The dreaded bridesmaid’s dress doesn’t have to be the dreaded bridesmaid dress anymore.  Brides are taking more chances now, doing what works for them and their likes, and moreover, their budgets.  If you are a good girlfriend to your friends, chances are, you have a closet full of disgarded southern belle dresses from their weddings.  But now that brides are adding their own unique twist, and realizing that no one likes the southern bell dress, and not even your BFF really wants to wear it. 

If you are getting married, you are strongly encouraged to (A) Be unique!  (B) Give your wedding your own personal flare of bling.  Let your freak flag fly, sister.  and (C)  Avoid the dreaded traditional bridesmaid dress at all cost. 

This is how a few beautiful brides injected a flare of their own personalities at their weddings. 

Do you know a peep toe pump from a platform shoe?  Do you know a stiletto from a sling back?

Shoe Terminology 101:

The Stiletto:  Stilettos are long, thin, and super-high heels  found on boots and shoes.  Stiletto heels may vary in length, from 1 inch to  10 inches or more if a platform sole is used…however, we’ve come to think of stilettos as being extremely high, with a pencil-thin heel.

Peep toe:  Not quite an open toe, and not quite a closed toe heel, the peep toe offers just a glimpse of your toes and your pedicure (make sure to have one if you opt for the peep toe).    Since it’s not quite an open toe, many times you can pull the peep toe off in the corporate world.  It can be professional when done properly.

Sling backs, an ultra classic.  What makes them a sling backs?   It’s the strap around the heel that makes it a sling back.  Otherwise, this would be a platform pump.  The sling back is a super sexy option, and makes your legs look long and shapely.

The platform:  Almost no heel has gained as much popularity in the last five years as the platform heel.  Once a choice of exotic dancers everywhere, platforms hit the Hollywood scene, and crossed over into the luxury set.  Platforms are actually more comfortable than you might think.  The front base of the heel creates the illusion that your foot is arched far more than it is.

The Wedge:  So the 70s called and demanded to be relevant again.  And that’s exactly what happened.  We embraced the wedge heel again as if were were tree-hugging-hippies in 1976 and added our new millennium chic twist.  The results have been phenomenal, and the wedge is relevant again.

Finally, Friday is here which is code for the beginning of the weekend and “mandatory downtime”.   Take some time to relax.  Take some time for a facial.  Take some time for a bubble bath.  Take some time to rearrange your shoe closet.  Take some time to do an hour of yoga.  But most of all, make sure you melt into your down time so you can decompress and energize.  That’s what weekends are for, girl! 

Valentines day is in 10 days…are you ready?  You can start at Zappos. 

   Nike is helping people get in touch with their inner shoe designer.  After all, we want to look stylish at all times, including our workouts.  One of my favorite forms of cardio is step aerobics, and for that reason, I adore Nike Shox.  They have built in shocks in the heel, making them perfect for stepping, jumping, dance, running, etc.  They provide maximum cushioning to the heel.  My favorite part about my Shox is that I can design them myself, choosing from color, design, material, embellishments…right down to the color of the shoosh.   Not only is Nike my favorite workout shoe for performance, but they also step up the fun by letting you design them yourself.  Go To NikeID now to design your own kicks!

The beginning of a new season can mean only one thing for fashionistas: new shoes. Enter the DSW Sweepstakes and you could be the lucky winner to receive a $150 gift card to splurge on some fashion-forward footwear. Whether you’re planning on stomping through some springtime puddles or looking to show off your bare gams in a perfect pair of pumps, you’ll find hundreds of styles to meet all your accessorizing needs.

Gladiator shoes…..let’s discuss.  Everywhere you look, you see gladiator-inspired shoes.  Why?  Why would you take a part of your body that you want to be small and dainty, and decorate it with buckles and brass half way up your calf?  Why would you want to elongate your foot to make it look longer?  Before you jump on the gladiator trend bus, keep in mind that this is (A) just a fad and (B) makes your foot look equivalent to Shaq’s!  Who wants that?  Check out some serious offenders below.  This style shoe is heavy and chunky, making a beautiful dress look off balance.  It’s just a highly unattractive look and I hope it goes away soon.  Avoid straps and attention to the center of the top of your foot.  When you have too much going on there, it makes your foot seem enormous.  Unless, enormous feet are what you’re striving for.