Champagne, discounts and 11 chances to win a $100 gift card – could there be anything better for The Block‘s 11th anniversary celebration?!

Swing by on Thursday April 1st and check out the expanded shoe selection.. I hear it’s excellent.

Summer jewelery is all about metals, and lots of them.  The heavier duty to juxtapose the light summer fabrics and florals, the better – these pieces are not only what you’re going to want, you’ll want to wear them every single day.

The horseshoe necklace and the water cuff are simple in design, yet effective investment pieces.  These, the claw cuff links and the deathly ballad ring are available at the hole in the wall Brooklyn boutique Old Hollywood Moxie.  I visited OHM in person, and it’s just as much a delight in person as online.  They carry American designed pieces by unique and largely unknown artists, which means you can source unique items for affordable prices.

Next up we have a multitude of rings; the Han Cholo spike, Wolverine and Species by the Thousands dog head ring.  These vary in price and quality, meaning their price points vary also.  Last of all is the very geo, art deco cube bracelet by Cheap Monday.  Any of these pieces can be used as visual frosting for a look, the question is how intense you are willing to be.

Hunter has released two new boots under their Festival range; they’re strapped, studded and are lined with a special quick dry knit lining for sloshing around in the music laden trenches.

Not only is there the regular height style, but there is a cropped version as well.  Both heights come in either black or blue, which is likely the colors that your arms and legs are going to end up like!

The talls are £145 ($217) and the shorts are £125 ($187).

If you’re shopping within the North America, Akira Chicago and Shopbop both carry the tall black version for $225.

Now aren’t these the most delectable pieces of footwear you’ll never own?

Outrageous!

For a new style of leather trouser, point your eyes towards A.L.C.’s black leather hareems.  They are included within Bluefly’s weekend 20% off all sale items offer, which means that they are 67% off their regular price; $296.

If you’re looking for something to beef up your wardrobe; shoes, leathers or even a summer floral or two, Bluefly is the place to stop and shop.

Other pieces of interest: Marc by Marc Jacobs tartan beret ($80), A.L.C. grey jersey hareems ($56) and Kenneth Jay Lane’s embellished compact mirror ($61).

We’ve been hearing and seeing the heel zip Minimarket boot for years, but its time has officially ended.  Minimarket‘s SS10 boot is a blend of wood and multi tonal suede; a worthy successor to be sure.

These boots, like the originals, aren’t for the faint of budget (they’re approx. $646 CA per pair) though they are an entirely bold statement.  The apricot/black/taupe design is flawless, and the black on black pair is elegant as it is aggressive – are you in boot love yet?

Feathers are to summer what fur is to winter; they are your animalia, a bit extra with a whole lot of sass.  Feathers are fun, and are an excellent wardrobe enhancement.  If you’re going to invest in a feathered piece, be sure that the item is soundly designed with high[er] quality feather fixation to the garment.

Some of the best feathered effect available are enhancement pieces; they are an aspect of the garment and not the entire design basis.  Oasis’ asymmetrical dress and Diane von Furstenburg’s t-shirt dress are excellent examples of this. If all over is more your game, try Miss Selfridge’s cobalt blue jacket,the Oasis waistcoat or the Monsoon capelet.

For those wishing less flamboyance in their look, you can still achieve the feathery effect, and usually at a much lesser cost.  The ivory headband, contrast zebra hair piece or the Alexis Mabelle brooch.

Ken Diamond is one of the designers to be picked up by Obakki, so expect to see more of his leather creations in Vancouver now that this has come to pass.

If you’ve been thinking the beautiful bag (below, $499) is covered with ordinary studs, think again – Ken Diamond has covered the flap of the Crew bag with tiny skull studs.

Yeah.  Feast on that for a while.

Obakki is extending their reach to new, wonderful brands! This includes Ken Diamond, Pamela Love, Postage, R13 and everyone’s favorite knitwear, Larry.

Vancouver has gotten just that much better.. it’s time to re-discover Obakki!

If you’ve been looking for a drag around sack, something hardy and ready for duty in the trenches but wants to look good doing it, then Hussein Chalayan x Puma’s wrap up tote ($140) is a must have.

Chalayan is the brand’s still fresh creative director, and what a way to break into the brand than to launch a collaborative collection! This nylon bag is fantastic for travel, and generally lugging around whatever you fancy to lug.

The exterior straps are leather for a nice fabric juxtaposition, and the shape of the bag is ergonomically sound to hug your body while worn – I can’t think of a negative aspect of this piece!

The classification for accessories I see and love immediately at Aldo are is ‘nearly never’, though the odds were tossed to the wind as soon as I laid eyes on the Rhoten bracelet.

This piece reminds me of accessories you find in Mexico; heavy with Catholic ikonography, and eerie with the images of an older time.

Since the images are affixed to wooden blocks, the accessory gives a modern wearer a whimsical addition, and for only $10 at that.

Unique dresses are entirely too hard to come by, especially ones that don’t leave you too broke for a taste of party liquor.

I came across this lovely blue Veronica dress while perusing Shop Nasty Gal’s vintage selections, and it’s love, love, love!

This piece is is kind to the areas of the body it needs to be (bust, arms, legs) and hides any hip or thigh issues you may be enduring. The gathered balloon hem and triangular drape style is quite unique, and would be appropriate for most events.

The piece itself is labeled a size 6, and is priced at $218.

If you saw any of the FW10 runway shows you know that primaries are the ‘it’ colors for late summer and early fall, pieced with darker pieces to make the color pop.  There’s nothing stopping you from getting a jump on the trend, though – color footwear is significantly neglected in the shoe realm.

To have a truly unique, stranger-stopping-short look, employ the use of bright primary footwear like the pieces highlighted below:

Jeffrey Campbell ankle rain boot ($36), Karen Walker boat shoe ($217), Doc Marten classic 8 hole ($115), yellow crinkle flat ($63), Labour of Love jazz flat ($115)

Doc Marten classic 8 hole foil ($120), Vivienne Westwood rain boots ($134), Aldo Buffkin flat ($30), Haughty heel ($90), Alexander McQueen pumps ($554)

Red Minimarket boots ($342), S**r Vinnie brogue ($165), Labour of Love jazz flat ($107), Kenneth Cole flats ($67), TOMS loafers ($44)

Summer shoes are tricky; while we want flats that are light enough, yet we don’t always want toe bearing sandals that get us soiled.  For all the ladies who can’t seem to keep up with your regular pedis, closed toe shoes are ringing your bell.

For a solid summer shoe, keep the construction streamlined, soles thin and design cut outs are encouraged.  Canvas shoes are ideal for summer as they breathe better than leathers, though leather designs will typically have a longer life.

Starting from the top, we have Topshop’s floral bootie ($70), Cydwoq’s beach slip on ($335), Les Lolitas purple jazz shoe ($185), Steve Madden’s pink HDREAMUR flats ($60), 80%20 floral brogues ($55) and Topshop’s strappy suede flats ($125).

We’ve seen most of the Christopher Kane doll illustration tshirts, but this one takes the acid-laced cake.

While the other ones were just a little bit creepy, this wide eyed, pink faced blond child is something straight out of the womb of hell.  Perhaps it’s the surprised look, singular bag under the right eye or double chin – regardless, this print is utterly terrifying.

The shirt is available for $266, if you’re into it.

The Italian design team for Belle by Sigerson Morrison created these flats for Club Monaco.  If you’re wondering how either of these labels could justify charging $195 per pair for a high street diffusion line, you are in good company.

While these flats are created with leather, though it’s clear that they are riding on the Sigerson Morrison name to rein in buyers with these inflated prices.

Oh dear… it appears that Diesel has totally ripped off charity driven label TOM’S Shoes’ signature loafer design.  It’s not the design thievery that bothers (that happens so often); it’s that shoes are being taken away from poor kids who are running around barefoot [learn about TOM' One for One program].

Diesel, I like you guys but you’ve made a massive faux pas – how about you guys donate a pair to needy North American kids for each pair you’ve sold thus far? I think that would help wipe the karma slate clean.

Dorothy Perkins is offering 25% off the entire site this weekend, and I can’t think of a better reason to collect the best pieces from their online store! All item prices are shown before discount, and the promo code to use is “DPVIPD“.  Remember, if you order more than £75, shipping is also free.

This summer, it’s all about the nudes and the grays – we all know this by now. The best pieces to acquire are the ones with texture; crocheted, laced and knitted pieces are year round investments that can be mingled within your wardrobe for all seasons.  The blush lace ruffle sleeve dress ($52), dark grey crochet tunic ($45), nude beaded lace dress ($52) and cream lace tights ($9) are all excellent examples of this.

Every season requires statement outerwear; a striped sailing blazer ($52) is a lasting summer classic, while the purple jacquard trench ($70) provides a new elegance fit for evening springtime soirées.  Finish off your collection with a  cropped floral blazer ($28), and the summer coat collection will be very well rounded.

Oh, the accessory choices! Studs are still in season, and the Max C corner stud bag ($67) or the cream cross body ($22) both fit the bill nicely.  The Fiorelli flower clutch ($52) is a more feminine alternative, which could be effectively juxtaposed with harder jewelry such as dark wood ($13),  metallic bangles ($22) and a round bauble ring ($22).

These three trousers are all incredibly different, yet they all come from Sweden’s Acne.

First we have the Silver Skin Panel jeans ($399); they feature metallic elastic panels over soft black denim so tight they’re labeled as leggings.  If traditional color and a brilliant new cut, the Ten Blue baggy jodhpur jeans ($229) are the ones you’re after.  For a completely opposite take on trousers, the yellow Skin Tie Dye ($399) are contributing to the scrub trend – paint stains, smudges.. anything the opposite of luxury is what these trousers are!

I’m thinking of DIY-ing my yellow satin Cheap Mondays into the Skin Tie Dyes, myself!

eBay can be a treasure trove if you know what you’re looking for.  In this case, we’re shooting at the rock ‘n roll lifestyle; boots, stripes, treated denim and concert tees that aren’t lame.  We find all of these, and for quite a deal yet – check out these prices… it’s almost silly!

• Striped blazer – $105 CA – 2 days, 20 hrs remain
• Liam Gallagher tee – $5 CA – 6 days, 10 hrs remain
• Cheap Monday silver sheen jeans - $5.50 – 4 days, 2 hrs remain
• Black 10 eye Doc Martens, size 9 – $30 (buy it now) – 16 days remain
• Green 8 eye Doc Martens, size 6 & 10 – $50 – 11 days, 12 hrs remain
• Jeffrey Campbell Poland boots, size 10 – $68 -  2 days, 18 hrs remain