These made last year’s comfy Summer footwear selection and they still reign supreme. You just can’t beat buttery soft straps and a cushioning footbed for sandal comfort. That is, of course, if your own arches offer sufficient support — unfortunately sandals like this do not offer arch support and also can’t accommodate an orthotic.

Looks like gladiator sandals have become a mainstream basic. This is our third Summer season and there is no stopping the trend. Available in four colours, all of which look equally fab. There are no half sizes, so size down. Anyone still not into the look of the gladiators (and I don’t mean Russell Crowe)?

Style and fashion experts often encourage us to invest in stylish, high quality wardrobe items because the cost per wear whittles down to nothing when we wear them frequently and over a long period of time.

In theory I agree wholeheartedly agree with this reasoning, since I’m a less-is-more kind of gal who will save up to pay a premium price for a single killer piece that’s beautifully made. But there are also other factors that play a role in our wardrobe purchasing decisions and sometimes that big investment is not a good idea.

• Your budget: If you can’t afford to invest then you shouldn’t be spending the money.
• Your stage of life: In your teens and 20’s, investment pieces often make less sense. If your tastes and style preferences are still in flux, then experimenting with many different fashion personas is part of the fun. Shop budget brands and let the sky (and your budget) be the limit.
• Your changing body: If your body shape and size changes frequently due to weight loss or gain, or pregnancy, it makes little sense to invest in expensive items of clothing. Accessories and footwear are impacted less by body shape changes.
• Your changing mind: You might not like the idea of wearing something frequently or for several years. If you get bored with your wardrobe quickly, be careful of investing in premium pieces.
• Volatile trends: If you like the idea of a trend but aren’t sure about its longevity or its place in your style, it’s a good idea to first purchase an inexpensive version of the item to road test the look. My first pair of skinny jeans were not premium denim and my first boyfriend jacket was from Express. But after successful road testing I bought better-end versions of both items a few months later.
• The value of “premium”. Some items, like T-shirts and knitwear, never justify the expense of a high end purchase. They have a short life span no matter what, and there is often little difference in fabric and manufacture between the good mainstream brands and the expensive premium products. You really are just paying for the name.

Premium items make a lot of sense in certain situations, but in many others they don’t make sense at all. Make savvy purchase decisions, considering all the factors that play into the potential return on your investment. How much value will you get from the item each time you wear it? How frequently will you be able to wear it? For how long will you be likely to LOVE the item? How long will the item last?

Finally, if you’re in doubt, don’t do it. There is always another purchase opportunity right around the corner.

We’ve been running informal polls on the forum and blog and the results have been fun to tally. Some of them were predictable while others were very surprising. For example, I would have bet money that more people use cell phones than watches to tell the time. But judging by the responses to the poll last week, I was wrong. Team Watch was by far the favourite.

On to the next poll. I frequently wear skirts and dresses and love both items. But I definitely prefer dresses to skirts. I enjoy the simplicity of one item, the strong vertical integrity and unbroken line, AND that I can wear shorter dress styles over skinny jeans. A straight, high-necked sheath dress, either form fitting or sack-like, is one of my very favourite items of clothing in the world.  Paired with ballet flats or boots, dresses are an FFBO for my style. So I’m Team Dress all the way.

Are you Team Skirt or Team Dress? Tell us why. Hard for those who love both items equally! But you have to choose and no batting for both sides.

Espadrilles remind me of warm weather casual dressing just as much as flat thong sandals, short cotton dresses, basket bags and linen blouses. There’s something about the roping on the heels that’s relaxed and nautical looking.

The Spanish espadrille sandal has been around forever and comes through every season. Classic espadrilles are usually made of canvas or cotton uppers and some have ties that wrap around the lower leg. But these days footwear designers are popping all sorts of uppers onto classic flat or wedged espadrille roped heels. Some uppers look like pumps while others are like cage heels, peep-toes, sling backs or mules.

A heeled espadrille is unique because it’s a heel with a super casual vibe. So if you prefer to wear heels but lead a casual lifestyle, make sure to take a look at them. They are a great substitute for casual sandals and also effectively dress down an outfit. If you liked last season’s Kenneth Cole Cedar City Wedge than you’ll probably like the Eric Michaels Elena Espadrille.

I haven’t worn espadrilles since I was a teen and that’s not because I don’t like the look. Our Summers are short and every season I seem to find a different style sandal that I prefer. Are you an espadrille gal?