Shoes Speak Louder Than Words (2)

(PART 2)

Sorry that you have had to wait a little while for Part 2! Been super busy and only just got a chance to sit down and write! Anyways I hope you enjoy and like I said previously I have only explored a small portion of the footwear on the market at the moment!

DR MARTENS

Dr Martens or DM's as they are also known were first introduced in the 1950's. Over the past 50+ years they have grown in production and now reach out to many different subcultures.



DM's have a variety of different styles available, Original, Re- Invented, Rugged, Refined, Casual and Heels. 

Dr Martens have their trademark Air Wair soles- an air cushioned sole, which gradually over time moulds to your feet, providing you with the upmost comfiness! -note that you shouldn't wear someone else Dr Martens due to this mould it provides. 

Although Dr Martens are widely known for being one of the comfiest shoes, they are also known to be the worse shoes to break in due to the high quality of the leather.

I had wanted a pair of Dr Martens for ages, but with the boot style starting at £95 they aren't the cheapest of footwear! But I finally splashed out and got a pair with my birthday money, I decided to go for the original 1460 matte black boot as they go with anything and I wanted to make sure that I made the most of them due to the expense. Unfortunately when I first wore them they gave me the worst blisters ever, I mean the proper raw flesh kinda blisters! I don't think I have ever been in so much pain and I had only walked to the shops and back! However I was not alone, then I asked others that owned DM's if this had happened to them they all said yes. So I decided to stop wearing them for 2 weeks to let my poor heels heal, but about a week ago I thought it was time to try them again and the pain had completely gone, they was no pain... hallelujah! So I urge you to stick with them and once you get past that stage they are so worth it!

Although DM's are more of a winter piece of footwear- due to their leather fabric, they are still idea for festivals and are guaranteed to keep your feet warm and dry. So why not treat yourself to a floral re- invented pair for that perfect festival look! 

Dr Martens- http://store.drmartens.co.uk

(Also available to buy in, Office, FootAsylum, Schuh)

VANS

Since 1966 Vans have been a classic pump to wear, and with the younger generations jumping onto the hype to, Vans are doing better than ever.

Although I have always loved the Authentic Vans and I literally live in my all black ones. Recently I have also taken a liking to the new Old Skool Vans and am itching to get my hands on a pair! (pay day Friday!)

Like all shoe brands there are always a few styles that I prefer more than others and in Vans styles, one style that I am not too keen on is the Authentic Hi Vans. I personally think that this style is too much of a copy of the High Top Converse, but just with a thicker sole and with the thick base and the thin canvas top I don't think the shape quite works.

Vans are even introducing some more unique and crazy designs, including the Authentic Van French Fries Exclusive to Office: £49.99.

Vans- http://shop.vans.co.uk/uk-en?gclid=CJCg66jX6bcCFUfLtAodtwYAmA

(Also available to buy in, Office, FootAsylum, FootLocker, JD, Schuh)

NIKE BLAZERS

Over the past 3 years Nike Blazers have seen a huge boom in the footwear market and have become a footwear icon of our generation. With more and more colours and patterns being released every season I am sure that the Nike Blazer won't be disappearing any time soon.


There are two types of Blazers, the Nike Blazer and the Nike Blazer Vintage. The title 'vintage' adds extra 'vintage' elements to the Blazer. 

Vintage Elements
Soles: The blazers soles are singed with a lighter causing a yellowy, burn effect to be created, although when first looking at them it just looks like the sole is slightly discoloured, I assure you that this is all part of the 'vintage' aim.

Tongue: the top of the tongue of the shoe, this has been cut allowing parts of the foam in the tongue available to see. 

Although I absolutely love my blazers (I have the black vintage) annoyingly they are an absolute nightmare to put on and off! -I do not recommend wearing them if you are going clothes shopping in which you will have to keep taking them on and off. 

Through Nike id you can now personalise your very own Nike shoes, customising them to your own preference right down to the allowing you have your own personal id on the heel of the trainer you are customising.

Office Shoes- http://www.office.co.uk/nike

Footlocker- http://www.footlocker.eu/gb/en/s/blazer.aspx

(Also available to buy in, Office, FootAsylum, FootLocker, JD, Schuh)

HUNTER

With festival season just round the corner, Hunters are a must! They are hard wearing and you are guaranteed not to get wet feet! Although they are pretty expensive, with the short length starting at £65 and the tall length starting at £85, if you are off to a few festivals this summer it is definitely worth it.

In terms of sizing I would always go a size up to allow room for those fluffy socks or some wellie toppers. Another interesting thing I will mention is that Hunter 'kids' go up to a size 5 and although they come up a little bit shorter in terms of knee length they are about £50 cheaper than the adult Hunters! So if you have little feet like me, then definitely think about getting children Hunters instead! 

Hunter- http://www.hunter-boot.com

(Also available to buy in, Office, Schuh)



Peace and Love
G. x

Shoes Speak Louder Than Words (1)

I know that I have already done a few posts on shoes recently but there seems to be such a huge hype on shoes are the moment therefore this post seems to be appropriate... 

Ok so this might sound a little weird but when I first meet a guy or a girl I instantly look at their feet to see what shoes they are wearing. By assessing what shoes they are wearing I then make my first judgement. I know that it sounds a little sad and low but it is just something that I have always found myself doing when I am introduced to new people.    

This post is based very much on my own personal judgement and I think the phrase 'shoes speak louder that words' explains what I mean.

I am going to write a short paragraph on a range of different footwear that are on the footwear market at the moment and I will post links and pics to where you can grab yourself a pair!

JuJu Jellies Babe Shoes

With summer upon us why not buy yourself a pair of the old school, 90's jelly shoes! 

When I was a little girl these by far  used to be my favourite shoes, my mum would take me to the shoe shop the day that I finished school for the summer and I got to choose a pair of Jelly Shoes! 

The JuJu Jellies come in a range of different colours, including classic black, girlie glitter and even super cool purple glow in the dark! Not only are they perfect to wear for a splash in the sea but also they will bring back all those childhood memories of when you were carefree and wild! (why not grab yourself some black JuJu Jellies Babes and team them up with some fab glittery socks from urban outfitters to add even more girlie glamour to your life!

JuJu Shoes: http://www.jujushoes.co.uk

JORDANS

The inspiration of Jordan's is surrounded by the image and essence of Michael Jordan and is produced by Nike. 

There are many different styles of Jordan's or J's as they are commonly referred to. Each style that is created is also given a different motto by Nike that refers to the design or inspiration behind the shoe, including names such as 'promised land' and 'pure gold'. Recently J's have grown in popularity with the street wear fashion style and they are regularly seen worn by rappers including A$AP Rocky.






The classic red, white and grey J's are still at the top of the to buy list, however new colours including purple, pink and turquoise have been introduced. 

I personally have always thought that they have been quite a clumpy and heavy trainer, however I have now grown to think that they are the most stylish looking trainer on the market and can transform your outfit in seconds.


The pricing of J's isn't too bad, with some styles starting at £69.99 however some of their more pricey styles costing between £150-£240! 

These Nike Air Jordan 5 Retro take inspiration from the World War II Mustang fighter plane, this iconic shoe pays tribute to high- flying hoops style. Creating the moto 'The Fighter.

Nike Store- http://store.nike.com/gb/en_gb/pw/mens-jordan-shoes/7puZbrkZar6

(Also available to buy in, Office, FootAsylum, FootLocker, JD)

JEFFERY CAMPBELL

These are a must for all girls! 

Jeffery Campbell provides a variety of glamorous, classy and edgy shoes! With the majority of their shoes having studs, spikes or sparkle they are perfect when worn with some black skinnies and a blazer for an all black sophisticated look. 

When I first think of Jeffery Campbell's I think of studs, spikes and the famous Mary Jane Style heel- well actually it has no heel! Although they look like a nightmare to walk in, they actually are pretty comfy and walking isn't much of an issue! So if you fancy something a little different then grab yourself a pair of the Mary Jane Style heel!

Jeffery Campbell- http://www.jeffreycampbellshoes.com

Office Shoes- http://www.office.co.uk/womens/catalogue/BRAND-is-Jeffrey+Campbell

-I have decided to split 'Shoes Speak Louder Than Words' into two posts as there is so much information that I want to include! so keep a look out for post 2!



Peace and Love
G. x

Creeping in Creepers

What are Creepers? - Creepers are a shoe that usually have a suede upper and then a thick crepe sole which can vary in inches (e.g. single sole, double sole, triple sole and wedge). 

Underground Originals stock a range of shoes (including creepers) mainly aimed at the subcultures of new romantics, goths and new wavers, although Creepers are pretty pricey ranging from £89 (single sole) - £149 (triple sole) they are definitely worth the price if you want to stand out from the crowd.

"UNDERGROUND   WAS   BORN   OF   A   LOVE   FOR   RENEGADE   STYLE   AND   ROCK   'N'   ROLL"

Most commonly Creepers are known to be an authentic rock and roll shoe however most recently they have been adapted by a range of new subcultures and are now worn and incorporated into a number of different fashion styles. One of the reasons I personally believe that this is because, Underground now produces a bigger range of colours and designs to cater for so many people. 


Check out Undergrounds cute pastel colours for the summer! Just add some frilly socks and wear with some jean dungarees'!

Like I mentioned above, Creepers come in a range of different styles... single sole, double sole, triple sole and wedge. I personally think that the triple sole is a little too clumpy however if you are in need of some added height and are no good with heels these are your perfect match!

Single Sole

Double Sole

Triple Sole 

Wedge

All Creepers do look pretty clumpy and bulky and when wearing them at first it may seem that you are carrying two weights on your feet, but this feeling soon disappears and they become an unique, distinctive and super comfy shoe to own! 

Creepers tend to come up big, therefore if you are thinking of getting some I recommend to go a size down from your normal shoe size- e.g if you are normally a size 5 get a size 4.

Underground Originals- http://www.underground-cybershop.co.uk/creepers

Urban Outfitters-  http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/underground-shoes-mint-+amp-white-creepers/invt/5319467897744/

Peace and Love 

G. x

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Peace and Love 
G. x

SHADE London Clothing

What is SHADE London Clothing? - SHADE London clothing is an up and coming urban streetwear label, clothing based in East London, Great Britain.

I was first introduced to SHADE London Clothing about a year ago through my Tumblr- graceyhearn.tumblr.com 

The thing was first caught my attention about SHADE London was that their logo was very bold with it's aztec vibes, I also liked that the label was based pretty local to me and that it hadn't had huge amounts of recognition as of yet. 

Their clothing is mainly, crew necks, beanies and t-shirts that are of block colours, when these are paired with some jeans and air max's they create a classic streetwear look.
The pricing is pretty standard to be honest when comparing it to other street wear brands such as Trapstar and Hype Clothing, (watch this space I will be reviewing Trapstar & Hype Clothing as well in the near future) with beanies starting at £20 and crew neck hoodies starting at £45.

However with their new season release and with the summer commencing we can now see that SHADE London has moved onto creating crop tops, trackie bottoms and caps as well as introducing a few new designs, patterns and adding art onto their tee's. 




My personal favourite tee is the SHADE Short Sleeved Printed T-shirt - 'Liquid Gold'. (£35.00) 

The 'Liquid Gold' print is a print that I haven't seen used in any other street wear collections. This print gives you a great alternative to all the tie dye that is out there at the moment while still fitting in with the metallic vibes that are on the streets. 





Another aspect that I was really impressed with was that anyone can model for SHADE London and they also promote this on their website. 

"SHADE is always looking for models to help us shoot our new ranges. Not fussed if you don’t look like a typical model, we are really after guys and girls who have great style and a cool vibe."

It just proves that SHADE London is purely only passionate about their clothing and fashion and most importantly enhancing that it is ok to individual as long as you are happy in your own skin. I believe that this is a real positive for the label!

Anyway guys, check out their website and get shopping!

-http://shadelondon.com

Burgundy SHADE London beanie- £20

Forest Green SHADE London Crew Neck- £45

-This Burgundy SHADE London beanie I am wearing in this picture is by far the best beanie I own, the fit is perfect and fits so well on my head and best of all it hasn't lost its shape; which is what I found happened to my Hype Clothing one. 

Any Queries Comment Below!

G. x

Why do I look like a Ghost in Pictures?!

Name:  Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place 

Brand: Estee Lauder

Make-up: Foundation

Price: £27.50

Rating: 9/10*

I was first introduced to Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place foundation about 6 months ago, I had been struggling to find a foundation that didn't make me look washed out and almost ghost like in photo's when I was on a night out. After a lot of research on the web I soon discovered why this was happening with my previous 'night out' foundation. So here it goes with all the science stuff!

Every foundation and moisturiser that is used on the face contains a certain amount of SPF (sun protection factor) in most face products it normally contains titanium dioxide. The amount of SPF used in the foundation/moisturiser is always displayed on the product that you are using. For example my previous 'night out' foundation by No.7 Beautifully Matte Mousse Foundation contained SPF 15; the higher the SPF the more titanium dioxide that has been used. Although the ingredients that make up SPF are good for your skin and help with ageing and sun protection its main objective is to have the same affect as that of suncream by acting as a barrier between your skin and UV rays from the sun. 

Therefore the SPF in your foundation or moisturiser reflects the UV rays of sun and light off your face, when relating this to photographs this is how it works... when you are being photographed with a flash- the light from the flash naturally reflects/ bounces off your face due to the SPF in your foundation something causing you to get a ghostly look. (If any of that doesn't make sense, or you want it explaining more just drop me a comment below) 

So my search began to find a foundation with a low SPF to see if this was my problem, I had been recommended by a few of my friends that Estee Lauder did some great products. I went into Boots (Westfield; White City) as they have a range of different make up brands to choose from and always have make up assistants on each make up stand.

In general my skin isn't too bad- (now I have said that I bet I'll get a big outbreak of spots!) However I do suffer with blemishes, therefore the lady said that I only needed the 'light' option (however they also offer a heavier option for better coverage). In general the foundation gives an all over good cover with a slight dewy affect which I'm not normally a fan of, but with this foundation it makes me feel fresh and ready for a night out! 

But now for the most important question... Has it stopped me looking like a ghost in pictures? 

The answer is 'kinda' although I am very happy with it and I don't think any other foundation would had done the job as good as Estee Lauder, I do still think I look a little pale in some pictures. But hey ho! I'm sure that can be fixed with a little bronzer.

Unfortunately Estee Lauder is generally pretty pricey when it comes all of their products and I was very reluctant about spending £27.50 on a foundation when I was used to spending £12.95 on my everyday foundation No.7 Beautifully Matte Mousse Foundation. However I decided that I would get it and now only use it when I am going on a night out; one of the reason for this is that it was so expensive and I feel that my No.7 foundation gives me a more light and airy feeling on coverage which I prefer during the day. 

Although most foundations do tend to provide a protection against the suns rays always remember to use suncream as a base underneath your foundation when you are on holiday or it is just a beautiful sunny day! -sometimes suncream can make your face feel a little sticky when first applied, so apply it 10-15 minutes before applying your general foundation to allow it to soak into your skin. 

Leave any comments of queries below :)

(*all ratings are my own personal opinion, I am comparing them to other products I own/have used)

G. x

Keeping it Simple with Monochrome

Keeping it Simple. 

This blog post is about keeping it simple by pairing up the classic black and white look but adding a pop on neon to give it that spice. 

Whatever the occasion monochrome is always the safest look, you will undoubtably look sophisticated, sexy and damn right classy. Whether you wear a cute little black dress with a white blazer or a stripped pair of slouch trousers with a plain cami, you're sure to turn  heads. 

1.                                                                                                                                        2.

                           3.                                                       4.



1. New Look; £16.99
2. Topshop £49
3. River Island £10
4. Motel £38

However with the summer days finally starting to show, its time to add a flash of colour to the monochrome look. With neon being a huge hit for this years summer season, why not glam it up a bit with one of the great vibrant accessories on the market at the moment! Whether you want a chunky statement piece or a dainty more sutler piece there is something out there for everyone. 

I personally think that sometimes shoppers are more reluctant on splashing out on jewellery that is at the higher price range- well I certainly am. This season New Look has some great products, which are all at the less pricey end of the jewellery market with their starting price being about £5/6. Zara and H&M also have some great statement pieces for the summer starting around the £15 price mark, however I have found that they have a lot more to offer in store than they do online, so unfortunately I can't put up many of their products up as examples.  

The Statement Pieces

1. Zara £19.99

2. Zara £19.99

3. New Look £5.99

4. H&M £5.99

1.                                                                                     2.

3.                                                                                                            4.

The Daintier Pieces

3. Urban Outfitters £24
4. Urban Outfitters £24
5. New Look £8.99

3.                                                                                   4.

5.

Above is only a small selection of what the high street has to offer in terms of neon and colour in general, however the selections that the high street shops have are growing more and more each day as we reach those summer months,  so keep an eye out.

I hope this provides you all with an insight into how you can incorporate the monochrome with some summer vibes and still look fabulous!

Keep checking back on this post as I will adding some pictures of some of my very own favourite monochrome outfits.

Peace and Love

G. x