Happy Feet (At Last!)

What do you get when you cross comfort with fashion? As well as thousands of smiling fashionistas, cue retailers and designers alike diving head-first into the latest trend of slip-on pumps.

First I noticed Steve Madden's offering, then came along ASOS and Kurt Geiger. Just to assure the fashion crowd that this trend was being taken seriously, Jimmy Choo has now jumped on the bandwagon and released some oh-so-mouth-watering pumps that I do wish I could stretch my pay packet to.

Now I'm seeing slip-ons everywhere and had to invest in a pair of my own. A big fan of the Givenchy floral pumps, and a stickler for finding high street versions of designer items, I invested in some Dockland Plimsolls from ASOS, £20.

What I love the most is seeing people pushing the boundaries with how they wear their slip-ons. I've seen them with sports-luxe trousers, pleated midi skirts and eclectic maxi dresses; I've also seen a few colleagues proudly scuffling around the office in theirs. I too share their smug expression, not just because of the great pattern on my slip-ons, but because they feel so nice on my feet - I see slip-ons as a chance for feet rehab. I'm always a fan of a good heel but when it comes to a choice between the two, if fashion says so, then I vote slip-ons.

(Pictures from Google Images)

How do you wear yours?

- A.T.

Hump Day Treat

The Rise of the Fashion Sweatshirt

For the fashion boff in me, this article proved very interesting (yes, I'm linking you up to Business of Fashion again). It's about the rise of sweatshirts being worn in day-to-day fashion -- but think further than the image of the plain sweater you own that just popped into your head. Designers and editors alike agree that the best sweatshirts are those that have something about them, whether it be a quirky design or interesting embellishment. 

I adore the Kenzo jumper below, and actually stumbled across an ASOS equivalent for those of you interested. In fact, ASOS have got a whole feature on fashion sweatshirts right now - entitled "The Souped-Up Sweatshirt". They're bang on the pulse of what's on trend, as per usual. As BoF says, all hail the "statement sweatshirt." Love the phrase. Love the sweatshirts. Love anything 'statement'.

- A.T.

Style Steal: Pandora Birthstone Rings

Finding high street alternatives to the brands we know and want to own is almost becoming a game to me. If I spot something that looks identical to an item advertised in one of the countless glossies I read, I either buy it (rarely) or take a picture of it for this blog (most likely). Why? Because it's a style steal - the same style for a fraction of the price. Although, given the choice, I would of course love to buy the designer item itself.

I recently found some rings in a high street store that look exactly the same to the more up-market option - the birthstone rings by Pandora. They come in a different colour for each month and the metal has a nice ropey look to it.

The Matalan rings (£6 for a pack of 3): 

Pandora Birthstone Ring (£40):

The Matalan alternative may not be sterling silver but I've had a lot of wear out of the rings already, and there has been no off-colouring of the metal which makes the rings a definite style steal.

If you're interested in my other Style Steals, click here. More coming soon!

- A.T.

Style Steal: Manolo Blahnik 'Chaos Cuff' Sandal

The time has come for another style steal post where I find high street alternatives to designer items. I'm sure that most of you will recognise this one instantaneously.

I've been obsessed with these strappy Manolo's ever since seeing a picture of Rihanna wearing them. Then, to my surprise (and delight), high street stores cottoned on and started producing their own. ASOS and River Island have brought out their own takes on the shoe in various colours, and Rihanna's collection for River Island even has some Manolo-inspired sandals - it's safe to say she loves the shoe style.

As nice as the sandals at these stores are, I didn't want to depart with £40+ just to get in on the trend - that's what being a student does to you. However, I was shopping in Primark, arguably an unlikely place to sell some nice heeled shoes, and I found a pair of Manolo-esque heels. Priced at £12, I couldn't say no. They are really good quality and don't look cheap, either.

Primark heeled sandals (£12):

Manolo Blahnik 'Chaos Cuff' sandal (£445):

Noticeable differences are the width of the strap across the foot and the heel height. These are minor differences though, and what both the actual Manolo's and the Primark heels have in common is that they are really flattering for the legs and feet. No matter your height or size, Manolo-inspired heeled sandals are a must buy and an ubiquitous trend, restricted to no one! Track them down on the high street, try them on and tell me if you disagree.

- A.T.

Trend To Try: Mid-Finger Rings

I'm completely in love with the mid-finger ring - aka "midi ring" - trend. I've noticed that more shops have started selling them throughout the year which is great for us! As with bangles and bracelets, midi rings are perfectly stackable and are a stylish addition to any outfit, transcending day into night. I love the way they look so delicate yet add an edgy finishing touch.

Here are some pretty (and affordable) midi rings I found online:

Forget having a statement ring - midi rings are all about the plentiful, so stack them up to your heart's desire. Try this trend now - there's a new definition of finger swag, and we all should want in.

- A.T.

This week I'm loving...

Thigh-split maxi skirts/ dresses

I get a huge amount of wardrobe inspiration from Pinterest, and this week I noticed that I'd been drawn to pinning a lot of thigh-split maxi skirts and dresses (we can thank Angelina Jolie's left leg for kick-starting this growing trend). They are the ultimate item for summer: showing a little bit of leg and thigh but tailoring the rest of the outfit to not give everything away. I also noticed how figure-flattering a lot of the dresses were. Here are my favourite finds:

I know that ASOS have a great collection of thigh-split maxi skirts and dresses at the moment, and I've actually purchased one of their dresses for an upcoming graduation ball (pictures soon!) Whether you choose bold colours or go for neutrals, a thigh-split maxi skirt/ dress should definitely be a staple for your wardrobe this summer. Here are some suggestions:

Skirts

Dresses

Having the thigh-split makes you feel and look incredibly good without having to show off loads of skin - who doesn't want that? I recommend.

- A.T.