Retro Sneakers

For a couple of years retro sneakers have been all the rage and this is a trend that is going to survive 2008 and 2009 as well.
Many retro sneakers are being remanufactured by the companies that made them in the seventies and eighties. One of the nicest pairs is the PF Lyers Boub Cousy All American Sneaker which is the original black and brown plaid sneaker worn by Hall of Famer Bob Cousery as he racked up six chanmpionships.
Converse All Stars also seem to never go out of style and although black is still a very popular style for these high topped classic running shoes.
If you want to look cool and like you are into martial arts then you should try theOnitska Tiger Tai Chi shoes. These are sleek and look like slippers. They actually look good with a skirt because they are so comfortable and molded. They come in red and black, silver and black and white and black. This is the shoe that is famous for its stress relieving effects on the mind and body. It is based on the teachings of the famous martial artist and movie star Bruce Lee.
Vintage style puma’s are also pretty popular. This is a fatter style of shoes. The silver and green Cel Cerae II is a pretty nifty shoe. More streamlined is the Puma Lady’s Speeder’s M which comes in a variety of colors as well.
The Klim Ripston is also very unique. It is basically a street version of a climbing shoe and it is has a unique low profile look. The shoe is made out of ripstop nylon and the sole is made out of rubber. The shoe has that cool rubber outsole that wraps around the side of the shoe and gives it an elegant molded look.
Thos old style Converse slip ons are also back. These shoes look like deck shoes and have a thick white sole. The most classic version is in white and the second most classic version is navy blue. The Camouflage version is also very popular and very seventies. These come in all kinds of different patterns as well including a pink Deco Flower, red graffiti pattern and a broken heart pattern. T
The traditional plaids are also still very hot when it comes to the Converse retro running shoe. It is available in green and pink plaid.
However if you want to be really cool then go for the Converse Skidgrip Sailor Jerry Canvas Slip-On with a screened image of a skull and crossbones on it. Tattoo like designs on running shoes are very cool for the winter and spring.

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Must-Have Shoes in Your Closet

There are some shoe styles that you should absolutely own this season if you want to look sexy. The first is a comfortable black pump where the heel is not too high but it is also not too low. Trotters make a nice style with a curved cleavage and a chunky low heel.

Also for partying you will need a black highed heel dress shoe. You don’t need a lot of straps on this shoe but a nice big jewel on the toe (preferably open toed) s very classy.

One pair you own should just be all out “glammit” with rhinestones and gold or silver lame.  These shoes really dress up that little black dress or a pair of black

You should also try to own neutral pumps in a beige color. The fabric of choice for these is suede. This type of pump goes well with everything including slacks. Try and get a high heel as high as you can stand. The standard height for a lot of these dress shoes is about four inches.  Any higher and most women really do have some difficulty walking in them.

A pair of casual, flat running shoes are also absolutely essential for wearing around the home. These are a pair of plaid or black shoes that you can just slip on. Rocket Dog and Keds make nice comfortable and durable versions of this.

A pair of heeled booties in black leather or suede are also a way of instantly dressing up a more casual outfit.  You can look chic, even in jeans when you were this type of shoe. The heel should be conical and the front part of the shoe should look a little bit like a cowboy boot. This type of shoe almost always stays in style no matter what.  The tighter the book is at the ankle the better it will look with a skirt.

You should also have a pair of sneakers that you can just put on for jaunts to the store or anywhere else. The old style Addidas shoes are very popular right now, not to mention affordable and comfortable.  The more retro your sneaker is the more “in trend” you are (as Tim Gunn would say.)

Every girl should also have a pair of terry cloth slippers that are designed like thongs. These are just practical and are great to wear after you have a bath. They are the type of slippers that are usually given out in spa.  A good example of this type of high end slipper is made by Dr. Scholl’s.  A pink pair of Dr. Scholl’s slippers is fashionable as well as quite pampering for your feet.

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The Square Toe Shoe

The square toe has been fashionable all year and it is still very much in evidence. They have been ultra hip ever since Prada showed them last year in the form of open toed stilettos. The Prada version was glossy and almost ridiculous in terms of actual height. These six inch heels have the foot straightened almost completely out just like a ballerina’s but these patent leather torture devices have been the hottest shoes in town for quite some time.

Pointy toed flats and stilettos are still around and go great with that little black  or red velvet dress that you will be wanting to wear at a Christmas party. Even though the square toes shoe is here to stay for a while you don’t want to be throwing out your pointy toed shoes just yet.  The reason that pointy toe shoes will never ever go out of style is because they elongate the leg. They give this illusion whether or not the shoe is high heeled or flat. Of course if you do go with a square toe you will have a very long look to your leg if the show has that square toe.

There are some super gorgeous square toed shoes out there. If you need a pair for wedding BCBGirls makes a lot of affordable ones in satin metallics. Particularly classy is the pair called Zabrinna that has a big flat metallic slab on the open toe.

There are many beautiful leather versions of the square toed shoe but they are also available in microfibers and faux suede if you don’t think that leather is bad ecologically or if you are a vegan.

The square trend works with anything including skirts, dresses and skinny jeans. They do look better with pants that have a slight flare to them. If you have short legs you will look better in them if you are wearing a longer skirt.  Never wear them with socks unless it is a Mary Jane style or you will look too clunky.

Square toe shoes are very in for men as well. Kenneth Cole Reaction makes a style for men called Super Streak that is a laced shoe with outside stitching.

Stitching is also very trendy and whether it is a man or woman’s style, the more stitching that the boot or shoe has the cooler it is going to be.  Contrasting laces are also a hip theme in shoes.

The flatter the heel the more space age this type of square toed shoe or boot is going to look.  For the holidays consider getting a flat heeled or low heeled boot in a metallic color like platinum or gold and you will be considered to be very hip.

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The Eternal Little Black Dress

The little black dress is here to stay even though people keeping saying that brown  is the new black.  The indispensable black cocktail dress was first introduced to us by Coco Chanel in 1926 and it was not long before it became the epitome of fashion. The little black dress is worn everywhere – from casinos to cocktail parties to funerals.’

As an object of fashion it is almost iconoclastic. It was the uniform of the twentieth century. It was a perfectly simple but sexy object. It is one of the few items of clothing that never seems to be affected by trends. It also tends to stay chick.

The black cocktail dress knows no style, social or size boundaries. Whether it costs one thousand dollars or fifty dollars or whether is a size two or a size 22 it is still the little black cocktail dress. All the big fashionistas, including Anna Wintour and Coco Chanel always said that a woman should have at least one of these in her closet.

The black dress changes in construction but not as much as other garments. It can be above the knee or below the knee, have any kind of collar or have any type of shoulder construction or strap.  This season is no different than any other.

Black was not always a fashionable color.  Before Coco Chanel introduced her chic outfits and dresses to the world it was a color that was only seen at funerals. If you want to read a book about the history of this dress there is a good one with great photos called “Little Black Dress” by Amy H. Eldelman.

There are tips for looking fierce in your little black dress this holiday season. For one thing the whole black tights with a black cocktail dress look is out. You are better off to have bare legs or flesh colored legs. The more sheer your hose is the classier it is going to look.

The black cocktail dress that never goes out of style is knee length with no sleeves.  A good shape has slightly capped sleeves and a high scooped neck.  The sexest versions of this have V’s in the back.

If you are larger in size you will look fantastic in a dress with a lace or chiffon skirt. The fuller skirt hides full hips and thighs. Add a sash at the waist to create an instant neckline.

The beautiful thing about a black cocktail dress is that it supports accessories so well.  It is like a blank canvas that you can embellish with any type of jewelry. Gold jewelry with a black dress “reads older” than silver jewelry. You can add primary splashes of color for a very contemporary look.

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