Hit the Road

A very happy #ManicureMonday to all you lovely people out there. I was lucky enough this week to have a guest model on the team. Say hello to the beautiful Briana LoRusso! She'll be a guest one more day this week and you'll see how different all the looks she'll be wearing are, but for today, her look is strictly 'live to ride grunge'.

 

This week's mani is for all the car enthusiasts out there in the outernet. Roads, traffic lights and street signs cover Briana's nails probably more nicely than they do the actual roads. Here are her rider threads:

The spotlight flatters her, doesn't it?

Think you're not hardcore enough to dress grungy? Think again. Just because you think you have a set 'style' that you can't stray from doesn't mean it's true. Getting dressed in the morning is deciding who you want to be that day. If you're feeling a little extra hard-nosed one morning you should dress to fit the part! No one will judge if you decide to wear all black with a leather jacket and some extra eyeliner. Just wear what you want to wear because YOU want to wear it.

sweatshirtL forever xxi

jacket: sans soucy @ marhsall's

pants: forever xxi

belt: forever xxi

shoes: target

necklace: forever xxi

headband: urban outfitters

 There's no cooler place to hangout on the weekends but the back of a pickup truck right? 

- nali xo

America the Grateful

Today I am keeping in mind all the soldiers who have fought for this country and us, the men and women still in combat and their bravery, as well as all the men and women resting peacefully after having spent their lifetime serving for the United States. This post is dedicated to all of you, and I am eternally grateful for your sacrifices and patriotism. 

Manicure Monday is a small artistic nod towards all the armed forces of the United States through abstract shapes in our nation's colors.

I myself am a fan of wearing American flag themed clothing, especially in the red, white and blue color range, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. Instead of wearing bold colors on days like today and the 4th to honor the country and its heroes (or on any day!), muted colors with star and stripe patterns works just as well, if not creatively better. I've used a blue accent to a gray stars and stripes outfit to pay my respects today.

denim shirt: forever xxi

tank: issi @ t.j.maxx

jeans: target

boots: doc martens

necklace: ny & company

 My flag shirt I am wearing is just a regular tank worn on top of a denim shirt. Go out of your comfort zone and try layering things you wouldn't normally layer. You might be surprised with the result

Say thank you to someone who's earned it today; veterans and members of the armed forces are the core of our nation.

- nali xo

Good Times Never Seemed So Good...

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for being the 2013 World Series Champions!

Although not a diehard baseball fan, being from Boston, I am so excited and proud of the Red Sox for persevering not only to win a championship, but also to stand by the slogan 'Boston Strong' and giving hope to the people of Massachusetts. Whether someone from around here loves sports or just condones them, professional sports teams stand for the connection amongst the community and how everyone comes together to root for something mutually. People have differences, but when that group of people comes together at the TD Garden or Fenway Park, none of those differences matter because at that moment in time they all have one major thing in common and are able to bond over it.

That being said, I know sports fan gear isn't the most fashionable clothing out there. And contrary to popular belief, girls (and boys) who care about how they look and dress are not immune to a love of sports.. the two are not mutually exclusive! Today's post is dedicated to the many struggling with how to express themselves in regulation fan gear.

#manicuremonday is dedicated to my home team for bringing home the gold. This manicure can easily be altered depending on team and sport by changing the colors and style of ball and jersey on one or more nails.

If you find yourself laying the same clothes out every time you have a sporting event (or World Series champs parade :) ) to go to, stop right now. Although it may not seem like it, jerseys and player tees can be used just like some of your other jackets or statement tees you dress up easily on a regular basis. You just need the right accessories and mindset.

leggings: pink @ victoria's secret

tube socks: modell's

jersey: mlb official

flannel: buffalo exchange

necklace: claire's

cap: sports authority

boots: sm @ sear's

skirt: one clothing @ marshall's

tee: modell's

collar: forever xxi

jacket: target

shoes: no name

tights: marshall's

bracelet: ale & ani

tee: fan store

shorts: urban outfitters

denim shirt: american eagle outfitters

hat: calvin klein @ marshall's

boots: wet seal

tights: jones new york

Don't let your personal style be triumphed by your love of sports.. this is one of the only situations you can have your cake and eat it too! Happy celebrating this week, Boston.

- nali xo

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

The clock is ticking away and in less than three days we'll all (hopefully) be dressing up for Halloween! I have a last minute Halloween week #manicuremonday for you all to use or be inspired by!

You can do the candy corn nails, or the new 'bloody' trend, OR you can come up with something completely original drawn by your own hand. The nail art pen I've used for manis in past posts is great for any kind of design, as opposed to previously made decals that can't be changed. I drew up a classic creepy style for Halloween week: graveyard theme. 

One hand covered in cobwebs, the other reads R.I.P. Personalize this idea yourself, the spookier when the lights turn off the better. 

What better way to match graveyard nails than to pair a cobweb look alike sweater with neutral 'tomb color' tones? Here's my fall weather approved/tombstone inspired/manicure Monday outfit.

This time of year leg warmers are obviously a must.

button up: american eagle (mens)

sweater: guess

jeans: my pretty denim by cache cache

necklace: ralph lauren @ buffalo exchange

leg warmers: wet seal

shoes: candie's @ kohl's

Giant, shapeless sweaters may leave you stumped as to how to wear them. Instead of just layering the same white tank top underneath why not try a patterned button-up or a flannel next time you cozy into the knit holes.

Someone's always watching....

Ever wish you could have an extra set eyes on the back of your head? This #manicuremonday I have found you a fix for that. With Halloween just around the corner I bet you're looking for something spooky to adorn. Even if you aren't, you've come to the right place for Halloween-ready unearthly nails. 

Don't limit yourself to decals and decorations made specifically for nails. Think outside the box and try a craft store for nail enhancement. I've finally come up with the best way to dress up your nails, Halloween style, have the most creative nails at the costume party and freak out your friends all with one style.

Two words: googly eyes (although I'm not sure if that counts as two words because I'm not sure if googly is actually a word. oh well)

Eyeballs are this season's perfect charm, didn't you hear? Black and white nails can go with any costume, especially the scary ones, and no one else will have thought of this inventive ornament. If you're looking to match it with something other than a Halloween costume, black and white all over works fine,  but I took it to the next level and played with an eye theme.

sweater: forever xxi

shorts: h&m @ buffalo exchange

tights: urban outfitters

necklace: claire's

sneaks: converse

Think outside the box this Halloween and every day. Manicures are the easiest and most fun way to express and decorate yourself. Paint responsibly.

Big or Small, Save Them All

As I hope everyone already knows, October is national breast cancer awareness month. Beside skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in America. The statistics are way too high, with 1 in 8 American women diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. In 2013, 232,340 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and 39,620 women will die from breast cancer. That's way too high a number of mothers, sisters, daughters and wives being lost to a disease that develops genetically, without missteps from the patient. Although it is possible to treat breast cancer through radiation, chemotherapy and other kinds of therapy, there is no surefire way to prevent it before it starts. Organizations like The National Breast Cancer Foundation and Susan G. Komen For the Cure foundation raise hundreds of millions of dollars each year to research new ways to fight breast cancer. Someday I hope the geniuses working in medical research will find a single, simple way to successfully cure breast and other kinds of cancers, but for now all we can do is donate our support and money and pray that the cure is close by. This week's manicure Monday is a nod to the American Cancer Society and other organizations working to find a cure, along with all the women and their families battling with this disease. For more information visit http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/index or http://www.nbcam.org.

 Pink for breast cancer and cheetah print for all the strong fighters battling their way through life. Each patient is a brave warrior and deserves to be seen as such. My lovely sister, Monica, models a pink accented outfit to match the breast cancer theme.

sweater: say what @ marshall's

pants: 1st kiss @ marshall's

bow: forever xxi

leg warmers: target

boots: target

purse: forever xxi

Show your support this month & every month.

Sources: http://www.nbcam.org, http://www.cancer.org/index, http://www.nbcf.org.au/Home.aspx, 

- nali xo

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Welcome to another wonderful week of school, work, schoolwork, or constant napping (whichever lifestyle you lead). I missed you all terribly during the weekend :)

If anyone had any super outfit or part of an outfit they wore over the weekend and want to share it with me, post your photo on instagram and tag me (@goodbetterdressed) and I'll decide which is my favorite and post it. We can all have some fun playing games and stuff. 

I've been in quite the October-y mood lately, although I can't say the same about this Boston weather. If only Mother Nature would coordinate with my fall wardrobe I'd have nothing to complain about (ha).  Staying true to my fall-like mood while somewhat cooperating with 75 degree days, my (very photogenic) friend, Taylor and I put together this fall oriented/ warm weather-approved manicure monday-accompanying outfit. Here's the mani I chose to play around with on this lovely October day:

Nothing says October quite like a pumpkin and no season has been rung in properly without a manicure to honor it. Although in a very minimalist and less-than-obvious way of showing it, my hand is the new home of the world's smallest pumpkin patch. Halloween/fall nails are probably the most fun to create and the month of October holds a series of kooky/scary/tricky/treaty nails for Good Better Dressed. Here is what Taylor and I selected

  

shirt: bob's clothing

pants: one clothing @ marshall's

necklace: forever xxi

bracelet: francesca's

shoes: nine west

I'm so into the shirt tie being worn backwards versus the way it was meant to be worn. Taylor says she wears it that way because of convenience, but this tactless choice is pointedly chic. For more HallOctoberween inspired manicures, check back in next Monday to see what boo-tiful thing I do next (sorry, I had to do it) ((when life gives you the opportunity to make a pun make it))

- nali xo

A blogger is only as good as their wireless connection

"Sorry for the wait" - Lil Wayne, YMCMB


*shows up 2 hours late with Starbucks

It's now 1 pm and I'm just getting around to posting because my computer charger nearly blew a fuse and burst into flames therefore unable to charge my computer because it was otherwise occupied.  So I am now furiously typing away with my freshly manicured hands to bring you the first good better dressed mobile post woo0o0o0o0o0o

OKAY back to business. As you all know it's manicure Monday and today's mani is a mermaid inspired look.

Here's how I used color and pattern to help recall the magical mystery we all believed in when we were young and maybe still do. 

If you need help believing, listen to this guy for 3:31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nilUlU6fM0s

To decide on a matchy-matchy nail/outfit mermaid look I played a lot with cooler colors and peplum or ruffle-y tops, the only way us humans can have fins. This was my favorite combo

top: forever xxi

pants: tinsletown @ marshall's

necklace: claire's

shoes: report @ sears

earrings: forever xxi

bracelet: urban outfitters

hat: calvin klein @ t.j.maxx 

Always be on time and when you can, always always always be a mermaid. Sorry for the iPhone quality pictures... I'll do my best to get back on a computer ASAP! Thanks for reading!

- nali xo