Proponents of earthing believe that we need to allow our bodies a bare skin connection to planet's magnetic field regularly so we can release stress and electrical charge from our bodies. They say that barefoot walking is a fantastical way to release our energies into Earth leading to greater wellbeing and health.
I'm pretty sure that's true, since I always feel happiest in places I can slip my shoes off and dance barefoot ; sink feet into grass, wriggle toes into sand or sway legs in a refreshing body of water. Summer becomes a time when footwear becomes superfluous and I turn into a shoeless hippy, often a painful exercise like when you realize running across hot asphalt really does burn or when a monster bindi pierces your foot in dry grass. But being barefoot also means being free, yes, even for a girl like me who loves heels and thinks that she could outrun or outdance anyone in a pair of stilettos even if they were Louboutin Pigalle 120s, that sexy pump that makes me feel like a goddess on stilts. Yet who wouldn't rather take them off and salsa onto the beach in wild abandon ?
For one of my last collaborations of the year, I paired with Eastland, the new shopping destination encompassing a state of the art cultural and library facility in the newly redeveloped Town Square. With over 100 retailers such as Mecca Maxima, Mac, Sass & Bide, Scanlan & Theodore, David Jones, Oroton etc, Eastland also unveiled a world-class level of art to Eastern Melbourne, with a series of works from celebrated artists David Bromely and Joost Bakker- David Bromley having revealed his largest mural project to date; a whooping 1,600 metres appearing throughout Eastland. I wonder if this state of the art culture, food and fashion hub allows bare feet, because I have gone and pulled my designer favorite barefoot outfits for this story; ones that shun shoes and relish summer in all it's unstructured chaos. Just add a red nail polish for color pop!
Why wear a little black dress when a little blue one totally wins summer? Cinch in that waist and show some leg, because this silk baby will stay footloose all night long ( Rodeo Show dress )
I love a messy linen suit on a woman in the summertime, especially when worn with sandals off. Wear yours with nothing underneath or a little bralette for ultimate androgynous elegance (Skin and Threads pants and jacket )
With a cinched in waist and long, flowing layers, this Sass & Bide dress will work the breeze to it's advantage
There is something about a simple linen pinstripe dress that spells relaxed chic ( Veronika Maine dress )
What would summer be without a good bikini and cover up? I have been loving everything Tigerlilly has been doing lately, including this version of the wrap around dress that doubles as a beautiful robe for the beach
Check out more about Eastland here!
photographed by Alice Wesley- Smith
Metallics are slithering into this season and I have been keeping my magpie eyes on some of my favourite pieces. Feeling like Gollum before the Ring That Rules Them All, these shimmering pieces make me want to scream : My precious! What is it about metallics that bring about this hysteria? To me , it is evoking a feeling of a bygone era of shiny luxury ; imagining cutting the dancefloor carelessly at studio 54 in gold lamé, bitch fights on Dynasty and 90s supermodels in Versace. It is the way they make anything else worn with it more exciting, be that a plain white t-shirt or an otherwise black outfit. No wonder designers still haven't tired of it! Here are the pieces on my wishlist now...
1. Alexander Wang Sweatshirt
2. Altuzarra skirt
3. Gianvito Rossi flats
4. Dion Lee skirt
5. Michael Van Der Ham skirt
6. Versace necklace
7. Givenchy slides
8. Valentino clutch
9. Gianvito Rossi mules
10.Gianvito Rossi sandals
11.Topshop skirt
12. Givenchy sandals
13. Saint Laurent dress
