Nails - one of the simplest ways to make an outfit pop, non? Changing up your nail colour/style/design can be
cheap, easy and an extremely effective way to accessorise so there's no wonder we all get so excited and cram our cupboards full with so many shades Joseph would be hard pushed to find them all on that fine coat of his. I got to a point where I had so many that it was like looking into my full wardrobe and declaring that I had absolutely nothing to wear, so I started to condense my collection down to the colours that I would need for the current/upcoming season.
Since a friend introduced me to
Refinery29 I have been hooked on their posts: they are always my first port of call when searching for new brands both in beauty and apparel, and their trend round-ups are always fantastic with their picks for
AW '12 nail colour being no exception.
For UK fashionistas on a budget, Refinery29's selections can be a little out of reach both in terms of geography and price range, so here are a couple of cheap chic alternatives that you can easily pick up on the high street but will nevertheless still nail the trends:
 |
| From left to right: 1. LOOK Nail Pop in Dove; 2. L'Oreal Colour Riche Nails in Blue Reef; 3. Accessorize Nail Polish in Molten Copper; 4. Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Dark Denim; 5. GOSH Nail Lacquer in Gasoline; 6. LOOK Nail Pop in Kimono; 7. Essie Nail Colour in Gym Dandy; 8. NYC Expert Last Nail Enamel in Boundless Berry |
1.
Fifty Shades - Moving away from the sulky, moody greys of AW'11 (and those of a recent literary phenomenon) next season's grey nails look to be
lighter and with
shots of silver, paying homage to the urban playground that is the city -
LOOK's Nail Pop in Dove (
£5 from Superdrug) is about as perky as a grey can get and even has a cutely optimistic name.
2.
Ocean Deep - Teals make a comeback with
piercing sea green shades dominating the palette.
L'Oreal's Colour Riche Nails in Blue Reef (
£4.99 from Superdrug) is vibrant yet understated - mermaid make-believe anyone?
3.
Autumn Hues - It's undeniable that Mother Nature is always impeccably accessorised so it makes sense that beauty would take a leaf out of her book (impossible to resist, sorry!) for this nail trend: look out for
intense gilded and burnt oranges inspired by fall trees - this little
Accessorise Nail Polish in Molten Copper (
£3.45 from Superdrug) is made all the more stunning by flecks of gold.
4.
Winter Blues - With blue already permeating so many AW'12 catwalk collections it's not surprising that a darker shade has made its mark in cosmetics: navy looks to be the go-to blue for nails, but make sure it has
mischievous bright blue undertones like
Maybelline's Forever Strong Pro Nail Enamel in Dark Denim (
£4.09 from Boots).
5.
Purple Haze - If you're looking for THE party nail colour for next season look no further than the spotlight-hogging, diva-tantrum-throwing,
knockout purples that have been brought out on the high street. With this trend you want
a shade that craves attention:
GOSH's Nail Lacquer in Gasoline (
£4.99 from Superdrug) is extremely eye-catching.
6.
Attention! - The military trend has dominated the catwalks for AW'12 and its presence in beauty is just as powerful. This time around
khakis and gunmetals are updated with
ominous flashes of petrol-like iridescence for maximum impact.
LOOK's Nail Pop in Kimono (
£5 from Superdrug) is nearly always on my nails at the moment, my personal favourite.
7.
Hot Chocolate - Those of you that love your neutral nails will adore these sweet, comforting shades of
milky, cocoa browns.
Essie's Nail Colour in Gym Dandy (
£7.99 from Boots) has a soft, nostalgic, marshmallow hue perfect for dark Winter days.
8.
Pick-Your-Own - Whereas autumnal nail colours are bright and light, this trend requires a trip to the dark side: berries go bad in the best way possible with
blackened yet colour rich purples and reds on the cards for those who want to emulate gothic style and
NYC's Expert Last Nail Enamel in Boundless Berry (
£1.99 from Superdrug) is the ideal indulgent shade.
