Designer Clothes Archives - With love from Lou

It’s a new year and spring has almost arrived, so that means that you’ll have to make way for hot new pieces in your closet. Footwear trends change every season, and we’re already seeing some clear trends forming on the runways. But this year, designers don’t seem to want to completely reinvent the wheel. They’re adding new touches to some of the styles that were made popular in 2018 and putting their own spin on it. Here are some of the biggest designer shoe trends to watch out for in 2019.

DESIGNER SNEAKS ARE STILL IN

2018 was the year of the designer sneaker, and the trend is still going strong in 2019. But the variety seems to be the biggest difference this year. Ankle sneakers for women seem to be all the rage right now with bold patterns, glossy acrylic finishes, and oversized soles. There’s also a trend towards casual chic sneakers.

And while chunky “dad” sneakers were more of a streetwear phenomenon last year, they really seem to be hitting the mainstream in 2019. Balenciaga sneakers in particular have the silhouette down to a science and have recently expanded their collection with a new line of track sneakers with a variety of cool colorways. You can check out the SSENSE collection online if you’d like to see what’s available for purchase.

FEATHERS EVERYWHERE

We’ve seen feathers steal the show on the runway recently, whether it was from Valentino, Simone Rocha or Prabal Gurung. Feathers are being added to various part of shoes and are a really great way to make a statement. We’ve seen plumage added to heels, straps and sneaker tongues a well.

SCULPTURAL HEELS

We’re also seeing more and more sculptural pieces with unusual attention-grabbing designs and intricate geometrical shapes. These heels are more like architectural pieces and are a great way to add a sense of drama and wonder to your party or work outfits. These look great paired with a simple pair of leggings or jeans, so they can stand out without clashing with the rest of your outfit.

TEVA STYLE SANDALS

Tevas coming back are another sign that we officially left the late 80s and are clearly seeing a resurgence of 90s style and esthetics. For the younger ones, Tevas sandals were characterized by their distinctive criss-cross strap patterns, and they are clearly having a moment right now.

However, they have changed a lot over the years and have expanded their selection. Other brands are also following suit and releasing their own Teva inspired collections. Ana Si, for instance, recently showcased a platform version and Sandy Liang even featured actual Tevas on her runway show. What’s better is that they’re actually very comfortable, so that’s a trend that will at least be enjoyable for a change.

NAUTICAL THEMES

Spring collections last year seemed to be all about the beach and cabanas, and we can expect to see many shoes with a nautical inspiration this year. Monse’s 2019 spring collection seems to be an ode to the seaside, with stripped down woven rope sandals dominating the runway.

EMBROIDERY

We’ve also seen a lot of embroidered pumps and sandals all over the place recently. Embroidery evokes images of baroque jewelry boxes and elegant gowns like the look Blake Lively went for at the last Met Gala.

But don’t be fooled by their seemingly extravagant look. Designers have made them more wearable by stripping them down. Michael Kors’s 2019 spring collection featured all sorts of shoes with embroidery in them, whether it was sandals, platforms or pumps. We can expect to see more slides and boots with embroidery in them as well. This look combines art and fashion perfectly and is great if you’re aiming for a nostalgic look.

BUCKLES

Designers are also going all out with buckles this season. From knee high postindustrial gothic inspired boots, to stripped down sandals, you can expect to see models with multiples buckles everywhere this spring and summer.

They can add an edge to any classic look or really stand out with a simple outfit. Alexander McQueen featured three-buckle sandals on his runway show and we saw designers like Seis Markan pushing the envelope with four-buckle rugged strapped shoes. But if you don’t want to go to that extreme, there are still plenty of single buckle models you can choose from. And if you want to go for some of these multi-buckle models, just make sure you have enough time in the morning to strap them up.

If you want to stand out this year and make sure you’re up to date, these trends are sure to be huge hits. Make sure that you add some of these pieces to your collection if you want to make a statement.

What are your favourite shoe trends of 2019?
Be sure to let me know in the comments below.
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My daughter Stacey will be 15 next month. And when I asked her what she’d like for her birthday, she gave me a list that was mainly made up of high-end makeup products and designer clothes. This is very different to the lists she’s presented me with in previous years. And I have to admit that it sent me into a bit of a panic.

You see, Stacey is a big fan of fast fashion. Which means she likes to wear the seasons hottest trends. And this is absolutely fine when we’re shopping in stores where these trends are fairly cheap. But what about when they’re not? In today’s post, I thought I’d take a look at some of the pros and cons of buying designer clothes for the kids. Read on to find out more.

PROS

Kudos – I think it’s safe to say that lots of teenage girls lack confidence. And if you can make them feel a little bit better about themselves by allowing them to wear clothes that are going to earn them kudos with their friends and boost their confidence, then that’s got to be a good thing. Right?

They have a nicer fit – there’s no getting away from it, clothes that are more expensive look better when worn. The cuts are more refined and careful, giving a much more stylish appearance.

They’re made of quality materials – higher grade cotton, more wash-friendly man-made fibre combos, or luxury fabrics that just don’t appear in cheaper brands. Designer clothes offer a higher quality of raw material, which means they’re much more likely to last longer.

They’re likely to be eco-friendly and ethical – designer brands can afford to be more choosy about how and where they source their raw materials, and how they set up their production processes. Cheap clothes are often still made in Asian sweatshops – something we as consumers conveniently choose to ignore when on the lookout for bargain buys. Designer labels can (although not always) offer that ethical background that makes a very worthwhile statement.

They can often be bought fairly cheaply – the great thing about designer clothes is that they can often be bought fairly cheaply if you know where to look. Charity shops are usually full of designer clothes that have had very little wear. Designer stores may hold a sample sale when a new line of clothing is due to drop. And online stores such as Azal Collections luxury clothing or OD’s Designer Clothing regularly offer designer clothes with a percentage of the RRP knocked off! How cool is that?

CONS

Price – paying more for designer clothes is inevitable. What isn’t so clear is whether you’re paying for the increased quality or just the name. My guess is it’s a combination of both. You might find there are mid-priced brands available that have similar quality and are missing only that unique brand name.

Kids grow fast – depending on how old your kids are, you might find that they grow out of their clothes super quick, meaning they hardly get any wear out of them. This is bad enough when it happens with cheaper brands, but you could really feel the pinch when it happens with more expensive items and you suddenly find you’re needing to replace them.

Envy from peers – if you buy your child designer clothes, it could go on to cause some jealousy among peers whose parents can’t afford to splash out on more expensive items for them. This often leads to bitchy comments in the playground, which could then potentially destroy some of that new-found confidence we talked about earlier.

Fickleness – what’s in one season is often out of favour the next. You can spend a great deal of money on items that will look seriously out of place in a few months time if you don’t select your designer items carefully. The best advice is to opt for fashion staples that rarely go out of fashion, and avoid those fad designs that are at risk of going out of fashion too quickly.

From looking at all of the pros and cons on my list, I think I’m going to compromise with Stacey and buy her just one of the designer clothing items that she has on her list. It has to be something that won’t go out of fashion too quickly, though. Like a nice pair of jeans or a classic jacket. Hopefully, she’ll be happy with that.

Have you ever bought designer clothes for your little ones?
I’d love to hear what your thoughts on doing so are.

Thanks for reading guys.
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7 Designer Shoe Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2019

The Pros And Cons Of Buying Designer Clothes For Your Kids