This week’s nail tutorial was inspired by this ADORABLE Southwest print outfit. Will you try this mani yourself? Upload your best mani photos to Instagram to enter the #LULUSMANIMONDAY contest!

The Look:

Obsessed with these nails? Try them yourself and enter the #LULUSMANIMONDAY contest on Instagram!

 xoxo, Lindsey @ Wondrously Polished

The post Mani Monday: Southwest Print Nail Tutorial appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Q: “I see so many people mixing patterns. What is the right way to mix different patterns to create an outfit?”

- Instagram user @xsambam

A: Mixing Patterns is sort of something that happens partially by accident. When I started thinking about how I make the outfit look like less of a mess and more planned, the rule of thumb I came to is; one pattern can be colorful and one more of a two tone print. Next up there should always be one tie in color, in my outfit it is the black outlines in both prints. Lastly, if you feel like you want to tone down the prints and step out of the house less loud, add a layer over your outfit, a jacket or a cardigan will do the trick. It helps tone down the idea of an all over print day. Since we are getting into details here, I chose black straps on my shoes as that was my tie in color in both prints.

Summer is all for fun and colors and I love mixing them in all kinds of ways! Key is to not be shy and, when in doubt, throw on a denim jacket! Happy Wednesday!

xoxo, Kiara

The colorful mixed print shorts and pineapple print top are instantly brought together with this versatile denim jacket and neutral wedges.

Shop the look here: Insight Tahiti Peach Pineapple Print Button-Up Top, Lucy Love St. Lucia Multi Print Shorts, Out of the Blue Distressed Denim Jacket, Hottie 2 Black Platform Wedge Sandals.

The post Style Sessions pt. 2 with Kiara of Tobruck Ave. appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

When it comes to nail art blogging/sharing, though the art itself is important, the photos you take of your nail art are just as (if not more) important. So what makes a good photograph?

Nail Care:

Nail care and clean-up are the easiest ways to improve the general look of any photo you take. Making sure you don’t have hang nails, dry skin, or “flooded” cuticles can go a long way to improving your photos.

Before beginning your nail art, file your nails to an even length and do what you can to remedy any hang nails or dry skin. I use a glass nail file, a simple manicure kit, and instant cuticle remover every week or so to take care of my nails. I also like using a base coat and top coat for each manicure.

Clean Up:

While painting your nails is the fun part of the whole process, sometimes it seems impossible to avoid getting polish on your fingers and cuticles, or sometimes “flooding” your cuticles. Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us!

But don’t worry, there’s an easy fix for this! To get rid of flooded cuticles or uneven polish edges, use an angle brush or Q-tips dipped in acetone to carefully remove excess polish.

Removing this excess polish is without a doubt the most important part of a good nail art photo. You can have some beautiful nail art, but flooded cuticles will be the only thing anyone can see. Use some lotion to add some moisture back to your skin that the acetone may have removed. Now you’re ready for photos!

Camera & Setup:

While I use a Canon Rebel T3i for most of my photos, a fancy camera is not necessary! Many people use simple point and shoot cameras or even newer cell phone cameras to take their photos. Whatever camera you do use, you will want to get the clearest shot possible, in the best light possible. Setting your camera mode to “Macro” or some equivalent can often provide the best close up shot. Play around with whatever device you have and see what works best for your setup.

When it comes to lighting and location of photo taking, keep it simple. My setup is a dark blue piece of fabric that I hang over my computer monitor and I have one lamp with a daylight bulb directed at it.

- If you don’t have a good lamp for indoor lighting, go outside and take your photos in natural light.

- Try to take your pictures with a neutral/solid background so you don’t distract from your nail art.

If you have a camera with adjustable white balance, see if you can figure out how to set a custom one. This will allow you to capture the true color of your nail art.

Hand Poses:

The final piece of the puzzle is finding the right hand pose. There are only so many ways you can position your hand, but there are many minor variations in each of those positions. Choose what you like best, but keep in mind that most people respond best to the “knuckles up” or “knuckles to the side” look. There is also the option of posing with the polish bottle you’ve used.

The most important part of positioning your hand is making sure you can see your 4 nails clearly. If you want to include your thumb, that’s awesome, but make sure you don’t compromise the clarity of your 4 main nails to do so. Find what you like best and go for it!

The post How-To: Getting the perfect Manicure Monday photos appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Editor’s Note: You asked and Kiara is here to answer! Thank you for submitting all of your fabulous questions! Stay tuned because each Wednesday in June, Kiara will be answering one of your most frequently asked questions in an outfit post!

Q: “Can you recommend an outfit that works well during a summer day and can easily transition into a cool outfit at night?! Thanks!”

-  Instagram user Shelley G @elleyelectrix

A: I love taking looks from day to night. The least amount of effort, the better especially in California where going out means going from the beach to dinner and then wherever the night takes you. My key ingredients to taking a day look into the night is simple; add layers of jewelry, a clutch, sling on those high heels or wedges (replacing the flat sandals you wore to the beach) and add a layer to what you were wearing. In my case I chose a crochet kimono, which is perfect for summer nights out but a simple jean jacket or blazer would work just as well.

- xoxo, Kiara

Kiara’s day look includes this adorable chevron print romper, red sandals and a geometric print backpack that gives off an easy day at the beach vibe.

She added a stunning crochet kimono over the same romper to upgrade the look for a night out. Black patent wedges and an embellished clutch are easy swaps for the daytime sandals and backpack.

Shop Kiara’s gorgeous day-to-night look here: Great Inclinations Chevron Print Romper, Bamboo Gorgy Black Patent Wedges, Billabong  Tribal Print Backpack, Cream Crochet Kimono (see similar), City Classified Red Sandals, Diamond If I Do Black and Grey Beaded Clutch.

The post Style Sessions with Kiara of Tobruck Ave. appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

This mega cute chevron mani was inspired by the On My Side Taupe and Yellow Purse (see similar). This chevron nail tutorial is easy to do and looks cute in an array of colors. How creative will you get with this mani?

 xoxo, Lindsey @ Wondrously Polished

The post Mani Monday: Taupe and Yellow Chevron Nail Tutorial appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

WATERMELON SHORTS
Supplies: A cute pair of shorts, bleach, coral RIT dye (red and orange mixed together works well), green dye (for those whose shorts aren’t already green), and a black fabric pen.

Steps:
1.    First you want to wash your shorts and not dry them.
2.    Next, dip your shorts about half way (or however high you want your “watermelon” to be in relation to your “rind”) in a bucket of bleach. Plug your nose and do this outside. It’s stinky.
3.    Let your pants sit in the bleach for about 30 minutes, but be sure to check the bleach isn’t degrading the fabric.
4.    Wash out the bleach thoroughly with hot water in the sink and then wash them in the washing machine. The pants will really turn white after you wash them.
5.    Once they are washed and still wet, you are going to want to start with your coral dye. Prepare your mixture just as the box says and pour it into a large bucket.
6.    Dip your shorts to an inch below where the bleach ends and let site for 15-30 minutes, depending on how dark you want your color.
7.    Rinse out the coral dye thoroughly.
8.    Now for the green (again, if your shorts weren’t already green like mine). Follow the same process as we did with the coral, but flip your pants upside down and dip them in the dye. Don’t go to far down, leave a small bit of bleach between the two colors just to make it look more realistic.
9.    Rinse out the green dye with hot water upside down, so the color doesn’t run into your coral part.
10.    Now, throw those bad boys in the washer and dryer.
11.    Once dry, all you need to do is grab your fabric pen and draw some black seeds on the coral part. Don’t make them perfect- because watermelon seeds are kind of scattered. Make sure the shorts are completely dry or the pen will run!!

xoxo, Erica @ FashionLushxx

The post DIY Watermelon Shorts with Erica of FashionLushxx appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

This week’s nail tutorial was inspired by the gorgeous Jewel-ie Andrews Peach, Black, and Yellow Necklace! 

 xoxo, Lindsey @ Wondrously Polished

The post Manicure Monday: Tri-Color Nail Tutorial appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

Inspired by the Lucca Couture Feeling Fine Ivory Print Dress, this trendy black and white mani is ultra-versatile and goes with just about any outfit. Try it with different hues for a bright pop of color.

The Look:

What you’ll need:

- Your favorite black and white nail polish
- Striping Tape
- Detail nail art brush

Before you begin, cut segments of your striping tape into 1/2 inch segments. Stick them to the lid of a nail polish you’re not using or the edge of a table for easy access.

Step 1 – Base Color

Paint your nails with the white polish you’ve chosen. Wait until your nails are completely dry before you begin taping. I like to use a fast dry top coat to help speed things up.

Step 2 – Taping

Place two segments of tape near the tip of your nail, leaving a slight gap between them. Add another strip of tape near your cuticle. When we remove this tape later it will create the empty white space between the black shapes.

 Step 3 – Triangles 

Using your black polish and detail brush, paint tiny triangles along the edge of the tape near the tip of your nail.

Step 4 – Arrows

Add arrows between the middle and top piece of tape. Keep them going the same direction on all your nails, or change direction on each nail to add some extra interest.

Step 5 – Lines

Finally, paint thick vertical lines above the tape near your cuticle. Match the lines up with the edge of the arrows your created in Step 4. Carefully remove the striping tape to reveal the final look.

Wait several minutes before adding a top coat to avoid smearing your polish. And that’s it! You’ll have a funky and fun look that will keep you staring.

The post Manicure Monday: Black and White Nail Tutorial appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

This lace nail tutorial is inspired by the new lookbook: Sunny Side! This mint lace romper caught my eye and I couldn’t resist creating a matching tutorial. Get the look below!

 

The Look:

What you’ll need:

Materials:
- 2 different colored polishes
- A detail brush
- Optional: dotting tool

Step 1 – Base Color:

Paint a bright and fun base color. I used Julep’s Robin and applied a fast dry top coat to create a smooth canvas.

Step 2 – Scallops: 

Paint tiny scallops in a straight line along your cuticle. The size of your nail will determine how many you’ll be able to fit. I used OPI’s My Vampire is Buff.

Step 3 – Triangles:

Add tiny triangles along the scallops you created. The point of the triangles should be centered over the join line of each scallop.

Step 4 – Dots:

Using your brush or a dotting tool, add 2-3 dots extending off the tip of the triangle. Add more dots along the edge of the triangles to fill in your look.

**Note** Don’t worry if your nail art polish is thick/textured on your nail – adding a top coat when you’re done will create a smooth nail surface.

The post Manicure Monday: Lace Nail Tutorial appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.

For the first look I chose floral pants to show that this otherwise edgy top can be brought to a girly level too. The braid, heels and tying the top on the side gave it a softer, more versatile look.

The second look is exactly how I would personally style this top. I love encouraging the edgy feel of the top with edgy elements like a beanie, ripped jean shorts, knee highs and creepers (go big or go home right?). This is a great daytime outfit that you could wear out shopping or to a fun lunch in the city.

The last look is to demonstrate how to wear this top at night whether it’s out clubbing with your girls or to a nice dinner date. I love the shape, drape and details of the top and by making it the main focus of the outfit; the skirt, boots and accessories take the backseat. Perfect for a night out!

Overall the Cuts and Bolts Neon Yellow Top is a great buy and can be worn any way your little imagination creates for it. Hope you all enjoyed my looks!

For more outfit inspiration check out The Penelope Times

xoxo

Chanelle

The post One Top Three Ways with The Penelope Times appeared first on Lulus.com Fashion Blog.