Style – Page 2

Shellac Homes (Get it….? Lol)

My love for shellac died about as quickly as my manicure lasted- 8 days! My nails grew out quicker than I’d ever realised leaving an unattractive gap between my cuticle and my manicure. Like that wasn’t bad enough, I got the highly unattractive bubbles that occur if a shellac manicure isn’t done properly (thank you Apples & Oranges!).

Everyone knows how much I detest the unkempt look and seeing as I could never make it to the salon during the week (I work crazy hours), I got to googling shellac removal at home! Here’s how it’s done:

Tools:

1. Nail buffer
2. Orange/cuticle stick
3. Nail polish remover (or as much acetone as you can possible get in a bottle)
4. Cotton pads/wool
5. Foil paper
6. Hand lotion and Tea Tree Oil

Step 1: Using the nail buffer, file down the gel layer of your shellac manicure until you achieve a matte finish (was so tempted to keep the matte look)

Step 2: Soak cotton cotton pads in nail polish remover and wrap around each nail using the foil as a seal (be careful, the nail polish starts to drip everywhere)

Step 3: Set your timer for 10 mins. I’d suggest keeping one hand free to better manage a messy situation

Step 4: Remove the foil paper. At this stage, the shellac should be cracking/peeling off. Otherwise, slip your nails back in the foil for another 5mins

Step 5: using an orange stick (or cuticle remover in my case) peel off the shellac polish and buffer down nails for a smooth finish

Step 6: wash your hands and apply hand lotion and tea tree oil. Acetone drys out the nails and skin

I was still in the mood for pampering and so decided to use my new OPI texture effect duo (colour: My Current Crush). It’s a liquid sand and so dries with a matte/glitter/sandy finish. The application only requires one base coat and two coats of the liquid sand. No top coat. Amazing!

xXx

Ps: Thank you Ilobe for my new nail polish! Thank you Solape for my Orogold nail kit!

PPs: I did mention, I love nail polish right? and I love pampering! Perfect combination.

Eugene

Remember my post The Spider King’s Daughter? Well, lo and behold, I spotted the object of my desire at Terra Kulture last Tuesday and just HAD to buy. I was going to give her a Nigerian name seeing as she’s the Nigerian interpretation of the Pandora, but Taiwo classed that too cliche and so we went with Eugene. Uncommon yet precious.

No. She’s no Charlotte Olympia, but she sure as hell will do! Hope you like as much as I do.

xXx

Ps: Eugene comes with two ankara purses AND a chain strap. Can you say BARGAIN?

PPs: Does anyone know the designer?

PPs: Have you spotted my shellac nails? I’m thinking I should do a post on them.

5 Blogs 5 Days: Fashions Fade, Style is Eternal

I love Pinterest because it allows me to discover so many new things with very little effort. One of my first Pinterest discoveries (and instant obsession) has got to be Atlantic-Pacific (“AP”). Below are three reasons why:

1. The Atlantic Pacific blog is solely a style blog and I must confess I have a style crush on the author Blaire Eadie. Not every outfit is to my taste (I veer as far away as possible from ripped jeans and sweat shirts), nevertheless; her style is original and unique to her, it’s modern with a twinge of vintage and it’s relevant to her location and the changing seasons. What more could one ask for?

2. The AP blog is very visual. Who needs writing when pictures scream a thousand words? The image quality is also as good as professional.

3. Now this point, I’ll have to give to Wura (my sister), because she pointed it out as I shared this blog with her. She repeats her clothes!!! Most people these days are of the impression that clothes should be worn once and from then on damned into eternal flames. Come off it! Money doesn’t grow on trees. People spend so much on clothes because they should be durable and (as much as possible) they should be timeless. How else will we ever get vintage clothes?

Well there you have it. So far I’ve written a blog on Hair, Beauty and Fashion. I bet you’re wondering what’s up next. You’ll have to visit BV same time tomorrow to find out……

xXx

Ps: This is the first time I have referred to my blog as BV. I think I like it. Might do this more often…..

PPs: It’s FRRRRRIIIIIDDDDAAAAAAAYYYYYYY 🙂

Dara

Ever since I’ve been back, I’ve seen my cousin, Dara, a lot more and even though she’s about 9 years younger than I am, our love for fashion makes us so coeval it’s unimaginable.

Like myself, Dara’s style has evolved over the years however, she seems to have found her distinctive look not to be influenced by anyone or anything. Her contemporary simplicity appears easy and comfortable enabling a sleek transition through various settings. Less will forever be more and she makes this evident by setting a plain base over which she builds her style. I better watch out for this little Diva, she just my be snatching my top spot!

xXx

Ps: It’s my birthday on Wednesday!!!!!!! 😀

The Girl in The Blue Skirt

A couple of weeks ago, I was out shopping at Zara and fell in love with a midi, dodger blue pleated skirt. As it sat on the mannequin’s waist with the wind enabling the Marylin Monroe effect it became clear to me. I had to have it. I picked the smallest size I could find and headed straight for the dressing room, but to my detriment even that was too big for my bony waist.

A couple of weeks on and my sister-Gbonju (remember the one from 2 posts ago?)- is sporting the skirt of my pleated fantasy with a plain black tee, a pair of coral KG’s and a DP bag. You have to admit, she’s quite the hottie.

xXx

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Yesterday was my mum’s birthday and to mark the big one, we headed to London to celebrate. I’d initially planned to don this season’s colour blocks- tangerine orange and emerald green to be specific- however, upon arrival at Zara, they were all out of the emerald green blazer of my rainbow fantasy and I was subjected to the thing I hate the most- compromise.

Oh well, you know what they say, “every cloud has a silver lining” and indeed my cloud was no different. As I drooled over bags in Selfridges, I was stopped by their fashion bloggers who were loving my outfit. A couple of pictures and a few impromptu poses later, I was off again and my pictures should be on the Selfridges blog soon (I’ll post the link as soon as they’re uploaded). Fingers crossed they’ll be decent photos and not the usual shrek-like pictures I’m haunted by.

How sexy does Gbonju look? She normally hates her photo’s but I think this one’s a hit so here we are 🙂

xXx