A Break Down of the Colour Trends : 1. Pastels

(Image sourced from http://stylefrizz.com/201309/sandals-youll-need-spring-summer-2014-burberry-ss14/)

Pastel shades are one of the first things that springs to mind when thinking of summery days, warm evenings and holidays. Although we expect many of you have pastel shades in your summer wardrobes from previous seasons if you want to update your selection without spending too much money add a pastel shoe and transform your summer look.

Here is what we have in the way of pastel shades for spring summer 2014 for the women:

Starting with this pale pink patent effect ballet pump from Clarks, this shade of pink is just bright enough to add depth to an outfit without being too garish or obvious. Perfect with white jeans, summer dresses and floaty skirts and at a fabulous price of £29.99. Buy here

Sticking with pink is this stunning HB suede and leather pump with baby blue piping detail and bow to the front. The addition of the pastel blue adds interest and elegance to this simple little pump, perfect for a dressy occasion where a heel just would not do. Buy here

On to a more casual affair with the spring pastel Converse available in mint green, pale purple and pastel spotted. Converse canvas lace ups suit all ages and are the perfect every day run around shoe, lightweight and comfortable. Buy here

Comfortable feet are important throughout the year but in the summer with the (potential) heat it feels even more so. This year Gabor have brought out a variation on their fantastically comfortable and popular moccasin (previous blog about them here) in pastel shades with cut out detail for decoration and to keep the feet nice and cool in the summer. Made on a slightly wider last to enable the feet to spread out and remain comfortable for the duration on the wear. Buy them here

A mixture of comfortable casual and smart in this Rieker heeled sandal, made on a plush padded sole unit to keep feel happy with a touch of sparkle to keep the eyes happy! Tonal pastel shading on the uppers adds interest and helps mate with a multitude of outfits and occasions. Available here 

Now moving on the the classic spring summer colour, BEIGE. Not much needs to be said about how versatile and classically pretty beige can be so we'll let the shoes do (most of) the talking:

Masculine yet pretty the Clarks Hamble Oak in nude.

A wooden effect sole unit ensures this fits into any occasion.  

Cut out detail brings this Clarks Henderson Silk pump to life while the comfort padded removable insole ensures comfy feet for those long summer BBQ's

Three dressy options from Gabor all for very different occasions; update your spring work wardrobe with the suede pointed toe heel above, be comfortable yet stylish at a wedding or summer party in the square toe patent option or opt for the suede heeled sandal for a lighter affair. 

 HB 353

HB 5756

Two variations on the classic moccasin from HB; textured leather adds a point of difference to both while the brogue detailing and tassel detail takes this loafer from pounding the streets of London to office chic with tailored trousers and a crisp white shirt. 

Peep toe - tick; sling back - tick; beige - tick; patent - tick. What more could you want from a summer heeled sandal apart from the addition of a patent and suede bow?! Buy now

An option on the pink ballet pump mentioned above if pink is just not your thing. The addition of green means this pump will easily take you into the colder months. 

A flat every day sandal for those ladies that love a bit of bling (and who doesn't?!)

Snake skin effect toughens up this girly ballet pump making the transition from spring summer to autumn winter that little bit easier! 

With inspiration from the loved smoking slipper this ballet pump come moccasin has an air of sophistication to it with the textured leather and elongated toe. Edging on the masculine side this shoe ticks all the boxes. 

Finishing on this stunning suede peep toe heel perfect for parties and weddings alike. Mix with certain shades and this heel takes on an almost lilacy tone, stick with white and it sits perfectly in the beige crowd but find the right material and you could almost believe this shoe belongs in the pink family. Treated with Van Dal's Iron Mask technology means this shoe is as happy in the rain as it is in the sunshine, unfortunately weather gods if you are listening we are not! Buy here

The Colour Palette for Spring Summer 2014 - Women

Once again we take a look at the colour reports from Pantone to see which colours are big this season and where we can reuse items in our wardrobes to nail the trends. 

(Image sourced from here)

We think the colours for this Spring Summer are great, there are almost two categories; the pastel tones which freshen up outfits and look perfect with whites and the bold bright colours which inject a fun and flirty feel. Some of these colours we have seen before, the dazzling blue for example is close the the cobalt blue that was so popular last year, lets hope you hung on to those pieces! The Paloma and Sand are fantastic base colours that'll easily see you through to next season and are versatile enough to fit into your current wardrobe. 

Here' what Pantone say about this seasons colour palette: 

"Designers take a modern twist on the traditional for spring 2014 by pairing soft pastels with vivid brights to create a colorful equilibrium. Inspired by a mixture of blooming flowers, travels abroad and strong, confident women, designers use color to refresh, revive and defy conventional wisdom.

"This season, consumers are looking for a state of thoughtful, emotional and artistic equilibrium," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "While this need for stability is reflected in the composition of the palette, the inherent versatility of the individual colors allows for experimentation with new looks and color combinations." 

Three very adaptable pastels sit on one end of the palette, and, because we are so accustomed to seeing them as nature's background, they can be creatively combined with any other color in the spectrum. Placid Blue, like a picture-perfect, tranquil and reassuring sky, induces a sense of peaceful calmness, while Violet Tulip, a romantic, vintage purple, evokes wistful nostalgia. Similar to the verdant shade of springtime foliage, Hemlock, a summery, ornamental green, provides a decorative touch that's very different from the greens of recent seasons. Pair any of these versatile pastels with a bolder hue for an au courant look.

Sand, a lightly toasted and amiable neutral, conjures images of the beach and the carefree days of summer. Try pairing Sand with Hemlock for perfect, natural balance. Paloma serves as a quintessential neutral, interesting enough to be worn alone or combined with any color for sophisticated poise.

Cayenne, a high-pitched red, adds a dash of spicy heat to neutrals, and heightens the excitement when mixed with Freesia, a blazing yellow that is sure to illuminate wardrobes this season. A tropical, floral-inspired shade, Freesia's warmth and energy help set the stage for Celosia Orange, an optimistic, spontaneous hue. Pair Celosia Orange with Violet Tulip for a captivating vision, much like the setting summer sun.

The palette is brought full circle with Radiant Orchid, a bold counterpart to Violet Tulip, and Dazzling Blue,a scintillating, polar opposite to Placid Blue. Surprisingly, these strong, vibrant colors also pair well across the palette: They are perfect companions to pastels, and add confidence and vivacity when mixed with other bold colors.(www.pantone.co.uk)"

What you can expect from Hoads this season to ensure you are perfectly on trend even if just with your footwear as after-all; the shoes really do make the outfit!

• Tonal colouring on multiple strapped sandals and wedges alike;

• Pastels shades for canvas days out and that extra bit of sparkle detail for a more dressy occasion;

• Bright, vibrant hues that evoke a feeling of warm summer holidays and lazy BBQ evenings;

• The classic driving moccasins and loafers with a modern twist of bright colours, tassels and pattern details. 

Whatever your looking for this spring summer, look for it at Hoads.

A Fabulously Fresh HB Collection

Hello!

With the weather outside still in the low temperatures we thought we would brighten up the days with talk of our wonderful spring summer collection from HB.

If you've had experiences with HB before you will know that they focus on classic styles with a contemporary twist without forgetting that all important comfort factor! This spring/summer its all about bright colours, medium to low heels and texture mixtures and HB does not disappoint.

Starting with their beautifully soft classic loafers:

HB 201 £110 the mixture of bright colours adds a fun and playful feel while ensuring this shoe goes with a multitude of outfits.

HB 233 £110 bright colours in the classic "Gucci" offers a summer update on a timeless style. 

HB 353 £110 a mixture of textures adds interest and style to this loafer while remaining neutral and subtle - perfect for the every day. 

HB 5756 £125 brogue detailing, tassels, contrasting textures - a beautiful mixture of the key trends in one shoe. 

Moving on to their ballet pumps:

HB Ribbon £110 the perfect party pump in cool metallic tones (ensuring a multitude of outfit colour options) with contrast statement bow detail to the toe; girly, sophisticated and a conversation starter!

HB M282 £110 a rainbow of colours and textures to make this pump the perfect addition to any outfit for any occasion. The texture detail in the leather add a clever dimension while the colour choices ensure this shoe can be worn for any season; the perfect investment pump. 

Not forgetting the more dressy occasions with their heeled collection:

HB 134 £75 a mixture of beautiful blues in a delicate suede strappy sandal focusing on the woven straps at the front would work wonderfully with a floaty summer dress or full skirt and blouse. 

HB 389 £75 a simple and elegant sling back in suedes with self coloured heel that is the perfect height for all day comfort or all night dancing!

HB 437L £69 simply stunning peeptoe sling back with self coloured heel and suede and patent bow detail to the tow. The colours scream spring/summer and the style lends itself so well to weddings, christenings and all kinds of special occasions. 

And finishing off this stunning collection:

HB 502 £75 a dress sandal with gold trim detail and coloured suede straps across the toe - the block heel adds an almost 1920's feel while the coloured suedes keep it fresh and modern. 

So there we have it, our delightful HB collection we feel sure you will fall in love with!