Aliciamiyares.org – The guide to all things of fashion

Fridays at the office are considered business casual day. What does that exactly mean? Business is business and casual is casual so how do you combined the two styles? Friday is a dress down day so you know that business casual does not mean a suit but it does mean that you have look nice and neat but can be a little bit casual at the same time.

Let’s examine what Business Casual isn’t. Save the following items for your weekend or at-home wardrobe: zip-front hooded sweatshirts, team jackets, jean jackets, T-shirts with slogans, midriff-baring tops, tank tops, well-worn jeans, spandex pants, stirrup pants, overalls, biking shorts, sweat pants, mini skirts, see-through tops, halter tops, flip-flops, sneakers and sandals. Never forget that the first word in business casual is “business” and casual does not mean a day at the beach.

Business casual must always include high-quality pieces, hose or socks, appropriate underwear, footwear in good repair, coordinated accessories, clean, styled hair and makeup for women. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the type of footwear is considered business casual to finish off your outfit.

Slingbacks, women’s shoes with a cutout heel and a strap spanning the back of the ankle, defy simple categorization as they once did. Years ago, slingbacks were appropriate only during the summer months, and they were considered a casual shoe. Certainly, no self-respecting woman south of the Mason-Dixon Line would be caught dead in a slingback before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Now, with a growing selection of women’s slingbacks, you can find a pair for every season and every occasion-from stay-at-home clothes to wedding attire. What determines the slingback’s suitability is the design of the shoe, the material, the embellishments, and whether it contributes to the overall desired look with the outfit?
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Tags: apparel, Fashion, mens shoes, Naot Shoes, Quality Shoes, Women's Shoes

One of the best investments you can make is on quality leather shoes. The only catch is that you must take care of those shoes religiously. A quality pair of shoes will last you a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Also, the products you use on your leather footwear do not have to cost more than the price of the shoes. There are a number of tips to help you maintain those leather shoes so they will not only last longer, but will maintain a great look.

The first thing to remember is that two pairs of good quality leather shoes will last more than twice as long as one pair. This mathematical impossibility is nonetheless true, because by purchasing two pair of leather shoes, you can wear one pair every other day and allow the shoes to dry on a cedar shoe tree to absorb the moisture from your skin and from the leather while still holding the shoe in the correct shape. In this case, 1 + 1 = 3.

Cleaning your leather shoes is largely a matter of daily care and daily attention to any blemishes. Using all natural shoe care products allows the leather to breathe. Suggested cleaning products include those made specifically for leather, such as saddle soap. If you use saddle soap, and follow the treatment with mink oil, you will almost always have great success in keeping your footwear looking like new. These products can be found in most areas where shoe care items are found. Goop hand cleaner which can be found in most automotive supplies stores is another great product for getting the leather clean, without damaging the product. Goop is waterless and is excellent for removing oil and grease from the surface of the leather. Pine gum will help to restore your shoes when they are the victim of small nicks, scratches and cuts. This product soaks into the leather and serves as an excellent camouflage. If the color of the leather has faded, pine gum will help to restore the color and appearance.

If you often find that you are walking or working where there is a lot of moisture, you can provide some waterproofing for your leather shoes or boots. This will help to protect the footwear from salt stains, snow and from water. If shoes do get damp, store them on a shoe tree to dry, but never place the leather shoes close to direct heat such as a stove or fireplace unit. Beeswax provides excellent water-repellent properties for protecting your leather shoes from the elements. There are also waterproofing type products sold where shoe care products appear that will help protect your shoes against the elements.
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Tags: apparel, Fashion, mens shoes, Naot Shoes, Quality Shoes, Women's Shoes

Worldwide, 11 billion pairs of shoes are produced each year. So, in terms of quantity, Vein is not a big player.

And that’s a fact we’re proud of.

You see, we make shoes for exceptional individuals, like you. Men who value superior footwear.

Men who understand that WHY a shoe was made is just as important as how it was made.

At Vein, the WHY is very simple and clear … we handcraft shoes that say everything you want to, without saying a word. The answer to “how” we do it is equally simple and clear … it comes from over 25 years hand crafting the finest shoes for men.

For example, to create sleek lines and slim profile, 600 pounds of pressure must be applied to the leather in 2 dimensions. Yet to create the tightest curves and beautiful lines that are the signature of a Vein shoe, our craftspeople have learned how to apply 800 pounds of pressure … on 3 dimensions. Only elite cobblers will take the extra time to do it, and invest in the specialised tools. We do it because it is what you’d expect from Australia’s premier footwear designer.

You want shoes that really stand out. Yes, our new designs are eye-catching from any distance. But it’s up close where the intricate detailing comes into its own. Exceptional detailing and a technically demanding pattern require skilful and fastidious cobbling.

Each new design requires new skills, techniques and knowledge. From start to finish, we practise cutting, lining, bonding, stitching and baking. The end result is higher qualified cobblers and of course, the amazing Vein shoes.
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Tags: australian design, boots, Fashion, fashion shoes, hand crafted shoes, leather, loafers, male footwear, mens shoes, Shoes, vein wear

Ben Franklin probably didn’t say “show me a grumpy man and I’ll show you a man with bad shoes”, but he should have. They say that shoes make the man, and they’re right on that one in more ways than one. Good, quality shoes do more than make you look good – they make you feel good. A pair of high quality shoes makes your feet happy, and when your feet are happy, the rest of you is in a much better frame of mind to deal with your day. Poorly made and ill-fitting shoes are at the root of many a miserable day, and here’s why.

Poorly made shoes hurt more than your feet.

Your feet are your skeleton’s foundation. When there’s a problem with the foundation of a building, the symptoms can show up in cracks in the walls or ceilings, floors that tilt in the wrong direction – even in electrical and plumbing problems. The same is true with your body. When your shoes don’t support your feet properly, your legs and hips and spine and shoulders and neck try to compensate. Taking any of those out of alignment can cause discomfort, pain and other problems.

You’re far more likely to notice the discomfort of things like bunions and blisters caused by rough seams, heel pain from poor support and generally aching feet from shoes that constrict them. Between the obvious pain caused by shoes that aren’t made well and the more subtle effects of poorly fit and low quality shoes, you can end up in constant low-level pain. Who can think clearly and be cheerful when their feet and their body are in pain?

How high quality shoes can help

Well-made, quality shoes like those made by Naot support your feet in a number of different ways. Naot shoes are designed to keep your feet happy. The heel cup is designed to keep your heels steady, preventing your ankles from tilting when you walk. The shank that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot gently encourages your feet to distribute your weight evenly. A roomy toe box gives your toes the room they need to move and grip the ground while you walk – even if they’re not actually in contact with the ground.

The materials that go into making up your shoes also make a big difference. Real leather breathes, wicking moisture away from your feet and letting air circulate around them. That means cooler feet, less chance of infection and a lot less stinky feet.
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Tags: apparel, Fashion, mens shoes, Naot Shoes, Quality Shoes, Women's Shoes