The New French Manicure

The New French Manicure

How to Get Spring's Hottest Nail Trend

When I think of a traditional French manicure, it just immediately feels so... 15 years ago. Until I noticed backstage during Fashion Week Spring 2011 and Fall 2011, that a fresh version of the French kept popping up.

The runways of Ruffian, The Blonds and Jason Wu are exemplary of the new twist on the French, which usually involves a light base color paired with a vibrant, bold tip for contrast, ranging from neon pink and bright blues to shiny black and even textured metallic.
So what has sparked the resurgence of the classic nail look? "There has been a move toward all things retro in the past few seasons, and the nail world has been included in that," explains butter LONDON Creative Director Nonie Creme. "It's not to say we are taking things too literally, just that now's a great time to reinvent traditional looks. The addition of color and pop to an old-school French feels right on trend."

CND nail professional Roxanne Valinoti concurs: "Everything old becomes new in spring! The French manicure has been a classic nail style since the '20s. While the standard pink-and-white look seems dated and passé, kicking it up with some colorful options is youthful and fresh."

Adds celebrity manicurist Elle Gerstein, "I think that the infusion of color on the runway has become such a trend because polish has become a statement as an accessory. One of the coolest new trends in French manicures is the chevron reverse French -- instead of a moon you see a V at the base! Jennifer Lopez is a great example of a celebrity who has embraced the French trend; we've swapped her whites for glitter shades."

StyleList also spotted the almond-shaped nail making a prominent comeback, especially paired with French tips to provide an elongated, elegant shape. "I love almond-shaped nails," exclaims Creme. "They are the stilettos of the nail world. I hope they do stay around -- I'm desperate to banish blocky, masculine looking squares for a good, long while!"

So what are some cool color combos our nail experts are loving for spring?

Valinoti goes metallic: "I love the contrast of (CND) Perfectly Bare Colour with Silver Chrome -- we did a variation on this manicure at Behnaz Sarafpour, where the perimeter of the nail was roughly outlined in silver. The designer wanted the nails to be inspired by gardens. At-home nail addicts could take these two shades and make a gorgeous French manicure."

Creme thinks pale: "I am loving (butter LONDON) Lady Muck with the tips done in Teddy Girl .

Gerstein goes for the color burst: "Some cool versions of color contrasts are essie Coat Azure as a base with Aruba Blue (deep ocean metallic blue) as a tip. Or try essie Tangerine with a hot pink tip such as Super Bossa Nova. A classic twist can be Sold Out Show with Pink Parka... as seen by superstar Cassie."

And finally, what are the best tips (pun intended) to recreate the new French manicure?

The New French Manicure

According to Valinoti, "To get a clean version of the French, apply base coat (we love Stickey), paint on two coats of base color, then carefully ice the tip of the nail with two coats of desired color shade. Finish with top coat over the entire nail in Super Shiney or Air Dry."

Gerstein says, "The simplest way to assure perfect smile lines is to divide the nail in half and then paint from side to middle. This allows a perfect line...If you can't paint those perfect lines, Sally Beauty sells great guides for French manicures. Use them to create the lines, but super important: wait until polish is set before removing!"

If your goal is to get the true French look with just bright tips as a contrast, here's one final piece of advice from Valinoti: "Just like when wearing a bright accessory in your wardrobe, it is always best to keep the base shade neutral and warm."

The New French Manicure  

The New French Manicure 

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos 

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

If you love tattoos you know that getting a meaningful tattoo is one of the best feelings ever, especially when someone acknowledges the art. The world we live in today is getting smaller and smaller with fashion trends spreading with great speed. Tattoos have recently garnered great publicity with a lot of celebrities showing off their designs at red carpet events. It is only natural that it has spread like wildfire to the general population. One of the popular designs that has surfaced recently is Japanese koi fish tattoos. Fish in the wild undergo a lot of hardship to reach their destination and this ability has given them a mythical status. They are also found in different colors making it a good choice for a tattoo design. If you planning to get a koi fish tattoo done, just make sure that you do it from a good artist, as the design is intricate.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo Meaning

The koi fish resembles perseverance as it swims against the current to reach its final destination. Japanese mythology has a story which states that the koi fish swam up a waterfall and was then turned in to a dragon. It depicts the victory of good against all odds and represents conquering everyday life struggles. The fish is a symbol of strength and the ability to overcome obstacles in spite of all odds. The Japanese koi fish also represents wisdom and longevity to many and therefore has been adopted by many people across the world irrespective of the cultural background. Some people even get the tattoo as they feel it brings them luck; the koi tattoo meaning is mostly what attracts people to this design.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoo Designs

Red Koi Fish
The red koi fish represents love and strength, it is a masculine design and looks great when done on the back or the arm. You can showcase a red koi fish blowing multicolored bubbles to represent the different colors of life. Another way of depicting it is to have it fighting big waves as it journeys through the violent waters.

Flower and Fish
Inking a koi fish gracefully swimming between bright red and yellow color flowers underwater is a very eye catching design that you could get. You can also show a koi fish resting on lotus petals with its tail hanging in the water. If you are imaginative, ink the fish twisting itself around an anchor. Another way to showcase the fish is with a flower in its mouth as if it's offering it to the Gods.

agon and Fish
Legend has it that the koi fish turned in to a dragon when it completed its journey, so you can show the fish metamorphosing in to a dragon. One of the interesting designs is inking a half dragon half fish on your body. You could also show the koi fish at the bottom of a waterfall and the dragon peering down from the top of the fall.

Fish Pair
You can also have a tattoo with two koi fish swimming in opposite directions as if representing the two aspects of life, the good and the bad. One of the other things that you could try is the two fish jumping up side by side with their tails in the water. As the fish represents love, you could have the two koi fish kissing each other surrounded by underwater flowers.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

The secret to a getting a good tattoo is finding the right artist and taking care of your tattoo to prevent the ink from fading. Since this is a permanent art form make sure you choose your design wisely along with the body part you want to get tattooed.

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos 

Japanese Koi Fish Tattoos

Improving Our Relationships

Improving Our Relationships

Improving Our Relationships

We live in a world where everything is increasingly speeding up. Technology has developed surprisingly much in the late years. In 1946 J. Presper Eckert finished his first computer, which occupied an entire room and weighted about 50 tones. Nowadays we have the tiny laptops! The information flows with the speed of the light, and if we know what we are searching for and have the Internet at hand, we can find out about everything. We can speak with everyone at anytime and anyplace and still we don't have time to truly know each other. Lots of people get depressed because their relationships problems. We need to interact with each other. We can't enjoy life without the laughter of a good friend, without the smile of a dear one, without the helpful advises of a loving parent. It isn't any wonder that when we quarrel we begin to feel guilty, unsafe, abandoned. Here are some tips that are the basis of a healthy relationship which help improve a problematic relationship.

Sincerity
Without sincerity there can't be any connection between two people. Honesty is the ground of a true and profound relationship. People tend to believe that if they hide an unpleasant thing about them or about what they did; things are going to be fine. The truth is that we can't hide forever, and when the lie is discovered, for good reason, we lose all our credibility. Being honest with the other will lead to a strong and long term relationship.

Trust
Mostly, trust it is gained in time, when we have concluded that the other person is sincere, honest. When people are trusted for what they are, they become more comfortable, more natural in the way they interact. Being trusted increases our capabilities. A good and representative example is the example of a child who is encouraged by the teacher. Expressions like "I know you can do it"are very powerful in difficult situations and would be welcomed if they are said at the time needed. A common mistake in relationships is doubt. An efficient solution for doubt would be renouncing at the assumptions we make about the respective person and ask.

No Prejudices
From the first second we meet someone new we form a set of prejudices. It is natural to do so, but very often our judgments can be wrong because we don't have enough information about that person. The first step to verify our judgment is to be aware that we make judgments. The second is simply putting questions, being the easier way to find out the truth.

Compassion
People manage better difficulties when they know they are not alone. Feeling with the other will make the relation more profound.

Creativity
People get to know each other better by doing interesting things together. Making a trip, playing a new game, learning a new language together or playing an instrument, are effective ways to have fun together.

Humor
Humor always enlightens a relationship. Making fun of embarrassing situations helps us overcome them more easily.

Respect
Most quarrels start due to a lack of respect between people. But the key to be respected is to respect. We should offer respect to everyone, even if we consider that a specific person doesn't deserve our respect. The main reason for why we should respect each other is that we are all humans, with feelings, superior intellect and superior needs.

Managing Anger
From time to time we all feel angry, and anger makes us speak hurtful words that can cause deep wounds. There are some things that could help us manage our anger: being aware of our friend's problem makes us feel sorry for him, putting ourselves in the his/her shoes, making our best to understand why the person acted that way. This may take some time, so, the most suitable solution in an anger crisis is to keep our mouths shut for at least ten seconds, maybe then the anger will disappear.

Patience
Without patience with each other there is no such thing as good understanding, and the people feel stressed. Patience is a great way to manage anger.

Love
Love is the essential key in a relationship. Without love we cannot truly reach the other helpful keys (sincerity, respect, patience, compassion, trust and so on).

Improving Our Relationships 

Improving Our Relationships

Abigail Breslin is All Grown Up in Red Marchesa

Abigail Breslin is All Grown Up in Red Marchesa

Abigail Breslin is All Grown Up in Red Marchesa

Abigail Breslin is All Grown Up in Red Marchesa

Wow! Little Abigail Breslin is looking really mature lately! The 15-year-old Little Miss Sunshine star hit the red carpet at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Hot Pink Parrty last night and stunned everyone with her new look.

She looked gorgeous in her scarlet off-the-shoulder Marchesa gown. With her new, super blonde hair, she was almost unrecognizable! And not in a bad way either. She paired the look with a crystal clutch and pink ring. So chic and sophisticated!

Recently, Abigail's been busy filming Garry Mashall's star-packed New Year's Eve where it's rumored she plays Sarah Jessica Parker's daughter. It was when I first saw a photo from the set when I realized how she's all grown up now! Check out the photo below. Crazy right?

Abigail Breslin is All Grown Up in Red Marchesa 

Abigail Breslin is All Grown Up in Red Marchesa

Reese Witherspoon In Jason Wu- "Water for Elephants" New York Premiere

Reese Witherspoon In Jason Wu- "Water for Elephants" New York Premiere 

Reese Witherspoon In Jason Wu- "Water for Elephants" New York Premiere

Reese Witherspoon In Jason Wu- "Water for Elephants" New York Premier

 Reese Witherspoon kicks off the week looking adorable tonight at the “Water For Elephants” New York Premiere.The blonde actress wore a white sleeveless Jason Wu Fall 2011 dress when she joined co-star Robert Pattinson on the red carpet.I love that her uptown elegant dress with black lace floral details retains it volume in the skirt off the runway.She accessorized her look perfectly with gold strappy Louboutin’s, a selection of sparkling bracelets and a neat chic updo.

Reese Witherspoon In Jason Wu- "Water for Elephants" New York Premiere 

Reese Witherspoon In Jason Wu- "Water for Elephants" New York Premiere

 

 

Best Gym Bags for Women

Best Gym Bags for Women

Best Gym Bags for Women

There's no denying that bags are very important for women. It's one of their favorite things and no matter how big it its, trust me, they use every inch of space it has to offer. In this article we are not going to talk about designer hand bags, but about gym bags which are currently very much in demand. Almost every woman in this world has been bitten by the fitness bug and if you are one of them, its time that you carry with yourself the best gym bags available for women. A good quality gym bag is spacious enough to carry clothing, shoes, toiletries, and also have separate compartments to store sweaty clothes and shoes away from clean items.

Good Gym Bags for Women

Any woman would want a bag which is stylish, comfortable, and useful. There are many brands in the market, which makes it even more difficult to choose the best from the lot. Always remember choosing a gym bag is not tough, you just have to make sure that it stores all your items inside, and is not too bulky or huge for you to carry around.

Adidas CP Teambag Small
Sports apparel leader Adidas brings you the Adidas CP Teambag Small which is a nylon bag and comes with a mesh top panel. It measures 18 by 9 inches in width and has a height of 12 inches. The bag comes with a large zip compartment along with many tiny zip pockets which can store all your gym gear. You can also place your gym sneakers safely in a removable shoe pouch, and a detachable zip pocket can hold your small essentials and accessories safely. When you move on to the main compartment, you will notice a key tether and some more compartments which help keep gym stuff organized . The bag also comes with a divider which helps you keep your clean and gym clothes separate. Adidas has provided feet to the bag so that the lower surface doesn't get soiled on wet or dry surfaces. Th price of the Adidas CP Teambag Small is approximately $120 but you can get it for $100 at various online stores.

Lacoste St. Andrews Duffel Bag
If you are a woman who's very preppy at heart, then you would love the Lacoste St. Andrews Duffel Bag. The bag comes in black color with white piping and gunmetal hardware and it measures 15 by 14.6 by 6.7 inches. It has separate compartments for almost everything that you can carry to the gym; your yoga mat, your clothes, accessories, etc., etc. The logo of the alligator makes you look rough and all ready to bust some sweat. This branded gym bag is a little expensive, costing almost $110 but it's worth every penny you would spend on it.

REI Balance Gym Bag
The REI Balance gym bag is specially made for women who are out to save the world. The bag measures 17 inches by 9.5 inches by 7.5 inches and is made from recycling old plastic bottles. The main compartment is big enough to hold your gym clothes and gear while the side mesh pockets can comfortably hold your water bottle. The bag provides you with a separate side pocket with mesh vents for gym shoes or sweaty clothes. The best part about this bag is that it fits perfectly in gym lockers due to its narrow size while still providing room for all the gym stuff. The shoulder strap helps you carry the bag pretty easily and you can get this bag for around $60.

Nike Ultimatum Medium Duffel Bag
The Nike Ultimatum Medium Duffel is a gym bag for women which is made from polyester with pockets to hold all your gym gear. The bag is 24.75 inches long by 10.25 inches wide and by 11.75 inches high. The company states that this gym bag has an external side pocket and a ventilated side zip pocket to hold your sneakers or the sweaty gym clothes. The bottom of the bag has feet to protect it from getting soiled and it also has a zip pocket to hold your incidentals. Nike is selling this bag for almost $80.

Best Gym Bags for Women

So these were some options of best gym bags for women. Which one will suit you the best? Maybe all of them, maybe just one. Remember to have a personal check before opting for any of these bags for storing your gym accessories

Best Gym Bags for Women

Best Gym Bags for Women

Jeans That Flatter Your Figure

Jeans That Flatter Your Figure

Jeans That Flatter Your Figure

Jeans are a basic and essential part of the average man or woman's wardrobe. However, regardless of size, not every man or woman shares the same body type. With a wide range of styles and cuts available, often finding popular pants that are most flattering to your shape can be a daunting task. Not to mention that trying on literally dozens of pairs of jeans during a shopping outing can quickly frustrate and exhaust even the most enthusiastic shopper! So how do you narrow down your search before you head for the dressing room? Here are a few tips to consider: 

1. Try a straight leg or boot-cut style first. As opposed to the tapered style which makes your hips and rear look wider, a straight or boot-cut leg is very slimming and gives the perception of added height. If you have generous hips, beware of the boot-cut that narrows too much at the knee. This style can exaggerate the width of your hips.

2. Look for styles that are medium to low rise. While the ultra-low waist jeans should be left to the teenagers, the average person isn't restricted to wearing those 'mummy' pants. Avoid waistlines that come all the way up to the naval as these can make your lower half look pear-shaped.

3. Bigger is better, at least when it comes to pockets. Small pockets make your backside look bigger! Also, darker washes are more slimming and figure-flattering. Plus, with the right accessories, a darker pair of pants can be dressy or casual.

 4. A little stretch goes a long way. Denim with a bit of Lycra or spandex is not always a bad thing. The stretch fabric will hug your curves in the right places and be more comfortable too, since it moves with your body instead of being stiff and pulling tight.

 With these tips in mind, you are ready to grab a handful of denim and head to the dressing room! Remember that you should always target the 'problem area' of your body first -- whether it's your hips, thighs, or tummy. Once you find the right fit there, finding the perfect pair of jeans should be a breeze!

Jeans That Flatter Your Figure 

Jeans That Flatter Your Figure

Joy Bryant's Western Wardrobe

Joy Bryant's Western Wardrobe

Joy Bryant's Western Wardrobe

Joy Bryant's Western Wardrobe

Joy Bryant was cowgirl chic at an event hosted by Coach to benefit the Children's Defense Fund on April 20 in Santa Monica, California.

The 34-year-old donned a yellow prairie dress with a Levi's denim jacket. We love how she styled the frock with a brown leather belt and matching cowboy boots. Coach brown leather purse with gold hardware and door knocker earrings balanced out her boho look.

Bryant was in stylish company -- the model was joined by mommy-to-be Selma Blair, "Mad Men"'s Christina Hendricks -- who chose a sleek jumpsuit for the evening, and Scarlett Johansson who looked red hot in Roland Mouret.

Joy Bryant's Western Wardrobe

Joy Bryant's Western Wardrobe

Rachel Bilson in Chanel Haute Couture

Rachel Bilson in Chanel Haute Couture

Rachel Bilson in Chanel Haute Couture

Rachel Bilson looked very sweet in Chanel Haute Couture at the premiere of her original film series inspired by Magnum Ice Cream at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on April 21.

The brunette babe was joined by Karl Lagerfeld, who not only designed her dress, but also directed the films.

The pink silk embroidered strapless frock from the spring 2011 runway was paired with black Christian Louboutin pumps and a Chanel clutch in the shape of a seashell.
The 29-year-old actress' winged out liner was drawn on with lust-worthy precision and her ombre strands were pulled up into a sophisticated updo with face-framing strands.

Meanwhile, the highlights from the Tribeca Film Festival aren't just in the flicks, but the stylish appearances on the red carpet and around town.

Rachel Bilson in Chanel Haute Couture 

Rachel Bilson in Chanel Haute Couture

Rachel Bilson in Chanel Haute Couture