Illamasqua Inspired Heart Manicure

I am in love with the manicure featured in the new Throb collection.

I have been wanting to try and do a manicure inspired by the Alex Box one so here it is !

I took a bottle of Wet & Wild 449C white nail polish and added 2 drops of yellow and 2 drops of dark beige polish into it to achieve a good cream colour.
Below is a pic of all 3 polishes we used for this manicure. We thought we had a matte black polish but didn't, but since this was our first attempt at it we used what we had.
I painted the cream polish ( that explains why it looks messy ~you have to remember i was the child that coloured outside the animals in her colouring-in book )and then did the hearts.

Next step , paint with the new cream polish

Then paint on the outline of the heart shape with So Easy Strike Right in black.

Then fill in with black nail polish and viola all done !



Can't wait to do this again but with matte black polish and a steady hand.


Next time will use a matte black polish & i will try and stay inside the lines ! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Step Right Up Folks !

January brings a long love of all things vintage big top related. Carnival stripes, circus girls, elephant handlers, snake charmers, fairy floss, clown hats and side show alley( and yes i still heart you Pee Wee !)







The amazing Miss Batcakes makes the coolest circus hats !


I am lusting after her circus collar !

This past week i have also re watched the fabulous HBO series Carnivale. Every time i watch it i see new things, draw new inspiration, fall in love with a different character, and think "why did i not notice THAT, last time i watched this series ?

The set & costume design inspire me endlessly and now i want to live in a 1920's circus trailer with Management, blood red velvet drapes, beautiful dark wood,chandeliers, dust bowl print fabrics, old glass, 1000 leather bound books and a bottle of absinthe.
Who wants to run away with me & join the circus ? And speaking of the circus, due for release in April 2011 is Water For Elephants. Staring Reece Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson it is a film adaptation of Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel about a love triangle set in a 1930's circus.






Have not decided whether i will redbox this film or not. It usually happens if i fall in love with a book then the film usually disappoints me.
I will see it purely for the visuals, the set and costume design and that way i won't get caught up in how close the film follows the book.
Movies like these i like to watch at home so i can stop,sketch an outfit or idea and then restart it, but, i also love seeing it on a big screen too.
You can Watch the trailer here.
Let the show begin !!!

New Range from Illamasqua !

I am so excited about their new range,Throb. It is being released in the U.K in time for Valentines day, i just hope they release it here in the USA.
I am a huge fan of their products, i love their lipsticks, their eye shadows and nail polishes.
The lipstick, Sangers, looks like it could be the purrfect blood red lipstick that
I have been searching for. The kind of red that a 1930's siren would have worn.
The lip gloss Succubus which is a fabulous shiny red and would layer well over the Sangers. I for one do not wear lipgloss but have heard nothing but glowing reports of Illamasqua's glosses. I would imagine layering this gloss over the Sangers lipstick would really amp up the colour.
There are 3 nail polishes,
Throb- a great true classic red shade
Load- a cream shade nail that will work well with the reverse moon 40's manicure
Scorn- a midnight black matte shade, how cool is the heart manicure shown here using Load & Scorn ? This is a manicure i will definitely be doing !

While i was searching for a release date for the USA i found this info on the Throb promo image,courtesy of ever fabulous karla sugar
How clever is Alex Box, the artist who designed this look ?
Cream Foundation 100
Rich Liquid Foundation 115
Powder Foundation 105
Powder Blush in Disobey
Powder Blush in Intrigue
Pure Pigment in Furore
Powder Eye Shadow in Heroine (on cheeks and eyes)
Powder Eye Shadow in Sex
Cream Pigment in Emerge (new for spring/summer!)
Cake Eyeliner in Mislead
Sealing Gel (for eyebrows)
Precision Ink in Abyss
False Eye Lashes 021
Lipstick in Sangers
Intense Lipgloss in Succubus
If anyone has the scoop on a release date for the USA please let me know !
***NEWS JUST IN *** it will be released here, as soon as i have a date will post.

Snap

When i saw this invitation,a pair of rose-tinted sunflower sunglasses, to the Moschino Cheap and Chic fashion show(2009), i was instantly reminded of the 1940s Life photo and wondered if this is where the inspiration came from or was it just a coincidence ???
!

Weekend Fancies

Yesterday I had more surgery and while laying in bed today recovering i spent a few hours on Internet just looking. I love browsing the Urban Outfitter website & also Anthropologie,Sephora and Forever 21. Here is what took my fancy today.
Paul & Joe make THE CUTEST cosmetics hands down ( see last post "Kitty" lipstick).
I adore this limited edition face powder compact,it has a bit of a 1940's feel to it, priced at $15 for the actual compact then you have to buy the powder as well it's $30. Both can be found at Urban Outfitters. Not cheap but for a new item that does have that vintage feel to it i think it is worth the price.The powder comes in 4 shades cool,fair,medium & warm.

Just in time for Halloween there is this new OPI polish is called "Kitty Loves Black"
A black nail polish that dimly sparkles with tiny flecks of midnight blue glitter.
OPI make great hard wearing nail polish and its $9 from Sephora.


Then i came across this website from the UK, i pretty much love everything on this here. Colourful vintage graphics always get my attention !
http://cloth-ears.co.uk/ What a nice way to take your lunch to school or work. These would also be great for storing things in as well.


And last but not least, if it is red and it has polka dots even better.This cake stand is fabulous. Simply purrrfect for cakes & sandwiches !

Green Socks , Small Birds & Kitty Lipstick

While looking online for my dream pair of oxfords i came across this pic of beautiful hand knitted grass green socks.I wish i could knit. Green is a such a happy colour for me. If you find any like these ~ please let me know !
Oh by the way, I love the smell of fresh cut grass and did you know GAP makes a delicious grass perfume ?

This eyeshadow is from Jelly Pong Pong available through Urban Outfitters.
I love the birdcage packaging and the little bird that sits on the lid.

It reminds me of this sparkly bird trinket box made by the very talented and creative Lucy Belle from www.blogger.com/oliveandzipper

And speaking of cuteness my dear friend Dottie sent me this funny kitty lipstick
Funny how something like a kitty lipstick in the mail can make a gal smile. I am so blessed to have amazing friends around me.

Oxfords & Brogues

With fall upon us, i have been thinking about what i need for my fall/winter wardrobe.
I am loving the menswear influences that are around at the moment, specifically oxfords and brogues. So in my quest to find a pair that i love and that are at the right price i have narrowed it down to the following.
Let me know what you think !
Starting at the most expensive ~ From Tabitha Simmons $1225.00

Then are these by Mui Mui from Barneys and are priced at$735.00

These Studio Pollini ribbon tie oxfords are lovely but come with a hefty $349.95 price tag !

Marc Jacobs $330


These beauties are from J.Crew, but, well, for what they are i think they are a tad on the expensive side and how could anyone decide which colour to buy ???
Now if they were 100 dollars cheaper.....
Maybe they will go on sale.

I really like these ones from Miz Mooz $89.95

These are cute & are from Piperlime and are $59

From www.gojane.com these for $21.30


And coming in the cheapest at $19.99 these are from Target.