As with most items that I purchase, I like to thoroughly check that it's in perfect condition. After all, I'm handing over my money with the expectation that this product isn't damaged so of course, I need to pay extra attention before I bring it home.

When it comes to shoes, I seem to go over the top in playing Inspector. Although shoes will get busted and worn over time, I like to make sure that there are no defects and that these shoes will actually last me. So what do I look for when I shop for shoes?


COMFORTNo matter how good a shoe looks and how close it is to what I'm searching for, I always have to consider its comfort. For me, a shoe is useless if I can't wear it for more than an hour. I need to at least be able to walk in it without wanting to change out of it. (The only exception I have for this is heels but let's dive into that later). With comfort as my priority, I'll check to see if there are any stitches that rub against my foot the wrong way. Next, I'll look at the cushioning. Not all comfortable shoes need to have a cushion but I give it extra brownie points if it does. Then I'll see if the front of the shoe is too narrow or wide. You want the shoe to look flattering but if it's too narrow, your toes will pinch together and if it's too wide, your feet will look bigger than they actually are. Finally, I'll look to see if the sides of the shoe are rubbing under my ankles the wrong way. This is a personal issue. There are a lot of flats and heels that fall right under my ankle bone and it just hurts when I walk. I will also check to make sure the back of the shoe doesn't rub because I am not about that blister life.


MATERIALAfter that, I have to consider how it's made. The one thing I can't stand is buying specifically boots that are glued down to the sole. If you've ever bought a cheap pair of boots, you'll know what I'm talking about. There's a thin film of glue holding everything together and I just can't trust that it'll hold up to New England weather. My favorite and personal preference is when you can see a stitching around the shoe and the sole. I feel that it's more secure and less likely to open up after a couple of wears. In my experience, these kinds of boots have lasted me the longest. For other shoes like sandals, I look at what it's made out of. For sneakers, my main priority is if it feels stiff or not. Depending on the material, some sneakers can feel very suffocating so I try to avoid that.

source

SOLELastly, I will check the sole. A lot of shoes are made with a very smooth and slippery-feeling sole. While it adds a very sleek and luxurious look to the shoe, it's highly impractical for walking on smooth floors. I don't know about you but I certainly don't want to fall on my butt like that. Even though they have those grip things you can stick to the bottom, it just isn't the same as having a sole with some traction to it. I'm partial to rubber soles because they don't slip and it's okay to wear when it rains or snows outside.

source

EXCEPTIONSLike I mentioned, heels can be an exception to an extent. I still highly value a shoe that has comfort but if I can't wear it for over an hour, it's okay as long as it doesn't rub against my foot the wrong way. I only ever wear heels for formal events and because it's not an everyday shoe for me, I don't consider how long I can actually wear them for. If I do need to wear a heel for a longer period of time, I'll find a wedge heel. There's more stability and it's still classy. After that, pretty much everything else applies. The material has to be nice (preferably leather) and the soles can't be slippery. I mean, high heels + slippery sole is just asking for a disaster.


Those are all my tips for buying shoes! What are some of your tips and tricks? Is there anything you absolutely must have in a shoe before buying it?!

I'm sure if you're my age or older than I am, you'll understand that backpacks were an essential that we grew up with. Shopping for a new backpack for school meant looking for features that made it the ultimate bag, whether it be having the most pockets or being the most weatherproof. Moms worried about that stuff more than we did, I'm guessing, but now that I'm becoming more of an adult and spending my own money to purchase bags, I've begun to seriously consider what makes a bag worth buying.

Rather than talking about those heavy duty backpacks that we used to cram textbooks into, today I'll be discussing the trendier looking ones. They're very chic and, depending on the material, can dress up or down an outfit.

Backpacks come in a variety of styles: casual, canvas, printed, leather, faux leather, etc. Recently, I've begun to see an increase in horizontal shaped backpacks. They resemble the shape of a messenger bag but equipped with shoulder straps. I personally really enjoy the way they look but I find that the shape and design of many of those types of backpacks make it difficult for the bag to lay nicely against my back. It could also be because the bags are usually empty prior to the purchase. Keep in mind, like anything else, prices will range!

Before I go into the pros and cons of using backpacks as an accessory piece, I will list a few examples below, just as a reference point (and also so you guys can take a look around and get some ideas for yourself!).

Peter Jensen "Rabbit Backpack" $187.87 from Asos.com

Deena and Ozzy "Acid Wash Patch Backpack" $42 from Urban Outfitters

Levi's "River Rock Backpack" $150 from Nordstrom

Nillie Shop "Faux Leather Backpack" $35 from Yesstyle.com

ASOS "Leather backpack" $208.74 from Asos

Theyskens Theory "Black Leather Backpack" $575 from Theory.com

The Row "Leather backpack" $3900 from net-a-porter.com

The following list isn't in order of importance, just random order!
PROS
1. Storage: for a while, big purses were "in" and one of the greatest things about them were the space inside the bag. The bad thing is that it gets too heavy to carry around if you're the type of person who likes to keep a lot of crap in their bags. The good thing about a backpack is the two straps that keep the weight balanced on your shoulders instead of weighing down just one arm. The load seems much lighter and is great for travel, shopping, school, etc.

2. Design: similar to any other bag, backpacks come in a variety of patterns, graphics, fabrics, shapes, and sizes. As an accessory piece, it can be used to add texture or tone down an outfit.

3. Adds a "School Girl Umf": not everyone is going to like this pro or agree with it but I think backpacks have a certain innocent and casual quality that differs from other purses/bags. This kind of branches off from the "Design" pro but depending on what the backpack looks like, the outfit's aura can really change.

4. Hands free!: cross body bags have this same advantage too. I used to own a shoulder bag and it was always a pain in the hole to go shopping or to school. It's nice being able to rush through a crowd without worrying that the backpack will fall off. I also imagine it'd be harder to steal a backpack than a shoulder bag.

CONS
1. Waterproof vs non: this really depends on whether or not you get a canvas or leather one. Canvas backpacks have become quite popular though so I think consumers have greater access to these types. With that said, I find it annoying to have a bag that isn't waterproof or water resistant because of the crazy weather we have here. I also like having bags I can use year round!

2. Straps: if you plan on putting a heavy load in your bag, I suggest looking for one with thicker straps. After a while, thin straps will hurt your shoulders and make it uncomfortable to wear. I also worry a lot about the straps falling off, especially if the bag is heavy and weighs down. I've had it happen before! Broken straps :( and most are sewn in at the top, so they aren't 100% secure.

3. Open and Close: sometimes, it's not super convenient to get things out of the bag, just because of how the bag is usually worn. It's a whole process of taking both straps off, balancing the bag on your knees, rummaging for what you need, closing it, and putting it back on again. With a cross body bag or shoulder bag, reaching it for what you need to get is much easier.

4. Position: this is more of a concern in other countries but because the backpack is worn on the back, you can't really monitor what goes on. It could just be my paranoia but in a crowded area, it's difficult to detect when someone reaches into your bag or front pocket of the backpack. Must be cautious in those situations!


...and that's about it! Those are my opinions/tips about backpacks. I'm still on the search for a nice faux leather one for everyday use so please leave some suggestions if you have any! Thanks!


Until next time,
{kiss kiss}
~Jenn

Everyone has their own rules for how to wear certain clothes or patterns or fabrics. Mine aren't exceptionally unique or anything, but here are just a few things I swear by that work for my body type.

Just for reference, I am around 5'2" and I weigh about 104 plus or minus a few lbs. In my opinion (and people have told me I'm totally nuts), I have a heavier upper portion. AKA... I lack them curves. I'm also not a big fan of my shoulders but that's a completely different story.


RULE #1: Balance, balance, balance.
This applies to everything. If you're wearing something really loud on top, keep it stable on the bottom. Now, I'm not saying you can't wear pattern on pattern. But if you are opting to wear 2 patterns, I suggest bringing the outfit together with a solid accessory. This could be in the form of shoes, purse, clutch, necklace, ring, earrings, etc.
Of course, this reasoning goes with size of clothes as well. If you're wearing a flowy top, keep the pants streamlined. If you really want to wearing something like a flowy top and harem pants (for example), try wearing a belt and some pumps. You'll get some extra height that the harem pants took away and you'll redefine your waist line so you don't look like a giant blob. We don't want that. No one wants that.

RULE #2: Hide the boobies and booties.
What you wear is up to you. What you choose to show is also up to you.
HOWEVER... please do us a favor and cover up the things we shouldn't have to see. If you know the dress you're wearing is a little sheer but you don't want to wear tights or a tank top, wear a nude bandeau and a nude pair of boyshort-style underwear. If I can see the outline of your thong, it's not cute. If I can see the outline of your nippies, it's not cute. And really inappropriate.
If your tank top is cut low and you hate wearing bandeaus, opt for a colorful sports bra. And seriously, if you sit down and your skirt rides up to the point where I question whether or not you're wearing pants, that's just pushing it.


RULE #3: Hide the boobies and booties part 2.
There are so many opinions about whether or not it's okay to wear leggings with shirts that aren't long enough to cover your butt. What do I think?
It's your choice. Fashion is about your own style. But personally, I have to wear shirts long enough to cover the bottom portion if I want to wear leggings. I can't feel comfortable knowing that my butt is just hanging out there.


RULE #4: Proportions.
Since I am on the shorter side, the clothes I buy tend to cut at certain places. For instance, I love buying crop tops because I have a short torso and crop tops hit at just the right place: right near the top of my jeans/pants. This elongates my legs. If you want to wear a longer top, I would suggest wearing some sort of heel or wedge, whichever is more comfortable for you. If you're not a heels person, go for a pair of flats that match your skin tone. You can elongate your legs this way, too.
As for skirts, I prefer them to hit about 3 inches above my knees. I like them to be a little shorter because if they were any longer, the eyes would automatically cut the body, making it look much shorter and stubbier.
I also like wearing looser tops because it conceals a LOT. just saying.

RULE #5: Do you!
Ultimately, wear what you like to wear. Anything can look good as long as you feel good in it and you like the way you look. Some people hate patterns. Some hate animal prints. Some hate color. Well, hey, if that's what works for you, do it!

And that's all the advice I have for now. I hope you guys have a wonderful day!


Until next time,
{kissy faces}
~Jenn