Nail Of The Week: This Stuff Stinks - Revlon Scented Polish in Beach

Not the polish, the polish itself is really nice but the scent literally stinks.  I guess when I saw the word scented on the label I truly wasn't sure what to expect since I've only purchased scented polish once before (the Color Club Wicked Sweet collection).  The Color Club's were actually pretty pleasant, at least to me, they had that 90s artificial candy scent to them if that makes any sense to anyone.  Not headache inducing, not vomit inducing, but nice and artificial :-)

This one is so hard to pinpoint, I'm actually sitting here sniffing my nails and all I can say is it smells like a woman from the early 1900s???  Have you ever stepped into a building from the 1920s that has never been fully renovated?  And it makes you wonder, is this how people smelled in 1920 or has time made it smell this way?  Well, it's got that dated feeling to it, very olden times perfume.  Ughh, ok, I quit, lol, my scent describing skills are a massive FAIL so I will leave that to the pros...

Beach is a very nice vibrant lime yellow/green, however, I get very bored easily so after a day I decided to top it off with some glitter which left the nail surface a bit gritty and I can't remember if I used topcoat on this.

I really loved the result, the combination gave way to a really unique and odd looking manicure but I was really happy with it.  I guess the scent is something that I can overcome.  Btw, I could still smell the scent after two coats of glitter so keep that in mind!

What I Used:

Revlon - Beach 310

Wet n Wild - Wild Shine - Kaleidoscope

I think next time I will probably stick to my toes when it comes to this color. Bye!

Are You Kidding Me?

Uh, Steve Madden, are you seriously asking $269.95 for this atrocity??

Cameliaa

Really??  It's a mule... no wait, a suede mule... no wait, its a faded taupe, suede mule.   I mean, I GUESS some people might be into it, but $269??? 

Have you guys noticed that some of Steve Madden's styles are skyrocketing in price??  I mean, I can see some of the $200+ styles when it comes to boots and stuff but lately shoes are being priced at ridiculous price points, hence that thing pictured above. 


Ok, I am done with this rant, haha!

My Polish Haul

 So ever since I ordered those 3 free nail polishes from Zoya I have been on a nail polish kick.  I've been waiting patiently for those to arrive but in the meantime, I've needed something to distract me that won't dent my wallet so I went to a couple of stores and this is what I ended up with.

While I adore the China Glaze's and O.P.I's in my collection, there are so many cheaper brands that really deliver, personally, I find that a good base/top coat makes all the difference no matter what brand I use.

I picked these up from Walgreen's for $1.99, I figured I'd try them out and they were great!  It's crazy what indoor lighting does to these polishes because some of them don't look ANYTHING like they do in real life!  Look's like I might need to use natural light if I pick up more...

 

So these came out super, extra blurry, I think all the glitter in the polishes was throwing off the focus.  These are by the brand Pure Ice which I think is only available at Walmart, correct me if I'm wrong, and they are only $2.  They have a huge selection of colors too so I am likely to be strolling this aisle again sometime soon.

 

These were really random, I picked up the NYC ones from Target and the Revlon's from CVS.  NYC is always a steal as these were like 97 cents, and the Revlon's are typically about $5 but these particular colors were 75% off!  

I picked up these Milani nail art polishes from Target as well.  I wanted to test out their consistency and so far, so good, they've got a nice thin brush that's really precise and easy to control.  The colors are well pigmented and I'm looking forward to trying out more colors.

As for making my manicures/pedicures last, these are the base and top coat that I rely on the most:

The China Glaze Strong Adhesion Base Coat and the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.  I am always switching out my base coat because I love trying out new products, but the China Glaze works great, I love that it never seems to thicken no matter how much I use it.  The Seche Vite is the top coat that I NEVER switch.  Why mess with perfection??  It dries super fast and leaves a glossy, mirror-like finish to your nails, it is totally worth the price.  You can find the China Glaze at Sally's Beauty Supply and the Seche Vite is sold at many places, I get mine at CVS.

So that's it for now, at least until my Zoya's get here, which hopefully will be here soon.  *fingers crossed*

Liliana Irena-1 in Beige

This is the second color I purchased from Urbanog in this particular style, I'll only be showing the pictures in this post since I already reviewed the black version of the shoe HERE.

 

Defined As:  Triple Platform Gladiator-Style Sandal

Nail Polish:   Sinful Colors - Rise and Shine 940

Heel Height:  5.25 Inches W/ 1.5 Inch Platform

You can definitely get a better look at the triple platform on these since they are lighter than the black ones.

The look of the "stacked wood" on the heel makes it very summery and, again, can be seen more easily than on the black ones.

So there you have it!

Please, Don't Buy This Shoe

***UPDATED ON 1/26***

So as some of you may know, I've been on a quest to find a dupe to the Steve Madden Caryssa in Patent Nude because it's that perfect, true, beige-nude.  Well, last time, I missed out on the Speed Limit 98 dupe of it so I have been determined to not let any other dupe slip through my fingers.  Well, I wish I would have let this one slip right on through.....

I present to you Exhibit A:

The shoe is by the brand Glaze and I really wish I knew the name but Go Jane never lists the name of the shoe and I already put it in a cardboard box and sealed it.  Well, this shoe sucks....

I mean, this could definitely be a fluke, maybe I just got a bad one but I am delivering this review based on my experience.  Now if you look at the picture, you can see that the tip of the heel is REALLY close to the platform, which is usually not a big deal when the heel is well made.  The heel on the shoe I received was horribly angled, as if the tip of the heel was WAY too inward.

I noticed the weird angle as soon as I opened the box and it was so obvious once I tried them on.  I could feel my weight falling backwards and losing my balance even as I held onto a surface.  It felt like the heel was detaching from the rest of the shoe!!

I tested out my theory and I was 100% right!  And now I really wish I had taken pictures, I might even reopen the box just to prove my point.  The tip of the heel did not land perpendicular to the table, half of the tip was in the air! Yeah, these are definitely not a good choice for anyone, they make you feel like a beginner in high heels!

**UPDATE**

So I wasn't able to take a pic of the shoes, I have been super limited on time so I did the next best thing, I drew a picture ... so please bear with me...

I know, I know, I just blew your mind with my mad drawing skillz, :), but you get the idea.  I can usually bear a couple of dings and  damages on shoes at this price point but this was ridiculous!

Oh and here is the link so you know which one NOT to get.
Glaze Patent Heels

Liliana Irena-1 in Black

Allright, let's get right down to the shoes!  This is the first pair of three that I purchased from Urban Original's website, I will be posting the other pairs separately.

Defined As:  Triple Platform Gladiator-Style Sandal
Nail Polish:   Sinful Colors - Rise and Shine 940

Heel Height:  5.25 Inches W/ 1.5 Inch Platform

Can you believe this nail polish is only $1.99??!!  Yeah, I know!  I got it at Walgreen's just to try out a couple of colors from this brand and they are surprisingly good, I wonder if they ever do BOGO on these...... but I will post more about that in another post.

Anyway, these shoes are awesome and I wish I had taken a better picture of the triple platform, it's really cool looking but you can see it better on the beige pair.  These feel very true to size.

I can't believe that these shoes are 5.25 inches as stated on the website as they feel/look much higher than that!  I think these pair are my absolute favorite shoe purchase from urbanog and sites such as this, but there is one issue I've found with this shoe.  I can't remember if it was the black or beige pair but one of them.................creaked.  Ummm yeah, weird.

Now, I'm not about to start complaining about craftsmanship since they were only about 20 bucks but it's definitely going to affect the durability of the shoe.  The funny thing is that only one pair does it and I wish so bad I could remember which color it was, I guess I will have to test them out again and see which one.

The pair that does not creak feels super solid and stable despite the height and thin heel, however, I feel very iffy when I wear the other pair when I step forward and hear the creak, I'm sorry but I really don't feel like falling on my face in front of everyone! HAHA!

You can see the platform better on this last pic. These are still available at Urban Original and I saw them recently at Go Jane's website.

BUT!! What's up with the price hike??

Sorry Urban Original but I have to tell, when these first came out, they were $24.90 and now they're $30.20! And don't get me started on GoJane who has them listed at $36.00.  The best way to beat out these price hikes is with coupon codes, try

JANE25R for 25% off regularly priced items at gojane EXP 1/20 (midnight???)

but as far as I know, I don't think Urbanog has any active coupons :(

**UPDATE** A-HA! So Urbanog does have a code, it's for 20% off, FB0121. EXP 1/21 11:59 PST

Have fun!

Find them at Urbanog HERE
Find them at Go Jane's website HERE

Did You Receive Your Zoyas?

 So apparently, Zoya got slammed with orders from their 3 free promo.  I placed my order around the 6th and noticed that I hadn't received any updates from them so I checked their Facebook page and it turns out they have to ship out 900,000 bottles of free polish..............WOW!

So I'm assuming that's 300,000 orders which is ironic considering they have about 38,000 likes on Facebook... so either a lot of multiple orders or a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend told a friend ... you get the idea.

Apparently, most people are looking at a 2 week waiting period to receive their polishes.  Honestly, they could take a month to ship and it wouldn't matter since they were FREE.  I know a lot of people are complaining about wait times but honestly 900,000 bottles of polish????

Let's be realistic, mature, and grateful........

(Image via zoya.com)

Forever 21 Impression Suedette Heels

Well, here they are, the long-overdue Forever 21 heels that are the dupe for Rock & Republic's Jolene.  That post can be found HERE. 

 

Defined As: Faux Suede Platform Sandal

Nail Polish: China Glaze- Blue Sparrow

Heel Height: 5.5 Inches w/1 Inch Platform

 

So while these may not have the more extreme arch that the Rock & Republic shoes have, they are still a really good dupe if your itching for that particular style at an affordable price.  These fit true to size and without any bothersome pinching or rubbing.

 

These heels have a somewhat futuristic look to them from certain angles..... or maybe that's just me! Anyway, they are about as comfy as a F21 shoe is gonna get but no major complaints in that department from me.

 

This awesome heel is still currently available at F21 (the website, at least) however, only in the black/taupe combo, oh and in one size...... ouch!  Yeah, I know, but keep watch because they have actually re-restocked this shoe for a second time so maybe they will do it again if you're interested. Find them HERE.

Have fun!

Do You Love Nail Polish?

Then I have great news for you!!  Besides being a shoe collector, I LOVE collecting nail polish and finding cool or odd colors that I don't have.

 Recently, Zoya nail polish was trying to reach 20,000 "likes" on Facebook and they finally reached their goal and to celebrate they are giving away 3 FREE bottles of nail polish!!  You have to pay your own shipping and handling fees which total $6.95, however, each bottle of polish retails for $7, so it's basically like buy 1, get 2 free.

This is a great deal for a salon brand that rivals the likes of O.P.I, China Glaze, and Essie.  I'm surprised that they have not sold out of certain colors but they are likely to go fast.  Just pick any 3 colors on the website and then enter the code at checkout.

The code is FB2011.

This code expires on January 7, 2011 at 11:59 EST.

This is really generous of them so make sure you "like" them on Facebook so that they can continue offering great deals like these.

Have fun!

(Image via zoya.com)

First Shoe Order of 2011

So I have just received my first shoe order of the new year from Urban Original.  I haven't gotten a chance to take pictures so I will show you my picks with their stock pics.


I completely fell for these, it's that crazy looking platform again like the ones I picked up from Go Jane,

Liliana - Irena-1 in Beige

Liliana - Irena-1 in Black

I really loved the color on these next ones, I don't think I have any green shoes

Qupid - Neutral 22 in Olive

These were all super inexpensive on their own, I'm talking less than $25 for each pair! And I saved even more because they have a coupon code to save an extra 25% on your entire order.  The only bummer is that you can't combine this with free shipping but it's still a great deal.

The code is ENDSALE

This was actually supposed to expire today but it looks like they have extended it until 1/07/2011 at 11:59 PST.  So if you're interested, there's still time to save some cash on shoes and whatnot.

Have a good one!

Favorite Shoes of 2010

So even though I wasn't able to post on shoes for the entirety of 2010, I will still give you guys my top 5 picks for last year!

Number 5:

Aldo - Ratkovich

I know what you're thinking, I haven't even posted this shoe up yet!  Well, it will definitely be one of my upcoming posts.  I grabbed a hold of these booties in December and they are so awesome!  They make me think of pilots and aviators...

Number 4:

Bebe - Bailey

Yes, yet another shoe I have not posted!  Ok, well, besides not having a legitimate excuse for not having posted this one, I adore this pump.  The platform is really small for a heel of this height so its definitely not a shoe you want to be walking in for long distances.  I really like the golden sole as well, it really pops against the patent black.

Number 3:

Steve Madden - Faame

These satin booties were one of my favorite additions to my shoe closet last year.  They are super comfortable and steady, the bows are feminine but the style of the shoe gives it a great edge.

Number 2:

Bebe - Missy

If I could give a prize for my favorite shoe of the fall/winter season, it would most definitely be this one.  I had such a hard time deciding between this and first place, but it was almost a definite tie between the two.  This boot looks so wild and chic at the the same time, it is my most reached for boot of 2010.

 

Number 1:

Steve Madden - Darrina (Patent Nude)

The best shoe purchase for 2010...hands down!  This shoe is so gorgeous and incredible to look at every time I pull it out of its box, it never gets old.  The color was one that I had been looking for for a long time and the shape, style, feel of the shoe came together for a perfect 10.

So what about you guys?  What was your top 5 list in favorite shoes? 

Spring Preview: Charlotte Russe Taupe Wedge

So I'm back with a little spring preview for you guys even though winter has ,officially, only just begun.  These wedges are actually not a new purchase, I believe that I got these sometime during the summer and I forgot I had photographed them.  I was going to post them during the fall but I figured it was more appropriate to do so now as many brands are launching their spring lines early, as usual.

Taupe Espadrille Style Wedge

Nail Polish : O.P.I - Mod About You

These are very comfortable as the heel is quite short compared to other wedges I've worn.  They have enough of a heel for it to be noticeable and the platform is big enough walk in with ease for prolonged periods of time.  I bought these from Charlotte Russe and, while I don't know if they will resell this particular style, I'm sure they'll have something similar in style in case you are interested. 

I have no idea what the name of this shoe is because I threw the box out as soon as I got home!

 

Close-up of the espadrille braiding:

 

So there you have it! Bye.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ......And Late Happy Holidays!!

Hope you guys had a great holiday season for 2010 and that you have even greater blessings in store for 2011.  I know that 2010 has been a tough year for many people but here's hoping for the best for everyone and that things will start turning around for families that have been holding strong.

Best Wishes from The Bankrupt Vanity!