Eye-4-Style

The old bucks and wingtips are stepping it up with colorful options for Spring.  The trend has grown due to the craze for high-end sneakers with bright colors. It’s also a way of taking a classic shoe and making it feel more casual without having to wear a sneaker.

ELIOT  and DANIT by Donald J Pliner

The CLASSIC BUCK at Brooks Brothers. They also designed belts that are color-coordinated with the shoes.

AIR FRANKLIN WING TIP OXFORD at Cole Haan

Jimmy Choo launched a men’s collection last year and due to the strong response,  has increased its selection of fashion-forward shoes for Spring.

Girls miss wearing pretty sandals or heels in inclement weather but who wants to ruin a fine pair of shoes or freeze their ‘tootsies’ off? So why would men expose fine footwear to rain, slush, snow and salt? Evidently, galoshes were all the rage in the 30’s but started dying out in the 80’s, when shoe styles were changing and galoshes became difficult to put over shoes.

A 31 year-old Norwegian man, Johan Ringdal, decided it was time to bring the galosh back while he was studying art in New York city. He founded  SWIMS, a Scandinavian-based shoe line to protect footwear. These galoshes are easy to wear with a lining that shines your shoes while you walk, helps keep the feet warm and dry, and they’re good looking!

Corduroy magazine Johan Ringdal

SWIMS brand galoshes at Brooks Brothers

On/off easily with shoe polishing liner

Need a birthday or Father’s Day gift? Click HERE for Allen Edmonds’ SWIMS gift ideas.

A friend of mine wears fabulous blouses that look like she just put them on, even at 5:00 pm! She told me they are Brooks Brothers Non-Iron blouses. A real no-iron shirt? She swears by them. Recent shopping on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach brought me to Brooks Brothers and I decided it was time to check it out. The blouses come in various styles and colors. I purchased a fitted non-iron stretch long navy (which I’m wearing with black leggings) and a light lavender blouse. A blouse is so versatile with jackets, cardigans and accessories. You can dress it up or down. I’ll report later how well I think the non-iron works. I’m a fussy dresser and iron just about everything, so this will be the true test! My friend is enthusiastic about them so I’m anxious to try them out.

Interesting map of New York City in Brooks Brothers on Worth Avenue

Last week I found myself in cold, rainy Chicago weather.  It’s not that Chicago is a southern city, but the Midwest has experienced a cool summer followed by a cold autumn.  Hmmmmm……… hope this winter won’t be like last year’s!  Anyway, while checking out retail on Michigan Avenue, I was pleased to see what trends we will gladly follow this year.  THE BOOT IS BACK – big time.  While we’ve all worn boots, it is a MUST HAVE this season.  I had many compliments and inquiries as to the pair of boots I was wearing, which are the “riding” boots I bought from Brooks Brothers last year. (See previous posts for boot “reveal.”)  I’m also happy to see leggings and tights/stockings in many fabrics, colors, designs.  I think a lot of women will be warm and feeling quite stylish this winter!