Whether you’re an occasional polisher or an experienced lacquerista, there’s no denying that nails are back in the spotlight, with the subtle French manicure making way for a new trend of bright colours and innovative nail art designed to catch the eye and complement any outfit. In light of Pantone naming emerald green their colour of the year – already the polish world’s favourite choice; we know how to spot a trend when we see one! – we’ve put together some ideas to give you a little inspiration.

The humble gloss coat

The easiest kind, and by far the quickest, yet it’s still something first-timers get wrong, so here’s a refresher. Wipe the nail with conditioning nail polish remover, followed by a good-quality clear base coat, preferably one with a strengthening solution – you’ll find that Debenhams has their own brand in their make-up section called Nails Inc. with some great nail care products. Let it dry, then apply two nice, thin, even layers of your chosen colour by starting in the middle, pushing up to the cuticle (without touching it) and sweeping around each side of your nail, followed by one across the top to “wrap” the polish over the nail tip. Let that dry, and then apply a final clear top coat. Simple and beautiful!

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Wanting:

A few of my New Year’s resolutions? Write fiction daily, practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu weekly, and cull my closet down to 1930s and 1970s hourglass silhouettes and leg-lengthening nude heels.

I’m still in Honolulu for the holidays, per usual, and despite scoring a pair of brand new, black-and-white gingham Christian Louboutin espadrilles at Pzazz consignment store, I wish I had these Clarks Originals “Serin Sun” retro platform sandals for the rest of my trip.  Simple and sunny, these Clarks “Serin Sun” platform sandals  are also sure to complement my tan, which is — after two and a half weeks under the strong Hawaiian sun — a lovely and deeper shade of blue-white.

So why just wish?

Good question. I almost forgot my other New Year’s resolutions: take decisive action, and follow my New Year’s resolutions.

Still, the sandals aren’t my only option in nude: I can also order them in white, which is technically not a nude shoe, but may be closer to my actual skin tone and therefore my goal of wearing shoes that look like extensions of my feet and legs.

Maybe I should buy both pairs of shoes?

Am I going to have to spend my whole day deliberating upon this now, at the expense of telling stories and rolling around with a 200-lb. Brazilian MMA champion?

Maybe I should buy both pairs of shoes?

Hmmm…

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Wanting:

Yes, I’m still wanting this museum-quality, vintage Halston jumpsuit, and yes, it’s still available. Apparently I’m not the only one holding back on blowing $2,100 for a cashmere catsuit.

Since everything popular is wrong, that may be the only justification I need to finally buy this…

Wearing:

I love that this Danskin knit boycut unitard vibes like a 1930s swimsuit.  Perf for romping ’round the beach in…

Wearing:

I spent months hunting the perfect snake bracelet, and finally found it in this ouroboros bangle by Nadine Essra.  The snake needed to be whittled down to Platonic purity, and biting its own tail, which is the ancient sign of ouroboros, symbolizing cyclicity, interpreted as a sign of infinity, roughly translating to  ”my ending is my beginning” — an eternal truth I witness everyday.

To wit? I started my day in just a Marlies Dekkers thong, and here I am again…

Wanting:

It seems unlikely this bracelet is legit — sterling silver instead of gold? dated 1968 instead of ’69? — but I love the nuts-and-bolts edge of the supposedly first version of Aldo Cipullo’s Love bracelet, and its reminder that even something so simple and iconic went through many iterations before it was distilled into something you couldn’t imagine any other way…

Going:

Panties for dinner…

And bodysuits on vintage studded hangers

Last night was the launch party for Fleur du Mal, the new ready-to-wear and lingerie line by Jennifer Zuccarini, former design director at Victoria’s Secret and co-founder of Kiki de Montparnasse. Kind of like Kiki, the hand-crafted brand bloomed from Jennifer’s interest in cultivating seduction, versus simply selling sex.

In line with that ideal is how each item mixes and matches: lingerie looks like ready-to-wear and ready-to-wear reads like lingerie. A hand-stitched tulle bodysuit works with tuxedo pants, or just as well alone after you’ve slipped the slacks off. A leather bra belongs under a sheer silk blouse. The “Essential Slip” could essentially be worn as a dress.

Fleur du Mal translates into “flower of evil,” and I forgot to ask Jennifer if it was a reference to books of poetry by the same name that were printed in the 19th century and banned in France until 1949 for their sensuality, but not before Victor Hugo could declare them “un nouveau frisson” (a new shudder, a new thrill)…

Wearing:

A month or so ago I was sent Chrysmela catches to try with my diamond earrings. Handmade in Japan, available in rose- and yellow-gold and rhodium, the patented catches are designed to anchor your earrings to your lobes.  I’ve been swimming in them everyday, and so far, so good.

But perhaps that’s because my laps always involve my burgundy bed-head bob carefully covered with this, more than how finely made these Chrysmela catches are.

Perhaps…

Wearing:

Senna’s Barely Base tinted moisturizer is better than BS BB creams: loaded with anti-oxidants, 5% zinc, and free of chemical sunscreens, it gives great glow with Senna’s signature subtle shimmer…

Hating:

I’ve always wondered why and how BB (“beauty balm”) creams aren’t just tinted moisturizers with SPF.

MM (“maybe marketing”)?

And since “BB cream” has been slapped on American drugstore products, more glam companies are doing BB (“better branding”) by creating CC creams. CC (“color and care” or “color and correct”) creams supposedly offer stronger coverage, and more skin-nurturing ingredients than BB’s.

Chanel’s CC (“complete correction”) cream offers all of that, but it must be better since you  know what trademarked double Cs stand for, and that you can’t get it in the States yet, unless you eBay it.

BS (“but seriously” or “bull…”)?