BLACK ON BLACK MATTE FRENCH MANICURE- DIY

Today I got in Essie MATTE ABOUT YOU and I was so excited to finally try this out!  I'm sure there's another way to do this but I thought I would share my step by step process with you all.  It's really easy once you have everything that you need, but I messed up a few times.   I had to redo some of my nails.  The most important thing is to make sure your nails are 100% dry before applying the tip guides.  I get so impatient waiting for my nails to dry so I learned the hard way.  Also, after doing a little bit of research online, I learned that you should definitely apply a top coat before adding the matte finish because it prevents the black polish underneath from stripping and it also adds more gloss to the tips.

Here's what you need- base coat, black polish, top coat, matte finish, french manicure tip guides.  All of the polish I used is from Essie.  The black polish is called Licorice.

STEP 1: APPLY BASE COAT

STEP 2: APPLY 2 COATS OF BLACK POLISH

STEP 3: APPLY TOP COAT

STEP 4: WHEN COMPLETELY DRY, APPLY TIP GUIDES TO TIP OF NAILS

STEP 5: APPLY THIN COAT OF MATTE FINISH

STEP 6: WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND REMOVE GUIDES

Mine came out pretty decent.  Not perfect but next time it will be better :) It took a lot of patience to do these for the first time.  Would you do your nails like this? XO.

Super Bowl Style

Congrats to the GIANTS & all the fans!! It was such a great game and I'm happy they won!

I went out with my sister to a bar to watch the game for an all you can eat & drink type of thing & of course I had to go in style.

I have on a Giants shirt from Victorias Secret.  I actually borrowed it from my sis.  Didn't even know VS made these.  It's so cute though.  I just bought these new red skinnies from H&M the other day so they went perfect!  They're just like the khaki ones I posted about last weekend and were only $12.95.  I like these so much better than the ones I got from Target.  The fit and style is so much better.  I put on a red lip (russian red) and my black wedges.  :)

It was a super comfy outfit and I love the Giants colors :)

My game face! lol

Sisters <3 

Great game GMEN!

The "Cold" Shoulder

Happy Super Bowl Sunday fashionistas!! I'm not a die hard fan or anything but I definitely do support my New York teams.  So of course I am hoping that the Giants take this win! Even though I don't watch every single football game I do enjoy watching them.  :)

Last night I celebrated with a few of my friends, ladies night style.  We went to 340 Grill in Hoboken for some drinks, apps, & music of course. [ A quick side note- their Santa Fe spring rolls are AMAZING. ]
Breaking into the fashion industry has always been a dream and a goal for me, so for it to finally have happened, it's a really big deal.  So what better way than to celebrate with my loves?
I found these really cute red pants at Urban Outfitters.  I think they were supposed to be shorter, but because I am so tiny they came right to my ankles.  I like it better that way though so they aren't super long.  These pants fit great and the material is so soft. They are almost high waisted and come with a belt tie. They also already come with the bottoms cuffed.

Black & red is one of my favorite color combos.  I was looking through my closet and found this off the shoulder shirt from H&M that I bought about 2-3 years ago.  I haven't worn it in so long but I never wanted to get rid of it.  I love these hidden gems and I absolutely love off the shoulder tops! So I tucked it in and let it come out loosely.  

I have on a simple black heel.  The necklace I'm wearing is from a local thrift shop.  One of my favorites.  I've got on my MK watch & leather studded bracelet from Suite201, two black rings & my earrings are gold rose studs.  I used my H&M envelope clutch.  The final touch was Ruby Woo lipstick from MAC. Another one that never seems to smear or disappear. 

 I put this together so last minute and I really loved it!  Don't get me wrong, I love dresses, but I actually prefer getting different pieces and seeing what I can create.  

Here's a few pics from last night! 

I got my hair cut! :)

One of my loves Jill.  We matched in red & black!  Loved her blazer :)

My love CJ.  She was wearing Suite201 shoes!  They're the blue Dolce Vita ones.  :)

Dolls!  I really liked the shoulder embellishments on Tati's top!

Lauren was giving some shoulder action like me :) And Maria looked cute in her little dress.  Love these girls! 

Have a fab day lovies!! 

xx Naty 

Outfit Submissions

Hey loves! People keep telling me that my blog has inspired them. So don't forget to email me those outfits!! Send a pic and a little blurb about what it was that inspired you to wear your outfit. I've had 2 submissions so far and hoping to get more so I can post on here :) and if you have any other fashion related questions feel free to email me at aloveaffairwithfashion@gmail.com !! I'm here to help!

Tonight I'm a having a little girls night to celebrate this new chapter in my life & finally getting my foot in the door of the fashion industry. I'll post pics of course :) Happy Saturday xo

Essie: Brights & Pastels

Happy Friday!  Today was such a crazy day but I love being busy :) I know I've already posted about some upcoming spring trends and I mentioned that Tangerine Tango is THEE color for 2012, but I am already loving the bright colors and pastel trend for next season too.  I have started seeing them everywhere.  Pastels have always reminded me of Easter for some reason.  Maybe because my mother always dressed me in those shades around that time lol. But I do love them and I'm really happy that they made a comeback.  I got really excited when I saw the Spring 2012 collection for Essie because it includes a great mixture of both pastels and brighter hues.

A lot of times when we purchase things, whether it's nail polish, clothes, shoes, or whatever, we don't really think about what it took to make the product.  Or we don't think about what the designer's thought process might have been or what it was that inspired them to create this item that we want.  So when I did a little bit of research on this new Essie collection, I fell in love with the concept.  And I have to say, it inspired me.  The spring collection pays tribute to the beautiful, ambitious woman of action.  Essie's brand founder, Essie Weingarten, says "Fortune favors the bold.  I am so inspired by women who dream big, go with their instincts and always manage to put their best self forward." LOVE!!! 

[left to right]

Navigate Her

 A Crewed Interest

Ole Caliente

Orange, It's Obvious

To Buy Or Not To Buy

Tour De Finance

I can't wait to try these out. I think my top 2 picks are Navigate Her & A Crewed Interest.  I love sage & mint greens and there's something very feminine about peach that I adore.  Which ones do you like best?

Shoulder Cut Outs & Plaid!

Ever since I saw Kourtney Kardashian wearing this shirt on Kourtney & Kim Take New York I fell in love with it.  I had no idea who the designer was or where I could find it.  So when I started working at Suite201 and saw that we actually had the same exact shirt, I knew it was meant to be! It's from a brand called Siwy Denim and it's the Wasson Plaid Top.  When I tell you that I'm obsessed with it I am not lying.  It's extremely comfortable and so versatile.  I know that I will be wearing it often and in different ways.  The shoulder cut outs are the best part because it adds sex appeal to a menswear inspired top.  There are not many shirts this style and they can't be found in every store so that makes me love it that much more :)

Instead of wearing it with skinny jeans and tucking it in like I usually do with my shirts, I paired it with my plain black H&M leggings and left it out.  I love the oversized shirt look too.  I put on my Bakers wedges to dress it up a little bit more.  I've got on my MK watch, Juicy Couture ring, black studs and ray-ban cats.  

I die for these shoulder cut outs!! Would you wear a shirt this style?

Here's a pic of Kourtney wearing hers in New York.

At Suite201 we all wore plaid today and it wasn't even planned.  Kind of funny but cute at the same time.  We all wore it completely different ways too!! I posted about it on www.shopsuite201.blogspot.com "Mad For Plaid":) 

That's Alina & Kayla.  They're the best!

Sidenote: Almost at 5k views in 2 months! Please click on the join button at the bottom of my blog to become a follower! I appreciate all the love & support!

XO.

Mid Week Style

Happy hump day! Can you even believe that it's already February 1st?  I have no idea where the time is going.  I just have a feeling that this year is going to fly by.  Things have been going great over at Suite201.  I've been creating every day :)  Last night the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce had a grand opening at the store so we had a mini celebration with them.  It wasn't formal or anything but it was pretty cool to be apart of it.

I wore the same legging style pants that I wore in AC.  The ones from H&M with the zippers.  I put on my Zara top with leather embellishments.  I haven't worn it in awhile and I wanted to do it different than last time.  I have on my Bakers wedges, MK watch, and Suite201 leather bracelet.

  I also threw on my H&M faux leather jacket and used my favorite fringe bag. 

A little toast for the store! You see the black nails?  I got Essie Licorice yesterday because I have been dying to try the matte black french manicure but I have not found the matte top coat yet :( So I just did regular black!  I love black nail polish.

Today I wore something preppy/casual.  I really took advantage of the warmer weather and put on my favorite flats from shoedazzle.  These studded spikes make any outfit better :) 

I mentioned a few posts ago that I purchased another new button down from H&M.  This one is a periwinkle shade.  You know by now that I love my button downs. I have on my black skinnies too and the same accessories as last night.  

Today we created our first video blog (vlog) for the store.  I am thinking of doing some soon for my own blog too!  I think they're really fun to do.  I made another purchase from there today and I think I might be wearing it tomorrow or this weekend.  I have been wanting this top since I first saw Kourtney Kardashian wearing it and now it's mine!! :) Enjoy the rest of your day lovies!

xx