Click Here For Great Madewell Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories

Madewell is a brand that has been around since 1937. Originally a workwear company based in Massachusetts, Madewell  started out as a denim jean company that made highly durable long lasting jeans of the highest of quality. Eventually they expanded to clothing other than denim. Perfectly fitting tee shirts, chambray shirts that can be worn for a variety of occasions, and timeless leather boots and bags are only a  few of many great items that can be found from Madewell.

One of the unique aspects of Madewell is that each type of clothing has its own label so your jeans will have a different label than your shoes or bag does but the common thread is that all of them are going to be high quality and long lasting. The main label is Madewell which is used for all of their denim like jeans, jackets, and shirts. Buckley labels are used for clothing that has a vintage or menswear vibe to it. Examples of Buckley clothing are vests, blazers, and trousers.  Perfectly fitting tee shirts and tank tops come with the Hi-Line label attached to them. 1937 Accessories is self expanitory but if you are unsure, it is used exclusively for the ultra cool shoes, bags, and jewelry.  Wearmaster is used for heritage inspired outerwear made from the softest of wools or tumbled leather. Sweaters and Cardigans have Wallace labels on them. New Haven labels mean that the clothing is tailored, workwear blazers or vests. The last label is Rain-O-Shine which all of the rainwear falls under. Every time a signature look is added to the Madewell family you can expect to see a new label created.

Since Madewell started out making denim, it only makes sense that the majority of their clothing today is denim. There are so many different cuts and styles of jeans that can be found but a few of my favorites are the dark wash flat front flare leg Vintage Rocker Jeans, the 5 pocket  Skinny High Riser Jeans with 11″ leg openings, and the Shrunken Chambray Boys Shirt. The Chambray shirt can be worn with so many different looks like jeans, maxi skirts, or pants. The shirt itself is timeless and classic, has worn spots and is in a vintage faded blue color so it will last you more than one season and will look great year after year.

Click the links at the top or bottom of the article to buy these and other great Madewell Denim

Madewell also has many great classic sweaters and cardigans to choose from in a wide array of colors. You can wear these sweaters for work or for fun. These sweaters are great if you want a classic look as well as if you are looking for a lady like look which has been a popular trend for a few seasons now.

Click the links at the top or bottom of the article to buy these and other sweaters

The shoes and boots from Madewell are trendy to a degree but are not trendsetters. These shoes and boots are classic and timeless but have some aspects of the current season’s trends to them as well so you can wear them for more than one season easily.

Click the links at the top or bottom of the article to buy Madewell Footwear

Madwell is close to a century old and gets better with each passing year. If you are unable to get to one of the 26 locations across the US, you can find the brand online.

Click Here For Great Madewell Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories

Alice + Olivia was launched in 2002 by Stacey Bendet because Stacey was struggling to find the perfect flattering form fitting pants. Over the years the brand has grown from pants to a full ready to wear line including outerwear and dresses. Over time the Alice + Olivia brand has expanded into categories from work clothes to casual wear meant for layering.  In 2008 Alice + Olivia expanded again with the creation of a children’s line of clothing.

The signature item from Alice + Olivia are the Stacey Pants. These pants are a staple in every collection with colors and styles being updated based on the trends for that season. The Stacey pants range from cropped pants for spring and summer, pants with a slight flare that are great for work or fun,  and Stacey Flare Jeans which are perfect for when you want the comfort of jeans but in a more polished, dressed up manner.

Alice + Olivia Stacey Flare Pants

Other signature items from Alice + Olivia are the variety of goddess dresses. These one shoulder dresses come in both sleeveless as well as a single long sleeve style. The One Shoulder Goddess Dress is made from jersey and has ruching and silk-chiffon  overlays. These dresses come in solid basic colors like black, white, and grey. The Sleeveless One Shoulder Goddess Dress is similar in material and style to the one with a single long sleeve but the colors are brighter and bolder and even come in a tie-dye pattern. Both versions of this dress are perfect for parties when you want to stand out in a different style dress than most others.

Alice + Olivia One Shoulder Goddess Dress

In 2011 Alice + Olivia expanded into the world of footwear with an alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet line of shoes as well as collaboration for the even popular brand of casual shoes, Keds. Alice + Olivia even created a line of shoes for Payless.

The limited edition Alice + Olivia for Keds were released in Spring 2011 and sold out quickly.   The classic laceless slip-on Keds Champion style sneakers were updated from the basic canvas to ones that are adorned with glitter sequins in black, white, silver, and gold.

Just like the clothing, Alice + Olivia shoes range from ones appropriate for fun to those made for work. The shoes come in many styles as well, flats, heels, and sandals. The first collection of shoes debuted in Spring 2011 and had great sequin  and animal print flats, open toe booties, and heels. Polka dots and stripes were also popular patterns for these shoes and of course there were solid color shoes as well.

Alice + Olivia Lila Platform Sandals

Alice + Olivia is a relatively new brand when compared to other popular brands but they are making a mark on the fashion world and I expect to see more great clothing, shoes, and accessories from them in the future.

Over the last couple of months the infatuation with Christian Louboutin has spread like wildfire . Every star who is a star would not be caught dead with out their Louboutin’s. The Red Bottom infatuation is based on” the more sexy the better”, paired with  amazing arches and unique designs. His eye for making possibly the perfect heel has catapulted the designer into another stratosphere. Everyone from Kim Kardashian and her entire clan to Nicki Manaj , and Beyonce  have the Louboutin Love.  He didn’t leave the guys out of this cosmic storm , yes he even has Men’s shoes!!! They even have the infamous Red Bottoms attached to Mid and High top Sneakers.

Beyonce wearing the new Louboutin’s  in Daffodile 160….

Hayden Panettierie in a gorgeous nude Louboutin , I love these shoes….!!!!

Kim Kardashian wearing Spikey by Louboutin for her 30th Birthday .

And don’t forget about the fellas, the spikes are everywhere on these mid top sneakers. Dope!!

I love these silver High Top Men’s Louboutin’s with stars embedded in the shoe , very futuristic..

Go to http://us.christianlouboutin.com/ to check out the new Fall /Winter 2012 line.

Visit me on http://fashioncrush1.com/

Until Next Time ………

Some of you may consider yourselves to be bag girls, some may be shoe girls, or some of you may be overly excited about all aspects of fashion – for me it is the latter, however there is nothing like a  Nicholas Kirkwood shoe. I first discovered Kirkwood when my love for Erdem developed, I was always attracted to the brand’s shoe designs, so when I found out they were by Kirkwood, I investigated more. It is only recently that Kirkwood has designed shoes for his own shoe label, but still continues to liaise with high fashion houses.

Nicholas Kirkwood

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I hope you enjoyed my post
love Jemma Louise
Come over and visit me at Floral Etiquette

It is only May and I really have not given too much thought into fall fashions but I recently came across some pictures of some very interesting Christian Louboutin shoes that are part of his fall 2011 collection. Christian Louboutin shoes are shoes that I admire but have never owned and truth be told if this is the direction that he is going with his shoes I am not sure if my admiration with continue. I always have thought of Louboutin shoes  as classic simple shoes that are not overly trendy and will be in style for many seasons. It seems to me though that Christian Louboutin  steering in a new direction and creating shoes that are still luxurious but they are outlandish and extreme as well.  It is almost as if Christian himself is afraid of being forgotten and wants to make sure that his shoes are over the top cutting edge shoes.

The first Fall 2011 shoes that caught my attention are the Alex heels. These shoes are designed to look like a paw of a lion and I have to say that goal was achieved. The more I study these shoes the more they grow on me but that could be because they are the best of the worst in my opinion. While these would never be on a wish list of mine I can actually see someone like Kim Kardashian wearing these shoes and pulling them off.

The next questionable Louboutin shoe is the Puck and this is a ombre dyed  pon  fur platform booties that I can not see anyone besides Lady Gaga wearing. This is the most obscure Louboutin shoe ever and without the red soles, I never would have even guessed that this shoe was a Louboutin.  This looks like a costume shoe that as I mentioned before, only Lady Gaga could pull off.

The Tootsie Booty looks like at one point in time it was a great booty but then the embellishment was carried a bit too far. Now I cannot make sense of what is going on.  Had the shoe just been the laser cut lace patterned leather, this would be an amazingly gorgeous shoe but unfortunately that is not what it is. For some reason Christian Louboutin thought it would be a great idea to attach  snake skin  at the toe, back of the heel, and top of the booty and then trim those areas with studs. If the snake and studs were not enough, the boot also has white fur at the ankle. This boot is a disaster and that is a shame because it had so much potential at one point.

The last major train wreck  shoe is the Splash Fur Platform Slingback and lucky for us it is available in three colors: black suede, beige suede, and black leather. These suede and leather slingbacks are not a bad shoe but the problem is that the front is adorned with a huge fur pompom mass that makes this shoe look ridiculous. While none of these shoes are wearable to me, my real issue is with the black leather slingbacks with the large red furball on it. I can not think of anyone who would see this shoe and say “WOW This is a gorgeous shoe that I must have” No, this shoe says walk away , QUICKLY.

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I do not want to scare you with these shoes, and these are the minority for the collection. The rest of the shoes are quite normal , though the iconic image of a timeless classic Louboutin shoe may never really return and that makes me a bit nostalgic for the past.

Even if you gravitate towards mono chromatic colored clothing like black or white, it is always a good idea to have a little bit of color infused in your look. While you can do this with your accessories, I think it is better to add some colorful shoes to your outfit. While a standard bright color is great, why not try something a bit more daring and wear a pair of neon colored shoes.  Neon is the perfect way to invigorate your wardrobe.  Wearing neon footwear though is not only for when your palette is basic, you can wear these shoes even if your clothing is colorful or  a pattern.  Just be careful if your clothing is busy and that the neon shoes you choose complement , not compete with your clothing.

Miu Miu has a great pair of neon colored flats that come in both pink (pictured) and in yellow. These feminine ballet flats have a multi layer bow at the toe area. The bow has fine black stitched detailing giving the shoes a bit of an edge to  them. These are fun and playful shoes that would look great with a casual outfit. I would stick to a solid skirt or short and a top that has some color to it. If you want to wear clothing that is neon try to find something that has a neon accent and is not too bright.

FLUORESCENT PATENT BALLERINAS

Also made by Miu Miu are some great high heel shoes that are predominantly black and have neon pink accents. The first shoes, the Two Tones Perforated Slingbacks, are a skinny neon color strapped slingback sandal with perforated detailing at the toes. Unlike most perforated shoes, the holes are not see through, rather there is some neon pink shining through. There is also a bit of pink at the back of the heel and at the front of the footbed. The other shoes, Tri Color Leather Strappy Sandals, are a black double strap sandal with neon pink, black, and white detailed patterning at the back of the shoe as well as the heel of the shoe. Adding to the detailing at the back of the shoe is an exposed gold zipper. You can either use the double straps to put on and remove the shoes or the back zipper. Both of these shoes are great to wear with a black or white dress because they will add a pop of color. The tri color shoes especially add a surprise detail since the color is only seen in the back and from the front it appears that you are just wearing a pair of double strap sandals. You also can pair these shoes colorful clothing if you prefer.

TWO-TONE PERFORATED SLINGBACKS

TRI COLOR LEATHER STRAPPY SANDALS

Though wearing neon may be a bit of a risk taking task for some, if you really want to take this look to a whole new level then you need to own the Jimmy Choo Neon Magnum Sandals. These shoes are almost 5″ high though there is a small platform at the front to make wearing such a high heel a bit easier and comfortable. An exposed back zipper makes it easy to get this shoe on and off. The detailing of the shoe is just as impressive if not more so than the actual shape and style of the sandal. Caged neon green mesh with is accent trimmed with snakeskin that is dyed to match the shade of neon green. There is also the same snakeskin on the footbed and back of the shoe. This shoe is appropriate for almost every occasion. You can wear it day or night whether a casual or formal event.

MAGNUM SANDALS

Neon is such a fun color and truly can make any outfit go to the next level of style and fashion.  If you are a bit hesitant about these bright colors the easiest way to ease into this look is with an accessory like a sandal or a heel. The above shoes are all great choices and I hope the styling tips mentioned will help you realize that neon is not a scary color to wear.

One of the biggest, most fashionable  looks that came from the late 1960s and early 1970s was tie dye.  This homemade look was created by the hippies who dyed tee shirts, dresses, socks, hats, or whatever other cotton materials  they could get their hands on.  Manufacturers eventually picked up on this trend and started producing tie-dye clothing themselves.  Over time the outrageous colored clothing has become more refined, muted, and elegant and has expanded to be part of designer runway collections.

One of the most interesting and unique ways to wear tie dye for spring and summer 2011 is with a pair of tie dyed shoes.  There are not too many choices when it comes tie dye shoes but the ones that are out there are trendy and will most definitely make a statement.

80% 20 is a brand you may not have heard of but the meaning of the name should resonate with you. The designer of the brand, Ce Ce Chin, believes that we wear our favorite 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time and that it is this small percentage that makes the biggest impression. For Spring 2011, the inspiration of the shoe collection is “surfer in the city”. These shoes are ones that are going to be fashionable for the city girl but with a twist of a laid back surfer vibe. One of the biggest patterns for a laid back look is tie dye and 80%20 has two great tie dye shoes. The Georgie Tie Dye Leather Concealed Wedge Open Toe Boots are a tie dye open toe leather ankle boot with ruching at the front and a bow at the side. Hidden in the shoe is a wedge heel so it appears as a flat but in reality you get some lift in height. These are great shoes to wear with a pair of shorts and a shirt or with a maxi dress. The other great tie dye 80%20 shoe is the Dawn Tie Dye Cork Wedge. This shoe is a leather peep toe shoe with a bow at the front and open sides. A 3″ cork wedge gives this shoe height and style. This is a great shoe to wear with a midi or maxi dress as well as with shorts.

80%20 Georgie Tie Dye Leather Concealed Wedge Open Toe Boots

80%20 Dawn Tiedye Leather Cork Wedge

Another great tie dye shoe is the Loeffler Randall Yumi Sandal. This black tie dye shoe is classic and timeless in style but given a bit of an edge with the tie dye pattern all over. The Yumi even carries the tie dye pattern to the heel of the shoe.

Loeffler Randall – Yumi (Black) – Footwear

Since tie dye shoes are so visual, it is best to wear them with a simple outfit that does not compete with the shoes. You will want the shoes to grab the attention, not compete.

Clogs have been around for centuries and were originally created for workers to protect their feet at the farm or the factory. Over time though clogs have become fashionable and mainstream. Top designers like Chanel and Louis Vuitton have put models in these shoes to prance down the runways in Paris, Milan, and New York. As the shoes have become more fashion than function the look of clogs has changed drastically but the common ground for all clogs is that they are comfortable, slip on shoes though currently designers have stretched this definition a bit and created clog sandals that has a strap that needs to be buckled. Most of these new clogs have wood heels and stapled or riveted uppers which are common to a clog.

The Tuleste Market Brooke Rosette Clog Wedge Sandals are a high wedge sandal with metal rosettes on the ankle straps. The neutral color leather uppers make these sandals a great shoe for summer and will match almost everything. Though the Brooke Sandals have an ankle strap, they have rivets along the sidewalls like a traditional clog shoe.

tuleste market Brooke Rosette Clog Wedge Sandals

The Ash Vicky Crisscross Clog Sandal is another great wooden shoe with studded sidewalls. This shoe is more of a sandal than a clog and a great all around shoe. I love the crisscross straps and double buckle closure. This clog sandal is available in black and in natural.

Ash Vicky Crisscross Clog Sandals

The Giuseppe Zanotti High Platform Clog Sandals is a 5.5″ high sandal with 2.5″ platform. Like a classic clog the base is a solid wood and the uppers are attached with studs. These are the perfect shoe to wear with a maxi dress.

Giuseppe Zanotti High Platform Clog Sandals

The Diane von Furstenberg Flynn Clog Sandal resembles a clog the least of all the shoes mentioned. It is a great sandal with sidewall studs like a clog and does have a wooden heel but the overall style and shape of the sandal does not resemble a clog. The Flynn is rather easy to slip on and off since it has an elastic sling back strap.

Diane von Furstenberg Flynn Clog Sandals

All of these  great clog sandals are perfect for summer outfits especially if you are going for a retro 70s look.

Back in the 1980s one of the biggest trends in terms of shoes was slip on  loafers and flats. In 2011 a new type of flats has emerged, flat espadrilles. Espadrilles by definition are a shoe that have canvas or cotton uppers and the sole of the shoe is flexible,  made of rope or rubber that is formed to look like rope. Most modern day espadrille shoes tend to be a  wedge heel sandal  but this  spring and summer espadrille flats have become extremely popular.

Diane von Furstenberg is known for her great prints and patterns.She has come out with a collection of flat espadrilles called Cadence Flats. The come in many different colors, prints,  and patterns that DVF is known for. I love that each Cadence Flat Espadrilles has its own unique color pattern combination. My favorite color/pattern combinations are the two  black and white shoes. The Cadence splatter paint espadrilles  are casual and fun while the chain pattern shoes are more refined looking.

Diane Von Furstenberg Cadence Black/White Chain, Green/White Desert, Red/White Square, Blue/White Swirl
Diane von Furstenberg Cadence Splatter  Paint Flat Espadrilles

The Pedro Garcia Ibiza Espadrilles are a satin ballet flat that is quite feminine and soft. These shoes are perfect  to pair with when wearing ruffles or lace. The Ibizas are available  in 3 colors: Umber, Bisque (pictured), and Cadet Blue.

Pedro Garcia Ibiza Espadrille Flats

Lacoste is known for two things: their crocodile logo and that their style and clothing embodies the preppy fashion trend. Their Lacoste Marthe Espadrille personifies this look. it is a flat espadrille loafer with the signature crocodile and preppy red hue.

Lacoste – Marthe Espadrille

The striped nautical look is another fashion  trend from the 80s that has been modernized and updated.  Kate Spade Lido nautical flat espadrilles are a great example of this These shoes are feminine and are perfect to wear for a casual day. The Kate Spade Lido are available  in three cream color combinations : blue (pictured) , gold, and black. All three colors have a contrasting cognac trim on the shoe.

Kate Spade New York – Lido (Cream Canvas, Cognac Calf/Cobalt Ribbon)

There is no wrong flat espadrille shoe that you can buy. All of them are a great staple shoe to own this season. You will be comfortable and in fashion wearing these shoes. They are light weight and breathe easy for warm spring and summer days. They look great and there is so many great espadrilles to choose from this season. Be sure to click on the above links to learn more information about the flat espadrilles.

Matiko shoes is a fairly new brand but is making quite an impact on the world of shoes.  Jesse Howard created Matiko in 2003 because he  wanted a shoe brand that took the quality, styling, and silhouettes from Europe but was mixed with the funky and eclectic style of Southern California. There may have been skeptics early on with the melding of styles but over time Matiko has established itself as a brand here to stay and is well recognized with its innovative shoe looks. No matter if you are looking for  flats, wedges, heels, or boots,  Matiko has a shoe for you. I assure you when you wear Matiko heads will turn and you will be asked all the time where you found those great shoes.

The Matiko  Rosa Flat is a bold, colorful, and textured shoe that catches your eye. This flat has a teal strap across the toes adorned with small silver studs,  two criss crossing animal straps, and a silver snake skin ankle strap. This sandal has a very small heel so it gives you a bit of a lift but is very comfortable and perfect for when you are going to be on your feet for a long time. These shoes would look great with a dress, shorts, or jeans.

Rosa Flat in Teal

Just because nude is the “IT” color for spring and summer 2011 does not mean that it is plain and boring. The Matiko Trix 5″ platform sandal is a great neutral color that has 4 buckles on the outside edge  of the sandal. Each buckle strap is a lighter beige faux snake skin giving the shoe dimension.

Trix Sandal in Nude

If you want a wedge sandal that has a lot of height and are also a fan of a gladiator sandal, you will love the Matiko Sela Wedge. This 4″ wedge sandal has gladiator straps from top to bottom and is available in silver and nude. These shoes would look great with short, jeans ( especially flare jeans ), a maxi, or a mini dress.

Sela Wedge in Silver

Perhaps such a high height sandal scares you a bit, well the Matiko Maddox is a great flat gladiator sandal that has a bit of an edge to it with the studding along the sides. These sandals do have a 2″ hidden wedge so they are not completely flat. I love all the buckles and the bright fuchsia color.

Maddox in Fuchsia

My favorite Matiko shoes are the Sachi Wedges. Similar in color to the Rosa sandals, but these wedges are a 4″ pewter snake print wedge sandal with cutouts and teal buckles on the shoe. These are a very unique in style shoe. The Sachi is also available in a black and pewter version if you would prefer a less bold shoe though with such a one of a kind shoe I would want to make it as bright and attention grabbing as possible.

Sachi Wedge in Teal

The Matiko shoe line can be found at the most exclusive of boutiques as well as some the largest department stores around. You can of course also find these shoes at top rated online stores.