Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Summer dresses: Color Club Splitting Image & High Society

Hello ladies,

During last week's heat wave, many Philadelphia ladies decided to meld with the temperatures by putting on their brightest floral dresses. It seemed like the whole city was a connection of fabric flowers on the vine. I appreciated the local effort to maintain a sense of beauty even in the oppressive heat. What is a lady to do but keep her parasol aloft at such times?   

I began with taupe as a base and chose the Art Club striper You're Golden to section the nail diagonally. I layered the blue shimmer fractured polish Splitting Image towards the tip. I picked dried flowers in hot pink, nude pink and burgundy to bloom along the gold shimmer. I featured more hot pink flowers on my right hand and the peachy tones on my left. To highlight the centers of the flowers, I used turquoise and pastel or hot pink gems. I also placed pink, blue and natural tone pearls. 





My right hand with more hot pink flowers. 

A morning glory with either pollen dust or pixie dust. 
High Society is a taupe creme. I applied three coats for evenness and opacity. I wore this polish for a couple days without nail art and received compliments. It's a classic shade that is simple and stylish.

Splitting Image has a versatile formula. A thinner coating will produce standard cracking. Adding a little more creates fine striations that reminds me of distressed denim. I would recommend trying Splitting Image over a pale blue. The light cobalt tone is really lovely. I have been really enjoying experimenting with the Fractured Collection. As much as I enjoy the look of the stronger effect produced through traditional layering, it's fun to see the variations when painted as a diagonal or French manicure.

If you are in a warm climate, I hope this manicure inspires you to put on a pretty, summer frock and move amongst the flowers.

The Color Club and Art Club items mentioned in this post were provided for review. High Society is from the Rebel Debutante Collection and Splitting Image can be found in the Fractured Collection. These shades can be purchased at victoriasnailsupply.com. Color Club/Forsythe has been revamping their company site. You can explore the product lines at cosmeticgroup.com.

Would you like the chance to win six crackle nail polishes? Stop by the Let's Get Cracking! Color Club Fractured Giveaway! to enter.

Happy painting, ladies!

35 comments:

  1. Wow, this is amazing! It's so impossible to pick just one, but this may be my favorite design from you! You do such an awesome job on your designs!

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  2. That is so gorgeous! High Society is a very fitting color for this theme. The dried flowers look exactly like a floral print dress!

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  3. Scrangie: Thank you so much! I am so glad you are enjoying what I create, especially given how much I love reading your posts. So nice to share! :)

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  4. thalie: I honestly didn't think of the polish name fitting the look too. It's always nice when that happens! I'm so glad my idea translated well. Thank you! :)

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  5. This is sooooo pretty, love the design!

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  6. This is my favourite mani you have ever done! I *love* it!

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  7. Manicure Addict: Thanks so much! I love that I can place dried flowers on my nails. I have my own little portable garden. ;)

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  8. Wow I love this! Those dried flowers look wonderful! I would never think to use dried flowers. This is just stunning!

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  9. eeeh i love the jewles in the flowers

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  10. I'm absolutely in love with these nails! Dried flowers look so precious on your nails. I wonder why I haven't bought any myself yet...

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  11. I love, LOVE, L-O-V-E this look a ton. One of my favorites that you've ever done!

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  12. Love this look! So pretty and Summery!

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  13. This one is beautiful, I love it!! The flowers look very real and colors match perfectly.

    Your flowers are very pretty too.

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  14. So cute!!
    I really love this mani!

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  15. I too must comment on this mani, since I have never seen something made from dried flowers. It's magical. I love it!

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  16. I love this so much on you - and for some reason, you'll laugh when I say this, it reminds me of appliques on denim jeans. It's perfect!

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  17. This mani is really lovely! I love how you mixed pink, blue and taupe (not a typical "floral" color - kudos!)

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  18. really pretty, this has inspired me to a do a similar pedi i think :)

    shel xx

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  19. Perfect mani to go with the feminine sundresses. Also good with holding onto parasols!

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  20. Oh, I love the way you used the dried little flowers, it certainly gives another aspect to the whole manicure :)

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  21. Stef: Thanks so much! I am happy I created a new favorite! <3

    Angie: Thank you! You will definitely see more looks with dried flowers. I ordered a few nail art wheels of blooms. :)

    Pretty: Thanks, sweetie! You know I can't resist the sparkly gems!

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  22. Salla: Thanks so much! I'm sure you will create beautiful nail art with dried flowers too! Looking forward to it! :)

    kittypolishnbags: Yay! Thank you! You will definitely see more floral theme nails this summer. <3

    Sirena Sparklestar: Thanks! Hmmm...I might need to do a purple flower and gem look soon. ;)

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  23. Biba: Thanks so much, dear! <3

    Black Cherry: Thank you! They are indeed real flowers on my nails! Wild isn't it? I am amazed it's even possible to cultivate, color and dry flowers in such a small size.

    Claire: Thank you, sweetie!

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  24. rock-or-not: Thank you, kindly :)

    Erzebeth Bathory: Thanks! It almost seems like the flowers were shrunk down to faery size. ;)

    Nicole: When I first tried the blue over the taupe, I thought it looked like denim too. I applied it a little heavier to get the soft lines instead of bold cracking. You are right on!

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  25. Iza: Thanks so much! I'm glad I was able to translate all the pretty summer dresses I saw into nail art. <3

    maisenzasmalto: Thanks so much! I love experimenting with new palettes. <3

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  26. This is gorgeous! And completely summery! I love it! It's so amazing to learn that those are real flowers on your nails! Amazing!

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  27. wow!!! love love love this mani. Ladylike, flowery and simply beautiful.

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  28. Hi hi, looks so cute! You made me smile :)

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  29. This is such a perfect manicure for hot summer weather we're having. I can see these nails with all the lovely floral dresses. Beautiful!

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  30. It's like a pucci flowered dress on your fingernails. Mod. I like how the white flowers are draping your hand. What is that? They ask. We must mask it. Love, me.

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  31. This design is awesome. I love the grey color. Thx for sharing.
    Xoxo
    Leslie

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  32. Maybe it's because I'm a newbie to nail art, but can I ask what you mean by "dried flowers"?

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