Fashion DIY: Sparkle Sneakers

When it comes to shoes, I usually have only one preference- that they have a heel. And maybe that they are pretty. But no matter how many heels my feet can bear, I always need some comfortable shoes that I could wear when not hobbling on stilettos. The usuals are ballet flats, from Salvatore Ferragamo or some other suitably sparkly number, one pair of flip flops, and what I have to realize from now, one pair of sneakers. Unfortunately, as most of you probably know, the range of sneakers/ trainers is far more limited than a fashion lover would hope. Unless you are limitless on pounds or dollars, there is no possible way to get a shoe which does not make you think of your childhood tree-climbing years when you put them on. And as my favourite way of adding an accent to any of my clothing/accessories, I had always chosen a bit of sparkle. So here is my tutorial- a way to make those nasty sneakers look a little more outgoing.

What you are going to need:

1. A pair of sneakers with rubber soles

2. Any type of nail varnish (although texture ones such as thick glitter work best)

3. Nail varnish remover

How to do it:

Step 1

-Make sure the shoes are clean and dry, and the tips are not marked (new shoes are the best, but just cleaning until white will do also). Check if your nail varnish is not goopy- you can make it more liquid by adding a small amount of nail varnish remover to the bottle. On both shoes surround the area you want to paint with Sellotape (if you want to be very precise) or just start painting the rubber tip as you would your nails.

Step 2

Wait until dry and paint on a second layer- this ensures that the colour will be at its best. Put away the the first shoe to make sure it dries safely. Start applying the first layer on the second shoe. When the first layer is dry, paint on the second, and again, put away.

Step 3 (optional)

To make your nail varnish stick even better to the rubber, you can add a top coat, although I found that with mine, it was not necessary.

Enjoy your new, sparkly sneakers!

Related articles

• DIY: How To Make Your Own Studded Ballerina Flats (fabsugar.com)
• DIY – Glitter Sneakers (jerricajaneen.typepad.com)
• Decorate Some Ruby Sneakers (education.com)