What a year 2012 has been! With the brights of neon entering our lipsticks and denim, nail art taking off to new levels and celebrity and designer collaborations abounding on the fashion and beauty fronts, we were certainly kept on our toes. For the past few weeks I've asked you to vote on a handful of this years highlights and now it's time to hear what you had to say by scrolling through all of your readers choice results here!
This has been another banner year for nails so it's no surprise that when the big festivities began in Londontown for the Royal Jubilee, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games people went batty with creative nail art. Take Lily Allen's Union Jack design on her nails during the Olympics, or Beverley Knight's glittering gold nails at the Paralympics along with
Princess Eugenie's British pride nails and Lily Cole's picture of the Queen on her nails at the Diamond Jubliee for example. Out of these four unique styles, whose nail art do you think should win 'Most Festive' for the 2012 year?
High Street brands continue to wow us each season of the year with their reasonable price points, flattering cuts and designs that mimic the look of expensive haughty designer styles. I've been personally obsessed with Zara this year for its original creations that include lots of studding, lace and leather paneling. Out of Zara, H & M, Topshop, River Island, Oasis and French Connection, which brand have you admired most this year?
Celebrity fragrances have proven year after year to be some of the biggest money makers on the market. That's perhaps why there were so many this year. International stars like Madonna launched Truth or Dare, whilst Rihanna decided that her third time might be a charm and she released Nude just last week. Other British pop stars like JLS, dropped their scent called Kiss, along with Chery Lloyd who created Pink Diamond. Last but not least was model Twiggy her let her own name do the marketing with her release of Twiggy Eau de Parfum by Twiggy London. Out of these five fragrances, which was your favourite of the year?
With designers launching their own seasonal lines, combined with their collaborations with other brands too, it can be quite difficult to keep styles and trends straight. 2012 proved that this year flew by as fast as lightening taking trends in and out of its wake with each passing month. However, as we look back on what was hot this year, five distinct trends come to mind: the flattering, waist-cinching, tummy-covering peplum, bright pastel coloured jeans from the Spring/Summer season, neon bags, mint, or peppermint green anything and the there of course was colour-blocking which translated into bags, shoes, tops, trousers, coats and dresses.
Other trends I wasn't perhaps quite as fond of include the pussy bow blouse, lace paneling and knuckledusters, but I definitely got into the aforementioned five. What do you think was the biggest fashion trend of the year?
I've already asked your opinion on what you thought was the best celebrity fashion collaboration of the year and now I want to know your vote when it comes to beauty. This lot of celebrities, singers, fashion designers and socialites have worked with famous beauty brands to bring us special collections. From Beth Ditto for MAC, to Louise Redknapp for Wild About Beauty, to Henry Holland's House of Holland Collection for Boots, Giles Deacon for Label M, and Carine Roitfeld's collaboration with MAC, let me know whose line you liked best and which product was your favourite by leaving a comment below.
Let the countdown to 2013 begin — but just before we ring in the new year, let's take a look at the best of what 2012 had to offer in terms of beauty and fashion. Join me by starting with celebrity fashion collaborator of the year. All you have to do is cast your vote to determine if Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for M&S Lingerie, Agyness Deyn for Doc Martens, Cheryl Cole for Stylist Pick, Pixie Lott for Rock 'N Rose or The Kardashian sisters for Dorothy Perkins collections should win for the year below!
There are only a few more days in 2012 with New Year's eve on the horizon, and I wanted to use this opportunity to take a look back at the fashion and beauty highlights of the year. The time has come to wrap up the best of the best readers' choice polls that you've voted on and all you need to do is scroll through to get the results here!
Fashion Week is without a doubt, one of the most stylish times of the year, well twice a year to be exact. Celebrities arrive to shows and parties decked to the nines to support their favourite designers, whilst editors, bloggers, serious shoppers and buyers also come together to celebrate all things fashion. I've gathered looks from Kate Moss, Sienna Miler, Olivia Palermo, Alexa Chung, Pippa Middleton and Poppy Delevigne during Autumn/Winter 2011 and Spring/Summer 2012 fashion weeks below for you to judge their outfits and then vote on here —have fun!
Nail art has been taken to a new level this year and celebrities have jumped right on the bandwagon. Playing with nail colours and patterns is a fun way to spice up your outfit and keep you looking and feeling trendy all without having to make a big investment considering that most manicures last around a week. We know that Lauren Conrad is a big nail trend junkie and even Helena Christensen sported the rainbow nail look earlier in the year. I've recently heard about girls painting their ring finger nail another colour instead of wearing an engagement ring or wedding band — now there's a beauty statement!
Check out past stories about seasonal styles of nails, magnetic polishes, the textured or shatter nail trend style and even confetti nail varnishes that are especially fun for the Christmas and New Year season. Vote on your favourite nail look from 2011 below!
