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Nail art trace its origins to Japan. Japanese street fashion is known for being colorful and cartoonish, in the best possible way. Clothing is not supposed to reflect reality. It’s all about having fun and being colorful. It comes as no surprise that women who dress this way would see their nails as potential spaces for even more color.

Nail art became popular in the United States when people started using social networking websites like Pinterest and Tumblr to post pictures of how things they see and do in their normal, daily lives. These websites are unique among social networking sites because they make it easy and fun for users to share photos without much text. Once it became common for people to communicate solely by images, people began to share their ideas for fashion and crafting. Nail art is a natural outgrowth of this process. It is a relatively inexpensive way to express one’s creativity, and since nails need to be repainted frequently, people who enjoy nail art have a constant source of new photos.

Nail art received its first official endorsement when Katy Perry arrived at her Part of Me premiere with little three-dimensional charms attached to her nails. Each finger was decorated with a different miniature item that represented movies, such as popcorn and film reels. The Olympics placed nail art on a global stage. The female athletes were unable to wear jewelry when they competed, so they expressed themselves by painting their nails. Many of the women showed their patriotism by putting their nations’ flags on their fingertips. Some of them alternated between flags, the Olympic rings and imagery having to do with the sports they played. This trend was reminiscent of the way cheerleaders decorate their faces with temporary tattoos depicting their schools’ mascots. It was a cute way of showing team spirit that did not hamper the Olympians’ athleticism.

Nail art does not always have to be complex or hard to do. People who paint their own nails start with simple stripes. Anyone who has mastered French manicures can paint checked and crisscrossed patterns after a bit of practice. So for those of you who are unable to paint your own nails, you can still participate in this fun trend. Companies like Sally Hansen and Sephora make nail stickers that cover the whole nail with pre-printed designs. These stickers look like nail polish, and they last just as long. Tiny stickers in shapes like hearts and stars can be placed on nails in unique arrangements as well.

So when it comes to your nails, go for it, have fun and express your style.

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Looks
To update your look for 2012, use contrasts in color and style. Gone are the dull tones of last year. For 2012, bold color wins the day, with bright oranges, yellows, greens and reds. Sparkly metallic fabrics add new zest to outfits, and old stand-bys patterns see a resurgence. Try using a traditional plaid shirt with flirty, full skirt and trendy boots. You can accentuate your femininity with cutout blouses and fun skirts and shorts.  Prints of all kinds, from the tribal to the traditional, make an appearance for 2012, so have fun with them to create your own look.

Boots
Boot-lovers, you can go wild during 2012, with patterns, colors and a variety of different styles. Whether you prefer comfortable pull-ons to laced-up mid-calf styles, boots go with every item in your wardrobe, from shorts to trendy dresses.

Jeans
The old denim blues get an overhaul in 2012, with new styles and colors of denim. Bright denim now makes your outfit pop, and lively prints give your wardrobe a whole new look. Try polka dot denim, floral denim or paisley denim for a fun look that creates many opportunities for creatively mixing and matching colors and prints. The skinny jean is still in, but takes on a more colorful look for 2012.

Jackets
The quilted jacket makes a return with vibrant new colors and patterns, looking more like works of art than clothing. Shorter lengths is still in style, bomber jackets, bright ski jackets and hooded, padded styles to keep you warm in winter’s frost. The real hotshot this fall is the military jacket, they come in a variety of colors and  fabrics and  look great mixed and matched with skirts. jeans and  even dresses.

Pants and Shorts
Teen fashion took a turn from low-waisted jeans, pants and shorts to a more high-waisted look seen on a number of teen celebrities. Strappy sandals or laced-up boots will help to complete your look.

Accessories
You’ll love the new bangle jewelry in bright colors and contrasting styles. Even nylon covers for your Iphone helps to add color to your 2012 wardrobe. Brightly-colored bags, backpacks, wallets and totes keep your supplies at hand and give more color to your outfits. Use platform stilettos and metallic sandals to add elegance and style to special occasions. Use the new elaborate hair ties that wind around the base of high ponytails to update your look for 2012.

Remember that whatever trend you choose, add your own unique twist, keep it appropriate and have fun!  After all, it’s fashion.

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