Power Switch-Ups for the Ladies

Its all about detail. Attention to fine detail in a fit is important when it comes to mad switch-ups and expressing the mood of an outfit. Believe it or not, subconsciously, your accessories are noticed by the people around you more than you think. From belts to bags, jewelry to glasses, the key to the ultimate outfit change is all in the accessories - take a look!

For all my ladies out there, switching up an outfit from day to night or from casual to smart can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. The secret is a simple fit with banging accessories. Karl Lagerfeld once said “One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a little black dress” and this statement could not be more true. Whether you’re attending an 8:00am lecture or meeting your boyfriend’s parents over a fancy dinner, a little black dress would work in either situation. The trick is to master the switch up.

Pairing a spaghetti-strap, above-the-knee, plain black dress with an oversized denim jacket, some air force one’s, and a pair of sunglasses is the perfect way to wear this fit to varsity. Accessorized with some silver hooped earrings and a tote bag makes this fire fit practical and stylish.

Taking it into the evening, say you’re running late from uni and reservations at Marble are at 7pm - no stress! Switch out the hoops for diamond studs, color the lip with some matte red lipstick, keep the eyes simple with black winged liner and you’ve got it in the bag! Swop your tote for a clutch and your air force for some strappy heels and there you have it - the ultimate outfit switch up, from day to night, casual to smart.

The key to the best switch-up recipe is KEEP IT SIMPLE. Stick to the basics such as plain tees and flattering jeans. Use your shoes, earrings and jewelry to change the mood of your fit allowing you to go from day to night in a few easy steps. Makeup can further enhance your outfit but it doesn’t have to be a major make-or-break factor. Avoid wearing too many different colors and avoid graphic tees. Stick to neutral colors that won’t stand out in a crowd but rather use accessories and attention to detail to make your fit such fire that it is a force to be reckoned with.

Yours Truly

Living the Tite Lyf

#littleblackdress #KarlLagerfeld #daytonight #outfitswitchup #Johannesburg #lifestyle #accessories #switchup

Daddy Creps

The once-extinct shoe trend of the 2000s has been reimagined and has made its way to the forefront of our instagram timelines and facebook feeds making it a must have in 2019 - the Dad Shoe.

Nike Air Monarch

Back in the day, the comfy, casual and mostly practical shoe trend was started by the Nike Air Monarch and New Balance 624, and was adopted by people who needed an everyday shoe of quality and durability, ultimately attracting the “dad” market. For years this trend died out, people wanted sleeker, lighter sneaker such as the Adidas Stan Smith and the Reebok Club-C 85. Buyers wanted the iconic silhouettes each brand had to offer and therefor comfort and durability were not a priority in the buyer’s process of purchase.

Balenciaga Triple S

Fast forward into 2018/2019, and we love chunky! If our dads would wear it so would we! But at what cost. Brands such as Nike are still paving the way for the OG dad shoe trend, by introducing the M2K Tekno in 2018 - a best seller and one of my personal favorites - and a recent reinvention of the air monarch. Assuming these shoes would be purchased by our dads, we’d expect the prices to be fairly reasonable, right? Wrong. Buyers in 2019 are willing to spend well into the thousands on dad-inspired shoes whilst sacrificing comfort and durability. Luxury brands such as Balenciaga, Gucci and Yeezy are fueling the spike in sneaker prices, influencing the consumers’ desires to jump on the luxury streetwear bandwagon. The Balenciaga Triple S is a prime example of this. A well designed interpretation of the dad shoe, whilst pushing high fashion sacrifices comfort for style, yet stores are selling out as the hustle to have these shoes is real! Retailing from R12 000.00 upwards, this is a tad out of the R600 budget our dads would have spent back in 2008, but hey, if the compliments come pouring in and the likes on our #OOTD go up - we’re in! The question is, does price point & brand mean style, or is this another hypebeast trend that will be in for six months then never to be seen again?

The dad shoe will always have a place in the world and in fashion, offering durability, comfort, practicality and style. However, does “having style” mean chucking durability, comfort and practicality out the window whilst breaking the bank?

Yours truly

Living the Tite Lyf

#dadshoe #sneakers #dadsneaker #hypebeast #nikeairmonarch #adidasstansmith #newbalance #balenciaga #triplessneaker #nikem2ktekno