Shoes & Accessories

Posted by Gill Hart

I came across an article the other day in the British newspaper, the Guardian, entitled "Pick of the Week -Banana Shoes", so I just had to take a look. I soon realized that I actually wear these type of shoes on a regular basis, I just didn’t know their name!

It seems that “banana shoes” is the term which refers to those flat, bendy-soled ballet pumps, which have morphed into banana-shaped shoes due to their turned-up toes.

These shoes are so easy to wear as they fit closely around the feet, with soft bendy leather, and such a lightweight sole, that you hardly feel you’ve got them on.

According to the Guardian, the trend has flourished on the catwalks primarily among designer brands, as due to their minimal sole, they lend themselves to a posh taxi lifestyle, just like those 7-inch heels!

They certainly have a point. Whilst I love mine, as they are so comfortable, you can feel every pebble or bump through the sole.

Higher-end designers like Lanvin, D & G and Tods favor the shoe, and on the high street, labels like Top Shop and Gap, or online retailer, Asos. These shoes look really cute and girly, with that most staple of fashion furniture —leggings, or skinny jeans, or a mini dress.

You may also know them as “canoe shoes,” a common term in North American, given that they also resemble the shape of a canoe. Whatever their name, they are great for summer, comfortable and lightweight, and oh so cute too!

Posted by Gill Hart

The two designer bags on offer are a summer white Fendi Doctor Bag, worth $1680 or Miu Miu’s much sought-after ruched frame bag in plum, one of the IT colors of the season. This one is worth $1595 and is currently sold out on the site. Miu Miu has really made its mark in the last few seasons when it comes to purses. The ruched frame bag is as practical as it is stylish and due to its additional removable over-body strap.

When it comes to every-day bags, I always look for one which can also be carried over the body, with an across-the-body strap. Since being the victim of a handbag snatch here in Thailand, by a rider on a motorbike, a few years ago it has taught me to more wary. Sadly handbag thefts have become more common place the world over, so it always pays to be vigilant. Whilst a purse simply perched on your shoulder represents an invitation to an opportunist thief, one that is secured across the body means it cannot easily be pulled away, and provides a deterrent.

In conjunction with Bagsnob.com, the draw finishes at 11.59pm EST on July 2nd, 2008. I’ve already tried my luck, as this is one of the few giveaway offers that is open to entrants around the globe.

Simply click on the link to the giveaway page, and you’ll see a short entry form.

Posted by Gill Hart

Saks Fifth Avenue Online Designer Sale, with up to 40% off. Reductions are exclusively available to those who purchase over the internet, for two days, 26th and 27th May 2008 only. After that the sale is opened–up to in-store customers too. There are online bargains from the best of the best including Prada, Dior, Jimmy Choo and Fendi. So snap some up whilst they last.

If, like me, you are a bag lady and fanatical about Fendi, then there are reductions on the Fendi B bag, the calfskin, the embellished and the metallic B bag clutch. Now is the time to buy one of the classics in purses. Fancy some Fendi footwear to match? Then there’s the look-at-me Fendi chain heel suede sandal or a more delicate metallic T-strap.

There are also some classic Jimmy Choo’s, from chic patent pumps to peep-toes; and a couple of Jimmy Choo snake skin shoulder and evening bags, messengers and hobos. Some of the best summer-white handbag bargains have to be Tod’s Softy Tacolla Media and Took Sacca Shoulder bag, and Jimmy Choos Rania Drummed Leather Hobo. I don’t think these will stay in stock long, I can imagine shoppers from the sofa frantically clicking their mouse as we speak!

Visit Saks to view all the current bargains. For 26th and 27th May 2008, the sale is open exclusively to shoppers online. The sale starts in stores on 28th May.

Posted by Gill Hart

This season accessories are bigger and more ostentatious. From huge cinch-waisted belts, oversized cuffs and giant cocktail rings, to supersized purses. Finally fashion houses have designed clutches that hold more than your lipstick. The days of trying to squeeze all your essentials into a tiny box-shaped bag are over. Attempting to jam in your mobile phone and bunch of house keys is a frustrating experience, all in the name of looking chic!

If we are talking high-end designer, my favorite is the Fendi Oversized Whipstitched Clutch (£1040 from Net-A-Porter). In this season's bright white, this is classic Fendi at its best. Another chic white number is Oscar D La Renta's .Doheny Oversized Clutch. Fast fashion dictates that inspired pieces fill the shelves of high-street stores, so there is plenty to choose from at the en-mass end of the market.

The accessories chain Accessorize has a number of designer inspired designs, and online retailer Asos has a couple of oversized purse exclusives from Mogil. Their oversized Mogil Panel Clutch bag (£70) is right on- trend with multicolored and metallic paneling and snake skin.

Whatever your preference in styles, McDonalds isn't the only place, this year, to supersize your portions!

Posted by Gill Hart

A word of warning, don’t throw away those old red tights from your youth, that are still lurking in the back of your closet. It’s official, according to Style.com (and who am I to question this dependable source?), the in-thing in the tight department for fall 2008, is red-hot hosiery, in all shapes and forms.

To prove its point, Style.com currently features a picture of the model of the moment, Agyness Deyn, sporting a pair of red opaques, in it’s Style Hunter article, “Seeing Red.”

Personally I am not too keen on having legs the same color as a chicken, but I’ll dig out my pair of red opaques that I bought by mistake, here in Thailand, last year. Instead of picking up black ones, I couldn’t understand the information on the labelling (I can’t read Thai) and just went by the image on the packet. I got quite a shock when I opened up the pack, and thought I’d never have the opportunity to wear them. (Or at least, without looking like a left–over from a fancy dress party). Seems I was wrong!

If you, like Agyness, want to get ahead with the trend, then add a splash of color to your morning by wearing a pair of Jonathan Aston scarlet tights from Tightsplease. They also do a similar, denser pair of 60-denier red opaques from Charnos.

Wear red-blooded hoisery with a short solid color-block skirt or dress in complementary colors. This year your hosiery is supposed to match your outfits and not your shoes!

Posted by Gill Hart

Such is our celebrity culture that British women are clamoring to by her super-high heels, from gladiator sandals to her seven-inch platform pumps.

The Daily Mail has been running a series of articles following Gwyneth on her four day Iron Man red carpet tour, culminating in its 30th April article, “The Gwyneth Effect.” The Mail has been highlighting Gwyneth’s transformation in the footwear department and documenting the fact that she has been rocking Europe; with her Pacini platforms in Paris, Louboutins in Berlin, Giuseppe Zanotti platforms in Rome and Givenchy peep-toe gladiators in London.

According to the Daily Mail , retailers are dubbing their sudden boost in women’s footwear as the “Gwyneth Effect.” The week of May 1st 2008, Selfridges has reported their super-high heels outselling flat shoes by five to one.

Certainly, Gwyneth has brought a new breed of gladiator sandal to the attention of the British masses. Her warrior-woman, war-like Givenchy peep toes made paparazzi fashion history, showing off a transformed and edgy Ms Paltrow.

Selfridge’s director of accessories, Sebastian Manes, refers to such fetish shoes as “not for the fainthearted, with their extreme attention grabbing look.”

Certainly Balenciaga and Givenchy are being credited by the fashion industry as playing their part in the revival of power dressing, with their warrior women’s gladiator sandals and boots being taken to new lengths.

I have to say that, after seeing fashion feature "Best in Show", in this month’s Australian edition of Marie Claire, Nicholas Ghesquiere's for Balenciaga gladiator sandals are actually growing on me (but most definitely not the price!)

Posted by Gill Hart

One thing that has taken me almost twenty years to realize is that style is not necessarily about following fashion trends. Style is about wearing something that makes you feel good, flatters your body shape and makes you look classy and not tarty.

There is no better way than to create your own signature style than with a special bag, a pair of shoes, a print scarf, a man's watch, or any other fashion accessory. In Glamour magazine’s November 2006 article “The 8 Laws of Style” runway king Michael Kors advises, “Have a signature piece. It’s the most classic way to look chic. Zero in on that one thing – eg boots, a bag or sunglasses,”

Once you have honed in on a piece in your wardrobe you really love, then wear it with almost everything! If it is likely to last more than one season then buy the best quality you can afford. This also means, according to Kors, that its okay to break the fashion rules, like wearing boots in summer or wearing a brocade skirt to work.

Personally, I love this year’s trend in headbands and now have a collection of over 20, (which I wear with almost everything.) This is my signature style, and whilst albeit a temporary one, it makes me feel fun and flirty. The locals here have got to know my distinctive look, and the headbands have become a conversational ice-breaker and are often met with a warm Thai smile.

Two other weaknesses I’ll admit to is my cream Spy bag and a pair of baby-soft suede boots, which I insist on wearing (over jeans) here in Thailand, despite temperatures which never dip below 25-30 degrees!

Posted by Gill Hart

Although I am almost ashamed to admit it, I am a big fan of jelly shoes. Not only are they practical beachwear, protecting your feet from hot sand, stones, coral and concrete but they are also so amazingly comfortable that you forget you have them on. I wear them around the house, the garden and to walk my dogs.

The current resurgence in jelly shoes means that not only is there a variety of cute, flirty, feminine styles to choose from, but for those who want to sport an upmarket fashion label, premier designers like Fendi and Marc Jacobs have got in on the act.

Whilst they may be a bit over budget for many, Fendi’s clear jelly ballet flats with ankle strap ($175) provide a fun summer feature with a sundress, caftan or shorts.

A pair of Marc Jacobs, oh-so-comfortable, pastel blue rubber ballet flats ($160) would look really cute with a mini dress or a pair of skinny jeans.

If you are satisfied with less than designer then there are many high street brands available in the marketplace including embellished jellies with petals, beads and gems. Shellys London rhinestone jellied sandals with ankle strap are an example of how jellies have evolved from just plain practical to ultra-stylish.

Finally, what summer 2008 shoe collection would be completed without combining the best of summer’s shoe trends, gladiator sandals and jellies. Givenchy’s fierce looking jelly gladiator sandals ($165) are “a cheeky take on the Roman style,” according to Style.com. The Romanesque gladiator sandal is this season’s must-have, a perfect partner to the current fluid fashions and Grecian dressing of the moment.

Posted by Gill Hart

This celebration of the French shoe designer’s life is called "Sole Desire", due to the fact that Louboutin shoes are most famous for their trademark red soles. No matter what color the shoe, every pair of soles is crimson.

The Sole Desire exhibition from March 13 to April 19 2008 at The Museum at FIT is on Seventh Avenue, 27th Street, New York. Admission is free and opening hours are Tuesday - Friday, 12pm to 8 pm and Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays.

A special online presentation of Christian Louboutin shoes is accessible through the museum's website, for anyone who is not able to attend the exhibition.

Christian Louboutin shoes have received tremendous media attention of late due to the high profile A-list celebrities who wear these status shoes. With footwear boutiques all over the world, this king of the red-hot shoe is well known for his sexy, fetish themed 5 inch stilettos as well as elegant and feminine daywear inspired by dance, nature and far flung exotic places.

Louboutin's footwear is a mixture of art, history and culture, and every part of his shoe is handmade, including the signature sole. In today’s ultra fashion-conscious world, a flash of Christian Louboutin red sole is the ultimate in status shoes.

Louboutin spokeswoman Shawna Rose says, "Christian likes to say when he designs a shoe it's much more like designing a jewelry collection than it is following fashion"

In January 2008, Christian Louboutin shoes were also featured on the Oprah Winfrey show as part of the shows theme “The Face Behind the Name”.

Posted by Gill Hart

Whilst I am a big fan of this year’s elegant and feminine Greco Roman Goddess gowns, I must admit that I initially loathed the masculine Romanesque gladiator sandals that came to the fore last season. This black/brown bondage footwear looked as though it would be more at home on the set of Ridely Scott’s Gladiator than in the park or the high street.

However, I have since (almost) been converted by the variation on the trend for this spring and summer. Shoe designers have come up with more feminine, ornate sandals which are infinitely more flattering to legs and can be teamed with many more outfits.

There are smaller strapped metallic versions and ornate bejeweled sandals perfect for a beach party or evening wear. These replace the strappy thong, and are definitely more practical. I even invested in a pair of Sci Fi looking silver metallic gladiators, which my husband jokingly refers to as my “martian shoes.”

The new trend in gladiator boots however, is definitely not for me. These should be filed under the “only if you are a willowy waif with long-limbs” category, and I can’t imagine too many oversized fashionistas rushing to buy them.

Whatever your preference, women’s magazines and fashion blogs are touting the gladiator sandal as the shoe of the season. This is largely due to the vast amount of Hollywood celebrities like Mary-Kate Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens who have favored the look.

If you intend to dip your toe into the trend then be aware that wide-strapped gladiators can shorten your silhouette and make legs look chunkier than they really are. So unless you intend hiding yours under a pair of skinny jeans, choose a style that has a low ankle strap to show more expanse of leg.