1 shoes, 10 ways
With these gorgeous “Up” pumps from CoupleOf, I thought I would show you just how versatile they truly are by pairing it with 10 fun outfits- all hot trends for this spring and summer!
Top row: Comfy jersey dress with an asymmetrical hem, perfect for looking dressed up when you just wanna wear pajamas. Colorblocked mini dress with geometric shapes, for happy hour. Cream lace mini dress, great for date night. White shirtdress, great for a low-key office job. Spacey print dress with assymetrical hem, for you when you just wanna dance!
Bottom row: Tie neck blouse and trousers, perfect for work. Bright, oversized top with boyfriend jeans, for lounging around and looking fly at the same time. A colorblocked top and beaten-up skinny jeans, for brunch with your friends. A Canadian Tux, perfect for every occasion, duh! Just add some sparkly jewelry, and you can pull this look off any time. Bright top with geometric print and high waisted trousers- yup, comfy and cute are not separate things.
Well there you have it! How would you wear these pumps, and where? We’d love to hear from you!
Prep for Spring
Its is April already….If you are anything like me you are DYING for spring to get here fro real….NO MORE TEASER DAYS! (Wouldn’t it be nice if we could email spring and say “we are having a welcome back party for you today, your attendance is mandatory”…. if only it were that easy.) Well since there is no way to demand spring’s arrival, at least we can start the transition to spring with a few wardrobe changes.
For awhile I thought the transition from winter to spring was tricky, I was always stumped. But really spring is when you get to wear your fabulous summer goods with your cozy winter garments. Its more than just wearing layers; polish up the boots, fluff up your scarves and dig deep into you closet to pull out those sundresses, shorts, and tanks. Now pair shorts, tights, and boots; or that lightweight dress with a blazer and knee-high boots. Get creative and think outside the box. With spring the possibilities are endless. (Right now I am wearing a printed long sleeve top, black shorts, purple tights, and my gray Sanita clog boots. Sleeveless sweater is tossed on the back of the chair. I’m super in love with this fit.)
Ankle booties are one of my favorite ways to transition from my winter shoe game to my summer shoe situation; they are still warm and cozy but with less bulk. Ballet flats or a bright pair of pumps with a pair of cropped pants or rolled up jeans and a sweater are another great way to start dressing for the upcoming sunshine that spring brings, and if you are cold toss on a bright scarf and or tights for an extra layer.
One thing that can kill a fresh spring look is black, unless it is paired with white. But give it a rest for a while, and use taupe/nude, tan, gray, navy, and purple as your neutrals. When thinking about spring I like to add in color and LOTS of it. Color and texture will spruce up any winter wardrobe funk. Try a bright jacket or scarf, a colorful bag, or chunky vibrant jewelry. Try mixing your thicker fabrics (leather, velvet, and denim) with lighter flouncy things (silk, chiffon, and cotton). Show a little skin in really subtle ways: roll up your jacket sleeves and show off your wrists. Skip wearing a necklace and expose your collarbone at the office, and accessorize with brilliant earrings and a loud ring. Ditch the knit beanie and try a fedora.
I just love spring, there is so much you can do with your wardrobe. Pictures below are some of my favorite winter-to-spring items, all carried at Manifesto/pedX.
If you have any questions or need more ideas how to transition your look from winter to spring swing by the shop, we are more than happy to help. You can also email me, AJ, at: aj@pedxshoes.com
Alice + Olivia Spring 2011 (Groovy, Baby!)
The 70s are back in a big way this Spring! What better way to celebrate the return of sunshine than with bare midriffs (yes, they are back with a vengeance), short-shorts, and graphic, eye-popping prints? Add on the retro bohemian party girl vibe of Alice + Olivia’s Spring 2011 collection, and you are a force to be reckoned with. Again we see some luxe fabrics (tulle, chiffon, velvet) combined in a way that is more casual than in the past, with even more of the candy colors we have grown to love. Have a look-see:
The sky-high, candy-coated platform wedges were a personal favorite (look for them everywhere in the warmer months!)
Stay tuned for more reasons to look forward to Spring (as if you needed any.)
Rachel Comey is the Coolest
And the worst kind of cool, too. If fashion week was high school, Rachel Comey would be the cool, popular girl that everyone likes. You know, even though she’s a senior, she’ll hang out with the cool freshman and show them around and tell them about parties. But I digress… Her Spring 2011 collection is so truly wearable and inspiring, it could barely pick favorite looks. Because they were all, as always, my favorite (you can view the whole collection here.) How could I love them all so much? See for yourself:
I could go look by look and tell you in great detail why that one is the best one, but this is a blog, not Rachel Comey is the Best Ever 101, so I’ll spare you. Rachel Comey (my personal shoe goddess) shows how to dress for the warmer months while looking tasteful, never trashy. The whole collection was almost entirely black, white and tan, making it perfect to mix and match and get creative. Are you looking forward to showing a little bit of skin this Spring?
Cynthia Rowley Spring 2011 (OR A Case for Traveling Hemlines)
I was incredibly impressed with Cynthia Rowley’s Spring 2011 collection. The clever color scheme, cheeky cut outs, and stunning accessories (especially the necklaces and ladylike shoes) had my tongue wagging! Nothing says Spring better than juicy sherbet oranges, reds and pinks (colors I almost never wear, but you can bet I was inspired enough to start.) See for yourself:
Now that I have your attention, let’s talk hemlines. The trend of hemline length waxes and wanes like all other trends, until now. Ms. Rowley, in particular, had mod minis, above the knee a-line styles, pencil skirts cut directly below the knee, sweeping maxi dresses (and trousers) PLUS the shortest of shorts. All in a collection of 35 looks. As a girl set in her hemline ways, it was a breath of fresh air to see that the rules of length are off for now. So I say, go to town! No length of skirt is off limits! But a little tip: proportion is key here. Your hemline should never hit the widest part of your calf or thigh; this is universally unflattering (think of it as a highlighting horizontal stripe right across your widest part. It will surely cut you right off.) But play around, try something new, and have some fun. Cynthia shows that it will pay off.
Stay tuned for more fashionable reasons to look forward to Spring!
Band Of Outsiders Spring 2011, pt. 2
And now for the ladies! There were a few looks in the Band of Outsiders Spring 2011 collection that I could really get down with. The menswear is amazing, but, well, I’m a chick. So here are a few of my picks:
Droopy (but not sloppy) trousers, easy-to-wear brights, chambray, and the yummiest of shoes. What’s not to love? Oh yeah, that I have to wait a few more months to wear it!
Stay glued to your seats, kids, because Sally’s Spring Style Spectacular has only just begun!
We just got these classic Camper boots in yesterday and, as always, I immediately thought, “How would I wear these?” I think this whether the shoes are my style or not, but let me tell ya, these boots are everyone’s style! How could they not be? They’re black, not too shiny, low maintenance, flat… Oh, how I do go on. These boots can easily be adapted as an everyday boot in anyone’s wardrobe. Couldn’t you just see them with classic equestrian styles, all tweed and preppy? Or with a leather bomber jacket and your tightest jeans? Or with a printed cotton day dress?
Well, I digress… I know that I would be tickled to wear them with some great-fitting skinny jeans, an oversized stripey menswear style top, and a few well-placed accessories including a stack of extra-jangly bangle bracelets, a classic leather belt, and an extra bright Hobo bag to add a pop of color.
How would you wear them?
New today: “Cabot” by fan favorite Miz Mooz. These vintage inspired beauties are perfect for dressing up or down, and the modest heel makes these a great walking or dancing shoe!
The New Minimalism, courtesy of The Sartorialist.
