With reports of an approaching heat wave, the UK is already gearing up for summer. The supermarkets are stocking up on BBQ goodies and I’ve seen plenty of garden products being pushed in stores. It’s as if we’ve all forgotten that we usually get frosty mornings, sub-zero temperatures and sometimes snowstorms at this time of year. The weather in 2014 has been surprisingly mild and despite buying loads of anti-freeze, windscreen scrapers and de-icer, I’ve not been defrosting the car each morning. Despite buying thermal tights, fluffy socks and insulated boots, I’ve not been stomping through drifts of snow. My woolly scarf, padded coat and chunky jumper has remained unworn. This winter has been weird and unseasonably mild. As a result, the we have decided to skip spring and are ready for summer right now – and it looks like the weather agrees!
Most fashion brands also agree and we’re all looking forward to the trends of the summer already. There are florals, metallic, pastels and – my favourite – maritime. This is what I’m looking at today because even though we’re ready for summer I’d like to hedge my bets and invest in new season footwear that can be worn in the colder weather with tights if needed! No sandals for me just yet – I’m sticking to deck shoes and I’m loving them! Check out these different looks:
Maritime trend c/o Chatham Marine Lookbook
As you can see, these cute little pumps are great for all kinds of fashion looks: on-trend and stylish for workwear, classy for special occasions and comfortable for casual looks. And of course a pair of leather or suede deck shoes are perfect for following the SS14 maritime fashion trend in a subtle way. You don’t have to wear a stripes or a full-on life jacket to get the nautical look – a pair of soft flat shoes will get the look without you needing to invest in a whole new wardrobe. Plus, as you can see above, they can be worn with a variety of looks all spring/summer long – they look equally cool with trousers, shorts, skirts or dresses. There are very few footwear choices that can achieve that kind of versatility and this ensures that you’ll get a decent amount of wear out of your deck shoes every year. Here are a few of my favourites and (as I am quite greedy when it comes to shoes) I want them all!
Tropez Moccasin ~ Rita White ~ Fern pumps
You can just imagine how comfortable these shoes would be when going on long summer walks and they would look equally fabulous on the beach as they would in the office. I especially love the tassel trim on the suede pumps above, plus the colours are so girly and cute, including Pantone’s colour of the year Radiant Orchid and summer colour Mykonos Blue. As deck shoes are such a design classic it’s the detail that counts – so keep an eye out for contrast stitching and embroidered stripes like those on the heel of the Rita shoes above. Although I am ‘vertically challenged’ I think I’d rather wear deck shoes (and be both comfortable and on-trend this summer) than exchange comfort for extra height from heels. What do you think of the maritime trend and this modern take on deck shoes? Will you be wearing comfy flats yourself this Summer? Let me know in the comments below
