Trending Again: White Nail Polish

and it's back! ... white nail polish. as seen at the Rag & Bone, Vivienne Westwood Gold Label and Moschino SS13 runway shows. Beauty expert, Jenny Longworth describes this trend as "cooler, graphic take on a fresh summer colour".

i remember the first time i saw a friend wearing white nail polish back in 2006 and i just thought it was the best idea ever! futuristic, clean, and unique.

this weekend, instead of going for a white out white or neon pink, i went for a pale white but the girls around me at the salon were going for the white out white. damn. too trendy already?

what's your current nail polish trend?

Quote: Bob Dylan

"When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it - don't back down and don't give up - then you're going to mystify a lot of folks."

- Bob Dylan

I Covet: Bauble Bar

I discovered Bauble Bar as I subscribed to a Who What Wear contest and started receiving their daily emails. Probably 1 of the few daily suscriptions I LOVE along with The Outnet, Net-A-Porter, J. Crew and Jetsetter. Ever since I've recommended the site to all my friends because it's easy on the pocket and simply fun fashion jewelry. Honestly, I haven't bought anything from the site because I'm afraid once I receive the item it will look like plastic scratched up jewelry from H&M. Therefore, hopefully they will open a pop store once again in New York so I can actually see and touch the items.

I usually frequent Bauble Bar for their statement and bib necklaces especially after visiting over-priced and last season jewelry stores in Nicaragua. BB definitely refreshes my trendy mind with their Guest Bartenders and Must List and reminds me to keep calm and not shop imported goodies. ha!

Therefore, I invite you all to discover Bauble Bar and some of my favorite pieces...

NEON ALAQUA BIB

$36

ICE SELENE PENDANT NECKLACE

$34

ONYX PHOENIX NECKLACE

$34 

Random: 99 Problems

These great illustrations by Ali Graham take Jay-Z’s lyrics and turn them into fun and entertaining moments, letting us know that even world famous rappers have problems. 

Photo & Info Via: Snob Society

ThrowBack: 80s Power Suit

Photo Via: Who What Wear

Photo Via: streetfsn or jak and jil

Photo Via: ELLE Sweden

Photo Via: "Head To Toe" - Blogger, Atlantic Pacific. She is wearing RED Valentino.

ever heard of the term "power dressing"? it stems from the 1980s working woman who started hustlin' and dressin' to get ahead in the game....seen the movie, "Working Girl"? designers like Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan and Anne Klein made it happen and the 80s woman splurged on sharp "matchy/mactchy" blazers, pantsuits or midi skirts, which eventually led to striped and softer power suits due to Madonna's "Blond Ambition" era and don't even get me started on Ally McBeal...a show my sister still watches! at this time, my sister was a newlywed and her whole team and company was all male (i remember because she had to babysit me and take me to work). her closet back then was jam packed with a colorful array of fuchsia  dark red, black, pin striped, gray, lily, purple, navy blue, light blue, olive green, cream, yellow, white, baby pink and many more power suits that differentiated her from the rest and lead her to bigger roles. till this day, she still has them (well not ALL of them) and I can tell she found them at Macy's. 

little by little i've been vintage browsing her closet for blazers or adding tailored trousers to my everyday look and now, the whole look is making a comeback! except now in floral, bolder stripes, palm prints, animal print, all prints, and with shorts! simply wear a crisp white bottom down, button it up all the way, add a bow tie if you like, pintate la boca (literally: paint your mouth) as my mom says, throw on leopard or silver pumps, pick up your tote and don't forget your i-phone! 

my favorite example of power dressing is Hillary Clinton, I saw the picture below over a month ago and thought, is power dressing really dead? So, I started cleaning up my interview look and felt a lot more confident. I felt a little too confident, that I started trying on blazers completely out of my budget around the Meatpacking district at DVF, Alice+Olivia and had a pricey but delicious lunch at Pastis.

So thank you, Bianca Jagger, YSL, Giorgio Armani, Hillary Clinton and Coco Chanel for the original crisp power suits but ... I'm kinda obsessed with the spunky, Jenna Lyons (J. Crew) working girl look. 

But I'll never forget,

DRESS FOR THE JOB YOU WANT NOT THE JOB YOU HAVE.

"Wall Street may be 95 percent men, but don't dress like one. But don't dress like a girly-girl either." - @marieclaire

    

Fab Friday: ESTEFAN "Dark Romance" look book

from accessories designer to fashion designer, Estefania Lacayo names her latest ESTEFAN collection "Dark Romance" and brings forth intriguing elegance with sheer black lace cocktailwear and effortless seduction with attention seeking tulle cut-outs. the palette, the edgy black and white looks, and the black leather all capture the concept of faint love. 

however, what confuses me are the colorful candy striped pieces from her May show?

if you missed her "Dark Romance" collection debut back in May, be sure not to miss it at Nicaragua Diseña 2013.

ESTEFAN Lookbook Colection I-13 ''Dark Romance''

Models: Megan Abbott, Cherry Cherrita
Hair: Max Salon | carlos corrales
MakeUp: Alejandro Ayon
Photography: Carlos Berríos
Location: Hotel Granada Nicaragua

NewsWorthy: Nicaragua Diseña 2013

i gotta give it to my assistant last year, Andrea. working ND really does kick your ass and we are at 3 weeks from the event. from press release writing, casting models, tv interviews, designer meetings, updating social media, answering 200 emails a day from prospective models, artists, sponsors - all while making sure my other clients and main boss, Shantall are also being taken care of. 

still don't know what Nicaragua Diseña is? in short, it is a design incubator sponsored by the Nicaraguan Tourism Board (INTUR) that showcases emerging designers. The Shantall Lacayo team works along INTUR as consultants. 

how does it work? it's a mix of CFDA Fashion Fund except we don't give awards or 100K - Trade Shows except you don't pay for an exhibition space - and MILK MADE NYC, you don't pay for runway, beauty, model production and at the end of the day it all starts with a designer application. Creative Artists (fashion, photographers, architects, culinary, interior design, accessories, innovative objects, etc etc) send their portfolios and the ND team selects the most innovative and fresh talent in Nicaragua. Not only can Nicaraguans apply but Nicaraguan residents as well.

last year, I worked ND12 (pilot event) from NYC but this year, I decided to come back home since it was such a hit and an incredible experience.

so far, the highlight of ND13 has been calling the applicants and telling them they were selected. their happiness melted my heart.

don't miss Nicaragua Diseña 2013 this Saturday, August 3rd and Sunday, 4th!

Equipo casting de modelos Nicaragua Diseña 2013!

Gracias a todos los talentos Nicas que llegaron e hicieron su mejor esfuerzo, NUNCA dejen de seguir sus suenos.

Karla Cuadra eventos #CMC #INTUR Shantall Lacayo - Diseño, Moda y Arte Textil team!

Gracias por la foto Diego! — with Silvio Rodriguez Chamorro, Alicia Beatrice, Gabriel Ruiz, Karla Cuadra, Alex Miller and Kelvik Pineda.

Producción: Instituto Nicaraguense de Turismo INTUR y Shantall Lacayo - Diseño, Moda y Arte Textil
Modelos: Jonieth O'Neill & Andres Molina
Fotografía: Erick Monterrosa Fotografía
Maquillaje: Alejandro Ayon
Peinado: Max Salon | carlos corrales
Diseño Gráfico: Gabriel Ruiz

Behind the Scenes:

Inspiring: Reese Witherspoon

Business Casual

Out & About West L.A.