The Flat Shoe Is Making a Power Play

Miss KG flats

The flat shoe has been the ugly step sibling of fashionable footwear everywhere for years. They have long been loathed by the fashionable women in society. Skyscraper heels, wedges, sandals and various stiletto beauties have always taken up the forefront of  fashion magazines, advertising and even tv shows. However the flat shoe is fighting back, not content to just sit in the corner. The tides are slowly turning and the arena for fashionable flat footwear is drawing more and more spectators. Flat shoes now are not only limited to the Clarks ballet flats I wore for 2 years, though comfortable they were in no way comparable to their fashionable counterparts now taking up the runways. Top brands such as Charlotte Olympia, Mulberry, Miu Miu, Gucci, Tory Burch  and Marc Jacobs are increasing their efforts in relation to flat and near flat footwear for women. Forget the "Power Heel," for 2013 it has been all about the "Power Flat." 

River Island Bordeaux Flat

Ballet flats are out!!! They have been banished from the workplace, offices and boardrooms. Instead they have been replaced with exquisite textiles and embellishments added to other classic shapes such as smoking slippers, loafers, brogues, to create truly fashionable flat master pieces.  Not to say that the Ballet Flat does not have its place. Where as in the 90's tv show Sex & the City had  droves of women queuing up to purchase Manolo Blahniks Offerings. Tory Burch has built a cult like following around her Reva Ballet flat, google the Reva Ballet flats and you will generate pages of suggested blog posts and you tube videos.

River Island Navy Flat

 Why the rebellion on the heeled shoe? There are several reason: Health  - as I have mentioned before the appropriate heel height for a heeled shoe which will be worn over a long period of time is 3 inches. Wearing heeled shoes over 3 inches high for a prolonged period of time (years) causes strain on your pelvic muscles which could lead to a prolapsed uterus.  The constant need to balance on the thin stiletto heel (the preference of the power set) causes strain and sprain on your ankles, bunions could form and also displacement of the bones on your feet.

Time - wearing high heels slow you down. There was no fancy way to explain that.

Options - as I said before footwear options of the flat variety have increased tremendously. There is something for everyone and for every occasion. Flat shoes are no longer limited to the extremely casual events which occur in a woman's life.

 "Long stuck in stuck in the purgatory of casual wear, flats are suddenly being promoted for polished occasions. Flats sleek enough to dress shoes were paired with the tailored suits and even with evening wear on the spring runways from Marc Jacobs to Giorgio Armani." - WSJ

I am a Black Girl in the Ring and I wear flat shoes. YOU should too. 

River Island Black Loafer

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This was an original piece which first appeared in Black Girl in the Ring Magazine

New stuff - Shop it, shop it up, look at all these bags

      A beauty blogger on a spending ban is not a good thing. As soon as I implemented my project 10 pan, (which turned into 20 lotions and potions pan) companies started dropping new releases left right hand centre. The one release which I was most in angst about was the arrival of the L'oreal Micellar water and cleanse off oil. I love a cleansing oil, I have reviewed the Origins Cleansing oil previously on this blog. I also love a Micellar water (which lead me to review my Bioderma Micellar water twice, can you say blogger faux pas). 

    However Project 10 pan is now over, like any good beauty blogger I have been shopping it up. There are some lusts, some necessities and the odd shower gel in this line up. What can I say I am a sucker for a good scent and some lather. 

Nivea Shower oils in Lemon, Water Lily and Melon

Nivea shower oil in Hawaiian bliss

River Island Nautical Earrings 

Zara Geometric Print Scarf

Laura Mercier Tinted moisturiser Oil Free sfp20

Sally Hansen No Chip Acrylic  top coat

Origins GinZing moisturizer

L'Oreal Skin Cleansing oil

L'Oreal 3 in 1 Purifiying Micellar Water (someone thinks they are fancy huh)

PIXI Glow Tonic 

Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra

Dove Blue Fig and Orange Blossom Body wash

 

ORS Hair Mayonnaise 

There is is my  haul,

 not to worry I did it the Kanye way --> 

I did not spend what I did not have.

 xx

What to Wear to Work: Hand bags

This is going to be a fairly short post. A hand bag for work should be in a neutral colour if one thinks Black is too boring then try (Navy/Tan/Grey/Cognac/Camel) it is my own personal belief as well as that of my mentor. Your first hand bag for work should definitely be an investment piece, therefore you should be willing to spend a bit more. That extra cash that you are spending enables you to go for quantity over quality. It is better to have 1 good bag that lasts a long time, than 20 cheaper bags which do not stand up to the wear and tear of your every day life. 

      When it comes to handbags for work there is only 1 bag which I would recommend to anyone, especially my recent graduates. The Zara Braided shopper 3 years going and still a best seller!!!! Yes I own one of these and I love it more and more with every use. The one I own is blue however it comes in Black and Tan as well, which makes it suitable for a work day hand bag. I am soon to invest in the Black as well as the Tan, hey a good thing is a good thing. 

Zara Braided shopper 

     This bag is made from 100% Buffalo Leather. It is  fairly large (I won't lie) quite roomy and spacious inside, it fits a 15.3 inch laptop inside with a lot of room to spare. The dimensions are 16.2 x 20.4 x 9 inches. If you like the shape of the bag but prefer something a bit smaller. Zara also offers the Mini Leather Tote bag which has the same shape as the Braided shopper but smaller dimensions 16 x 16 x 5 inches. I would be the first to admit it is not the most fancy bag in the world, but when you are going to work, your bag should be functional and not fashionable. Sometimes less is more, dressing for work is one of those times. 

                   Zara Braided Shopper A/W 2011

Notes 

Please be advised that upon further research (I went to the store and tested out the mini shopper, aka I packed it up with some of the stuff I normally carried in my Braided shopper after putting in my purse/coin purse/makeup bag/water bottle the mini shopper was full and looking very bulky.) I can inform you that the Zara Mini Tote is for those among us who TRAVEL VERY LIGHTLY. If you are the type of person who likes a handbag which can carry your whole house and the kitchen sink, the Braided shopper is the way to go. 

I have found a few other bags which I can suggest as handbags for work, if one was not too inclined towards the Zara shopper.

Clarks Trade Point - "A classic Tan lather shoppper style bag which can be work on the shoulder and goes with everything." Clarks --> Trade Point by Clarks

Clarks Tora Hill - "This fashionably chic womens bag features subtle tailoring and soft leathers. Painted edges and Clarks branding to finish the look, and its versatile styling means it can be carried with grab handles  or work on the shoulder or across the body." Clarks   --> Tora Hill by Clarks

River Island has few offerings as well the three bags below are my top picks  

River Island Black Leather Bowling bag - "Black is always in style and in the form of this bowler, you've got your everyday bag sorted! with chic structured design and two strap lengths, this bag is super functional." River Island  -->  check it out

River Island Cream Metal Edge Leather Bag - "Every girl needs a luxe leather bag in her collection so try this Cream metal edge leather bag with zip front detail, two handles and zip fastening." River Island   --> check it out

River Island Grey Structured Leather Bowling Bag - "Polish off you look with the Grey structured leather bowler bag. In super functional size without sacrificing on style - this features gold tone hardware and two short straps." River Island  --> check it out

For the really good stuff aka designer look, leather bags without the designer price tag, my search took me to Marks and Spencers. Yup this Institution is still bringing fashion and quality to the masses. These bags were my top picks 

Marks & Spencers Autograph Leather Faux Snakeskin Design Shopper Bag  ---> here

Marks & Spencers Leather Crocodile Skin Tote Bag --> here

Marks & Spencers Autograph Leather Capston Stud Bowler Bag --> here

Marks & Spencers Autograph Leather Faux Snakeskin Design Tote Bag --> here

Marks & Spencers Leather Crocodile Skin Print Bowler Bag --> here

"Fashion fades by Style remains eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent          

Thanks for reading my lovelies.

xx      

Outfit of the day: Classic Springtime chic

Navy Blazer - H&M
Multi Stripe Shirt - T.M. Lewin
White Shorts - Republic (circa 2003)
Wine Loafers - River Island
Tote Bag - Longchamp

Going to the movies....

Movie time so I went to take in the latest offering by marvel comics Captain America

This pic was taken mid step.....lol

just born with it

this last one is called "where are my glasses?"

shoes - Office
denim capri- Miss Selfridge
vest - River Island
cardigan - H&M
bracelet - Links of London
watch - Fossil
lippy- moistly by MAC