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Summer Shoes

For Warmer weather, find Shoes that POP!

Warm weather shoes shouldn’t be chunky or big or heavy. They need to have a look of being light and airy, as well as feeling that way. Unlike their fall and winter counterparts a shoe for warm weather needs to allow the elements in a bit.

So how does a shoe for the hotter months still have presence and make an addition to an ensemble?
There are some basic design elements that really say spring and summer in a shoe. It is all in the detail and color of the shoes.
• A Great statement shoe for the upcoming months has a pop of color and a detail like a flower or airy strap that says warmth.
• Wedges are a popular style for summer shoes, and for a higher heel the wedge is more supportive and comfortable.
• We are of course seeing many fun sandals with all sorts of treatments, from floral, to zipper edging to Ruffles. The Gladiator style is still very popular and is really the sandal influence right now.
• As far as color this season, yellow is it, but anything bright will work this season. For more toned down colors a light neutrals or skin tones gives the leg a very light long look which we love in warm weather.

• Finding a professional shoe for a business look can be trickier in the spring and summer, but also should be fun. While a business shoe cannot be a strappy sandal, or even open toed in many work environments, there are still business appropriate shoes that are lighter and more “spring like”. Look for a simple pump with a classic silhouette, but with a detail of color. If all your business attire is neutral, find a colorful pump to add a touch of spring color.

They are out there! Besides color, a summer shoe can have an interesting contrast of materials, like a punched out leather or a use of mesh. Details like a flower or a ruffle treatment also add lightness to the shoe.

• A Sporty style of shoe is going to have to be comfortable with no fuss. Casually a sporty personality would probably prefer sandals or even flip flops, but for a professional look a ballet flat in a bright color is perfect.
• The true Traditional will probably shy away from a “summer shoe” being more comfortable in neutral loafers or pumps. Push the envelope a bit and look for something with a nautical look. Navy and white or light tan leather is summery, current, and traditional.
• An Elegant style will be uncomfortable with bright colors and crazy design details, but a mixture of lighter materials in a neutral color will work for an elegant wardrobe.
• A Dramatic will not only do bold color, but high contrast. Black and white in a shoe is great for warm weather
• Allurings may want to show off a bit of skin on the foot and will probably like a bit more heel. A simple shoe with a higher heal, a peep toe if they can or a sling back and a simple pattern like animal or polka dots will appeal to the Alluring
• With the Creative style, anything goes with the shoe. The more of a statement it makes, the more bizarre it is the more it will appeal to them. The popular Gladiator style is a hit with the creative. If they cannot do wild silhouettes, the creative’s will eat up the bright color combinations that come out in the spring.
• The big Floral and Ruffle trends we are seeing this season will appeal to the Feminine Style, who will also wear color and “airy” looking styles.

For the spring and summer months find shoes that are softer, lighter, brighter, and airier.

Have a bit of fun with an unexpected detail or a pop of color.

There is the right shoe for you, no matter what your style is!

Marc by Marc Jacobs - Find Your New Swimsuit Here! - Summer Fashion 2010 - Fashion - InStyle

Marc by Marc Jacobs - Find Your New Swimsuit Here! - Summer Fashion 2010 - Fashion - InStyle

Sun Style.

Coordinating your swim suit ensemble.

This Summer, it’s not just about the bathing suit but everything you wear with it!
From your flip flops to your beach tote, you’ll feel much more confident in your bathing suit if your entire look is thought out.

Many of us have more than one bathing suit, so don’t try too hard to match your swim suits with the extras…. it can get very pricey and often looks over done.

Instead, try coordinating a few things; like your beach shoes with your beach tote or your sun hat with your cover up and sunglasses.

If these pieces work together, almost any bathing suit will work with them.
A hint: If you like bathing suits with a lot of color and design, keep the accessories simple and neutral…if you tend to go for simple bathing suits, then get extras with a bit to say.

There are some crazy totes out this summer, pick one out that you really love and start coordinating everything to that.
Try on some cover ups and choose a shoe that goes with it. Then work from there to coordinate the rest of the outfit!

What is your favorite beach ensemble? What types of shoes do you like best for enjoying the sun?

Being a sports spectator and still looking Chic?

This past weekend was the Kentucky Derby, one of the best dressed Sports events yearly. Sadly, many of those great looks were covered with plastic to avoid getting soggy this year.

But for those regular summer events, how do you dress well as a spectator without looking out of place and staying comfortable.

Jeans have become a very chic and respectable addition to any Fashionista’s Wardrobe. Get a great fitting pair of jeans that are hemmed for a flat shoe and that is an easy choice for a casual weekend game. If it’s too hot for jeans, try Khaki Bermuda shorts, Capri length leggings or a cotton A-line skirt. Comfort Tip: fabric with stretch is always better then something more structured and constricting.

For the top there are a slew of “cute” cotton T’s out there which are colorful (perhaps the shade of your favorite team) and can be found in various flattering styles and lengths (longer with leggings, and closer to wait or hip for Shorts and skirts) . If it’s a breezy evening event, a shrunken cardigan can keep off the chill, or a microteck cropped jacket can be a really great layering piece and still work for a casual environment. Just Please, don’t revert to the oversized shapeless hoodey!

Even if you are not headed to the horse races in your fabulous hat you can and should, still look great as devoted spectator! Need help with these playful sport themed looks, ask a professional!

Sunday observations on being well dressed:

What was she thinking?

Donna Rico Spring Dresses

It is a beautiful sunny day today, one of the warmest that we have had this year, and I see this women walking out of a boutique in head to toe black. She was a stunning woman, but all that black with very little skin showing...honestly, it was too much.

While black is universally thought of as the ultimately chic color, it’s not. Not for everyone at least.
The fact is, many people do not look good in black at all. While others, who can wear black well, tend to overdo it.
There are a small handful of people I’ve known in my life that can really pull off the very dramatic and distinct style of an all black wardrobe.
Not only does your coloring have to be powerful enough to be truly enhanced by black, put you need a strong character to back up the all-black-look as well.
A person all in black is usually perceived as dark and a bit intimidating and not someone that is easy to approach. If this is not your intention, tone down the black.

It’s spring; add a bit of color to your wardrobe of black.
If you can’t deal with color, add another neutral like white or tan to help break up the blackness.

Even a patterned scarf or a brightly colored shoe can help disperse the extreme look of just black. There are so many choices out there to add to a wardrobe to lighten and brighten basic black.

It’s spring; don’t get stuck in just black. Have some fun with color!

What great color have you seen in this season’s Spring Fashions?

The printed Skirt!

The printed skirt is very popular right now and is a great way to freshen up a tired wardrobe, making basic pieces look current.

The right printed Skirt can really brighten up your ensemble when paired with a great jacket or blouse, it’s perfect for the office or an afternoon garden party.
T for Tahari
Picking the right printed skirt to add to your spring wardrobe begins with knowing the type of prints that match your style. The same skirt in different prints can create completely different statements.
• Floral is a very big motif this spring. Typically Florals are considered Feminine or Elegant. This season however, we see the floral motif used in rather unconventional ways and can be quite vivid and even a bit edgy, appealing to the Sporty or Dramatic personalities.

Kate Spade

• Animal prints are still big and are always appealing to an Alluring personality.
• Painterly motifs and Ethnic prints, which are also popular now, are mostly creative in flavor but can also work for a dramatic look if it has bold lines and high contrast.
• Both nautical and traditional graphics like stripes, plaid and polka dots tend to appeal to the more traditional or sporty styles.

When thinking about prints, it is also important to keep in mind the scale of the graphic, because it can strongly influence the way the proportions of the entire outfit appear.
Basically a petite person will want to work with smaller prints and a person of grander scale will want larger prints. A print can actually be a great tool for creating illusion and tweaking disproportions. The way the print lies across the skirt will also have an effect on how the eye follows the print and so it affects proportions; horizontal lines will widen, vertical lines lengthen, and diagonal lines add movement. Nick & Zoe
An easy way to change the appearance of the scale of your bottom half is to find a skirt with a print that is closer to the scale you want, and moves the eye in the desired direction. The nice thing about having a print on the bottom half of an outfit is that you don’t have to be so concerned about how the print works with your facial features, but more the proportion of your entire body which is much more flexible. So go ahead, find a great printed skirt you love and don’t be afraid to wear it!

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Now let’s talk about the silhouette of the skirt.
The two popular silhouettes right now are the Pencil skirt which can very chic for a business look pared with a great sweater or blouse, and the pleated skirt which can soften and punch up a stuffy suit jacket.
The other skirt style which is popular with prints is the tiered skirt, although generally used for dressier looks it can be stunning placed in the right business look, and can work well in a day to night ensemble.

A length to about the knee is a very appropriate length for Business. While a shorter skirt is considered dressier and too revealing for business, appropriate only for personal events, a skirt that falls past the mid calf can look heavy and matronly.
A great Printed Skirt can really add to your existing wardrobe for this spring and summer!

If you are having trouble finding the right Skirt to match you style, you may think about getting some professional advice.
What types of printed Skirts have you seen this season that really caught your eye?