Shoe of the month - January 2014 - Biker Boots

It's no secret that I am a bit of a shoe addict! I love shoes and follow the mantra that shoes will always fit you even with a couple kilos more on your hips, no diet needed.

With the new year, I have thought about a couple of new ideas for the blog and I decided to start a new project - the shoe of the month project. I will try to remix one pair of my shoes with several outfits throughout a month and share with you different ways to combine these shoes.

In January we start the project with biker boots!

The best part - you can participate as well. I will open up a link up poll for everyone and you can share your best looks with similar shoes during the entire month. 

I want to show you a couple of my favourite shoes after the jump.
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Es ist kein Geheimnis, dass ich ein bisschen schuhsüchtig bin! Ich liebe Schuhe und lebe nach dem Mantra, dass Schuhe immer passen, auch wenn man mal ein paar Kilo mehr auf den Rippen hat!

Mit dem neuen Jahr habe ich mir auch ein paar Gedanken über den Blog gemacht und habe mich für ein neues Projekt entschieden - das "Shoe of the month" Projekt. Ich werde versuchen, ein paar Schuhe aus meiner Sammlung mit verschiedenen Outfits im laufe des Monats zu kombinieren und hier auf dem Blog zu teilen.

Im Januar geht es mit Biker Boots los!

Und das Beste - ihr könnt mitmachen! Ich eröffne ein Link up tool für jeden und ihr könnt eure Lieblingslooks mit euren Biker Boots bis zum 26.01. hier teilen!

Zudem möchte ich euch ein paar meiner Lieblingsschuhe zeigen, die vielleicht noch eine Hauptrolle auf dem Blog bekommen werden :)

Reader question: tall girls in high heels?

A while back (and excuse me for answering this question so late), I was contacted by one of my lovely readers with a question about my style and how I incorporate heels into my looks. 

I am 6'2'' tall (or 1,92cm) and I do love my height. It has taken me years to really appreciate it and I have to admit that my teenage years were quite difficult for me. I was always the tallest girl in my class (of only girls) and was often mistaken as the student teacher instead of being a student. I had difficulties finding clothes that fit me well and that flattered my hourglass figure and for a long time I stopped dressing fancy alltogether. 

Dotty Vintage

My favorite season is by far spring - you know why?! Because I can still get away with layering without sweating. I can wear tights without getting the look (especially black ones) from my mother and people surrounding me and I can wear a dress as a top under a leather skirt. Oh an adding rainboots to the whole look :)

What I love right now No.5

One of my dear friends has asked me to help her organize her wedding and I have been thrilled to start the planning process with her. I have been searching blogs for inspiration on decorations and other important things, just awesome. Only have to watch out a bit as she is not such a girly girl like I am. Hope that I will match her taste ;)

This dress, made by Elsie of A Beautiful Mess, is just breath taking!

Waiting for Spring

I have been in love with Swedish Hasbeens shoes and especially adore their summer sandals. I have lived long enough in a Nordic country to get to know this brand a bit better and fall in love with their quality materials they use to produce these shoes. I needed to get a pair of my own latest after H&M collaborated with the shoe brand last summer and designed some inexpensive, but still beautiful shoes. Sadly, that collection did not include my size (42), like all collections at the Swedish retailer. Also most shoes at Swedish Hasbeens are only produced till 41 and therefore I decided to search for a similar shoe that would fit my big feet.

Shoe of the Week – Cork sole Shoes

As I broke my toe during the weekend, I won't be able to wear heels for a couple of weeks and until then I couldn't photograph enough different outfits with those lovely shoes. Therefore, I will add some outfits that I had posted before, but which work well with the cause of Shoe of the Week.

This year shoes with natural materials made a big revival. I already featured Espadrilles that are made out of rope and canvas as a Shoe of the Week and now will show you shoes with cork soles. My pair is with a cork sole, but is also covered with faux leather on the heel.

Cork sole Shoes

Already in Acient Greece, actors at the theatre with a higher rank wore shoes with a plateau heel to show off their status. The same applied for 16th century Venezian courtesans or Chinese Geishas. All in all, the platform shoes are supposed to give their bearer extra height.
The platform heels got extemely popular again in 1940s and 1950s, but had their biggest and prolonged success during the 1960s and 1970s. Especially in the USA, they belonged to the Hippie and disco era. The most popular style during that time was a simple light strap leather sandal with a cork wedge-heel platform sole. Those shoes were also known as the "Kork-Ease", but of course had several other companies imitating the style. Other material was used as well, such as wooden or synthetic soles and the shoes were made into boots or some sort of pumps.

For a lunch meeting

Jeans are normally problematic for business meetings, but are often ok for outings before dinner. A chic blazer and a blouse enhance the styling and give it a chic yet stylish look. Add some well picked accessories and a clutch.

{Outfit inspiration}

What I wore

Pants: Long Fashion

Blazer, Top & Bag: H&M

Blouse: C&A

Ring (Toe Ring): Bijou Brigitte

Necklace: Thrifted

Bracelet: Street Vendor; Brazil

LipStick: Nivea Colour Passion Chantal Thomass LE "Rose So Lovely"

Nail Polish: Catrice "From Dusk to Dawn"

For a summer picknick at the park

Summer ist the best season for getting away with a Bohemian or Hippie styling. For a picknick with friends, a comfortable and light combination is perfect. Work with layers to compensate some wind and feel free to add as much jewelry as you feel comfortable with.

Dress (as skirt): Lindex

Cardigan: Bon Prix

Tops: H&M

Belt: ?

Earrings: Street Vendor; South Africa

Ring: Bijou Brigitte

Necklace & Bracelet: Gift from my mother

Nail Polish: Catrice "From Dusk to Dawn"

For a wedding

Spring and Summer weddings are perfect for flower dresses and pastel colors. wear a cute little sundress and pair it with a light cardigan and some cute and chic accessories! Be aware that you keep it demure for the church etc. No too big cleavage or too short hem line. Wear a silk slip under the dress to avoid any accidental peaks of your underwear and add a top to cover up the bigger cleavage.

What I wore

Dress: Vero Moda

Cardigan: C&A

Silk Slip (for those that don’t know what is meant by that, it’s not my undies!): Thrifted, KleiderKreisel

Bag: Vintage YSL; Thrifted

Headband: Claire’s

Ring: I am

{Information source}

Fly away on a jet plane

When my sister went on holiday to Turkey, my mother and I dropped her off at the airport. Before leaving on a jetplane, my little sis' still took some pictures of my outift. We had some fun on the moving walkway and joked around until we got weird looks by other travelers.

Special first appearance - my lovely new sandals!

What I wore

Skirt: C&A

Shoes: Deichmann

Shirt: Mango

Bag: gift from a friend

Necklace: Thrifted

Yeah, you have been seeing this skirt a lot lately, but with the temperatures on an average 15-20 degrees, none of my other skirts is warm enough to be worn without tights. It's cruel to think, but why do the Finn's get all that sunlight!?

Shoe of the Week – Espadrilles

This week has been crazy and I am sorry for posting this Shoe of the week so late.

As mentioned in a lot of posts before, I have a thing for wedges right now. Those are my favorite go-to shoes, so comfortable, but they give you a certain leg length! My new favorites and at the same time the highest pair in my shoe closet are those super cute suede red Espadrilles with the roses on the tip. Espadrilles bring this instant flair of sailing and summer with them and give every outfit this lightness, no matter how dressed up you are.

Espadrilles

{TK Maxx}

Espadrille comes from the french/catalan word for a tough Mediterranean grass that was used for making ropes. Those shoes have been made since at least the 14th century in the Catalonian region. The sole has been made out of this grass and the top is made out of canvas. Normally those shoes are flat, but in recent years modern Espadrilles have also been high-heeled. They can also have laces added to them to hold them securely in place. The traditional shoes are worn by men and women, but the modern version is often only worn by women. They got especially popular during the 1980s and the TV series "Miami Vice", where Sonny Crockett wore them often. Today, they are often associated with summer and maritime fashion.

For a day with the girls

Those shoes just call for a maritime styling and therefore work well with blue, polka dots or stripes. Go for a simple shirt and a high-waisted skirt in a popping color and you are dressed. I added this cute cardigan with pearls that look like polka dots to work with the cool temperatures. Blue and/or red accessories complete the outfit.

What I wore


Top, Shirt and Cardigan: H&M
Skirt: Thrifted
Earrings: Kitsch-City
Necklace: Gift from my parents

For a business lunch

Yes, some of you might argue that this is too casual for a business lunch, that of course depends on the business. Wear those wide-legged jeans with a red blouse and a black blazer with smoking detailing and it is at least business casual for my taste. I added gold jewelry with some pearl details. Pearls are always great business accessories, so you ladies out there applying for jobs, stock up on them :)

What I wore


Blouse & Ring: H&M
Pants: Long Fashion
Blazer & Necklace: Thrifted

For a fashion/blogging event

This outfit is a bit more risky as the black blouse is see through and the skirt is quite short. The bright red accessories pop out against those otherwise clear and neutral pieces. I wore a nude top with pearl details under the blouse to make it more appropriate. With short skirts like this, one should never go without tights, even girls with perfect legs. I chose black with a seam in the back that gives the outfit an old-fashioned vibe. 

What I wore


Skirt & Belt: H&M
Blouse & Scarf: Thrifted
Top: TK Maxx
Tights: Esda
Earrings: gift from my parents

{information source}

Announcing ”Shoe of the Week” for June 20th - Espadrilles

What better to start next week with than a new edition of the "Shoe of the Week" project. This summer you can find this weeks' featured shoes everywhere. They fit perfectly with flirty summer dresses, the maritime styling or the neutral palette. The shoes are light, give your feet some opportunity to breath, but still look fashionable and give support. 

Espadrilles

{TKMaxx}

The shoes can be flat or with heel, open-toed or closed. Just choose your favorite pair!

You will be able to add a link of your outfit back to my project post. To get more information on the participation, you can also check the page on my blog. 

Don't forget to grab a badge!

<a href=" http://www.aheartandsoulstory.blogspot.com" title="Shoe of the Week Badge von A Heart and Soul Story bei Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5595007456_cc92d2c631.jpg" width="175" height="259" alt="Shoe of the Week Badge" /></a>

Shoe of the Week - Laced-up Sandals

Summer is finally here and the weather gets really hot. It is sometimes difficult to wear pretty and comfortable shoes that don't make you sweat in an instant or have blisters hurt your feet. The perfect sandals are essential for that season. Either with heels or flat, they need to look pretty and fit for a lot of outfits, but still be appropriate. A lot of offices have banned flip flops from the list of work attire, so sandals need to make no sound and look appropriate!

Laced-up Sandals

{Botego Bay Club}

The oldest known sandals are at least 10.000 years old and were discovered in a cave in the USA. The Greeks later wore two kinds of sandals, the low ankle versions for philosophers and comic actors and the longer boot sandals that rose above the middle of the leg that were worn by those men of higher rank. Most sandals were made of leaves and fibres or papyrus. 

Today, sandals vary between flip flop style shoes with a thong between the first and second toe and shoes with a strap or lace over the toes. Sandals can also be worn with or without a strap around the ankle and are available in a variety of heights, with low heels, no heels, high heels or plateau sole. Sandals have been in fashion for as long as they have been known. They are perfect for hot weather, summer climate and can be found in almost every shoe closet around the globe. They are popular with both men and women and will probably never go out of style!

Some Inspiration I got from other bloggers

Andy at StyleScrapbook

Christine at My Style Pill

For a date night

Sandals are cute for summer and with a short skirt you can never go wrong. To dress down the skirt, wear a flowing blouse with a cute print. According to one very important fashion rule always wear a flowing top paired with a tight bottom and the other way around. Never wear only tight fitting clothes - it can look weird. Add some accessories and you are ready for a night out with your guy.

What I wore


Top, Ring & Skirt: H&M
Blouse & Earrings: Vero Moda
Necklace: Street Vendor; NYC

For a day of relaxing in the park

Sandals are summer shoes and what better than a day at the park, relaxing on a blanket, enjoying a picknick and playing some sports games with friends (maybe for the sports get rid of the shoes!). Clothes need to be comfortable, but that doesn't mean you can't look fashionable. A pretty shirt and some capri pants work really well and are comfortable for a day of activities. The scarf helps for windy days.

What I wore


Top, Shirt, Pants & Scarf: H&M
Ring: I am
Bracelet: Vintage; gift from my mom
Nailpolish: OPI "Malaga Wine"

For a day at the office

Summer is a hard season for office workers. It is hot outside, but you still need to wear business attire and indoor AC is an instant buzz killer and brings you a summer cold easily. My tip for that kind of weather - linen! Very comfortable fabric that lets your skin breath and you still look well dressed. My choice is a khaki linen pants paired with a white linen blazer and a blouse. The blazer dresses the outfit and makes it more office appropriate. At the same time, it helps you survive the AC office world. Of course, dress codes are different in each and every office, so stay save and maybe discuss your linen outfits in advance with somebody from the office. The same goes for wearing sandals in general!!!

What I wore


Blazer & Blouse: H&M
Linen Pants: Long Fashion
Necklace: Thrifted
Earrings: Vero Moda

{Information source}

Shoe of the Week – Peep Toes

My love for the 50s is undeniable and can be seen frequently in my wardrobe choices. I adore the fashion from that time and this style is clearly connected to one of my favorite types of shoes. I have been looking for the perfect pair for quite some time, as they are in my opinion definitely needed in every shoe closet. Those shoes are classic, but shoe a bit of individuality. The opportunity to shoe toes and their possibly colorful nail polish (well taken care of nails are a must, with or without colorful polish), gives the peeptoes a funny twist.

Peep Toes

{Pesaro; Thrifted}

Peep Toed shoes have been around for quite some time. They emerged during the 1930s, when the great depression made the people wish for happy fairytale lives. Styling further evolved and women dared to wear shoes, preferably pumps, with little openings in the front that showed just a tiny bit of the toe nail.During that time, this was daring and a small evolution for the female emancipation in terms of fashion.

For a Birthday party

A birthday celebration calls for a special outfit. Wear what you feel comfortable, but still fashionable in. You should never outshine the birthday girl though. Wear a pretty dress and combine it with some cute accessories. A cardigan keeps the outfit party appropriate for a house party and taking it off can easily change the styling. I finished the look with a beehive hairstyling.

(In the photos you see me barefoot, but I swear, I wore those shoes, but the guests had to take off the shoes for this event!)

What I wore

Dress & Top: H&M

Cardigan & Belt: Thrifted

Tights: Esda

Hair clip: gift from my host family

Hair styling: inspired by WishWishWish messy Beehive Tutorial

For a walk in the park

Even for a relaxed walk in the park, a girl can be fashionable. Wear your most comfortable shirt and colorful pants. Pair it with a cute cardigan and your super cute peep toed shoes and you are good to go!

What I wore

Pants, Ring & Sports Bra: H&M

Shirt: Vero Moda

Cardigan: Thrifted

For a day with the best friend

Meeting your best friend gives you an opportunity to try out all the pieces you bought together on your last shopping spree! This outfit was inspired by the maritime look that is so popular right now. Blue, red and white are the signature colors and belong to the styling as well as striped shirts. Combine one of those with a red or white skirt and add some brown leather or striped accessories. I also added a pretty hairdo that was Casey's super cute hair stylings. 

What I wore

Shirt, Earrings & Belt: H&M

Skirt: Handmade

Bag: Vintage YSL; Thrifted

Necklace: gift from my parents

Shades: Thrifted

{Info source}