A Perfect 10

Fashion is from top to toe.  Would you wear a beautiful outfit and terrible shoes?  Or a terrible bag?  Of course not.  So why not put some thought into your nails?

Let’s start with a manicure:

Love!  This set comes with a nail clipper, nail file, and cuticle pusher and scissors.  But the best part is the faux leather, high heel-shaped case!  Black on the outside, pink on the inside!  I love it.  Yours for $5.85 from Diva Entertains. 

Okay, your nails are in good shape.  Now what to paint?  Maybe a decal:

A black stiletto is a classic look, no matter where it might be!  But in case black’s not your thing, it comes in 22 (count ‘em: 22!) other colors, so the combinations are endless—imagine white heels on black nails, or turquoise on purple, or orange on light pink…  Plus you get 50 of them, so you’ll have five manicures to play with them.  Yours for $5 from Etsy seller Make it Stick Designs.

Want to try your hand at painting?  Here’s something kicky and fun!

Looks a lot like these Converse All-Stars, wouldn’t you say?

Classic!  A canvas upper in your choice of colors, white at the toe, white laces, contrast stitching, and rubber sole—yours for $50.

But back to the nails!  To make these painted sneakers:

1. Paint the nail in the sneaker color you want.  Let it dry. 
2. Paint the top white, but be sure to paint it straight across your nail and not curved like you would do for a regular French manicure.
3. Paint the holes.  I always use toothpicks dipped in paint for detail work, but you could also use tiny brushes or dotting tools (both available in this cool kit).  Make a white circle, let it dry, and then fill it in with black.  Let it dry.
4. Paint the laces—just connect the dots in a crisscrossing fashion!  Let dry, and seal with topcoat.

Looking for something dressier than sneaks?  You could do a Louboutin manicure.  What is that, you ask?  Well, let’s start with a pair of Louboutins, just for kicks:

Gorg, right?  The Glitter Double Strap Platform Pumps have two ankle straps, a T-strap up the front, a peep toe and half-inch hidden platform, and a 4.25-inch heel.  (Yours for $895 from Saks.)  Are you feeling inspired by the silver glitter on the front, and the signature red on the back?  Adele was, at the Grammys last year.  Take a look at the silver front:

And the red on the underside!

Unexpected and fun.  (And simple!  No tricky paintwork or extra tools involved.)

I hope these have inspired you to get out your paints and try something new.  After all, open-toe shoe season is just around the corner!