Shoes and the Middleton Look: One of the Rules

One of the rules you must follow in order to achieve the Middleton Look (sometimes anyways, but we'll come back to this...), is to have shoes that match a handbag for every season.

While some people might regard this as actually being a fashion faux pas, or a "rule" that no longer exists, I would argue (and I'm guessing so would the Middleton's), that this is not the case. In fact, I think it looks very elegant and very put together to have your shoes and bag matching one another, especially if you are getting a bit more dressed up.

So while it is recommended that you have shoes and bags that match, the Middleton sisters do not live and die by always following this rule.

Choosing not to match your shoes and bag seems to come into play when an outfit is more casual. And it certainly makes the overall look a bit more interesting, by lending a bit more dimension. As a result, we typically see Pippa mixing it up a bit, as she probably has more opportunities to be more casual than Kate does nowadays.

So while all your shoes and bags don't need to have an identical twin when it comes to colour, you should have a few combinations that do match for a given season. For instance, for winter you should have a black bag and a black shoe. For the spring, summer and early fall, having a brown pair of shoes and a brown bag (in the same tone of course, unless you're using different tones of colour, like blues etc., always match the tones. Different shades of brown just looks sloppy!). This gets more complicated of course (and expensive) when you need a flat shoe, a heel and a boot.

A note on nude coloured shoes. While these have become a very trendy staple, partly due to Kate's unofficial endorsement of them, nude shoes can be matched identically with a bag, or you could wear them with a colourful bag or a black or brown bag.

A note on multicoloured bags. If you have a bag that has multiple colours in it, your shoes obviously (I hope anyways) can't match both colours. So just match to one of the colours. This can look just as polished and possibly even a touch more sophisticated in fact, while adding a bit more interest while matching at the same time. Below Kate pairs navy pumps with a navy and brown handled satchel from Mulberry.

Or your bag and your shoes should both be neutrals (either grey, black, white and brown) if you're going to pair them and they aren't identical matches. Or they should just be completely unrelated (for instance, red shoes with a white or a grey bag).

But the bottom line is, if you're not going to match your bag and shoe together, at least make sure that either the shoe or the bag (or both) matches or goes with something that you're wearing.

Recently I have decided that I need to invest in a brown bag. I do have one, by DKNY, but it's a bit of a frustrating experience carrying it - as the handles stick straight upright when using the strap - making a nuisance of themselves in a wide variety of scenarios.

So, that being decided, I was on the hunt for the right bag and the right shoe, as I wanted them to match. Also, remember, the colour and the tone of hardware on both the shoe and the bag must match. You don't want to have silver hardware on the bag and gold hardware on the shoe, or visa versa. Or at least I think so anyways.

While the shoes shown are not the same style, the colour is the same. So here is what I have come up with:

I plan on wearing this combination as my default shoes and bag for the spring, summer and early fall. I do also have a bag that is predominatly white, with a nude coloured trim that would work with my nude coloured flats though, if I do want something more summery. I also have a grey leather bag that I could wear with my grey Michael Kors sandals too (the hardware all matches too). So there are other options as well. However, the shoes and bag shown above will work nicely as my much needed brown family accessories.

I also purchased (on sale), a pair of darker Michael Kors flats. These will do nicely in all seasons, and with my Longchamp bag when I wear it. While not matching the brown of the handles exactly, they are dark enough to associate with the black of the bag. These would not look any good with the Dooney and Bourke bag pictured above. But they look fine with the Longchamp purse, and other purses that I have.

Happy hunting!

The Middleton Girls

Since the Royal Wedding back in April 2011, Kate and Pippa have become style icons.

While Kate is less of a risk taker than her sister Pippa, she is no less fashionable and she's always on the mark. Pippa, on the other hand, while still wearing many classic pieces and outfits, obviously likes to add a little more edge to her look every now and then.

Today Pippa made headlines in the Daily Mail, a great source for sightings of both sisters, wearing a chic tribal inspired printed skirt, with a black sleeveless top. She also opted to wear what looked like a pair of Ray Ban "Wayfarer" inspired sunglasses - which seem to be favoured lately by Kate as well - with one of her many handbags and a pair of feminine studded sandals.

Her tan is also one of Pippa's greatest accessories, but her dangling earrings (hard to really see in the DM's pictures) and her watch - another Middleton must-have - all work nicely together.

The look is very summery and Pippa looks great, as usual.

As we hit the middle of summer, finding hot deals are not hard, as sales are in full swing and prices just keep dropping. This makes it even easier to dress like a Middleton!

Recently I purchased a pair of burgundy loafer flats, by "Mel", from Little Burgundy. Originally they were retailing for well over $50, but I managed to scoop them up for a little over $25 (including taxes and shipping!)! 

I went looking for these shoes in the first place because I saw Pippa wearing a similar pair, but in navy blue, in her interview with Matt Lauer a few weeks ago. 

Now, while the colour and the exact brand of the shoes that I mention above are not the same, the style is similar - which is the aim for this blog. I look to emulate the Middleton sisters' style, because I love how classy and put together they always look. So just finding similar items to theirs is enough. However, where and when it's possible, I may splurge or find a steal on something they actually own and wear :) 

For instance, I have a pair of Links of London "Hope Egg" earrings. Where did I find them? On the Air Miles site!!! I nearly fell of my seat when I stumbled across them, but the internet is a very useful tool when it comes to finding items, especially inexpensive replicas, to items that Kate and Pippa have. 

And it's not just their clothing and accessories that are important, it's everything put together that creates that specific "Middleton Look", which also means hair and makeup.  

I can't wait to see what's next!