Considering it is meant to be summer, I find the amount of rain that falls over us in England is most depressing. Pondering upon thoughts on how to lighten to bad moods that rain presents us with, I was confronted with one item, the umbrella. Now to you, when I mention umbrella’s, you probably think, what the heck is this girl on? am I close? Well I have a weakness for them, but a very bad track record too. Every umbrella I have bought has broken, I just can’t work them in the wind – surely there must be some kind of training, or special technique to knack?

Anyway, umbrellas come in so many cute and wonderful patterns that them in themselves are becoming one of the greatest fashion accessories to beat the rain with. I thought I would show you some amazing umbrella designs that I fall in love with every time I see; designed by the wonderful Lulu Guinness.

We might as well be glamourous, even in the rain, agree?

Birdcage Umbrella - £32.00

Every Cloud Eliza Umbrella - £35.00

Bloomsbury Shop Front Umbrella - £40.00

The World Is Your Oyster Tiny Umbrella - £28.00

Take a peak over at Lulu Guinness 

Come over and visit me at Floral Etiquette

Many celebrities decide that they want to launch their own fashion line but not all are successful beyond a season or two. Nicole Richie is not a failure by any means. She has not one but two great lines, House of  Harlow 1960  and Winter Kate. House of Harlow is her jewelry and accessories line and she really takes pride in her work. She is often seen wearing her own products, sunglasses included.

Sunglasses are an accessory that really can tie an outfit together. You can also change your sunglasses depending on your mood or outfit. There are so many great, unique House of Harlow 1960 Sunglasses to choose from.

House of Harlow 1960 Carey Sunglasses  FREE SHIPPING at shopbop.com. These contour sunglasses feature a rounded plastic frame. Logo detail at temples. Case included. * Frame is 5.5″ wide (measured from temple edges) and 2″ high. * Imported. – White

House of Harlow 1960 Olivia Sunglasses with Chain  FREE SHIPPING at shopbop.com. Exclusive to Shopbop. These round plastic sunglasses feature an attached chain necklace. * Frame is 5.5″ wide (measured from temple edges) and 2″ high. * Chain is 38″ long. * Imported. – Black/Silver

House of Harlow 1960 Retro Oversized Sunglasses  FREE SHIPPING at shopbop.com. Featured in Life&Style, Oct 11, 2010. These oversized sunglasses feature metal plates at the round plastic frame. Metal logo detail at temples. * Frame is 6″ wide (measured from temple edges) and 2.5″ high. * Imported. – Black

House of Harlow 1960 Marie Sunglasses  FREE SHIPPING at shopbop.com. These sunglasses feature a square plastic frame and brushed metal accents. Logo detail at temples. Case included. * Frame is 5.75″ wide (measured from temple edges) and 2.25″ high. * Imported. – Light Brown

House of Harlow 1960 Nicole Sunglasses  FREE SHIPPING at shopbop.com. These oversized sunglasses feature metal plates at the round plastic frame. Metal logo detail at temples. * Frame is 6″ wide (measured from temple edges) and 2.5″ high. * Imported. – Red

Fringe is everywhere this season. There are numerous fringe shoes to choose from as well as fringe clothing and jewelry. One of the best ways to show your love of fringe is by carrying a fringe handbag. There are endless possibilities when it comes to a fringe purse, you can find casual everyday bags with fringe as well as bags for special occasions including evening clutches.

The great thing about fringe bags is that they all do not look the same. Some of these bags have long thin fringe pieces all over while some have minimal fringe on them. There are plenty of short pieced fringe bags of which many of these bags have layers of fringe making them stand out in the crowd. You can find neutral color fringe bags as well as bright and bold bags. There are even fancy metallic evening fringe clutches.

Everyday Fringe Bags

1. Cleobella Florence Distressed Large Diamond Fringe Satchel Available in Tan (pictured), Grey, and Black this bag is definitely not your typical fringe bag. This bag is naturally distressed and is the perfect balance between edgy and sophisticated.
2. Badgley Mischka Jess Shoulder Bag is a casual crossbody bag with adjustable strap and fringe detailing is available in pewter (pictured) and bronze.
3. Wendy Nichol Elk Fringe Satchel is another crossbody bag. This bag has a woven strap and fringe detailing across the front flap. Available in Canyon Brown.
4. Carla Mancini Top Zip Bag with Fringe Rows has multiple rows of fringe detailed with studs. Two choices of straps for this bag depending on your length desire for the bag. Available in black (pictured ) and tan.
5.  Big Buddha Ray is a bright and bold fringe bag with strong fringe accents across the front and sides of this bag. Available in Teal (pictured ), Black, White, and Yellow.

Small  Fringe Bags and Clutches

1.  BCBGMAXAZRIA Evening Mixed Media Fringe Clutch is a great metallic fringe clutch that is the perfect bag to carry when you are in a simple solid color dress allowing the bag to be the “pop”
2. B. Makowsky Martina is not a heavy fringe bag, in fact the fringe is only the tassel for the zipper. Available in Black, Gold. Purple (pictured), and white this is a great small bag to take with you when you only need your essentials.
3. Tarnish Multi Zip Leather Crossbody Satchel is a casual and edgy fringe bag in a soft leather. This bag has so many color choices : Brown, Dark Grey, Desert, Kiwi, Petrol Blue, Purple (pictured), and Yellow.
4. Inge Christopher Beaded Celtic Fringe Bucket Clutch is a beaded fringe evening bag that comes in Blush (pictured), Black, Gold, Pewter, Ice Blue, and Silver with exquisite bead work.
5. Whiting and Davis Crystal Fringe Pewter – Clutch in Pewter (pictured) or Black is the perfect bag to carry if you want something fun and different. The bag can be carried with or without the strap.
6. BCBGMaxAzria – Evening Beaded Fringe Small Shoulder Bag in Black is eye catching and dramatic.
7. Wendy Nichol Tobacco Bag is a small casual black leather bag with woven shoulder strap has fringe detailing along the sides and is a small crossbody bag to take with you when you only need a few essentials.

As a child I loved Wonder Woman  and had the underoos  to prove it. With her lasso and bullet proof bracelets I thought she was the coolest super hero ever.  While the character has been around since the 1940s, the height of her popularity was in the late 70s when Lynda Carter starred in the televison show The New Adventures of Wonder Woman. Slowly, starting in the 80s her popularity decreased but in the 90s there were talks of  making a movie of her though it never got off the ground. Now in 2011 she is back in full force not only with the announcement that NBC was going ahead with making an updated Wonder Woman TV show but MAC Cosmetics  has gone ahead and released a Spring 2011 Wonder Woman line of makeup.

MAC Cosmetics has been a leader and innovator in the world of professional makeup for a while as well as a poplar choice for everyday consumers as well. The color palettes are strong,  bold and not for the tame hearted.  The pairing of Wonder Woman and MAC could not be a better fit since both are paving the way for all women to show that they are strong and confident. All of these products are limited edition so you will need to hurry up and buy them today.

EYE SHADOWS

There are 3 great color palettes for the eyeshadows so you are sure to find a color you are wanting to wear.  All come in a comic book style packaging.

From Left to Right : x4 DEFIANCE, x4 VALIANT, x4 LADY JUSTICE

LIPSTICK

There are 4 different lipstick colors as part of this line and all come in a comic book style outer packaging and a glossy red blue and yellow lipstick shell.

Colors from Left to Right: HEROINE ,MARQUISE D’, RUSSIAN RED, SPITFIRE

LIPGLASS

If you prefer a lip gloss to a lipstick there are 4 great colors to pick from.

From Left to Right: EMANCIPATION , WONDER WOMAN, , ATHENA’S KISS, SECRET IDENTITY

POWDER BLUSH

Two great color combos so you just need to find the right one for your skintone.  Amazon Princess ( Bright yellow pink/Deep blue pink with gold pearl ) and Mighty Aphrodite ( Warm peach coral with gold pearl/Bright coral pink with gold pearl)

AMAZON PRINCESS and MIGHTY APHRODITE

MINERALIZE SKINFISH

A neutral powder to give you a smoother looker complexion. Mineralize Skinfinish features two shimmer shades and one natural matte shade.

PINK POWER and GOLDEN LARIAT

REFLECT GLITTER AND COLORED PIGMENT

Everyone can use a little sparkle at times and the reflect glitter gives you it. Whether it is a natural pearl sheen or a golden sheen one of the MAC Wonder Woman reflect glitter gives it to you. The glitter is not eye safe so do not apply it there.  If though you are looking for a bolder colors then the colored pigments are the way to go.

From left to right: BRIGHT FUCHSIA and ULTRA MARINE PIGMENT
REFLECT BRONZE and REFLECT PEARL GLITTER

OPULASH MASCARA AND EYELINER

Whether it is purple green blue or black mascara Wonder Woman by MAC has the color for you. With rich saturated colors and long lasting this curl enhancing is the 0ne to wear.The liquid eye liner is deep and bold and can be applied as thin or as heavy as you want to.

From Left to Right: ARMY OF AMAZONS, BAD BAD BLACK , THEMYSCIRA, VICTORIOUS,
PENULTIMATE EYE LINER

NAIL LACQUER

In signature red and blue Wonder Woman colors these nail polishes are bright, bold, and long lasting.

OBEY ME and SPIRIT OF TRUTH

Ever since I was young I have been drawn to heart jewelry. My go to every day necklace is a Lagos Diamond Heart Pendant on a Chain. This is one of many heart necklaces and bracelets that I own. Since it is American Heart Month I thought it would be appropriate to show off some great heart jewelry that can be worn year round.

The first piece of heart jewelry that I love is the WGACA Vintage Vintage Chanel ’93 CC Heart Necklace. This necklace has an asymmetrical heart on a chain with the signature Chanel interlocking Cs in the middle. While this is bit of a pricy necklace, it has  a classic look that will never go out of style.


For More Information or To Buy Click Here

High on my wishlist is the Jennifer Zeuner Mini 1/2″ Heart Bracelet with Ruby. Not only do I not have much rose gold jewelry but the Ruby is my birthstone. I love how this bracelet has a secure lobster claw clasp and is adjustable so it is sure to fit no matter the wrist size. I do not have to worry that it will be too big and have to take it to a jeweler spending  money resizing it.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Most of my heart jewelry is necklaces and bracelets, I do not have much in term of earrings but I am really liking the
Marc by Marc Jacobs Surreal Heart Drop Earrings. These are long dangle chain earrings, with a chain heart at the bottom of each drop.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Surreal Heart Drop Earrings

Not all of my jewelry is solid gold or silver and simple. Many of the rings that I wear are unique and one of a kind. I love big oversized cocktail rings especially. While I do not have the Marc by Marc Jacobs Colorblock Hearts Dome Ring it is very high on my wishlist. This is a fun conversation piece that should be worn with no other rings on the same hand.

For More Information of To Buy Click Here

If I did not already own the Lagos heart pendant necklace, I would most definitely have this necklace at the top of my wishlist. The Alex Woo “Little Princess” Diamond And 14kt White Gold Heart Pendant, 16″ is very similar to the Lagos that I wear constantly. This is a great necklace to wear for any occasion.

Alex Woo “Little Princess” Diamond And 14kt White Gold Heart Pendant, 16″

I do not tend to wear many bracelets that are not a silver or gold chain but there is something about the Accessories & Beyond Set of 15 Black Leather Bangles. These are a bunch of leather wrap bracelets that can be worn with as few or as many bracelets at a time as you want to. While the majority of the bracelets are a simple black leather , some the 15 have a heart charm on it.

For More Information of To Buy Click Here

No matter the time of year you can always wear heart jewelry from the subtle and refined, to the fun and trendy. Take some time to look and you are bound to find something that fits your taste.

I hate commercials especially during long awards shows so I always use my DVR to record them so I can fast forward through commercial and parts of the show that I have little interest in seeing. The 2011 Grammy’s are not an exception. I had a plan with watching this show, to see the performances of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Eminem, and Bruno Mars. I would fast forward though the majority of the show unless something caught my eye. The Cee Lo / Gwyneth Paltrow caught my eye so I watched. Their performance was definitely one of a kind, and besides Cee Lo wearing a costume that reminded me of Elton John from the 1970s, the thing that was most memorable to me was the shoes that Gwyneth Paltrow was wearing. I knew that they looked familiar to me, in fact I briefly talked about them in a post I made a few weeks prior about Bright and Bold Spring 2011 Shoes.

The shoes that Gwyneth wore are Christian Louboutin Color block Booties and they are most definitely out of my price range. I knew that since this was the second time these shoes caught my eye, the search had to begin to find similar more affordable color block shoes. After a bit of research I found that Jessica Simpson makes some fabulous color block shoes and they are a great affordable alternate to the more expensive Louboutin shoes. Below are the two most popular Jessica Simpson color block shoes and a couple of other brands that are also very stylish and chic. I hope you enjoy.

The  Jessica Simpson Scarletta is a peep toe pump with unique detailing at the ankle. The brown allows the shoes to match so many different items in your wardrobe and the pops of blue and orange are bold but not overpowering.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

The  Jessica Simpson Women’s Ely Mary Jane Pump is a bright and colorful colorblock Maryjane Heel that is priced under $100. This shoe has a high heel, 5″ to be exact so make sure you are comfortable walking at such a height before buying them.

For More Information or To Buy Click Herel

7 for All Mankind Women’s Farran Strappy High Sandal is a more muted colorblock sandal prefect for days when you want more neutral, not bright and bold colors. With a mixture of different textures and patterns, this T-Strap 3 3/4″ heeled shoe is practical and visually pleasing.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

French Sole FS/NY Women’s Wedgewood Ballet Flat are a great colorful flat shoe that can be worn for work or for fun. This shoe comes in three color combinations : bright multi (as pictured), cognac multi, and multi metallic. All three of these color choices are perfect for the spring 2011 trends.

The excitement level for the movie Pirates of the Caribbean is not just seeing Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow it is also for the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean nail polish collection that will be released shortly before the movie which is May 20, 2011.  Not confirmed but I am hearing that the nail polish will come out on May 1st.  This 7 piece collection of polishes features 6 creme polishes and a silver shatter polish.  The colors are inspired by the Caribbean Ocean are are cool pastel colors.  Many people are saying that a pirate collection of nail polish should be deep dark jewel tone colors but I like these colors. They are perfect for the spring and summer days.

L-R:

• Silver Shatter, a shimmering silver with a crackled, two-texture silver finish
• Skull & Glossbones, a gorgeous light gray
• Sparrow Me the Drama, a pink that means business
• Steady as She Rose, a dangerously seductive rosy pink
• Planks A Lot, a lust-worthy purple
• Strangers Tides, an unchartered sea of sage
• Mermaid’s Tears, a magical green

The exact date of the release of this collection has not been announced but it should be out late April. If you can not wait for these colors, especially the silver shatter you can get other Shatter Polishes Here.

UPDATE: SILVER SHATTER AND THE REST OF THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN COLLECTION ARE AVAILABLE NOW

OPI has teamed with Serena Williams for the 2011 Tennis Grand Slam Tournaments and releasing a duo of polishes for each event. The first event was the Australia Open and the nail polishes that went along with that were Simply Smash-ing! & Black Shatter. The next Grand Slam event is the French Open and OPI has recently released the polishes that are being tied into this event. The colors are Spark De Triomphe and White Shatter. The Spark De Triomphe is a shimmery gold with different size flecks of gold glitter in it. This is a great color to wear on its own but looks amazing with the white shatter on top of it.  The exact release date for these polishes has not been announced but they do say that it will be in April. The opening matches for the French Open are May 22 so my guess is that the OPI colors will come out mid to late April.

If you can not wait for the White Shatter by OPI to come out you can always buy the China Glaze version White Crackle (Lightning Bolt) which is for sale now. You can also read more about shatter polishes here.

****WHILE NOT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THERE WILL BE 2 MORE GRAND SLAM FRANCE POLISHES. RALLY PRETTY PINK ( A Metallic Pink)  AND  RED SHATTER. KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR MORE DETAILS, PICTURES, AND WHERE TO BUY. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE COLORS

**** NOT ANNOUNCED EITHER….THE REMAINING GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENTS WIMBLEDON AND THE US OPEN WILL HAVE A NAVY SHATTER, A TURQUOISE,SHATTER , AND A BLUE SHATTER RELEASED AS PART OF THE DUO COLLECTIONS. KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR MORE DETAILS, PICTURES, AND WHERE TO BUY. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE COLORS.

NARS Cosmetics, founded by Francois Nars in 1994 is the leading brand of makeup for makeup artists, designers, and photographers. Francois , a makeup artist wanted to create a artistic, bold makeup that would stand out on the runway or pages of a magazine. NARS is a brand for women who want their makeup to grab attention and they are quite successful at it. While NARS is best known for their vivid eyeshadows and lipsticks, their nail polishes are equally as bold and exciting.

The selection of colors of NARS polishes is not as expansive as other brands and you will not find many varied shades to a color but that is fine because the hues of a color are the perfect one. Another great thing about NARS nail polishes is that even though they may only release a color for a season or two before pulling it, they do re release some of those colors as part of their vintage collection.

According to top fashion editors and stylists some of the hottest colors for nails this Spring 2011 season are blues, greys, pale pinks, and nudes. NARS has all of these colors in either their regular collection or their vintage collection.

My favorite of the “hot” colors is their blue polish called Blue Lagoon and is part of their re released Vintage Collection,  meaning that you should hurry up and buy a bottle today. The is no announced end date for this color but I would not take a risk that it will be around for too much longer. This iridescent powder blue polish is on the thin side so you most likely will need 3 to 4 coat of this color on your nails. A trick with this polish to prevent it looking streaky is to wait a few minutes between coats so each one has a chance to dry, this will make each coat go on flawlessly.  Another great idea to do with this color is to layer it over another blue polish.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

NARS  Orgasm nail polish is a pale peach pink nail polish that has a bit of a gold iridescence to it.  This is a very sheer polish so if you want a more opaque finish to it you will either need 3 to 4 coats to it , waiting a few minutes between each coat to prevent streaking , or use it  as a top coat over another color. This color does look good though with a coat or two as a sheer polish.
For More Information or To Buy Click Here

If pink is not what you are looking for but still want a pale color for this spring then a nude polish like Versailles
is a great choice. This color is a very pale color with a bit of a gold shimmer to it so you will need 3-4 coats to it. If however you want a darker nude, a smoky taupe color that is creamy not sheer then Bad Influence is the color for you.  Since this color is not sheer you can get a great finish with 2 coats.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

While  glitter polish is not new , the way that  glitter polishes are viewed  is very different than they have been  in the past.  I remember when I was 8 or 9 years old how much I begged my mom to buy me some glitter polish. Glitter polish back then was a cheap dollar polish that would last for a day or so, but as a kid, that was fine with me. Now, glitter polish is a great choice for adults to wear since the quality and look of glitter polish has improved immensely.

The popular glitter polishes made and sold now can not be compared to the glitter polishes of the past. These new , ever so popular and trendy polishes are made from the best ingredients. They often are jellylike, meaning that the glitter is suspended and layered as opposed to looking flat and one dimensional.  This makes it the  perfect accent to you outfit allowing you to forgo attention grabbing jewelry  since the glitter is so blingy and shiny.

Deborah Lippmann is an  industry leader in cosmetics, being a popular brand that  celebrities have worn for a while now. The nail polishes created by Deborah Lippmann are a must have, especially the  glitter polishes. These polishes do not contain toulene, DPP, or formaldehyde ( also known as being the 3 free) which are harmful chemicals that other less quality brands of polish include in their formulas. Deborah Lippmann also does not test products on animals. The glitter polishes are  great on their own or as a top layer to a solid cream polish.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquer – Boom Boom Pow is a   “24-carat gold flecked explosion” that was inspired by Kate Moss during  a photo shoot that Deborah worked on with her. The shoot had a nude Kate Moss adorned with gold necklaces, bracelets, and rings. This  inspired Deborah to create a nail polish that shows  that Gold Nail polish is THE accessory to wear. The base of this polish is shimmery micro gold. The glitter pieces mixed in are both tiny and small hexagonal pieces.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquer – Today Was A Fairytale is Virgin Diamond Powder-infused silvery-blue starlight shade with brilliant silver sequins. This color was inspired by songstrees divas Cher and Mariah Carey, more specifically the dramatic hand gestures that they have. Deborah wanted a color that would be as show stopping as the divas themselves and could be seen by all the  from the front row to the back of the arena. The polish has a lot  of micro hexagonal glitter as well as larger hexagonal silver sequins.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquer – Across The Universe is a color that is a sheer navy jelly base with metallic blue and green hexagonal and small glitter pieces. The shine of this polish is unbelievable and spell-binding. You can just stare at your nails and truly feel you are traveling across the universe.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Lippmann Collection Nail Lacquer – Bad Romance is a black semi-sheer jelly base that is packed with magenta glitter and hexagonal sequins. When the light hits your nails the contrast between the glitter and the deep burgundy base is truly exquisite.

For More Information or To Buy Click Here

Lippmann Collection- Happy Birthday is truly a party in a bottle. A clear jelly base polish with small and hexagonal multi colored glitter, this color immediately makes you think about sprinkles on a birthday cake. A fun color to wear no matter the occassion. This color is great on its own but is even better layered on top of a black or white polish.

No matter the Deborah Lippman color you decide on there are a few helpful hints you should know to help maximize the application of these polishes. First, always apply the polish to a clean, dry nail. You should also put a base coat on first, it does not have to be a Deborah Lippman base but it should be a a 3 free brand.  Once the base is on you can apply the glitter. Use the least amount of strokes as possible, so that the sequins stay in place. Try not to wipe the brush on the side touching your nail, this too will disturb the glitter. Wait a few minutes between layers so each can dry a bit. Many of these glitter polishes are shiny on their own but you can always top it with a super shine top coat.

Chances are you will tire of the color before it chips or fades and when you are ready to change polish colors you may find that these polishes are a bit harder to remove compared to a regular creme polish. The trick for removal is quite simple. Using cotton balls or pads, cut them into 10 small pieces slightly larger than the size of your nail. Soak the cotton in some acetone-free nail polish remover. While the pieces are soaking cut up 5 small pieces of foil , large enough to wrap around your finger.  Once ready to use put a soaked piece of cotton on top of a finger and wrap the foil around the finger. Do the same for the remaining fingers on your hand. Wait 5 minutes, unwrap and most of the polish should have rubbed off but any remaining polish should wipe right off with ease. Once the first hand is done, repeat with the other hand.  You are now ready to start your manicure over with the next great color you choose.