Wedges With African Touch

Summer ndio hiyo inawadia jamani na watu mnaopenda Wedges basi hii ndio style sasa,viatu vyote vinapatikana katika maduka ya Aldo napia online.

Charlotte's Chic Homes

One of the events I couldn't make it to this week was shoe designer Charlotte Dellal's launch party at Bergdorf Goodman.  Her line named Charlotte Olympia is filled with vertigo inducing heels in bright colors and patterns.  After seeing images of her own home in London as well as that of her parents, I have a feeling that she must be inspired by these interiors and amazing art collection.   

Charlotte's purple bedroom and leopard shoe collection.

Charlotte in her Mayfair boutique.

Gorgeous in green Oscar de la Renta on her balcony.

I wouldn't be surprised if Charlotte expands to hats and gloves before long.

As the mother of a young child, she is often running around and said she plans to introduce flats and lower heels now.

I think London has the prettiest front doors of any city.

Charlotte in her parent's home.

Charlotte Dellal in front of a painting by Cecily Brown.

Charlotte's mother Andrea and sister Alice

A Damien Hirst polka dot painting.

Charlotte with works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol

Photos by Christopher Sturman for Harper's Bazaar and Trent McGinn for Harper's Bazaar UK

Pretty Ballerinas

I was just lamenting the other day that I couldn't find any good flats. Loeffler Randall used to be my go to source but they don't have any for sale for spring. So I was very excited when my friends and I decided to stop into Pretty Ballerinas after my birthday lunch at JG Melon. Ballerina flats can be tricky because not all of them are comfortable but the Pretty Ballerinas felt comfortable the minute I slipped them on. They also offer what seems like a million different styles! I loved some of the snakeskin options but they were out of them in my size so I settled on the Marilyn in grosgrain ribbon above (they look better in person!). Pretty Ballerinas have been popular in Europe but just opened their first store in the US in New York. I highly recommend that you check them out. Your feet will thank you for it!

Jack Rogers Online

Jack Rogers has officially launched their new website and just in time for the upcoming high season in Palm Beach! If Jackie were alive today, I just bet she'd be buying her sandals online too! Happy Shopping!

My Favorite Things: Pre-Fall

It was hot today in New York. Like Africa hot. But for me it's too little too late. I'm over summer and have moved onto pre-fall. The new clothes are in the stores here and I've already been picking out what I want to buy for New York and my trip to Paris. There are so many great things to chose from but these are a few of my favorites! Starting with the photo of model Lisa Taylor that was taken by photographer Arthur Elgort for Vogue in 1976 that embodies that feeling of when the weather is still sunny but starts to turn a little chilly.

Before the weather gets cold enough for a real coat, I wear blazers over little tops with jeans and also over dresses. I love this grey flannel schoolboy jacket from J. Crew and especially the gold buttons that dress it up. There is also something about it that makes me want to sharpen pencils.

I am so not a skinny jeans kind of girl but since all the girls in Paris are wearing them, I thought I should try to find a slim pair. J. Crew calls the matchstick jeans "ultra flattering" and I have to agree. I tried them on and actually thought they looked pretty good. Probably not quite as good as they do on the model in the photo but then again, she's probably a foot taller than me. The best part is that they aren't so tight that they cut off your circulation. Well, at least not until you start eating macaroons!

I will also need some shoes to go with my new slim jeans and these Christian Louboutin patent ballerina flats might just be the ones. I originally saw them in grey but now I am loving them in taupe. Truth be told, I actually own this style in gold and they are one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I've ever worn. And comfort will be key in Paris when I am trying to walk off all the macaroons!

This Davina bag by Derek Lam is my wish list favorite item. I swear I hear angels sing whenever I look at it. It's ridiculously beautiful and also ridiculously expensive. But it never hurts to dream. Le sigh.

I already received my advance copy of Jacques Grange Interiors and have been pouring over it! His style is unique to each project and the details are amazing! His own personal apartment in the Palais Royal was once owned by Collete and is of course the most unique. I debated trying to stalk him in Paris until I remembered that my French isn't that good if he calls the police so I think I'll stick with the book!

There are only so many French movies I can watch before I need a break and I can't wait until the second season of Gossip Girl is released on DVD August 18th! They have been filming in my neighborhood this summer and I hear that Ed Westwick was spotted at West Elm buying furniture after Chace moved out. Ed, if you need a decorator, call me!

After a few months in the sun, in addition to bi-monthly highlights and daily blow drying, my hair needs a little TLC so I've already switched back to Technician Color Care by Frederic Fekkai. It makes my hair super soft but not limp and the Color Protecting Glaze makes it shiny but never greasy. They really are fantastic products. Now if I could just get my colorist to stop making me so blonde, I'd be all set!

I am very loyal to my nail polish colors but Estee Lauder's new Black Amethyst polish might give them a run for their money. It actually looks darker in person than it does in this photo and will look great with grey and black clothing for fall. It's actually a limited edition color so I guess my regular polish will come back into rotation after it's gone. Or maybe I should stock up in case I really like it! Bon shopping!

Chic and Comfortable

I want to thank everyone who emailed me and left comments today! I really appreciate your support! I've been running around all day and am too exhausted to write a big post tonight so check back tomorrow for our regularly scheduled programming!

On a side note, one of my readers was worried that I would wear white sneakers popular with American tourists while I was in Paris. Don't worry, HC will not embarrass you or herself while abroad. I already have all my chic shoes picked out for my trip including this fabulous pair of Hogan Interactive Sneakers that will only be worn to tour Versailles. And maybe if it rains or my feet really hurt but it would take a lot for me to give up wearing my Christian Louboutins in Paris. It's like they are going to the motherland!

Kailia - Decadent Vegan Shoes

Okay, vegetarian and vegan girls, your leather-free shoe world is now expanding in exquisite and wonderful ways. Gone are the days of limited choices and envious glares, stares and mares at and about Louboutins, Choos and Miu Mius. You can now turn to Kailia for a collection of beautiful, fanciful and drool-worthy vegan shoes. They are so incredible, I had to feature practically every style of shoe in today's post!


Before you begin gazing dreamily at various fabrics, colours, jewels (yes jewels) and heel heights though, I will just leave you with the remaining, important info.

Designer: Italian based, Nancy Dong, who has previously worked at BCBG-Max Azria and Charmone and also designs the Do-Ni Ballerina Flats with Carlotta Fiorini.
Manufactured: Italy
Materials used: Vegetarian - water based glues, 'polyurethane soles (much less toxic than vinyl or PVC)' and recycled footboards.




Divinita
Take a little Bollywood to the beach this summer with these gorgeous sandals that come with unique vintage sari fabrics. The Espresso and Emerald colours are shown on the website for $196 or the Fuchsia style is available through Neon Collective for £150




Fiducia
I've been searching online, offline (and straining to hear it through the biodynamic grapevine) for news of a vegan sandal with a little silver jewel embellishment. Thank you Kailia for making this Fiducia shoe (available in jade and indigo) which happens to mean 'trust' in Italian. I totally trust Kailia will always have the perfect vegan shoes for me! $196




Liberta
I love the way this Persimmon colour pops for summer but if you want the same style in a more subtle colour, opt for the Indigo. $160




Bella
If you must invest in one pair of shoes, then these Bella shoes are for you! The sleek and sophisticated design would transition well from work to an evening out! I love the rich, luxe looking Claret pair but there is a lovely Dove Grey shade available also. $195



Bella (embroidered)
This shoe would have to be every girl's dream, Cindarella shoe! I know retail purchases shouldn't make you happy but I don't see how these exquisite shoes would not instantly make you feel better about yourself and the world, once you slipped them on! They would make the perfect special occasion gift, birthday or wedding shoes. $325




Amore
Just like the Embroidered Bella shoes, these amorous shoes also look like they have been dunked into a treasure chest and pulled out, dripping in jewels. Who said we had to limit decadent jewellery wearing to the upper body only? Does life get any better for a girl when her shoes come with a Swarovski anklet? $295


Online orders will be available soon but in the meantime you can visit the stockists section of Kailia's website to find these shoes near you.

To learn more about Kailia shoes visit their website: Kailia

Do-Ni - The Prettiest Vegan Ballerina Shoes

Do-Ni vegan ballerinas are the sweetest shoes you will find and one of the few shoe labels out there that have a whole lot of soul and substance behind the style (forgive me, I had to have fun with the word soul just once). I was introduced to these stunning shoes via English Retread's blog and now my feet and I could not be happier knowing that there are Do-Ni shoes in the world! Do-Ni translates to the word, 'gifts' in Italian and when you buy a pair of these precious shoes, 100% of the retail proceeds will be donated to participating non-profit organisations. You can choose from a wonderful range of beneficiaries that all help the planet, people and animals in profound ways (Animal Acres, Medicines Global and FA Home Away from Homelessness are just some examples of the worthy organisations).




Once you've selected your organisation, the next decision involves picking your favourite shade of ballerina shoe! Not an easy decision when you see how designer worthy they all look with their lovely, French ribbon bows, luscious colour range and the option of having an Audrey-esque medallion on either the black or champagne shoes!

Decisions and pretty shoes are never a good combination. I could ramble off numerous reasons for needing each and every pair on offer - black (quintessential classic), champagne (for when you are feeling fancy), grass (to prove green is glam), ruby (for a Dorothy moment) and amethyst (chic alternative to black).




Whichever pair you pick, they are guaranteed to pretty-fy any outfit instantly and will look sublime day or night, with jeans or with a vintage dress. A girl definitely needs a pair of ballet flats in her shoe collection. You will live in them and practically start skipping with delight at how these shoes combine much desired comfort with lashings of style!




Designers Nancy Dong and Carlotta Fiorini not only added their immense amount of talent, creativity and compassion to these shoes but they also added their names to the label (Do from Dong + Ni from Fiorini = Do-Ni). Nancy has previously worked at Charmone and now has her own shoe collection, Kailia (will feature them in an upcoming post soon) and Carlotta has experience at Gucci and also has her own delicious shoe line, Carlotta Fiorini.




Do-Ni ballerina shoes are hand made in Portugal with the 'best leather-free materials from Italy', water based glues, recycled insole boards and ribbons from France. Ooh la la! The champagne and black ballerinas are $119 or $135 with medallion and the remaining grass, amethyst and ruby ballerinas are all $119.

You can purchase the shoes online at Do-Ni

What To Pack For Your Holiday - 16 Essential Eco Pieces

Here is a succinct and stylish packing list to help you feel organised, prepared and good to go for your summer holiday! Each piece on the list will mix and match with each other and give you at least 6 different outfits (more than enough for a week or two away). This robust list will also ensure you have the perfect outfit for every holiday occasion: sightseeing, relaxing, evenings out and more! Once you tick off the pieces you already own from the list and work out what items you need to buy, you can check out my suggestions for the best eco pieces available online.

Clothes
1) casual top
2) dressy top
3) blouse
4) skirt or shorts
5) trousers
6) casual dress
7) evening dress
8) cardigan
9) light jacket
10) swimsuit

Shoes and Accessories
11) scarf or pashmina
12) sunglasses
13) pretty sandals
14) comfortable shoes
15) optional: beach sandals or evening shoes
16) hat



Casual Top
A sleeveless top in white or any other light colour is invaluable. You will feel lighter and more refreshed and will also enjoy the fact a white top will go with every colour and pattern of skirts, shorts and trousers.

Beaumont Organic have a stunning Beaded Halter Neck Top - Beaumont Organic £75 (made in portugal / organic cotton). Available in Natural and Brown. Here are some more options: 9 Eco Sleeveless Summer Tops



Dressy Top
Your second top should ideally be colourful and in your favourite and most flattering shade. It's a fun and easy way to brighten up you and your wardrobe. I would scour vintage stores for a silk or rayon top as this fabric looks a little more luxe and would work brilliantly for any dressier occasions on your holiday such as dinner out or catching a show. I love this Vintage Mina Silk Coral Tank - The Eves Like Us (Etsy) $15



Blouse
A lightweight blouse with sleeves will come in handy for times when you want a little coverage from too much sun or cooler weather perhaps. Stewart + Brown have a beautiful Picnic Blouse - Stewart + Brown $208 (made in usa / organic cotton) which is also available in a strawberry print or white print.




Skirt or Shorts
I say one or the other because not every girl is comfortable in shorts. Skirts can be more accommodating thanks to their varying lengths of long hippy style, knee length or mini. Of course, shorts also come in different lengths but they do not always look as attractive! Anyway, once you choose what is best for you, you can then enjoy having one more option other than trousers to mix and match your tops and blouse with.

I featured these cute Haze Village Shorts from Stewart + Brown - $184 (made usa / organic cotton twill) a little while ago, along with some other shorts which are worth a look: The Best Organic Shorts for Summer.

If you're looking for skirts, Mociun is fantastic and has several patterns to choose from such as the above, Atri Skirt Purple - Mociun $240 (made in nyc / organic cotton).



Trousers
I couldn't dream of vacationing without a good pair of lightweight trousers. I'm more of a black trousers girl, as I find it easy to throw on any top or shoes with them and I like how they can still manage to look casual or formal depending on the occasion. White trousers would work equally well and look lighter for summer. Stewart + Brown have these great White Lakeside Pants - Stewart + Brown $224 (made in usa / organic cotton).



Casual Dress
I say casual but I really think the maxi dress is the way to go. They are comfortable, flattering and so easy to toss on for a stylish look! I love the dose of sunshine bursting from this Vintage 1970s Yellow Maxi Dress - Love Miss Daisy £40. Here are some more maxi dresses: 9 Best Organic and Vintage Maxi Dresses



Evening Dress
A glam little evening dress won't take up much room in your luggage and will be quite a godsend for when you dine out at chic restaurants or get last minute tickets to a show! Of course, a black dress would be fine but since it is summer, why not keep your look colourful and fun with a dress such as this Orange Vintage 1950s Party Dress - Love Miss Daisy £75.



Cardigan
The weather can still be unpredictable during summer so it's a good idea to pack a light cardigan. I can't recommend cardigans enough! They are the perfect layering item for tops, dresses and underneath jackets. Frank & Faith have adorable cardigan styles in various colours but the cardigan above caught my eye in particular. Frank & Faith Bethany Cardigan - Adili £21.50, was £43 (made in UK / organic cotton). Available in four colours.



Light Jacket
A light jacket is great for any holiday that involves a lot of sightseeing or active pursuits in weird, wonderful and remote locales. I've finally learned to always pack a light jacket after suffering in cities within New Zealand and Scotland where the weather can fluctuate between balmy sunshine to suddenly being wickedly windy. This Drop Waist Perfect Trench by Emily Katz would have shielded me from the weather while still making me feel stylish. Available at Fashion Ethic $342 (made in usa). The charcoal is made from recycled poly/hemp denim and the marine colour is made from hemp/organic cotton.



Swimsuit
Finding a glam eco swimsuit is becoming increasingly easier. This Lina Rennell Tie Swimsuit from Beklina $184 (made in california / organic jersey) is a gorgeous and unique one piece to have. You can view more swimsuits here: The Best Eco-friendly Swimwear - Colour Sorted for You



Pashmina or Scarf
Ah, the pashmina and scarf. Any supermodel or A-list actresses best friend when travelling the globe. They are great as blankets for cosier flights or travel, perfect for wrapping up during chillier weather and wonderful for draping elegantly over the shoulders during evenings out. Manumit is the place to go for raw silk scarves as their selection features many beautiful colours which are made fair trade and the raw tassel silk is also suitable for vegetarians. Petrol Blue Raw Silk Scarf - Adili £15 (made in Vietnam / tassel silk).



Sunglasses
What is a holiday without a pair of sunglasses? If you don't already have a classic pair of sunglasses, you can try the iWood sunglasses (made in usa / fsc certified wood) or why not see what Etsy or nearby vintage stores have to offer? Just remember to pick the right style of sunglasses for your face shape.
Round face: square frames
Long face: wider frames
Heart shape: wider frames like aviator or butterfly glasses
Square face: round frames
Those with pale skin, may want to try tortoise colour sunglasses over black for a softer and less harsh look.

Vintage Retro Sunglasses at Kitty Be Creative - Etsy $17.99


The Shoes

Pretty Sandals
Try and find a pair of open toe sandals that are both comfortable and pretty that will go with your trousers, dress and skirt / shorts. Charmone have many sweet open toe, flat sandals such as these Licorice Chocolate Print ones - Charmone $99 (made in Italy / vegan).


Comfortable Shoes
My feet and I have learnt the hard way that it is near impossible to walk the cobblestone streets of Europe in cute shoes. Unless you are on a private tour of Florence, being ushered around by car or vespa, then I'm afraid you will have to succumb to 'the comfortable shoe'. Don't be too frightened though, as long as the rest of your outfit looks sleek and stylish with elegant jewellery accents here and there, you should still feel confident walking amongst the impeccably dressed and groomed European women. Don't be tempted to dress around the trainers and think, 'well, since my feet are comfortable, I'll just wear a t-shirt and shorts'. You can still do comfort the glam way!

Autonomie Project Ethletic All White Sneakers - Nimli $58 (made in FLO certified factory in Pakistan / organic cotton, FSC certified rubber).





Evening Shoes / Beach Sandals
Depending on your type of holiday, you may need a pair of heels for parties, concerts and frequent fancy restaurant stops or you may only need simple sandals to slip in and out of for traipsing between beach, bar and spa!

For pretty heels try Cri de Coeur or Charmone's Sisters shoe in a Warm Burgundy Stripe - Charmone $99 (made in Italy / vegan).

Beach sandals: Ethletic Flip Flops - $20 (made in FLO certified factories in Sri Lanka and Pakistan / natural, fair trade, FSC certified rubber).




Hat
A flamboyant sun hat is not to be forgotten. The wide brim will provide valuable protection from the sun and will make you feel extra stylish. Etsy and Oxfam have some great vintage sun hat options but the one above was my favourite with it's bright swirl of lush colours: Brights Buntal Hat - Traidcraft £15 (made in Philippines fair trade / buntal fibre).


Outfit Ideas

Travel Outfit
trousers + any top + cardigan + pashmina + pretty sandals

Casual Day
1) top + shorts / skirt + sandals
2) blouse + shorts / skirt + sandals

At the Beach / Chilling Out
casual dress + beach sandals

Sightseeing Day
top + trousers + trainers + pashmina or cardigan (good for covering shoulders when you enter churches etc.)

Dress Up
1) evening dress + heels or sandals + pashmina / scarf
2) blouse + trousers + heels or sandals