Summer Sandals: Comfort is the New Cool!

My husband thinks they’re hideous and my teen daughter thinks they’re cool. What am I talking about? This summer’s “it sandals”, of course.  Turns out these “hideous” looking yet comfortable sandals are the new cool!

A few months ago my 18 year old daughter Aubrey asked for a pair of Chaco’s. I had no idea what she was talking about so she pulled them up online and I thought it was some kind of joke!  Nope, it’s not. Turns out these super ugly shoes are a thing among her age group.

Actually they’re kind of cute when she pairs them up with jeans and even with her Nike athletic shorts. I have to admit, they’re growing on me!

Today I’m sharing five pairs of “comfort is the new cool” sandals for summer – including the pair that I broke down and got myself.

Five Pairs of Comfortable Summer Sandals

 

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 1. Blowfish Granola Gladiator Sandal

This is the pair that I bought and have been LOVING.  They came in really handy for our recent trip to Disney World. Prepare to be overwhelmed – they come in 23 different colors! I got them in whiskey because I didn’t have a pair that color yet but plan to order them in more colors.

 2. Teva Cabrillo Crossover Sandal

Teva sandals have long been associated with comfort.  But this pair get some style points too! This taupe color goes with everything.

3. Clark’s Caslynn Shae Wedge Sandal

If you’re looking for a wedge that’s high on comfort, this one from Clark’s has you covered. It also comes in eight different colors including coral, fuchsia and metallics.

4. Chaco ZX2 Classic Athletic Sandal (aka Aubrey’s ugly sandals)

Ok, I should really stop calling these sandals ugly.  They aren’t so bad and Aubrey claims they are the comfiest shoes ever.

5. Birkenstock Yara Ankle Strap Sandal

And if you’re wondering what else her age group is wearing, it’s these sandals.  Birkenstock’s are back BIG TIME and not just for the granola crowd like they used to be. This ankle strap version with a toe loop is actually pretty cute.

It’s Your Turn:  What are your favorite comfortable, yet stylish sandal brands and styles?  Share them in the comments!

Summer Challenge News and Giveaway

 

I’ve recently gotten a lot of new subscribers so figured it’s about time that I give out a detailed overview of exactly what the GYPO Style Challenge is all about.  The Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenges opens this Friday, May 19th.

I started the first challenge in Spring of 2014 based upon feedback from a reader survey. You asked me to give you a shopping list of classic basics and seasonal trends that you could shop for on your own.  After putting together that first list, I took it one step further to create mix and match outfit ideas from the pieces on that list.  And the first capsule wardrobe was born!

Since then, nearly 10,000 women in 20 different countries have participated in a Style Challenge.

What it Is:

You’ve probably seen a lot of capsule wardrobe programs popping up lately but the GYPO Style Challenge is the first and original style challenge. You may be asking why pay for something you can find online for free. Well, I have the answer to that, none of those free programs provide you with as much support, detailed instructions and bonuses as the Style Challenge.

It’s called a challenge only because it “challenges” you to get out of your comfort zone to try new styles – there’s no competition!

Step 1: You get a shopping list of classic basics and seasonal trends with everything you need to create a mix and match capsule wardrobe. You have 10 days to get all of the pieces on the list. You’re free to spend as much or as little as you want but most women shop their closets first! I also provide you with a robust directory of online shopping links from stores you love.

Step 2: After those pieces are in place, you’ll get a daily outfit e-mail each day for three weeks showing you how to pair your pieces up into on-trend spring looks that work for your daily life. Imagine waking up every day and knowing EXACTLY what to wear! It makes getting dressed a no-brainer.

Step 3: Show off your new style in our private Facebook group. This is honestly the best part of the challenge! Thousands of women have made new real life friends and explored style in this safe, supportive community of like minded women. We share shopping tips, fit advice and our own unique takes on the daily outfits. You will get SO much inspiration just from being in this group.

More Benefits:

Style Challenge Members Only Site – The original Style Challenge is the only one that includes access to the Style Challenges membership site. It’s a handy directory of resources and every Style Challenge you’ve ever purchased all in one place!

Recommended Items Directory – Inside the membership site is an online evergreen catalog of updated shopping links at a variety of price points to the stores you love most. This challenge’s Recommended Items Directory has more trend options than ever before. You’ll be able to shop more classic “basics” or substitute the trendier item for each piece on the list. These links are updated throughout the season so you always have resources for items to buy.

 

Daily Style Tips – Included with each outfit is a daily style tip to give you easy to implement tips on your style journey.

New for this Challenge!

If you’ve done the GYPO Style Challenge in the past, here are some new features you can expect this time around.

Lower Price Point – I’ve decided to offer the summer challenge at a lower price point in order to provide accessible style to all, the seasonal challenges are now available for just $39! The private Facebook group alone is worth the price of admission. (Don’t Worry – if you enrolled during the annual membership period, you still got the best deal around!)

An Extra Week to Shop – You asked for it so I’ve built in an extra week to get all of your shopping list in items in place.

The GYPO Quarterly Closet Clean Up – A handy printable to make sorting your closet a breeze. Follow these instructions each season and you’ll always have a curated closet of pieces you LOVE and wear.

New Shopping List – Redesigned shopping list to make it easier than ever to shop your closet and fill in the blanks at the store. You’ll have the option of shopping more classic basic pieces OR more daring trend items. It’s totally up to where you are in the style journey!

Bonus – Access thirteen outfits immediately! You’ll be able to see the first 7 days of outfit plus six bonus outfits as soon as you sign up.

Dress it Up/Dress it Down Options – Each outfit includes tweaks to make it office appropriate or super casual for every day so you can get double the use.

Double the Outfits – You’ll also get access to Summer 2016’s outfits doubling your total to 45 summer outfits!

Bonuses for Summer 2017:

• Weekly Gift Card Giveaways in our Facebook Group
• 6 Bonus Outfits – Bringing your total to 13 outfits you get immediately
• Access to the Summer 2016 GYPO Style Challenge– Bringing your outfit total to 45 spring outfits!
• Dress it Up/Dress it Down Options
• Hanger Tag Printable – Print out each day’s outfit and place it over your hanger so you can plan your outfits in advance

Everything You Get:

• The shopping list of basics and on trend items. Start where you are. You don’t have to be a fashionista or have a closet full of clothes.
• A daily outfit idea sent in your email every day for twenty-four days.
• Daily style tips to go along with your outfits.
• The supportive Facebook group of women just like you on the style journey. Some are ahead and some are just starting out. The beauty is in the advice and friendships shared!
• Weekly clothing gift card giveaways to some of your favorite stores.
• A complete mix and match capsule wardrobe that you can build upon each season!

Who It’s For:

• Anyone stuck in a style rut who’s ready to rediscover confidence through easy style
• Women looking for “ease” in their days and done for them outfit ideas.
• Anyone willing to try new things and get out of the style comfort zone.

How Much is It:

If you’ve ever looked into a personal style service, you know they start at upwards of $150 for just one hour of advice! Because I believe in my heart that every women deserves access to great style and to feel pretty, I founded the GYPO Style Challenge on the concept that it should be affordable to all. All of the tools and resources in the program are just $39.

What are the important dates?:

Registration opens this Friday, May 19th. We start to style our first outfit on June 5th. You’ll have ten days to get everything on the shopping list so I highly recommend signing up as soon as registration opens!

You’ll have between May 19th and June 4th to get everything in place from your shopping list. If you don’t have all of your items by then, don’t sweat it! You can always sit back and watch and curate the pieces as you find items you love.

The live portion of the challenge is from June 5th – June 28th. We’ll be styling our daily outfits each day during this time.

It’s Risk Free!

The best part?  You get to try it risk free!  If you sign up and decide it’s just not for you, you’ll have until June 10th to request a refund.  As a gift, you can keep the first 10 days of outfit ideas just for trying it.

FAQ’s:

How Much Will I Need to Spend on the Shopping List Items?

That’s totally up to you.  Most women shop their closets first and find that they have quite a few items on the list already.  Some are starting from scratch.  I recommend that you set a budget to work within and find the pieces you absolutely love.  I also recommend that you take your time to curate the items on the list.  It’s better to wait for a piece that you’ll continue to wear and love than to rush to get all of them at once.

Will this Work for My Weather?

Yes!  Women from all over the U.S., Canada and even Europe participate in the challenge and make it work for their climate. You’ll get so much inspiration just from joining the Facebook group.

What Style are the Outfits?

There’s a good mix of casual every day and dressy casual looks.  Every outfit includes a dress it up/dress it down option so that you can make your own tweaks to make it work for everything from a day at home to office appropriate.

Do I Have to Style them Every Day?

Nope!  You’re welcome to skip when you want to.  These outfits are just styling suggestions.  Some women choose to participate every day in the Facebook group while others prefer to sit back, watch and learn.  You’re also welcome to substitute some of your favorite pieces from your closet to avoid repetition.  The point of the challenge is to show you how to pair up your pieces in multiple ways.

If you have any other questions about the GYPO Style Challenge, feel free to e-mail me and ask away!

Summer Challenge Membership Giveaway

Three lucky ladies will win a complimentary membership to the Summer 2017 GYPO Style Challenge.  Winners will be drawn and notified on Friday, May 19th.  Good luck!
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Getting my pretty on with Style Elixir and  Jo Lynne Shane.