With a single thin strap to keep your foot in place

Tag : shoes strap

In fact, in these lazy, hazy days of summer, almost all you need ison sale. And remember, the mall is air-conditioned and prices areslashed 50, 60 or 70 per cent.
Here then, is a list of summer's Top 10 hits.
1. The longing
It's the surprise hit of the season - if you didn't watch therunways. Tropical prints, bohemian rhapsodies, long tiered tubedresses hit your ankles and longer, for easy lazing by the pool oron the patio. They're everywhere, and on sale: at Simons, a cottonlong tiered dress in purple and a black floral caught ourattention. Le Château has African-inspired versions. At BoutiqueRococo in Laval, a rack of cotton jersey dresses were a sweet dealat half price.
2. The little white dress
There's nothing like a little white dress to help you look - maybeeven feel - cool to your very bones. Cotton is a must, as is washand wearability. French Connection has a nice selection of LWDs onsale, and a cotton jersey tiered white flapper dress from Femme deCarrière was attractive, too.
3. Bright and shiny bag
For the city and the beach, the patent tote is a hot number. Somestylistas are fans of the black shiny tote by Chanel with itssignature chain handles, but knockoffs and inspirations abound atevery price point in colours from electric yellow to soothingMediterranean blue.
4. The (pretty) comfort shoe
The shoe of summer appears to be the leather thong, in goldperhaps, with a single thin strap to keep your foot in place. Ormaybe the gladiator. This won't do. Summer demands a good walkingsandal that's pretty but comfortable. Mephisto, Birkenstock and afew other lines are doing their level best to make sure functionmeets form. There are Birks in silver or aqua at Stoneridge andNaturino. Mephisto has sturdy silver sandals and more delicatethongs in leopard print nubuck or hot red patent. (Hint: the patentis harder to get used to than nubuck.)
5. The easy skirt
It hasn't been easy to find those simple skirts of summer, mainlybecause of the dress factor. But the skirt is an easier option formix-and-match purposes, and also because dresses often need to bedry cleaned after one scant wearing. Still, skirts there are, ifyou're determined. Simons has racks of cotton print skirts at$19.99 or $39.99, and shops from Mango to Gap and H&M stockcotton basics.
6. Becoming Bermudas
The capri has been cut off this season, becoming a short. And itfinally seems right to sport the city short on downtown streetseven when you mean business. It's tailored and slim, and best ofall, it goes well with all those full, flouncy tops we bought lastyear.
7. The crisp white shirt
Crisp and classic or flouncy and feminine, the white shirt is thebest coverup for summer. Gap's much-vaunted white shirts fromrising U.S. designer stars are now radically marked down. ClubMonaco always has a classic white shirt available - $69, and nevermarked down - and at Jardins Tissés in Westmount, Indian tunics inbreezy silk are half price. For the tailored set, Tavãn and Mittohas crisp cap-sleeved shirts and safari-style linen shirts thatdouble as jackets, marked down as much as 50 per cent.
8. Bangles galore
It's the summer of cuff love, be they enamel, acrylic or jewelled.At Club Monaco a wrap leather silver-studded strand, which doesdouble duty as a necklace, is $29. Pile them on.
9. The essential tank
Don't leave home without it. All the colours of the rainbow are atyour disposal from H&M to Banana Republic. We love the Mexxversion, $19 at Simons, but colours and sizes seem to sell outquickly.
10. The shade
It's essential, and our expert says there's a time and place forevery style. Details, Page D2
efriede@thegazette.canwest.com
Addresses
Boutique Rococo, 2534 Daniel Johnson Blvd, Laval
Femme de Carrièrre, 1115 Ste. Catherine St. W.
French Connection, 1182 Ste. Catherine St. W.
Les Jardins Tissés, 4875 Sherbrooke St. W.
Naturino, 1325 Greene Ave.
Tavãn & Mitto, 5334 St. Laurent Blvd.
Terra Firma, Les Cours Mont Royal, 1455 Peel St.

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008