spring 2014

Chunky heels for spring 2014

 in Shoes / Trends  tagged dolce and gabbana / runway trends / sandals / spring 2014 / summer 2014 by

The chunky heel is back! Chunky, thick and stacked heels graced the runways for spring/summer 2014 in New York, Paris, Milan and London signaling a slow end to the tall and skinny heel. (The skinny heel will never disappear, but it is not the only choice anymore!) Ankles everywhere are thanking designers as we speak 😉

Chunky heels for spring 2014 bring a new feeling of stability to fashion; allowing Fashionistas everywhere to walk with confidence and stand for long periods of time without tipping over. Love that! Heels on the runways for spring/summer 2014 were shown in varying heights from 1″ through to 4″ and they were generally shown with flat soles. The design of the heels varied according to the designer and his/her inspiration for that particular collection. 

The most popular versions of the chunky heel included stacked heels, wooden heels, sculpted heels (think Dolce & Gabbana pillars) and leather/fabric covered thick heels. All versions of the thicker, chunkier heel are on trend for the spring/summer 2014 season. If you have any chunky or thick heels hiding in the back of your closet this is the perfect season to bring them back life! Just make sure they are not platforms 😉 Think flat sole or “single soled” shoes.

The shorter versions of the chunky heel, 1″ to 2″, offer a vintage vibe which reflects many spring/summer 2014 collections that have a 1950’s and 1960’s flair. The taller chunky heels, 3″ to 4″, offer more of a 1970’s vibe and look amazing with the flowing wide pants of the season.

This is the beginning of the return of the chunky heel, so you can rest assured this trend will continue for several seasons to come. To build the perfect chunky heel wardrobe, find the heel height you are comfortable in and then invest! Look for neutral shoes first and then add one or two colorful pairs to the mix. You will find yourself wearing this style all the time since they are actually comfortable! Imagine that?! Fashion can be comfortable and practical; who knew?!

I found a few fabulous pairs of chunky and thick heeled shoes around the web and assembled them into the shopping widget below. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉

Shop the trend:

Mineral Fusion Amethyst nail polish review

 in Beauty / Eco Chic / Nail Polish  tagged mineral fusion / purple / resort 2014 / reviews / spring 2014 / vegan style / winter 2014 by

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Photo: Nail Polish: c/o Mineral Fusion “Amethyst“ (two coats color), one base coat, no top coat. Photo taken in direct sun.

Mineral Fusion is an amazing nail polish brand. The nail polish itself is made from naturally beneficial ingredients which keep nails strong and healthy. An added benefit, is that the polish is long-lasting! One of the big concerns with nail polish is that many major brands use unhealthy ingredients which can seep through your nails and into your bloodstream. Knowing that Mineral Fusion is made from natural ingredients makes the nail polish even more beautiful. Plus it is 100% vegan! Love that!

I tested out Mineral Fusion nail polish in “Amethyst” with two coats of color, one base coat and no top coat. The polish lasted a full eight days before chipping! That is amazing considering I did quite a bit of house cleaning and working out during those eight days. I love a nail polish that lasts so long you can see my nails growing at the base!

“Amethyst” is a beautiful color which offers a deep purple hue combined with sparkles. This is the perfect purple nail polish for transitioning from winter into spring. Purple is an important color in winter 2014, as well as spring 2014, so Mineral Fusion’s “Amethyst” is a great nail polish color for making the transition in seasons. Love that!

Mineral Fusion nail polish in “Amethyst” is priced at $7.99 and can be found online here.

 

The return of the cutout bootie for spring 2014

 in Shoes / Shopping / Trends  tagged boots / runway trends / spring 2014 / summer 2014 by

Cutouts on booties, boots and sandals dominated the runways in New York, Milan, London and Paris for spring/summer 2014. This gladiator inspired style has been moving in and out of fashion for the past several years, and after a minor lapse, the style has re-emerged for spring 2014 as one of the most important shoe styles (besides the stacked heel) for the spring and summer 2014 seasons.

Cutouts are everywhere for spring 2014. We are seeing them mostly on booties as early spring merchandise hits store shelves; but as the season matures, we will see cutouts on everything from sandals to pumps. If you already wore the cutout trend in a past season, pull those booties, sandals, gladiator sandals and boots out from the back of your closet; they are hot again! If not, this is a good trend to invest in for the 2014 year. Cutout booties will carry you through spring, summer and the warm temperatures in fall 2014. 

The cutout shoe was favored by designers for spring 2014 since the trend in fashion is going towards a more earthy vibe. We are seeing tribal influences, “retro hippie styles” and soft, flowing fabrics. These types of trends in apparel call for a less structured shoe which is more casual in nature. The cutout style works well in this moment since it offers a casual look which blends well with the seasons’ prints, tribal styles and earthy vibe.

When shopping for cutouts on shoes this season, pay close attention to the sole and the heel. The sole should be flat and the heel should be thick or stacked. Look for wooden tones on heels, even with black fabrications. This is not a season for spiked heels! The thicker the heel the better! Also look for sculptured heels and polished “wood-like”grains. 

I found a few fabulous spring 2014, cutout booties around the web which fit perfectly into this fabulous shoe trend. I hope you love them! Happy shopping, and stay fabulous 😉