Dressing up flats: a guide*

Whilst heeled shoes are well known for being glamourous, formal and stylish, comfort however isn’t something we would associate with our favourite party shoes. We have probably all sworn never to wear them again, but along comes the next big night out and your favourite stilettos come out to play again. Can flat shoes ever be stylish enough for a big night out?
With brands such as Melissa shoes hitting the footwear market by storm it appears comfort might finally be at the forefront of designer’s minds. Daniel Footwear investigates:

(shoes from a selection at Daniel Footwear)

Formal flats: backless loafers
Whilst they look good, your office heels aren’t the most comfortable shoes you own. If you’re looking for a stylish alternative then take a break and opt for a pair of backless loafers. A great choice that rids you of blisters and discomfort whilst still oozing formality. Originally made popular by Gucci, other brands have since replicated the trend making the loafer one of this season’s must-haves. Choose a black pair and wear with plain-coloured culottes and a chic sleeveless blouse.
You can call them an investment as you can also wear them as part of your off-duty style — a light-coloured loafer works great with loose-fitting, light wash ripped jeans and slouchy t-shirt. Bring the look together with a chic tailored blazer for a look that successfully bridges the gap between smart and casual.

Glamourous flats: embellished sandals
Say hello to embellished sandals! A summer must-have that adds glitz and glamour to any outfit. Many A-listers have walked the red carpet in their sparkly flats. The worst thing about them is that they can only be worn in the summer — step out in them in the winter and prepare for some strange looks and exceptionally cold toes!
Whether you are on vacation or just at your local beer garden they’re perfect for channelling that beach-to-bar look. Keep the rest of your outfit formal or smart-casual at the very least — wearing them with jeans is too casual for a night out with friends. Instead, choose feminine dresses and skirts in cool colours and delicate prints.

Stylish flats: the pointed flat
Ballet flats are our forever friends – a pair of shoes that have been life savers for years now. From work to play, is there anything this super-versatile shoe can’t do?
It’s time to step it up a notch. The pointed pump is the ideal choice for a night out as it is not just comfortable — it’s this season’s must-have shape. For extra evening glamour choose an embellished or lace-up pair to add detail to your look.

I’m a big advocate of flat shoes for any occasion- I can’t even remember the last time I wore heels to work and I always get instant regret if I venture out for the night in a pair. Whilst personally I’m not a fan of the backless loafer on me (how other people pull it off I don’t know) a pair of pointed ballet flats are high on my wish list!

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Casual to the Max(i)

I love a good maxi dress although it occurred to me the other day that I only ever seem to wear them when I’m on holiday. With the recent good weather that made it feel like we were anywhere but the UK (humidity and flying ants aside) it seemed as good as time as any to re-unite myself with a Summer wardrobe favourite, especially as I had the chance to add a new dress to my collection recently.

Dress & Denim Jacket c/o Krisp Clothing | Converse: Schuh

I’m trying to build myself a good selection of wardrobe staples and I think this grey jersey maxi dress from Krisp Clothing’s basics range is an absolute steal at £14.99. It has potential to be dressed up as well as worn casually like I have here- teamed with my trusty Converse and new denim jacket this made the ideal ensemble for an early evening dinner date.

Krisp Clothing isn’t a website I’ve shopped with before so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to buying clothes and don’t often branch out from a handful of shops. I’m impressed though, the quality of these pieces is great, especially at these kind of prices and they have a great range of both basic pieces and more trend led designs, perfect for keeping up to date on the latest fashions without breaking the bank.

I did suffer a (more than) slight crisis of confidence whilst wearing this dress…I think I mentioned before that I’m at that stange in recovery from anorexia that the weight gain becomes noticeable, both to myself and to other people and the elasticated waist only seemed to emphasise this in my eyes. After squashing down that negative train of thought with a good and hearty Italian dinner though I suddenly became thankful for that elastic and it’s forgiving nature as it made my blossoming food baby that bit more discreet.

I’ll definitely be re-visiting Krisp Clothing when I’m next in a position for a bit of a shop, there are a few more pieces from their basics range I’d like to pick up and they seem to have regular new arrivals and promotions which make it even more tempting.

Have you shopped with Krisp before? Which pieces would you pick out?

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The rise of men’s clothing in women’s fashion: the genderless shift*

As gender fluidity becomes more commonplace within mainstream society it’s having a significant impact on the fashion industry.
For many women, dressing conventionally as a ‘woman’ through gendered stereotypes is becoming less relevant- and many can feel a sense of dysphoria in conforming to how society thinks they should dress.
With this in mind a rise in popularity of the humble the suit and designer boyfriend jeans is happening. They are becoming more and more popular on the high street and within the world of fashion. Trilogy Stores- retailers of quality denim explore how – and why – women are opting for men’s styles to satisfy their need to explore new areas of clothing that help them express who they are.

Photo by Cole Patrick on Unsplash

A rising trend
In the US a survey conducted by Fusion found that 50% of those asked claimed that gender was not limited to male and female and this change in attitude has led to many women feeling as though they are entitled to wear men’s clothing as part of their wardrobe.
This shift in attitude and trend towards women embracing their identity through clothing comes as no surprise. In a time when popular-figures such as Jaden Smith wear skirts, the rapper Young Thug claims there’s no ‘such thing as gender’ and Teen Vogue offers an advice column on gender identity many women feel that now is the time to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable in themselves.

Breaking the glass ceiling
For many women working in big cities surrounded by men who are often in positions of authority it can be difficult to get noticed. Wearing more masculine pieces of clothing, such as a suit can sometimes break down the differences between men and women allowing them to feel more empowered and equal.
The idea that women can sit alongside men in the same clothes becomes infectious, leading them to feel differently about themselves and do things they wouldn’t normally do with added confidence.
By opting for a suit the pressure of finding the perfect outfit disappears – as they only need to contend with a couple of pairs of trousers, shirts, ties and a blazer that can be mixed and matched. In the world of contemporary fashion then, hyper-femininity seems to be losing it’s appeal and clothing appears to be more tailored to the individual as opposed to the gendered group than it ever has been before. Many high street retailers are now offering unisex ranges for example.
In the past the trend has been for women to wear masculine silhouettes – now – many are simply heading to the men’s section of the store.

What to wear
As already covered a suit can make you feel empowered among the men and with one on there’s nothing separating you from them along gendered lines. To make the most of this look try ankle-skimming trousers with a slimming, abbreviated jacket teamed with a polo neck or loose fitting shirt.
Trousers should always make you feel at your best – extending your height and creating a sense of sophistication. Christine Lagarde, a French lawyer and head of the International Monetary Fund is a notable figure when it comes to women and power dressing. She can often be spotted in a pair of slim-fit navy trousers with a matching blazer and neck-tie.
As well as a suit boyfriend-cuts are what to wear when you want to sport casual denim. The looser the better – but try to get a pair that are tapered at the leg when you can. To complement this look try an oversized t-shirt tucked in at one side- helping to complement your figure and give your street and style credentials a well-deserved boost. More than anything wear clothes that make you feel like you.

Personally I love nothing more than borrowing a jumper from the boyfriend to wear with my jeans, and I often find myself browsing menswear departments for items with a looser, cooler fit. I don’t tend to think of my clothing as “his” and “hers” if you will, I just go for what makes me feel good when I wear it. What’s your take in this new direction in fashion?

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Retro Glamour with Rock my Vintage

It was the clothing of the 1920s and 1950s that first got me in to fashion. There was always something about these two eras that held great appeal for me even at quite a young age. As time has gone on I’ve embraced a pretty modern sense of style, but I do have a serious soft spot for both vintage and vintage inspired pieces and try to incorporate them wherever I can.

Today’s outfit post is just about the furthest out of my comfort zone as I could possibly be right now. With my body confidence at a serious low point I was amazed that I was a) attracted to this dress in the first place and b) felt comfortable slipping it on for some photos to share. There’s a lot to be said for the power of a well cut dress and this little blue number left me feeling really quite confident.

Dress c/o Rock my Vintage | Shoes: Clarks (old) | Bracelet: Gift

Rock my Vintage is a new shopping discovery for me and one I am very much enjoying. Selling original and inspired vintage dresses and accessories this is an absolute treasure trove for everything from a 1920s flapper dresses to the perfect unique ensemble for a wedding.

I’d usually skip over something so obviously form fitting, convinced I’d just feel out of place and conspicuous. I did go two sizes up in this style after being informed they do run small and still wanting to be able to breathe and I’m glad I did. It’s still clingy without being restrictive and I’m hoping that as my curves start to grow a little more the dress will remain flattering and a real confidence booster.

I’m almost ashamed to say I’m seriously contemplating wearing this dress over the festive season- still six whole months away and I may have just solved my usual pre-party panic of “what on earth do I wear?”. Forward planning at it’s finest or complete madness? Either way it’s about the only chance I get to dress up like this!

Has anything on Rock my Vintage captured your heart? After having yet another browse (all in the name of blogging,
it’s a tough job!) I have fallen head over heels for this absolute stunner of a maxi dress.

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Some Like it Hot

This outfit was my saviour during the heatwave that hit us just over a week ago- it was great at first, the weekend was amazing, but by the time I had to be back in work and even cold showers weren’t enough to stop the sweat the novelty soon wore off.

It always amuses me how much we wish for good weather and a bit of sun and then when it arrives we all have a complete meltdown. I spend much of my time reminiscing over holidays where it’s not uncommon to reach 40 degrees but happily forget that those are made tolerable by air conditioning and not having to deal with real life as well.

Thankfully I’d made a timely Monki sale purchase that somewhat helped me keep my cool. Somewhat.

Dress: Monki | Sandals: Primark | Necklace: New Look

This entire outfit cost under £20 which I was quite impressed with. The dress (and I love a striped sun dress) was reduced to £12, the sandals just £3 from Primark and the necklace is old but was reduced to about £4 in the New Look sale. Actually, these sandals are the best £3 I’ve spent this year, they’re so comfortable and totally saved my feet from melting last Sunday when I was traipsing around Bristol harbour.

Now that the super hot weather has gone I’m almost feeling nostalgic for it. If only real life didn’t get in the way and it was acceptable to sit in the shade with a glass of something icy cold it would be my perfect weather!

Gold star to me for completely avoiding sun burn though- not an easy achievement when you’re this pale.

How did you fare with the heatwave? Love it or loathe it?

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