Chrome Tips

After having my matte nails with glossy tips a little while ago, I’ve been looking for new ways to achieve the tips look that puts a modern twist on the classic french manicure.

My Elle High Street Edit for Spring/Summer 2012 provided me with the perfect inspiration - candy-pop nails with chrome tips. The cover model works the look with a sherbet pink colour over the main part of the nail, and a silver chrome tip, which I can only assume from the finish, are stick-ons. 

I thought it was a really striking combination, the shine of the tough chrome against the feminine pastel pink. I went for a colour-popping baby blue - Jessica’s Bikini Blue with creme finish. Because I chose this combination the day of my manicure, Julie-anne didn’t have stick-on tips available, so we decided on a silver shimmer polish instead to give the chrome look. It works just as well, and if anything will last longer than sticker-tips would anyway. 

I loved seeing the idea come together, and the finished look was exactly what I’d imagined. Why not try it with your own choice of pastel-pop shade? Would love to see your pics!

All of my manicures/pedicures featured are courtesy of the amazing Julie-Anne Forde. Follow on twitter @Thebeautyboxhx

Chloé x

See-through Fashion

This duller than dull weather is seriously depressor to say the least, especially after what seemed like a sneak preview to a scorching Summer not so long ago. So on a day like this, online shopping for cheer-me-up items is a necessity in my books! 

On my browse, I came across a pair of absolute lust-have frosted perspex clutches from ASOS, in Spring-bright ice-cream shades. Quite frankly I need both, yes both of these in my life, and at only £18.00 each, they’re a Springtime steal! 

I heart the perspex look, and noticed ASOS has quite a few transparent pieces that are season-fresh, and already on my ever-growing wish list.

Brighten up your wardrobe and your mood with this chiffon colour-block number. The asymmetric design and candy colours put it bang on trend, and the wide cropped sleeves and relaxed fit give this shirt a casual feel, perfect for lounging in the sunshine layered over a bikini. Or it could be dressed up with skinnies and heels, and a statement clutch for a cool summer’s evening look. 

Vero Moda Chiffon T-Shirt In Colour Block, £16.00

Want to work the see-through fashion trend without being so colourful? Try this cream chiffon shirt, with statement spot pattern double layered longline back, and contrasting cropped hem front. 

Dahlia Chiffon Spot Shirt With Contrast Front, £58.00

Now, these aren’t really my cup of tea, but metal-tipped courts are an ‘It’ item this season, so I thought some of you might appreciate this addition to the list of see-through fashion pieces. And I’m guessing most of you would prefer Asos’s high-street pricetag over Louis Vuitton’s, who’s SS12 shoe collection tip the scales in the wrong direction for me, at over £600 a pair. Rock the trend like Abbey Crouch and Kristen Stewart at Paris Fashion Week, in this Asos Sidney pair of white courts with metal toe cap. The sheer middle section of the shoe complete with polka dot pattern, gives these a ladylike edge. Who would’ve thought classy and see-through would be two fashion concepts that would ever meet? 

Asos Sidney Point Court Shoes With Metal Toe Cap, £45.00
(all images courtesy of asos.com)

So what do you think, is see-through fashion something that’s going to make it into your wardrobe this Spring?

Chloé x

Hot under the COLLAR!

Hailed the “accessory du jour” by Grazia, detachable collars are the perfect accessory to transform an outfit in an instant. The ‘Peter Pan collar’ has been on the fashion map for quite a while now, and is still as popular now. But with these clever add-ons, you can kiss goodbye to forking out for statement collared tops and blouses, and say hello to the wardrobe staple that will update a last-season item or add to a new one. 

Established in December 2010, coveted detachable fashion accessories brand, Nauticoco, has seen a surge in popularity since their collars debuted on ITV’s This Morning, and featured in Grazia, Vogue, and Red magazine, to name a few. The British brand’s Director, Alison Williams explains that she wanted to create a range of “versatile, feminine accessories that will be the hardest working items in any wardrobe”. 

“‘Add-on’ collars are a must-have accessory. You only have to look at the catwalk [Autumn 2011] to see that collar adornments were a strong trend with many high-end designers including them in their collections.”

Layer these little beauties under tees, blouses and dresses, for the perfect finishing touch. They start at £39.95, for a Silk Portman Collar, that will add an understated edge, and range up to a totally-worth-it £69.95, for the lust-after Silk and Pearl Hepburn Collar. Although this might seem a bit pricey for an accessory, think how many different looks you could create with this little fashion extra..and who’s to know it’s not an original part of the outfit? Why oh why has no one thought of this before?! 

Detachable Silk Portman Collar in White, £39.95

Detachable Silk & Lace Watson Collar, £39.95

Detachable Silk Portman Collar in Coral, £39.95

Detachable Silk & Pearl Hepburn Collar, £69.95
(all Nauticoco)

The accessory innovation has now unsurprisingly started popping up across the high street too. My favourites include Gemma Lister’s Black PP, and Black Leather Collars, and the cute-as-a-button Cream Faux Pearl Collar from Miss Selfridge. Or you could steer more to the jewellery side of collar-dom, with something like Accessorize’s FF Peter Pan Metal Collar. 

Left: Black PP Collar, £50; Right: Black Leather Collar, £125 (both Gemma Lister)

Cream Faux Pearl Collar, £18 Miss Selfridge

Left: FF Peter Pan Metal Collar, £10 Accessorize; Right: Last Season Topshop necklace, my own

Alas, I’ll have to stick to my last season Topshop number for now until I’ve saved enough pennies to build up my collars collection - once I’ve mastered the art of leaving a store without feeling like mother-magpie! 


Chloé x