Shoe La La

 

It's taken everything in me to not buy shoes today, especially since I just finished my round-up of Spring's 10 Best Splurge vs. Save Shoes for iVillage.ca.  Question:  Think these are the splurge or save versions?  Hmmm...

Happy Friday, my pretties!  xo

Pretty in Pastels

Originally posted in The LOOK

When it comes to colour, our favourite hues are a deeply personal matter.  My daughter, for example, is OBSESSED with pink..in fact she'll wear nothing else..to the point where she asked me the other day if we could rename her Pinkie-Pie - she was so not kidding. Meanwhile, my friend takes one glance at an orange sweater and a look of complete confusion crosses her face,  "Ugh," she'll say, "I just don't get why anyone would choose to wear orange."

This spring, runways were rife with vivid pastels in sorbet shades like lemon yellow, mint green, and soft bubblegum pink.  Yum!  The new pastels are a pretty departure from all the bold, vivid brights we've seen for the past few seasons and are a much less intimidating way to experiment with colour.   Love 'em or hate 'em, here are some key ways to wear pastels right:

Liven up your neutrals:  Punchy pastels contrast beautifully against whites, denims and neutral beiges & tans.  Try adding a pastel tee or sweater to your white jeans for an instant spring pick-me-up.

Go Head-to-Toe:  Top-to-toe pastels are not for the faint of heart, but look amazing when worn right.  Choose sleek silhouettes to avoid looking like a cupcake

Try Small Doses:  Take advantage of accessories to test out the trend.  A group of stacked pastel bangles or a great pastel bag will help you look totally current.

Add Spice to the Sweetness:  Nude or tan extras are super safe choices but I love how Emma Roberts unexpectedly teamed black with her mint frock.  A black leather bomber or killer black shoes add some necessary edge to all the ladylike sweetness

Spring's Best Guilt-Free Accessories

Originally posted in The CLOSET

Call them the 'icing on the cake' or the 'cherry on top' or the 'Justin Bieber to your Selena' but you have to admit, no outfit is ever as good without amazing accessories.  Take your typical jeans and a tee:  on their own - total Dullsville. But add a great pair of wedges, some aviator shades and a beautiful bag and you're suddenly Jennifer Aniston (without the private cars and Hollywood mansions, mind you). 

Every season, designers send certain extras down the runway that resonate with the fashionable set, making lobes, wrists and necks feel suddenly empty without them.  This spring, the new It zone is the ear.  Yes, that's right, the oversized earring is back, bringing to mind ancient Egyptian goddesses with their lobe-defying  danglers.  The new earrings highlight the face and are a huge departure from the minimalist earrings we've seen for so many seasons.  If you're not the big earring type, go for statement necklaces and stacked bangles to colour your world.  Speaking of colour, accessories followed clothing trends with pretty pastel pumps and sweet minaudieres looking positively ladylike.  For the more daring among you, go for bold, bright neons to add a little party rock to your look.  For metallics, both silver and gold are totally on-trend.  Keep your silver accents sleek with clean lines and simple silhouettes, or go for the gold with 1920's-inspired deco gold and black extras. As for print, earthy tribal extras, kitschy Hawaiian prints and fun florals will be your new spring go-to's. 

I love the power of killer accessories but want to know the part I like best of all?  They always fit.  Yay! 

Found: Your Sole Mates

Nothing brings happiness quite like a rocking shoe;  It gives you height, makes your legs look enviably long and lean, and unlike most other clothing, a shoe always fits.  These python pumps from ALDO may not be the most practical footwear choice, but it doesn't really matter because they are so beyond beautiful.  This spring, I'll be wearing these heels with everything - from jeans and a tee, to all my summer dresses and everything in between, and adore the pop of print that will add interest to all of my basic neutrals.  As for comfort, the compensating platform brilliantly makes up for the sky-high heel, making you feel much more grounded. The sandal is gorgeous but if you're more of a closed-toe type, ALDO's thought of you, too, with its more seasonless platform pump version.  Ssssimply divine!

The Kess Sandal ($90) and the Litts Platform Pump ($90) are both waiting for you at ALDO now.  Consider it your TGIF treat.  Happy weekend, everyone!

A Loafer, Not a Fighter

Eppihimer Loafer Wedge, ALDO, $120 - available in stores mid-August

What makes a shoe a work of art?  As with so many things in life, a remarkable shoe comes down to the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.  The must-have mustard shade (so on-trend for this fall), the stacked wedge heel (ditto) and the loafer detailing (double ditto) make this genius shoe from ALDO an absolute must-buy.  Be diligent about getting it as soon as it hits stores, though - I can pretty much guarantee your size won't be there for long, especially since Refinery 29 pegged it as one of this fall's top footwear finds alongside a number of high-priced designer shoes.  If I can get my eager little paws on these beauties, I'll wear them with skirts, dresses and skinnies all fall/winter long.  Ooohh - anyone else feeling butterflies?