My Top Ten \ Number Two: OPI — No Room For The Blues

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Next up is another somewhat-oldie but definitely-goody.

The year was 2009, and I was living in San Francisco at the time. My nail polish collection was pretty demure. I've mentioned before that I went through a very long phase of only buying polish in colors that I could conceivably wear as lipstick, and this lead to many pinks, reds and corals.

It was summertime (well, as summery as San Fran is ever capable of getting) and I wanted to treat myself to a new bottle of something fun. I'd heard of OPI's collaboration with Paige Premium Denim and wanted to see the colors for myself. They sounded wild!

And that's how I met No Room For The Blues. You have to believe me when I tell you that this was an incredibly daring shade, considering the state of the nail polish industry in 2009. The explosion of color you see nowadays is the result of a very recent revolution. I actually remember thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh. Can I pull this off? Could I... wear this to the office?" Thankfully, I decided yes and yes.

The following week, I debuted it at work to mixed reviews. And yet, I dared to wear it to a Friday evening happy hour at a bar in the Financial District.

Oh, the Financial District. Imagine the most buttoned-up, clean cut crowd that you can, dressed in legit suits. Half of them are heartbreakingly socially awkward. The other half are wolves. All in all, a very conservative crowd.

I was in jeans and, with my bright blue nails, I felt like a rock star. Each gesture with my blue nails showed a flippant disregard for corporate dress code. I was a loose cannon. I don't know if a manicure I've worn since has ever felt so gutsy.

Although bright blue nailz are no longer as shocking as they once were, they still look just as awesome. NRFTB is one of my favorite colors because the coverage is awesome, the consistency is so creamy and lovely, and the color itself it just bluetiful. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

And now, a gratuitous picture of a cat.

amiblue, Francesca

P.S. Missed Number One? Here you go.

P.P.S. Isn't the blue bird in this post's header gorgeous? It's a real bird! An Indigo Bunting. Special thanks to Weston.

P.P.S. I leave you with a hot A-ha track. Blue Sky, of course.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-36ijwAQUs]

The "Glop It Like It's Hot" Manicure

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One of my biggest sources of inspiration is the mademoiselle Pshiiit, of Pshiiit.com. She's absolutely incredible. Her photography is completely pro (no car driving shots for her), her colors are gorgeous, her accessories are tres chic (the rings! the pendants!), and her nail art is oh-so-pin-worthy.

After staring longingly at this photo of hers, I decided to give this look a whirl at home.

This was really very simple to do. In retrospect, I should have kept it simple with only three colors. Since I used four total colors but only three on each nail, I was switching colors out a lot and keeping track of patterns, and it really did not need to be that complicated.

Step one, I painted my nails with Essie Borrowed & Blue. It was pale enough to use as a base, but blue enough to work with my palette if it ended up showing through here and there.

Step two, I honestly just glopped the polish on! I did one nail at a time, because it's important that all of the colors are wet as you blend. I found that I didn't need to be careful about the brush of one color touching a wet polish patch of a different color. Since polish is so thick, the polish itself protects the brush from picking up another color.

So, I glopped it on and prodded the polish here and there for an irregular effect. This DIY nail art is great because it's just so organic. However it comes out is how it's meant to be!

I loved this manicure because I felt like I had 10 little pieces of vacation on my fingertips. Aquamarine pools, turquoise Caribbean waters and clear blue seas.

splishsplash, Francesca