Walk Tall Into the Summer

I love shoes, and I'm pretty sure that many women do. I've been looking out for shoe trends on the runways for next summer, and think I have a bright idea what's coming in shoes. First, I saw some trends that have been loitering for a few seasons, or even the past years. Then I noticed some new trends.

Of course, for summer, we wear sandals, flats and the typical summer shoes alot (at least those of us that don't have the sun all-year round). So the first trend I'm going to review are the gladiator sandals. They seem to have a long lifetime, as they've been a trend for the past spring/summer seasons. But there's an exception this time. Chanel broke the barrier in their resort 07 collection (seen on MK above). Now they're edgier than ever, and have been called 'super gladiators'. We're talking knee-high, heeled, strappy, patent and two-toned. D&G showed sandals in the same style that has been last summers, but maybe a bit higher. Dries Van Noten had strappy ankle gladiator heels. Givenchy's knee-high gladiator heels are my favourite. I love the uneven straps and their edgy touch. The most extravagant version are the Balenciaga black and white knee-high heels. Net-A-Porter have sandals from Oscar de la Renta, that cut just above the ankle, and are more plain than the pairs below.

Next trend has also been seen before, and is something I personally love. The crisscross heels. They're often in platform style and have a peeptoe. The crisscross can be everything from thin to chunky, and it can be one cross or more. Dsquared2 had a thin crisscross strap and is a rather elegant choice. Burberry showed them with socks, which is a nice alternative to this trend. Anna Sui's version is colourful and Thakoon had a nice pair that's a bit different from the other three. Also, check out Marni's Crisscross Platform Slingbacks from Net-A-Porter.

Then we have the classic mary janes which probably everyone has in some edition. I loooved Giambattista Valli's pink sky-high platforms, which Mary Kate Olsen has been seen wearing. Alexander McQueen also showed pink mary janes, but in a snake skin for a bit more raw texture. Missoni's girly, grey mary janes were more down to earth than the previous mentioned. Yves Saint Laurent then had the simpliest version of all.

The T-bar is a trend similiar to the mary janes. Burberry showed a luxurios piece, Lanvin's chunky T-bar was my personal favourite, and Zac Posen showed a glamorous sparkly version.

The first of the new trends is the buckle. I'm not saying it's a big trend spotting, but it hasn't been seen like this before. Jean Paul Gaultier had a dramatic pair of grey heels with big buckles. Marni's two-tone colour heels are chic and stylish. Lanvin showed a brown pair that have a bit of a safari feeling. Last but not least, Gucci had a gorgeous pair in strong green with buckles on the side.

The second trend I spotted were thin laces. At Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Peter Som the laces had fine bows. But Givenchy's laces were more of a leather straps. The Balenciaga pair is a new take on the oxfords, and Peter Som's also. Alexander McQueen had the laces at, and above the ankle, which I love.

Notice that these are only runway trends. Of course we have great shoe designers (if not the best), like Christian Louboutin, Azzedine Alaia, Pierre Hardy and many more, that I've not included in to post, but all make great shoes. You can tell me in the comments section if you've spotted some other shoe trends for spring from the runways or just from the above designers!

Designer Pieces on Sale

I decided to check out the sale at Net-A-Porter.com and see if there were some affordable things. It was a bit harder than I thought, since I was looking for pieces under $400. But I spent hours browsing through the sale and found a few things that I liked.

From left: Bi La Li Crepe de Chine Top $252 / Vanessa Bruno Pleated Bubble Skirt $168 / Pedro Garcia Dream Platform Sandals $150.

From left: Rodnik Wool Jersey Dress $296 / Celine Leather Platform Sandals $308.

From left: Paul & Joe Elytre Crepe Top $266 / 3.1 Phillip Lim Rolled Cuff Cropped Pants $196 / Pedro Garcia Dream Platform Sandals $225.

From left: Chloé Ruched Detail Tank Top $246 / Helmut Lang Zip-Front Mini Skirt $217.

From left: Vanessa Bruno Layered Bubble Dress $317 / Pedro Garcia Iris Satin Ballet Flats $227.50.

Cuffs

I just wanted to post a small post today, nothing great, but better than nothing.

Cuffs have been a big hit lately and replaced the bangles. The thing I love about cuffs is that they're more sophisticated than a wrist full of bangles. Of course a one cuff is enough, and only on one wrist. Here are a few of my favourite picks, in a few price categories.

Embellished

Add more sparkle to your outfit by wearing an embellished cuff.

From left to right: Glass Stone Embellished Cuff $18.25 from Asos; Celestina Bente Uno Cuff $1650 from Net-a-porter.com; Erickson Beamon Patent Leather Cuff $308 from Net-a-porter.com.

Golden Touch

Elegant and graceful.

From left to right: CC Skye Enamel Cuff Bracelet $202 from PinkMascara; CC Skye Nouveau Riche Rope Cuff $220 from RevolveClothing; Wide Plait Detail Cuff $9.12 from Asos.

Colourful

If you're wearing a simple dress or neutral colours, a more colourful cuff is great to pop up the outfit.

From left to right: Chloé Jackson Enamel Cuff $780 from Net-a-porter.com; Lucite Cuff $6.80 from Forever 21; Plastic Colored Bangle $5.80 from Forever 21.

Logos

The Fendi cuffs are probably more fancy but if they don't suit your budget, the 'H' one from Forever 21 is also a great choice.

From left to right: Fendi Perspex Logo Cuff $170 from Net-a-porter.com; Fendi Cuff Bracelet $250 from Neiman Marcus; Harriet Rhinestone Cuff $5.80 from Forever 21.

Embrace Your Curves

As much as I've loved the smock dresses the latest seasons, the body-con trend is something so glamorous. The 80's style trend was back in 2007, with designers like Christopher Kane and Proenza Schouler showing it on their spring/summer runways. It was also seen for fall/winter 07 and though it wasn't all over the runways for next summer, there are still some designers that have their body-con dresses as a trademark.

Body-con is all about clothes that enhance the lines of a woman's body and leaving very little to the imagination. The trend was defined in the 80s, when designers like Hervé Léger and Azzedine Alaia created the bandage dress. The dress has been popular with the celebrities on the red carpet over the years, especially from Hervé Léger. Lindsay Lohan has worn a few, Victoria Beckham also and Kim Kardashian is a big fan.

Body-con is a style best suited to curvy, slim and athletic figures. It doesn't suit a large frame. Figure-hugging dresses sit best on strong-looking womanly bodies, with good legs. It's a power look and needs confident.
You can work this trend in a few different ways. If you've got some lovely curves and you feel good about your body, you should definitely try a tight version. If your more self concious, you should try a version that's got some details and not made of a stretchy fabric. And as you know, black is a slimming colour, so try a dark colour to hide any imperfections.

Then there's the body-con bandage skirt. It's great if you want to show your legs but keep the upper body more hidden. A loose blouse, for example, is great. Nicole Richie wore it a lot last summer and Ashley Olsen has also been seen wearing it. The body-con skirt is so much more relaxed than the dress and more suitable for daytime.

The main thing doing this trend is not to go overboard. You shouldn't show too much, even if you have the perfect body. A cropped jacket or a slightly oversized cardigan with a skinny belt is a great way to keep it classy.

Get the look

Cotton SpandexTwo-Tone Fitted Mini Dress $32 from American Apparel; Helmut Lang Zip-Front Mini Skirt $217 from Net-a-porter.com; Seamed Tube Skirt £28 from TopShop.

For another version of a body-con dress from American Apparel, check out Cotton Spandex JerseyBandeau Pencil Dress $34, available in over twenty colours. American Apparel also has a body-con skirt, the Interlock Mini Skirt $25. Topshop's also got another version of the bandage skirt, Skirt by Boutique £15. And last but not least, Urban Outfitters has two, the Lux Christiane Mini $24, and the Lux Knit Pencil Skirt $28.

Photos from: style.com, fadedyouthblog.com, teddyandmoo.com, olsen-fan.net, nicole-fan.org, americanapparel.com, topshop.com, net-a-porter.com

Style and Wardrobe Inspiration

With all the sales, both in store and on the net, we can sometimes buy a little too much ‘just because it’s on sale’. I personally always try to buy classic, basic pieces that I know I can use for at least a few seasons. When I’m looking for something more trendy I first try to see if I find it at a more affordable price. If it’s something that is really this-season but still could work into the next season I’m more willing to splurge.
My style is a bit casual and can sometimes be a bit simple. But I do like statement pieces, colour and chunky jewellry to give life to my outfits, especially for the night.

A few of my favourites basic safe choices I always have:
- A V-neck t-shirt in white – slightly oversized. Preferably in grey too.
- Basic knits; a V-neck, cowl neck and an oversized cardigan.
- Black tights. Although leggings were a big trend for a few seasons I still kept my loyalty to the tights. I just think they’re more classy. And now that leggings are out and tights are in I’m getting different versins. They’ve come more of a statement, like grey rib tights or black with a bit of a metallic flair.
- The perfect pair of jeans that suit my body. Your basic, perfect pair of jeans should work with everything. You should not let the latest trends rule your decision, only use them as inspiration. When buying a classic pair of jeans, be ready to spend some money, as some of the cheaper jeans aren’t made of quality denim. Dark, unwashed denim is best for a classic pair.
- Casual day dresses in neutral colours (black, brown, grey...). They’re in soft and flowy fabrics and are great for change of seasons, since you can always wear long sleeve tees underneath and thick tights to make them warmer.
- The LBD. Everyone knows this, the little black dress is a must in every woman’s closet. It is perfect when you’re in an outfit crisis, and is always a safe choice.

These choices are something that I start with as my base and then I just build on that to make it more interesting. I’m not a big fan of colour, but I always try to wear some colour or if I’m wearing head-to-toe black I play with texture.

Shoes

Ballet flats are adorable, chic and comfy for daytime. Although some strict fashionistas avoid being seen public in flats (ehm, Victoria Beckham) I really like them. They’re perfect with jeans and casual sun dresses, but you should not wear them with cocktail dresses. They’re not really dressy, so in most cases their not suitable for any fancy outfit. When it comes to heels I don’t like plain black stilettos. Don’t get me wrong, they’re okay, but I believe that shoes should be exciting. Of course thay can be black, but at least they should have some texture, something to make them interesting. When you’re wearing a classic LBD, you must wear attention grabbing shoes. The dress is not the main thing, so make the most out of it and wear a pair of stylish pumps.

Accessories

For a normal day I often wear a printed scarf. I like the way it can spice up my outfit. I can be wearing only basics, and the outfits looks really boring, but the scarf brings the life too it.
As for jewellry, I don’t wear a lot of it during the day. Just some diamond stone earrings and maybe a thin gold chain necklace. For the night I’ll add a cuff or bangles and skip either the necklace or earrings. I don’t like wearing jewellry on wrist, fingers, neck and ears all at the same time.
In the handbag department, as I’m a student I can’t wear a structured handbag, so I choose a tote for the day. For the night I like clutches in all sizes, colours and shapes.

It depends on your style and what you like when it comes to jewellry and accessories. Some people don’t like wearing them and just want to keep things simple, while others pile on the jewellry.
If you are more fond of vintage and glamour, and like the styles of Mary-Kate Olsen and the stylist Rachel Zoe; vintage cuffs, gold chain necklaces, cocktail rings and diamond earrings are your kind of jewellry.
If you are more of a street chic and are more into less-is-more and casual style (think Lauren Conrad and Kate Bosworth); a scarf, jewelled stone earrings and a few bangles are probably your choices.

Inspiration

The tips I’ve been giving are something that many of you know already, but I really wanted to describe my style and show you what I like so you can get inspiration. Sometimes we’re stuck in the same trends, in the same routine of dressing. Trust me, I’m not perfect when it comes to my own style, but I'm always looking around me and seeking inspiration.
Inspiration is all around us. You can get it by following fashion shows and designers, reading magazines, check out what celebrites are wearing, watch other people’s style on the streets, go to vintage stores and flea markets, see what the high streets stores have to offer and so on. You don’t have to be a fashion victim or a fashion know-it-all to be stylish. You just have to look around you, because you can find inspiration in everyting!

I’d love it if you’d describe your style in a few words and tell me what are your basic choices, what are your splurges this season and where you get most of your inspiration from!