every fashionable lady needs that special
something about her outfit that stands out and says: look at me. shoes, hair accessories, fabulous jewelry - every woman has her preference.
for me, lately it has been shoes. [i've been rocking my fire engine red melissa + campana "jellies" almost daily.]
i usually keep my clothing on the neutral side and let my accessories or shoes do the talking. don't get me wrong, i absolutely adore color. actually, i'm obsessed with it. teal, citron, raspberry, aqua, copper - BRING IT ON. i have always had a great eye for color combination, but grey is truly my color of choice to wear. [you should see my closet, it looks like a bruise - mostly grey with some black and blue!] also, when you wear neutrals, a pop of color stands out even more! less is definitely more.
ok, picture this: a lovely curve-hugging sleeveless knee length dress in a soft grey hue. after choosing the perfect look, what comes next? shoes. this season i've been strongly attracted to flats in bright hues - something to spark interest. [keep it classy, not trashy ya'll.] i am a tall woman and certainly do not need the height of wedges or heels, so it's always nice to take it easy for once in a comfortable pair of ballet flats. they are simple to wear and come in an endless array of colors, styles, and with various designer detailing. just about every designer is making them nowadays, so they are readily available at most stores.
as a vegetarian, i have stopped purchasing anything that uses leather in its construction and let me tell you, it's not such an easy task to find vegan shoes that intrigue me! many companies use leather because it is a luxurious [barf] and durable material, but other sustainable materials such as cork, recycled rubber, and recyclable plastic are being used more and more.
one fabulous handmade shoe company that i found is
EXTRASEED. they're based in Ethiopia and absolutely fab. a shop full of colorful flats in various textures? love. with extended sizes to accommodate even large-footed lovelies such as myself? love x 2. a mainly vegan selection? lovelovelove. using recycled car tire tubes for the soles, vinyl "leather" for securing the shape, and scraps of fabric for the outer color and texture, they certainly define eco-friendly shoes. [two thumbs way up for reducing waste!]
my favorite style is this pair of
teal flats that have a sort of fish scale texture - just beautiful! and at $38 per style, you
cannot go wrong!
PS: here are a few other favorite brands that are either vegan or offer vegan options. amazing designer styles...be conscious and don't purchase things that use dead animals in their construction! <3
olsenHaus
melissa
TOMS
