New nail looks I've been trying

OK, so you've missed a bunch of my manicures and I'm here to rectify that now. Don't worry.

Dark Green with Patterned Accent

This one features a very dark (almost black) green on all nails but the ring finger. Remember how that is your accent nail?
On that nail I used a Rimmel Steel gray base coat and then free hand drew the arcs of green. After that dried, I used the tip of the brush to make dots of green between each stripe.

White with Neon Undertips

I like this look because the neon can be overwhelming if it's your whole nail, but with just the underneath parts of the tips, it's a fun surprise.

For this look, I started by applying 3 coats of Essie Bone white to each nail.
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably only use 2 coats and let it be a little streaky in order to be more translucent.


View from the underside

Then I painted the under side of each nail with neon orange.
It's important to use a Qtip dipped in nail polish remover and really clean underneath your nails before you paint them.
You probably have some dirt and oil and stuff in there and you want to get it all out so you can make the polish stick well.

Everyone who saw this look in person asked me how I did it so neatly without making a mess on my fingertips.
The answer is that I didn't! I had neon orange all over my fingers. I just took another Qtip dipped in nail polish remover and cleaned it up after I was done. I was careful not to use the Qtip under my nail since I didn't want to accidentally take off the orange.

Starry Sky

These nails belong to my friend Chelsea, who came over and let me mess with her hands.
In this photo the base coat appears grayish but in real life it was more of a sky blue.
Then after three coats of that (it's a cheap UO polish that takes a lot of layers), I went over it with my Essie silver jewel effects flakies.

I am getting better at using the flakies. I still have to really coax them off the brush and  position them on the nail, but it seemed easier this time to get the distribution I wanted.

Any nail requests?

Trench dresses: the coats you don't take off

Winter became Summer almost instantly, it seems.
But if Spring decides to show up, a trench dress is a great transition piece that will take you from one season to the next.
They look polished and business-y but can be fun in a bright color or with bold accessories like a neon necklace.

One thing that you should remember when wearing a trench dress is that it is NOT a coat and that you really shouldn't take it off.
Sometimes, you look down and see those big trench buttons and you're like "I'm indoors! Time to strip down." But in a trench dress, that is a bad idea. Because it's your dress. And you will be showing everyone your underwear.

Here are some great trench dresses from ASOS:

 $63.63 Max C London trench dress
This one is a bright loud color but made from cotton twill which is a traditional, non-shiny fabric so it isn't too over the top.

$87.26 Orion sleeveless trench
This one really cinches the waist and makes you look skinny.
The broad shoulders echo the A line skirt and make you into a real hourglass.

$40.90 ASOS drop waist skirted trench
You have to have the right skin tone to wear this color (and I don't know what tone that might be so don't ask me), but the shape is cute and the little pleated dropped waist skirt is very feminine.

$196 Cooper and Stollbrand Full skirt trench
This has sharp pleats on its long skirt. It's kind of cheating because this can be worn as a coat, but I would prefer it as a dress with nothing underneath.

$40 ASOS white collarless dress coat
This one doesn't have any lapels, so it seems more like a dress and less like a coat, but those pockets and buttons and the waist tie are still strong reminders of the trench it was based on.

$118 ASOS pleated swing trench
This one has a looser shape and is more mod looking. Make sure you wear it with bare legs or thin stockings so the shape doesn't make you into a blob.

Tarte lip color contest

I entered this Birchbox Tarte giveaway contest and I thought I'd be a nice person and let you know about it too.
Click that link and it should take you there.

You could win the lip pencils (I got one in my Birchbox before if you recall) and matching glosses.

Etsy Find of the Day: Black leather envelope bag

$25 Vintage black cross body bag

This leather bag looks so neat and clean when it is all folded up.
Then it unfolds and shows you that it has so many useful compartments!
Much better than a bag with one pocket in it where you just dump stuff and it gets lost.
This would be great for going out or a weekend bag.

Window Farming

Have you heard of this?
City dwellers like me can maximize their sun exposure and grow veggies in a vertical hydroponic system in their windows.

You can buy a kit or make it yourself with DIY instructions; Windowfarms.org has options for either.
The ones you can buy from them are nice looking but wayyyy expensive in my opinion. One column is $120 and 4 columns are $350.

$119.95 One vertical column window farm kit

OR

You can make your own with plastic bottles and some instructions for a hanging window farm. Those instructions are split into a ton of pages and I don't love them.

These instructions about how to create a standing window farm are a little easier to read and follow.

Both versions require a pump, which for me is the level of DIY I do not cross (electricity? no thanks), but I hope some of you make these!

Pendleton Sweaters on Sale

As I've said, Spring is the best time to get sales on Winter stuff. Pendleton is proving this for me with the high quality and long lasting sweaters now 77% off.
Jump on it!

Now, when I buy a coat or sweater off-season, what I usually do is leave it in its packaging until the next Winter.
This serves two purposes:

1. You get to open a present later!
2. It doesn't get musty or moth-eaten or ruined before you've gotten a chance to wear it.

So buy some sweaters and keep them in the plastic.

Men

$46.99 (down from $148) Snowflake toggle sweater
This comes in tan or blue, and I think both are really cute.
I love shawl collar sweaters and I love toggles, and this has both!
It's all wool and would be warm.

$30.99 (down from $98) Shetland cardigan
This is a classic wardrobe staple in a great breathable material.
And it's machine washable! Get one now while they are cheap.
The V neck is flattering and the cut is not too loose and grandpa but also not too tight and Euro. Plus, pockets!

$53.99 (down from $168) Crossroads cardigan
This is nice soft lambswool with a shawl collar and an interesting design. I can't get over the "cross-ness" of it as a Jew, but maybe some less sensitive people or proud Christians can get this one. It's cute and a good deal.

$30.99 (down from $90) Zipper vest
Do you miss Rick Santorum now that he has dropped out? I don't.
And I certainly don't miss his "look," but if you want to celebrate/revile him by dressing as him, this would be the perfect vest. It's too wide, it has an awkwardly thick rib around the waist, and it makes the wearer's shoulders look sloping and sad.
Never too late for Halloween, dudes.

STOP THE PRESSES! I just re-read the description of this on their website and this has a "Contrast  sweat patch" on the neck.
WTFFFFFFFF? That is a feature?!?
I learn things about fashion every day. I am uhh.... lucky.

Women
The women's stuff tends to skew a little frumpier, so while there are 50something styles on sale, I'd recommend not getting most of them.

$37.99 (down from $120) Silk V neck cardigan
Washable and made from a silk and nylon blend. It's a great work sweater that you can keep on your chair in case they decide it's time to make the office into a frozen tundra. Happens often.
It's not super fitted, so wearing it open is good, or belting it is good. Go for black or navy or ivory but skip the other blues. They are the wrong kinds of blue. The kinds that make you look like you have pleated khakis underneath them.

$59.99 (down from $190) Blanket wrap sweater
These are cozy and cute, but they have the tendency to look like bathrobes so check the return policy in case that happens when you put it on.
Made from alpaca and sheep wool.

$37.99 (down from $118) Merino cable jewel neck sweater
The cables are small on this sweater, so if you are a wide person, steer clear. You should be narrow and small for this to look good on you. If you are larger, you might look like you are upholstered.
Also comes in charcoal heather.

Etsy Find of the Day: Blue printed vintage dress

$80 Vintage 1950s dress

The buttons down the front are cute and keep this from being too stifling and high-necked.
I think the color combo is great and reminds me of water.
This dress would look awesome on my friend Annsley.

I like the look of dresses like this, but so often they are polyester which I just say no to. (It hold smells and feels weird to me.)
But this one is all silk!
Yay!

Here is a full length view

Colorful ballet flats on sale at ASOS

$27.97 (down from $45.45) ASOS Louis ballet flat with embroidery

Wheee! These are so much fun.
I like the color blocking and the visible stitching and the neon accents.
Plus the toes are almond instead of totally round which gives you a longer leg look.
How exciting would it be to look down and see these on your feet?
Very.

Spring has sprung, people. And these shoes are under $30. Wear them with jeans now and shorts and skirts in a few months when it's a little warmer out.

Even the insides have a fun pattern!
I am hiding my clicking fingers behind my back to keep myself from ordering immediately.

Up close and personal with the stud detailing.

Buy It For Life

There is a whole movement of people who are against wasteful purchases and disposable goods and espouse the belief that you should make only a few high quality purchases and then use those things (which should be durable) for a really long time.

This idea has a lot of merits, but I'm not totally sold for a variety of reasons which I'll save for another post. Here's a good summary of what the movement is about and one pitfall of it at the end.

If you are in the make-it-good-and-make-it-last bandwagon, there are a bunch of sites that highlight pieces that are good investments.

• BuyItForLife.org is clearly a good place to start looking at these products.
• One that I have just started reading is this sub-reddit.
• There is also this one which started out about clothes but morphed into a little of everything.
• Reactual is a review site that has a whole section devoted to different "buy it for life" items

Here are some of the products from those sites that I think are good purchases:

 $49 Lodge enameled dutch oven
Very similar to the Le Creuset model and just as durable (once you replace the knob with a metal one), but much cheaper--1/5 the price!

$22.34 Lodge cast iron 12" pan
You probably don't even need to buy one of these.
The best place to find cast iron is in your grandparents' or parents' houses.
If they don't want to give up their old cast iron, remind them how much younger and stronger you are and how you can actually lift the damn things.
Challenging grandmas to a cast iron bicep curl contest is fun for the whole family.

$430 Duluth Trading Co Wildfire backpack
Duluth trading has a ton of unbreakable solid stuff. Sometimes I wish I still had a physical, outdoors job so I could buy and use their stuff. Manhattan office culture just doesn't require the same kind of tool belt.

$150 Filson Flight Bag
This is a waxed canvas bag with double bottom and leather reinforcements that can take quite a beating.

$45 Leatherman Skeletool
Has a knife, bottle openener, 2 kinds of pliers, cutters, and carabiner.
Not bad!

$44.50 Duluth Trading Men's Firehose shorts
The thick material these are made from is tougher than cotton duck or denim.

$33 Carhartt washed duck work pants
These are awesome for actual outdoor work. Especially if you have a good butt.

Etsy Finds of the Day: Paintings from Two Elm Studio

Erin McIntosh from Two Elm Studio creates abstract geometric paintings.
The shapes are repeated over and over and the tones and shades of colors vary, giving the paintings a pretty array effect.

They are easy to look at and calming, and they are affordable.

$55 capsule series 8
8" x 8"

$50 Clouds 1
8" x 8"

$55 Capsule series 6
 8" x 8"

$75 Capsule series 10
 8" x 8"

$55 Capsule series 9
 8" x 8"

Convertible suitcase/backpack

Bags that do double duty are so valuable.
I have a soft-bodied rolling suitcase that has hidden backpack straps in it, and it's the bag I use almost every time I go anywhere.

This bag looks similar to what I have (maybe a little stiffer fabric) but is versatile and has a really good price. It doesn't have wheels, but you can carry it by the side like a duffel or with backpack straps.

 $56 ebags weekender etech convertible bag


Having separate outside pockets is also really important- I like to keep my underwear and makeup and hair stuff separate, and then use the extra pocket for laundry on the way home so it doesn't contaminate my clean stuff.

Here's the inside

And here it is in backpack form

Word to the Wise: Crumpler 70% off moving Sale

Crumpler is having a big sale as it gets ready to move stores.

Deal: As Crumpler prepares for its Soho move, everything currently in-store is 70% off. Luggage is marked down to $66, and messanger bags are $20.
When/Where: Ongoing through Monday, April 30, or while supplies last. Daily 11:30am—7:30pm. 45 Spring St at Mulberry St (212-334-9391)

They make great, durable messenger bags that aren't girly and don't have too many logos or busy stuff on them.


Their previous sale

Etsy Finds of the Day: Vintage tribal pattern bathing suits

Bathing suit season is coming! Are you excited? Are you scheduling a lipo appointment? Did me just saying that make you throw up?

Anyway, Etsy has some wild retro bathing suits from when the neon and tribal print thing were "in" around the 1980s:

$56 Tribal and animal print swimsuit
WHOA!
Can you imagine being the swimsuit designer who sat down and sketched this? Or the person who approved it? Or the worker who actually put it together?
Giant WTF. But fun. I feel like I will see a thousand of these at the McCarren pool this summer.

$34 1980s one piece
The crossover surplice top and chevrons are fun, and the neon around the neckline draws attention to the bust.

$25 Vintage skirted swimsuit
Skirted suits are great for hiding a lumpy butt or just pretending you are a grandma.

$46 Vintage black and white tribal suit
This one has a structured top for the girls who need support, and a crazy schizo mish mosh of geometric patterns

$42 High waisted tribal print bikini
The top on this is cute, but the bottoms are exactly the opposite of flattering.
Maybe someone skilled could re-craft them into something less Depends-ish?

Plaid hunter coat for men from Pendleton

$69.99 was $218 Countryman wool coat

Pendleton is having a big sale right now that is mostly uggo but some things are awesome and cheap. Like this great men's coat. It is a great Fall and light Winter jacket.

Right now is a great time to get deals on coats, because everything's on sale as stores try to make room for Spring and Summer merch. So keep your eyes out for good winter wear and put the clothes away somewhere and next year when you take your stuff out again, it's like a brand new present you got yourself!

Etsy Find of the Day: classic saddle bag

$55 Vintage leather saddle bag

This looks like one of those old leather bags that gets better with time and a few scratches.
Worn in and durable and a great go-to for slinging over any outfit.
It feels like an old friend and I really want to get it despite not needing any bags for the next several years.

Jessica Simpson vs Christian Louboutin

Jessica Simpson's $98 Evangel shoe is pretty much an exact replica of the much more expensive $995 Christian Louboutin Staratata shoe (from 2010).

I think they are both a little too Barbie-ish and I would have no idea what to wear with hot pink, yellow, purple, and black all together. I guess just a black dress and let the shoes stand out.
What do you think?
Would you want either?

Opal and diamond ring

Opal and diamond gold ring
estimate $5,000-7,000

Here's another auction ring that I really love.
The blues and greens in the opal are my favorite tones (I don't like the white ones or the reddish fire opals) and the diamonds are small and don't take over or make the ring too bright.

You can outbid me on this one since I can't afford it anyway.