Bianca Balti for Vogue Japan

Bianca Balti glows on the March 2012 cover of Vogue Japan

The cover: Vogue Japan’s March 2012 issue

The model: Bianca Balti, aka. Linda Evangelista look-alike (see below)

The set: In studio, white-out backdrop.

The garb: Bejeweled in Dolce & Gabbana bodysuit.

The photographer: Giampaolo Sgura

The final word: Obviously this is one sexy shot one really, after seeing our own flesh & blood Linda Evangelista show us all how it’s done decades ago, we can’t help but wonder at this cover. It’s still lovely, and if anything it shows us that chin-sweeping hair can look not only dramatic but very fun.

Now doesn't this Vogue Italia cover featuring Canuck Linda Evangelista remind you of Bianca?

Nail on!

ColorStay nail lacquer by Revlon promises to last 11 days with the combined use of the ColorStay base and top coats. Yeah we're gonna tap that asap!

Okay okay, we already featured new spring nail polish colours last week, but this weekend we came across a product review about a new 11-day lasting polish.

And yeah, you wanna know about it, dontcha?

In case you’re not into nails or you’ve been buried under a giant rock of crushing digital negligence, our world has been taken over by the Shellac phenomenon.YES! With high shine that delivers flawlessly chip-free tips for two weeks (yes! two!) or more (seriously!), you can bet that the stuff is fused to your nails in a most mysterious process. In fact, the process is short of involving lasers (well- ultraviolet light- close enough). Removing the stuff also requires salon assistance and the at-home attempts can be devastingly scary (we’ve seen it. bad, bad idea. shudder).

That said, Shellac is lovely if you think you want to start it and never ever stop going into salons every three weeks for a mani or pedi. Did you know that the stuff is a resin and has been used on wood as a finish for years? Why, that makes a lot of sense.

So for the non-Shellacing sort, we’ve got a near-rival option by Revlon ColorStay.

For the 11-day amazingness, apply the ColorStay collection’s base coat, colour, then top coat. And then voilà! 11 days of gel nail-esque gloss despite recklessly washing dishes and suffering random dings on the streetcar. Sounds like a revelation.

We found an awesome nail lacquer fan blog, Squared Nails, where the product was tested and adored. We’re next on the testing block and practically racing to a department store as we type (!) to pick up the nude shade. The ColorStay collection boasts 32 modern shades of long-lasting good fun, so if you’re more into reds or blacks, there’s something here for ya.

Image courtesy of Revlon, where you can view the digitized colours and imagine what they really look like. Best chance: check out Squared Nails to see her three colour tests.

Trend: Elbow Patches

Does anyone else have a thing for elbow patches? I’m just loving them! There are a lot of great options for women, from cashmere sweaters, to chunky knits, to light long-sleeve tees.

Cashmere sweater, €298.00, Zadig et Voltaire

Antonia Zander, $720

Cleminson cardigan with elbow patches, £95, Aubin & Wills

alpaca-blend sweater with elbow patches, $206, See by Chloé

Top with elbow patches, £9.99, H&M

Striped shirt with elbow patches, $50, TopShop

Blazer with elbow patches, $358, JCrew

And I just love this navy and brown colour combo for men from J.Crew.

Wallace & Barnes sweater, $118, JCrew

Images via Aubin & Wills, H & M, JCrew, Net-a-Porter, Stylebop, TopShop,  Zadig et Voltaire,

Spring fever in January

Chanel welcomes spring nails in citrus pinks and oranges named after their release month. Pictured above, June

Here’s a quick fix to those January blues: nail polish in pretty tulip colours.

Butter London's collection offers higher colour saturation and some metallic shine

Essie's pastel trio for spring 2012

Fruit punch trio at Essie for spring 2012

Chanel's lovely pink hue for May 2012

Nars' vision for spring is intensely bold and beautiful

Diamond violet's metallic shimmer for spring by Nars

OPI's spring 2012 collection reflects the colours of Holland: "vivid tulips, windmill-dotted hillsides and bustling canals"

Zoya's spring pastels. We'll take one of each

Zoya launched a special Fleck Effect of sparklers- we're really into this pretty pink shade

And this stem green, also from Zoya's Fleck Effect collection

What colours will you be applying to your nails this season?

All images courtesy of featured manufacturers. Products widely available in Canada and USA at salons, drug and department stores.

Chanel Iman for L’Officiel

Chanel Iman looks an awful lot like Chiquita Banana in the February L'Officiel magazine cover on news stands now, but we love it anyway.

The cover: L’Officiel magazine‘s February 2012 issue.

The model: Chanel Iman.

The set: A turquoise backdrop with digital rendering rough-cut and pasted on like a grade five collage featuring the print oft those fun Dolce & Gabbana shorts, bustier and bolero combo.

The photographer: Russell James

The final word: We love the fun vegetable and fruit prints from the Dolce & Gabbana spring 2012 collection: rich in colour, fun in spirit and bright for spring, red onions never looked this good.

Chanel Iman is glowing on this cover- the creamy beauty rocks the coral lipstick and the retro vibe of a fun little outfit in which to welcome sunshine and a fresh crop of fashion. Yeah, it’s a little Carmen Miranda as Chiquita Banana but thankfully she’s been spared fruit as a fascinator- and frankly, we were expecting to see one with all the wonderful Phillip Treacy shananigans of recent years (see below).

Lady Gaga sports a Philip Treacy lobster fascinator. Fascinating!

Sarah Jessica Parker received quite a bit of press when she rocked this green Philip Treacy head piece

Backstage at the making of the L’Officiel editorial shoot in Cape Town, South Africa:

C. Wonder

New to New York’s Soho scene is C. Wonder, a colourful lifestyle store brought to us by J. Christopher Burch, as in Tory Burch’s ex-husband.

Entrance to C. Wonder, NYC

The clothes and accessories definitely have a Tory Burch feel to them, what with the gold letter C on almost every item and the spread of jewel tones throughout the store, but the prices are fairly affordable.

Clothes at C. Wonder

Jewelry, C. Wonder

Handbags, C. Wonder

Shoes, C. Wonder

Bikes, eyeglasses & sunglasses at C. Wonder

In addition to clothes and accessories, C. Wonder has a beautiful collection of home wares. The monogram shop is also eye-catching and who doesn’t love something personalized?

Home goods, C. Wonder

Monogram shop, C. Wonder

Read more about C. Wonder here and click here for store locations.

Photos by Jordana.

Beauty news: Adobé

 

Thoughts?