Visual Vacation In Luxury

Everybody knows that winters in the Northeast aren’t pleasant. It’s bone chilling days like this that make me fantasize about the warm spring ones that are soon to come. Until those April showers bring the May flowers, this outfit will just have to do:

MOSCHINO CHEAP AND CHIC shirt / HAUTE HIPPIE jeans / COMME DES GARÇONS jacket / FREE PEOPLE backpack / ISABEL MARANT sneakers / RAIF hat / LINDA FARROW sunglasses

The semi-sheer, silk top is on trend and has a pretty graphic that instantly stirs thoughts of 76 degree weather. I love the floral pant and graphic shirt combination, which is a play on the trend of mixing prints. The stripes on the letterman jacket add another layer of texture and print giving the outfit plenty of depth. The quirkiness of this look is what makes it so great for me. It almost doesn’t work, but after five minutes of analytical staring I ended up falling in love with it.

Sneaker wedges are another trend I love. My favorites are Giuseppi Zanotti (left) and Isabel Marant (right):

You can find the Giuseppe’s at FarFetch.com and the Isabel Marant’s at AlwaysFashion.com. The great thing about sneaker wedges is you don’t have to have a ton of money to buy a good looking pair. These are two of my less expensive favorites:

The black and white are by Steve Madden and cost $150 and the green pair is by Jeffrey Campbell and is on sale for $115. The perfect in between option is by Ash. I love the design of their shoes. They are very streamlined and more reminiscent of an actual heel than most of the other sneaker wedges I’ve seen:

You can find these at ASOS.com. Come back tomorrow to check out a similar look fit for a smaller budget.

Sequin Shorts

A great way to add some pizazz to your outfit is with sequins.  In the summer, why not make it sequin shorts?  I love this look because it’s easygoing yet elegant:

TOPSHOP shorts / VINCE sweater / CASADEI pumps / REBECCA MINKOFF bag / MOVADO watch / THE ROW sunglasses / WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET earrings

A black and white motif with a small pop of color can be very eye catching.  The muted outfit allows the shoes to really stand out (which is exactly what you want them to do when they’re this expensive.) But again, shoes are worth the investment if you will wear them a lot.

The main rule when it comes to shoes is to know thyself.  If you are uncoordinated/look like a newborn deer when you try to walk in shoes like this, DO NOT BUY THEM, even if they cost $20.  They will end up collecting dust in the back of your closet and/or breaking your ankle.  They can be easily replaced with wedges that can give your outfit a similar feel.

These would probably stay on my feet for all of ten minutes before I’d rip them off begging for mercy.  I’m one of the uncoordinated plenty who would, sadly, have to replace them with wedges.  Here are some that I would swap:

These Dolce Vita wedges give the same idea without breaking your ankles or bank account.  If you want to stick with a pump, try these:

These Steve Madden pumps will only cost you $90.  They’re also a much shorter heel, decreasing the likelihood of ankle breakage.  Here is a less expensive version of the sequin shorts outfit:

WAREHOUSE shorts $31 / VILA shirt $31 / VINCE CAMUTO clutch $148 / DOLCE VITA heels $129 / T TAHARI ring $40 / PIECES earrings $20 / MARC BY MARC JACOBS bracelet $88 / EBAY sunglasses $10

Obsessed: Color Block Pumps

Color blocking is very trendy right now, so why leave your feet out of the loop?  Check out these awesome color blocked pumps:

Color Block Pumps in Luxury

1. Pierre Hardy Color Block Suede Wedge $1,380

2. Charlotte Olympia Striped Suede Platform Pump $925

3. Diane von Furstenberg  Olivia Wedge Sandals $295

4. Jean-Michel Cazabat Isola Collared Pumps $295

5. Versace Color Block Suede and Leather Pumps $775

6. Manolo Blahnik Color Block Suede d’Orsay $725

7. Giuseppe Zanotti Crystallized Color Block Platform Slingback $1,495

How amazing are those Charlotte Olympias.  And there’s something so special about the Diane von Furstenbergs…they’re very unique and understated.

Color Block Pumps in Reality

1. Tinley Road Raeleen $49

2. Charles David Color Block Pumps $116 (20% off here!)

3. Jessica Simpson Vadio Pumps $98

4. Qupid Neutral 99 $49

5. Steve Madden Shazamm on sale for $110 at Piperlime.com

6. Promise Davinci Orange Multi Color Block Platform Pumps $46

Who says color blocking has to stay within the rainbow?  I love 5. and 4. because they combine two trends: color blocking and animal prints!  The Charles David’s are definitely my favorite though.  Love them!

Wide Leg Pants in Reality

1. Title Unknown Heather Feather Muscle Tank Top $29

2. ASOS Premium Wide Leg Trousers with Leather Waistband $86

3. Steve Madden Wowzerr $140

4. ASOS Feather Clutch Bag $43

5. Boutique 9 ‘Illy’ Espadrille Sandal $93 (33% off from $140)

6. ASOS Leather Weave Clutch Bag

7. Timex ‘Easy Rider’ Leather Strap Watch $60

8. ASOS Cubed Stud Cocktail Ring $14

9. La Mer Collections Studded Leather Wrap Watch $128

If you couldn’t tell already, I love ASOS. They have some great pieces for not too much money. Say what you will about the feather clutch (4.), but I think it’s AMAZING.  I also love the cube/stud cocktail ring (8.)

Photos: Asos.com, Nordstrom.com, Stevemadden.com