by Amber on September 29, 2009
This is the post in which I dip my toes in the DIY waters. Naturally it’s in a cheap, cheerful and shamefully easy manner.
I took last summer’s plimsolls and gave them a wash, becasue they were showing the signs of too much adventuring in beer halls. The laces were excruiciatingly grim (ewww not showing you), so I removed them and looked around for something better.
Spying 1 metre of royal purple ribbon, I snipped it in half, sealed the ends with a lighter to prevent fraying and threaded the lengths into the sneakers. Voila!
They’re pretty much Lanvins now.
by Amber on July 28, 2009
The name Chaos & Harmony for a shoe brand is fitting… Looking at the shoes causes emotional chaos, making my heart is scream “I WANT THOSE BOOTS NOW”! Thus harmony is not achieved until purchase of said shoes.
I need a new pair of shoes and looking through the Chaos & Harmony Winter 09 collection was a difficult task. I haven’t made my mind up yet but I’ve narrowed it down one of each – a flat, a medium heel and a boot! Deadly.
Rita Pump:
Talullah Pump:
Rumor Boot:
What I really like about Chaos & Harmony, is the balance of tough and feminine every design expresses. Not too sweet, not too sexy. Just right. The brand is also based out of the sunny Bay of Plenty, which makes me smile – a good local shoemaker is hard to find! Now, which pair?
I went sneaker shopping with my dear friend Nikhil today. He needed a little bit of style advice and I gladly obliged him, in exchange for good conversation and tea. Oh and vicarious consumerism… I LOVE it when other people buy stuff I want.
After hitting up local stores Area 51, Loaded and Made, we found the perfect pair – Lacoste’s kooky version of the boat shoe! Technically they’re called the Lacoste Cabestan Cup LA 1 Black/Grey and hail from Lacoste’s more experimental Stealth collection. They have thick vulcanized soles, cute detailing and popping colours – perfect for the boy running about town.
I think Nikhil made an excellent choice – the grey is flattering and lace detailing is very sharp. (The packaging is nice too). If grey doesn’t happen to float your boat, you can also buy the Cabestans in pink/black or yellow/white:
I think all 3 colourways are pretty tight – but if you’re feeling adventurous the pink ones would look AMAZING in summer with shorts. Ahoy sailor! Nice one Lacoste.
I secretly adore it when utilitarian pieces transcend functionality to become very relevant fashion objects. I don’t think they’ll go crazy-mainstream (a la Mokeskines, fixies) – but these Sebago Lighthouse boots have definitely crossed the line:
Eight eyelet lace up boots, made of full grain nubuck or waxy leather. Perfect for splish sploshing about – whether in puddles of champagne at the gallery or puddles at the park.
[via Coolhunting]
by Amber on April 9, 2009
Flowerpot shaped satin shoes. Detailed with paste beads and the design of Fu, meaning happiness, and Shou, for longevity. These are from the Chinese Qing Dynasty who ruled from 1644 till 1911.
Amazing, imagine walking with a centered ‘heel’. They’re certainly not suitable not for wandering cobblestone lanes in, and definitely not made for feet longer than 10cm in length. My feet would have been laughed right out of the Forbidden City (and Lacoste)…
by Amber on April 7, 2009
You know how self books often talk about visualisation as a way to achieve an end? Well here’s my current wishlist. Yes, I dream of both $500 dresses and rings you can pick up for mere pocket change.
1. Crystal Castles vs. Trevor Brown shirt. I’ve heard they’ve kissed and made up, but Madonna is not yet that chuffed. Probably because she’s still got a black eye.
2. Mood-ring, visual representation of my flowing moods. You can pick one up from your local emporium of cheap crap. I wish someone would make one with a metal that doesn’t make my fingers itch (grrr, the reason I’m always bad tempered when I wear one).
3. Lomo Fish Eye Camera. Perfect for documenting the big wide world we live in ❤
4. EMI Chapeau Claudette mini hat with trim. A little something pretty to put on your noggin.
5. Shoes by Adidas, I spotted these on a billboard in Beijing. They look like snakes, their tiny scales reflecting the light of the passing river. Hm, the romanticism of China is getting to me?
6. Opening Ceremony black blocked lace dress. Hot.
7. Deadly Ponies ‘Mr Flower Purse’ Coin Purse. It has a clever unfolding/folding closure. I like attention to detail.
What are you coveting at the moment, whether tangible or intangible? What colours do you dream in?
by Amber on March 22, 2009
I have spent a inordinate amount of time calling and visiting stores this weekend to find some shoes. Sold out. Everywhere. To be honest I don’t think they actually came in my size to start with.
If you can’t buy it you may as well blog about it, right? Kathryn Wilson Toyah boots, mutated uniform chic in a buttery grey leather:
by Amber on March 4, 2009
I picked up these candy-flipping Tigers in London. To be formal, they are Onitsuka Tigers – Ultimate 81 Dragon Limited Edition. Inspect at your leisure:
“The Ultimate 81™ is a technical running shoe with a focus on heel stability and light weight. This vegan friendly version combines synthetic suede and nylon material to create a durable and comfortable upper. Onitsuka Tiger™ is commemorating it’s 60th year by introducing shoes inspired by the Japanese Zodiac calendar.”
I adore them, right down to the honey-comb embedded soles. In the box with the shoes I also found a fierce iron-on patch, a dragon key ring and a dinky 60th anniversary booklet in the form of a wheel chart. A great limited edition experience.
Aside from that, the kicks definitely give me a bright injection of happiness every time I see them. It’s easy to start the day right when you’re wearing excellent great colours.
Someone else who ignites their world when they get dressed is my friend Tineke. Check out her super cute style – purple jeans paired with chirpy yellow canvas plimsolls.
She says that whenever she wears these, people stop her on the street to talk about her shoes. Awesome. We both wore our shoes today, so of course we felt obliged to engage, not in a conversation, but in a sneaker battle! Pow!
by Amber on November 20, 2008
I never used to be enamoured with sneakers… Shoes, yes, always! However I always thought sneakers were going to look ridiculous on my giant feet. Until I started working at a design agency, with a fair number of shoe addicts. Often, before they even say good morning, your daily footwear has been inspected – I kid you not. It’s all about who has the coolest kicks. There always seems to be an obsessive craze going on too – this month it is cheap canvas plimsolls. Heh, I have them, everyone else is hunting for them!
Anyway, with all this sneaker madness, my interest was piqued and given a little time I am now really excited about kicks. I have been on the look out for a new pair and my first, second and third thought was – COLOUR!
I like these watermelon, enamel blue and shadow purple runners by Onitsuka Tiger. Saiko Runners, inspired by the retina burning 70’s. According to the Tiger site, “Saiko” means ultimate in Japanese and sounds like ‘psycho’ in English ❤ I love clever names.
These beautiful lavender beasties are a collaboration between Converse and Danish brand Wood Wood (who have also worked on Nikes). Luxe suede meets high attention to detail such as the red eyelet and star perforations. In AKL Area 51 sell them for around NZD$200 – tempting!
Puma Booties in black, white gardenia and strawberry ice – the most amazing colour names ever, non? These shoes are beautiful in person – look carefully and you can see the metallic mesh detailing. I also adore the strap to bind fast against your ankles. Formally named The Key WN’s, they are inspired by a traditional b-ball shape.
The pumas may be close to perfect but I am still on the hunt for some good ‘bee’ like sneakers, thick splashes of yellow and black. I have been perusing a few sites, but the perfect pair haven’t popped up yet. In the world of sneakers though, new designs seem to crop up every day. To garner obsessive level intelligence and observe macro sole analysis, head to:
by Amber on November 3, 2008
These are your codes to unlocking all sorts of awesome! Be warned, there is a lot of love and exclamation going on in this post. This time, I have arranged it by application…
for the FACE…
Nude Skincare is all natural and based on organics philosophy. The range lovingly works with your body’s biology to help nurture your skin to perfect health. I love their dusky-space-nutrient packaging too – it’s very modern!
for the MIND…
Read two of the best (both written and designed) magazines in the world:
- The marvelous Monocle by Tyler Brûlé. With Monocle, I am a Fukuoka sushi expert, I am a Finnish diplomat, I am a hotel pillow tester, I am a pencil maker in Argentina. Every issue is gold! (And always reminds me of William Gibson’s novel Pattern Recognition, hmmm)
- Delightful, darling and daringly ground breaking Dumbofeather. I was lucky enough to hear editor Kate Bezar speak earlier this year about her lovingly published, quarterly tome. Each issue they interview 5 people, simply basing it on “who would I want to interview?”. The results are stunning insightful peeks into the minds of designers, bakers, philanthropists and more! Ooh and did I mention the weighty GSM?
for the BODY…
- You love the earth and the earth hearts you. This Heavy Rotation t-shirt looks very fetching – I envision it would look great teamed with limoncello coloured denim shorts this summer. That said, would some sort of sustainable material be too much to ask for?
- I have been watching a lot of youtube exercise videos recently. So this recommendation is literally for the body; my pick of the bunch is (Ford fitness model) Kim Strother! She’s hot, inspirational and informative – an excellent combination. Here’s her post holiday workout, a treadmill routine and a swiss ball session. Oh and if you like puppies, don’t miss the episodes with Moose.
for the FEET…
FINSK – Julia Lundsten’s wondrous sculptural shoes make me sigh with delight. She has been christened the Eames of footwear.
(((I think I’m in love!)))
for the TASTE BUDS…
This leek pasta dish is incredibly yummy and easy to make – I have tested it well! I must add that I find leeks really pretty with their flat layers of green and spindly white roots. They look so good on a wooden chopping board it makes me want to be a food photographer.
for the EARS…
Voodoo Funk! Frank has spent years tracking down rare vinyl pressings in Africa. Over time, he graciously mixed and shared his precious booty with the world. Amazing noise – well worth hours of investigation.
by Amber on October 20, 2008
I have a feeling I would live in these Frye boots… They would go with and be worn to everything. Monday night yakitori with warm sake, Tuesday morning foreign films, lunchtime Wednesday library trips, cycling to the supermarket on Thursdays and Friday night project meetings over a sheesha pipe. A girl can and will dream!
by Amber on September 29, 2008
As worn in the Cybèle show, savoured previously. They remind me of American Indian headresses. You want them, I want them. I’m sure there’s enough room in both our wardrobes!
by Amber on September 8, 2008
Just had to share these dashing sneakers made by Kathryn Wilson for New Zealand brand Ruby. Seriously, every shoe this woman makes is covetable gold!
Although I think the anchor motif is a little dated, it’s still irresistible in this bare-ankle context. As an aside, I vote for a new icon – something to replace the anchor, the cherry, the horseshoe (which still has some life left in it), the swallow, and the skull… Suggestions anybody? Camels?
The striped low sneakers will probably go with most things, but especially some of the pretty white lace dresses I’ve seen coming through. What makes Wilson’s shoes so appealing is the fact they’re accessible for everyone – not too chain store, not too conceptual – just right and ready to wear. I never really appreciated the true straight up meaning of that term till recently… Summer a-hoy-hoy!
by Amber on September 1, 2008
These shots of Cybèle’s latest range make me want to forfeit all of my savings for the rest of the year and become a one designer clothes pony! Named Utopia, there are two collections based on the theme; one for us lucky southern hemisphere girls with summer 2008-2009 and for the northern 2008-2009 winter.
She’s built on the bones of her last collection (which I fawned over previously), taking the draping silk and injecting fresh colours like electric blue and oily sea greens. Cybèle has also introduced a lotus motif to the range. From the gowns to singlets, it’s a really dreamy range, the sort of clothes that whisper at opulence and conjure images of beautifully unruly gardens at dusk.
The shoes showcased with the collection are from Sarah Riley, an up and coming footwear designer. I am feeling very smug right now, having just done a search on TradeMe (the NZ version of ebay) and found – a pair of these as per the Cybele shoot. In my size! I’ll have to take my chances with the bidding but I do foresee a summer of storming around in these gladiatorial heels.
