This invention blows me away. Have you ever longed for a shoe that goes from heel to flat at the push of a button? Well, apparently a British Insurance Company by the name of Sheila’s Wheels has invented just that. They’re called Sheila’s Driving Heels and the idea seems too good to be true. According to Sheila’s Wheels:

“The design concept is aimed at those 11.5 million women drivers in the UK who put themselves and others at risk by wearing the wrong footwear when they’re behind the wheel.”

I don’t think that the product is for sale, but it’s fun to think about. Thank you Elizabeth for sharing the info that you found on Gadgetcandy. With technology like this in the pipeline, who knows what’s in store for us next… look out, 007!

Men’s shirting is not created equally. I can bring home six size mediums for my husband and they’ll all fit differently. Then, when you think that you’ve found a brand of shirting that fits, the retailer changes their size specifications overnight. This happens all over the world and is immensely frustrating. But things have improved over the last few years with a greater proportion of men’s shirting slotting into one of two fits and being labeled accordingly:

• “Slim fit” which runs narrower across the shoulder and torso area and is ideal for leaner blokes.
• “True Fit” which is regular in size and best for boys who are a dash more cuddly around the middle.

A sizeable portion of men’s shirting will keep you guessing. If a shirt’s fit isn’t labeled, you can usually assume that it’s regular fitting. Yet, swanky designer wear is seldom fit-labeled and it’s almost always narrow-fitting.

After lots of shopping, fitting and client testing I have found that different brands cater best to different fits as follows:

• Ultra-slim fits: Zara, Kenneth Cole and most designer wear
• Slim fits: Hugo Boss, Banana Republic “slim fit”, Lucky, INC., Ben Sherman, Calvin Klein, Faconable “slim fit”, French Connection, Mexx, Quick Silver
• True fits: Banana Republic, Oakley, Marc Ecko, DKNY, Faconable, Esprit, Next, Liz Claiborne
• Roomy fits: Timberland, Perry Ellis, Nautica, Polo, Gap
• Extra-roomy fits: Tommy Bahama, Eddie Bauer, Land’s End

I hope that this info stays relevant for at least a couple of seasons. Expect an update once retailers change their shirt-fit specifications yet again.

Shirts by Kenneth Cole (ultra-slim fit), Robert Graham (slim fit) and Banana Republic (true fit).

I really hit a nerve with last week’s post on Crocs’ unsightly Cayman. The comments were uniformly in agreement that this shoe is, shall we say, aesthetically challenged. “Unfortunate fad”, “hideous!”, “nauseating”, and “they should be banned for their sheer ugliness” is pretty representative of the sentiment. But there were some other interesting points: there clearly is a place for these shoes in activities like “fishing and gardening”, and a couple of people pointed out that Crocs do have other styles in their range.

Then, quite by chance, we came across this article in the Wall Street Journal. It seems that Crocs Shoes are launching a rather stylish range of peds for Autumn. The collection is called “You by Crocs” and their mission is to:

“Create a new shoe experience where both comfort and fashion are inseparable”

There is no doubt that aesthetically this collection is leaps and bounds ahead of the current Crocs range. This gives me a sense of relief and hope.  But the proof remains in the pudding; will these fashionable shoes actually be comfortable?  It’s yet another company trying to fill the huge gap in the women’s footwear market (that of supplying an affordable, fashionable and comfortable shoe).

I leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding comfortable shoes that also look fab. This means that I’ll be testing You by Crocs in September the moment they’re available in stores. I’m curious to know which “hour-mark” they’ll make. Judging by the height of the heel, probably nothing past 4 hours, but I hope to be proved wrong.

If you live in the USA (or happen to be visiting in late July), mark your calendars! This year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts on Friday, July 20. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it’s when Nordstrom previews their new season merchandise (Autumn 2007 collections) and offers it at insane prices for two weeks only. Prices are marked up again after the sale period. Meredeth at Noveau Image has a super post explaining the origins of this renowned shopping event.
 
I was able to get a “sneak peak” at most of their sale offerings last week and here is my hot list of exceptional items by department.

Narrative: This department is best during the anniversary sale. You’ll see lots of short cropped leather biker jackets, woolen swing coats, trenches and  black and white hounds tooth. Hot items:   

• “Via Spiga” black single-breasted belted coat with cracked black patent trim $199
• “Gallery” single-breasted modern microfiber belted trench coat available in black, tan, burnt orange, khaki and brown. For $98 this item is my hottest pick because a trench is forever fashionable
• “Laundry” ivory satin belted puffer jacket perfect for casual settings and après ski.

Individualist: If classy career wear is on your list, make a bee-line for this department. You’ll  see neutrals and jewel tones and lots of A-line silhouettes. Hot items:

• All suiting by “ Classique Entier”, “BCBG”, “Laundry” and “Trina Turk”
• Modern classic slacks by “Wowyn” for $107
• “Charles Gray” trapeze coats in grey, black and tan for $235

T.B.D: Denim and denim friendly items always make this department attractive. You’ll see a continuation of hippy chic easy swing tops, trapeze tunics and empire cuts. Hot items:

• “Halogen” corduroy three-quarter-sleeved cropped  jackets with adorable ’50’s inspired detailing available in an assortment of colours for $58
• “Halogen” brushed cotton long sleeved peplum jacket available in an assortment of colours for $72
• “Halogen” voluminous microfiber trench available in black and khaki for $84
• Wide-legged extra dark blue denim  “7 for all Mankind” jeans for $109

Point of View: This department is more affordable than Individualist and a good stop for both casual and career wear. Hot items:

• All “Semantics” suiting. Their cropped trapeze style jackets are fabulous for $84
• “Live a little” checked bell sleeve jacket for $52
• “David Kahn” jeans for $129
• “Nine West” tunic knitwear for between $49 -$69
• “Michael Kors” cream swing cardigan for $65

Shoes: This is usually the area that I head for first, but I was disappointed with their sale offerings this year. There is nothing wildly enticing if you have your basics for Spring and Autumn covered. But if you are in the market for basics, you might be interested in these options:

• “Franco Sarto” ankle boots available in both black and brown for $64
• “Steve Madden” black riding boots for $94
• “Coach” tan and cream fashion sneakers for $64
• “Paul Green” black riding boots for $250
• “Tasha” Patent car shoes for $150

Petite Focus: This is the best department at this year’s anniversary sale. My favorites are too many to list. Be sure to spend time here if you are a petite. 

Savvy: This is usually my favourite department at Nordstrom, but unfortunately no great shakes with their sale offerings this year and sadly, nothing here makes my hot list.

B.P: This area is always worth a look if you’re young,  ultra trendy, and happy to spend money on  a fashion fad.  Be mindful of the quality in this area though, it’s “throw away fashion at a price”.

The first few days of the sale are chaotic and Nordstrom stores will hold special Anniversary Sale hours on July 20, 21 and 22. Doors open at 7am ladies… keep those fashion feet moving!