Gucci White New Ace Elastic Band Sneakers

Anybody who's seen my shoe collection knows I own a massive amount of sneakers (I am, after all, almost exclusively in athleisure in my down time). However, I've never been too interested in designer sneakers... until I saw these. Gucci has been pumping out variations of these sneakers for some time now and while I've always liked the Stan Smith-eqsue silhouette, if I'm going to spend the $$ on casual shoes they need to have a unique element. This logo elastic band was it for me. Now if I can just figure out a way to keep these white kicks clean!

Sweater: Oak + Fort / Jeans: Frame (lighter wash) / Sneakers: Gucci (here)

Bag: Proenza Schouler (mini version) / Necklaces: Pyrrha (similar)

Sunglasses: Gucci

Prada Suede Block Heel Pumps

I recently added a new pair of shoes to my designer shoe collection: Prada Block Heel Pumps in black suede. I've had great success with Prada shoes in the past like my Saffiano leather pointy toe pumps (also seen here and here), and these are no exception.

They feature an interesting design with the squared toe, and come in a super comfortable height at 2.5 inches. However, thanks to the unique round block heel, I don't have to worry about the unflattering kitten heel effect you can get with that style of lower heel. On the contrary, I think they actually look really great when worn (definitely not as "grandma" as some people probably think they are)... they're the perfect day-to-night shoe to take me from work to evening. I'm envisioning these with a lot of cropped skinny pants which often form the basis of my everyday work outfits.

I also love Prada's signature pink soles... so pretty! Now if only our weather would clear up so I don't have to worry about ruining the suede in the snow and rain!

Crazy for Chloe

Figured I'd break out my birthday present to myself (a.k.a. my new boots) for the first time this weekend for a day of shopping and eating with some friends. Paired with this handbag, I found myself perfectly accessorized with all things Chloe.

Sweater: Talula (Aritzia) / Jeans: FRAME (similar style)

Boots: Chloe (here) / Bag: Chloe (here)

Ballerina

A while back, I posted these flats on my Instagram, which are obviously inspired by the much more expensive Miu Miu ones. Growing up, I actually took ballet lessons for a number of years at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet (little known fact: I grew up in Winnipeg) and although those dance years are long behind me, I still have a soft spot for anything ballerina-inspired.

Sweater: Papaya / Crop Top (layered under): Wilfred Free (Aritzia)
Pants: Babaton (Aritzia) / Shoes: Zara
Bag: Miu Miu (in orange) / Sunglasses: Polette (c/o)

Chloe Susanna Boots

The first iteration of the Chloe Susanna Boots (then called the "Susan") first came out in 2008 and I've been waffling over them ever since. On one hand, I couldn't tell if they were too over the top and maybe a little bit "country" which is not my style at all; on the other hand, I was somehow inexplicably drawn to them.

Over the past 5 years or so, booties have become an absolutely integral part of my Fall/Winter wardrobe (for example, my Alexander Wang Kori Oxfords are now well-worn and my Vince Yarrow booties bought in January are getting there too) so I finally decided to bite the bullet. With the gold hardware, these are definitely a unique addition to my shoe closet.

These were also a birthday present to myself since I just turned 30 on Monday (ugh... I still can't believe I'm no longer in my twenties). As you guys know, I typically buy myself something from my lust list each year. Last year it was my Burberry trench coat and the year before that it was my Proenza Schouler PS11.

Since purchasing my Chloe Marcie bag I've kind of become obsessed with all things Chloe so these were an easy pick. Plus, what else would you expect from a girl with a shopping addiction who's looking to take the sting away from getting older? Retail therapy is the answer, obviously.

Miu Miu Metallic Cap-Toe Skate Shoes

A new addition to my small but beloved Miu Miu collection (joining my mini bow bag, St. Cocco bracelet, and velvet loafers) are these metallic cap-toe skate shoes (here and here). Although I know their designs may not be to everyone's taste, Miu Miu holds a very special place in my heart because it was one of the first designer brands I ever loved.

As for these shoes... well, they match basically 90% of my wardrobe and really could not be more "Alison." You'll definitely be seeing them a lot on the blog!

Stay Gold

Sometimes I feel a little magpie-ish in that I am attracted to anything sparkly and shiny (case in point: one of my most recent shoe purchases). That was exactly the case when I happened upon these gold sneakers at the Sandro boutique. Designed in collaboration with Reebok, they are seriously everything.

P.S. Today's post title comes from one of my favourite songs, "Gold" by Adventure Club (feat. Yuna), which definitely warrants a listen if you've never heard it before!

Sweater: Oak and Fort / Jacket: Noul / Pants: Babaton (Aritzia)

Bag: Auxiliary (Aritzia) / Shoes: Reebok x Sandro

Miu Miu Crystal Embellished Velvet Loafers

Miu Miu has always been one of my favourite designer brands due to their fun & girly designs, and I have been wanting a pair of Miu Miu shoes for years. It was just a matter of finding a pair that really spoke to me...  and now, finally joining my my mini bow bag and St. Cocco bracelet are these amazing crystal embellished velvet loafers.

I'm obsessed with the bling (seriously, the funnest), and the maroon velvet both looks and feels incredibly luxe (also available in navy and glitter options). Of course, these aren't necessarily the best shoes for rainy Vancouver but on dry days you can be certain that these have been putting an extra pep in my step.

Festival Dressing Minus the Festival

Today's outfit is quite a bit different from my usual style and, in fact, is probably more appropriate for an outdoor music festival than going to see a movie (which is what I did instead). However, I have been on the hunt for the perfect white peasant dress all summer long, which is actually a more difficult feat than you might imagine. This Free People Pippa Dress caught my eye months ago but I'm glad I waited because I ended up getting it for 60% off... plus an additional 25% off!

Also, how cool are my new Harley-Davidson motorcycle boots? You may recall that I already own a pair of their cowboy boots, but this time I decided to venture into what the company is truly known for: motorcycles and motorcycle-related paraphernalia -- footwear included. I can't wait to pair these with skinnies and layers come Fall.

Dress: Free People (here) / Boots: Harley-Davidson (c/o) (here)

Sneakers & Platform Oxfords

My Monthly Must-Reads girls and I have teamed up this month for a reunion post (it's been a few years since we last posted together) to discuss our favourite Spring trends. If you've seen my outfits you'll know I don't straight up follow trends and I also don't wear much colour so instead I have decided to share two types of shoes I've been loving this season.

First up: sneakers! I am especially happy that they have made a comeback... not that they have ever been "out" per se... Obviously sneakers and runners have a utilitarian function, but there's no denying that it's become much more mainstream for people to now wear them outside of the gym. I wear my black Nike Frees a ton, both to work out and as casual wear, and I recently picked up a pair of Nike Air Max Theas.

Another shoe trend I've recently gotten on board with are platform oxfords/brogues. They give height but are comfier than stilettos, and I think look great with menswear-inspired looks. These Nine West Vinata Lace-Up Oxfords (c/o) are a reasonably-priced alternative to the popular Stella McCartney platform oxfords we've been seeing around since last Fall, and they come in a range of colours apart from this black/pewter combo.

• Alison*Elle - Alison has been embracing 2015 with a helpful reminder from this love wall.
• Beautygirl24 - Noelle discovers her favorite Express camisole comes in a Spring-worthy floral print. 
• Ella Pretty - Zeba was super-excited to get a full page feature in a Canadian magazine!
• Fifth & Bloor -  Mehreen is loving her extremely ripped jeans! She talks about how to style them here.
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen just announced Baby #2 and shared some pregnancy updates.
• Schnelle Couture -  Danielle discusses her new hair care finds.
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette channeled her inner Betty Draper with this dress for spring.

Nine West Grand Re-Opening at Pacific Centre

Fellow Vancouverites, take note: Nine West is hosting its grand re-opening party at Pacific Centre this Friday, March 27 and there are some amazing deals to be had. The first 100 customers will receive a $50 gift card, but even if you miss out on that you can still take advantage of a 20% discount all day. Is this not the perfect time to stock up on new shoes for Spring and Summer or what? Plus, enter to win free shoes for a year and indulge in some free cupcakes while you're at it -- yum!

Valentino Noir Rockstud Pumps

Apparently I've been on a bit of a designer shoe kick lately (hello beloved Alexander Wang oxfords which I'm sure you've noticed have been featured in many of my outfit posts since I got them -- I have been wearing them almost everyday). Nonetheless, I will admit that this latest pair ended up being a somewhat unexpected splurge.

I had decided that I wanted an edgy pair of heels but really had no concept of what those would end up being. When I happened upon these Valentino Rockstud Noir Pumps at Holt Renfrew, I decided to give them a try... and they ended up coming home with me, whoops!

I know that Rockstuds have been majorly overdone in the blogosphere and to be honest, I was never really interested in them before. However, once I tried them on, I finally understood why they're so popular. For a 4+ inch heel, they are surprisingly comfortable. And this is coming from a girl who almost never wears heels so that's got to count for something, right?

Fall Collection:Duos Miss Juliette Stella 

Going Western with #HarleyStyle

Apart from my brief stint in Calgary (where police officers actually wear cowboy hats) and my Japanese pajama/pseudo-Western shirt, I am about as far from being "country" as they come. However, I have always thought cowboy boots were kind of awesome so when the opportunity to try these Harley Davidson Loreley Boots popped up, I was so on board.

"Did Alison just say Harley Davidson?" is what you are probably now thinking, and "Since when does she ride a motorcycle?" is likely your next thought. Well, it turns out that while these boots can do double time as footwear for all those motorcycles I'm not riding, they also make a truly excellent fashion statement.

Sweater: Vince / Jeans: Paige Denim (darker wash) / Scarf: Fine Finds
Boots: Harley-Davidson (c/o) / Sunglasses: Ray-Ban (c/o) (here)

Boots:Short Gloss Maureen Matilde 

Alexander Wang Kori Oxfords

The Kori Oxfords (here, here, and here) are a staple shoe released by Alexander Wang every year which is why it's taken me this long to purchase them (I have always liked them but figured I could get them anytime). Of course, it seems to be the rule that only when you do decide to "pull the trigger" on an item does it suddenly become impossible to find them anywhere! The past few months have consisted of me desperately trying to hunt down these shoes in my size locally, online, and even on my Seattle trip but to no avail. Happy to say they are now finally in my possession... these boots could not be more "Alison."

Wang:Muscle Tank Rhodium Hobo 

Espadrille Time

While Chanel's ubiquitous espadrilles have been on my lust list for quite some time, they have also become near impossible to locate. So last summer, in my search for dupes, I purchased these Tory Burch Weston Espadrilles (and then promptly forgot about them once they arrived... #shopaholicproblems). Anyway, now that they've re-emerged from the depths of my shoe closet, I'm pretty sure they'll be getting the wear they deserve!

Tee: Wilfred Free (Aritzia) / Jeans: Paige Denim (similar and lighter wash)
Espadrilles: Tory Burch (similar) / Fedora: Urban Outfitters (here)
Sunglasses: Gucci (here) / Tote: Joe's Jeans (c/o) (similar)

OMG Shoes

These amazing mixed animal print flats were one of my favourite buys from my recent Toronto trip. I had been scouring stores all over Vancouver for 10 Crosby Derek Lam shoes without any luck so, of course, I made it my goal to find them while I was away. Does anyone in Vancouver know where I can find this brand?

Tee: Wilfred Free (Aritzia) / Jeans: Paige (similar) / Watch: Michael Kors (here)

Shoes: 10 Crosby Derek Lam (in snakeskin and metallic) / Bag: Marc By Marc Jacobs (here)

Currently Coveting: Charlotte Olympia Zodiac Shoes

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen my excited tweets over Charlotte Olympia's new Cosmic Collection, a line of Birthday Shoes and Zodiac Pandora perspex clutches inspired by what else? Star signs!

The clutches are definite statement pieces but I've personally got my eyes on the shoes (now on sale at Net-a-Porter). I'm loving the rainbow of colours, all topped with sparkly Swarovski crystal and enamel ornaments.

What's even better is that the Virgo flats (here) are actually cute. I feel like some zodiac signs often get the short end of the stick when it comes to horoscope-inspired items (my sign being one of them). They also happen to match my Miu Miu mini bow bag perfectly.

The question is: can I really justify another trendy flats purchase? My Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats have certainly become a closet staple but it looks like these will have to go on the wishlist... for now.

Insta-Calgary to Vancouver

Once again, I've let a ton of time pass since my last Instagram update (some of these photos are from Calgary and I've already been home for 2 months if you can believe it). Nonetheless, here are some snapshots of what I've been up to:

Winter snowstorms in Calgary made bearable with my trusty Sorel boots

White Chocolate Mousse Cake from Brûlée for my last day at the Calgary office

This did not taste like banana bread and I am still not a beer drinker

Snowshoeing at Cypress Mountain

Eggel and latka for breakfast at Solly's

Previewing the new Gorilla perfumes at LUSH Cosmetics (Sun is my favourite!)

Follow-up on my workout wishlist: I ended up with these grey/pink Nike Free Run v4 shoes

White chocolate and raspberry cheesecake at Trees

Karaoke = one of my favourite activities because I like pretending I'm a popstar

Brunch at Forage, a local & sustainable restaurant

For more snippets from my everyday life and updates in real time, find me on Instagram at @alison_elle.