April 16, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
When it comes to editing down the list of my favorite ShoeDazzle footwear styles to just a mere few, I am having a MAJOR problem. The trouble, you see, is that there are so many amazing ones to take in for the spring/summer 2015 season, that it is an impossible task to whittle it down to a select few. This week I previewed the mainly shoe, and some handbag offerings that will available on the site, rolling out on a monthly basis now through July that do a nice job of encompassing the key trends of the season, spanning a nice variety of lifestyles and occasions where they would be right at home (see the slideshow above for my must-haves).
Some of the key trends I observed were the use of tassels, bows, and ornate jewels, cut-out and perforation detailing, bouclé, nautical, embossed exotic animal skin, heavy chrome, ethnic prints, graphic black and white elements, and gladiator-style, lace-up tie options. The collection was certainly an exercise in great style at fabulous prices; with new silhouettes frequently rolling out and a curated showroom option at ShoeDazzle.com to showcase styles meant just for you, prepare for your spring/summer 2015 look to surge to new style heights you’ve only imagined. Now there’s only one thing left to do: pick your most beloved, vibrant spring/summer nail polish shade and get thee a pedicure!
March 23, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
My childhood best friend, Jamie, and I are heading to Tennessee for an action-packed long weekend, and I can’t wait to get there. Being city slickers, we don’t have any pure country gear to wear, but I imagine we may pick something up along with way. In the meanwhile, I’m wearing in these booties, which have a touch of country twang with a lot of metropolis cool in the mix. To work, they look great with opaque tights and a jersey dress, but down south, I think it’s going to be more of a jeans situation.
In all honesty, I’m hyped to do some shopping, but most excited for the food that we will eat, as NYC BBQ certainly can be tasty, but I hear Memphis is were we definitely need to go to authentically chow down. If you’ve been to (or are from) Memphis or Nashville, any and all shopping and food suggestions are welcome! In the meanwhile, here’s how I’m sporting my Tennessee accessories in anticipation of the trip.
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March 9, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
[Images by Christina Emilie Photography]
Did we just get an inkling of an indication that spring may actually be dead set on arriving soon? As the slushy streets give way to a more watered down iteration, Puffy coats can be stashed, at least for the moment, and give way to more shapely outwear and adventurous footwear. For me, it’s all about my fitted, shrunken moto jacket, coupled with these awesome fur peep-toe booties, which are certainly a bit of an oxymoron (fur, sandals, wintertime…) but so utterly fantastic and fabulous, nonetheless. From the ankles up, I certainly look like I’m on my way to a day at the office, but one glance at these shoes prove that I’m actually enroute to a more extraordinary destination…
I’m Bahamas-bound at the end of the week, and can’t wait to feel the sun glaring down on me while my freshly pedicured toes wiggle freely with excitement! Don’t worry: plenty of SPF 50 and “pale girl essentials” like a wide brimmed hat and SPF clothing will be in tow too! In the meanwhile, I hope you enjoy my urban take on enjoying the 40 degree weather in New York City.
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February 9, 2015
by Julia DiNardo
If you grew up in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, PA, the term “red up” can be a cringe-worthy phrase, as it would usually be in the context of, “you can’t go out until you red up your room!” Red up, or rather it’s more mainstream component, clean up, is something that most of us are doing this time of year as we hibernate in our homes where straightening up, organizing, and purging are common activities that we participate in. I’ve been doing my fair share of that, which has also been fueled by the incredibly popular book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.
As my small apartment is becoming more tidy and streamlined, just in time for the explosion of things that is fashion week to happen, I also took on a different version of “red up” to get ready for the fall/winter 2015 collections by literally upping the shade of red in my hair to a more vibrant one. The incredibly talented Nicole Tresch at Rita Hazan was game to give it a try, and here I am before you, as a slightly redder version of myself. It also rings as a coincidence that red is the color of the week, with Valentine’s Day falling on an oh-so-convenient Saturday this year.
Here’s a look at some of my favorite pieces that I heavily rely upon on the weekend, with some new accents thrown into the mix. I hope you have a great week, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
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