Though it’s a style that started a few seasons ago, oxford flats (or brogues) are EVERYWHERE this Spring. You may remember them from last year when they were fashioned by the most-daring fashionistas and pegged as the shoe of choice at your local hipster hangout. This Spring, oxford flats are far more accessible for the mainstream crowd as celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kate Bosworth show us how to wear them with more than just skinny jeans.

photo – stylehive

The Must Have Oxford Flat

The easiest to find, best bang for your buck is Steve Madden’s ‘Trouser’ Laceless Oxford. The heel is relatively flat, they come in a variety of colors (up to 6 from what I can tell) and they’re priced at just under $70. You can probably find this shoe at your nearest DSW for an even lower price.


Not a fan of the laceless style? Check out the other options listed below…

Ways To Wear Oxford Flats

As I mentioned before, the main way these shoes were worn last season was with skinny jeans. Though that’s certainly still an option, consider these alternatives to widen your style scope.

Sienna Miller | Katie Holmes | source 3
Here’s the basic way – with skinnies. Notice all of the tops are loose and long, the outfit is layered with a cardigan, coat or blazer and the hem of the skinnies hits at about the ankle bone (roll up if you need to).



Rosario Dawson | Sienna Miller
This is one of my favorite ways to style oxford flats. For a simple chic look, pair your flats with your boyfriend jeans. You can go a little tighter with the top if your jeans are on the baggy side. However, for a look that’s more on-trend for Spring 2011, roll up your skinny or straight-leg jeans for a cropped pant that’s less sloppy than last season’s boyfriend style.



Taylor Swift | Rihanna
As I’ll mention in a second, one of the main things to remember when wearing oxford flats is to keep your ankle exposed. You can do this in a variety of ways, the easiest by wearing tights or leggings.



Rihanna | source | Kate Bosworth
If you’re ready to bare it all, wear shorts with your oxford flats. This is a super chic way to add some style to otherwise boring shorts. For an warmer and (arguably) more stylish look, wear tights under your shorts.

How NOT To Wear Oxford Flats

Whatever you do, DO NOT wear oxford flats with –
evening attire – oxford flats are casual. If you plan on wearing flats with a cocktail dress, go for something more feminine like a ballet slipper. If you really love the oxford look and want to wear it for a night out on the town, choose a heeled oxford instead.
flares, wide-leg or boot-cut jeans – oxford flats will get lost when you cover them up with long, wide hemlines. Keep your ankle exposed to counter the masculinity of this shoe.

Today’s Selection

Sam Edelman | Bronx | JCrew | Target | Steve Madden

What do you think? How will you be wearing oxford flats this Spring? OR – are they still a bit too far on the hipster side for you?

Looking for a new way to style your hair this Spring? Look no further than the braid from your schooldays. Fishtail braids, ponytail braids, tiny braids, chignon braids…don’t hold back! Let those plaiting hands get to work. Here’s a gallery from the Spring 2011 runways for a little inspiration.

Lacoste | Carlos Miele | Behnaz Sarafpour | Georges Chakra | Nicholas K | Hermes | Georges Chakra | Lela Rose | Charlotte Ronson | Jason Wu | Nicole Miller

As you can see, sleek is good but messy is better. And don’t be afraid to add a ribbon or two!
Which will you try first?

There are about a million daily ‘here’s what I wore today’ blogs. I don’t intend to become one of those, but it occurred to me that it might be nice to share a little more about myself and my personal style. You know…to kind of make this blog something you can connect with.


I won’t post these every day because honestly, it’s not everyday that I make it out of gym clothes or pajamas (I work from home…what do you expect?). But, I’ll try to keep up with it so you can see my latest fashion obsessions and experiments.
Here’s my first attempt…

Jeans – Banana Republic
Shirt – Target
Shoes – Toms
Jacket – (I have no idea)

What, no face? It was awful, y’all. Imagine the look you might make if you looked directly into the sun while simultaneously eating the most sour lemon on the planet. That’s the face I spared you from seeing. You’re welcome.


From this first effort, I learned –
have husband take more than one picture.
check pictures husband takes.
it’s okay to look at the camera.
relax.


What do you think? Is this something you’d like to see more of?

Every Spring, I reevaluate my swim collection. I get rid of the suits I didn’t wear the previous Summer as well as those I completely wore out. Then, I look for one suit to add to my collection for the upcoming Summer months.


This year, THE suit you should have in your arsenal is the retro one piece. Whether it’s ruched, skirted, ruffled or bandeau, make sure you have a one-piece option.


Here’s a shopping guide of the most stylish options available this season.

Stylish One Pieces from Nordstrom

suit 1 | suit 2 | suit 3 | suit 4

Stylish One Pieces at Victoria’s Secret

suit 1 | suit 2

Stylish One Pieces at ModCloth

suit 1 | suit 2

Stylish One Pieces at Urban Outfitters

suit 1 | suit 2

Stylish One Pieces at Target

suit 1 | suit 2

Stylish One Pieces at JCrew

suit 1 | suit 2 | suit 3 | suit 4