Product Review: Nails Inc. Magnetic Nail Polish

I first read about magnetic nail polish a few months ago and have been wanting to try it ever since but never bothered importing it from the UK.  Fortunately Sephora recently started carrying Nails Inc Magnetic Polish in 2 different colors.  My roommate recently picked up the purple toned Houses of Parliament and soon our entire apartment had excitedly applied the polish.

Application of the nail polish is quite easy. It brushes on like regular nail polish.  On the 2nd coat – that’s when you have to switch up the process.  Instead of moving on to the next nail, you hold the magnetic lid over each wet nail immediately after painting to reveal the design.  The lid features a ridge that sits on your cuticle but it is a little difficult to tell when you are going to hit your nail so I would recommend holding it at a slight angle, not parallel to your nail.  I tried to get really close to the nail but unfortunately since the lid is a bit clunky, I misjudged the distance and ruined one of my nails.  Also try to hold the lid for at least 10/15 seconds for optimal stripped effect. You can see that my index finger is not as distinct (learning curve)

I have been painting furniture so I was a bit rough on my nails but the 2nd day I could already see signs of wear at some of the edges and sides.

By the 3rd day a few of the nails definitely started to chip, not only on the edges but deeper into the nail bed too.  My nails though looked in much better shape than my roommates who had not remembered to apply top coat.  I guess it’s a bit similar to the delicate nature of OPI Suede.  It dries rather quickly and is a little thicker than regular polish but it wears down faster.  Make sure you use Top Coat to get it to last longer than a couple  days.

By day 5 while my left hand did not look so horrible, my right hand looked pretty awful and I knew it was time to change the polish.

I do have to say the nail polish was really fun to apply, it almost feels like a bit of nail magic.  Also, the effects were subtle enough to be appropriate even in a conservative office environment. It still is noticeable enough though to get compliments from strangers on your morning subway ride. Although at $16 for a small bottle it may seem a bit pricey, if you want something different but not in-your-face magnetic nail polish is easy to do and even more fun to look at. The stripes kind of remind me of tigers eye in a very hypnotic kind of way.

ps. If you pick this up remember to get the Sephora Friends and Family code for 20% off your online order.

101 Reasons to Leave New York

So yup, I  really did it - I left New York.  I was planning to stay in the city for at least another year, and I always thought I'd leave the big city to return to my home state, California.

New York is such an amazing place.  It introduced me to Erin and inspired the birth of Sugar Rock Catwalk!  New York has everything (except for good Mexican and Vietnamese food), but all of that does come at a price.  The city is intense, even grocery shopping sometimes feels like a spectacle with lines running throughout the store.  My last couple of years in New York I was always on grind - perhaps because I could never say no in a city full of opportunities.

My friend and personal mentor Howard Jordan Jr describes it all best in his book 101 Reasons to Leave New York.  He really captured my love-hate relationship with the city.  Every reason to leave is a reason to stay.  If you live or have lived in New York, you'll enjoy the list.

Ultimately, I left New York not because I was fed up, but rather because it was time for me to try something new and I wanted to leave on a high note.  It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to friends and the city

I already miss everyone like James Rand. What am I going to do without him as my go-to photographer?  These photos were our last set together when I was house hunting in Chicago, and he just happened to be in town the same weekend to visit an old friend.

It's a bit hard to believe that just a month ago I was wearing summer tops and apartment hunting.  I'm still settling into my new life, but at my apartment is furnished and closet setup.

Word on the street is that the worst winter is headed for Chicago.  I'm a little scared, but more than anything, I'm excited to emerge victorious this spring and experience Chicago summer as a resident.

Crop top - Feature

Print pants - secondhand

Necklace - Subversive for Target

Flats - DV Dolce Vita Marcela (you can find the fall version with tan vs. white soles if you search for the Marcel)

A Few More Sales!

Just in case you wanted to score some last minute threads before/after dressing up - here's a few sales going on this weekend!

Who: Duckie Brown
What: Score deep discounts on great menswear pieces. Shirts are $100, pants $120 and jackets $300. CASH ONLY!
When: October 29, 2011. 11am-5pm
Where: 321 W 13th St - Suite 3A. (b/n 8th and 9th Ave).

Who: Patrik Ervell Sample Sale
What: Discounts on again - great menswear pieces.
When: October 29-30, 2011. 12pm-6pm.
Where: 57 Walker St (b/n Greene & Broadway).

Who: Assembly Basement Sale
What: 50-80% off menswear and womenswear
When: Now through October 30, 2011. 12-9pm.
Where: 170 Ludlow St. (b/n Stanton and East Houston St), 212.253.5393

Who: Gucci Private Sale
What: Markdowns on selected items (bags and wallets).
When: Now through Novemeber 16, 2011.
Where: Online.

Who: Tory Burch Private Sale
What: Up to 70% off shoes, clothing and accessories.
When: Now through October 31, 2011 (11:59pm)
Where: Online.

MS Paint - Really??

So lately I've been experimenting with MS paint.  Whenever I need a 72 second break from work, I take my trusty two button mouse and draw cartoons of people I know.  Sometimes I literally have to stop myself from laughing out loud by myself at my desk. It makes whatever crap you're dealing with melt away - even if its just for a few moments...Anyways - here's some of the things I've drawn over the past little while.  Each sketch usually follows the same life cycle pattern - I draw, I laugh, I text/email the drawing to everyone in the drawing, everyone laughs, it goes on facebook as someones profile pic...

This is a picture of my flatmates.  I decided they would both look better with different hairstyles. I graciously volunteered to do "A"s hair.

 

 Here's of of SRC's friends who moved away to London this past summer =/ 

SRC! Kudos if you can guess which outfits Erin and Lani's are taken from.  I tried to be as precise as I could be.  Hence Lani's asymmetrical hair and Erin's braid.  Have a great Halloween weekend!

Sample Sale Report: YSL

Yesterday marked the launch of the YSL family and friends sale.  The sale had an opening for VIPs earlier in the day and opened to the public at 5pm.  A line was already forming 3 hours prior to the public opening of the sale.  Sheer madness.  I ended up waiting in line and was stuck in front of the most irritating group of girls I've met in my life. I can't even count the number of times they bumped into me during our three our tenure...once the line stops moving - you should also stop moving ...I forget that sometimes common sense isn't really all that common...

With a three hour wait, all I can say is thank goodness for smartphones!  That being said, my battery ended up draining a lot quicker than anticipated and my phone gave way after I grabbed a few pics of the price lists (hence the lack of pictures in this post!). 

Overall this sale is not something that I recommend for menswear.  The menswear is mosly odds and ends and it's definitely not worth the wait.  Womenswear is a different story but expect lots of hoarding and greedy women holding more bags than can physically fit on their arms...

If you're willing to brace the insane line and looking for womenwear or shoes - it might be worth checking out. I spoke with a staffer who said that there were designated boxes of merch for each day so if you're a glutton for punishment, you can try your luck today and tomorrow.

Who: YSL Friends and family sale

What: Up to 75% off handbags ($600, was $1,550), shoes ($300, was $795), and accessories ($50). Jackets, pants, dresses, and sweaters for $150-$350.
When: October 26-28, 2011. Wed 5-8 pm, Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-5pm
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St (b/n 6th & 7th Ave)

Catching Up with Robin Tomas

We first noticed Robin Tomas’ clothes on the runway of the Supima Fashion Competition last January.  Since that point his award winning t-shirt has been produced exclusively for Bloomingdales and gone on to create a collection of women’s wear under the label “TOMAS”.  Building on his passion to create refined yet wearable art Tomas just released his sophomore collection.

The Fall 2011 collection was inspired by the Amish community and features distinctly austere sensibilities and purposeful pleating.  While the color palette is predominantly darker and subdued, luxe fabrications and shine give new life and a sense of modernity to the simple silhouettes.  While the clothing is very “covered up”, the softly structured shoulders and sleeves look strong rather than demure.

We had a chance to catch up with Tomas to see how he was doing and a bit about his latest collection and what he’s dressing up for as for Halloween.

SRC: How has your life changed since becoming involved in the Supima competition?

RT: It has opened doors and given me quite a boost in getting my work out there. Sometimes i still have to pinch myself to make sure my design made it to the floor of one of NYC's institutions.

SRC: Your background previously was in Menswear, how does that experience effect your designs for women?

RT: It gets me to start with a solid core, a great fit using the right element to use as a statement. Menswear relies on great detailing as well, overall I was able get these essential ingredients for menswear into womenswear.

SRC: Tell us about your inspiration for the recent Fall 2011 collection? 

RT: The recent Fall Collection is inspired by the Amish community, I used pleating as an overall theme and used classic dark Fall colors with an accent splatter black and white print. - I dubb it as "Amish Chic Futura "

SRC: What kind of woman is your ideal customer?

RT: A working Manhattanite who works hard and play hard, shes driven, quietly confident and naturally chic, she likes what she wants and she is essentially sensual without being sexy.

SRC: What are 3 things every woman needs this Fall?

RT: A hot cloak, cute shrug, and a stunning dress....

SRC: Will you be dressing up for Halloween?

RT: Probably be a cowboy, or a surgeon ; )

SRC: What can we expect to see from you next?

RT: We’re presenting Spring to the press and the market....watch out!

The TOMAS Fall 2011 collection is available at:

Anik Boutique – Madison Ave and 83rd St, Amsterdam and 73rd St.

INA boutique on 101 Thompson St. SoHo

Sephora Friends & Family 2011

Every year I wait until this time of year to stock up on my beauty products at 20% off.  Sephora Friends and Family is back and if you have not been so fortunate to get a code from a store associate fear not.  You can get your very own code online at SephoraLove.com/FriendsandFamily.  So what will you be picking up?  Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Make Up Forever Fluo Night Pigment and Nails Inc Magnetic Nail Polish is on my list.

Special thanks to my girl TC for the tip.

Alexandra Satine - Spring 2012

A few months ago I introduced you to, my friend and former co-worker, Alexandra Satine's handbag line.  With styles that are light weight, stylish and many with the ability to transform into multiple looks/sizes her handbags are a win-win investment.  Recently she showed off her upcoming Spring 2012 collection.  And while a few of her most popular styles are made up in new materials she also had some completely fresh designs to share.

In the blink of an eye a tote comes apart to become a tote and oversized clutch that can be worn together or separately.  The South Beach tote zips open to reveal side gussets that add substantially more packing power.  Since the purse is what every woman depends upon to get her through the day, options for size changes and style changes can take you from day to evening or expand to hold a spare pair of shoes.  As I've previously mentioned, her handbags are super lightweight so that the bag itself won't weigh you down.

Her Spring collection focuses on bright reds, camel tone tweed and camel leathers with black and white for a very classic yet striking look.  The South Beach Tote and the 7th Ave are both $490 while the Rue Rivoli Tweed is $435 and the Rio Limon Clutch is $268. Since most of her styles have the ability to transform and offer you multiple looks for 1 price, Alexandra Satine pieces will offer you plenty of bang for your buck.  In New York, you can find Alexandra Satine bags at Gloria Jewel, Verve and Delfino.   For all other store locations click here.

Sample Sales This Week: October 24-30, 2011

Who: Nexus Showroom Sample Sale
What: Fall/Winter merchandise by exclusive European designers up to 85% off.
When: October 20-28, 2011. Weekdays 10:30am-6pm (closed weekends)
Where: 39 West 56th St. 212-265-0856

Who: Hickey Freeman & Bobby Jones Sample Sale
What: Up to 80% off on men’s clothing, furnishings and sportswear. Credit Cards Only. No Strollers or children under 12.
When: October 23-27, 2011/ Sun 9am-6pm, Mon- Wed 9am-6:30pm, Thurs 9am-5pm
Where: Soiffer Haskin, 317 West 33rd St (b/n 8th & 9th Ave)

Who: Rena Lange Sample Sale
What: Up to 90% off retail on women’s clothing from Fall/Winter 2011 and previous seasons. No Strollers, no children under 12. Credit Cards only.
When: October 23-25, 2011. Sun-Tues 10am-6pm
Where: 430 West 14th St, Suite 201. (b/n 9th & 10th Ave)

Who: MCM Sample Sale
What: Up to 80% off on handbags, totes, clutches, wallets, and small leather goods.
When: October 25-27, 2011. Tues-Thurs 10am-6pm
Where: Flatotel, 137 West 52nd St (nr 7th Ave) 5th Floor. Suite B. 212-729-9069

Who: Adrienne Landau Sample Sale
What: 40% to 75% off retail prices on exotic skin & fine leather bags, clutches, and amazing gems! No Childeren or Strollers.
When: October 25-27, 2011. Tues-Thurs 10am-6pm
Where: 519 8^th Ave, 21st Floor (b/n 35^th & 36^th St). (212) 920-1211

Who: Global Fashion Fight Sample Sale
What: Sample Sale during Breast Cancer Awareness Week to benefit Fashion Fights Cancer Therapeutic Programs. Featuring some of the top names in fashion like Tadashi Shoji, Carmen Marc Valvo, Shoshanna and more...
When: October 25, 2011. Tues 6pm-10pm
Where: 25CPW, 25 Central Park West (at 62^nd St)

Who: Shelly and Renee Productions Designer Sale
What: Cocktails and Gowns starting at $99 by Marc Bouwer, Anne Bowen, Donald Deal, Pamela Roland,
Melissa Eng, Lela Rose, Heidi Weisel and more. European ready-to-wear designers starting at $99 for Valentino, D Exterior, Boss, Weil, Hotel and more.
When: October 25-27, 2011. Tues-Thurs 10am-6pm
Where: 519 8th Ave, 21st Floor (b/n 35th & 36th St)

Who: YSL Friends and family sale
What: Up to 75% off handbags ($600, was $1,550), shoes ($300, was $795), and accessories ($50). Jackets, pants, dresses, and sweaters for $150-$350.
When: October 26-28, 2011. Wed 5-8 pm, Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-5pm
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St (b/n 6th & 7th Ave)

Who: Post Card Sample Sale
What: 50-75% off on quilted, down, leather, fur trimmed, and fur lined coats for both men and women ffrom Italian company that specializes in warm, luxurious, ski-grade jackets, overcoats, pants, and ski accessories.
When: October 26-29, 2011. Wed-Sat 9:30am-7pm
Where: 225 5th Ave (b/n 26th & 27th St)

Who: Bonpoint Sample Sale
What: Up to 60% off on fashionable baby and kids clothing. Sizes newborn to pre-teen.
When: October 26-27, 2011 Wed 9am-7pm, Thurs 9am-3pm
Where: The Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18 St (b/n 7th & 8th Ave) 5th Floor.

Who: Want Agency Semi-Annual Sale
What: Enjoy from 50 - 75% off Fall/Winter 2011 collection samples from Acne, Filippa K, Nudie Jeans, Want Les Essentiels de la Vie, and Swims. Great finds for men and women including jeans, dresses, suits, pants, outerwear, knitwear, shirts, shoes and accessories. Cash Only
When: October 26-27, 2011. Wed-Thurs 11am-8pm
Where: 262 Mott St (b/n Houston & Prince St)

Macy's Next Designer Collaboration: Doo.Ri

Next up on Macy's designer roster is NY based Doo.Ri!  The collection will include Doo Ri's signature draped jersey, knitwear and prints on dresses, leggings, blouses, and trench coats.  Items are set to be priced from $39 to $159 and the collection will be available starting February 15, 2012.  Here's some sketches of the caspsule collection that were released by WWD.

H&M x Versace: Menswear Preview...All of it!

Vogue UK released the images for the H&M x Versace lineup the other day so here's everything from the menswear collection.  Like we've mentioned in the past, there's lots of prints, bold color choices, embellishments and everything that has come to be associated with the Versace brand.  Here's a look at what will be up for grabs on November 19th!

What I like:

While I was sorting through everything I realized that almost all the pieces I liked are black.  I think there's a lot going on in some of the other pieces which isn't bad - it's just not my style.

Everything Else: