3 Pops of Spring

 If your work lifestyle is anything like mine, Spring doesn’t naturally coat your life in glowing relaxation with the promise of the Summer. No, no, no. For some unearthly reason, every time the sun bursts through the clouds like a rare invitation to linger outside, an angry deadline or a meeting grabs me by the scruff of the neck and drags me back to the office.

My only consolation is in the little things that leave me with a sunny smile. Here are three Spring-inspired trends that add just a pop of life to even the longest and dullest of days…

1.   ‘Le Parc Print’ by Bimba Y Lola

One unavoidable trend this season has got to be the ethnic print, or as my boyfriend calls it ‘Aztec cool’. There is an incredible ‘off the beaten track’ bite to any item with that characteristic black on bold pattern (even when you know it’s highstreet or designer!) I am personally besotted with this Bimba Y Lola ‘Le Parc Print’ special. It’s somewhere between the South American continent and 1960s geometry. Pair it up with an airy, oversized shirt and you’re good to go.

2.     ‘Hampshire’ by Hemsley London

I came across this London born and bred brand at Fashion Week this year. It’s a perfect example of how the Best of British is constantly evolving and transforming with up-and-coming talent. The Hampshire is a minimal beauty, combining off-white-painted calf leather, chrome plating and a pair of distinctive white racing stripes. It’s on my wish list.

3.     Decoltissimo Patent by Christian Louboutin

I am mad about block colour – especially when it props up quite unexpectedly. When I first lay eyes on these beautiful teal heels, I imagined a complete cream number accompanying it. What cheers ‘Spring’ more than a basic palette with a shot of the most joyful tone of the season?

The [insert word here] Slipper

I'm a little late for the party, I know, but it took me a while to find a slipper that's the perfect fit - quite literally. When these questionable numbers came tumbling in to trend in every weird and wonderful way, I struggled to introduce them to my rather classically conservative wardrobe. From moustaches to metallic motifs, the vamps of these so-called slippers were adorned with every design imaginable. And if graphics weren’t your thing, you could always sport fearful fabrics – such as purple velvet or studded leopard-print-pony.

              Velvet Catface Slippers                 Rolling Spikes Leopard Loafers
                by Charlotte Olympia                      by Christian Louboutin

I almost dug in my beautiful ballerinas heels against the whole motion. But when Christian Louboutin puts aside the 6-inches in favour of flats, you know there’s something there. The truth is that it’s not exactly the flash-in-the-pan fad I first thought it was. In fact, Dolce and Gabbana sneakily planted the seed under flowing layers of tartan fabric back in 2008 for their Fall collection. Four years later the slipper was to be worn by every ‘It girl’ from Alexa Chung to Beyoncé and Olivia Palermo.

                                Source: Style.com

I still can’t pin-point exactly what they are. Somewhere between a Venetian loafer and an androgynous ballerina, this glorified slipper makes its mark. Some call it the Opera slipper – Victorian inspired and fit for dancing. Some call it the Papal Slipper (quite fitting really!) Others still call it the Smoking Slipper, perhaps due the make-shift makeover its undergone, transforming a typically casual shoe in to quasi-evening-appropriate footwear.

     Call me conservative, but I like my slippers plain and patent. These I bought 

   from Massimo Dutti.

 To me, they’re the Office Slipper. They’re the shoes to slide in to on days when I roll out of bed after an hour’s snooze. On a lazy day, when the heels just don’t tempt me, I let the nifty notches on the front work their regal flair as I slink around the office floor in a masquerade.