Bay Area Fashionista

Chanel Sweet Lilac nail polish for summer 2014 review

 in Beauty / Nail Polish  tagged chanel / chanel nail polish / purple / reviews / summer 2014 by

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Photo: Chanel “Sweet Lilac” nail polish from the summer 2014 collection “Reflects d’ete de Chanel” / two coats of color, one base coat, no top coat. Photo taken in direct sun.

Chanel “Sweet Lilac” is a hot new, pinkish lavender nail polish hue from Chanel’s summer 2014 beauty collection “Reflets d’ete de Chanel.” This beautiful pinkish lavender hue was given the perfect name by Chanel; it surely is a Sweet Lilac hue! 

With Pantone’s color of the year being “Radiant Orchid,” Chanel’s “Sweet Lilac” nail polish arrives just in time for the summer season; giving color enthusiasts everywhere an easy way to wear the year’s hottest hue. Chanel “Sweet Lilac” nail polish is a similar shade to “Radiant Orchid” making it a great way to rock the color of the year.

Chanel “Sweet Lilac” nail polish is an easy color to wear this summer 2014 season. The pinkish tinge inside this lavender hue, allows Sweet Lilac to blend well with cool color palettes, as well as any shade of blue, green, purple and pink. Chanel “Sweet Lilac” nail polish is a middle-of-the-road color making it right between neon and pastel. This allows the  nail polish color to play well with both pastels and neons without clashing. Love that!

I tested out Chanel “Sweet Lilac” with two coats of color, one base coat and no top coat. The polish lasted six days before chipping. Sweet Lilac was easy to apply and the color brushed on smoothly without streaking. 

If you like the idea of a lavender hue for summer nail polish but Chanel Sweet Lilac has too much pink it in for your taste, please check out my review of Dolce & Gabbana’s “Lilac” nail polish. It has more of a blue base and is a beautiful lilac hue.

Chanel “Sweet Lilac” nail polish for summer 2014 can be found online here and here.

High heel sandals for summer 2014

 in Shoes / Trends  tagged high heels / sandals / summer 2014 by

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Photos: Mara Hoffman spring/summer 2014 runway at New York Fashion Week. by Cathy/Bay Area Fashionista 2014©

High heeled sandals for the summer 2014 season are hot! Unlike summer 2013, summer 2014 is giving Fashionistas everywhere flat soles (also referred to as “single soles”) and high design. Simple sandals with a high heel are simply not around this season!

As you can see in the photos above, high heel sandals were spotted on the runway with wrap-around ties used as both ankle straps and the structure of the shoe. (see the green, lace-up pair peeking out on the left in the top photo). My apologies for the photo quality. My seat was not that great!

High heel sandals for summer 2014 are being shown in varying styles with the two most popular silhouettes shown above. The hottest style this season is like the green pair above. Lace-up sandals are hotter than hot; and they are shown in both high heel and flat versions for the hot weather season. In addition to lace-up sandals, the ankle strap is hot for summer 2014 and it is being shown with one thick strap in front of the toes. Although there are many, many more high heel sandal styles on the market for the summer 2014 season, these are the two hottest styles being shown with thin heels.

Although thin heels are the most popular heel being shown with tie-up sandals, chunky heels and wedges can also be found on the market. Ankle straps being shown for summer 2014 can be found in both the tie up version as well as a single strap with a buckle.

For summer 2014, high heel sandals look amazing with cropped pants, midi skirts/dresses and boyfriend jeans. If you are looking for a heel to wear with shorts, look for a thick, stacked heel with a thicker body and no tie straps.

I found a few fabulous thin heeled, high heel sandals around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉

Gucci Premiere eau de parfum review

 in Beauty / Fragrance  tagged fragrance reviews / gucci / reviews by

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Pictured: c/o Gucci “Premiere” eau de parfum.

Gucci “Premiere” eau de parfum is a beautiful, luxurious fragrance from iconic design house Gucci. This warm, leathery fragrance was inspired by the Gucci Premiere Couture collection shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. Gucci “Premiere” edp offers a luxurious, warm fragrance experience which is reminiscent of a star-studded, Gucci-clad red carpet.

Top notes: orange blossom, bergamot

Middle notes: leather, fur

Base notes: musk

Gucci “Premiere” starts off with a warm, floral scent which is string yet feminine. The musky base offers a warm platform throughout the day as Gucci “Premiere” cycles through its’ top and middle notes. Although “leather” is listed a middle note, the scent is light, with musk  florals dominating the fragrance experience.

This is a beautiful, warm fragrance which is perfect for a formal event, date night, or anytime you want to feel luxurious and beautiful. The warm notes and medium strength make Gucci “Premiere” perfect for cool weather and moderate weather up to about 75 degrees.

I’m looking forward to wearing Gucci “Premiere” on special occasions and when my mood is feeling a need for luxury 😉 This will also work well on cool summer nights, especially when the fog is off the bay.

Gucci “Premiere” eau de parfum is offered in both 1.7 oz and 2.5 oz. The fragrance can be found online here, here and here.