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: 6. Orange

"Orange is the new black! From vibrant shades that scream "look at me" to pretty pastels that are just peachy, we've seen it all at New York Fashion Week. Designer Joanna Mastroianni featured flirty dresses and easy separates in eye-popping shades of tangerine." www.onthefashion.blogspot.co.uk

(Image sourced from www.onthefashion.blogspot.co.uk)

Orange is the new black - we first heard it in reference to the new hit TV series based on a true story of a woman imprisoned and now it stands as a valid statement referring to this spring summer colour palette. Mainly seen on model's faces or feet in the form of tangerine lipstick and vibrant orange footwear this colour is everywhere. We love it clashed with pink in a total neon themed outfit or used as an accent colour with a perspex box clutch, lip and sandal. 

1. Riva Barbados £65

2. Fitflop Aztek Chada £65

3. Van Dal Selma £65

4. Fitflop Flora £65

5. Josef Seibel Caspian £65 (we threw a yellow in for good measure!)

Orange is the great back drop for gold or bronze detailing - think orange footwear with statement Aztec gold or bronze jewellery for a real summery vibe.

More about the colour Orange 

Orange, as a combination of yellow and red is known as an energetic colour evoking feelings of warmth and and excitement. 

"Orange brings up images of autumn leaves, pumpkins, and (in combination with Black) Halloween. It represents the changing seasons so in that sense it is a colour on the edge, the colour of change between the heat of summer and the cool of winter" (orange colour meanings from about.com).

Lighter more peachy shades of orange are associated with summer while deeper, richer shades of orange are linked to late autumn. The colour orange has been know to engage peoples interest and get their attention in a less aggressive way than red does. 

So that rounds off our break down of this seasons colour collection;  if you can't decide which colour you like most opt for all the colours and keep the outfit plain, its fun to be eccentric sometimes! 

HB 282 £110

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?

Shoes of the Week

Here is our second edition of shoes of the week , unfortunately it has come from a week of grey skies and rain - the complete opposite of the previous edition!

Top of the pile yet again is the Converse all star Navy at £44.95, suitable for most weather situations and occasions Converse All Stars are one of the most popular spring styles. 

For the women it seems the wet weather has not put anyone off buying their sandals in nice and early, or are you lucky people going to some far off sunny place?! Top seller this week has been the Birkenstock Gizeh in our new patent colour Cashmere Grey. 

Such an easy, versatile colour where silver was our top last year this fresh patent grey tone has taken its place this year. All the comfort and support you expect from a Birkenstock means chasing the kids around the park all day or socialising at a BBQ no longer begs the question what can I wear that'll mean I'm comfortable all day. 

Following suit in the mens department (could this be an indication of an increase in matching footwear for couples?!) is the Birkenstock Arizona in mocca. Easy to slip on and off with double the adjustment and fantastic support this sandal is perfect for all day comfort. Goes nicely with jeans and shorts alike for summer holidays or summer memories in the back garden with a nice cold beer soft drink! 

After the sandals comes something more practical for this weather - the top selling shoes (as the title implies!).

For women the most popular shoe this week was the Gabor 84.169 in the stunning bluette (the colour really does look a lot more striking in the flesh). Finished beautifully with a simple square laser cut detail and super soft suede uppers along with a comfort padded and flexible leather insole, like heaven on the feet! 

And for the men; something even more practical, a dress and office shoe in the name of Bugatti by Steptronic. Perfect for a work or dress occasion with its gorgeous brogue detailing (need I mention yet again how much we looooove brogues?!!) Steptronic have lined this beauty (as with all their shoes) with a gel and sheepskin sole unit which provides all day cushioning and flexes with you so the are instantly comfortable. 

What have been your favourite buys recently? 

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.