I remember when Birkenstocks were part of my daily attire: It was the mid-90s, Hippie Chic was at it’s strongest, and you weren’t anybody in high school unless you were wearing a pair of tan Birkenstocks. We wore them with everything — maxi skirts, flannel shirts, cropped tops and jeans — and they scored major bonus points for how comfortable they were.
With 90s fashion making a comeback, it should be no surprise that Birkenstocks are flying off the shelves. Even self-professed Birkenstock haters are finding themselves irresistibly drawn to the sandals — from non-branded rose gold and studded variations, to tried-and-tested classic styles — they're everywhere you look.
Opinions are divided at Yummy Mummy headquarters. Irritated by Allergies Blogger, Alexandra Durriell gleefully exclaimed “I knew my day in the fashion spotlight would come! BIRKS ARE IN, BABY.” Christella Morris is not convinced: “Bahahahahahahaa.... Go home, Fashion! You're drunk.” Party Mummy Blogger, Lisa Thornbury asked ”Is it wrong that I feel rather smug about all the teasing I've endured over the past few years about my Birk wearing ways?” while Julie Cole stated “I started wearing them in 1988 and have never stopped.” Ali Martell, sums up her fashion philosophy succinctly: “My daughter wears them. Which means I do not.” YMC's other fashion blogger Ashley MacInnis is excited since she has always been a big fan.
As for me, I own a pink pair in the Madrid style — I purchased them during a brief popularity revival in 2005. Since they're back in fashion, I've brought them out again, but I've learned to pair them with slouchy jeans...otherwise my feet look like boats!
How do you feel about Birkenstocks? Are they a fashion fave or too ugly to wear?
If you’ve admired Roland Mouret’s dresses on celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Cameron Diaz, you’ll be as excited as I am about his upcoming collaboration with Banana Republic. Designer dresses at a more affordable price point? Yes, please!
Dita Von Teese, Claudia Schiffer, and Victoria Beckham at a Roland Mouret Fashion Show in Paris. (Photo Credit: FameFlyNet)
The upcoming collection marries Banana Republic’s signature Sloan fabric (a contour stretch material) with Mouret’s famous draped silhouettes. The collaboration is a perfect match. Banana Republic Vice President of Women’s Design, Melloney Birkett, believes that Mouret “has such a strong sense of how to dress a woman, and brings a beautiful sensuality to his work." Mouret states that “partnering with Banana Republic on this project was such an adventure for me...extending my love of structure into accessible prices.”
Here are my favourite pieces from the upcoming collection—I'm so in love with the short-sleeve sheath and one-shoulder dresses. The first two feature Mouret's distinctive square shaped neckline, while all three are sleek and figure flattering. They're the perfect special occasion dresses—from cocktail parties to summer weddings—all you need are strappy heels and some statement jewellery, and you're good to go!
Sloan Sheath Dress in Pink, $175:
Sloan Short-Sleeve Lace Panel Dress in Black, $205:
Sloan One-Shoulder Colourblock Dress, $175:
The collection is available at select Banana Republic stores across Canada, and online at www.bananarepublic.ca, on August 7, 2014.
Which of these dresses is your favourite?
For more style posts, check out How to Dress like a Modern-Day Princess and Steal Her Style: Gwyneth Paltrow!
There's something so relaxing about getting your nails done — from moisturizing hand treatments to brightly polished nails — it's the ultimate "me-time" experience. But it can be difficult to fit frequent salon visits into your calendar (and budget). Read below to find out how you can give yourself a manicure at home, using drugstore products and items you already own.
No Time For A Manicure? Try This.
1) CUTICLE WORK
Remove old polish. Soak hands in a shallow container filled with warm water and scented body wash. Apply Sally Hansen Cuticle Remover on each nail and gently push back dead skin using a cuticle stick.
2) EXFOLIATE & SHAPE
Massage an exfoliating scrub over your hands — you can use anything you have at hand — from a face or body scrub, to a homemade mix of olive oil and brown sugar. Rinse hands and dry them on a towel. Shape nails according to your preference — I like a square shape so I clip mine short and then run a file straight across the top.
Here are some of the most popular nail shapes (Image Source: here) :
3) MOISTURIZE & POLISH:
Apply a rich moisturizer all over your hands, taking extra care to massage it into your cuticles. Wipe a cotton pad soaked with polish remover across each nail to lift off any oily residue.
Apply a basecoat to prevent staining (this one works as a topcoat too!)
Choose your favourite polish — I like the Rimmel Pro Manicure range because its smooth formula and curved brush makes it easy to paint your nails neatly. Check out the guide below for application tips (Image source: here).
Practice makes perfect — and it's always easy to clean up mistakes with a cotton bud dipped in polish remover. Finish with a coat of topcoat to seal in colour and shine.
Hope you enjoyed this easy tutorial! For more beauty posts — check out What to Pack for a Day at the Beach and Four of my Favourite Lip Products!
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