What You Need For Summer

KAT MACONIE SLIDES 

The unofficial kick-off of summer has finally arrived - its memorial weekend! That means, if you haven't been getting summer ready {sans the body because I'm still working on that} then you most certainly better use this weekend to step up {pun intended}. To get you started, we've complied a quick hit list of summer must-haves. 

I mean there's never enough time in a day or a year or a week for this type of coverage, because everything is a must-have, seriously! Anywhot, check out these styles for some shoespiration and get to steppin this week to rack up. 

SLIPPITY SLIDE: The summer is about ease and comfort and with 'bedroom antics' making its way to mainstream, you can't go wrong with a slipper style slide. Dress it up or down, its an all out winner for chic and comfy. 

Featured here: Gucci @$280, Supreme @$140+, and Givenchy @$395. 

LACE UP: Add a little fun, flavor to your flats with embellished lace-ups. Since we're the type of women that like to keep it low maintenance on the clothes in during the summer i.e. practically naked, these are perfect for outfit jazzing. 

Featured here: Sam Edelman @$130, Almedea Turquesa @$250+, and Elina Linadarki @$189.

LOAFERS: Good for work or play, you can never go wrong with a pair of classic loafers. Pair them with bermuda shorts, jeans or a skirt. They're ripe for every occasion. 

Featured here: Stuart Weitzman @$450+, Fratelli Rossetti @$300+, and Good Ole Bass @$89.

KICKS: No major explanation necessary. Kicks in the summa time are a MUST. 

Featured here: Stan Smiths @$90, Rihanna Creepers @$140 {good luck finding 'em}, and Nike Blazers @$100.

BLOCKS AND BUCKLES: Not to be outdone, the blocked heel is your comfy alternative to a sexy stiletto in the summer months. We most certainly don't want to be clonking around in heels in the sweltering heat, but we also want to maintain the sass. These will do.  

Featured here: Nine West @$109, Laurence Dacade @$500+, and Aldo @$80.

Enjoy your weekend, be safe, and shop savvy.

P.S. Click product name for direct links out to purchase item or similar styles.

Everlane: Shoe Park In The City

IMAGE: EVERLANE.COM

I always knew that Friday the 13th was my favorite day. For perspective, I turned 13 on Friday the 13th and had one of my most memorable birthdays. I like odd things and firmly believe that in order for you to be number one, well you have to be odd! But I digress. I started this off with Friday the 13th and here's why, this Friday, May 13th Everlane will host the coolest experience in the city, Shoe Park, to try and buy their latest summer shoe collection.

Shoe Park, an interactive installation, will be located at 83 Wooster Street and last for 10 days ending on May 22nd. At Shoe Park, consumers will be required to remove their footwear at the entrance and try out the summer collection. The installation, set up as a mini obstacle course/playground, allows you to 'test drive' the shoes' comfortability and ease. If you love 'em, you'll leave with 'em that day.

I appreciate the brands foray into footwear - they're approach and marketing tactic have been clever - after its successful launch and ascension into providing the best basics.

Since I'll be heading up to Syracuse for my nephew graduation this weekend, I will miss the grand opening, but mutha will be sure to pump thru the following week and I simply can't wait.

Footwear available for try on and purchase range from $98-$190.

Slide Sandal

Street Sandal

Modern Babo

Leather Street Shoe

Modern Ankle Boot

Modern Loafer

IMAGES: EVERLANE.COM

P.S. Bags from the collection will also be on hand to test out.

IF I Were At The Met Gala

Every year with bated breath, fashion lovers like myself await the star-studded Met Gala. Without fail, you engage in conversations around the theme, who's going to be there, who's going to turn it out, fashion wise of course, who's going to wear the most provocative look, who's going to take a risk, who'll probably look the most ridiculous, what so and so wore last year, I mean we can go on and on. Basically, if you're about that fashion life, outside of Fashion Week, honey this is IT. So each year, you schedule your day around this moment. I personally know better than to make plans that evening - I need to see the red carpet. It is a must!

But then the day comes. Popcorn and beverage of choice in hand. You begin to skim through every feed looking for that moment of WOW. From Instagram to Snapchat to Digital Platforms to Television, everything is ON. And then, it happens. You start to sink into your couch or scrouch down on the floor or slide down in your chair in sheer disappointment. WHAT HAPPENED?!? The most exciting moment in fashion is here and no one SHOWED UP! The themes presented are to be used as creative guides because this is the one moment in fashion when really - there are no rules. This is NOT the time to play it safe and throw on a damn ball gown. Now, all in attendance aren't giving you lackluster. As always, the daring will break the rules, create new ones, and give you what you want.

However, overall you feel let down. You've been anticipating this moment all week and throughout the weekend. Its underwhelming and you're already over it the second outfit in. Well this year was no different. Over the past few years, not many themes have allowed you to throw caution to the wind. In fact, most of the themes since its {The Met Gala for Costume Institutes fundraising} inception haven't been that outlandish. Outside of Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy in 2008 and Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty in 2011, this years theme Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology was well overdue.

Its been 5 years of basic and I was wrought with excitement for this year. I mean Fashion In An Age Of Technology couldn't have been presented at a better time. With every other conversation centered around some new social platform, some influencer program, some custom video content, some new app, some new technology company, I just knew the fashion bishes were coming to S L A Y A H ! And what did we get? Insert *Eye rolls* Dresses with studs and grommets? Asses out? - that's been played out for eons at this point Form fitting gowns? Cut-outs? SHOCKING. Mirrored Panels? GROUND BREAKING. Outside of Zac Posen, who clearly follows instructions and did not come to play any games, much to my chagrin, I was more excited about my meal than what I saw on the carpet.

This is a time when I say, why wasn't I on the list! IF I Were At The Met Gala, which was my running social tout last night, I would've turnt that BITCH OWT. My first phone call would have gone to Thierry Mugler, because lets face it, since the early 90's he's been knocking heauxs out with his futuristic fashion. There are a gagillion other designers on that call list including, but most certainly not limited to, Junya Watanabe, Irina Dzhus, Gareth Pugh - LIKE COME ON, Maison Martin Margiela - I MEAN WHY THE PHUCK DIDN'T ANYONE HAVE ON MARGIELA?, Hussein Chalayan, Andres Courreges, Pierre Cardin, and Paco Rabanne.

I was ready to see something that would've turned my face upside down. Hell, a damn emoji outfit might've been intriguing. And don't even get me started on the footwear. While there were certainly trends re-established on the carpet last night, no one took it there. The interpretation of Fashion In An Age Of Technology was lost in the familiar. I described my dream outfit for the gala to bae this morning: structured broad shoulder top, cinched in at the waist, with a pair of short shorts that mirrored the shoulders of my top. With a push of a button, my structured shoulders would collapse and turn into puffselves, and my shorts would change color. And my shoes, well, with a light tap they'd turn into flats if need be allowing me the ability to dance the night away. Where was the imagination? Where was the technology? And where was the FASHION? 

I hope next year's theme gives everyone a chance to redeem themselves and more importantly, I need to be on the damn list to show how shit like this is done! In the mean time, check out this gallery of Mugler and more representing pieces from the 60's through the 2000's. Like it had already been done. Someone should have pulled out the batphone and called the archives department...

THIERRY MUGLER

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

GARETH PUGH

PACO RABANNE

PIERRE CARDIN

JUNYA WATANABE

HUSSEIN CHALAYAN

ANDRES COURREGES

IMAGES SOURCED FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB.

The Met Gala: Best In Shoe

ZOE KRAVITZ ROCKING VALENTINO

IMAGE: COURTESY OF VOGUE.COM VIA GETTY IMAGES

Yesterday was the First Monday in May AKA the indelible night of the Met Gala. While I was a little underwhelmed by the red carpet looks that were supposed to take the theme Manus x Machina to the next level, there were some who came to slay and not to play. Of course at FTBUP!™ we were most interested in seeing what shoe stories were being told.

Not too many people took risk, but get ready to see a resurgence of rocking combat style, structured boots/booties with elegant dresses courtesy of Louis Vuitton - this seems to be a moment that has now become trendless, its been around forever, had a big moment in early 2000's went away and is now back, again.

On the flip side like Ms. Kravitz, who in my opinion KILT it, some ladies keep it dainty with unexpected detail. Taylor Swift gets a feature for this well done gladiator look. Overall, I think everyone played it safe. B O R I N G. Nonetheless, here were my picks for best in shoe show. Enjoy!

Jennifer Connelly in Louis Vuitton

Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton

Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton

SJP in custom SJP

Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton

Solange in Loewe Clear Slides

IMAGES COURTESY OF VOGUE.COM AND FOOTWEARNEWS.COM

Fashion For Good: Mindy Lam Jewelry

All Images supplied by: Kellie Crawford PR

Hey lovas, H A P P Y F R I Y A Y. I hope your day is off to a great start. And if not, let me help you get into a good mood with Mindy Lam Jewelry. 

Now of course you all know that here at From The Bottom Up!™ we just simply love shoes and can't get enough of them. BUT dahlings, we love alll of fashion and we most certainly love fashion with a purpose - enter Mindy Lam Jewelry.

Mindy Lam, a couture jewelry designer whose designs have been sold at Henri Bendel's, featured in museums and major publications like Brides Magazine, Glamour, People and Vogue Italia and has been gifted to foreign dignitaries by The White House - talk about MAJOR - has created one of a kind arm pieces to bring awareness to kidney disease {which affects Asian, African-American and Hispanics at a higher rate than other ethnicities/races} and organ donation and with good reason.

Mindy was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease in 2010, just as her career as jewelrypreneur was taking off. She had been working on major projects with Macy's, St. Judes, and Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project. She lived with this disease for the next three years before her daughter Kai was old enough to donate her mother her kidney, which she insisted on doing.

To honor her 3 year anniversary of being kidney disease free, Mindy launched the 2/15: LIFE IS LUXURY PROJECT - a unique collection that blends luxury of couture with purposeful designs. 20% of sales from this collection benefited the University of Maryland Medical System Foundation in Baltimore, the hospital where Mindy's life received new meaning.

To continue telling this story of triumphant survival, she created more limited edition pieces that are available in individual and three-piece sets. Each set is composed of Swarvoski crystals, vintage lace, and vintage rhinestones, inlaid onto silver cuffs and 14kt gold filled pieces; in addition they include other colors like Onyx/Black and the Pantone colors of the year Rose Quartz and Serenity. The Life Vines are designed like as such to represent a new life line and can be wrapped around your wrist, home accessories like glasses, coffee mugs and more.

Lastly, Mindy is coining the term Chic Samaritans for this project and I believe its truly befitting. I'll be making my purchase as this is a bandwagon worth jumping on.

Ciao bellas and check out the collection below.

Collection comes in Rose Quartz/Merlot, Denim and Black Diamonds and are available for purchase here. Prices range from $39 - $215.