Caught Red Handed

(Image via Daily Telegraph)

Oh Chanel, trust you to come up with the perfect red nail. I will not rest until my nails are buffed and polished and I resemble a Hollywood siren. Hmmm, I might not be resting a while... But my hands will surely look pretty.

Hit the Nail on the Head

The only time that I have had long finger nails was when I was really young. I was too lazy to cut them and my piano teacher was constantly apoplectic over it.

But (let's not tell him) since I stopped taking piano lessons I have pretty much always cut my nails really short. Mostly because I like to wear nail varnish and I really, really hate the look of long painted talons. It is way too vampy for my taste.

So it comes as something of a surprise that I am starting to grow my nails again. The nude nail trend defintely allows for a little more length. And I have fallen in love with nude and a touch of glitter.

Just a bit of a pain that after years of varnish and remover abuse my nails are as weak as a kitten and don't seem to be up to the challenge.

Don't Fade Away

(Image via The Beauty Department)

So we've had ombre clothes and ombre hair, and now thanks to The Beauty Department, my favourite - ombre nails.

Don't they look amazing? Totally trying this out. And I think I have enough pink varnishes to give this a go. Yay!

Seeing Red

(Image via Ted Baker)

I fell in love at the wedding. I fell in love with Franschhoek where the wedding took place. I fell in love with the couple a little bit more. And I fell in love with a fabulous girl.

She was wearing this incredible Ted Baker dress, a sweet little red bird in her hair and a YSL cocktail ring. I didn't fall in love with her just for how she looked. Sure, it might have piqued my attention at first. But it was so much more than that. Namely that she was oh so much fun.

She was also sporting a red nail. Which I haven't done for donkey's years. I have been dilly dallying with pastels instead. But I realised why it is a classic as it is such a strong look.

So I have painted mine red (over the top of my previous, chipped colour because I couldn't find the remover which probably wasn't a great start) and I matched my lip and paired them with a breton stripe. And... well... I suppose at least I tried. But in reality I fear I might look rather like a slovenly French tart. Which wasn't quite the look I was going for. Harrumph!

Nail It

(Image via Emerald Street/Models's Own)

This is exactly what I want my nails to look like. Apparently you need a nail art pen, a very steady hand or masking tape. I'm going to give it a bash this weekend. I'll let you know how I get on.

Polish it Off

I fell in love with pastel shades last year (lilac and powder blue) and I'm glad to see that they are still in favour for summer.

I particularly like the idea of pistachio. I have been intrigued by green polishes for a while but I don't want to look like a schoolgirl as I fear I would with some of the lurid shades.

Pistachio seems like a grown up version of green and as soon as they are out in the shops I am going to snap one up

(Images via Refinery 29, Butter London)

This colour is less appealing, pretty but not for everyday. But the name of the colour is Slapper, which is amazing and put a smile on my face. So I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy!

Lapis of Luxury

(Via Essie)

That's the name of this nail polish. Who can resist a pun-titled product? I'm a sucker for 'em. It is also the colour that I am sporting on my nails. Pretty isn't it? But definitely fashion forward, ie. scary.

I think I did well with the outfit on my date. Approachable but feminine and attractive. But once the conversation got going and I started to gesticulate wildly (I can get a bit animated once I'm nattering away and in my element) I realised that the poor man was following my fingers with each flail, a look of increasing horror on his face. I had the feeling I had lost his full attention. Or at least my face and voice had. He was staring, staring, staring at my nails, and not in a happy way.

Not one to avoid an awkward situation I cooed "Oh, are you looking at my nails? Aren't they silly?" to which he responded in a slightly traumatised way "they're very - blue." Quite.


(Via A Girl, A Style)

All I could think was at least I hadn't gone for Chanel's Mimosa which I received for my birthday, because I think that might have really scared him. Poor lamb.

Nail Your Colours to the Mast

(Via the Daily Varnish)

I saw a very chic lady on the bus the other day with a lilac nail. I'm not sure if this was a terrible idea but I have decided to copy her. But am I going to look like a crazed bridesmaid (rather than the most stunning bridesmaid that ever walked AKA Pippa Middleton)?

La Vie en Rose

(Image via Polyvore)

I have decided that I don't want my hands to look like a shop mannequin, so I am going to stop lusting after a greige nail and be honest about who I really am. I am a girl who should have a pink nail. I'm not ashamed! And Chanel have kindly come up with this delight, called Riviera. I must have it.