AW12 Style with Designer Shoes

 Claire Hunter, a regular contributor to our blog,

 has some tips for the upcoming season!

Have you seen the latest looks on offer? Checked out all the current collections? Scoured the net for pictures from the AW12 (autumn / winter 2012) catwalk shows? Well then you are one prepared fashionista, just like all the designer stores up and down the country and across the web. Search for any kind of clothing shop and you will come across a plethora of styles and looks that have taken inspiration from the autumn / winter 2012 trends. If you are after updating your wardrobe or fancy having a little splurge on some of the new seasons looks, then go for it. Right now it is a good a time as ever to revitalize your style.

With the colder weather, most of us change our looks anyway. Different makeup looks, nail colors and hair styles all come with the change of the season. Bright pink lips turn red and sultry, black eyeliner is chosen in favor of bold eye shadows and blondes all seem to burn into brunettes and red heads. It’s like instinct, perhaps it is the weather that does it to us, or at least we can blame it on that when we are having a spend up on new styles.

The new season looks are looking beautiful too. Autumn always brings a stunning selection of cozy clothing and comfortable fashion. Which is something we all love don’t we? Footwear has also had an AW12 overhaul, yet with a few summer looks crossing over. The trainer wedges are here to stay for another season as well as the studded boots that have been everywhere the past few months. But of course some new looks have come to the forefront of the fashion scene.

The party heels are in, ready in preparation for the Christmas gatherings and some casual boots which will be ideal for autumn walks and winter strolls. Imagine them teamed with leggings, woolly jumpers, coats, scarves and knitted hats, perfect. Check any womens designer shoes collection and you will come across these looks and many more. Autumn / winter is going to be a great season for style yet again!

Claire Hunter, enjoys writing about everything and anything. Her favourite topic, and one she writes about the most, is fashion but she also likes to write about home wares, gadgets, technology, gift ideas, food and culinary. She hopes you enjoy reading her blog post.  

Finding the perfect pregnancy shoes

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman's life, 

but sometimes she needs a little help finding shoes

that will keep her feet feeling fabulous. Today's guest blogger Olivia

 will help us find the right shoes for this special time of our lives!

Once you've got your positive pregnancy test, the chances are that you will be running to the lady's room every five minutes because of the onset of pregnancy signs  like morning sickness and a magically re-filling bladder. Later on, as your baby bump grows, your center of gravity will decidedly shift. All that extra weight will also put some strain on your lower body, especially the ankles and feet. And then there are swollen ankles! But where do find the perfect pregnancy shoes?

It's obvious that stiletos are out. In fact, women wondering how to get pregnant  can start with ditching killer heels, along with taking their folic acid! They put pressure on all the wrong places, make most pregnant women look and feel really clumsy, and definitely encourage falls and slips.  Pregnant women should also stay away from shoes that make them scrunch up their feet because they are too small, or the back keeps popping off. 

Flip-flops make some women tense up their feet constantly, though others are used to them and find them comfy. Tense feet may cause cramps, and will affect the way you walk, and your body's posture. Shoelaces are a nightmare for moms to-be who can't even see their own feet. I was stubborn and stuck to my lace-up Timberland boots, but surrendered in my seventh month of pregnancy... after I had to ask a shop-assistant at a maternity store to help me get them back on! Boy, that was embarrassing. 

Finding the right shoes is clearly not as easy as it sounds! Ballet pumps may seem like the ideal shoe to pregnant women who like to look fashionable or have a dress code to adhere to at work. But beware — those shoes with a very thin sole and no heel at all won't offer an expectant mom the kind of support she needs. Shoes with a sole that's completely smooth underneath are risky, because it's easy to slip up on them, particularly while you are expecting a baby.

What does that leave? Trainers are probably the most comfy and they keep the wearer's health in mind, but they are hardly suitable for every situation. In hotter weather, pump-style shoes with a tiny heel can be a great choice for pregnant ladies who like something more elegant. Pick good, flexible leather or fabric for those swollen ankle days — and make sure that they either offer good support themselves, or that you add orthopedic insoles. During the winter, boots with the same qualities are probably the best choice. Do make sure you can get them on unassisted before you buy! 

Olivia, a mom of two, is passionate about female health and fertility. Visit her blog,  Trying To Conceive , for everything from how to get pregnant to weight loss after pregnancy.

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