes!

Wear These Shoes, Get Compliments

Prabal Gurung for Target $29.99

 
It's been a while since we've been able to blog but we had to take time today to tell you about these shoes. As you know, we are fans of the Target designer collaborations, and this week the retailer debuted the new Prabal Gurung for Target collection and the footwear is fabulous!

The red wedge sandals above look amazing on and literally caused a random fellow patron at my local Starbucks to yell out, "Great shoes!" And that was just the beginning of the compliments that ensued throughout the day.

These multicolor heels below also make an amazing statement. There are lots of other fabulous footwear fashions; check out your local Target store or Target.com!

Prabal Gurung for Target $39.99

Be Seen in Green

From "A Year in the Emerald City," WSJ

 

According to an article by Christina Binkley in today's Wall Street Journal, the color green will be the color pick of the year for 2013 --- a retro throwback to the 1980's in fashion, jewelry, housewares, furniture and even cars!  

 

Green was designated the "it" color by Pantone, a company who sells codes that manufacturers use to replicate colors that will determine the "it" color each year based on surveys, sales of color swatches and the opinions of the general public.

Deep greens were seen on fashion runways of the spring 2013 collections of labels such as Valentino, D&G, Marni and Roland Mouret.  

 

Akris Spring 2013 Runway / WSJ / Getty

 

Accessories such as sunglasses by Oliver Peoples will also be making you green with envy this spring:

 

Oliver Peoples / WSJ

 

For some emerald inspiration, check out Jennifer Connelly (below) and other celebrities in green in this Marie Claire gallery.