Spring Shoes 2014 Trends

Spring has come!! Finally the freezing weather started to gone and you finally can try other kind of shoes! Now we're talking about shoes again.. These are the spring 2014 trends to wear.. Keep on reading to know more..

1. Fun Combination: Stylish Socks & Simple Heels
Spring is warmer than winter, but it still gives you a bit chill. But you still want to wear your summer heels! Try wearing socks underneath your heels.
Here are some inspirations:

2. Skate Shoes
This season is all about comfy style! Skate shoes is no more shoes disaster as these skate shoes are getting more and more fashionable.
Here are some inspirations:

3. Wild and Young Mules
Don't think mules as oldies footwear. Suddenly they transform into perfect fashion must have this winter and every blogger are wearing them. So, you gotta slip on them!
Here are some inspirations:

So, which style will you try? 

www.agripinashoes.com

source: www.elle.com

 

How to Be a Strong Independent Woman

As today is International Women's Day, we are going to share about how to be a strong and independent woman. Being a strong, independent woman doesn't necessarily require that you be a die-hard feminist. Rather, it means learning to express who you are at your core, whether you are shy and soft-spoken or loud and assertive, without trying to fit a certain mold implied by your being a female. Read this article to learn how to undo this type of societal preconditioning and be the woman you are, whoever that may be. 

Undoing Negative Social Conditioning

1. Don't compare yourself to other women. While there is nothing wrong with having a female role model to look up to, constantly feeling jealous of other women will leave you feeling horrible about yourself. Though jealousy is natural to some degree, western society tends to exacerbate female jealousy through advertisements and films that feature unrealistic standards of beauty. The result is a culture of women who feel insecure and unhappy with their own bodies.

• The first step to overcoming jealousy is to recognize when you are experiencing it. If you find yourself reading a magazine and comparing your own body to those of the models, take a moment to remind yourself that a) these women are paid to look the way they do, and many of them lead very unhealthy lives to maintain their figures, and b) the camera really does add weight; women who look "perfect" in magazines or in movies usually look gaunt in real life.
• Try not to compare your own negative qualities with other women's positive qualities. Every woman has her own best assets, whether it is her breasts, her legs, her arms, her eyes, her hair, or her butt. Let go of trying to have it all, and appreciate what you do have.

2. Don't base your happiness on being in a relationship. Having a man (or woman) to love should enhance your life, not define it. No matter how bad you may think you need a relationship, you must first learn to love yourself before you can even begin to love somebody else. 

• Remember that nothing lasts forever. Even the perfect relationship might end one day, so you need to be sure that you have a strong enough cushion to land on after a breakup or divorce.
• If you are already in a relationship, be sure you have other things going on in your life outside of the relationship, whether it is school, work, friends, a fitness routine, or your family.

3. Don't feel obligated to follow fashion trends. Being an independent woman means dressing the way you want, regardless of what people around you are telling you to wear. Use fashion as a way to express your mood, your taste, and your creativity.

• Remember that there's a reason why designers use 90-pound models on their runways: not everything that is en vogue is figure-flattering. When deciding what to wear, you should take into account your body type as well as your personal taste.
• There's nothing wrong with being fashion-forward, but don't force yourself to keep up with trends that you don't like or that don't look good on you. If you enjoy keeping up with the trends, then learn how to make them work for you by putting your own personal spin on them.

4. Protect your sexuality. Every woman, at one point or another, encounters a man who wants to take advantage of her sexually. It is important to learn both how and when to say no to a man who is making unwelcome advances on you.

• If a man forces himself on you, then absolutely tell somebody. Society has taught women to feel ashamed or embarrassed for being molested, even going so far as to claim that some women are "asking for it." Letting a man get away with a sexual crime teaches him that it is okay to do it again in the future.
• Report sexual harassment in the workplace or at school. Remember that reporting these kinds of acts is not just for your own good; it could prevent the man from harassing other women in the future.

 

Expressing Yourself

1. Stay educated. Being educated not only gives you the skills and knowledge you will need to pursue your career, it also makes you more well-respected by the people you encounter in your life. Your level of education (whether formal or informal) reflects your intelligence and shows others that you care about things other than your own personal life.

• Remember that not all education has to be formal (i.e. attained through an institution like a university). Keep up with current events in politics, science and technology, read books (both fiction and non-fiction), learn another language, watch documentaries, and so on.

2. Stand up for yourself. Whether you are a man or a woman, you will have to learn to fend for yourself in the real world if you want to avoid being taken advantage of. You must learn how to stand up for yourself at school, at work, and in your social life.

• If you hear somebody making a sexist, racist, or otherwise disrespectful comment, don't let it slide. This doesn't necessarily mean engaging in an argument; calmly tell the person that what he or she said is not appreciated.
• Let people know when they have wronged you. If somebody betrays you in any way, be sure to let him or her know. This will prevent the person from repeating the behavior in the future.

3. Take care of your body. Personal strength is manifested physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you want to be a strong, independent woman, you need look no further than your own body.

• Exercise for 1 hour every single day. You don't have to be an Olympic champion to be in good shape; go for a jog around the neighbourhood, take your dog for a walk, or go for a bike ride. Staying in shape improves your overall health, your mood, and your energy levels, which will improve your performance in all aspects of your life.
• Your diet should consist of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and some dairy. Stay away from excess sugar and fat.

4. Manage your finances. If you want to be truly independent, you must learn how to pay for your own life so that you don't have to rely on other people. Spend your money wisely, and avoid wasteful or frivolous expenditures.

• Know your income. When evaluating your income, be sure to take into account the deductions, include state and federal taxes, that will come out of your gross pay.
• Check your bank statements regularly, and be sure to keep your own records as well so that you can catch errors.
• Prioritize your spending. Your top priorities should be on your basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. Things like expensive clothes, concerts, and vacations are luxuries. Learn how to differentiate between necessities and luxuries.

5. Give to others. One of the best ways you can exert your strength is to give back to those who are less fortunate than you. You don't have to be rich or affluent to make a positive impact in your community, so start small.

• Consider volunteering at a non-profit organization in your community. Identify what issues you are most passionate about. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, your local SPCA, or other community development program.
• Practice random acts of kindness. You don't have to become a formal volunteer to give back. If you see somebody in need, then help them. Even as small an act as helping somebody carry boxes can brighten up his or her day.

Tips

• Have self love and respect. What we put out in the universe usually comes back. Karma, so just be aware of what your putting out there.
• Finding a strong female role model to look up to can help you find the inspiration you need to feel more independent. This woman can be a family member, a female suffragist, or a female artist or politician.

 www.agripinashoes.com


 source: http://m.wikihow.com/Be-a-Strong-Independent-Woman

Waiting for Christmas Diy idea

Christmas in one month and it's arguably the most interesting time of the year! If you live in tropic island,mthere is no snow and i guess you are dreaming of a white christmas - you know like the song!

we have some ideas for you for your day dreaming of white christmas,. it easy, what you need is:

A clear glass with top/ without top

Glue/ super glue

For snow: glitters or  cotton 

For the christmas feeling: mini small plastic tree ( you can find in the craft store or the tart decoration)

Your old vintage childhood toys

creativity of yours!

simply follow the intrusction picture below: 

Ta da!

here is another idea for christmas snow globe:

Facts About Shoes part 1

We all do love shoes. They're one of many important things in our life. But, here's some facts about shoes that you might not know yet, but pretty fun. Keep reading and you'll shoes more!

1. 4,000 years ago the first shoes were made of a single piece of rawhide that enveloped the foot for both warmth and protection.

2. The first known images of footwear are boots depicted in 15,000 year old Spanish cave paintings. 

3. In Europe pointed toes on shoes were fashionable from the eleventh to the fifteenth centuries. (And it's fashionable now! Fashion really is turning back)

4. In the Middle East heels were added to shoes to lift the foot from the burning sand.

5. In Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries heels on shoes were always colored red. (But they become a signature look for Christian Loubotin)

6. Shoes all over the world were identical until the nineteenth century, when left- and right-footed shoes were first made in Philadelphia. (Can you imagine wearing the same shoes for left and right feet?)

7. In Europe it wasn’t until the eighteenth century that women’s shoes were different from men’s. (Thank God as women, we can wear both men and women shoes until now)

8. The first lady’s boot was designed for Queen Victoria in 1840. (Who doesn't love boots? None I guess?!)

9. Six-inch-high heels were worn by the upper classes in seventeenth-century Europe. Two servants, one on either side, were needed to hold up the person wearing the high heels. (Women these days are more stronger, we don't need servant to hold us anymore, right? ;) )

10. The present fashion of shoes was introduced into England in 1633. 

That was the 10 facts about shoes.. For more facts, keep following our blog, shoelovers! 

Tips on Choosing Wedding Shoes

Wedding is inargueably the most important, happiest yet most hectic day in a woman's life. Some of us have certain standard about a dream wedding day, besides marrying our Mr.Right. Wedding shoes are one of the most important factor in your wedding day, not only for the sake of appearance but also for the sake of satisfaction and perfection of the big day.
Here is some tips that you should remember when you choose your wedding shoes:

1. Choose shoes that matches with the wedding theme
Many of us have decided the wedding theme long before we decide the wedding attire, the wedding theme can be one of the factor we refer to when we choose wedding shoes. Instead of choosing the boring classic white shoes for your wedding day, you can choose wedding shoes that matched your wedding colour theme.

available to order at agripinashoes.com

You can also choose unique wedding shoes that really goes contrast with the ordinary wedding shoes to add more personality to your wedding.Always remember to match with the pallete colour of your wedding to maintain the ambiance.

For the classic white wedding shoes lover, don't hesitate to add more drama on your wedding shoes, because Its your Special day!! :) This beautiful white pumps with big dramatic ribbons for example.

available to order at agripinashoes.com

2. Comfort  stays above all criteria
Yes! the title says it all! you should choose the shoes that you are comfortable to walk in , the right height and the right heels are the key.Dont hesitate to try many heights of heels before you decide to buy your wedding shoes. As shoes expert, we advise you to go less than 15 cm if you have to stand more than accumulative 2 hours in your wedding day, hurt feet are really hard to hide, it will affect your ability to dance, walk and even smile to the camera. We also usually inform our customers to get plateau/wedges heels if they want to go higher than 15 cm in the heels. If you think that the plateau heels are less sexy, you can choose to have ordinary heels with platform, because the platform give the feels of  wearing lower heels than you should, for example if you have 15 cm stiletto with 5 cm platform, it will give you the feeling of wearing 10cm heels, and your feet will be least tired.

This shoes are our customer design from sketch and we made them based on the sketch, the theme of the wedding was garden wedding, the pink shoes was for the ceremony and the wedges was for the garden reception. 

3. Have the wedding shoes customized
Because it's your special day, and you probably will have photographer taking photos of all the wedding details, so don't hesitate to add some custom details for your shoes, for example like name embroidery or just stickers, trust us ! you will be satisfied to see the photograph afterward.

service available on Agripinashoes.com

4. Dont wear stiletto on garden party
This is obvious why we shouldn't wear stilettos unless you want to make tracks all along the grass field. Choose the thicker heels or wedges heels for your garden wedding, or you can buy heel caps on some store to cover only the edge of the heels. 

 

5.Test your wedding shoes on your first dance lesson/rehershal

Some shoes are not so perfect for dancing, that's why don't hesitate to try some shoes that you already have and see which height/heels makes you dance comfortably. Alternatives, you can also change your shoes to your dance shoes just before you do the first dance on your wedding dance, 

6.Extra tips: add shoes cushion in your shoes to add extra comfort to your shoes. 
Make sure that your shoes are really fit for your feet so the shoes won't hurt your feet and leave your feet sore. If it's hard to find the perfect size for you, why not make custom shoes based on your feet measurement? contact us at agripinasshoes@gmail.com if you want to ask more about custom fit shoes.

That's all the tips for choosing the perfect shoes, anyway choose any shoes that makes you happy and comfortable, that's it!
Have a good day ,shoeslover!
Please comment below what kind of article you want to see on this blog!

With Love'
Agripina

Neutral Shoes

Neutral shoes have the advantage of never really going out of style, mainly because they're so versatile, but also because many women feel more comfortable wearing neutral colors than they do very bold colors like red, pink or green shoes.

Here are a few tips on how to identify neutral colors, and how to wear neutral shoes. 

What are Neutral Colors?

Without getting into too much color theory, some people define "neutral colors" as being black, white and shades of gray, while most others will also throw in shades of browns, like tans and creams.

By definition, a neutral color is not warm or cool, so in theory, neutral colors are meant to work with any other color -- and just like decorating your home in neutral colors allows you to change your accent pieces at a whim, neutral shoes allow you to pair them with nearly any outfit. 

Will Neutral Shoes work with Clothes of any Color?

Well, that's the idea, but the reality is, whichever color scheme you're choosing, any outfit works best when it's balanced.

For example, white -- being a neutral color -- will go great with any other color, but, if every other part of your outfit is bright red, wearing only white shoes might call too much attention to your footwear. Of course, that might be the effect you're going for. But a more balanced approach would be to pair red pants and white shoes with a white shirt, or at least a white belt or handbag.

You may have also heard that black shoes don't work well with pastels -- this isn't exactly true. If you were wearing a light pink suit and the only black in your outfit was a pair of black pumps, then no, that wouldn't work. However, if black appears repeatedly throughout the outfit -- even sparingly -- then it can be a dramatic and stylish complement to very light colors.

In general, the tone of your entire outfit should be considered. For example, a dark burgundy dress with a black belt won't work with cream shoes because they're too light for the rest of the outfit. 

What are the Most Versatile Neutral Shoes?

If you could only have one pair of shoes in your closet, I'd recommend that it was a pair of black pumps. If I was allowed to suggest a second pair, it would be a pair of pumps in a light neutral color, like beige or tan. These two shades would work with nearly anything in your closet, and of course, basic pumps are classics that will work with everything from jeans to suits. 

Suggestions for Wearing Neutral Shoes

The beauty of neutral shoes is that you can mix and match them with nearly anything, ranging from an all neutral outfit (i.e. tan shoes with a variety of tan and cream pieces), to neutral accents for a bolder ensemble (i.e. gray shoes and belt with a purple suit).

Below are a few suggestions for how to pair different neutral shades with a variety of other colors, but remember these are only suggestions -- the best thing about neutrals is how versatile they are. To insure that the term "neutral" doesn't become synonymous with "boring," have fun, and try your neutral shoes with several different colors.

Clothing Color Suggestions for Neutral Shoes

Neutral Shoe Color	Complementary	Harmonious	Dramatic
Black Shoes	red, blue, purple, turquoise, green	all blacks and grays	white or brights with black accents
Dark Gray Shoes	navy, dark red, purples, mid to dark yellows	all blacks, grays, whites	bright shades with other gray accents
Light Gray Shoes	light pink, light purples, chartreuse, light to mid yellows	light grays and whites	white with other gray accents
White Shoes	any light neutral or pastel with other white accents	all whites and creams or grays	bright shades with other white accents
Beige/Cream Shoes	medium pinks, greens, purples, turquoises	browns, tans and creams	black or dark blue with other cream accents
Tan Shoes	any mid-tone shade	light to mid neutrals	brights with other tan accents
Brown Shoes	mid to dark earth tones like greens, rusts, burgundy	lighter browns and creams	white or black with other brown accents

 Some of our neutral shoes collection

JACKIE BLACK

LIVIA

LOEBE

LOTTA

MANSION

MIRIAM

SANDRA

SERAPHINA

www.agripinashoes.com

source: http://shoes.about.com/od/shoe_tips_advice/a/h_neutral_shoes.htm