I am the Storm, I am the Wonder

Meet Mira and Thilda Berglind: sisters, soul mates and, now, colleagues. From the town of Nyköping about an hour south-west of Stockholm (also known as the middle of nowhere), these twin visionaries spend their days taking pictures, drinking wine and dancing to the wee hours for their blog 365days on Swedish network Devote.

The siblings are influenced by fashion, but their goal is "to be inspired by the cool atmosphere around us and mix it with clothes we think match ... our goal is to inspire people."

Judging from their work the middle of nowhere is a pretty inspiring place. They caught our eye with their fresh photography, rich settings and confident, searching style. We were gratified to see that coming out of small-town Scandinavia as opposed to, say, Paris or New York. God bless the Internet and digital media.

Giving them free rein over our catalog, they donned the Jeffrey Campbell Penny Lane and ran wild. The result is some great looks with a superb shoe ... and the first post by our newest guest bloggers.

(Interested in blogging for Lori's Shoes? We are currently looking for style mavens worldwide to join our team. Email us for details.)

We adore a lot of shoe designers, but Jeffrey Campbell tops the list for a number of reasons. The design of the Penny Lane stands out from the crowd. It was love at first sight. The Penny Lane is stylish, but discreet. We chose a rather neutral outfit (our dad's Hugo Boss shirt and vintage shorts) to match these shoes. We wanted something cavalier and not so "stylish." The bathroom had a clean, fresh retro look to match. Both outfits are nice, simple and not to up-dressed: everyday outfits. We'll wear these shoes in our old "crow castle," drinking wine and listening to Röyksopp at top volume!

Blazer and shorts from stylebymarina.com with Penny Lane by Jeffrey Campbell.

 We kind of melt at the thought of walking in these shoes down the streets of Stockholm when the weather becomes a little bit warmer. When the cherry trees bloom we will wear those with some short-cut vintage shorts and maybe a cream-colored blazer. And as an extra plus, the Penny Lane is ridiculously comfortable, so, talking from experience, it won't be necessarily to wear flats to feel comfy when you have been dancing all night.

   

—Mira & Thilda Berglind of 365days, Sweden

  
 

Winter Whites!

It’s that time of the year when we’re all feeling a little S.A.D. (I for one am already dreaming about spring.) Speaking of sad, when you take stock of your winter shoe collection, my bet is that yours consists, primarily, of black ... or dark brown. Am I right?

Right.

Bring some lightness to your shoes and spirits with the Mary Lou by Jeffrey Campbell, a winter white leather wedge with geek-chic tassel detail and a 4.5” heel

This shoe is an online exclusive like its cousin, the Mary-Roks. You might think it takes an especially adventurous personality to take these puppies home, but they are surprisingly easy to mix in. Actually, it’s super easy because they have so much attitude. Let them take center stage! Smile at their whimsical delight for hours on end!

Pair ‘em with full-length tights, leggings that hit just above the ankle or socks (any length). You can mix skirts, pants, whatever; white is the new neutral. Revel in the fact that it’s not black.

They go exceedingly well with the après-ski sweaters I live in this time of year, making me look always ready for a little hot tod—, I mean, chocolate. Hot chocolate.

Another thing to love about this shoe? It will get worn to death when the weather turns warmer. This shoe screams '70s—the trend that is top of the heap for spring. It works just as well with a pair of jeans, a sweater and some cozy socks as it does with vintage disco dresses and crazy taffeta coats, as evidenced below.

I love getting some serious bang for my buck, so I’m bullish on the Mary Lou and recommend buying now, wearing now, and dancing S.A.D.-free into 2011.

See you in the New Year!

—April Francis of Haute Closet

  

Holiday Dress Up

'Tis the season for pretty holiday dresses! Despite the crazy holiday madness the comes with this time of year, I absolutely adore the holidays because I get to doll myself up in extra-girly, sparkly dresses. You can replicate my lacy black ensemble for your holiday season with four key pieces...



1. LBLD ~ A Little Black Lacy Dress is a girly twist on a classic piece. For my LBLD, I layered a basic satin tank dress over a black lacy button-up blouse.

2. Nude Pump ~ If you don't already own a pair of nude pumps, you must save your pennies and treat yourself for Christmas. I am a mere five feet tall; nude heels are my best friend. They will give your legs a long, lean and sexy look for the holidays.

3. Embellished Clutch ~ A little clutch, just small enough to fit your night-out essentials is the perfect way to add a glimmer and glitz to your look.

4. Black Lacy Tights ~ Leave those opaque black leggings in your delicates draw this season. Instead style some girly edginess with black lacy tights. Keep your look monochromatic to avoid looking like a burlesque ensemble dancer.

What's your favorite part of the holiday season? My second choice would be all the desserts and wine!

—Kitty of Geisha Pearl



    

The Little Black (Holiday) Dress

The “Little Black Dress” is tailored, chic sophistication—its hue and simplicity no doubt contributing to its longstanding popularity. Invented in 1926 in Paris by fashion maven Coco Chanel, this dress never seems dated, regardless of the year. The L.B.D. reinvented the way women wore black, becoming a permanent staple in cocktail and evening wear. The L.B.D. was often paired with one or two strands of pearls, simple black pumps and matching pearl or diamond earrings. Think Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (her dress was Givenchy). It holds a special place in the closets and hearts of many women.

The holidays are upon us! Whether the parties are work-related or involve family and friends, we want to look our very best. Since dress code varies from one holiday event to another, it makes sense to pick a L.B.D. that is more timeless. If you stick to the book, wear the L.B.D. classically: sleeveless, knee length with a high scoop neck. Rely on your shoes and accessories to update your look from one event to another.

Sometimes I draw from the idea of the L.B.D. while adding an edge for a look that is a bit more exciting. I personally love the L.B.D. with a lace overlay, opaque black tights and black pump or bootie. (I simply love black.) Puffed, single-sleeve dresses are all the rage right now (as are sequined dresses). If your holiday party is laid-back, consider these as options. Keep in mind that you can also mix and match textures and couple your L.B.D. with edgier shoes and accessorizes!
 
Must your L.B.D. be black? Why not set your sights on a dress that is partially black? Chanel said fashion is in the streets, and the streets are alive with COLOR. Add nudes, reds, olives, blues, whatever you wish. Who knows—maybe it will up your chances of being caught beneath the mistletoe!

Sondra Roberts bag available at Lori's Shoes.

Steve Madden Mercyy available at Lori's Shoes.

Sam Edelman Jagger available at Lori's Shoes.

Clutch and ring available at Lori's Shoes.

—Ashley Lacey, Armitage staff and editor of Stiletto-Chic

     

One Size Fits All: The Satchel

If you are a full-time mommy, a hobby blogger and a part-time sales assistant like me, your everyday dilemma must be this: how to fit all these gadgets, this baby stuff and miscellaneous paraphernalia into one bag?

LADIES! Allow me introduce you to the SATCHEL BAG! It is my ever-loyal daily companion. The moment I carried this style, I never considered another. (Though I did find plenty of satchel styles to satisfy my needs ... )

Me with versions of my favorite style: the satchel bag.

I love to call them "doctor bags." I don't know why—maybe it's because I saw my doctor carrying such a bag one day. I couldn't resist asking him where he got it! I mean, if you have to fit diapers, wet wipes, a laptop, makeup, camera and god knows what else into a clutch, GOOD LUCK. You will probably need medical attention yourself (unless your clutch is the size of my satchel which seems unlikely).

7CHI 3042 - Black for $68.00 at Lori's Shoes

I've had my eye on this 7CHI satchel from Lori's Shoes for, like, ever. The leather-wrapped handle (below) is super gorgeous. It would go perfectly with leopard print!

MIA Limited Edition Cosmopolitan pump in Leopard with 7CHI satchel.

– Anjelica Lorenz of Mode Junkie reporting from Germany.

A Glamorous Winter's Tale

“Glamour is what I sell, it’s my stock in trade.”
—Marlene Dietrich

 

With the holidays upon us, everyone is planning, shopping and partying. Attending a holiday party means you get to dress up—maybe buy something new—but your main goal is to turn heads when you enter the room.

All eyes are on you as you make your entrance. Your hair is effortless in tousled curls, your lips red as a rose, skin white as snow. A fur coat is draped casually across your shoulders to keep you warm from the brisk winter air. Your long, lace dress is a shining gem. It looks as if you hand-picked it from Carole Lombard's closet. Gliding up to the nearest good-looking man, you flip your hair and in a low voice murmur, "Hello, handsome."

For you the holiday party is just another night on the town.

Inspired by the sultry, glamorous looks from leading ladies of the '30s like Garbo, Lombard and Deitrich, off into the woods we went to transplant their style onto Nature's stage, to find our own modern-day Perdita.

We styled this shoot with a lace dress from Free People. Underneath we layered a gold sequin slip for more glitter. We topped it off with a vintage, fake fur cape and added lots of rings and necklaces. We curled Camilla's hair into long waves and, of course, applied deep red lipstick. For shoes, (although you don't see them) we used Jeffrey Campbell's black Tick booties to keep some contemporary style and not get too retro.

"I am not afraid of nothing except being bored."
—Greta Garbo

The ending of "A Winters Tale" at sunset in the woods felt like an enchanted fairytale.

— Valerie & Camilla of A Butterfly by Day

Lessons from the Silver Screen: Dressing Dolce Vita’s “Pippa”

Whenever I see fur I think of Old Hollywood glamour. Marilyn Monroe. Zsa Zsa Gabor. Audrey Hepburn. Elizabeth Taylor. Rita Hayworth. Grace Kelly. This is the era of less as more, when diamonds were a girl’s best friend ... But I digress. Most notably it was a time when fur became timeless. It never goes out of style!

Cue Dolce Vita’s Pippa. This rabbit fur wedge boot is just ah-mazing. Initially, I was attracted to its equally fab stiletto counterpart, the Tatum, but a sturdy stacked wedge wins me over every time! Not to mention the Pippa is taller. The more fur the better.

Before I could even get the Pippa into my grubby little hands, I was a-buzz with legging options. Should I pair it with a black patterned tight? What about grey? I just knew that NUDE anything would be just awesome; the Pippa worn bare-legged (especially with warm skin tones) will be absolute perfection.

I’ve found that with fur you don’t have to pair it only with colors that are prominent within the legging's print. You can throw on complimentary colors. I had a girl try on the Pippa and it look great paired with her black jeggings, deep purple over-the-knee lightweight socks and multi-colored chunky knit sweater. I loved her layered look ... and her fringe bag didn’t hurt either! The pairing of the unexpected adds a bit of oomph to the entire look and tones down the boot for a wearable daytime look.

Inspired by my fashionable customers, I put together some outfits around the Pippa. Let me know what you think!

 

—Ashley, Lori's staff and creator of Stiletto Chic


  

Holiday Dressing

Like it or not, holiday events are upon us. Fine. However I was not prepared for New Year's Eve party invites in my Inbox prior to Thanksgiving.

----- Calm OMMMMMM -----

Ahem.

Now that I have collected myself, the switch has been flipped. I am on the hunt for the perfect attire for NYE (or the zillion events leading up to zero hour).

BB Dakota black lace dress a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer

If there is a style that I will never tire of, it is super feminine mixed with punk rock, a.k.a., prom queen meets teen angst. So it only makes sense that when I saw this insanely perfect LBD (in a Breakfast at Tiffany's sort of way) I immediately searched for a pair of boots to temper the "perfection" with a little bit of my favorite emotion: pissed.

Yep, pissed: Via Roma 352 motorcycle harness boot in Black

Ding Ding Ding!! These exclusive-to-Lori's Via Roma black butt-kickers plus aforementioned dress are the perfect way to say "I am a lady ... but watch out". I have to be honest. Being the L.A. girl that I now am, I will probably shorten the dress to show some gams. "Watch out" indeed!

Add in this statement ring and this cuff (I will be placing it above the elbow) and you have a holiday event(s) to look forward to.

Of course if you are more of a lady than I, a perfect choice to add a little glam to your tootsies are Michael Antonio's lovely Glitters, in silver or gold.

Happy Holidays!

—Kelly Ryan O'Brien

Pick a Trend, Make it Work

—Ashley, Lori's staff and creator of Stiletto Chic

The flood of emerging trends can be overwhelming, especially if you are one to stick to what you know. Fur, suedes, hardware, lace-up boots, sequins and over-the-knee boots are just some of the recurring looks of the season. But the fun thing about fashion is experimentation. You can step a little bit out of your comfort zone while staying true to your own unique preferences.

Not into the boy-meets-girl/menswear-inspired/rebel rocker look? Boho doesn’t do it for you? Unwilling to venture into thigh-high territory? You don't have to own a trend; try to incorporate at least one trend-inspired item into your daily wardrobe. Take it slow and focus on one thing. Commit to finding ways to make that one item work with what you already have in your closet.

Some women, I’ve noticed, seem to be wary of leggings and feel that they are not flattering. If you truly feel uncomfortable in leggings, go for jeggings. They provide more support and the mock demin provides a slimming look, similar to jeans, while the narrow fit is perfect for tucking into boots! I personally love them with a tall boot. Occasionally I'll pair my leggings with an ankle boot like Blowfish’s Willis. You can make this look unorthodox by pairing the unexpected, such as sequin leggings with the Sam Edelman Novato.

Hue sequin legging, Sam Edelman Navato, Pour la Victoire Twiggy bag all available at Lori’s

GIRL ABOUT TOWN
This look is typical girls’ night out attire!  The suede platform Novato slingback is a great way to bring classic style. I love the opening in the front—very retro. In my book, wearing sequined leggings with a boot is a no-no. I feel like you make more of a splash if you don’t distract from the legging. My decision to add a simple crossbody was deliberate; I did not want to add another busy element to the outfit. I love how the blazer “mans up" the look while a bustier keeps it feminine and playful.  

Finding a celebrity or public figure to inspire your wardrobe can also be helpful. If you love the classic look of the first lady, fur would be a faux pas, but you can rock a tall boot as she does below. She is the perfect example of a woman who has a distinct style yet incorporates current items into her established look. What I like most about her style is that it appeals to women of various age groups; her style is sophisticated, but current.

Below are more of my favorite looks inspired by current trends. Go ahead—try one out or make your own!

Sam Edelman, Dixie, Hue legging, Nila Anthony rabbit fur body bag all available at Lori’s

LACE-UP LOVE

This look is easily my favorite for everyday wear.  I love wearing all black! I see it as a blank palette of sorts; it permits you to add colors and items without bordering on excessive. Speaking of excessive, I am absolutely in love with the Nila bag—it’s right on trend at a great price! Shades of olive are everywhere—as is fur—and I love the interesting pop juxtaposed against black. If you have legs for days, Edelman’s Dixie is just perfection paired with a black legging.  

Dolce Vita Tatum, La Vie necklace, B.ella deco tights all available at Lori’s

FUR INFATUATION
This look appeals to my boho obsession. The flowy tunic is simple and muted, which is needed since the Tatum is so wonderfully dominant. I have a longstanding love affair with pattern tights. They make me very happy. I included this particular grey tight in keeping with the idea of neutral colors. To me, greys, blacks, whites and tans are non-interfering colors. The final addition of the La Vie necklace just makes perfect sense.

Sam Edelman Zamara, Hue tights all available at Lori’s

ROCKER CHIC
Edelman’s Zamara is just ridiculous. The girl that wears this boot is absolutely fearless! These über-tall boots put me in a rocker state of mind. They are just asking to be paired with short denim cutoffs and tights. This look is a bit over-indulgent, but hey, that’s the rocker lifestyle.

The Present Occasion: "Dinner Out" by Poetic Licence

— Kitty of Geisha Pearl

These Poetic Licence shoes have "adorable" written all over them! The black satin is silky soft to the touch and the glitter heel adds the perfect touch of sparkle!

As I grabbed the shoes from their box, I instantly pictured myself prancing around my apartment listening to Christmas music with the warm, yummy smell of sugar cookies in the air. I really could dance around in these shoes all day because there is a hidden platform under the toe that makes walking in them effortless. They are perfect for the holiday party circuit where you tend to spend too much time on your feet in your uncomfortable "special occasion" heels. Not this year!

While the classic black satin qualifies these heels, too, as "special occasion" shoes, you can pair them with jeans and a chunky knit sweater for present shopping or glam them up with a metallic silver tunic dress and sheer black polka dot tights for New Year's Eve. When that special someone takes you out on a romantic date dinner date, pair the booties with a sexy cabernet-colored cocktail dress and statement jewelry. (The name of these shoes, after all, is Dinner Out.)

Personally I'm wishing I had all my Christmas shopping done because I think these are also going to my "present wrapping" shoes!

On Kitty: vintage sweater, H&M shorts, Forever21 tights and vintage hat

Letter from The Haute Closet: Customer Closet Makeover

Jill, a Lori's customer, wrote in about how to wear a pair of short brown booties that she had just purchased:

 

I happily agreed to step into her closet and help style an outfit around them.

I had never met Jill so one of my first questions when I met her at her apartment was "Whose style do you admire?" When she said [Gossip Girl's] “Serena van der Woodsen,” she showed me to her closet and I started pulling.

This bootie style is all over the place. Not the easiest to wear with any old pair of jeans. A slouchy, wide-ankle style like this is best teamed up with a pair of tights, socks, super skinny jeans or leggings. My recommendation for Jill is the Hue Solid Skinny Jeanz Legging - Navy Denim.

Jill also wanted help with her latest Lori’s purchase, a super luxe pair of black suede, over-the-knee boots:

Drawing inspiration from what she had told me about herself, the two pairs of shoes and the décor of her apartment, I pulled from her closet a fab white party skirt, a couple of dresses, jeans and a velvet blazer. I gave Jill her first outfit:

The blazer and the top are super-versatile pieces. She could wear the top and jacket with black pants and a pair of pumps and head to the office. With the skirt (which had originally been purchased for a New Years Eve party), she has a super-fun going out look, and the boots make it really kicky for right now.

Recommending that she definitely pick up the Hue denim jegging because they would work perfectly with both of her new boots and a long tunic or sweater, I pulled out a dress I loved and grabbed a belt, something she said she "never would have done" but loved:

If she were to wear this outfit when the weather turns colder, she could add sheer patterned tights, like the Hue Geo Mosaic Tight w/Control Top - Black, throw on a classic wool dress coat and a pair of precious gloves—a perfectly cute cold-weather look.

Winding down and coming back to my original mission, I put together a look for the brown booties inspired by a jacket I had pulled from her closet at the beginning of our session. One of the best purchases you can make is an item that comes with a belt—two looks in one! So, the inspiration for this last outfit came from a black patent belt hijacked from a black and white tweed jacket:

It’s not bad to blend brown and black—actually, it can be just perfect. Jill can play off the earthy colors in the plaid and make the black patent belt softer with a sheer black tight and a soft velvet bag. She should get a lot of wear out of this look. It makes her tall and lean with legs a mile long below an empire waist. With lots of dresses in this style in her closet, these boots will take her a long way; mixing up this look is as easy as switching the color of the tights to a rich purple or raspberry!

Let me know if there’s a pair in your closet that’s calling out for some Haute Closet styling!

-----

Jill reports on the wardrobe makeover:

I contacted Lori's after realizing I bought the cutest shoes with no clue what to wear them with. Lately, this has happened to me frequently. I'm past the point of having time to read through tons of magazines and spend hours in a store. I work hard, and when I'm not working I just want to enjoy life with my friends and family.

Enter April.

April came to my house last night to help solve the two shoe dilemmas I faced: over-the-knee black boots and short brown foldover boots. How I could use what I have to make these stunning beauties shine? First off, April asked my current style and what celebrity style I like. In 20 minutes April had pulled out clothes I forgot I even owned to pair with my adorable shoes and made me feel like one of Serena's BFFs. She pulled together going-out-for-cocktails looks, day looks and effortlessly incorporated my new boots into an office look.

The outfits were perfect! I looked like a better version of myself infused with a little haute styling. I would never have paired some of the clothing pieces together that April did, but when tied together with a little belt or a fun bag—and the shoes—it all worked.