The Oxford shoe, once synonymous with conservative, traditional styles, is now open to a little sex appeal. While still preserving it’s tailored image, designers have opened the toe for a peek of skin. That bit of revealing flesh is what modernizes the shoe, and expands its accessibility. Think Catholic school-girl… all grown up! You’re wearing this shoe with everything from slacks to sexy dresses. It adds just the right amount of weight to the bare elements of an off the shoulder dress. You can wear them from now into Fall, and then into winter with a pair of opaque stockings. Price points are across the board on this one, so there’s bound to be one in your price range. It’s a style that is wide open to interpretation. You can wear them in a classic style, or go completely funky and pair them with the unexpected. To all the self proclaimed chameleons, like myself, they work as well with a pencil skirt as they do with a pair of skinny jeans, a silk top and a leather jacket. Let the creating begin!

Oxfords in this observation:

You’ve got another party to go to, and you’ve run out of Summer ideas. Don’t be afraid to pull out your favorite black dress. The way to work a black dress into Summer style is with accessories. Go for a Grecian sun-kissed look. Black will simply glow with brushed gold accents. Pull your hair up with modern edge, and now this dress works from the suburbs to the city. Another way to dress your black dress for Summer is to kick it up with some color. Bring the color of the sea to the dress by popping on some refined turquoise earrings. Mix pieces of white and gold in for a polished look. A creamy white clutch will give it an elegant summer edge. Pull your curled hair back loosely so the pieces fall gracefully from your face. You’ll be relaxed and refined, and people will naturally be drawn to you. It’s not always about buying something new to wear. Sometimes it’s about redefining what you already have.

2 examples in this observation:

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Gladiator sandals are one of the biggest trends of the season. Last month’s post on the Gladiator ignited a firestorm of questions: How do I wear them? We’ve put together three of our favorite looks to help you out.

Gladiator look 1

The first look has a tall gladiator paired with a summer cotton dress. The key to this look, is to keep the dress flowy and unconstructed. The cut of the dress will balance out the tall gladiator sandal, making your legs look slim. A big hobo bag completes the look beautifully.

Gladiator look 2

The second look has a short gladiator paired with shorts, a billowy top, bangles, and a textured tote. The key to this look is to lean toward the bohemian, not preppy. It should look relaxed and sophisticated. It translates into a perfect day to evening summer look.

Gladiator look 3

The third look is a more dressed up version of the gladiator sandal. Again, the dress is free flowing which helps to balance the bulk of the shoe. The gladiator we chose is metallic, and reflects beautifully as opposed to drag the outfit down. We paired the outfit with a linen bag with gold accents, to tie it all together. The dress becomes the focus, with very fashion forward accessories that don’t take over the outfit.

We hope some of these looks inspire some of your own creations. Have fun with it, and relax into a pair of gladiator sandals this season.

From the minute you get off the plane, you can feel the energy that illuminates the city of light. The ride to the hotel is like driving through a beautiful painting. You want to immerse yourself as fast as you can, so that no time is wasted. A group of girls away for a few days, to do all the things girls like to do in Paris. The excitement bubbles up inside you. Free in a glamorous city, shopping, eating, and enjoying life. You’ve arrived! As you walk through the revolving door at The Ritz, you are immediately reminded of a famous Princess who walked through the same revolving door hours before her death. You briefly pause, and then walk to your room to get ready for your first day in Paris. What on earth are you going to wear shopping in the most glamorous city in the world? Well, one thing to remember is that you will be doing a lot of walking. So, choose your most comfortable, stylish shoes. The fashion should be urban chic with a sense of haute couture. It should be casual enough to wear all day, and fabulous enough to stop at a random cafe for lunch. You’ll want to have a bag big enough to carry all that you will need for the day ,including maps and all information on the city. You’re in Paris, so play the part. Kick your normal fashion up with a fun piece like a knit cap, or big sunglasses. Paris is about glamour, glamour, glamour. Embrace it, live the dream while you’re there. At the end of the day, you’ll crawl into your room, order cookies and hot chocolate, and wonder what they’re doing back home.

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This spring, fuller skirts are all around us, and I can’t help but be reminded of the fashions of the 1950’s. Cinched waists, fuller skirts, and full figures were all the rage. An hourglass shape was considered the ideal; round hips were the ultimate in femininity. This spring, we are embracing a bit of our past once again. Fuller skirts are perfect with a fitted top, and sandals. You can also dress it up with pumps or espadrilles. This particular cut works well on pear shaped women, it accentuates the tiny waist that is created by fuller hips. This is a feminine, flirty trend - have fun with it!

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