Nail Polish Essentials Vol. II

Kaixo everybody,

As I spend my morning sipping tea and watching Netflix and retouching my nails, I have come to the realization that from back when I wrote about my nail polish essentials of 2015, I have only consistently returned back to two of them! Merino Cool and the All in One base coat and top coat are still going strong. I don't feel as passionate about the former as in 2015, but it's still a nice demure color that I use in the fall. However, my other choices have changed. Not because I didn't like those shades (I'm looking like crazy for Pansy), but they did their job and I can find something better.
Here are my current choices from Essie:

From top-left to bottom-right:
- Midnight Cami: The one I have had the longest, this shade is great for fall and winter. Now that I'm in Spain for summer, I didn't bring it, but it's easy to apply and easier to fix.
- Play Date: This one I don't have anymore (because it got destroyed on my trip to Costa Rica, RIP), but good lord, I could NOT STOP LOOKING AT IT. This is one I'm planning to get again eventually.
- Forever Yummy: I had A-List for a while (also got destroyed on a trip, wtf) and when deciding for a new red shade, I went with this one. I try to get a darker shade of red to complement my fair skin, and this one is great!
- Bikini So Teeny: If this isn't the most basic Essie shade there is, lmk lmao. My sister loves it, and I like it a lot better than Borrowed and Blue, but I'm pretty sure that once I'm done with it I'll go for a shade that's darker.
- Ballet Slippers: This one doesn't look great on my skin, is kinda difficult to apply because it's a tad sheer, but the QUEEN wears it and that's enough for me to love it. More than Fiji.
- Lovie Dovie: I literally just bought this, but so far so good! I was looking for some Barbie pink, and in the absence of Pansy, this will do!

While this seems an ad for Essie, I gotta say that I just really love the colors and the brand!! However, I do have favorites from other brands too!

- O.P.I. Black Cherry Chutney: I got this one from a hair styling set, and honestly, it has the best formula ever, and it can go on for weeks, unchanged. I love wearing dark hues like this, particularly in colder temperatures. I did bring it back to the Basque Country with me for the summer, though!
- Chanel Fiction: I got this one on a whim from a store that was closing for good, and I am honestly pretty pleased. The formula isn't fantastic, and I doubt that I would purchase this full-price, but it's a nice color for my current collection!

Anddd this is it for my 2019 nail obsessies (lol I HAD TO, K?) so far. There are some colors in my radar right now, but I'll probably get them once I get back to the US.

Love,

- Ane

Basque Prep Wears: Airport in Winter

Kaixo everyone,

To start with 2016, I will like to start with a new series: The Basque Prep Wears series! Dude, super original. I know, I know it's not the most original name. But I can showcase what I like to wear in different situations with a little bundle of essential pieces.

Now, before I go on with the current edition of Basque Prep Wears, have you all read the book Classy by Derek Blasberg? Yeah, that Tiffany blue book on how to be a lady in a world of excessive spray tanning and general bitchiness? If you haven't, do yourself a favor and get it ASAP:

Buy it here

When I bought it 5 years ago (jeez time flies), I remember that my favorite parts were the pictures comparing the "lady" and the "tramp" outfits for different occasions. One of them was the airport edition:

Apart from its hilarity, it gave me some ideas on what to wear to the airport without looking like an absolute idiot. However, since my traveling is mostly limited to going from Champaign back to the Basque Country and vice versa, the packing part is completely different from those Hermès bags (I mean, I wish I had those, but my actual packing is long enough for another post) and I have to think about which clothes take most space in my suitcase to wear it while traveling.

Clockwise from top left: Tee: Mango (on sale!) // Boots: Zara (similar) // Coat: Zara // Tee: Gap // Jeans: Topshop // Head wrap: Zara // Necklace: Forever 21 // Slip-ons: Steve Madden // Earrings: Tory Burch // Sweater: Zara // Yoga pants: Lululemon

One word: Comfort. And what is comfort for me when traveling overseas in the cold months of winter? Cotton tees with cute travel motifs and long pants (either jeans or yoga pants), paired with boots (usually my heaviest shoes) or if I'm not taking boots with me, easy to combine, easy to remove in the usual TSA screening, white sneakers. In order to keep my head warm, a nice head wrap or beanie is coming with me. Accessory wise, I keep my earrings simple but I carry my heaviest necklace with me to give my otherwise simple outfit an interesting touch.

Another very important piece for when I travel is a scarf that can keep my neck, head and/or body warm! One of my worst memories ever was a flight from Phoenix to Seattle where I kept coughing and sneezing and I felt like dying. I wish I had a scarf then, but I was young, inexperienced and dumb. Since my outfit is usually made of simple garments, I try to choose a bold scarf to make it pop!

From left to right: Zara // Kate Spade // Lilly Pulitzer

Bright and bold, just like moi! While I like my outfit choices to be as stylish as possible, sometimes it's just plain difficult, considering I have to carry a massive backpack with books and miscellanea and my suitcase as well, and it gets hot and sweaty no matter the weather or the cold, so I usually pack my coat and my scarf in my backpack and bring them out when I'm feeling cold. Like I said, comfort is key when traveling, specially when traveling for more than 15 hours!

What do you wear when you travel? Any Basque Prep Wears edition you would be interested in seeing? Sound off below! :)
Love,

- Ane