Category Archives: Style

Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Marc Jacobs, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nail Polish Swatch, Nails, Nails How To, Style

Blue Velvet by Marc Jacobs Nail Polish Swatch

Marc Jacobs 132 Blue Velvet ($18) is the collection’s iridescent deep ocean blue.

While wearing this color, I received compliments on the shine of this alluring and rich blue polish. Blue Velvet is particularly stunning in direct sunlight.

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Blue Velvet is very opaque and definitely delivers the high-shine formula it promises. This is what one coat of the polish looks like.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

When I did some clean up around my nails after an application of a thin second coat, I noticed some staining on my skin and cuticles. I’m worried it might be an issue once I completely remove the manicure. Heed my warning, base coat is not optional!

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To smooth off the entire look, I applied a very thin layer of top coat. Are you in love with this color yet?

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

This is the fifth installment of a ten-part series of Marc Jacobs nail lacquer swatches. Keep scrolling down for the rest and stay tuned for more.

What do you think of Blue Velvet? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Marc Jacobs, Nail Art Tutorial, Nail Polish Swatch, Nails, Nails How To, Style

Oui! by Marc Jacobs Nail Polish Swatch

Marc Jocobs 118 Oui! ($18) is the collection’s magenta violet and it is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

The nail polish has a smooth finish that resembles a metallic version of a radiant orchid- Pantone’s selected color of the year for 2014.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

I had very little application issues and there were barely any brush streaks visible after the initial base coat.

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Here’s what a second coat of Oui! looks like. Are you as in love with the polish as I am? She’s a beauty!

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After the second coat, there were a few spots that were still not at my desired opacity level so I applied a thin third coat on the spots that needed it.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

The polish absolutely delivers the high-shine finish it promises and also has a pretty fast dry time. I added a very thin top coat to smooth off the entire look.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

What do you think of Oui! by Marc Jacobs? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beauty, Butter London, DIY, Essie, Fashion, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nail Polish Swatch, Nails, Nails How To, OPI, Orly, Sally Hansen, Style

4 Winter Worthy Nail Polish Colors

Get in the spirit of the holidays and coat on some polish you can show off all season long.

Here are four winter worthy nail polish colors:

1. Gray nails for a midnight glow for your next holiday party.

I’m using Mirror Mirror by Orly with a coat of Snow Globe by Sally Hansen on the accent nail.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

2. A deep purple hue with a sparkly gold accent for a bit of elegance and mystery on New Years Eve.

Here’s a swatch of  Under Your Spell by Wet n Wild with Wonderous Start by OPI on the party finger.

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3. A shimmery version of the classic crimson when you’re feeling bold.

This is a swatch of Chancer by Butter London.

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4. Winter navy blue with a bit of shimmering snow for a cold night out.

I’m wearing Midnight Cami by Essie with a coat of All Sparkly and Gold by OPI on the accent nail.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

What do you think of these manicures? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nails, Nails How To, Style

Negative Space Chevron Nails Tutorial

You’re four steps away from showy and posh nail art.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig.

Execute this design in a breeze by mapping out the placement of the striping before application.

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What do you think of this look? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Katy Perry, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nails, Nails How To, Style

Prismatic Nail Art

Lately, I’ve been relating to Katy Perry’s latest album, Prism. Her power anthems radiate positivity and I am letting the light in.

I celebrated my 24th birthday in November. I definitely wanted to shine. So I figured the occassion called for a prismatic mani.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

I was particularly proud of the execution on both hands. They looked equally solid.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

This manicure definitely got some attention. That day, I out-shined my own candles.

Here is a video of the entire manicure.

What do you think of this look? Let me know in the comments below! 

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Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Marc Jacobs, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nail Polish Swatch, Nails, Nails How To, Style

Nirvana by Marc Jacobs Nail Polish Swatch

Marc Jacobs 128 Nirvana ($18) is described as a deep army green. While swatching this polish I found the green hue is more prevalent in the bottle than on the nails. But if you’re into a grunge-goth green with an underlying ebony shade, this is your match.

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Here is one coat of the polish. The formula is very creamy which leaves a bit of a streak. Steady application is a must!

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

The polish has a pretty fast dry time. I recommend waiting for the lacquer to completely dry and harden before applying a second coat. You can already see the high gloss finish the polish guarantees. This is two coats of Nirvana.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

Nirvana was a hard color to capture on camera. The green shade shows up in natural light, while the dark undertones of the polish are present in almost all inside light. The polish leaves the nails looking totally plasticized with a high shine. While a top coat isn’t necessary, I used a thin layer to smooth out the entire look.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

What do you think of Nirvana? Let me know in the comments below! 

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Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nails, Nails How To, Style, Uncategorized

Swatch of the Week: Butter London’s Union Black Jack

Every time I wear this polish, I swear I feel like a total badass. Butter London’s “Union Black Jack” is truly patent leather in a bottle!

After the initial few swipes of polish, I had a qualm about the formula’s opacity. Two coats later, I ended up with a deep ebony shade that I fell in love with. If you’re looking for a rich and dark black nail polish, this is it.

Wearing a completely black manicure, though very edgy, felt a little out of my personality. So naturally, I brought out the glitter.  After adding some sequins to the accent, I was totally rocking a gothic-mermaid look and loved it.

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What do you think of the Butter London beauty? Let me know in the comments below!

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Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nails, Nails How To, Negative Space, Style, Uncategorized

Negative Space French Manicure

Last week, Harper’s Bazaar wrote about the evolution of the French manicure. After reading about the subtle, yet chic, gradual changes the design has gone through, I executed my own edgy and unique take on the look.

My latest obsession with the negative space effect led me to create this nail art.  Innovative or just plain crazy, I’m digging the concept.

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

What do you think of this look? Show me your nail art by tagging me on Instagram @nailartbysig! 

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Sigourney in Latina Magazine, Winner of Latina Style Wars

It started with a comment. Latina Magazine informed me via Instagram on Friday that I had been selected as this week’s Latina Style Wars winner. The contest? Show off fall-inspired manicures. They really digged my negative space digits.

It got better from there. Moments after doing a crazy happy dance around my apartment, I realized the real prize was getting featured by the publication.

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They wrote a little blurb about what they thought of my manicure:

“This week’s winner is nail art enthusiast Sigourney (nailartbysig on Instagram) who flaunted some cutting edge nails. Sigourney chose to play around with the concept of negative space in this design and we love it! It’s a great example of unique and innovative nail art. She picked a fabulous, eye-catching color palette for this design. We’re thinking about trying to replicate this look ourselves!” 

If you too are digging this design, scroll down a little further and find out just how easy it is to execute this edgy negative space manicure.

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Art Deco, Beauty, DIY, Fashion, Nail Art, Nail Art Tutorial, Nails, Nails How To, Negative Space, Style, Uncategorized

Negative Space Nail Art

Intricate negative space manicures are in this holiday season. Inspiration for the designs can be found in fashionable cutouts and sheer panels from skin-baring ensembles right off the runway.

From Nail It! Magazine’s interview with nail artist, Naomi Yasuda, to Teen Vogue’s nail art tutorial by nail guru, Madeline Poole, it’s clear that the look is here to stay. But blending bare nails with colorful designs requires a little bit more patience than your typical nail art.

To kick off my adventure into a season of negative space manicures, I started with something simple. To quote Eden Univer, “You’re four lines away from too-cool nail art.”

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Instagram, @nailartbysig

What do you think of this look? Show me your negative space mani by tagging me on Instagram @nailartbysig!

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