Damn Fabulous

Sweet melodies for a sweet week.

Frank Ocean is making my Monday beautiful. I hope he makes your Monday beautiful too. 

I’m super excited for this week. I’m going to learn how to paddle board tonight with some other amazing women business owners. I have a few appointments booked to show Damn Heels’ holiday and spring/summer collections and TT Blues’ fall/winter collection. I’m off to NY for the Coterie & Sole show on Wednesday, and then I’m going on a surprise trip with my beau this weekend (biggest smile ever)!

xx h 

Name that colour winner: Colleen Carlisle

Two weeks ago I posted a contest for people to name the colours of Damn Heels’ S/S 2013 colour collection. Thank you to everyone who got creative and submitted names. I absolutely LOVED all the submissions. It was VERY difficult to decided, but a decision was made. [drum roll, please…]

Congratulations to Colleen Carlisle!

Introducing,

Bougainvillea Pink

Lavender Fields

Tuscan Sun

Santorini Seas

Name that colour.

I thought it would be fun to post a contest to name the colours of Damn Bright & Beautiful - Damn Heels’ Spring/Summer 2013 collection. 

Check out the inspiration for the collection colours. Here’s a sneak peek of the colours from yesterday’s shoot too:

(Purple, hot pink, turquoise, yellow).

Now get your creative hats on and name these gorgeous colours! I’m looking for bright, fun and beautiful names. Submit your entries by email to hailey@damnheels.com or through Twitter or Facebook. The winners will win the collection!

Contest ends August 30th.

Happy Thursday!

xx h

Defining fabulous with sexy style and classic comfort

“Give a woman the right pair of shoes, and she can conquer the world.” The words of Marilyn Monroe ring truer now than ever before. Damn Heels was once a brilliant idea, after a fun night out of dancing, that grew into a collection of fabulous flats inspired by high heels.

As more women sacrifice comfort for style, Damn Heels has found a solution: a pair of shoes which look and feel fabulous no matter how high off the ground. Hailey Coleman succeeds in doing just that… she created a footwear line of foldable flats to suit any lifestyle, from a coffee meeting and yoga class, to after-work drinks and a jet-set holiday—all day and every day.

Damn Heels defines fabulous simply as looking sexy and feeling comfortable for any occasion. “I am inspiring women to look and feel fabulous, so that they can lead happier, more confident lives,” she says.

For holiday 2012, the Damn Glamorous collection features shoes designed to look like a corset. The two-tone detail in front elongates the foot and leg, and shows off a hint of flirty toe cleavage. The sides skim lower ending in a beautiful lace detail in the back. The result is the look of a heeled foot, with the feel of a flat.

Each pair unfolds to reveal a hot pink lining, and the soles are embossed with the signature Damn Heels logo. They come in a clutch that makes it perfect for gift giving. The set is $55 each, and sizes range from 6-11 in three different colours (Black Diamonds, Champagne Gold and Gunmetal Glitz).

ABOUT DAMN HEELS

A graduate of Ryerson University, Hailey Coleman realized there was a market for comfortable yet sexy flats. Damn Heels was created out of the need to provide women with the chance to feel fabulous and look fabulous no matter how high off the ground.

The holiday 2012 collection will be sold online at Damn Heels, and at select retailers across Canada.

For the complete collection, please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaerucomm/sets/72157630769179200/

For more information, please contact:

Charise Mariel Garcia or Kortney Shapiro
kaeru communications
416 617 4226 or 416 884 8016 
charise@kaeru.ca or kortney@kaeru.ca

How To Pick The Shoe For You

Increase your footwear IQ with this introduction to shoe anatomy. Knowing what to look for in a shoe makes it all the more easier to identify a future pain-inducer and pick your perfect pair. 

THE BODY: If a stiff shoe causes blisters, spritz this area with water and use your fingers to mold the softened leather to the shape of your foot. Or try special inserts to reduce friction.

THE BREAST: The inner arch of the heel, which affects stability. The farther forward the arch, the less you will feel off-balance.

THE SOLE: Slipping on slick floors? Pick up a pair of sole protectors or score the soles of your heels with a key to create extra traction.

THE TOE BOX: If your toes feel pinched, have this area stretched out at your local shoe repair shop.

THE INTERIOR: If you suffer from low arches, slip in supports to relieve pressure on the balls of your feet.

(Source: instyle.com)

Bright Ideas for Your Wardrobe

The thought of mixing bright colours can be a bit frightening to most people. One wrong move, and you’ve gone from modern fashionista to cartoon character. Here are some easy ways to incorporate the colourful trends of spring into your wardrobe without being mistaken for a clown:

Eye-catching Handbags

Update neutral staples with some bright arm-candy.

Colourful Shades

Complete any outfit with a bold piece of eyewear.

Statement Sandels

Complement the warm weather with vibrant sandels.

The New LBD

Time to switch up your wardrobe staple with the little blue dress.

Trendy Trousers

Paired with a chic neutral, bright trousers are a perfect way to spice up your spring/summer work wear.

(Source: bloglovin.com)

Shoe Love: Balenciaga 2011

A blend of creative architecture and couture footwear.

Strengthen Your Strut

Besides giving us the legs of a super model, high heels can also give us backpain, crippled toes, and of course, sore blistered feet. Before you cave and reach for your Damn Heels prematurely, here are some tips to help build your strength and stiletto endurance.

• Work Those Abs Sit on a large exercise ball and walk your feet forward until the ball is between your tailbone and your shoulder blades. With your hands behind your head, curl your shoulders and upper back off the ball (keeping your elbows wide), then lower back to the start position. Begin each repetition by pressing your navel toward your spine. Perform repetitions for 30 seconds. Repeat for 30 more seconds, crossing alternate shoulders toward the opposite side of the body.
• Stretch Your Calves and Hamstrings Sit on the ball and extend one leg forward. Keeping your leg as straight as possible, reach for your toes and pull them back toward your body. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the other leg. Repeat on both sides again.
• Strengthen Your Core and Glutes Lie on your back and place your heels and calves together on top of the ball. Squeeze your abs and glutes, and lift your hips off the ground creating a straight line from your feet to your shoulders. Hold for five seconds and then lower. Begin with about two sets of 10 repetitions.
• Stretch Your Front Thighs Kneel on one knee behind the ball placing the other foot slightly in front of the ball. Roll the ball forward a few inches allowing the back leg to straighten a little more, and feel the stretch in the front of your thigh. Let the upper body relax onto the ball. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat on the other leg. Repeat on both sides again.

Stick with these simple exercises and you’ll be strutting around a la Hedi Klum in no time.

(Source: chatelaine.com)

Get Your Perfect Strut: How to Walk in Heels

We’ve all been there. Entering a crowded restaurant, scurrying up a flight of stairs, or leisurely strolling with that guy you’ve been eyeballing, when suddenly the ground seems to shift and that confident walk turns to a high velocity nose-dive. 

In the name of preserving our ankles, and our dignity, here are some tips to help you perfect your high heeled walk no matter what terrain.

• Walk Heel to Toe, Not Toe to Heel. While it might be tempting to put your whole foot down at once, don’t do it. Instead, put your heel down first, followed by your toe. This will give you more balance and make your stride look more natural.
• Take Small Steps. If you are like me, walking comes in two speeds: fast and faster. But wearing heels naturally makes your stride shorter, so you’ll need to take more steps than usual. Don’t expect to be able to walk as fast as you normally do in high heels, slow it down and you’ll be sure to make it to your destination in one piece.
• Step As If You Were Walking on a Straight Line. When you walk with one foot in front of the other, it gives your hips the sway that models are known for. Pretend you’re walking on a line on the ground, one foot in front of the other, and it will steady your walk while giving you a sexy strut.
• Have Those Damn Heels Handy. Sometimes, you just need to  get from point A to point B, A.S.A.P. Toss those stilettos into the reusable tote, slip on the flats and head to your destination with ankles intact. After you’ve arrived, fold up the bag, pop your flats back inside the pouch, and glide into that meeting like you were born in those heels.

Women In Leadership: A Sweet and Stylish Networking Event

The Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) is a stellar organization that brings together women in leadership to build powerful skills and change the future of women leadership in Canada. Damn Heels will proudly be attending tonight’s Sweet Talk Networking Event at Cosette, and while it is sold out, check out WIL’s event calender here for more fabulous events in future.

You can also support WIL by donating here!

motionball: decadence

Tonight will be nothing but decadence as we do something special on the dance floor in support of Special Olympics Canada. The motionball gala is no doubt one of the best charity galas, and my favourite Toronto event of the year. You should be there.

DATE: February 4th (tonight)

WHERE: Carlu 444 Yonge St, Toronto, ON. 

WHEN: 9pm-2am

Check out motionball for more information.

Better yet, click here and save $25 off the ticket price with promo code: mbfriend.