For this manicure I used my two new neons from Orly: "Beach Cruiser" and "Melt Your Popsicle" topped with a stamp from Dashica (Big Sdp-A) and Northern Lights "Gold":
Talk to me, dance with me David! (Yes, since I saw the films The Hunger and Labyrinth, I have harboured a passion for Bowie's unconventional looks and I'd certainly give him the time of day!)
However, today's song may be Bowie's "fashion" but my nails are not Bowie inspired (yet! Ziggy Stardust nails would look good!), they are instead inspired by Alexander McQueen. I don't read magazines but whilst babysitting there was one to hand so I took a look and saw some photos of his recent collection. I was drawn to one particular colour combination at first but so many of the pictures were inspiring that I foresee a few McQueen inspired manicures to come. Today's manicure is a black and white stamping one featuring Orly "Liquid Vinyl" and BM 214 in a design that may not be too unique but looks divine, classic and evokes the pictures of McQueen's collection that follow:
For one day I sported this quick manicure featuring A England " and Color Club "Platinum Record" on the tips but my discoloured nails showed through so it came off and I didn't make much effort with the photo taking as the discolouration showed up in almost every picture. I love it though so it will make a repeat appearance I am sure:
This post calls for a repeat of my song choice last weekend: "At Last" by Etta James!
At last, I got stamping to work!
I gave up months ago after my stamper would not pick up any prints or only part of one (despite filing the stamper and using konad polish). I managed to get it to work once with Zoya Trixie. BUT today I decided that even after only wearing my black and white look for only one day, I was going to change it on Sunday and I'd try out some afternoon stamping.... and it worked! I tested out random stuff using both Konad and BM plates, here's the result:
Even though this was just a hodge podge of patterns, I quite like it :) I only did my left hand and sat back rather pleased with myself. The husband had said "I hope you get it to work" and after an unfortunate few hours he had to spend in the office, I proudly showed him my hand when he returned.
I was going to do some floral nails tomorrow freehand but I think I might test out some stamping....
I'd forgotten what this video was like, not one of MJ's best IMO; video or song, but it was running through my mind as I prepared my nails tonight to match my outfit tomorrow: a black and white mod 60s style tunic dress. Something I will be wearing to work and an evening at a National Museum of Scotland entitled "Night of the Mummy"! It should be brilliant: live music, Radio One DJs, a dance act, comedians, a film screening (Abbot and Costello "Meet the Mumm"), the Egyptian exhibit, archaeologists on site, a roving fashion show by Edinburgh's own Jenners store, a dress up area, retro games, silent disco, bars and a whisky cocktail designed for the night (not my cup of tea!).
Back to nails, tonight's nails are brought to you by the colours black and white. Namely, Orly "Au Champagne" and "Liquid Vinyl" trimmed with China Glaze "Some Like It Haute":
xoxo
Update: the museum event was brilliant fun. My husband and sister have never been to a silent disco and they are adamant they will now come to the yearly Edinburgh ones during the weekends of August in the festival. The Victorian hall at the museum is my favourite landmark in the burgh, the detail disappeared in the app photo below but trust me, it's beautiful. My sister poses with a T-Rex, me and my husband at the silent disco in the music room:
It was my favourite cousin's wedding on Sunday. Don't weddings make you come over all happy? Especially when it's someone you love. Best wishes to the happy couple! I'm singing a bit of Louis although her wedding song was Etta James' "At Last" but both are below for your viewing pleasure :)
So it's been a busy weekend with helping my cousin make her special day wonderful. One of my jobs was to do some manicures and the weekend before last we tested out some peacock nail art as that is the theme of her two weddings and her hen weekend. Yes, you heard me: two weddings! Yesterday was the first of two, one for a religious ceremony for her parents and the second will be in Mauritius in June (I can't wait!). However on the day, she had to get some gel nails as her own had broken and not grown back yet and she decided once she had her glitter tattoo on her hand and arm, that it was best to keep her nails a simple french.
Thus I was despatched to other tasks and to manicure the other ladies. I did her sister-in-law, her sister and my sister all by 230am on Saturday night. No beauty sleep for me for the wedding! And my own was left until the next day in a rush at 12pm, not my best work :(
All glitter tattoos you will see in the photos below were done by a girl called Nadia. Mine is still stuck hard and fast to my hand through a few showers!
My cousin's swirls in Orly "Luxe" topped with Color Club "Gingerbread"
and swirls in OPI "Cuckoo For This Color"
Her sister-in-law's swirls in OPI "Cuckoo For This Color"
with Zoya "Trixie" french and Orly Artist striper in "White":
My sister's in Orly "Liquid Vinyl" with an Orly "Luxe" french topped with
Milani "Gold FX" glitter and Color Club "Gingerbread" holographic glitter:
***Photo to be updated***
My own manicure in Orly "Luxe" and China Glaze "Little Drummer Boy" v gaps:
My first manicure in October was the week of my birthday using my new OPI "Ski Teal We Drop", a beautiful teal that I decided to try stamping on. It didn't work out too well so I only did an accent nail:
On my birthday itself I changed my nails to a dark red from China Glaze called "City Siren" which I thought would look great on my nails but is a bit too brown toned for me to love it. I decided to go dotty for my birthday! I loved this dotty effect so much that I wore it for two weeks, I must do it again:
I also got myself a birthday present of six of the muppets collection: Designer de Better, Pepe's Purple Passion, Divine Swine, Gettin' Miss Piggy With It, Wokka Wokka and Meep-Meep-Meep. Ahhhhh, I love the muppets! I didn't get my favourite muppet Kermy's polish but am thinking it might be on the hit list!
After my China Glaze, I had to change it up with a Zoya. "Envy" this time and somehow it ended up looking like a Xmas manicure:
I had become a devotee of Seche Vite by this time but on this manicure it seemed to cause some shrinkage.
One Saturday afternoon, I invited my half sister over for a pamper party with some friends to do nails and make up with my friend Victoria. She ended up only bringing one friend with her and in the end, I am quite glad! (I'd forgotten what "interesting" conversation you can have with a gaggle of girls aged 12!) My sister also joined us and despite her disdain for nail art, she let me do a subtle neutral design on her:
The patchwork design looked so nice and a great way to use my more of my growing polish collection so I treated myself to one in Zoya "Sooki", China Glaze "2030" and Color Club "Where's the Soiree?" (it kills me to write "color" like that with my pedantic pants nickname but I guess it is an American company, sigh...)
I ended October with a manicure I didn't like too much as it was a poor effort. It was my attempt at cherry blossoms but I think my branches were too thick due to using the wrong brush. I did like them overall so I shall try to recreate it sometime. I did my cherry blossoms on Orly "Ancient Jade":
