Shoe Diaries: Floral Mules

The mule is definitely the shoe of the season and I couldn’t be happier.  Why?  Because I hate my toes – even when they are perfectly pedicured.  And of course the obvious, there is nothing better than slip on shoes.

I just found these floral embroidered mules at Aldo for only $80.   As per my criteria for building my new, more practical shoe wardrobe, they are super comfortable and can be dressed up or down.

Click the image below to shop.  Or click here. 

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As per usual all items are linked so you can shop and with the exception of H&M shipping/returns are free with a minimum spend. And all items are under $50, with the exception of the shoes.

Look #1: Summer Night Out

I would totally wear this out on date night.  The shirt is cropped and a little more revealing so I would wear it with a high waisted pant to cover up a little on the bottom.   I love pairing feminine colours and prints with khaki.

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1. Khaki Paper Bag Ankle Pants.  H&M

2. Pink  Ruffled Top.  Zara

3. Floral Earrings. Zara.

4. Straw Round Handle Bag.  Zara

5. Floral Mules. Aldo

 

Look #2: Stripes on Stripes

At first I thought this look might be a littly matchy matchy with the shoes, but it  totally works.  I chose a long sleeve tee and would do a partial tuck in the front to show off the super cure waist band on these shorts.    There is something about shorts and sweaters/long sleeves that I love.  And I kept the bag super neutral because there is alot going on already.

shoe diaries floral mules stripes on stripes

1.Striped Jersey Top with Embroidery.  H&M

2. Paper Bag Waist Bermuda Shorts.  Zara.

3.Tortoise Shell Sunglasses. Aldo

4.Raffia Basket Bag. Zara.

5. Floral Mules. Aldo

 

Look #3: Feminine Detailing

One of the criteria for my new, more practical shoe wardrobe, is that a new pair must look great with denim because I wear alot of denim.  And mules definately work with a pair of jeans.  I like to show a little ankle with mules so I wear a cropped pair or cuff my denim.   it helps show off your shoe but I find it also helps make your legs look longer.

I went for a pretty white embroidered top in this look.  Its hard to see the details in the pic below but this shirt is so feminine with the embroidery and ruffle detailing.  And I love this bag but beware, its small.  But perfect for a day out.  The smaller the bag means the less shit you can stuff in it which ultimately means the lighter it will be.  And who doesn’t like a nice light bag.

shoe diaries floral mules feminine details

 

1.High Waisted Distressed Denim.  American Eagle Outfitters.

2. Sleeveless Embroidered Blouse. Zara.

3. Floral Embellished Sunglasses. Aldo

4. Pink Mini Tote. Zara

5. Floral Mules. Aldo

 

 

Happy Shopping

 mandi

My Fav Postpartum Denim

Finding the perfect pair of jeans is hard, especially after you’ve had a baby or two.  A few months after I had my second and had lost most of the baby weight I decided it was time to wear something other than leggings.  I was going to buy new jeans.  While I had  lost alot of the baby weight, my body was just different; specifically it was rounder in the middle (still working on that).  So I was on the hunt for jeans that would help slim my tummy.  And I didn’t want to spend alot because I knew my body would continue to change over the new few months.  So my budget was <$100.

I took me alot of try ons but I finally found a few pairs that I love.

BTW -the  best way to try on denim is to order online in a few sizes and try them on in the comfort of your own home.  Same applies to bathing suits.

Continue reading “My Fav Postpartum Denim”

Ideas to Restyle Your Winter Wardrobe

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Come end of January I always get a little, actually REALLY, tired of my Winter wardrobe. Most likely because in August I am so excited about my new Fall purchases that I start wearing sweaters and boots way too early.  No wonder I am bored of oversized knits already.

So to combat the Winter blahs, both in terms of wardrobe and mood, I try to restyle items I already have in my closet.  I like to get my Spring wardrobe from storage and so I can start mixing Spring pieces with my Winter wardrobe to create new looks.  Plus it adds a little colour to my very grey Winter wardobe which makes me happy in these last few dark, cold and oh so long Winter months.

Below I have included some ideas on how you can start to mix and match your Spring and Winter wardrobes.  So get creative and have fun.

Continue reading “Ideas to Restyle Your Winter Wardrobe”

SPANX Faux Leather Leggings

SPANX faux leather leggings

Okay so these leggings are a dream.  I still love my Aritzia leggings but these are winning right now because they are so great postpartum.  They are a little higher waisted than the Aritzia leggings and the compression is great – as one would expect from SPANX. They are a little pricey but worth it.  I picked mine up at Nordstrom on sale in the summer for $78.  Right now you can get them full price at The Bay for $108 and given the magic these leggings can do for your mid section I think its totally worth the investment.

Continue reading “SPANX Faux Leather Leggings”

“Bow”tiful

If you have kids, you likely know this is a Wiggles reference.  We watch Wiggles almost every day with Ruby, so I couldn’t help myself.

I am going to show you three ways to be “bow”tiful – aka accessorize with a simple ribbon. It’s a really simple way to make an item in your closet feel fresh again.

ONE: Use a ribbon to tie a small bow around a blouse.  Here I am wearing a collarless blouse but it looks great on a collared blouse too.  I like to use a long ribbon so the ends flow pretty long.  You can also try it with a more narrow ribbon for a more understated look.bow-2bow-2b

Continue reading ““Bow”tiful”

Zara Sale – Can’t Stop……

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This jacket was a major score from Zara this week for only $60. To be honest I have gone a little nuts at Zara the last month.  I really need to take a bit of a shopping break and work with what I have,  at least until Spring.

Anyhow,  I love that this menswear inspired jacket is super oversized. I wore my faux leather leggings from Aritzia.  They are really high waisted and have tons of spandex in the tummy area.  Super slimming.

As for the shirt, its from Zara too.  Its a basic long sleeve pocket tee with a ruffle at the bottom. It comes in black, rose and olive.  And its only $12 on sale at Zara right now.

And I dug these boots out from the back of my closet – they were a Winners score from a least 5 years ago.  They remind me of something you might have seen on Anne of Green Gables. But nonetheless I think they look super cool with these leggings.

SHOP   Checked Coat: Zara – just sold out but here is something similar  Vegan Leather Leggings: Aritzia   Olive Ruffle Top: Zara 

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Pretty in Pink

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Typically pink is not a go to colour for me when it comes to my wardrobe. But when I saw this coat at Zara I knew I had to have it.  It probably didn’t hurt that it was on clearance for only $69.  I love the floaty shape (it’s perfect for layers), the length and the soft salmon shade of pink.

Usually with a bold piece like this, I keep the rest of my look fairly neutral and monochromatic. I stuck with grey in this case.  I also loved the way the pink looked with thus red scarf. Not only are pink and red a little unexpected as a colour combo but I found that the red somehow toned down the pink a little.

Oh and meet Molly.  She is the snuggliest, softest bestie a girl could ask for.

The coat at Zara is sold out.  But I have listed a similar style below.

SHOP ♥ Similar Three Quarter Sleeve Coat: H&M ♥ Similar Scarf: Indigo

 

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