If this is your first time here, let me catch you up to speed: My aunt is my style icon. She was the person who ignited my love of fashion and continues to impress me with her ever-evolving style. Over the years, our personal styles have gone from polar opposites to quite similar. We now shop at more of the same stores and idolize the same aesthetics. One of our go-to retailers has always been Nordstrom, and this week, my aunt showed me a handful of new arrivals that I now won’t shut up about.
I’ve been studying the trends that come and go within the fashion industry for years, and I’ve noticed the most notable shoe styles have usually revolved around a bold look of heels or a platform sole. And when there is a more comfortable look involved, it’s more likely to be sneakers than anything else. The past year or two, however, has been dominated by flat shoes. (Let’s call it a flat shoe renaissance if you will.) With brands like Tory Burch and Prada releasing standout pairs, mixing fashion and practicality has never been so stylish.
Envision a barely there band with the most delicate string of diamonds lacing your finger. Sounds utterly stunning, right? Also very expensive. What about a tennis necklace strung with glistening diamonds? Metaphorical £££ signs are flashing in neon green. Now, what if I told you that you can adorn yourself with exactly these kinds of pieces for far, far less? Say hello to Astrid & Miyu’s newest release, the Gleam Collection, which takes the age-old concept ‘dripping with diamonds’ and makes it a reality for us mere mortals. How? With just-as-shiny, way more affordable cubic zirconia bezel-set stones, rhodium plated brass and 18k gold plating. The best part is, prices start at £40 and range to £110, and the collection includes everything from dainty ear cuffs and ear studs, to statement drop earrings, eternity-style rings and bedazzled bracelets.
I can’t be the only one whose feed on every social media platform is currently home to a seemingly endless assortment of ’90s Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy photos. Not that I’m complaining—my Instagram Saved folder is just as packed with said images. Chic, sophisticated, and always dressed to the nines in an effortless manner, Bessette-Kennedy is the modern woman’s style icon for a reason. Anytime I find an item that’s even remotely similar to one she frequented back then, I have to buy it. End of story.
From affordable luggage to chic home goods to the latest fashion designer collaborations, we have become experts at navigating Target’s cornucopia of stylish yet reasonably priced finds. But, while we are very familiar with Target clothing, such as TikTok-viral denim and underwear collabs, we have been sleeping on the mega-retailer’s footwear section for some reason. Some of the in-house labels that have become staples in our wardrobes — A New Day, Universal Thread, Wild Fable — have been killing the shoe game, offering season-appropriate options that are comfortable, chic, and — above all else — a good value.
