Sneakers And Dresses: A Revolutionary Combo

I have a confession to make. I hate flats. I can't for the life of me see the pleasure in wearing this type of shoe on any occasion. I understand that the pointy-toed version looks lovely on Alexa Chung. I'm also impartial to the Chiara Ferragni collection of whimsical flats with little cat faces. However, I will never find them flattering. They don't elongate your legs, nor do they do anything for your figure. I like to refer to them as the "useless" shoe.

via cosmopolitan.com.au

Unfortunately, summer is a season that inspires a lot of walking. From a casual stroll in the park to simply a walk on the beach, 'tis the season to let go of the vehicle and opt for a more eco-friendly leg-strengthening oxygen-inhaling mode of transportation.

I, for one, am a huge advocate of walking. Perhaps it's the winter months of isolation and hibernation that make me want to walk everywhere come summer, but I just can't resist taking the longer route to my destination.

As a woman who loves her heels more than anything else in her closet, it pains me to admit that my favourite shoes are NOT walking friendly. So, when the sneaker trend took over the fashion world, I was beyond pleased. Believe it or not, I can fancy myself in a sneaker much more than a ballet flat. It's an inexplicable attachment that makes me want to wear them with absolutely everything. Though my heels will remain my favourites, I will sometimes intentionally choose a pair of sneakers for style purposes rather than mere practicality. It's beyond comprehension.

I can't seem to figure out why I prefer a sneaker. Maybe it's the little tomboy inside of me trying to inch out. Either way, what I once believed to be a shoe reserved for sport is now a fashion piece I actually enjoy wearing. As sneakers continue to gain popularity amongst fashionistas like Man Repeller, Leandra Medine, and top models like Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn, they have become increasingly more versatile. Worn with skinny jeans, skirts, and dresses alike, it's clear that anything goes.

My favourite pairing of the moment? Sneakers with a summer dress.

via thetrendspotter.net

If there's one thing I love in the summer time, it's putting on a simple dress for a walk in the park. Choosing to wear it with a sneaker makes it a fashion statement I simply cannot resist. After all, sneakers with pants are way too conventional for me.

Will you be wearing sneakers with your dress this season?

Ponder It,

Bella

#IconCity: Rising Star Liya Kebede

Ethiopian model, Liya Kebede, is the next lady to land in IconCity for her glamorous sense of style and rising modelling career. Kebede has walked in shows like Louis Vuitton and Proenza Schouler. She's covered magazines like Marie Claire and Vogue Italia. She also happens to be a L'Oreal girl, a sign of success in the fashion and beauty industries. On the side, she just happens to be a mother to two gorgeous children, Suhul and Raee. Kebede was the first black cover star of Vogue Paris in five years, covering the most recent May Issue of the magazine. At 39 years old, she remains one to watch and her career just keeps on flourishing.

Here are five of her best looks.

LOOK 1

Kedebe owns those printed pants like no one else and her lime green leather jacket is an unexpected choice that makes her a true icon.

via refinery29.com

LOOK 2

The pajama suit is a challenging trend to explore but Kebede does it with total ease and glamour.

via fashionologie.com

LOOK 3

A printed yellow and green dress with show-stopping shoes? Only a true diva can pull that off.

via vogue.com

LOOK 4

A little white dress may be perfectly angelic, but those black heels say otherwise.

via vogue.com

LOOK 5

Kebede's Cannes look is sexy and edgy. She kills this look with bombshell VS waves.

via wmagazine.com

What do you think of Kebede's style? Which look is your favourite?

Ponder it,

Bella

Why Dresses Are The Key To Surviving Your Summer

When the weather heats up and the layers come off, the best part about summer shines through. We finally get to throw something on and head out the door without a fuss. Winter coat? No thanks. Gloves? See you later. A hat? Maybe for style purposes. While winter may have been about the accessories you NEED, summer is about the ones you want, the ones that are there #forthesakeoffashion.

A prime example of this easy-going way of dressing is a dress. Whether a loose hip hugging maxi, a flared floral mini, a fitted deep-v style, or a 60s inspired shift, there is such a wide array of dresses that you can officially discard your pants this season. Dresses are the best for a number of reasons. Allow me to list them for you.

NUMBER 1

Your legs can breathe.

Pants are constricting. Shorts can ride up your butt in an unflattering way. Dresses never let you down and you can always feel the breeze pass through your legs.

via ellecanada.com

NUMBER 2

It's just one piece.

Who has the time to think of a complete outfit? With a dress, you just need to choose your shoes. No matter how many pairs you have, this is a much easier feat.

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 NUMBER 3

They're ultra feminine.

Winter was so cold, you forgot what it was like to be a woman. Pants may be great, but it's time to wear something flirty and prepare yourself for a summer fling.

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 NUMBER 4

Matching who?

Again, it's just one piece. Matching doesn't get any easier than that.

via whowhatwear.com

NUMBER 5

It's just more comfortable.

If it's floating on your body, you're guaranteed comfort. Nothing says chill and low-maintenance like a light summer dress.

via whowhatwear.com

Could this be your new summer wardrobe?

Ponder it,

Bella

#ForTheSakeofFashion: Wearing One Earring, Yay or Nay?

via Getty Images

In recent months, everyone's talking about ear candy, who is stealing the spotlight from the more commonly known arm candy. Whether more of us are wearing our hair up or we're simply looking for additional ways to adorn ourselves, earrings are the jewels of the moment and it's time to expose our least attractive body part, the ear (I know that's debatable, but we'll let it slide).

Last year was all about the glamorous ear cuff that emboldened the woman who wore it. With an ear cuff so flashy, the rule is to wear it on one ear and keep it simple with a stud or nothing on the other. As this trend gained momentum, women started to neglect the other ear all together. It became a game of picking your favourite ear and keeping the jewellery limited. So, make sure you choose your best side.

Though beauty is generally defined by aesthetic symmetry, the fashion industry likes to embrace the opposite, contrary to popular belief. From asymmetrical hemlines to hair parted on one side and teeth parted in the center, we're all feeling a little lopsided anyway.

Who needs a second earring when your bling on that one side already makes such a statement?

As a lover of asymmetry, I can't help but feel drawn to this trend. Symmetry tries to impose perfection, while asymmetry glorifies imperfection. There's a common misconception that fashion magazines are constantly trying to project a singular image of beauty. While this may have been true in the past, it is currently trying to counter that belief by encouraging the oddballs to shine. Moreover, plus size is becoming less taboo and ethnic models are becoming more prominent on the runway scene. It's officially an era of major changes.

Could the one-sided earring be an even bigger symbolic change than we think?

While it may make little sense to us now, it's on its way to becoming a chic fashion trend that takes us back to our childhood days of returning home from preschool with one earring missing. At the time, it was usually another little girl or boy who had pulled it off or we lost it at the park while playing in the sand. Today, it's intentional.

So find yourself that one statement piece. Pull your hair to the side. And own it.

Ponder that,

Bella

The Met Ball's Best Dressed Divas

This year's Met Ball theme, "China: Through the Looking Glass", was one of the most challenging to date. There's nothing more daunting than a theme that invites Americans to inspire themselves from another culture that they may or may not know much about. Some people stuck to the theme, such as Emily Ratajkowski, Alexa Chung, and Irina Shayk. Others opted for something slightly off putting and avant-garde like Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Solange Knowles. Some women decided to showcase their bodies and ignore the theme altogether, such as Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, and Dakota Johnson. All in all, it was an evening to remember because almost every look attracted a stare and if it didn't, it was probably forgotten the next day. After checking out everyone's outfit choice, I couldn't resist creating a best-dressed list that best reflected my top choices of the night. Whether they stuck to the theme or not hardly matters when heads were turned and eyebrows were raised.

Here is my top ten.

NUMBER 10

Kristen Wiig in Prabal Gurung

Someone forgot to tell Kristen Wiig that the theme wasn't Greek goddess. Regardless, she definitely looked like one in this yellow floor-length Prabal gown.

via laineygossip.com

NUMBER 9

Gigi Hadid in DVF

Apparently, it was a night for red dresses. Ladies like Gigi Hadid, Amal Clooney, and Poppy Delevingne, opted for this bold hue at this year's Met Gala and each wore it well. Gigi's dress may have not reflected the theme, but the floral detailing definitely reminded me of a beautiful Asian garden.

via popsugar.com

NUMBER 8
Kerry Washington in Prada
Kerry Washington was obviously going for the stop-in-your-tracks-and-take-your-breath-away look in a pastel pink high-low Prada gown with green Mary Janes no less. This one also had a party in the back to add to its glamour with a lovely bow behind the neckline fit for a princess.

 via eonline.com

NUMBER 7
Diane Kruger in Chanel
And the biggest shocker of the night goes to Diane Kruger in Chanel (not really, though). Kruger opted for a chic white look and as the antithesis of Kerry Washington, she chose to wear pants. Let's all keep in mind that these pants were beyond amazing so we'll give her that one. Points for romance and originality, but whether or not it fit the theme is another story altogether.

via usmagazine.com

NUMBER 6
Kate Beckinsale in DVF
Another goddess at the Met Gala last night was Kate Beckinsale in a clingy gold DVF dress. Always classy, Kate is a consistent best-dressed choice.

via usmagazine.com

NUMBER 5
Kendall Jenner in Calvin Klein Collection
Kendall may have opted for the serious side-boob look, but it came out tasteful and chic. This sparkly green Calvin Klein was absolutely divine.

via popsugar.com

NUMBER 4
Lily Aldridge in Carolina Herrera
Lily Aldridge opted for a frilly light grey Herrera with a bold purple lip and I instantly fell in love. With just the right combination of edge and class, this one made it right in my top five.

via elleuk.com

NUMBER 3
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Atelier Versace
Another VS model who took my breath away last night was Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. The Brit model showed up in a sparkly gold dress with asymmetrical cutouts that caught everyone's eye.

via usmagazine.com

NUMBER 2
Kate Hudson in Michael Kors
Apparently, it was the night to wear a gold dress and my favourite just happened to be on Kate Hudson. Her choice was by far the most jaw-dropping of the bunch.

via vogue.com

NUMBER 1
Poppy Delevingne in Marchesa
And my number one dress of the night goes to Poppy Delevingne in red Marchesa. From the floral appliques at the top to the long full red skirt, I was instantly blown away.

via dailymail.co.uk

Which was your favourite look from last night? 

Ponder it,

Bella

Why Dressing For Your Body Is More Important Than Following Trends

via visitdenmark.co.uk

As someone who reads a minimum of one magazine per week, I'm not ashamed to admit that I am tempted by trends. I like to believe that they don't phase me and that my style is a unique aspect of my identity unaffected by what magazines tell me to wear. Unfortunately, every time I dwell on my purchases, I conclude that this cannot possibly be the case. I question my choices and wonder whether I bought that fringe skirt because I've been following Coachella too much on Instagram. Here are some questions that plague my mind:

Is my suede jacket suddenly intriguing because the 70s are making a comeback?
Will I be wearing giant round frames because I saw them on an Olsen twin this season?
Am I only into yellow because I read that it's this year's colour in Harper's Bazaar?

I know. These are very pressing questions. I can hardly shop anymore without diving into a full on existential crisis. So, how is this avoided?

The key is to figure out what works for you. Pretty easy, right?

Actually, it's a horrendous process. There's nothing worse than that feeling you get when you absolutely LOVE something and you're hoping someone will tell you it looks great on you (sincerely) even though you know it doesn't. You know those glasses are too big for your face, but the colour is incredible. You're dying to buy some culottes but your legs look about two inches long. You contemplate flared pants on the daily, but every pair you try looks horrible. You buy them anyway. Or do you?

Life (i.e fashion) often throws us suggestions through celebrities. When we see anything on Kate Moss, we're driven to take it. It is not logic that pulls us towards that dress, it's our desire to look just as great as Poppy Delevingne while wearing it. Once the novelty wears off, we realize with dread that it looks terrible and can't remember why we bought it in the first place.

Though buyer's remorse is a common problem amongst everyone who has ever shopped, it can be avoided by staying true to yourself. Here are some ideas:

1) Pick a word (or two) that you would use to describe your style personality.
2) Think about it/them every time you shop.
3) Find out what works for your body.
4) Buy those pants.

It's a long process but I promise, it can be fun. When you discover what works for you, a trend in a magazine will become a fleeting idea that hardly tingles your body.

Ponder that,

Bella

#IconCity: Why I Want To Be Louise Roe

Another woman known to be for being an impeccably dressed talk-show host, Louise Roe lands herself in Icon City hand in hand with Giuliana Rancic. I want to be her not only because she is a fashion journalist, but also because she's British and never wears a print I don't love. Her Red Carpet appearance are consistently beautiful and notable on the best-dressed lists. Even off duty, this woman knows how to dress to the nines.

Here are five of her best looks.

LOOK 1

If anyone knows how to pull off printed pants, it's Louise Roe. Her bold colour-blocked shoes and clutch complete this put-together look.

via fabsugar

 LOOK 2

Did I mention she loves her prints? Louise Roe is the image of perfection in mixed prints.

via fabsugar.com

LOOK 3

Roe looks classy as ever in red leather pants and an unexpected yellow top. The floral clutch is the perfect accent to her ultra chic outfit.

via stilettosontreadmill.blogspot.com.br

LOOK 4

If there's one trend I'm obsessed with it's baggy leather pants. Roe wears them effortlessly with a long coral blazer, printed blouse, and stilettos. I'm in love.

via zimbio.com

LOOK 5

Nobody could have seen this outfit coming. Like a true fashionista, Louise Roe combines colours like no one else. Yellow, pink, and red? Who would've thought?

via stylespotting.com

What do you think of Louise Roe's style? Which look is your favourite?

Ponder it,

Bella