The New 3-D Manicures

For some girls, polish is not enough. No, they want something they can feel. These special people have always been around, but some 3-D nail art that was once reserved only for the flashy is now hitting the mainstream. Do not be surprised to see any of the following manicures on the hands of your trendier friends this Spring.
They are catching on among sensible people - and fast. Don't forget to tell me what you think!



Lace Mani
by Sally Hansen and Tracy Reese


The DIY version
by Beaut.ie



Feathers & Bling
from Fumic





Diamond Mani
Get the DIY from SpoiledPretty


Yes, they're candy wrappers
by Janet Riffe


Money Mani
by Keisha Harris
Disclaimer: i'm thinking the U.S. Treasury Department might have something to say about this if enough people start doing it. Just saying.


Polka Dots
by BlackNailPolishandLipGloss

New Offerings from B & Lu

I think I'm going to have to take the plunge. I've been having an on-again, off-again thing with B & Lu, as many of you know. In the last few years, there have been times when I didn't know what to expect from the site. Just when I would get used to relying on B & Lu for nice office separates, they would switch to club/shiny/rocker chick on me. But now, they really seem to be bumping up the quality and pulling together a casual, yet trendy, vibe that is very wearable. I'd love to know about any of your experiences with the line. If you've dealt with B & Lu recently, please let me know all about it in comments!
Now, here are some of my picks from their new releases with a focus on tops and dresses:

Get Your Lingerie On! Torrid Sale

I wouldn't be doing my job if I neglected to tell you about a huge lingerie sale at Torrid.com, just in time for the Valentine's Day rush. You can save 25-50% off of hot intimates and sleepwear between now and February 15th, so hop over there before the selection gets picked over. This promotion is taking place at the same time as another sweet offer, which is this: Get 10% Off Any Order at Torrid by using the code 10OFFTD21. that deal runs until February 28th.

Gabourey Sidibe Hearts SWAK

This could be just the break the folks at Sealed with a Kiss Designs, also known as SWAK, had been looking for. It appears actress Gabourey Sidibe is a fan of their's and has been seen out-and-about in their clothing more than once. The LA Times reports the star of "Precious" wore SWAK's "Giselle" dress to an industry function last week. SWAK's owner says Sidibe’s stylist also dropped in this week t see more of the trendy styles.

Of course we had to pop over to SWAK to check out the latest dress designs and quite a few popped out at us.



You can see more of SWAK's styles here.

Valentine's Day Gifts For Yourself

Valentine's Day is for lovers, and that includes YOU. Whether you're coupled-up or not, pledging to love yourself more is a great way to mark the occasion. We have some ideas for those of you who are looking to celebrate love in all its forms.

Tees, hoodies, and shorts from Old Navy







Plus size pajamas from Sleepyheads



ChicBuds




Red Bandage Dress from Torrid


Also from Torrid, this black quilted wallet with a glitter heart


Beverly Ann's Breast Cancer Awareness necklace from Emitations


Argyle elbow sweater from Macys.com

V Magazine's Issue With Size

Hello, Curvies! By now, you've probably heard that highly anticipated copies of V Magazine's "Size" Issue are hitting store shelves this month. By now, we also know that a plus-size model does not usually mean a plus-size woman. As MSNBC points out this week, the average American woman is considered to be a size 14 - and around 41 percent of those are a larger size. But so far the campaign is getting a positive reception (or at least well-wishes) and we think the pictures released so far are truly gorgeous. The poses range from semi-nude to fully dressed. V's editor-in-chief says, "Big, little, pint-size, plus-size — every body is beautiful. This issue is out to prove it." And let's just be honest: Crystal Renn, who is prominently featured, transcends "size-ism". But what do you think about the photos? Are layouts like this a step in the right direction? Tell us after the jump. Find more pictures at Models.com

Start The Year Off Right

Just in time for those New Year's resolutions about taking great care of ourselves, Torrid is having a fab 50% Off Clearance Event. It lasts until January 3rd, so hop over before all the good stuff is GONE. (You know that doesn't take very long.) In addition, there's also 25% Off Tops, 50% off sweaters, dresses, pants and skirts, along with lots of other good deals.