Latest Footwear Fashion Trends for Men and Women

Color variety and bold patterns define the footwear fashion trends for men and women this year. While you'll still never go wrong with the basic black or brown shoes, you should get, at least, a pair of shoes in a livelier shade to spice up your wardrobe and stay in style.

Men's shoes this year are somehow a mixture of the eighties, the gangster era, and the rock-and-roll period. The major fashion week events worldwide recently showcased footwear in eye-catching colors. They all looked like a collection of fruit-flavored candies. In Paris and London, brands like Kenzo, Topman, River Island, Russell and Bromley, and Boxfresh featured sneakers, loafers, lace-ups, and other types of shoes in baby blue, bottle green, canary yellow, and even hot pink.

Two-tones are also making a comeback. If you want to make a bold statement even in more formal occasions, check out some two-tone shoes in stores today. Burberry, Emporio Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana are among the well-known brands offer this fashion trend in men's footwear. The designers' only advice to men who'll be wearing these pairs is to keep their socks simple.

For the daring men, patterned footwear is also in. Just take the examples of Tommy Hilfiger, who recently introduced his camouflage desert boots, and Paul Smith, who made his models wear leopard-print lace-ups on the catwalk. D&G has its own cheetah-print slip-on lounge shoes, while Stubbs & Wootton has its red-and-blue tapestry slippers.

Women, on the other hand, can go from pastel to pop colors. Especially in the warmer months, pastels will definitely be a smart and stylish choice. Aqua, mint green, yellow, and other light colors will be the popular hues for women's sandals and wedges.

Just like men's shoes, women's footwear will also come in bright pop colors this year. Jelly shoes have risen in popularity in the previous year and will continue to do so. They will also be available in more colors as more designers are making them. Platform shoes will still be in and will also be available in a wider array of colors. Braided sandals, espadrilles, and wedges will come out in the summer and, perhaps, all year round in tropical regions.

Trendy shoes can make a big difference in your outfit. Even your most basic clothing can be the most stylish with some accessories and a pair of shoes in the color or pattern that you like.

Review of the Hottest Sperry Chukka Boots of 2012

The Sperry Top-Sider brand has come a long way in manufacturing functional and stylish footwear. Since the mid 1930s, they have remained to be the leader when it comes to boat shoes. And now, the company has also created a lot of great casual footwear for men, women, and even children.

Another great thing about this shoe brand is that the price of its products is very reasonable. You will get to enjoy its very stylish and comfortable shoes without having to pay a lot. If you are looking to get yourself a pair or two, you should check out first our short reviews on the best Sperry Chukka boots of 2012.

Sperry Men's Authentic Original Chukka Boot - Commonly known as the A/O, this collection is one of the hottest right now. This chukka comes in several materials and colors, but the leather is the most preferred. This is a great casual footwear because it is very light and the sole is flexible. It also has a low-top construction with a moccasin-toe and wrap-around laces. Its leather material is very durable but soft at the same time.

It also has detailed stitching for added style. One of the common concerns with this product is that it is narrow and those who have wide feet will have problems with it.

Largo Chukka Boot - This pair looks more of a sneaker than a boot and with this, you can take advantage of its benefits such as flexibility and ease of use.

The upper and the laces are made available in a couple of different materials such as leather. It has a lace-up design that comes with a flat collar for that chukka influence. The lining is very soft and the removable insole absorbs tons of shock for all-day comfort. With its great colors, it looks good with a dark-colored jeans and khakis.

Sperry Top-Sider Bahama Chukka Boot - This collection is a trendier version of the boat-shoe. It features soft leather upper that is complemented by a detailed stitching and a wrap-around lace-up design. It also features a vulcanized construction for flexibility and long-lasting footwear. A part of its collection is a variation that has a high collar which can be folded for a more stylish look.

Oxford Desert Boot - Of all the Sperry shoes, this pair looks closest to the famous classic desert boot which has a plain round toe, minimalist lace-up, and a flat collar. This is perfect for business or casual attire. What makes this model different from the other brands is the rubber out-sole which uses the patented Wave-Siping system that offers a lot of great traction whether in a dry or wet surface.

Finding Personality in Ladies Fashion

Fashion is everywhere, and whether individuals are window shopping on the high street or relaxing at home, images of sleek and beautiful women wearing the latest garments cannot help but penetrate into everyday life. For many, modern day ladies fashion has become conformist and generic, as women's clothing is sold cheaply, both online and on the high street. For those wanting to add some personality to their style, it's important to think outside the box and not always follow the fashion trends, instead making an effort to create some unique looks.

Vivienne Westwood, herself, has expressed that cheap clothing has done nothing for fashion, with high street stores pumping out low cost garments, and flooding the market with thousands of similar pieces. This means that it's all too easy for individuals to buy clothes that have no real personality, and offer nothing fresh or new to any look. Whilst dresses, tank tops and trousers may all have been cheap to buy and are comfortable to wear, for those trying to make a statement, fashion is often lost in translation.

To give high street fashion some real personality, women need to look at their style in a new way. Rather than simply buying a number of pieces from a high street retailer or online clothing store and pairing them together, accessories, customisations and one-off pieces can be added to bring some vital life to an ensemble. By combining clothing bought at high street stores and small, independent outlets, women can create a look which no-one else has. In addition, by using a mix of garments, unique looks can be brought together without huge expense.

With modern manufacturing meaning that ladies fashion can flow off the catwalks and into stores within mere months, it's important that individuals wanting to look a little different from their counterparts, take steps to make changes that are unique. It's no good simply mismatching clothing items from different stores, as whilst fashion may vary in branding, it is often very similar in colour, style or cut. This means that people wanting women's clothing with a little something extra, should look to independent fashion boutiques, vintage stores and even charity shops, to help.

Independent fashion boutiques are not always as expensive as they sound, and women can often find small, start-up companies who have unique products for sale which don't break the bank. An online clothing store which isn't well known is the perfect place to start, and with lower overheads, companies can often pass lower prices onto their customers. Meanwhile, there are many vintage stores which sell dresses, tops and a huge range of accessories. Each piece has its own history, and will instantly bring a personality to any ensemble when it's paired with high street fashion. Vintage shops also tend to provide good quality pieces which are well priced and offer something unique to any wardrobe. Dresses, gowns, shoes and jackets can all be found at vintage stores, making stores extremely rewarding for those wanting to customise their look. Lastly, charity shops can be a great place to look for fashion, as long as individuals are happy to rummage. Here, the quality of goods can be low, and whilst many items are well priced, it can take a certain amount of time and effort to find a hidden gem. However, charity outlets are ideal for finding accessories such as costume jewellery or scarves, and as women get to know the stores in their local area, the process of glancing through the racks will become far quicker.

Ladies fashion doesn't have to be dull, and women wanting to create their own style and allow their personalities to shine through their clothes, can do a lot to make an ensemble unique. High street fashion should not be shunned in favour of other sources, as retailers are a great place to find cheap and in-vogue items to form the basis of any outfit. Meanwhile, they also allow women to buy many pieces of similar styles or colours, so that outfits can be created and interchanged easily. However, care should be taken to avoid creating ensembles entirely made from high street clothes if women truly want to develop their own look. By utilising a range of fashion sources, old and new can be brought together in a beautiful way, allowing historical items to compliment modern garments. And, by keeping in style with current trends whilst adding a little twist, women will fit seamlessly into contemporary fashion whilst radiating their own sense of style, beauty and personality.

Doing Things a Little Differently, Try a Daring Splash of Colour With Your Shoelaces

Have you ever wondered why most shoelaces are plain old black or brown? Do you even notice your laces? Do you simply replace them with exactly the same type, colour and style when they break or fray?

Attention to detail, even the smallest details, can make all the difference to your overall look. Sometimes just a dash of colour can be all you need to bring that special touch of class, individuality and personality to an outfit.

A well-cut shirt in crisp plain white cotton can be set off with a well chosen pair of cufflinks, the right watch or coloured stitching to highlight details on cuffs, collars, pockets or buttons for example. In exactly the same way the right pair of coloured shoelaces can really set off a pair of dress or formal shoes, making something classic and unremarkable into something really different, original and special.

What do you know about shoelace styles? Waxed? Round? Thin? Wide? Flat? Cord? Which style do you choose to put on what kind of shoes? For example, round shoelaces are made of braided waxed cotton and are slightly shiny. They are quite hardwearing and can be worn on both leather and suede dress or casual shoes. Cord laces are also made from braided cotton. They are perfect for all kinds of hiking and walking shoes, particularly those designed by brands like Timberland, Caterpillar, Dr. Martens, Kickers and Geox. Extra wide flat laces (often referred to as fat laces or fatties) are perfect for skate shoes. They have a very urban look and the brighter the better. As for thin round cotton shoelaces, well these are very versatile and can be worn with all types of dress, formal and casual shoes. Longer pairs (between 150 cm and 180 cm) can be used to lace boots.

The most important thing is not to be afraid to experiment with colour associations that are out of the ordinary. Orange shoelaces on blue suede work wonderfully. Bordeaux or wine shoelaces on brown leather. Purple on slate grey. Red on white. Play about with how different colours look on polished leather, suede or canvas. Remember that a little touch of colour is enough. The rest of your outfit can remain relatively sober or understated. You can use accessories such as a belt, a watch, a tie or a handkerchief to recall the colour you have chosen for the shoelaces and create an overall harmony and unity.

Designer Sunglasses Vs Cheap Sunglasses

It's a debate which has surrounded the fashion and shopping industry, as to which sunglasses should we invest in. Is it worthwhile spending hundreds on one pair of sunglasses? Or should we opt for a cheaper alternative? Today within this article I'm going to hopefully settle the dust, giving the benefits of both and giving you the advice as to whether you should invest in designer sunglasses or cheap sunglasses.

The first thing I wanted to touch on was the benefit of sunglasses in general. Sunglasses serve the obvious function of protection from the sun, but they should also be used to enhance style. Like with any accessory, sunglasses can be used to add individual touches to a look. You want a decent pair of sunglasses with high UV protection, but you also want a pair that look good. Focus on your face shape and find what style of sunglasses suit you. Go out with a family friend and try some pairs on, get their honest opinion and ask the retail assistants also. It's all about finding a style your comfortable for, then shop around for the perfect pair. For example I used to wear wayfarers A LOT, too much in fact. I personally wasn't getting the compliments I wanted so opted for a different style. I invested in some clubmasters and the compliments flew in, I loved the way I felt in them and knew this style of sunglasses was for me. Find your style and shop around...

So what are the benefits of cheap sunglasses?

1. You can mix and match styles. The cheaper alternative means you can have a few pairs. Mixing what you style of sunglasses you wear with what look you're wearing is a great style tip. If you owned a pair of wayfarers, clubmasters and aviators you can decide what style best suits your outfit. If you invested in a few pairs at designer level, you'll be poor! Cheaper alternatives give you this freedom.
2. Affordable - Of course cheap alternatives aren't going to break the bank balance.
3. Extensive range - There's a lot available. Wherever you go you can buy cheap sunglasses, high street, market, online.

How about designer sunglasses?

1. Quality - The quality of designer sunglasses is of course better. If you're going for cheap sunglasses focusing on quality is key. There's no point buying a few cheap alternatives and them breaking every week. Designers invest in good quality sunglasses, which can be used for a good amount of time.
2. Brand Story - People like to invest in tradition and the history behind a brand or designer. The history of Ray Ban is great, I love the message they send out and I love their products. Therefore I own a pair of Ray Bans.

Comparing the two, it really does depend on your budget and what you want to gain from sunglasses. I personally prefer cheap sunglasses because it means I can vary the pair I wear. This adds originality and uniqueness as my friends don't see me always wearing the same pair of sunglasses every day!

Bridal Hosiery Is As Important As The Dress

A wedding ceremony is among one of the most memorable events in your life. It requires years and months of preparation to ensure every last detail is correct and nothing is missed out. The reception, the flowers, the honeymoon, the rings and the dress are all sorted and ready. Then before you know it it's your big day and all eyes are on you, looking your absolute best. Most brides recognize the dress as the most important item to purchase. However, a bride must remember that the dress is just one part of your wedding outfit and should consider other accessories to pair with your dress to achieve a classic and luxurious style. Bridal hosiery has been a traditional and classic part of a brides outfit centuries. Stockings, Hold Ups, Garters and suspender belts they all come together to create a glamorous look only for the eyes of your loved one on your first night as a married couple.

You should treat your bridal hosiery the same as shopping for dress, take someone with you to get an opinion, make sure on size and fit and don't leave it till last minute. It should be a keep safe as a reminder of your big day. Search many different designers and brands for a range of shape, styles and colours. The internet is a great way of achieving this by being able to access to thousands of products and most retailers now allow you to return products free of charge.

Colour choice is key to pulling off an amazing bridal party. You should try keeping your colour palette the same throughout the weddings components. Traditional colours are great but try to add personality to your wedding through colour. This will make it more personal and special for you and your partner. Include the classics like conventional white and ivory but add dashes of lively pinks or midnight sliver and blues for that flare of character. This can be achieved through your bridal hosiery. Garters are a great way off adding that something special to your outfit. Mostly made from satin it offers ultimate comfort, a lace bridal garter are also popular for the modern bride. A perfect wedding garter should be made of beautiful fabrics and outstanding designs which suit your wedding motif. A garter toss is among the most significant parts of the wedding ceremony. Never ignore the importance of wedding garter on your wedding day. Though it is conventional, this piece of accessory can certainly make you the most magnificent and appealing bride. It additionally provides you with a sense of being special.

Hold ups and stockings are perfect for your bridal hosiery. Lace top hold ups give you effortless class and sexiness. Stick to ivory's whites and pale colours to avoid an overly sexy look. More recently nude coloured stocking and tights have become a popular choice for bridal hosiery. Go for a low denier as you want to show off them gorgeous pins of yours and you will want to be cool and comfortable on your special day. Only pick items that use quality fabrics. Not only so that they are comfortable against your skin but also so the garments last so you keep them as a reminder of your big day.

So pick wisely, don't leave it to last minute your bridal hosiery can make you feel confident, classy and ladylike. It will only be worn once so make it sure they are something special that will give you great memories of your amazing marriage.