Brogue Yourself

"She had been looking at shoes. Not just looking, more examining them under her microscope, for she blew up their myriad details by 500 per cent via the digi-printer to human sized proportions. The punched-out holes of a lustrous brown brogue became the chest section of a dress; a brass buckle was recast as a belt; tassels on a traditional man’s golfing shoe became a curtain of patent pleated panels on the front of a short dress or layers of pleats on the hip of a skirt." 
www.elleuk.com commenting on Mary Katrantzou's SS14 collection 

(Image sourced from www.lwcloset.com)

Now here at Hoad's its no secret that we ADORE brogues (and clearly so does Mary Katrantzou, making our tastes high up there with the fashion goddesses, or so I keep telling myself); I simply cannot think of an occasion that a brogue would not work at (OK sliiight exaggeration!). Anyway, brogues can take on a whole new lease of life when produced in different colours and textures so without further ado I present to you our spring summer 2014 brogue selection:

Clarks Hamble Oak £54.99

A great example of how a mixture of textured leathers can transform the masculine brogue styling to a smart and girly alternative to a pump.

HB 5756 £125

Part of the brogue family but not full on brogue; a more casual way to rock the brogue is in this suede and textured leather tassel loafer.

Ecco 631134 £120

Ecco full suede brogues are perfect for the summer; not too heavy to wear at the weekend in your casuals or linens but smart enough to wear with a suit.

Steptronic Floyd £110

TWO TONE SUEDE BROGUE yes I must write in capitals as I love it that much! This shoe is stunning - different to your usual work or casual brogue but bang on trend and not too loud. Just wait until you put this shoe on - you will start wanting to write about it with caps lock firmly on! 

Do you love brogues us much as us? Let us know!

Laser Cut Shoes

(Image sourced from paperblog,com)

Laser cut shoes are another popular trend for this spring summer which means your feet can look pretty while also being aerated in those oh so many hot summer days we get here (always the practical thinker, and optimist!). 

"When you want to spice up an outfit, opt for a pair of visually intriguing laser cut shoes. These statement-worthy pieces add a splash of pizazz to any ensemble, and make a simple outfit come to life." blogher.com

Here's our collection that made the cut this season:

Clarks Henderson Silk £50

White on white and metallic shimmer are perfect for the party season with comfort padded insoles and laser cut detail. 

Fitflop Flora £65

Fitflop Flora are bang on trend with their bright vibrant colours and laser cut detail to the upper.

Gabor 84.169 £75

Gabor have brought out these fun square laser cute pumps in a variety of colours that are key for this season completed with their hovercraft sole unit for all day comfort. 

Gabor 86.094 £75

A variation on Gabor's classic California moccasin updated in pastel tones with laser cut detailing to the tongue area.

Rieker 40078 £49.99

Rieker have added a bit of girly glamour to this basic blue loafer.

Rieker Z9415 £57

Pastel pink boot with stud detail and laser cut flower pattern perfect for the summer.

Van Dal Monteray £68

With an espadrille sole unit and laser cut flower uppers this Van Dal summer shoe is perfect for any occasion.

Van Dal Selma £65

A peep toe sling back with slight laser cut detail adds interest and glamour to this simply cut shoe.

Van Dal Tahoe £75

Metallic toe caps mix perfectly with the laser cut flower detail on these cute and feminine comfort padded ballet pumps.

Will you embrace the laser cut trend this season?

Flower Power

This season (and lets be honest most spring/summers) florals are everywhere - floral prints, flower power accessories and floral applique on footwear. Floral detailing on shoes really makes them pop and as most women know, the shoe really does make the outfit!

(Image sourced from www.chicoshoes.com)

"An incredibly popular trend during this upcoming spring and summer season is the use of floral appliqués. It makes sense when you think about it: what better way to celebrate warm weather’s flowers and gorgeous variety of colors than using those very vessels of vibrancy as shoe-spiration?" www.shoerazzi.com/spring-2014-shoe-trends

So here's our bunch of flowery footwear;

Fitflop Fleur £70

Sixties inspired with multi-layered flower detailing to the front, subtle and perfect for everyday.

Rieker £57

Suede flower style detailing to the toe adds interest to this comfortable wedged sandal. 

A Girls Best Friend is a Wedge

Everyone loves a wedge - you get all the glamour of wearing a heel without the pain; even the most comfy of heels feel like boa-constrictor snakes squeezing the life out of your feet by the end of a long day.

For a classic summer wedge simplicity is key - clean lines, block colours and neutrals enable one pair of wedges to go with a multitude of outfits; here are our wedge offerings.

Clarks Octagon Bahama £44.99

Holiday inspired strappy wedge with espadrille styled wedge heel and tan leather uppers.

Clarks Perfect Laugh £54.99

More or a flatform possibly than a wedge but still on that wedge heel, wicker style detail to the heel with coloured cross over straps make this shoe comfortable and fun.

Clarks Rusty Art £49.99

A more demure and sensible wedge height for the office in the summer (perhaps more so in the black) double adjustable straps for supreme comfort.

Riva Barbados £65

A multitude of bright colours to choose from, the lower wedge heel makes this perfect for everyday.

Pedro Miralles 4302 £85

Tonal suede strap detail to the front adds an elegant touch to this otherwise casual styled wedge, made with a molded footbed for all day comfort.

Pedro Miralles 5107 £79.95

Only a very slight wedge to this dressy metallic and white number.

Have you tried any of our wedges? What did you think of them? We'd love to know!

Key Footwear Styles for Men S/S14

(Image sourced from http://www.globalblue.com)

Men’s spring summer trends are all about the accessories with footwear being a the 

top of the list. For all you men that are interested in fashion, footwear does matter; 

in fact research suggests that every inch of your outfit can create an everlasting 

first impression. 

"Women judge men's shoes twice as much as men judge women's. 64 percent 

of women judge a man's fashion sense based on his shoes; 52 percent of 

women say they judge a man's personality by his shoes; 36 percent say 

they use shoes to determine a man's financial position; and 54 percent say 

men's shoes reflect a guy's attention to detail (or lack thereof)" 

http://network.details.com/post/ss-14-men-footwear-trends#sthash.1pXkrxkr.dpuf

With that in mind, here are our top picks to meet all your footwear needs 
(and the women's!) this season:

1. The Tassel Loafer

Steptronic Fury £110

This season like many previous seasons the loafer is big news but the key trend this spring summer is the ever-popular tasselled version in leather. This simple yet highly effective style suits a wide variety of occasions and fit well with a multitude of looks. Steptronic takes this loafer to the next level with their super soft leather uppers and gel and sheepskin padded inner soles for supreme comfort. 

2. The Suede Derby

Clarks Denner Motion £64.99

Rieker 13012 £59.99 

Perfect for those warmer, drier days this season is all about the suede Derby; with lighter soles for a spring feel and an array of colours to choose from to suit your mood. They work perfectly for casual or dress wear with a multitude of outfits; wear with dark jeans and a light shirt and perhaps a blazer for a dressier summer occasion and with chinos (shorts or full length) and a tee or looser shirt. 

3. The Two Tone Brogue

Steptronic Floyd £110

Barbour Westoe £99.95

Barker Jackson £190

The two tone brogue became big in the latter half of 2013 due to its subtle way of separating your footwear from the vast crowd of brogues out there. Perfect for dressy summer occasions compared to your classic brogue that can look too heavy with lighter coloured clothing. Although the two tone brogue can be dressed down it shines in all its splendor when paired with a smarter outfit.  

Whats your favourite men's spring summer look?

Fashion trends sourced from http://www.fashionbeans.com/2014/five-key-footwear-styles-for-springsummer/

A Break Down of the Colour Trends: 5. Hot Pink

"Pink was the standout colour at London Fashion Week with many of the designers displaying pink in their collections, including Burberry, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Temperley London, J. J. S. Lee, Antonio Berardi and Eudon Choi. The shade of pink varied from catwalk to catwalk; while paler shades were seen on the most catwalks, neons caused a stir at the Preen by Thornton Bregazzi show." www.theguardian.com

  

(Images sourced from www.mydaily.co.uk and www.stylenest.co.uk)

This season pink is back but works best as a single standout piece or mixed in with various pink shades for an entire gloriously girly offering. Mix pinks with different layers, textures and accessories to build a fabulous wardrobe around a single colour. Works equally as well with staple wardrobe items like jeans and whites - think linens, chiffon and and satin to give your outfits interest and depth when sticking to one colour.  

1. Clarks Raffi Magic £54.99

2. HB 437l £69

3. Riva Barbados £65

4. Gabor 84.169 £75

5. Clarks Perfect Laugh £54.99

Hot pink works well for any occasion, laid back summer comfort or full on opera glamour there's an option for every eventuality. 

More about the colour pink

Pink is essentially a lighter red (in the colour spectrum) therefore it also takes on connotations of love, romance and emotion but in a much softer fashion. Lighter pink shades have been known for their calming properties and darker pink shades for their evoking of excitement and joy. 

Pink is known to be associated with cancer ribbons; in this situation it portrays the urge to fight and be strong, it implies unity and hope. In many cultures pink is mainly a girly colour associated with "sugar and spice and everything nice" however it is often displayed on men's catwalks just less frequently. 

Is pink your colour? How and when have you worn it?

A Break Down of the Colour Trends: 4. Ruby Red

"Fervent hues of red ignited the catwalks in London, Paris and Milan during the Spring Summer 2014 collections. From silken tailoring to knitwear, red fiercely burned in many shades ranging from warmer berry nuances to coral and even verging on hot pink." www.swide.com

(Image sourced from http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG10326567/Milan-Fashion-Week-Dolce-and-Gabbana-springsummer-2014.html)

Bold, bright red adds vibrancy and depth to a spring/summer wardrobe - bling it up with gold detailing for a luxurious and ethnic vibe or mix it with key pastel tones for a beautiful summer explosion of colour. Clash reds with oranges and pinks for that real wow factor. 

1. Gabor 83.700 £59.99

2. HB 233 £110

3. Rieker 40054 £57

4. HB 389 £75

5. Gabor 84.235 £75

This rich vibrant red goes just as well with summer tones as it will with your greys and blacks when the short nights set in (yes I know its depressing, we haven't even had summer yet but justification for new shoes is a must!).

(Image sourced from http://www.swide.com/style-fashion/mens-trends/trend-review-menswear-spring-summer-2014-milan-london-paris-photo-gallery/2013/07/02)

You don't have to be an avid fashion follower to add a bit of red to your summer wardrobe; go for a red jumper or red shoes for a splash of colour without heading into that 'look at me' danger zone that those of you that stick to darker less noticeable colours might worry about!

In-store we have this sumptuous suede offering from Rieker £59.99  - lightweight and perfect with darker trousers and a light top. 

More about the colour red

The colour red evokes strong feelings and emotions; it can be portrayed as aggressive and angry or it can be associated with emotion and love. 

When thinking about the psychology of colour and how others may perceive those colours it is important to focus on the situation; for example as said before red can be seen as an aggressive colour therefore wearing it for an interview or initial meeting might not be such a good idea!

The meaning of colours can also differ throughout various cultures; in some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration. Red is the colour of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck.

Is red your colour this season? Let us know how you style this vivacious colour.