Blogger of the month: Sea of Shoe's Jane Aldridge

Jane Aldridge is the 18 year old face of footwear obsession blog Sea of shoes. along with her former model mother, the two are quickly conquering the fashion world. In the past 12 months Aldridge's profile has exploded into the industry, her blog of nearly 3 years (started in April 07) tells a story of a young girl's fascination with the world of high end designer shoes. Aldridge has combined this love of shoes with a quirky vintage inspired style to create one of the most popular and high profile blogs circulating the web. In the past 12 months Jane has gone from documenting her daily outfit choice from her lab top to quickly becoming a highly soughted fashion personality. Vogue and most recently Vanity Fair, have already declared their love for this label loving connoisseur, with numerous mentions and profiles of the Texas native.


While most normal high school seniors find it hard to balance college applications and a social life never mind updating daily one of the most popular blogs of the web, Aldridge however, has managed to keep on top of the fashion game by switching to online classes whiles still having time to meet with Urban outfitters executives to discuss her up coming shoe line, host exclusive cocktail receptions for Guess and Harper's bazaar as well as debuting at the prestigious Paris based Crillon ball in Chanel haute couture, at the whim of a Mr. Lagerfeld of course. Her fans also don't extend to just those in the fashion world, Aldridge also has a fan in Kanye west, who ceasisily praises Aldridge and her style.


Blogging has also opened up the world of fashion design for Aldridge, who along with Atlantis home's Judy Aldridge (her mother), was asked to design a trench coat for indie label Gryphon by former Vogue staffer Aimee Cho. The post apocalyptic inspired design with bell sleeves and waist pouch is certain to be a surefire hit, with such up and comers behind the design. Also in the works is a rumoured book deal for the mom and daughter blogging duo, which will throw this Dallas beauty among the ranks of renowned bloggers such as the Satorialist.


As for her personal style, Aldridge updates daily to satisfy her fashion famished followers with a mixture of vintage inspired pieces such as quirky animal jewlery (squids, monkeys and sea monsters), long boho-inspired skirt, exaggerated jackets by the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, wet look leggings, her mom's designer hand me downs and simple basics, like white shirts and marl sweatshirts. However the staple of this fashionista's wardrobe, her vast collection of shoes; with everything from Balennciaga, Ann Demeulemeester, Prada and Miu Miu.


However while Aldridge's personal style has ganrered thousands of fans, there are a lot of critics who have an aversion to her label laden style. While i don't not like sea of shoes i find my self agreeing with the masses, that fashion's obsession with Aldridge is slightly biased by her capability to afford the latest Prada platform or The Row sweater. i don't see Vogue being so interested in her and her style if she bought her shoes at the nearest Payless or Forever 21. While it cant be said everything this girl wears is new season high end stock, her posts do include the odd basic sourced from a more high street boutique or quirky find from eBay or a thrift store, but the majority of her clothing seems to come directly from the nearest top department store all thanks to daddy's credit card. I prefer a blog which emphasises the message money doesn't buy you style; where a blogger is able to construct a really unique yet relatable outfit without breaking the bank, like early Rumi of fashion toast (before all the designer freebies) or french blogger Betty from blog de betty.
Then there is the other side of the battle who argues that it isn't about the exact pieces that these bloggers wear but the way they put things together. I will admit Aldridge has a unique personal style that will continue to inspire her loyal fans, maybe its just the way she combines a basic shirt with a more dressy constructed skirt or the way she wears a certain belt,but Aldridge shows how bloggers are out there to inspire and exhibit their own style, not to dress to cater to the tastes of every critic (myself included) out there.

A/W Trends: La Parissiene

(Chanel, Meadham Kirchhoff, Nina Ricci, Erdem, Louis Vuitton)

The femme fatale of 80's Paris was the main star of the fall collections. Seductive stockings, glimpses of lingerie and red lips were the accessories of choice to compliment the often coquettish and frivolous glamour of our over the top french heroine. Silks, bows, lace and ruffles embellished the sophisticated sexiness of the Paris inspired stylings. By day she revels in left bank inspired ensembles which payed homage to Coco Chanel. The look was strictly monochrome from Breton stripes at Meadham Kirchhoff to conservative lace necklines at Chanel. At night her fanciful bourgeois side emerges with cascades of gold brocade(seen at Roksanda Ilnic) blue or red stain(Erdem and Nina Ricci) and intricate detailing such as surging ruffles and frills (like at Marchesa). Typically the Paris collections reigned supreme with designers such as Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu completely defining the look.

Spring/Summer 09 vs. The Recession

The spring/summer 09 shows offered us one of the most difficult to pinpoint season yet. Unlike the traditional fashion seasons, there wasn’t a focus on a handful of consistent trends, which the high street will eventually start to devour over the next few months. There was nothing that put designer's shows into easily identifiable slots. According to Elle this season is one that is trend less. In keeping with the economic times all it will take is a few items to up date your look to this season. This season designers kept to the basics and did what they knew best. They played to their strengths. Fashion editors alike were leaving shows with comments like: “Lanvin is soo Lanvin” or "that was classic Chanel". At first glance this season doesn’t seem compliant with the 'save your money for a few investment pieces' theme of the a/w 08 shows, but take a deeper look and this is one of the most investment worthy seasons yet. This season is strong with forever pieces, you buy a piece from Chanel, such as one of its famous boxy tweed jackets, which emerged hugely this season, and you will have it forever. In other words it is season-less. We want clothes that will endure fashion season after season, which we can keep forever and that will bite back in the face of the recession. And it is the spring/summer collections which offers us this, overflowing on a platter of bleached denim and tribal prints.
But there was a number of themes loosely linked from the shows which will satisfy the taste of any trend slave. 80’s fashion victim, African safari, floral feminies etc. were the standouts of the shows but again the standard spring/summer fare that seems to emerge very year. But it was Colour who remained the consistent link throughout all the shows and dominated the season. Instead of keeping with the basic and black of a/w 08, colour was fashion’s weapon of choice to fight the economical gloom with colour-blocking a major themes of s/s 09 shows. Cobalt, coral, burnt orange etc. intertwined the collections and offered us a beacon of optimism and hope, which is desperately needed. This season has taught us that In dark times such as these, only fashion can emerge as our saviour, even if it is clad in a leopard print tunic.