Summer beauty trend: purple polish

It's been a wild few months on the manicure front, ladies. Last fall, it was all about inky blues and burgundies, then in the spring we explored the other extreme with ultra-delicate pink iridescence.

For this summer—what's left of it, that is—we're seeing a happy medium with fun, frivolous shades of purple, from almost-fluourescent to pastel and everywhere in between. A few of our favorites: Dark Angel from M.A.C., Don't Wait Up from L'Oreal, Rose Royale from Lancôme, and Bermuda Shorts from Essie.

For everyday, for a special occasion, or just for fun, it's easy to add a little flair to your fingers with the season's hottest shade.

(Hat tip: BellaSugar)

Trend alert: get on point!

If you've been hanging on for dear life to those kickin' Louboutins for the past few years, just knowing—knowing in your heart—that pointed-toe shoes would make a comeback, it's time to pull those lovelies out of the closet and give them a good polish.

Earlier this year, Internet shoe guru Manolo predicted that 2008 would be the year of the comeback for this classic, leg-lengthening style, and he's not alone. According to a recent article in The Guardian:

At Balenciaga—pretty much the bellwether for trends that the high street masses will be adopting—the gladiator sandals it knocked out last season have been replaced for autumn/winter by shoes so pointy they will probably double as weapons for the requisite eastern European villainess in the next Bond film.

A pointed statement if ever we heard one.

Unleash your inner "Vix"-en

Oh, girlfriend, say it isn't so. Midsummer has come and gone and you still haven't found the perfect bikini?

Yeah, yeah, you've been busy, you hate dressing rooms, the malls are infested with gangs of marauding Sidekick-toting teenyboppers, yadda yadda...

Time to wake up and smell the sunscreen, hun. The season is slipping away and you best get while the getting's good. Fortunately, we've just added a bevy of beachworthy beauties to our swimwear selections—like this scrumptious Batik Navy Bikini Top and Bottom from Vix.

The navy-and-turquoise batik print is a unique alternative to ubiquitous solids, geometrics, and florals, meaning you won't show up at a pool party in the same suit as six other girls. The adjustable gold hardware adds just the right amount of bling to make a subtle—but impactful—fashion statement. And when pool- or beach-time is done, you can toss on the matching Batik Tie Caftan to spend the rest of the day in cool, breezy comfort.

There. Could we make it any easier for you? No more excuses—dive right in and let your inner "Vix"-en lead the way.

Summer trend alert: one-shoulder dresses

You've been working on your tan (safely, right?) and now it's time to show it off. In the next phase of the Grecian goddess trend, one-shoulder dresses are emerging into the spotlight this summer.

Look around a bit and you'll find some stunning white numbers to really show off your summertime bronze, or put your style on display in one of this season's bright colors—we're over the moon for this mega-gorge green sensation from Alice + Olivia.

Of course, since the no-black-after-Memorial-Day rule went out the window with the "girls don't call boys" convention, black is a classic choice that knows no season.

Ready to put a little za-za-zu in your summer? Give boring dresses the cold shoulder and slip into some serious goddess garb!

What's in your poolside beauty bag?

Welcome to Summer 2008! With warm and (hopefully) sunny weather here to stay, it's time to make sure your secret weapons are in place.

Fortunately, there's no need to spend a fortune trying-and-trashing before you find the right sunscreen, lip butter, bronzer, waterproof mascara, and fragrance—our friends over at We Love Beauty have done the legwork for you. Here are this season's must-haves for poolside and beachside:

• Hair: Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair SunShine Shield Spray
• Lips: LAVANILA Pure Vanilla The Healthy Lip Butter
• Bronzer: Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Brush
• Face: Clinique UV-Response Face SPF 50
• Body Oil/Moisturizer: NARS Monoi Body Glow II
• Mascara: Vincent Longo Vibrant Eye Waterproof Mascara
  
• Fragrance: Missoni Acqua Perfume
  

Visit We Love Beauty's post for details on what makes her recommendations the "it" products for Summer 2008.

Summer trend alert: embellished belts

Is there anything more fabulous than a great accessory? An instant pick-me-up for even the most ho-hum outfit that requires no forays into the caverns of the dressing room?

Well, this season, one of our fave accessories finds itself front and center ... and it's more fabulous than ever: the belt.

The humble belt has been around as long as ... well, as long as clothes (the ones we wanted to stay up, anyway), but this season it's gotten an ultra-glam makeover to make a fashion statement all its own. A few trends to look for:

Prints. Forget about your old standard "I know it's dull, but it goes with everything" black leather waistwrapper. This year, we're seeing patterns from classic houndstooth to crazy paisley to fabulous-anywhere animal prints, like this hottie from Another Line.

Unique Closures. No, we're not talking about the kind that lets you put a bad relationship behind you. We're talking about look-at-me buckles, jeweled clasps, and striking hardware, like on this Donna Karan Gold Conch Belt.

Embellishments. From tough-girl studs to girly-girl sparkles to painted-on artwork, this season's belts, like this Fossil Painted Leather Engraved-Buckle Belt, are fancier than ever.


So if your summertime wardrobe could use a little va-va-voom, buckle up and add some fabulous belts to the mix!

Your summer chick flick guide

This summer's movie season will have plenty to keep the boys happy—including the latest installments in the Batman and Raiders of the Lost Ark franchises—but don't think the studios have forgotten the power of the female ticket-buyer. Summer 2008 will see not one, not two, but three of the most anxiously anticipated chick-flicks coming to a multiplex near you.

Sex and the City (opens May 30)
Yes, the series ended years ago, but Carrie and Company are back and better than ever; and this time around, there are wedding bells involved for Carrie and Mr. Big. Was there ever a better excuse for a girls' night out? (But you'll probably have to smuggle in your own cosmos.)


Mamma Mia! (opens July 18)
The hit Broadway musical featuring the ebullient tunes of 70s pop sensation ABBA finally makes its way to the silver screen. Look for Meryl Streep to get in touch with her zany side as mother of a soon-to-be bride determined to find out who her real father is. And if that's not enough, it all takes place amid the sumptuous scenery of the Greek isles.

He's Just Not That Into You (opens August 1)
How many self-help books get to be romantic comedies when they grow up? And with a stellar cast that includes Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long and Kevin Connolly, how could we not be into it?



See you at the box office, girls!