Shoe styles for Spring Summer 2015

Hola People !!

Its time to re-frame your shoe closet. Today I am going to discuss the ''pointy toe'' style which is going to run popular in the coming year. What can you expect from this style and things to consider before buying them.

1) The pointed toe / Court shoe / Pump

Whatever you call them, they are all over the place and there is more experimentation happening around them. Besides the plain closed pointy heels (read Classic), there is construction of an ankle strap design, use of transparent materials, D'orsays with pointy toe and sling-back closure. By this time most of you must be owning a couple of pairs of the pointy toes. However if you are considering buying a few more in different colours or styles then its not a bad idea.

Usually pointy toe shoe requires a bigger size then your normal open toe shoes. So make sure you try the shoes well before buying. Consider buying them in the evening as your feet swell up a little bit by evening. This will make sure the fit is comfortable at all times.

• The classic black or nude pointy shoe is a must have.
• A kitten heel pointy shoe will be ideal for work and official meetings.
• Pointy shoe combined with transparent material is quite cool for parties. 
• You may also consider buying accessorized pointy shoes for events which are out of the ordinary. 
• A ballerina with pointy toe is great for casual outings.
• Satin or Leather constructed pointy heels look dazzling. 
• Boot with a pointed toe looks dapper.

Shoes types to go with your dressing

A big question we face every time we face the mirror is which shoes will match the outfit, without pulling the look down? Very often we mistake coordinating the wrong shoe style and look in-stylish. 

A few golden rules to follow and you will avoid the fashion faux pas. Here are some simple yet amazing points :-

Wedge Heel:

• These shoes add height, but many find them easier to walk in, than stilettos. If you already know of a long day coming up, then make a wise choice and wear wedges. 
• Worldly and striking, wedges have a very urbane look to them.
• A wedge heel looks great with nearly any length skirt or dress.
• Wedges will add definition and shape to heavy ankles, making them appear thinner.
• Must have wedge heels in black and pastel shade in your wardrobe. 

Wear your wedge heel with:

• Maxi skirts
• Some jumpsuits
• Shorts
• Short skirts
• Bohemian styles
• Wrap dresses
• Wide or flared jeans or pants

Oxford shoes

Oxford shoes is a classic. The only problem is, a lot of women aren't sure what to wear with Oxfords. Below are few of the most popular and attractive combinations.

Oxford Shoes and Women's Jeans: In addition to being the most obvious choice, jeans are also the easiest thing to pair with flat Oxford shoes. Skinny jeans, cropped, rolled, and even straight leg jeans can handle the masculinity of a pair of Oxford shoes, and even benefit from being paired with them, since the dressiness of most Oxfords will help to elevate women's jeans out of that "too casual" range.

Women's Oxfords with Casual and Dress Pants: Dress pants and Oxford shoes are another no-brainer; and the combination is probably the first one most women think of when they're considering a pair of flat Oxfords. In fact, you can really make a pair of Oxfords stand head and shoulders above other flats by choosing the right pair of dressy or casual pants -- or even jumpsuits -- to wear with them.

Ankle Boots:

Ankle Boots with Long Skirts: Whether they're flat or heeled, ankle boots and long skirts or maxi skirts are classic combinations for fall. Whichever style you prefer, the key is to show no leg. If the skirt isn't long enough to cover the top of the ankle boot on its own, add a pair of tights. You can see this combination is many movies and it will be easy to recreate one of the looks. 

The Best Pants for Ankle Boots: They work with any kind of fitted and well hemmed bottoms. Avoid anything which is wide-legged.  Pants with straight legs or tight hemline are the ones that can be tucked well into ankle boots. Wide-legged pants tucked into short boots create a very unflattering balloon effect.

Ankle Boots with Leggings or Tights: Cropped leggings don't work well with ankle boots. Long leggings or tights, look great -- assuming of course, that leggings look good on you in the first place. If they don't, pairing them with ankle boots isn't going to make the situation any better.

Mixing Prints and Patterns

Mixing print is refreshing and scary at the same time. Some people carry it with such oomph and others look like moving festival. The moral of the story is patterns add interest to any outfit, and everyone, of any size, should have that in their style collection. A head-to-toe print is a bold choice, and mixing two different styles can really add to the impact. Lets discuss some do's and dont's on mixing prints while minimising mistakes.

To start with, take a little splash at a time. Just start pulling things out of your closet and try them on.

A favourite go-to print combo is stripes, floral and polka dots. You may also mix them in any proportion and still will look right. 

Mixing geometric styles, or putting a busy pattern with a graphic tee, also does the trick to start with. 

Using black and neutral colours as a basis is a great way to start mixing and matching patterns.

Make sure one colour repeats in every piece of the outfit (for example, if you have navy print on the top then match it with a bottom with hints of navy in it).

Combine loose prints with structured prints (like swirls with stripes or multi abstracts with checks).

Blend small designs with larger-scale ones (such as checks with bold flowers or large aztec with smaller dots).

Add a solid coloured jacket in the repeating colour to a head-to-toe printed outfit. This illusion never fails. It minimizes any discomfort you feel from the boldness of your attire. 

The trick is to choose patterns that are complementary without being too matchy-matchy. Make sure they do not clash as well.

A strong pattern should be mixed with a complementary fine print.

A combination of flowy and definite makes for a pretty printed picture. If you have a loose top then match it with a fitted skirt or pants and vice versa.

Cute little animal prints are a big hit this season. So mix and match some happy pet expression. 

That's all.. Now go and have some fun!!

Footwear Do's and Dont's for Monsoon

Mentioned below are a few tips that will help you in buying the right footwear for monsoon and keeping your feet happy and infection free this season.

Flip-flops made of rubber or materials from PVC are ideal for the rains, because they are washable, dry easily and easy-to-maintain footwear. They are available in a range of designs and colours and are suitable for both girls and guys.

Full Plastic Footwear is low-cost options for rainy season and are widely used in heavy rains. Nowadays they are available in varied styles generally looking like stylish leather shoes.

With a formal outfit, you can wear sandals with straps as they would be firm on your feet. Go for slip-resistant sandals and check that your wet feet don’t slip even inside the footwear.

Wear a sandal which has a back strap, this will avoid the dirty water to splash on your back while walking.

Open toes or closed shoes: Open toes or peep toes are available in waterproof material from PVC. They come in colors like red, pink, blue, silver and gold. Flat Ballerinas or closed shoes made from Lycra look great and survive monsoon.

Gum Boots: There is nothing better than rain boots and Gum Boots to protect your feet in heavy rains. This waterproof footwear is usually knee-high, water-proof and are mostly made from rubber or PVC. These boots protect the feet from mud, dirt and water during monsoon.

Avoid

• Avoid wearing heels in rainy season. But, if you just cannot resist wearing heels then go for slip-resistant sandals of heels not over 2 inches.

• Avoid wearing leather footwear as much as possible. Too much exposure to water will you’re your leather footwear.

Here are some tips while purchasing your footwear for monsoon:

• While purchasing plastic footwear, make sure that the pair doesn’t have any sharp edges as those could give you shoe bites.

• For this season, particularly, whether you are buying flat sandals or heels, look for footwear with good grip that hold feet in place and do not slip when the feet and shoes are wet.
• Don't throw away old, spare shoes that are still wearable. Get them treated before the rains begin as they will get you through these few months.

Don’t

• During monsoon do not wear sports or canvas shoes as they may attract the growth of bacteria.

• Don’t keep your shoes and sandals under the bed or inside the shoe rack when it is wet. This gives birth to bacteria’s. Let them dry in a cool place to keep away the bacteria’s from breeding in your shoes.

How to look chic in sporty shoes

So fashion is taking a turn once again, emphasising on having a more sporty look. When we talk about a sporty look in footwear it mostly means a hybrid of a men's shoe which is processed with chic materials to give out a ''boy meets a girl'' kind of shoe. A typical example would be a sports shoe, however if you are ready to walk an extra mile to give your fashion sense a treat then go in for a Brogue.

What is a Brogue?
 The Brogue is a style of low-heeled shoe characterised by multiple-piece, sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (or broguing) and serration along the pieces visible edges. 
In laymen's term it is a shoe with punch detailing on the upper, usually is closed and with a lace. 

What to wear with a Brogue?
Fitted pants or jeans with a casual tee makes the most ideal combination. 
A skirt or shorts with a top and a jacket will balance out the sporty side by adding a dash of chic to it.
Solid coloured chic dress will also go very well with Brogues. 

What colour Brogue to buy?
Being a women you will be spoilt for choice. Brogue's are available in various combinations. To name a few - 
Black (with or without the burnish effect)
Brown (with or without the burnish effect)
Alternate patches of Black and White
Gold 
Silver
Shimmer 
Beige
Pink & Red
Yellow / Mustard
Shades of Blue 
Animal Prints 
So the question is which one should you pick? 
If your jeans/pants and other well tapered bottoms are predominantly in shades of Blue then I strongly recommend going for a Black or Brown. 
However if you have more of the blacks for your bottoms (jeans/pants/skirts) then go for a silver or gold. 
If you are going for a solid coloured dress then go for the dual toned black and white or the animal printed ones. 

I hope to see a lot more Brogues in the city. So spoil yourself silly and get broguing. 

P.S. This style is very popular for celeb travelling. 

Tips On What To Wear With Your New Red Shoes

Tips On What To Wear With Your New Red Shoes

Fairy tales often use shoes as a symbol representing an escape from a boring routine life, and we couldn’t agree more. Most of us have a shoe collection that goes way beyond what we need. But unfortunately we all end up with pairs that never get worn simply because we don’t know what to wear with them. Bright and offbeat colors like Red, Orange, Green, Purple play the culprit here.

An impulsive buy at your favourite shoe store, and you land up with Red heels. Come home and you realize that you’re not sure what outfit you can wear that will make those hot little numbers stand out without looking flashy. No worries, i will give you some quick tips on how to sport your pretty red heels without looking like red riding hood.

Some pointers to follow with red heels:

·         Go for grey or black when they're going to the office with you. Yes, it's possible to wear red shoes to the office and look more like a professional than a tart. Although red will go with some colors, you'll want to stay subdued here by making the shoes the only really colorful part of your outfit. Pair a black jacket and black skirt/trouser with a subdued black or white top and the red shoes will stand out without drawing unwelcome attention. Add red lipstick and a red handbag to head to happy hour drinks after work. (Note that grey works as well as black does with red shoes.)

·         Get flirty and fun with a pink/white number. If you're going for a more fun, romantic kind of look then you'll want to stick with the pink/white category of clothes. A frilly white top with a pink and white skirt or a dress dominantly in white with hints of pink, will look cute but those red shoes will give it that sense of sexy that you're trying to hint at.

·         Everyone has an LBD (Little Black Dress) which perfectly complements red heels. You can add a red belt to your dress and be ready to gloom. LBD’s can come in various styles like halter neck, boat nech, three fourth sleeve, flary, fitted etc. Pick the one which is made for your body type.

·         Red is the color of wedding for most people in India. You can team your red heels with gold and black Indian wear. It is not necessary to have glittering heels with your Indian attire unless the style police in your community finds you sloppy on account of a non flashy shoe.  If the outfit already has too much work, go for a more subtle heel (read without diamonds).

·         Dark jeans. If you're going to wear jeans or a jean skirt with red shoes then you want to make sure that they're of the dark blue variety. Most women just don't look right trying to pull off light colored denim with red shoes. As long as you've got dark jeans, almost any top should work with the shoes. If you want to draw attention primarily to the shoes, though, stick with a simple top. A white T-shirt, dark jeans and red high heels tells the world that you're a versatile gal with a sexy streak inside.

Lastly, have fun with what's in your closet and don't be afraid to be bold!

The DIY guide for making your own shaded heels

• Own an old pair of plain black heels? If yes, its make over time. Bring them out and clean them thoroughly with a soft brush or damp cloth, depending on the material of your shoe.                    
• If no, go out and buy a pair. Best part is you need not spend a bomb on this; so pick up that pair you saw at a road side stall, just make sure it fits well and doesn’t look weird on wearing. (It doesn’t take time for the round toe shape to turn into a square one and then an unidentified shape). If you are not strict on budget then I would suggest to get better quality of heels.
• Insert tissues or old newspaper in them. Make sure you fill in a way to avoid large gaps on the edges. Cover the heels with masking tape. 
• You will need to buy 2 bottles of spray paints. Select a shade (i.e. Lime in this picture) and get a light and a dark shade of it. Suitable color would be blue, nude, green and lavender. 
• Spray the lighter shade first. Let it dry out for few hours. Kobe Spray Paint is easily available online. You can even check out other brands for Spray Paints at your nearest Stationary Stores. 
• Spray the other darker shade and let it dry out for another few hours. 
•  Clean the sole & remove the tape from heels. Your Shaded Heels are ready to wear. Voila! Here is your very own creation!!

                                                            

     

                                       

Advice to 20 year old on career options (alternate education).

So, you are at the doorstep where you are wondering what next to do in life. Completed your 10+2 education and now whether a traditional B.Com/BMS/BBA/BCA is going to make sense or to pursue something that interests you. I know it is a dilemma. It is also influenced by herd mentality. I have been in the same boat and things look so much clearer in hindsight.

A few questions to ask yourself

1)      Are you really passionate about an alternate career like fashion, music, theatre, art etc?

2)      Would you go out of your way to research a topic related to your interest? Which would include working for night’s together, going out in the heat/rain to get the work moving, read about your topic without getting tired or complaining?

3)      Are you OK with not making a good amount of money as soon as you graduate?

4)      Will your parents support your thoughts and decisions?

5)      Do you a natural excellence at whatever you desire to pursue?

6)      Do you any experience of the said field and have seen how work gets done there?

7)      Are you passionate enough to keep trying if your work doesn't succeed once?

8)      Do you believe you are one of the people born to stand out and will do whatever it takes to do it?

I completed my MBA in finance and took up a financial job only to realise how unhappy I was. It paid me very well but I was bored every morning to go to work. I did not look forward to mornings. When you start your day like that, the rest is just left to be imagined.

Fashion/Designing always amazed me since childhood. I had seen my mom work as a fashion designer and I would love to attend to her customers and help them make choices. They appreciated me being around, and life was great that way.

However I did not have the courage to pursue a fashion course and wait forever for my career to kick off. Fortunately I got an opportunity and I am associated with an esteemed shoe brand now. Life is great once again. But the transition wasn't easy. A degree in design would have done wonders to my career and in hindsight I wish someone really pushed me to do it.

Don’t worry too much about the consequences if you have answered a ‘Yes’ to most of the question above, you will surely make it. Go for your dream.

A very famous quote I would like to share by Steve Jobs which sums up what I have been trying to convey.