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Link Love: Shoes That Go the Distance

— by Inge

on March 28, 2024

The Guardian reports that “high-quality footwear is easy to repair and will last a lifetime when cared for properly. But it is also becoming more difficult to find.” In this article, cobblers share their tips for picking durable footwear that can go the distance.

One of their reporters also tried out a professional sneaker cleaner and restorer in the hopes of reviving a pair of shabby sneakers. Commenters have mixed feelings about the results.

Finally, Hannah Rochell of En Brogue and Slowette has some tips on how to clean white shoes.

Fab Links from Our Members

Having just lost a bronze earring and after reading some complaints on YLF about how hard it is to find “dull gold” accessories, Olive Green thought this post might be of interest.

Nuancedream and Runcarla noticed the same trend. Nuancedream says: “Now I know why I can’t replace one of my Trader Joe’s shopping bags, which is literally falling apart. It has become a fashion statement in Japan!” Runcarla adds: “Last May whilst in the UK I noted lots of cloth totes vs bags being carried by folks, and for funsies I bought a cloth Morrison’s bag when we did a little grocery shop. Today I spotted canvas grocery totes being used as accessories in the latest styling video by two vloggers I follow! I wonder if the ubiquitous Lululemon bag will be next?”

Runcarla also enjoyed this article about brooches trending again.

Belgian fashion designer Dries Van Noten is retiring. Suz will miss him!

Suntiger directs us to this article about how fashion is going through a golden age of understatement.

Jaime thought this was excellent advice for what can be done to a leather bag to renew it.

Angie wanted to share two good guides on how you can create and maintain a more sustainable wardrobe, which we regularly discuss on YLF. The most interesting part to her was the guide on which items you should spend your money on.

Link Love

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Travel with Tried-and-Tested Footwear

— by Angie

on March 27, 2024

Build your travel capsule from the footwear up so you don’t compromise on comfort and outfit styling. Don’t pack new shoes without road-testing them first. Pack backup shoes in case something happens to your shoes or feet along the way.

If possible, travel in comfortable sneakers or boots, or easy slip-ons. If you need to save space and weight in your luggage, wear the bulkiest pair of shoes you are taking and remove them in the plane, bus, train or car to feel more comfortable.

Fill the shoes you pack with smaller items like socks to save space. Shoe bags will help other packed items stay clean. Pack dressy shoes for the dressy outfit. Broken-in shoes are best because happy feet will increase the enjoyment of your trip.

Style Nuggets

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Four Fun Skirts

— by Inge

on March 26, 2024

Our Outfit Bloggers have been rocking a variety of wonderful skirt outfits lately, and I’m excited to share four that I found especially fun. Two feature bright colours, the other two are composed of all neutrals.

A full tiered skirt is the star of this all-neutral Spring look. Dawn Lucy has tucked a simple black V-neck tank into the taupe midi skirt, which adds structure to the volume. A statement wrap belt in black and brown accentuates the waist while partly blending into the black top. Block-heeled cage sandals with a fisherman vibe add hard edge, and echo the top and sunnies. The sassy blue denim jacket has subtle black panels built-in, adding further outfit cohesion. A cognac croc-embossed tote adds dressy structure. A dainty silver layered necklace and Celtic-inspired drop earrings complete the look.

Kim is a vision in hot pink in this striking dressy-meets-casual look. She’s paired a dressy bias-cut maxi slip skirt with a cable-knit sweater. The skirt’s shiny satin material and the sweater’s chunky knit create lots of textural interest. Semi-tucking the sweater creates a diagonal line that is the exact opposite of the skirt’s hemline for fun contrast. Top and bottom aren’t an exact colour match, but close enough to create a column of colour. Refined white pointy-toe booties add crispness, and lengthen the leg line. A small baby blue bag adds an extra colour accent that makes the pinks pop even more. Statement earrings and rosy lipstick finish off the look.

Jo-Lynne combines several neutrals in this polished casual look. She’s wearing a relaxed-fit cream crew-neck sweater and midi denim skirt with on-trend raw hem. Semi-tucking the sweater showcases a taupe belt that isn’t an exact match with our blogger’s tall toffee boots yet creates outfit cohesion. The suede footwear adds cosy texture and polish. A cognac crossbody introduces a third shade of light brown into the mix. The sporty racing stripes echo both the light sweater and Jo-Lynne’s dark hair. Oversized sunnies, gold layered necklaces and hoop earrings are the accessories of choice.

As always, Debra puts her own creative spin on a denim maxi skirt. She’s combined the mid-blue denim with a bright yellow ribbed-knit sweater, which makes for an eye-catching, cheerful colour combo. The sweater has big turned-up cuffs and a voluminous zip-up collar that is artfully draped over the puffer vest. The skirt’s large front slit gives a full view of our blogger’s stompy platform boots that add hard edge. They bookend Debra’s magnificent curls and fun puffer vest. The cap-sleeved vest has a subtle sheen and is belted to rein in the volume of the sweater. The structured yellow bag with all-over cut-out logo detail is an exact match to the sweater. Red lipstick and several cocktail rings provide the polished finishing touch.

We’d love to hear what you think of these fun skirt looks!

Outfit Bloggers

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Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

23 Shoe Trends for 2024

— by Angie

on March 25, 2024

The ‘90s continue to influence current trends, and in particular, the latter ‘90s. All sorts of footwear that some of us saw and wore back then are coming right back into fashion. If this includes you, you might want to wear some styles again. Or skip them and stick to what works best for you.

‘90s footwear was generally black. Not this time round. There’s a lot more footwear in shades of white, pastels, brights, metallics, patterns, earth tones, and navy too.

On to the trends as I see them. Some are mainstream and others fringe. Some shoes cover several trends at once. There is a wide variety since refined and chunky styles are equally on-trend. Both flats and heels too.

1. Super Square and Super Pointy Toes

The exaggerated ‘90s pointy toe is back. It’s very long, refined, and witchy. They make your feet look longer, and are dramatic. Their counterpoint is the equally on-trend extreme square toe, which can shorten the look of the foot. Square toes are a good roomy toe box option.

2. Platforms and Flatforms

Platforms are heels that make your feet arch when you wear them. Flatforms are heels that allow your feet to stay flat because the front and back of the shoe are raised to the same height. Platforms and flatforms can be dressy or casual. Chunky lug soles continue to trend on a range of footwear styles.

3. Clogs

The iconic classic and casual clog with its ‘70s integrity continues to enjoy a fashion moment. Wear them in any colour and pattern. Some clogs are simple, while others are adorned with hardware like bits, studs, and grommets. Some are very high-heeled and platformed, and others much flatter.

4. Refined Stiletto Pumps

The high-heeled, pointy-toe, classic stiletto pump wafts in and out of fashion. It’s refined, and does not have a platform. It’s back as a dressy option to wear as a glam option with jeans, a professional option with business attire, or to a smart event with a dress, jumpsuit, or separates.

5. Kitten Heels

For those who prefer a lower heel with a refined touch, kitten heels are an option. To recap, a kitten heel is a short stiletto heel below 2 inches in height. The heel curves in from the back edge of the shoe. You’ll find kitten heels on sandals, mules, slingbacks, pumps, and sometimes loafers too.

6. Heeled Mules and Slides

The flat mule and slide has been enjoying its revived fashion glory for a while. Its cousins, the high-heeled versions are the on-trend version. Toe boxes are round, pointy, or square. Heels are stacked, block, wedged, or narrow.

7. Dressy Sandals with Socks and Hosiery

This trend has been coming through for a while, and is gaining momentum. It’s a way to wear dressy sandals in colder weather, and is quite the acquired taste.

8. Slouchy Boots

This style of boot is heeled or flat, and very wide on the leg, so much so that it falls down and slouches around the lower leg. The height and slouch of the boots vary. Some are tall and slouch very dramatically because they are made of soft, floppy fabric. Some boots are shorter and their slouch is structured. It’s a fringe trend.

9. Mary Janes

Picture just about any style of closed-toe shoe as a Mary Jane, and it’s on-trend. Heeled, flat, dressy, casual, refined, or chunky, with any shape of toe box. The strap secures the shoe in place on the foot, which prevents it from falling off like some slip-ons can. The strap can be positioned higher or lower on the vamp of the foot.

10. Fancy Flats

Think of DRESSY closed-toe shoes with heels up to about an inch high, and they are on-trend. They can be ballet flats, mules, Mary Janes, slingbacks, or ankle-strap flats. Shiny patent and metallics look particular dressy.

11. Dainty Thong Sandals

Toe-loop sandals can be worn instead of thong-style sandals if that’s more comfortable. Think of narrower straps, and a refined look. They are the opposite of chunky, and either flat or heeled.

12. All Types of Loafers

Chunky loafers have been all the rage for a good few seasons. Their momentum continues. Refined styles like classic penny loafers are having a fashion moment too. So are slipper flats, loafers with tassels and hardware, horse bits, fringe, and high heels.

13. Colourful Sneakers

Solid white and solid black sneakers are classics, whether the styles are athletic, non-athletic, or a hybrid of sorts. Coloured and multi-coloured sneakers are the on-trend and current version. Think pastels, brights, jewel tones, mid-tones, and murky mid-tones across any style of sneaker.

14. Western Boots

Cowboy boots, or boots with a Western integrity, are iconic classics having their fashion moment. They can be tall or short, and any colour or design. The idea is to wear them with anything, year round.

15. Burgundy

Burgundy shoes are trending in the Spring and Summer – which is new! – and not just in the Autumn and Winter. You’ll see Summer footwear silhouettes in very rich and dark deep reds and purple-reds.

16. Closed-Toe Slingbacks

Slingbacks are shoes that have a strap around the back of the heel instead of a strap over the vamp of the foot. The heels of the foot are exposed, and in many cases the vamp of the foot is bare too. The strap that slings back around the heel can be broad or narrow. It can be elasticated, or buckled. They continue to be a fringe trend.

17. Patent, Mesh, Satin, Metallics

Textures like patent and satin are gracing shoes across a range of silhouettes. Satin is a fabric shoe, which might not be to your taste, or reserved for dressy occasions only. Patent and metallic shoes are often leather, and just about any shoe style can be patent or metallic. Cracked patent is a fringe trend. Non-athletic mesh shoes are a fringe trend too. They are see-through, made of synthetic fabric, and can be stretchy.

18. Fisherman Sandals

Fisherman looks are fringe and gaining momentum. They are a high-vamped sandal with a distinctive set of interwoven straps across the toe box, and a strap across the ankle with a buckle. Some styles are dressier than others.

19. Dr. Martens

Dr. Martens boots, shoes, and sandals are iconic unisex classics. They were particularly popular in the ‘70s and ‘90s, and have come back with a vengeance. Like cowboy boots, the idea is to wear them with anything, at any time.

20. High Heel Strappy Sandal

The sandal has dainty narrow straps, sometimes many of them, and a narrow stiletto heel. Sometimes there is an ankle strap, or d’orsay detailing. Sometimes there is a thong feature between the toes. Every so often the heels are stacked, but stiletto is the norm.

21. Round and Block Heels

Shoes with circular heels and block heels are there. Circular heels that appear round from the side are a fringe trend, and can be low or high heel heights. Block heels that slant to the outside are a fringe trend and look dramatic.

22. Tall Boots

Tall boots across a range of dressy and casual styles with either flat or high heels continue to trend and are gaining momentum. They are typically worn with skirts, dresses, and shorts. Occasionally worn over roomier pants and jeans for a knickerbocker-effect.

23. Gladiators

This type of iconic classic, strappy flat sandal is an excellent ventilating option in high heat when you find a comfortable pair. Straps can be narrower or broader, and can come up above the ankle. Some have a higher heel, and are adorned with hardware. Some have toe loops. They can be chunky or refined.

I am set in my ways with footwear because my feet are fussy, and I do not compromise on comfort. I don’t wear heels at all. If the trends work for my feet, style, and sartorial preferences, bonus! If they don’t, I move on. Right now my footwear collection is trendier than expected because the classics that I like to wear are having a fashion moment. From this list of trends, I wear classic loafers, lug-sole boots, gladiators, fancy flats, Mary Janes, colourful sneakers, patent, round and block heels, square toes, pointy toes, metallics, burgundy, and tall boots. I’m always on the lookout for white cowboy boots that go the distance. And I continue to wear my very comfortable collection of refined ankle boots and oxfords whether they are on-trend on not.

How do these trends look to you?