Shufflin', Shufflin'

Suzanne Rogers' sliding shoe closet - source: The Coveteur

Originally posted in The CLOSET

In life, we're taught to never settle.  Whether it's your power-tripping boss or a lacklustre boyfriend, a less-than-stellar relationship can make every day an absolute chore;   I see footwear exactly the same way.  Sure, shoes cover your feet and protect them from rocks, rusty nails and disapproving looks but ever more importantly, great shoes are meant to make you feel like a rockstar.  And in the end, isn't that what you deserve, you rockstar you?!  

Summer calls for easy, laid-back kicks that you can quickly slip on at a moment's notice.  If you're looking for an update (and last year's flops have bitten the proverbial dust), the stores are full of pretty summer shoes, from chic summer sandals (including celeb-fave TKEES) to 'Sloafers' (a hybrid of slippers and loafers that have all but replaced the ballet flat) to statement-making super wedges for those seeking a lift.  And since summer's in full swing, many of the season's shoes are currently on sale.  Must go...the shoes are calling, "Sarahhhh...Sarahhh...take us home!"  Does anyone else hear that?

Oh, and don't miss the new Spin It 2 Win It at whiteoaksmall.ca for your chance to win loads of sweet prizes all summer long! x

 Lily Donaldson does bicycle chic in Milan. Source: moicontralavie.com

Clockwise from Top Left: Beaded Sandals, $25.99, Gap; Printed T-Straps, $89, Guess; TKEES Flops, $55, Town Shoes; Havainas Slims, $28, Club Monaco; Vince Camuto Sandals, $109.99, Town Shoes; Medallion Slides, $35,ALDO; Missoni x Havainas Flip-Flops, $79.95, Town Shoes; Rhinestone Sandals, $50, ALDO 

Poppy Delevingne at Paris Fashion Week in her leopard loafers - source: E-Look

Clockwise from Top Left: Printed Slipper, $40, ALDO; DLG Linen Loafers, $21, Boathouse; Striped Espadrilles, $21.99, Gap; Pink Espadrilles, $16.98, ALDO; Navy Slip-Ons, $40, ALDO; TOMS Classics, $70, Boathouse; Printed Espadrilles, $14.95, H&M; BOBS Loafers, $49.95, Town Shoes

A model in a pair of Burberry Prorsum tribal wedges - source: Teen Vogue

Clockwise from Top Left: Braided Wedge, $80, ALDO; Enzo Angiolini Wedges, $119.99, Town Shoes; Jessica Simpson Wedges, $99.99, Town Shoes; Espadrille Wedge, $31.49, ALDO; Tribal Wedge, $140, Guess; Criss-Cross Wedge, $70.99, Gap; Franco Sarto Wedge, $69.99, Le Château; Gladiator Wedge, $67.99, Gap 

Short Story

 

Capris have always confused me; They're not quite pants and they're not quite shorts but sort of an awkward limbo between the two. I totally get it; summers are 'freaking hot' (as my nephew would say) and in the middle of a heat wave, pants sometimes feel inappropriate. And yet, will those extra five inches of exposed skin really keep you cooler? Really?? Do you feel the breeze on your exposed shin and think, "Yes!! Thank goodness I wore capris today! My ankles feel sooo refreshed!" My husband likens capris to running a marathon and then stopping just short of the finish line, jogging through the perplexed crowd on the sidelines and making a beeline for the bar. And designers tend to agree: since they stop at the widest part of your calf, capris visually shorten your legs, spelling disaster for those impossibly leggy babe-azons, which is why you rarely (if ever) see just-below-the-knee capris on the international runways.

So, what's a girl to do in the middle of a heat wave? Stick with dresses, skirts, and lightweight pants (either full length, ankle length or slightly cropped but avoid tight capris, per favore). Still feeling hot and bothered? This year marks the triumphant return of the short and the spring runways were full of them, worn both chilled out casual and totally dressed up. My biggest inspiration (as always) is Rosie Huntington-Whitely at Coachella; Her festival look reminds me that shorts don't have to be plain, pocketed and frumpy. A printed pair, worn with a breezy white blouse totally screams summer. As for the biggest short story of the season? The short suit, as seen in innumerable designer collections this season, is now the uniform of choice for New York's chic working girls. As trends tend to do, they've filtered down from runway to real life, from big cities to small, and if you haven't already noticed them, you'll start to spy them soon. (Of course, not all offices will approve, but if you work in a more laid-back place, a short suit is the perfect way to look current and stay cool all summer long.) Pick your fave legal-length pair, commit to some nightly squats (and a bottle of St. Tropez Self-Tanner from Sephora, hallelujah!) and you're ready to rock the short. My only rule? Mind your footwear, madams. Flat sandals are always good, as are wedges or tan booties to give your legs a little lift. But please (PLEASE!) steer clear of the stiletto/short combo. It's just never good, even if you are Rosie Huntington-Whitely.

Happy Friday (and happy summer) to you!  Squeee!

Father's Day Gifts He'll Love

Paul, Stella and James, Scotland 1982.  Picture: Linda McCartney; Life in Photographs

While moms are undoubtedly important, life just wouldn't be the same without our dads.  A dad is the king of the grill, the teller of tall tales, the terrifying blanket monster, the bicycle instructor, the high-flying-toss-in-air-master, the Jaws in the pool, the brave bug-crusher, the hose-spraying lunatic, and the resident chocolate chip cookie-tester.  But it's not all fun and games; dads are always there to soothe when things get rough, to give the best goodnight hugs and to impart wisdom to their little ones.  With a gentle hand, a playful mind and a loving heart, a good dad can make all the difference and for that, he deserves a little something on Father's Day.  Whether he's sporty, stylish, or sentimental, our Father's Day Gift Guide will help you give him something he'll really love this year (keep these gifts in mind for upcoming birthdays, too).

A super Happy Father's Day to great dads everywhere xo

Originally posted in The CLOSET