0 WHAT: B Brian Atwood Online Sample Sale @ Gilt
WHY: B Brian Atwood Footwear up to 60% off!
WHEN: 5/23 12pm – 5/25 12am
WHERE: Gilt.com
*To sign up & access the sales, please click here.
Shop Top Designer Brands at up to 60% off retail on Gilt.com
Posted by Bindra at 03:30 AM
Online Sample Sales , Today's Sales , Women's Footwear |
0 
Say sayonara to your clunky, boxy shoes, ladies. At least for a little while. Pointy toed shoes are a definite do for spring and summer and I’m here to tell you how to wear them well. In addition to some styling tips, I’ll also give you a brief 411 on choosing a shoe that fits as it should.
Throughout the story, you’ll also see pictures from NYC’s very own Boutique on 57, a store that provides high fashion must-owns that won’t send you into a panic attack after buying them. In other words — they’re affordable. Boutique on 57, which happens to be across the street from Bergdorf Goodman, truly embodies the sophisticated New York shopping experience. Shop ’til you drop for designer label business suits, casual attire, cocktail dresses, red carpet gowns, handbags, shoes, and jewelry at up to 75% off retail.
Kasia Bosne
Boutique on 57
Styling Your Pointy Shoes
Fact #1: Pointy shoes actually elongate your leg, making you look longer, leaner and taller. And if they’re nude and pointy? Even longer! Your legs will look like they go on for days.
Fact #2: Pointy toed shoes can be worn with anything. Anything. Skinny jeans, cigarette pants, trousers, leggings, bodycon dresses, maxi skirts, cropped pants, midi skirts, summer dresses, shorts. Seriously — anything!
I recommend owning a pair of high quality (read: invest), pointy toed shoes in nude, red, black and white. There’s not an outfit in your closet that won’t go with one of those colors. From there, branch out into funkier colors or prints. Trendier shoes don’t have to be as high quality since you won’t wear them for as long, but they do need to fit well and be comfortable (read below for tips on that).
As for heel height, right now the pointy-toed pump is actually your trendiest option. That’s not to say it’ll ever really go out of style, though — it’s just what everyone’s wearing this season. I find pumps are your most versatile option in terms of styling, as they work in a variety of settings (office, casual meetings, dinners, etc.).
Pointy-toed kitten heels are another option. Though I find that kitten heels aren’t as flattering as pumps, they’re an ideal option for someone who wants a wee bit of extra height without worrying about falling.
Pointy toed stilettos are less easy to style, simply because they have a sort of sexy appeal to them. If you’re going for a business professional, casual or serious vibe, opt for the pump or kitten. If you’re heading out for a night of cocktails, rock those stilettos.
Oh, and I can’t forget flats. Pointy toed flats aren’t extremely common, but they do exist. I recommend them with jeans or a breezy summer dress. Basically, wear them anytime you want to go for an ultra casual or carefree vibe.
Comfort Is Important
You want to know what isn’t sexy? A woman hobbling around in ill-fitting shoes.
You never want to wear shoes that are too tight, nor do you want to wear shoes that are too loose. Heels that are too loose can lead to twisted ankles and even tripping if your foot accidentally slips out.
Shoes that are too tight are a more common problem with pointy toed shoes. That’s because the toes jut inwards quickly, leaving less room for your toes. For pointy toed shoes, you may need to go up a 1/2 size (this also allows for extra room when your feet swell during PMS, air travel, etc.).
A properly fitting, pointy toed heel should allow your toes enough room to wiggle around slightly. They should never be so cramped that you can’t move them at all. Additionally, your arch should be completely supported. Higher quality shoes typically come with some sort of padding that eventually molds to the interior of your foot, so look for that padding when buying. Mid-End brands I recommend include Ivanka Trump, Jessica Simpson, Steve Madden, Nine West and Cole Haan. Almost all of the luxury brands you’re familiar with (Jimmy Choo, Badgley Mischka, Prada, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Alexander McQueen, etc.) will also have that necessary padding. For example, the shoes pictured here, found at Boutique on 57, are all winners.
Tip: Buying in stores is always a better choice. This gives you an opportunity to walk around in the shoes and see how they feel on your feet. When buying online, read the return policy very thoroughly and never buy unless you can return the shoes for a full refund or exchange them for a different size.
I’ll leave you with the following advice: Always have a pair of rollaway flats in your bag. Wear the flats when you’re running to catch the train or walking long distances and switch into your heels later.
By Wendy Rose Gould
Posted by Wendy Rose Gould at 02:00 PM
Fashion: Trends, Style, and Business , Opinions , Trends , Trends |
0 Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw covered two topics very near and dear to innumerable women: sex and shoes. While the two seem miles apart from each other, they’re actually quite similar. Both bring exceptional pleasure to a woman, both are made more rousing by diversity/options and both have the potential to disappoint if you aren’t prudent in your decision making.
In all seriousness, the shoes a woman wears speaks greatly to her personality. In fact, a 2012 study by the University of Kansas found that people could accurately guess certain factors about another person based on their footwear alone.
We’ve already put together a guide on iconic bags and what they say about the owner, now we’re delving into the realm of glorious footwear. Instead of focusing on a specific type of shoe (such as a heel, ballet flat or wedge), we’ve opted to highlight well known brands.
Go sift through your mountain of shoes to determine which brand you’re particularly drawn to. Then, read through the commentary below to see if the personality description fits you the way your favorite pair of kicks do. If you’re like most women, you probably favor more than one brand, so it makes sense if more than one section describes you.
About the Designer: Mr. Louboutin — who hails from Paris’s 12 arrondissement — has been fascinated with shoes since his early teen years. He’s credited with “bringing back the stiletto” in the ’90s and 2000s thanks to his 4+ inch shoes. From the beginning, Louboutin’s ultimate objective was to make women beautiful and to make their legs look as long as possible. For that reason, he rarely designs low-heeled or heel-less shoes.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Victoria Beckham, Kristen Bell, Heidi Klum, Emma Stone
What They Say About You: Women who appreciate the silhouette of a Louboutin are the perfect blend of sassy and sweet. She’s demure, but not sickeningly so, and has a fabulous sense of humor. While she doesn’t mind the spotlight being on her, she does enjoy her alone time.
About the Designer: While relatively new to the shoe scene, Jeffrey Campbell footwear is the epitome of street style. He’s particularly known for his daring designs, which teeter — and sometimes push beyond — the edge of “footwear as art.” His ability to combine vintage nostalgia with futuristic pizzazz is what sets him apart from many shoe designers.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Ginnifer Goodwin, Mena Suvari
What They Say About You: The woman sporting Jeffrey Campbell footwear is indubitably fearless. She’s quirky and unconventional and has enough talent for an entire neighborhood. While determined to succeed and focused on the end goal, she doesn’t mind taking a breather to have a good time, either. Her mood is a blend of optimism and realism and for that reason, she is destined for great things.
About the Designer: Though raised in a tiny town just outside of Chicago, Atwood always dreamt big. His fascination with footwear began in his mother’s closet, which eventually led him to clothing design at FIT in New York. After an impressive stint at Versace in Milan, he mastered the art of women’s footwear and created his own label in 2001. He was awarded the Sworovski Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design by the CFDA in 2003.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Lea Michele, Zoe Saldana, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hayden Panettiere
What They Say About You: Refined, regal and radiant are three words that describe a Brian Atwood footwear fan. Wearers are typically reserved, but when necessary they are comfortable enough in their own skin to speak with confidence. Women who prefer Atwood’s aesthetic are also fashion-forward and love setting trends.
About the Designer: Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo may no longer be with us, but his shoes remain a staple in many closets to this day. In the ’20s, he worked with numerous Hollywood starlets, bringing them innovative shoes that glistened on the red carpet. He’s most noted for his wedge and cage heels and continues to be a household name to this day.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Meryl Streep, Dita Von Teese, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Aniston
What They Say About You: The Ferragamo wearer has perfected the art of being a subtle star. Everyone notices her, but she never feels the need to be overtly flashy. She’s always in control, even in the most difficult situations, and has a sort of classic elegance that you’re born with or without. While she is slow to trust another, her loyalty is unparalleled when it comes to family, good friends and lovers.
About the Designer: Hands down, Jimmy Choo is one of the most coveted brands in all of fashion. Choo is a Malaysian Chinese designer who’s based in London, but his shoes are worn all around the world. He opened a workshop in North London in the mid ’80s and shortly after his designs were featured in an eight page Vogue Magazine spread. Princess Diana was a fan of Choo’s work, which also helped catapult him to shoe fame.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Jessica Biel, Kristen Stewart, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson
What They Say About You: Any woman wearing a pair of shoes by Jimmy Choo can be likened to a modern day Cinderella. She’s kind and sweet, but not about to settle for anything less than the best. You’ll often find her fresh faced, bubbly and surrounded by people who genuinely appreciate her company. Despite her saccharine disposition, this woman is not a pushover in any sense of the word.
About the Designer: Fashion editors around the globe have quickly become loyal fans of Giuseppe Zanotti, an Italian DJ-turned-shoe designer. In the mid ’90s, he hired 15 employees and took over Vicini shoe factory in an effort to make a name for himself. His hard work and eye for design paid off, as Zanotti now owns over 50 stores around the world and sells 400,000 pairs of luxury shoes annually.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Beyonce, Khloe Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, Christina Aguilera
What They Say About You: Zanotti shoe wearers are spirited fashion lovers who emanate confidence, gumption and pep. Some may describe her as unorthodox, but she’s really just chock-full of moxie and charisma. Even though the Zonotti lover may be an intimidating woman to approach, she’s actually quite socially deft. A giant teddy bear, if you will. When she speaks her mind, she does so thoughtfully and empathetically.
About the Designer: Manolo Blahnik is easily one of the most well known high end shoe designers in the entire world, and rightfully so. The Spanish designer, who studied art in Paris and wrote for Vogue Italia, ventured into footwear in the 1970s. Amidst the chunky platforms of the era, he focused on the thin stiletto, which serves as the brand’s cornerstone to this day.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Nicole Kidman, Lucy Liu, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel
What They Say About You: Women who prefer Manolo Blahniks can be described as elegant, sophisticated and poised. She’s well put together — both fashion-wise and in terms of her life and career — and emits a sort of grace that other women envy. She never feels the need to scream or resort to antics in order to be heard. While she certainly enjoys the finer things in life, she has fun doing the not-so-glamorous things, as well.
About the Designer: Born in Germany in 1980, Nicholas Kirkwood is a young shoe designer who’s gone quite far in his 33 years. After participating in the fine art foundation course at Central Saint Martins, he worked at milliner Phillip Treacy’s London store for 5 years. Inspired by Treacy’s hats and Alexander McQueen’s clothing, he began a quest to design footwear that made just as strong of a statement as the aforementioned brands. Since then, he’s won a string of impressive awards and his shoes are worn by A-listers and style gurus across the world.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Leighton Meester
What They Say About You: The woman drawn to designs by Nicholas Kirkwood is a playful person who loves to have a good time. Fun is always her first mission and she’s learned how to make even hard work less mundane. She’s a go getter who never says no and can be described as whimsical, flirty and intrepid.
By Wendy Rose Gould
Posted by Wendy Rose Gould at 08:30 AM
bargain news , Fashion: Trends, Style, and Business , Opinions , Trends , Trends |
0 WHAT: Brian Atwood Online Sample Sale @ Gilt
WHY: Brian Atwood Footwear up to 60% off!
WHEN: 1/30 12pm – 2/1 12am
WHERE: Gilt.com
*To sign up & access the sales, please click here.
Shop Top Designer Brands at up to 60% off retail on Gilt.com
Posted by Bindra at 06:38 AM
Today's Sales , Women's Clothing , Women's Footwear |
