Shopping

Object Of My Affection // Missoni Knitted And Perspex Sandals

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

It was lust at first sight with these Missoni sandals.

The balance of the clear perspex cylindrical shaped heel, the transparent pvc and brown and knit detail is perfection.

They could not be more suited to the perpetual and print trends. Giving an instant dose of hybrid texture.

More on these heels here.
My objects of affection.
Share

Object Of My Affection // Miu Miu Rosette Bag

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

A little bit of geriatric chic with a lot of western should not make for a whole heap load of irresistible but it does in Miuccia’s able hands.

More on this bag here.
 
My objects of affection.
Share

Object Of My Affection // Sybil

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

If you are like me had narrow feet that suddenly went all wide on you overnight, a pair of high street or designer shoes with a wide fit is always a godsend. If that seemingly more generous fit is then matched with a good interpretation of the athletic trend, it is even better.

Some of the sporty inspired footwear has been very literal so I like that Carvela’s Sybil design gives a nod to spring’s athletic trend without being too obvious.

Available at VivaLaDiva.

Share

Object Of My Affection // Jelly Shoes

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

This jelly pair of women’s heels or wedges takes me straight back to school. It was the summer of 1996 and jelly shoes were all the rage. Just looking at these give me that eternal youthful feeling that I associate with teen years. Albeit, this pair is a glossy upgrade on the clear strappy t-bar jelly sandals that I wore back then.
 
It feels good to see a trend that one grew up to have another moment. This is probably how my parents felt when trends they had broken in were revisited decades later. A reminder that fashion and trends are truly all about revolving cycles and the continual modernization of ideas.
 
I am all for jelly shoes (and the micro trend focusing on them this summer is proof that I am not the only one!), this pair would do quite nicely.
 
Actually anything that reminds me of my youth is alright by me.
 
More on them at Bank Fashion.
Share

Currently Crushing On // ALDO Rise Spring 2012

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Fashion is no longer a commandment, it’s a collaboration – ALDO Rise zine issue 2.

I could not agree anymore with that quote.
In recent years we have seen fashion and the creative industries join forces, come together and collaborate more than ever before.  I suppose it is very of the moment, a sign of the creative times, perhaps to be seen as the new order…
 
Reiterated by  the whole phenomenon of blogs and a site like this, fashion has gone from the dictated to the discussed.
 
It is no wonder that this pattern of teaming up has become the shape of things, not to come but of the present moment. Some of these collaborations have been significant, others not so successful and unfortunately not particularly memorable.
 
I thought it was time I shared one such collection that I’ve been crushing on for some time now. I even wore a pair of shoes from the initiative (the Preen x ALDO Rise design as seen in the above collage) in question in this style diary post.
 
I think it was genius that through the RISE collaborative project, high street shoe giant ALDO came teams up with the fashion’s most interesting talent. For spring 2012 which sees the second collection of ALDO Rise, ALDO collaborated with a varied designer roster; J.W. Anderson, Mark Fast, Preen, Cushnie et Ochs, Libertine, Julian Louie and Christian Cota. The shoes birthed from this teaming up of high street footwear and high fashion talent were worn in the runway collections per respective designer.

It is like a celebration of each designer’s unique aesthetic in shoe form as powered by ALDO.

With each shoe distinctively staying true to the vision and creative voice of each participating talent. Take the three above as examples; J.W Anderson’s continued exploration of texture is seen in the feather juxtaposing against the leather etc, Mark Fast’s genius with knits comes through in the above stilettos as the cut outs look like actual loop holes in knit, Preen’s blown up pixel foray and focal proportion are as present in the above heels as they were in that corresponding collection.

Two heads (here it is two very clever heads ie ALDO and the collaborative individual respective design houses) is usually-always-in this case better than one.

Crush on the current ALDO Rise collection
 
Past crushes.
Share

The Shopping Basket // Mirror Mirror

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Mirror Mirror on the wall, which garment or accessory can I see my reflection in best of all?

Be inspired by…

Gestuz
From the Gestuz pre autumn 2012 collection entitled ‘Simple Pleasures’, this sequin top is stuff that reflective dreams are made of.
More information on the brand here. and available at Harvey Nichols

Giles x Cutler and Gross
Any pair of sunglasses that simultaneously reminds me of my teens and Cher Horowitz of Clueless is a friend of mine.
More information here.

Topshop
When shiny sheeny foil like exterior meets a 70′s platform good things are bound to happen.
More information here.

Rochas
A fold over clutch that doubles as a mirror on the go.
More information here.

Andreia Chaves
Shoes that double up as a reflective surface for everything around your feet. Custom made for an equally custom experience.
More information here.

Explore the other items in The Shopping Basket here.

Images: Barneys New York | Topshop | Gestuz | Giles x Cutler and Wilson | Andreia Chaves

Share

Object Of My Affection // Charlotte Olympia Avalon Heel

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Surely strutting in these intricate scroll iron wrought heels would be like walking on an art piece. Why keep your art to the confines of your walls or shelves?

See the leaf print canvas upper pair here.

My objects of affection.

Share

Currently Crushing On // Paisley Print

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

I’ve always had a soft spot for the good old paisley print. As a teen I wore a battered paisley print shirt to shreds. If I could wear any paisley today as an ode to that beloved shirt and my teen self, these would do nicely. Somewhere along the line paisley grew up and got pretty rad if I may say so myself.

J.W Anderson
This designer is one to watch and is it just me or is there a pretty punk feel about this shirt. He had me with that abstract paisley meets amoeba print.
More information here.

Jil Sander
Nothing cooler than a traditional print modernized by a fresh colorway. The contrast of the pink and green keeps this memorable.
More information here.

Miu Miu
I am enamored with this bag! Adorable mini bucket shape meets zany print combo (paisley is joined by a joyful Elephant print) in an irresistible bag.
More information here.

J.Crew
These pants are giving me Bali by way of Phuket. Named ‘Capri’, could that be more apt?
More information here.

Past crushes.

Images:Polyvore.com

Share

Object Of My Affection // Burlesque Wedges

Friday, March 30th, 2012

Wedges are like that fun dependable friend. Enough spark to keep the good times rolling but with a solid ‘you can lean on me’ base.
Spirited but comfortable or at least generally more comfortable than the average high heel.
 
Stumbling on this happy-go-lucky velvet situation was one of those more is more moments. As if the velvet and gold patent were not enough, channels carnival meets showgirl meets ringside circus with that wedge heel design, tassel and flower.
 
The Burlesque (yes that is the name of the design, could it be more apt?) by Miss L Fire is on sale for £60.
 
Those and more purse friendly on-trend wedges for the new season .
Share

Currently Crushing On // Colored Soles

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Our appetite for colored soles were first put to the test with baroque informed Prada’s spring 2011 collection. No sooner did her stripe stacked sole loafers do the length of the Milan runway and they had inspired a sea of colored soles.
 
Seasons later and the colored sole is still making the rounds. How has it lasted so long in the fickle world of trends? Its lifespan has been bolstered on and preserved by trends such the graphic color block wave, the bright floral and now the sugary pastel moment.
 
These varying moments have continually informed the colored sole, keeping it fresh and current within a relative moment in time.

Right now, I’m currently crushing on these focal colored soles.

Chloé
Add a dose of color block 101 with these wedges. Easy color in 1,2 and 3…
More information here.

Steve Madden
Jazz things up with Madden’s purple soled black nuback upper oxfords. Their ‘Jazie’ name could not be more apt.
More information here.

T&F Slack Shoemakers London
Palate cleanser in mint green oxford form is perfect for spring.
More information here.

Nicholas Kirkwood
Let your inner child out to play with these scribble-flower heels by Kirkwood. The contrasting colored sole is a bonus.
More information here.

Bottega Veneta
Color me pink. I like an accessory that surprises, good surprises are always welcome. The focus on traditional artisanal seen in the leather upper is given a modern punch with the bright pink sole.
More information here.

Topshop
Kill three birds with one stone with these loafers; the white trend, pastel trend and colored sole trend.
More information here.

Stella McCartney
Contrasting colored perspex heels keep things interesting.
More information here.

Dorothy Perkins
Do channel the feminine grownup mood of spring 2012 with these girly heels by high street brand Dorothy Perkins. A tan upper is given a complimentary pink sole and heel.
More information here.

Past crushes.

Images:Polyvore.com

Share