Fall in Love with Flats All Over Again

I know I'm always going on and on about all the latest clothing trends, but lest we forget about the piece de resistance for every great outfit, the all important footwear. Hot shoes can make or break an outfit. It can pull an ensemble all together, or obliterate whatever concept you've dreamt up in your overly creative head!   I hate to be a forgone conclusion, but I admittedly, like many fashion-wannabe's before me, have an insatiable shoe fetish. And of course, the majority of my shoe collection is made up of pumps, peep toes and stiletto's that I've worn no more than a handful of times and they're not shoes that are conducive to my everyday coming and goings. Sure, I'd love to think that I'm chic enough to pick-up my dry cleaning or strut down the frozen food section at the grocery store in my favourite Ralph Lauren platform pumps, but I'm no Carrie Bradshaw. Those babies are reserved for special occasions.

Thankfully for a sneaker-donning tomboy like myself who would love to make more of an effort to be fashionable and fabulous, flats are coming back with a vengeance and I couldn't be happier. Not only are flats a fabulously versatile footwear option, but if you're shopping in the right shops and boutiques, you're going to have hire yourself an executive assistant to help carry your shopping bags!

Okay, so first stop for shoe bargains, Payless Shoes! Whether I happen to be shopping in Canada or when I'm outlet shopping in the USA, this is generally my first stop for cute, affordable shoes. And despite it's reputation for being suspiciously "cheap", I have Payless shoes in my closet that are well over five years old!

H&M is another great stop for fab and affordable flats, especially if you're really into the pastel trend that's really hot right now. Their selection isn't as varied as a Payless of course, but what's convenient about shopping here, is that all of their shoes can easily be coordinated with anything you buy, and you know it's damn near impossible to leave H&M without buying an armful of goodies!

GoJane is another one of personal faves and with flats as low as $14, how the heck can you go wrong! Gojane is often featured in InStyle, Cosmo and Elle, and for all you budget-concious fashionistas lusting after the hottest shoes, completing your collection at GoJane couldn't be easier!

Crazy for Colour Blocking!

There are so many hot trends for this upcoming Spring and Summer season, but one of my absolute favourites and one that I can't wait to start experimenting with is the colour blocking trend. If you're a pastel, or muted-colour kind of gal, it's time to spread your wings and embrace the rainbow girl! Don't panic. You might be telling yourself, "but I can't wear colour!" Hogwash, of course you can! Don't worry, we're not going to send you out onto the street without a few tips first! Does a tattoo artist start their work without the correct tools, of course not! So here's why we're loving this trend and how to wear it!

Why we love it! I am an accessory freak! I adore dressing up my outfits, so any excuse to get some new baubles, sign me up! Colour block accessories are plentiful, and adding an oversized ring, bangles, necklaces, earrings and headscarves. Once you know what colours compliment each other, you can start manufacturing your own style!

Mixing and Matching is easier than you think! Who knew that bright yellow went with so many things! Like other trends, there are some rules to follow so you don't end up walking down the street looking like a circus clown, but not so many that this trend gets left to the stick people on the New York and LA catwalks!

Eyescessorize

It's totally affordable! Sure, you've got everyone from Dries Von Noten to Salvatore Ferragamo pumping out colour-block couture for prices only our tiny bank accounts could imagine. Fear not, because vintage is so hot this season, thrift shops and consignment stores are brimming with bright coloured treasures, just waiting to be plucked from the rack, for prices that won't break the bank!

Things to remember. Neons colours can be a bit trickier to put together, and can date your look negatively. They can also make you look a little washed out. Stick with solid colours from solid palettes; Pretty purples, gorgeous greens, rich yellows, rich reds, funky fushia's, and perfect pinks. Take a peak at the pantone below courtesy of one of my favourite blogs, Eyecessorize.

The Perfect Peplum

Like many women, I can be a bit of a slave to fashion trends. But not all trends. I could not, in good conscious, jump on board with the whole Uggs phenomenon because I thought they looked like moon boots, and all of my Australian friends were gasping in horror when they heard North American women were donning Uggs out on the street, instead of wearing them in the comfort of their home where they are meant to be worn! So, I enthusiastically shelved the over-priced moon boots up there with tye-dye jeans, and wearing Lululemon to inappropriate places like anywhere outside of the gym or yoga studio. But one trend I am absolutely loving is the return of the Peplum.

The Peplum was a dominant feature of womens' dresses and skirts in the 1940's, 1960's and 1980's, and finally, it's made a fierce come back for 2012. Designers like Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs dotted the runways with their pretty Peplum pieces. But well before New York and LA Fashion Week, women have been pining after this chic style since Mad Men came into our living rooms.

The Peplum-style waist is flirty, girly and ultra-sexy. It accentuates the curvature of a woman's hips and the smallness of her waist, which is good news for a boyish-figured gal like myself! The design itself is to be paired with sleek, well-fitted or tailored pieces. A beautiful pencil skirt or leggings are both great options. Peplums can be sewn onto the piece itself, or they can be removable. It's a style that's accessible to absolutely everyone in just about every setting. Whether you're an executive assistant at a big firm, or cocktail waitress, going to the movies, or heading out for a hot date, throw on a Peplum and turn your entire outfit into a showpiece!