High Heel Alternatives
High heels are so fashionable that they have become a must accessory in a woman’s wardrobe. I do wear high heels but my toes tend to hurt when I wear them for a long time.
So when did high heels become fashionable? European noble men wore them to keep their feet in stirrups, but it was the petite Catherine de Medici who started the craze, when she asked for them to be designed for her wedding day.
Just in case you didn’t know, high heels come in kitten, tapered, block, blade and stiletto heels. There are also different heights to choose from low, medium and high.
Despite the health problems related to wearing high heels, they are very popular. According to The Independent, the NHS spends £29 millions a year on high heel injuries, Unbelievable!
For an example of what high heels can do even to a professional model, here is a video from a Vivian Westwood show where the model falls over twice !
So if you are like me and regularly look for a stylish high heel alternatives check out my picks ( as if you need an excuse to check out nice shoes!). I have chosen wide heels in a low and mid height as these can be stylish and more comfortable - they still give you some height and can be the best of both worlds. Another great advantage of wide heels is that you don’t have to worry about getting the thin heel stuck in pavement gaps!
These medium high courts and ankle boots look gorgeous with skinny jeans. You could also pair them up with wide leg trousers and skirts.
Faith Courts Dune Ankle Boots Faith Ankle Boots
High boots are quite versatile. You can wear them with skinny jeans and long skirts - my personal favourite.
Faith Black Boots Dune Brown Boot
Going Out Options
Court shoes are ideal for going out. I like texture in my court shoes and here are some options for you:
Topshop Black Courts Asos Patent Shoes Mango Courts
Work options
Wide and low heels add more support to the feet making them a good option if you are stood on your feet for long periods.
Dune Courts Barrats Tan Courts Miss Selfridge Mary Jane Shoe
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Film
Last night I saw Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle film, which originally aired last year on the run up to Christmas. I rarely notice TV ads but this caught my attention.
The 60 second film oozes Chanel elegance and unlike the last Chanel film there is no dialogue. We see Keira Knightley spring through Coco Chanel’s apartment (probably a reconstruction of the Rue Chambon pad) and then on to Paris streets. Few things really stood out for me:
- The elegant red silk gown worn by Keira, combined with a diamond necklace - classical Chanel.
- The sound track is one of those you have got to lisen to again and again. I found many people online asking “whats the song on that Chanel advert”, the soundtrack is called L-O-V-E by Joss Stone.
Here the advert including the track. Enjoy, I certainly did.
British Style Genius
British Style Genius
We are experiencing a bit of a rush in fashion TV in Britain (hurrah). The latest of these is British Style Genius, which aired last night on BBC2. The series is well timed with many of us in the mood for fashion on the back of the fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris.
The British Style Genius promised to be different to programs like Gok’s Fashion Fix, in that its in documentary format and will examine what makes British fashion so distinctly unique.
Here is a quick summary of the series:
Episode 1: High street look, the story of the of British High Street Fashion.
Episode 2: Tailored look will examine the history of British tailoring.
Episode 3: The Rebel look.
Episode 4: Country look examines the essence of classic country clothing.
Episode 5: Street Look explores the styles created on the street, for the street.
The series include contributions from Kate Moss, Sir Philip Green, Vivienne Westwood, Twiggy, Alexander McQueen, Michael Caine, Paul Smith and Suzy Menkes.
Episode 1: High street look
The first episode starts with behind the scene look at the Kate Moss calibration with Top shop and the stampede that followed on Oxford street. I found the scene where Kate pretty much loving all the pieces the design team showed her a little annoying, but in fairness she is not trying to pass herself off as a designer.
It was a 1 hour episode with a lot to fit in, but I still felt it was unbalanced and focused too much on Topshop. Although M&S was featured I was hoping for a wider coverage of the high street. Sir Philip Green heads Arcadia, which owns Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman and Wallis (pheww), but what about Debenhams and Next ? to name a few.
It was probably right to have Jane Shepherdson comment on Topshop given her achievements there - Jane left Topshop and the rumour was she fell out with Philip Green over the decision to get Kate Moss, she is now at Whistles.
If you were expecting catwalk after catwalk show of British designers then you would have been disappointed. The episode highlighted snippets of British fashion history and even ‘fast fashion’ only got a quick mention at the end.
Over all I liked the episode and will tune in again next week (BBC2, Tues 9pm). You can catch this episode on BBC’s iplayer for 14 days.
Work Wear Ideas (Students & Mums too)
I usually get asked about ideas for work wear so I would like to share some of my thoughts with you - I should turn this into a regular series. Hopefully these outfits will help you if you are struggling for inspiration first thing in the morning.
I like to combine both elegance and comfort in my day wear and I have included outfits for the office, students and mums, because they work too !
Smart Casual
For the smart casual look I suggest simple lines and minimal accessories. The wide leg trousers add a classic touch and the grey shirt dress is pure elegance, its a LOSVE piece so I am going to say that right!. The jewelled shoes complement the look ensuring it is smart without making it formal.
LOSVE Grey Short Dress, Mango Wide Leg Trousers, Carvela Low Heel Shoes
Casual outfit
For a casual look I love the grey LOSVE tartan long skirt, combined with a chunky knitted cardigan for a classical autumn feel. I will be layering this outfit so I have chosen a simple top in a light fabric with the cardi on top. The long skirt has plenty of detail so I used matching plain colours to complement the skirt. The low heel dark boots add the final touch to a this casual outfit.
LOSVE Tartan Long Skirt , Wallis Black Top, Warehouse Chunky Cardi, Top Shop Black Boots
Formal
If you need a formal look then dark colours are always safe (black, white and grey) - I will do another post soon for more adventures formal colours.
To make this outfit slightly different I chose a feminine long skirt and a funnel neck jacket. As the skirt is long I used mid high court shoes to add height to the overall look - I would avoid killer heels.
LOSVE Black long skirt Principles Ivory Blouse ASOS Black jacket FCUK Court shoes
Mum outfit
Being a mum is a busy 24×7 job especially If you have young children. As a mum of two I am always on the look out for practical clothes that also look good. So for the busy mums I suggest the following outfit.
The brown shirt dress is loose fit and the front buttons easily unfasten if you are breastfeeding. I went for dark shade colours as they are harder to stain - a big plus for mums with young kids. I paired the shirt dress with dark denim jeans for a stylish look. With the arrival of winter a warm coat is important, particularly if you walk frequently or push a pram. The flat brown shoes are practical, match the shirt dress and keep the colour scheme simple.
LOSVE Brown Shirt Dress Fat Face Jeans, Topshop Parka jacket, Barrats Casual Shoes
Student outfit
I have good memories from my days at university but I don’t miss the exams at all!. There is lots to do at uni including getting to those 9am lectures on time!. As as a student you have got to work on a limited budget but that doesn’t mean you need to look shabby.
This purple tunic shirt with flared jeans is a great combo. Purple is the new black for autumn winter 08 and this tunic is a practical item that you can add to many other outfits. The flared jeans have a great 70s retro look and the black coat adds a young trendy edge; combined with the flat ankle boots should keep you warm and dry and this winter, specially if you are some where wet like Manchester (UK)!
LOSVE Purple Tunic, ASOS Flared Jeans, Republic jacket, ASOS Boots
These outfits are a suggestion you don’t have to match them in the exact way I have done. You may need to adapt some of the items to suit your body shape and complexions - feel free to get in touch for specific advice.
Silvia - blog@losve.com
LOSVE Interviews
The buzz around LOSVE is hotting up and we were recently interviewed by the lovely Jana of Hijabstyle and Mariam of Hijabtrendz. These interviews will give you a good insight about us, so read on.
HijabStyle: UK based Jana posts daily links and pictures of what she calls ‘Hijab friendly’ fashion and tips on how to wear current trends.
Here is a quick snip of the interview with Jana:
Jana: Who are the ‘brains’ behind LOSVE and what inspired you to set it up?
Silvia: LOSVE was born out of our frustration with the lack of trendy long clothing. That’s not to say there’s none, but I had to visit many places before I could find a suitable trendy long option. One Saturday last summer I wanted to get couple of outfits for a friend’s graduation and a picnic with the family, so I started online and followed on to the high street. Three hours later, I managed a maxi skirt from Zara (these are always a good option in the summer) but nothing more. I do enjoy shopping but that wasn’t a fruitful afternoon and was generally typical for me. I know I can layer pieces to achieve a long outfit but I feel that’s a bit hard to pull off well – you would need the right top, sleeve shape and layering piece. I dread seeing people with an open back top and layered tight long sleeve top! Or a low neck shirt dress and fluffy sleeves layered with a long sleeve top. For me a layered outfit has to flow and not look obviously layered. I think layering is an art and I am getting better at it but I wanted a more convenient option for my shopping experience.
That afternoon I sat down with my husband, Abdulrahman and shared with him my fruitless day and as satisfied as he was with the minimal damage to my bank account, he also understood my frustration. He said I needed to find a brand that gave me the options I needed and if there were none out there, we had to create one – that was the birth of LOSVE.
Head over to Hijabstyle to read the interview
Mariam posts daily on her lifestyle blog Hijabtrendz.com, which is dedicated to the modern hijabi, she is based in Illinois, USA. Here is a quick snip of the interview with Mariam:
An online clothing retailer that focuses on modern and trendy clothing for women debuted in Manchester, England a little over 5 months ago and is quickly becoming one of the hottest new places for hijabis to shop.
Because LOSVE is such a unique name Hummaida is often asked how it was made up.
“When we were creating the name, we sat down with some friends and showed some of the names we came up with. I remember I was handing each name around and was listening to their reaction, as soon as I handed them LOSVE, there was an immediate buzz and unanimous approval. I knew then we had our name.”
So what is Hummaida’s advice for anyone interested in getting into the retail industry?
“Make sure you are passionate about what you do and have the drive to do this very well. The passion will help you create something unique and the drive will give you the energy to carry on when you are challenged.”
Head over to Hijabtrendz for the interview.
Eid Clothes Ideas
Eid ul-Fitr is a Muslim holiday that follows the month of fasting (Ramadan). It is a time of joy and gathering with family and friends and lasts for 3 days. The first day kicks off with a special prayer where people wear new clothes, afterwards families meet for lunch and a variety of traditional dishes and sweets are served - these vary between countries. The festivities continue at night too, for example in Manchester (England) many travel from around the UK to Wilmslow Road (also known as the curry mile), where it gets very busy.
During Eid many dress up in their best clothes, especially women, so If you are attending one of the many parties during this festive period we can’t have you looking anything but your best can we ! So we have got great tips for you.
The Day Outfit
For the day outfit, particularly on the first day of Eid, it is going to be quite hectic and you need something practical with plenty of elegance too.
I started with a brown tunic as the main piece (I like brown at this time of Autumn), the flattering design on this tunic dress is great for the occasion and the detail on the sleeves and the belt add graceful elegance. I then paired it with a tailored wide leg pair of Jeans. I like this dark denim colour as it flows nicely with the brown tunic - I lean towards contrasts in my outfits.
To add a festive touch to the outfit, I chose these gold earrings, which have a beautiful Bedouin hint. Gold works nicely with brown so we have a nice combination of colours in the outfit. The Silk Paisley scarf adds a final touch of luxury and you can wear it around your neck or as a head scarf (Hijab).
LOSVE Tunic Dress, FCUK Jeans, Asos Earrings, LOSVE Silk Paisley Scarf Esarp
Evening Outfit
Long skirts are a trend for this season and I find them flattering and versatile. For the evening outfit you want glamour and luxury (practicality takes a back seat here!). Satin is prefect on evening pieces so I chose this Purple skirt, the it colour for this season, for a great combination.
The second piece on the evening outfit is a gorgeous black Warehouse blouse, it is feminine and has plenty of elegant detail. The contrast between the black top and purple skirt creates a luxurious and elegant theme.
I wanted to add sparkle to this outfit and silver is perfect for that, so I have a silver earrings, clutch and shoes for my accessories. I didn’t want to add a necklace because I think it will clutter the outfit - we already have detail on the blouse, contrast in colours and sparkling Silver.
Warehouse Black Blouse, LOSVE Purple Long Skirt , Fiorelli Clutch , Asos Sandals, Coast Earrings
So how will you be wearing your Eid clothes ?
