Alright – Let’s be real… The shoe trends are TRICKY this year. No one knows what to wear, designers are STRUGGLING with the quasi-casual lifestyle of 2021; thus creating pieces that favor comfort over chic – and worst of all, are a MUCH easier wear for teenagers. (Nooooooo!!!!!)
We’ve combed through the gray zone to find the 5 trends we feel are most fun, but most flattering and realistic in our daily lives. Check out our favorite shoe trends below!

Chunky Lug Sole Boots

It’s no secret that this trend is a hard one to pull off.
The key to mastering this look is creating balance. Wear a chunky or voluminous sweater or jacket on top to distribute the shapes throughout your outfit. You can also try wearing a lug sole boot in a lighter shade such as white, sand or olive to remove heaviness from the boot.
Still not sure if the lug sole is for you? Try a thinner alternative! Many lug sole boots vary in thickness and shape. A more form-fitting boot may help to create a flattering silhouette.

Sherpa & Fuzz Slipper Shoes

This is the work from home dream shoe, as well as an adorable shoe for casual errands and self-care days!
Looks great with jeans and sweaters, teddybear jackets, knit sets & knit dresses.

The Second-Skin Boot

A great option for return to office, dinner and evenings out – this style can be worn under trousers, denim or dresses.
We love how the stretch in many of these boots provide flexibility for a large variety in calf sizes, making it an easy wear for everyone! 

Strappy Closed Toe & Slingback Heels

These shoes are great for a return to office look or an evening out. We love the freshness of an open heel while the closed toe is winter-friendly! A slingback opens up and lengthens the foot from the front, creating a flattering shape and balancing the closed toe.
Wrap-around straps nod to 2021’s latest trend in sexiness (Think back to leather, corset tops and the strappy wrap-around bikinis we’ve seen in summer. Consider this a backlash to our year in at-home sweatpants – Sexy is IN!).

Loafers, the Updated Flat

Swap out your flats for this update on the everyday shoe. Take the french-girl approach by pairing your loafers with straight leg jeans!

The post Navigating 2021’s Winter Shoe Trends for the Non-Teenager appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

Spring is here, and so is COLOR! As the weather heats up – it’s only natural to want to deviate towards brighter hues. But if you’ve been stuck on blacks and neutrals all winter, how do you incorporate those “riskier” shades without a complete wardrobe overhaul? We’re going to show you 3 ideas on incorporating color into your wardrobe in the most minimalist, non-eccentric, I-didn’t-try-too-hard kindof way. No knowledge of color theory necessary!!!

Hoodies & Windbreakers, the Zero-Effort Win

Let’s face it – Color can be intimidating. Think of colorful pants, for example: It can take a lot of effort to make them work, since they draw attention away from your face and onto your whole outfit. But you know what DOESN’T take much effort? A colorful lightweight hoodie or a windbreaker. The fabrics are casual (therefore low-pressure) and draws attention upwards. You pair that baby with any of your usual jeans, neutral pants or sweats and ooh-la-la, that guy has COLOR!

The Wild Accent You Didn’t Know You Could Pull Off

Ever think neon is way too much? Wrong! Just about anything can work in moderation. You can take all the risk out of color: The key is putting that little pop of fun somewhere subtle. A colored sock, cap or beanie goes a LONG way with your outfit. Just wear those comfortable neutrals and let your accessory do the rest.

Easy-Pair Shoes with Accented Hues

All-color shoes can seem like a bit much, which is why accented shoes are your secret weapon! These are the shoes that are easiest to pair back to your wardrobe with whites, blacks and neutrals. Bright stripes of color on the canvas of a white, neutral or black shoe can suggest more than is actually there – leaving just enough color to feel new, and not enough to not overdo it or have trouble incorporating with your existing outfits.

The post MAN IN COLOR, Men’s Low-Effort Guide to Incorporating Spring Hues appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

Vegan leather keeps a reputation as “difficult to wear” – so let’s face the realities here! Pleather is sustainable, cheaper than real leather, and easy to clean. What’s not to love? We’re going to show you some approachable ways to wear this material for Fall that will create masterful contrast in texture as well as making every outfit look just a little more expensive!

Check out our Pinterest for more outfit ideas!

Wear All Black

Add a little shine to your all-black ensemble by mixing your textures!

Shine on the Top

Throw a pleather shirt jacket or trench over a tank/tee and jeans, or your coziest knit set!

The Monochrome

Create luxe textural brilliance by mixing a smooth pleather of the same hue into your outfit! Try pairing with sheer pieces, knits, fur, suede and any other piece that highlights contrast. The more variance in texture the better!!!

Shine on the Bottom

Replace jeans with pleather pants next time you want to spruce up your classic white blouse, tee + blazer or sweater look.

Embossed Pleather

Embossed pleather (especially in croc) looks great as the center of attention as a mini skirt or pants. Keep the look upscale with a mockneck or turtleneck paired with a blazer or trench.

Shop Faux Leather Pieces:

The post Faux Leather 101 appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

Get ready for SHACKETS. Not quite shirt, not quite jacket – this is the outer layer you’ll be seeing all over your instagram feed this month!!! A between-season favorite for 2020, the shacket is a layer-able casual piece that can be thrown over your outfit for chilly mornings and alfresco evenings. Oversized proportions make the shacket a natural to wear over chunky sweaters, blazers and denim jackets! We’re in love with the unexpected versatility of this cozy piece, toeing the line between rugged and chic depending on how it’s styled.
Check out our favorite ways to wear this piece below!

The Go-To Casual Look

White tee or simple ribbed tank. Your favorite jeans. A great ankle boot or sneakers. Yep, that’s it! All you need to pair for a great shacket look is the basics.

The Unexpected Shacket

Three ways to stray from your casual look without all the effort:
– Switch out a tee or tank with a mockneck or turtleneck, or elevated collar.
-Match your shacket back to creams or blacks.
-Add a leather mini skirt or leather pants in replacement of jeans.

Pair with Knit Sets or Sweats

Working from home, chilly errands out, a morning coffee run or lazy Sundays look best in the coziest outfit of 2020 – A knit set or sweatpants outfit all wrapped up in a blanket-like shirtjacket!!! Yes, please!

The Dress and The Shacket

Date night? Photoshoot at the pumpkin patch? Throw a shacket over a t-shirt dress, delicate fall floral piece or a slip dress! Looks great with long boots or combats.

SHOP SHACKETS

The post Shackets, Your Go-To Casual Fall Piece appeared first on Madison to Melrose.

Revamp this iconic print for summer with four trending ways to wear Tie-Dye!

1. The Denim Replacement

Ground tie-dye with white, black or neutrals for a sophisticated take on the free-spirited pattern.

2. Co-ords, Dye-on-Dye

Take on tie-dye in the form of matching sets or bold head-to-toe tie-dye combinations.

3. Color Matching

Identify a color that appears within your tie-dye pattern and work your outfit and accessories around it!

4. The Unexpected Replacement

Replace a white tee with tie-dye for your next blazer + tee combo!

Tie-Dye Pieces We Love:

The post How to Wear Tie Dye in 2020 appeared first on Madison to Melrose.