Next Destination On Our “Holiday Shopping Around The World” Gift Guide: Stockholm!

We’ve been taking you around the world for this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, making our first stops at Athens and London.
We’ve been taking you around the world for this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, making our first stops at Athens and London.
For this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, we’re on a globe-trotting expedition, finding inspiration in different cities around the world.
If there’s anything we’ve learned from the nail art craze that has sprouted like Jack’s magical beanstalk over the past three years, it’s that every manicure is an opportunity to create a virtual masterpiece — all you need is a blank canvas (in this case, your nails), the proper tools (lacquers, stickers, Q-tips, dotting tools, alcohol, glitter, stripers, beads, sequins, and any number of crafty supplies), a broad imagination, and the willingness to experiment and bring your concepts to fruition.
Southwestern motifs aren’t just trending on the style front — thanks to Bobbi Brown, makeup is also referencing the colors associated with this picturesque region, releasing collections that combine subtle, sandy neutrals and golden coral, peach, and pink hues; shimmering shades of rose, copper, and bronze; and delicious pops of turquoise.
DIY nail art may continue to thrive but, this season, we’re starting to see an exciting new trend in regards to nails — one that focuses less on particular shades or patterns and, instead, emphasizes texture.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Zoya went from a relatively unknown but buzzy brand beloved by beauty junkies, industry insiders, and nailophiles, to a fixture during New York Fashion Week, with nail technicians creating gorgeous looks for the models working the runway.
If you were smitten with the new Sally Hansen Halloween 2012 Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips designs featured in our Halloween goodie showcase, then we’ve got a special treat for you (no tricks over here!).
Ciaté Breakthrough Breast Cancer Duo, $28.
While there will be some nail color trends throughout the Fall/Winter 2012 season, expect to see a greater emphasis placed on texture – whether it’s velvet manicures that look so fuzzy you’ll be tempted to pet your nails, caviar manicures attained by adhering tiny beads and pearls to nails, real gold flecks infused into top coats and lacquers, mind-bending holographic finishes, or polishes saturated with enough chunky sequins to recreate a Vegas showgirl act.
Nomadic beauties inspired the new MAC Styleseeker Collection, a grouping of vivid colors that reveals a Bohemian charm, creating a veritable patchwork quilt with its rich earthy eye shadow pairings, jewel-toned nail lacquers, and long-lasting matte lip colors.