"Bella di Giorno" features Irina Kulikova, shot by Karen Collins 4 Velvet March 2012

Dobi Velvet Criss Cross Heel

I accidentally stumbled across these velvet dandies when I was searching for another pair of shoes available on the Opening Ceremony website- possibly one of the greatest online gatherings of expensive and fabulously hipster clothing known to man. While I have been eagerly seeking vintage treasure on Etsy this past week, the variety of shoes within my size is a real letdown and absolutely difficult. So getting to see three colours of these gorgeous velvet cross over shoes with buckles as well made my spirits lift.

From the side profile we can see the gorgeous platform as well as heel of the shoe all decorated in decadent velvet with your choice of black, teal or lilac. Lilac is my favourite colour, but I know if my mother had anything to say about a colour choice she would by the second but deciding vote and make me choose boring, plain-old black. Of course it is difficult to try and choose between these shoes when your minus a few hundred dollars to afford them and they're not really available on the Opening Ceremony website. While they are too good to see on eBay anytime soon, with intense Internet scouring I'm sure I could find another pair somewhere.

While the structure isn't a great deal of important to me (although the rounded toes are quite cute), I find that velvet is one of those gorgeous rare materials and I love the shading quality it gives. There's a variety and spectrum of pink/ purple colours for the shoe above and I suppose it's similar to the Jeffrey Campbell X Wildfox shoe collaboration I'll be hanging out for, for the rest of the month. Both would look absolutely stunning when worn with a great dress, I'm thinking black accordion pleats and some frilly socks for added irony.

The teal is probably my least favourite colour variation of the three since there's notably less colour variation within this one shade due to the velvet material and also there's less versatility when wearing teal shoes with an outfit. That's not to detract from their overall design and quirk and if you do favour the shade by all means have your heart set on them; I suppose I'm just a little more captivated when I see shimmering colour due to texture of a material.

I never was a dancer of any sort but I suppose my fascination with ballet style shoes and thick ankle crossing reflects some sort of childhood aspiration towards being feminine. Still, I always felt that there was a stronger male influence in my life at the time when little girls do try to do dancing and was a rather determined tomboy. How things have changed; I now love pink and purple as well as velvet shoes and vintage dresses. I certainly wouldn't have seen that one coming however many years ago it was I was still a ragga muffin.

Ann Demeulemeester and Comme des Garcons

 

I have had my eye on a few goodies from an online store that sell some of the biggest and best names in the fashion industry such as the Ann Demeulemeester black jersey dress featuring the black and white mystical moon and the Comme des Garcons velvet red blazer and creeper brogues. All the pieces are second hand and at a fraction of their original value but with hardly any wear and tear and their owners often having only used them once or twice within their lives so far. I've had my eyes on the brogue creepers for a while with their chunky platform heel as well as the transparent plastic on the sides, and I like the styling with the Comme des Garcons blazer and the black socks. I've always thought that the burgundy American Apparel socks would create a more interesting effect with those shoes though.

 

I love the loose and casual look of this dress by Ann Demeulemeester, although I'm not familiar with a lot of her other work I do know that lately I've been attracted to and drawn in by the occult and magical and lusted after a cut out, pre-stressed jersey shirt of a wolf on it. I love wearing things with extra long sleeves as well, being able to snuggle inside the clothing and hiding my hands in them. The black and white print is very suited to the mood evoked by the chosen print; what with the moon as well as the low hanging cloud and radar dish in the horizon of the photograph chosen for this long and lazy dress.

I love the modern twist on thick and chunky brogues used to instantly add to a girl's height with stability. At first I didn't immediately take to the opaque but transparent materials used by replacing a white leather section but it just adds to the updated nature and new take on a tried and true classic which is also traditionally a shoe worn by men. Within recent months I've seen a lot of variation on brogues, winkle pickers and vintage looking shoes and own a pair myself made by Vans in all leather body. I love the trend, I'm aching to see more of it. All I can really say is keep them coming because I'll keep on lapping it up.

 

I also really admire the use of luxurious velvet; mostly all I can afford being a student is vintage pieces but this jacket by Comme des Garcons is really something! I could never really justify the expenditure on a piece such as this, but it would be nice to wear something like it for a University graduation as well as a nice black dress or something. Right now everything is early days and I'm still yet to be accepted into a university so let's just scrap that idea for now shall we? Even when rolled up and getting to see the lining of the jacket sleeves it looks so glorious, a cheerier red interior makes the outside red velvet seem even darker by comparison.

 

The red velvet jacket reminds me of something actor David Tennant wore on his appearance for a Christmas edition of the quiz show QI, and with a little brooch of holy this would certainly dress the jacket up to the festive season. This photograph from the back shows the careful structure and the way the material simply drapes around the body, it'd be great with a plain black of white dress as shown above with a cute pleated mini skirt in a leather material. It's fun, bright and rare and I would feel honoured to be able to buy such a great piece of clothing but I must resist and manage my funds more carefully from now on. That just takes all the fun out of shopping and browsing online doesn't it?

Velvet Vans

I have longed for a pair of regular shaped Vans- I made the mistake of only buying two pairs of Vans when on holiday in America. A black suede pair of high-tops more suited for skating and a pair of brown leather brogues. I always seem to underestimate the value of the traditional and classic colours of shoes such as black converse Chucks or a pair of blue Vans. The moral of the story is that I should learn to swear by the classics of shoe brands and styles. I really like the velvet vans as a part of Jesse Jo Stark’s collaboration with the skate shoe company Vans and the velvet shades of the colours red, green and blue. Velvet seems to soak up the lighting rather than shine and I like that difference about it.

I like the cute and round cut of the toe of the shoe in contrast with the moody and dark blue of the velvet. It’s not that often you see casual shoes incorporate the material into their design so I felt really in awe of the simple combination of the round almost ballet flat vans and moody and brooding velvet.The dark blue velvet also worn with the matching blue velvet dress worn with Jesse Jo’s dress in the photo shoot and her leopard print beanie and eyeliner is the perfect indie and seminal punk look. Since I’ve killed a few pairs of ballet flats in my high school years the thing I look for most is versatility with a few different outfits and these vans can be the edgy look to a sweet outfit with a skirt but they can also be worn with jeans if you’d want to look more casual.

 

I feel so confident and free when I wear my Vans, the grip on the shoes and the support and structure is something I swear by. If I’m late for the bus or train and I need to stampede down the street then I know my pair of brown leather Sofia Vans won’t let me down or slip off. I imagine it would take a lot of wear and outings to properly destroy a pair of Vans although I may be wrong since I’ve had them for a year but I had been in school uniform for a while. If I had been lucky enough to get a job at General Pants Co maybe it would be acceptable to wear a pair of Vans to work without having to swap shoes. Oh well, I am lucky to be employed this Christmas and I should take it for what it’s worth.

My only lament about Vans is that not all the colours and styles can be available from one shop or from online so it is hard to know the biggest, best and most boisterous of their current styles available. In Australia the collaboration with Jesse Jo may not be as big but I am a fan and would love to buy a pair of velvet Vans in either blue or a dusty faded black. Her style has intrigue and she is a bit of a mystery herself. Known as a party girl, smoking and wild colours streaked from the tops of her bangs I style admire Jesse Jo Stark’s wild spirit and would love to own part of her collection (if I had the funds).