Why Court Shoes Are a Must-have This Spring

Posted on Tuesday, 19 March 2013. Posted in Guest Editorial

Court Shoes

The current trends for 2013 are an eclectic mix of colour, print and fashion fusion. For many, there is almost too much to choose from! Ethnic prints dominate the catwalk, with leather and lace forming the basis of many other designs. Must-buys this season include a leather jacket of any colour, oversized accessories such as clutch purses and anything featuring a monochrome design. With such a range of styles on offer, it can be tricky to decide on what shoes are best to wear with an outfit.

The humble court shoe, which has its origins in the Regency period, is a shoe to complement all current trends. A sleek shape and mid to high heel make this shoe suit all types of feet, naturally flattering the wearer. Whilst you may know what a court shoe is, you may not be aware either of its enduring appeal, or the range of shoes out there to choose from.

Court shoes are a timeless collection to any wardrobe. They can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion, as they go equally well with either casual or more dressed-up outfits. Wear them to work, out on a date or to take your children to school. Coming in a range of heel heights, there is a type of court shoes to appeal to every taste. Classier than ballet pumps, but not as out-and-out glamorous as stilettos, these shoes show the world that you have both good taste and good judgement. 

At work, team your shoes with a pencil skirt and coloured tights to create an ultra-glam, on-trend look. At home, your court shoes work well with skinny jeans and a loose shirt, making you look ultra-chic, yet casual. For nights out, pair up a pair of lacy court shoes with a short black dress to vamp it up, without coming across as trashy. In the summer, sling back or peep toe court shoes will help you to keep your cool, whilst in the winter months you can protect your feet with a warmer style such as the shoe boot.

Choose pointed toes for a more glamorous effect. Cut-out, peep toe court shoes add a fun twist to any summer outfit. The range of heels to choose from include wedges, platforms and mid heels. Match the shoe to your outfit or choose an opposing look – for example team a lace skirt with a demure pair of peep toes heels, or a simple pair of three quarter length trousers with studded, T-bar court shoes. 

By choosing to wear court shoes this season, you will be ensuring that you look classy whilst still feeling comfortable, whether you are on your feet all day or going out for the evening.  

Author Bio:
Sam Wainwright is an artist who loves to browse through court shoe designs in order to find a pair just right for her! She currently has three pairs of court shoes and is planning to stock up on more before the summer!

* Guest editorial *

Jimmy Choo Haul 2013

Posted on Tuesday, 12 March 2013. Posted in TV, Shopping

It's not going to be often that I get to film a video with the title 'Jimmy Choo Haul', so I wanted to make sure I took this opportunity to share with you some of the latest additions to my handbag and footwear collection!

Here are the links to the items that are featured in this video should you wish to take a closer look:

Biker Bag - http://bit.ly/Zf4T6c
Shadow Bag - http://bit.ly/ZzIliC
Morse Pumps - http://bit.ly/16lNBth
Treat Sandals - http://bit.ly/ZzIJxL
Ivette Sandals (Nude) - http://bit.ly/10CLwcf

A Winter Warmer Outfit

Posted on Thursday, 07 March 2013. Posted in Outfits, Fashion

Mint Velvet dress and TU Sainsburys Jumper

Yet another outfit post from me! This is verging on becoming a regular feature… I will concede however, that these photos were taken during the same weekend as my Marks & Spencer Valentine’s Day outfit photos, but when you have both a location and a photographer (thanks Mum!), why waste the opportunity to get as many outfit photos as you can.

Miu Miu Bag and Wallis Necklace

Today’s (aka Feb 15th) outfit features one of my favourite summer dresses ‘warmed up’ for wearing during the winter months. As the weather was sunny but cold I decided that layering was the best option to ensure that every weather-related possibility was covered. Over the top of the dress I wore a lightweight jumper and teamed this with my new trench coat and a fluffy faux-fur snood. I wore this outfit for a day meandering around London and my Moroccan boots proved to be a great choice for a day that involved spending several hours on my feet.

Zara Trench Coat and ASOS Faux-Fur Snood.

The dress itself is from Mint Velvet (yes, another MV purchase) and the jumper is from TU at Sainsburys. I bought them both at the end of last year, the dress was in the sale and reduced to less than half-price and the jumper was a bargain at £22 full-price! The Zara trench coat is a recent purchase, stolen inspired by a fellow blogger (Amanda - The Online Stylist), I absolutely love it and have barely taken it off since it arrived. The snood was from ASOS and although I know its faux-fur, the protesters outside of Harrods didn't and I was fully anticipating a bucket of paint to fly my way! At the last minute I also added a necklace from Wallis and my ever-faithful Miu Miu bag proved to be the perfect carrying companion as always.

An Avenue Apart

Posted on Wednesday, 27 February 2013. Posted in Shopping, Fashion

Avenue32 Wishlist Antonio Marras - Beige Pinstripe Jacquard Trousers Marios Schwab - Ivory Trench Coat Mother of Pearl - Yellow Iris Print Cashmere Jumper Ginny Litscher - Yellow Silk Honey Bee Scarf 3.1 Phillip Lim - Pashli Satchel Calvin Klein Collection - Nude Graphic Verushka Heels Husam el Odeh - Gold Frozen Rose Ring Maria Francesca Pepe - Studded Lapis Heart Cuff Maria Francesca Pepe - Gold Plated Open Cross Pendant

For the most part items on my ‘wishlist’ are normally confined to the shopping section of my site, but in the case of Avenue32 I felt the need to make an exception. Avenue32 is a fairly recent discovery for me (behind the trend as always!), but one I’m especially glad I made. While I’m a huge fan of the infinitely-stocked online retail giants, I delight in browsing smaller online boutiques that add a pinch of personality to their collection edits. Avenue32 encompasses this smaller store individuality perfectly; alongside mainstream brands such as 3.1 Phillip Lim (check out the 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli bags!), they stock an eclectic mix of up-and-coming designers such as Ginny Litscher and Mother of Pearl.

One of my favourite features of the site is the organising of items in the ‘What’s New’ section by colour. There’s just something so aesthetically pleasing about this, most likely enhanced by my perpetual wish to organise my own wardrobe with such proficiency!

Listing all my favourites would have resulted in an essay-like post, so I limited myself to choosing only a few. Influenced (inadvertently) by the bright collection of yellow products that appear first on the ‘What’s New’ section led me to choose quite a few sunshine themed pieces. The yellow on the Ginny Litscher scarf and Antonio Marras trousers appears to glow with the promise of Spring/Summer on the horizon. While the Maria Francesca Pepe cuff and necklace are the perfect accessories to give your new season style a sophisticated edge. And a warm-mustard 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli… need I say any more?!

Phase Eight SS13 Collection

Posted on Monday, 25 February 2013. Posted in TV, Outfit Styling, Trends

I selected a few of my favourite pieces from Phase Eight's SS13 Collection to share with you. All of the items featured are available on the Phase Eight website, I've included the links below:

1. Peony Print Maxi Dress - http://tidd.ly/ddc738a3
2. Helen Hearts Print Dress - http://tidd.ly/4925f339
3. Japan Bird Print Dress - http://tidd.ly/4925f339
4. Kirsty Pointelle Cardigan - http://tidd.ly/8735eff0
5. Catherine Jumper - http://tidd.ly/5c9f0e8c
6. Lexi Jeans - http://tidd.ly/5c9f0e8c

Shop

  • Caleen Studded Leather Boots
  • Classic Pavé Link Bracelet
  • Diamante Spike Necklace
  • So Elixir Purple
  • Cream Floral Jacquard Jacket