I’m a little in love with the Leopard and Hot Pink in our new collection and I hope you love them, too. The three different styles are so beautiful, totally trans seasonal, and super comfortable to wear. To give you some ideas on outfits that look great with them, I’ve had a look at the fashion trends for 2022 and found some styles that match perfectly with your colourful new slides, mules or pointed flats.   

 1. Cute Summer Dresses

A classic item for every woman's wardrobe is a summer dress that makes you look and feel fabulous. Personally, I think a beautiful maxi dress is a spring and summer must-have. It was Oscar de la Renta who made the maxi dress in the 60s and in no-time, millions around the world were wearing it. A maxi is comfortable, easy to wear, and looks great on women of all ages. Wear yours with our colourful mules or slides and be effortlessly stylish.

I’ve noticed that mini-skirts and dresses are also making a comeback now the world of fashion is embracing more '90s and '00s inspired trends. Summer’s the best time to get your legs out and a casual mini is a great choice for the hottest days of the season. Styled with a pair of shoes from our new collection, you simply can’t go wrong.

Colour is in, especially bold citrus tones like orange and yellow. If you think hot pink and orange clashes, you’re wrong. The pairing of these two is fabulous and has a long history in indigenous South American and Mexican cultures. Pink and orange are similar and sit near each other on the colour wheel. That’s why when you wear them together, you create a dynamic visual experience.

2. Quintessential Gingham

Another unbeatable trend this season is checkered patterns including gingham. Checks are super versatile, feminine and fun! They are also easy to accessorise as the pattern works well paired with solid colours as well as printed fabrics. What’s gingham, you say? It’s a cotton or cotton blend fabric made with dyed yarn woven using a plain weave to form a checked two-colour pattern.

When Brigitte Bardot, one of biggest stars on earth at the time, married in the summer of 1959, the entire world paid attention. Her wedding dress was created by Jacques Esterel who was B.B’s favourite designer. His brief was to make her something youthful, unexpected, and pretty. Esterel chose a pink gingham (called Vichy in France) and created a dress that revolutionised fashion. Until then, the fabric was mostly used for kitchen curtains and tablecloths.

Also, the gingham dress that Judy Garland wore in the Wizard of Oz (1939) is of course one of the most famous costumes in movie history. How awesome did it match with the iconic ruby slippers? I’m sure you can easily imagine what a modern-style gingham summer dress or pant will look like with our beautiful hot pink mules, slides or poplar pointed flats.

3. Do Double Denim

Believe it or not, the Canadian tuxedo has swaggered its way back into fashion. The London, Milan and Paris fashion weeks held last September were close to pre-pandemic normalcy as could be, and there was an abundance of denim on the runway. We’ve spotted statement jeans, denim dresses and a whole range of wonderful double-denim ensembles. You could say it was the most talked-about of all Spring/Summer 2022 collections.

The bottom half is what counts as it is all about new and interesting styles this season. After years of straight-leg and skinnies jeans dominating fashion, the time has come for a looser fit. Although I think it’s too soon to ditch your skinny jeans altogether, '70s-inspired flares, loose looks and high-rise wide-leg jeans are on the rise.

Wide-leg jeans can be a little intimidating if you're not used to wearing them, but the high-rise style make that a lot easier. It hugs you in all the right places and creates some nice dimension for the overall silhouette. Try pairing your wide jeans with our new mules. It looks fantastic!

The chic new denim trend has one common thread: It’s flamboyant! Pairing denim with statement shoes in hot pink or leopard is an excellent choice. For a tested laid-back option, you can always rely on a cute summer top with blue boyfriend jeans. Our Poplar Pointed Flats in hot pink suede will be the glue that pulls your outfit together.

4. Classic Black or White

Coolness meets comfort when you wear any of the beautiful shoes from our Spring/Summer 2022 collection with your favourite all-black or all-white outfit.  Black and white has a monochromatic feel that carries bright shoes extremely well, without overwhelming your look.

Hot pink mules, slides or pointed flats worn with a white outfit instantly says you mean business. That goes for leopard, too. From a simple white tank top or T-shirt with classic white shorts to a crisp white dress or a white suit for work, it is sophisticated and oozes summer vibe.     

Pairing hot pink with black will instantly banish any sweetness. Just a touch of pink with an all-black outfit will add depth, drama and elegance. If you think black is too hot for summer, you’ll be totally fine with a light crop top, tank, loose and lightweight sleeves, or a belted linen dress. The idea that wearing black makes you a lot hotter than you need to be has been debunked by science.

5. Popping Party Outfits

From weddings to outdoor dance parties, and from cocktails by the pool to backyard barbeques, summer is the season for a new party dress. From sexy minis to elegant maxi gowns, when going to one of the hot season’s fun and glamour parties, make sure you choose a dress that makes you look bright and confident.

Choose a lightweight and airy design, such as an embroidered sleeveless shift dress or a spaghetti strap dress cinched at the waist with a statement belt. If you want to create a sophisticated romantic look, you could try a floral wrap gown or a semi-sheer abstract print dress.

Bright colour is a must for parties, but having sore feet is not. Heels are great but if you prefer more comfort when out partying, choose our hot pink, leopard or natural light tan sequoia slides. They are totally on-trend and lined with natural colour pig skin, and they have a stylish overlap detail and a 1cm leather stacked heel. With shoes as gorgeous and comfy as these, you’ll dance the night away.

Give some of these suggestions a try and see what works for you. We’d love to see your photos, so please share them on social media and tag @millwoods.  If you have any questions about us or the collection, just send me an email on support@millwoods.com.au.

J xx