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Are Sketchers Shape-Ups Worth The Cost?

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
London: Sketchers Shape Ups 

Image by gorgeoux via Flickr

“Sketchers Shape-Ups”  were first introduced a few years ago, but now, with the endorsements of celebrities like Kim Kardashian, they are gaining momentum in the athletic shoe world.  The premise of the shoe is that they are supposed to help people who wear them lose weight, tone their muscles, and improve their posture, without having to step one foot into the gym.  Although the company claims that avid Shape-Up wearers can see amazing results, are they really worth the $100 price tag?

For starters, many will say that Shape-Ups are not the most fashionable shoe on the market, which is in large part due to their bulky sole.  The sole is elevated, and that’s where the “soul” of these magic shoes lie.  Many wearers say that due to the way that the sole is made, walking can some getting used to.  Most Shape-Up wearers also reported that they would feel a burning sensation in their legs when they walked in them, similar to a good workout.

However, even though some people have said to see results,  The American Council on Exercise has put out a statement saying that based off of an independent research that they conducted on the shoes, they ”… found no evidence to suggest that the shoes help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.”

Choosing to purchase a pair of Sketchers Shape-ups is entirely up to the person who has to shell the money out, but, it must be noted that results are not typical, so the shoes should be bought more for fashion rather than function.

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Shoe Storage Options for the Shoe Lover

May 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A pair of circular-head court shoes / pumps in... 

Image via Wikipedia

 

You’ve done your fashion homework and satisfied your love of shoes by purchasing several pairs of high heels for dressy occasions, flats for afternoon lunches, athletic footwear for your daily workouts and boots for inclement weather. If you’re truly passionate about footwear, your shoe count may be in the hundreds. Knowing how to properly store your shoes will preserve the life of your footwear and bring proper organization to your closet.

Deciding on a Shoe Storage Strategy

Many people who love their shoes are also concerned about storing them. When you run out of space and stack your shoes on top of one another, you increase the risk of shoe damage. The sharp heels of one shoe may dig into the leather covering of another, leaving marks and dents.

To prevent this problem, examine your shoe storage space and organize your closet. If your closet is small, you may need to take advantage of other spaces in your home. For example, identify doors in the home that can accommodate a hanging shoe rack. Bathroom doors or unused rooms may be good options. You might also take advantage of space in your garage to store out-of-season shoes inside shoe boxes. Such boxes may also fit under your bed.

Finding the Right Shoe Storage Devices

Depending on how much space you have for your shoes, you’ll want to purchase shoe shelves, racks and boxes. For best options, visit stores that primarily sell organizational products. You’ll find more varieties from which to choose. Be sure to measure the space in your closet, under your bed and in other locations before making a purchase.

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Fashion on a Budget

April 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Open any magazine and you’re sure to be inundated with photos of stars wearing the latest trends. With money being no object, it’s no wonder your favorite stars always look so polished and in style.

Fashionistas don’t have to break the bank, however, when it comes to mirroring the popular, fashionable styles seen on celebrities in televisions and magazines. You can still get the latest and greatest trends in fashion by visiting stores that carry the trends of your favorite stars, only at affordable prices.  Take some magazine photos to your favorite clothing stores and ask the sales clerk to help you find pieces of the latest styles you like.

But even when clothing is affordable, it’s still easy to overspend. These tips will help you stick to your budget when you shop:

  • Shop at different places and mix and match brands to save the most money.
  • Consider a prepaid card. Prepaid credit cards such as the Tom Joyner Reach Card allow you to only spend the money you have, so you don’t have to worry about overcharging or increased debt.
  • Use credit responsibly. Credit cards can be great when you shop, but be sure to be responsible with your credit card spending; just because you’re using credit doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay the money back.
  • Shop sales. Sign up for email alerts or put yourself on the mailing list of your favorite stores. This way, you’ll know when there are sales and can get more fashion for less money.

You can still be fashionable on a budget with these tips.

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Stylish Ways to Pamper Your Feet

April 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Color Theory 4 (28/52)

Image by Wolfman-K via Flickr

Many people give different answers when asked which part of their attire, makes the outfit. It is quite possible that those who say shoes make the outfit, are those who know how to select foot apparel in an economical and versatile way.

For quite some time, people have been wearing a good pair of comfortable sneakers, sandals, or shoes while traveling to and from work. They save their expensive, stylish footwear for on the job. Not foregoing style, people own more than one pair of these shoes, to match any occasion. Luckily, casual shoes come in all colors and styles. Mixing and matching patterns is also making a fashion comeback.

Checkerboard and other patterns

Casual walking shoes that come in a variety of colors in a checkerboard pattern look great with gingham stripes, plaid, or polka dot separates. Black on white Capri’s, skirts, or blazers look great when capped off with a pair of black and white checkered casual shoes.

Hues and Tones

Pastel colors mixed with different shades of brown, hang on clothing store racks everywhere today. The same is true for browns mixed with a wide array of blue and green hues. If you top off any outfit with a tan khaki blazer or tailored jacket, you can wear brown, pink, or blue-green and brown sandals or tennis shoes for a comfortable but classy look and feel.

Not just for running anymore

Shoemakers today realize that jogging will never go out of style. They design footwear to fit the lifestyle of the most enthusiastic jogger, but they consider styles for the workaholic as well as the party person.

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Giving Back to the Community

March 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Most fashion designers and clothing lines stand out in some way, because they offer unique products or because of the names behind the line. Other lines of clothing and related accessories stand out for a completely different reason. For example, some shoe manufacturers stand out because they vow to provide shoes for underprivileged children all over the world for every pair of shoes that customers buy. This isn’t just a special promotion – This is a promise that the shoe manufacturer has made and promised to keep for as long as they are in business, a promise known as “One for One.”

Toms shoes is an example of a company that you can really rely on to do right by the world. Founded in 2006, Tom’s Shoes is a shoe company with a serious mission. While the founder was in a participant on a TV show called “The Amazing Race” his team ended up in Argentina and when he noticed that not only did many poor children not have shoes, making them far more susceptible to disease- but that they were not allowed to attend school without shoes. As such founder Blake Mycoskie took initiative and created Tom’s Shoes. Tom’s shoes have created a variety of shoes, many based off the alpargata style he saw in Argentina. This is a really neat and distinct company that is doing good things all around the world by making sure that underprivileged children have access to shoes. There are too many children in the world that are forced to go barefoot, and Tom has vowed to make this stop.

If you have a passion for doing good things for the world, then buying a pair of shoes from Tom’s is a smart idea. Not only will you get a nice pair of shoes for yourself, but you will also be helping a child somewhere else in the world as a result.

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Fashion and Kinds of Support

February 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A high-heeled ladies shoe.

Image via Wikipedia

Just like any movie production where the real magic happens behind the scenes, the magic of your outfit happens because of what happen under the fabric. The right under garment makes all the difference in the world. The same can be said for the right food support. Nothing can make you look worse than if you are wincing from pain because of your shoes. To avoid all these fashion hiccups, you need to make sure that you have the right support.

If you are wearing a dress that is skin tight or sheer you need to invest in a pair of spanx. Many women think that having to buy spanx is a sign that you are considered a big girl or is admitting that you have cellulite. The truth is, all women have cellulite. The only reasons that stars do not look like they have cellulite is because they have on spanx. Spanx are the answer to all of your lumps and bumps. Spanx will smooth everything out and make sure look lean and trim.

Shoe support is another trick of the stars. Do you ever wonder how they can walk the red carpet in five inch heels and still be smiling radiantly afterward. The trick is shoe support. When you are looking for a pair of heels, make sure that the heels offer some kind of support. If there is nothing between you and the floor but a tiny piece of rubber, then your feet are going to hurt. Many designers design their shoes to be worn all day, so investing in a more expensive pair of shoes can make it well worth it. If the shoes do not offer any support but you love them, put in your own support by buying inserts.

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Wearing the Best Shoes for the Occasion

February 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many people do not think of their shoes as part of their outfit, but shoes can either make or break an outfit. So it is important to know what shoes to pair with what.

Everyone wears jeans and jeans can now be worn to a variety of events thanks to the type of shoes that you are wearing. During the day, you can pair your jeans with a great pair of flats. Ballet flats are a great option so are a cute pair of flat sandles. If you are going for a more professional look, a great pair of boots can be worn. There are several types of boots out there that are all considered appropriate depending on personal preference. Boots can also be more appropriate for the office as they are comfortable and offer support. If you are looking to have a little fun with your outfit, you can wear a fun pair of sandles. Wedges are a great option for spring and summer because they offer more support than regular heels but are still cute and a little sexier than wearing regualr sandles. If you want to dress up your jeans to go from the office to dinner, a great pair of black heels or sparkly ballet flats will help you transition.

If you are wearing a dress you really should consider investing in a great pair of heels. If you are not the type of person who wears heel regularly then the kitten heel is for you. Kitten heels are small heels but they are stills dressy. If you unsure about wearing stilettos then you might consider wearing a great wedge. Wedges give you a more stable base while still looking formal.

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When to Wear Flats and Heels

February 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There is a time and place to wear everything including those dangerously high heels that you love. However, if you are not wearing the right shoes to the right event you can end up looking inappropriately dressed and not put together.

If you have been invited to black tie event then flats are pretty much out of the question. Heels will always be considered more formal and should be worn for special occasions. If you are against wearing heels or have a previous injury that keeps you from wearing super high stilettos, then you might want to consider wearing a kitten heel. A kitten heel is a shoe that has a teeny tiny heel. Kitten shoes are a great to wear because they are not very high but still offer enough of heel for you to look formal. You could invest in a pair of wedges, but wedges tend to be slightly less formal and may not be appropriate for the event. If you are suffering from a knee or ankle injury and cannot avoid wearing flats, then you need to consider the type of gown that you will be wearing. If the event is black tie, it would be appropriate for you wear a floor length gown. If you are wearing a floor length gown you can get away with wearing flats.

If you have been invited to a less formal or day event, heels are not always appropriate. Heels can be worn nearly everywhere, but you need to consider the heels that you are wearing. If you are invited to a lunch, your black strappy heels are probably not appropriate. In this case, wedges are more appropriate. Wedges tend to be less formal than heels but still give you the options of wearing heels. A cut flat sandle or ballet flat would be perfect for a less formal event. Heels may even be appropriate if they are the right style. If would be slightly inappropriate for you to wear black to a daytime event, so a more neutral or fun flirty tone of shoe would be more acceptable.

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Dos and Don’ts of Fashion

February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A fashion shoot of outfits found at a "Ta...

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Everyone always thinks that they look their best and no one wants to hear that they look terrible, but the truth is we probably are all guilty of committing at least one crime of fashion.

Probably the largest crime of fashion is to not dress your age. Many women think that by shopping in the teen department then they will look younger. However, the opposite is true. If you are trying to wear something that your child could also wear, you are just going to look like you are trying to hard.

Just because you can zip something up does not mean that it fits. Women seem to get obsessed with the idea that they are a certain size and that is it. However, every piece of clothing is different. You might be one size in a dress and another in a pair of pants. What is more important is that you understand how clothes are supposed to fit. Clothes should not bunch around any part of you or if your skin is bulging over the top of a dress, you need to go up to the next size. The reverse is also true. If the clothes are hanging you and you look a homeless person, then you need to go down a few sizes.

Color is great, but in small amounts. If you want to be fashion forward then you know that a pop of color is a great way to achieve that. However, when they say a pop of color, they really just one pop-not a whole outfit. Rather than wearing an entire colorful outfit, add a red belt or a yellow purse. Color can really make you stand out in a good way, but you need to make sure that you are doing it in the right way. The reverse is also true here. If you are wearing one solid color pallet, you will not only blend into a crowd up you will look boring and uncreative.

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