Halloween Fashion!

Halloween may be more than a week away but with goth and grunge style making the autumn catwalks a far spookier place than normal, the dark side has lured us in sooner than planned. Of course, we all know that black clothes make for a perennial fall-back for any girl when the temperatures start to plunge, but this season’s dark offerings are full of luxury, too: spider-webbed lace, Victoriana collars and full velvet maxi skirts make for just a few of textural treats you can unearth.

Classic vintage goth looks aside – and there are many of them to choose from - designers like Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy or Jonathan Saunders have reinvented gothic and fetish tendencies into something decidedly more modern: Givenchy’s moody florals, unravelled leather bikers and sheer maxi skirts lead a new charge for eveningwear whilst Jonathan’s perky, sculpted patent pieces have inspired a thousand and one copies. 

 

Jonathan Saunders [Rex] Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci [Jason Lloyd Evans]

It’s not just the new runways where we’re finding inspiration, either. Cult witchy flick The Craft has reignited, as popular blogging fodder. Winona Ryder’s alabaster skin and dramatic makeup circa the Johnny Depp days has returned as a jumping off point for a fresh look. Chokers seem like a good idea. As does excess amounts of velvet – and that’s outside of the party-dressing realm.

The Craft: a gothic must-see for fashion inspo

Should novel be your thing, you’ll find literal pieces from brands like YMC, who have embroidered skeletal bones onto a LBD, while Charlotte Olympia’s pumpkin pumps and fang clutch bags make for a very haute Halloween.

If you fancy stepping over to the dark side today, then the 40 buys in the gallery above will awaken your inner goth. Just leave the purple hair dye at home.

Should you wish to extend the same courtesy to your footwear PoppyBees latest Autumn/Winter collection of Italian designer-wear, from Internationally celebrated designer to Royalty, Daniele Berdini, can add boost to any party. 

All with an added twist of "choice" - not something we see much of in the designer ranges at typical shopping centres. What is on the shelf is what is available. Not here! Any size, colour, material or heel height, yours for the picking to boost the party season and your friends something to be envious about!

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Waist Not, Want Not

The mid-arch portion of a shoe is called a waist. In general, the waist of a shoe should 'hourglass' only minimally.  The picture below shows a Puma shoe with a ridiculously narrow waist, even for a normal foot. 

If you excessively pronate, or have any conditions associated with excessive pronation (plantar fasciitis, posterior tibial tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis - all of which are very painful long term conditions if you don't treat them effectively!), then wearing a shoe lacking support in the waist (midfoot) could prevent you from getting better.

Next time you find yourself shoe shopping, in addition to checking the price tag on the sole of the shoe, also check the width of the waist. Having a wide waist is good for shoes, bad for cardiovascular health.

Of course, getting a shoe that is the perfect size and shape for your foot is also essential. Do not accept second best when it comes to your feet. You only have one pair and they can suffer long term damage from suffering cheap shoes. 

It always worth having a pair or two made specifically for you, yes I know it is a little more than the average purchase but its true what the say, "You do get what you pay for!". In fact with PoppyBees and Daniele Berdini it is surprising what you can actually get for your money. Unlike similar brands (Jimmy Choo for instance) you can save more than 50%. And with our Diamonds card you can make small monthly payments then order anything you want, when the amount creeps up. No strings, interest or catches, just great savings. AND, join now before Christmas and we'll match your first two payments for FREE!    www.poppybees.co.uk/diamonds 

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Get access to our brand new designer shoe catalogue,

online store AND FREE "Essential consumer guide to perfect shoes".

Shoots and shbandals' anyone?

So designers have been tinkering away, cross-breeding boots. What with? Backpacks? Bikinis? Tomato plants?

Nothing so exciting, I'm afraid. We're just dealing with small modifications, and all within the footwear genus. Thus we now have shoots (shoe-boots) and shbandals (shoe-boot-sandals).

Not the shbandal! I hope you're not advocating boots with peep-toes again. The whole purpose of a boot is to keep your toes warm and save you money on a pedicure, is it not?

Could I interest you in a peep-heel, instead? Asos, for instance, has a punky patent buckled style called Auckland (£55, asos.com) with a cutaway heel that's perfect for those days when your toes are chilly but the backs of your feet are just too hot. Happens to me all the time you know!

How terribly practical. Try another one on me…

OK, slightly less bonkers and decidedly more elegant are the ever-so-slightly sparkly, slash-fronted "Blythe" shoe-boots from Danish label Ganni (£185, plumo.com, above). More delicate than your usual ankle boot with the deep V-opening, they'll keep both toes and heels toasty. No, don't say anything… you're welcome.

Of course, for an altogether more sensible, timeless style that does not seek to smash new frontiers, look no further than the Berdini Autumn/Winter catalogue, where you will find the quintessential Italian shoe range from these designers to Royalty.

No need to set shocking, bizarre new trends when timeless, fashion and quality speaks for itself. See them here, and yes, they are well under £300, in case you wondered. 

For access to our online store, brand new catalogue (with voucher) and "Essential consumer guide to perfect shoes" click here now.

Fashion at Work

Pinpoint your image

Regardless of whether you've been in the job for one week or 30 years, stop and think about the image you're really hoping to project at work.  'Do you want to be seen as professional? Dynamic? Approachable? Authoritative? Knowledgeable? Now try to identify how this would look - but think beyond the obvious. For example, being seen as "professional" doesn't necessarily mean wearing a suit - but will entail some kind of tailoring, so that could be a jacket, smart dress, tailored trousers or pencil skirt.'

Adopt and adapt

Successful workplace dressing is a subtle combination of 'fitting in' and 'standing out'. So the trick is to adhere to the accepted dress code, but find tricks and twists that help you project your own personal image and identity. 'While the banking and finance industries are traditionally formal, for example, a tailored suit wouldn't necessarily be the right look for the creative sector, where you can be a little more adventurous with your look,' 'But above all, it's important to dress to suit your personality and feel comfortable in what you're wearing.'

Think long-term

One final piece of advice before we move on from the basics: 'Remember that 90 per cent of people will form an opinion about you within the first 10 to 40 seconds of meeting you. Always to dress for the job you want, rather than the one you're currently in.' Or, to put it another way, don't allow yourself to get complacent about the way you dress for work. Always make an effort with your appearance and people will react towards you accordingly.

Mix and match

Even if you're obliged to stick to the strictest of dress codes, you can still find ways to add variety and personality with that old fashion staple - a capsule working wardrobe, livened up with carefully chosen extras. Not sure where to start? 'A neutral tailored jacket or blazer in navy or mid-grey is a great staple - then you can lift the look with shirts and accessories that show off your personality and enhance your skin tone,'. As for workplace outfits? 'Try an Empire-line or shirt dress that can be teamed with a cardigan and patent court shoes; black boot-leg trousers teamed with a shirt and jacket; or an A-line skirt with a smart top and peep-toe shoes.'

Know what colours to wear

The colours you wear send out subtle - and not-so-subtle - signals. 'An understanding of colour psychology can give you a great advantage when you're planning what to wear. So consider who you are meeting and how you would like to be perceived. For example, wearing just black is easy, but can be seen as aloof and distant, so not great if you want to build up a rapport with someone. Grey is the colour of neutrality, so fantastic to wear in conflict situations or when negotiating. It helps you feel calmer.' And the best colour to wear in an interview? Blue: 'Navy helps you assert your authoritarian, but warmer blues will also be well received.'

...and what colours not to wear

So how can you inject some brightness into your working wardrobe without looking too desperate, attention-seeking or unprofessional? By adhering to the simple rule, less is more. 'If you want to be taken seriously, dazzling head-to-toe brights are not the way to go. Instead, wear one colourful piece - a scarf, a shirt or even a dress - but keep the rest of your outfit neutral. A red scarf or top will suggest power and assertiveness. But too much red could be deemed aggressive. And one final no-no: never wear pale pink in the workplace. It's fine if you want to appear innocent and girlie, but not if you want to get your point across effectively.'

Don't lapse with the weather

It's natural to adjust what you wear to suit the climate - but don't be tempted to reinvent your working wardrobe just because there's a heatwave. 'If you've spent all year building a consistent image that projects a professional elegance, the last thing you want to do is spoil that image by coming to work in a strappy top, short skirt and flip-flops. 'Instead of baring your legs, try good quality linen trousers or a plain maxi-skirt. And remember, bare legs and dark court shoes rarely work - so try peep-toe courts or smart wedges.' Likewise, don't suddenly dig out your novelty jumper for the office during a cold spell: layering is key, so you still look as smart as ever when you get to work.

Choose your shoes wisely

There's a whole host of considerations to take into account when choosing workplace footwear. Yes, you want to look smart and stylish - but your shoes also need to be practical, comfortable and professional-looking. 'Heels will always give you some gravitas - but not if they're so high that you end up having to totter. Our advice? Take the safe option - smart court shoes with a manageable heel. But look for something that's just a little bit different - a contrast toe cap, patent leather uppers or subtle cut-out details, for example - to give the look a hint of personality and individuality.  Check out our new Autumn/Winter catalogue for a number of classic examples, then choose the colour to match your outfit and with made-to-measure service, you are GUARANTEED comfort AND style!

www.poppybees.co.uk

Get your FREE consumer guide to perfect shoes,

Brand new designer shoe catalogue and

access our private online store now!

Stop impulse-buying

Why? 'It's a waste of time and money unless you know the item you're buying will fit into your existing wardrobe, there and then.

What usually happens is that the impulse purchase sits unworn in your wardrobe while you ponder what to wear with it or have to splash more cash on something new. Before making any fashion purchase, ask yourself the "magic three" questions:

1.  Can this be accessorised in three different ways? 
2. Can I wear it to three different events/occasions? 
3. And, most importantly, does it go with three things I already have in my wardrobe?'

Which is also, by the way, is the single most important reason to pre-plan when buying shoes. Aim to have three core colours that are transposable across your wardrobe and ideally three differing styles i.e. heels, flats and sandals etc.  That way you can more easily swap, change and accessorise your outfits. 

It also stops that last minute panic buying when you get an unexpected invite to a fancy do!

Buy in haste, repent at leisure. 

So, well before you need to do so, get your feet measured (we all change over time), decide on a style, colour, heel height and material that best suits your wardrobe then scour the globe for months trying to find the exact match - OR  just come to PoppyBees, tell us what your criteria is and your custom made shoes will be with you in six weeks, made to order. (You simply cannot get this type of designer customisation anywhere else in the UK unless you pay £500 or more!)

If you prefer, spread the expense with PoppyBees Diamonds Club, its an easy 'no-strings', way to squirrel away a few pounds per month and get stunning, designer shoes, every year without feeling the pinch. 

Bye for now.