Aviators, cat-eye, or classic square – nothing says summer like a pair of shades. Keep your nails cool in the sun, too, by painting this beachy staple on your tips.

What You’ll Need:

• White nail polish
• Five colored nail polishes
• Sally Hansen’s Nail Art Pen, in black
• Scrap paper
• Mechanical pencil
• Clear top coat

 
The How-To:

1. Paint your nails with two coats of white nail polish and let dry.
2. Using the black nail pen, draw two closed U-shapes side by side on each nail to create the lenses.
3. Draw two thin lines at the corner of each “lens” for the arms of the sunglasses.
4. Drip a few dots of the first colored polish on the scrap paper.
5. Dip the tip of the pencil into the polish and carefully fill in the “lenses” with it.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the remaining polishes.
7. Finish with a clear top coat.

 
By Carolyn Schultz, Staff Writer

Want more mani how-tos? Check out our weekly Mani Monday column. 

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Photos by Jennifer Che.

When it comes to summer eats, Italian food – typically associated with heavier meals – is all too often overlooked. Which is crazy, because Italian cuisine is all about light simplicity (with super-fresh ingredients, of course).

Case in point: these two recipes, both the handiwork of talented food blogger Jen (you’ll be obsessed with her site, Tiny Urban Kitchen). The Gnocchi with Summer Roasted Tomatoes takes full advantage of summer’s candy-like tomatoes, and Olive Oil Ice Cream – well, it needs zero justification. Serve them up at next Sunday’s dinner alfresco. They pair perfectly with a mild breeze.

Our Sunday Supper: Italian Alfresco Boutique opens Sunday, June 2, at 11AM ET.

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Sunglasses are crucial to summer style. They shield your eyes from the sun and look good doing it. What’s not to love? But choosing the right shape is key to playing up your best features. So whether your face is oval, round, square, or heart-shaped, here’s a guide to picking the best frames for you.

Oval
Characterized by: Balanced proportions, a narrow forehead and jaw line, a chin that is slightly narrower than the forehead, and typically high cheekbones.
Your sunglasses: Anything! (Lucky you.)

Square
Characterized by: A defined jaw, square chin, and broad forehead. Usually proportional in length and width.
Your sunglasses: Round frames, sweetheart frames, cat-eye, aviators.

Heart-Shaped
Characterized by: A wide forehead, narrower jaw line and chin, and high cheekbones.
Your sunglasses: Cat-eye, aviators, oversized square frames, rimless frames.

Round
Characterized by:  An equal width and length, and soft curves with few angles (if any). 
Your sunglasses: Wayfarers, exaggerated cat-eye, square frames, geometric frames, rectangular lenses.

Our Ray-Ban Boutique opens Sunday, June 2, at 11AM ET.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

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It’s time to start packing for those planned-months-ago summer getaways. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that ensembles need to be tailored to specific activities. (I just gave away that I’m an overpacker, didn’t I?)

Everyone knows what to wear on the sand, so dig out all those bikinis, swim trunks, one-pieces, and board shorts. But when it comes to boardwalk-lunching, pier-wandering, and late-night adventures, the area becomes a little grey. Until now:

Our Tommy Bahama Men’s, Women’s, and Swim Boutiques open Saturday, June 1, at 11AM ET.

By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

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All the big cities have their summer music festivals, from Coachella to Lollapalooza. And now, New England has Boston Calling to call its own. Two days. Eighteen bands. And an array of laid-back festival looks.

Despite a day of serious downpours on Saturday, many forwent ponchos in favor of casual layers, broken-in denim or leather jackets, and summer maxi skirts. Here are six looks we loved.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Have a favorite festival style? Tell us in the comments below, or tweet us, of course: @ruelala.

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Our Bare Feet, Rejoice: Plush Bedroom Rugs Boutique opens Friday, May 31, at 3PM ET.

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Simple floral prints are always in bloom – but this summer it’s time to up the ante. I’m talking bold graphics, romantic watercolors, and unexpected abstracts. Check out the tips below, then start piling them on.

1. When donning head-to-toe prints, makeup and accessories should take a back seat. Look to a nude lip and neutral shoes.
2. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Go artful on top and graphic on the bottom. Once you have mixing down pat, just think of all the potential wardrobe combos that await in your closet.
3. The easiest way to freshen up a bland outfit? A printed clutch. Whether you’re in all black or all white, a zigzag bag will quickly spruce things up.

 
Our Play with Prints: From Floral to Geometric Boutique opened Friday, May 31, at 11AM ET.

By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

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Our From A to Zzz: Everything for the Bed & Bath Boutique opens Thursday, May 30, at 3PM ET.

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Sun-drenched days. Light-sweater nights. They’re here – and these bloggers are taking the season’s endless inspiration and running with it, DIY-style.

1. A Beautiful Mess
The next best thing to owning a beach house? Anchors. All over your walls. Here’s how to bring summer home.

2. oh joy!
Fact: summer demands ice cubes. Addendum: not just any ice cubes will do.  Enter: striped ice cubes. (Please make and invite us over, thanks.)

3. Design for Mankind
Chevron + coral screams summer – so take the quintessential pairing straight to your most mundane items. Folding chair, it’s on.

4. Sprinkles in Spring
Take shark teeth. Add earring posts. Gild in gold. These beauts are your middle school summer-camp craft gone luxe.

Who are we missing? Tell us on Twitter at @ruelala #bloggerswelove. 

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Achieving a streak-free sunless tan? It’s no easy feat. We’ve all made the rookie mistakes that result in orange hands or splotchy knees. But, as an avid collector of these products – with a strict UV-free policy – I have created a system to swear by. For best results, start the process before you head to bed and then shower in the morning.

1. Exfoliate. Shave your legs. Then scrub with bath salts. A smooth surface is essential.

2. Moisturize. Any lotion will do. Dry skin will cause your sunless tan to flake sooner rather than later. Wait 5 – 8 minutes for the lotion to dry.

3. Apply tanning lotion with gloves. (If you choose not to use gloves, be sure to wash your hands with scrubbing salts when you’re finished.) Using both hands, massage the lotion in a circular motion. Start above your ankles and work your way up. Ask a friend to help with your back. Areas to skip for now: feet, ankles, knees, elbows, neck, face. Let the tanning lotion dry completely before continuing.

4. Once the lotion is dry, use a tanning spray held 4 – 6 inches from your body to lightly sweep over your legs, midsection, arms, back, and the areas you skipped in step 3 (except your face). This will cover any spots missed by the lotion. Let it dry for 5 – 10 minutes before bed.

5. To add a little color to your face, incorporate bronzer into your makeup routine. Or, use a dab of face tanning lotion and mix it into your moisturizer or liquid concealer.

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Questions? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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