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footwear

All Hail Gorgeous Heels: 8 Party-Ready Heels You Need This Festive Season

Posted on December 20, 2024

The festive season is here and with it comes an endless parade of parties, celebrations and – our favourite! – excuses to get dressed up. Whether it’s a sparkling soirée, a family gathering or a New Year’s Eve bash, your footwear can make or break your look. A great pair of heels doesn’t just elevate your outfit, it gives you the confidence to own the room. From shimmering stilettos to bold platforms, this season’s hottest trends in party footwear are all about looking and feeling glam and expressing your personality and individuality. Basically, it’s all in the shoes! Here are eight styles of party-ready heels that deserve a place in your festive wardrobe.

1. Sparkling Sandals

When it comes to festive footwear, nothing says ‘party’ like sparkling sandals. Embellished with diamantes or metallic finishes, these heels from Ravel are a timeless choice for adding instant glam to your outfit. Pair them with a classic little black dress or a sequinned mini dress and you’re guaranteed to turn heads. For those who love a statement piece, opt for platform open-toe sandals like Ravel’s Kelso heels with all-over diamantes and sparkle the night away!

2. Velvet Vibes

Luxurious velvet heels in rich jewel tones like burgundy red or deep navy blues are a winter wardrobe essential. Velvet’s soft, plush texture adds a touch of elegance to any ensemble, making these heels ideal for sophisticated dinners or cocktail parties. Style them with tailored trousers or a midi dress to achieve a chic, polished look.

3. Platform Perfection

Platforms are back and bolder than ever. These retro-inspired heels offer height without sacrificing comfort, making them a practical yet stylish option for long nights of dancing. Choose metallic or colour-blocked designs to keep the festive vibe alive. Platforms work particularly well with wide-leg jumpsuits or mini dresses, adding a playful, modern twist to your outfit.

4. Block Heels with Bling

For those who prioritise comfort but refuse to compromise on style, block heels are your best friend. This season, block heels are stepping up with metallic finishes, jewel embellishments and vibrant colours. Their chunky design provides stability so you can dance the night away without a second thought. Pair these heels with a slip dress or flowy maxi skirt for a balanced, fashion-forward look.

5. Strappy Statement Heels

Delicate and intricate, strappy heels are a go-to for those seeking a modern, sophisticated edge. From barely-there designs to straps adorned with rhinestones or beads, these shoes are effortlessly elegant. Perfect for pairing with sleek, minimalist dresses, strappy heels draw attention to your legs and add an air of understated glamour.

6. Cutesy Kitten Heels

For a whimsical touch, look no further than feather-adorned heels. These playful, statement-making shoes are perfect for those who love to have fun with their fashion. Opt for heels with feathers at the ankle or along the straps to make your footwear the centrepiece of your outfit. Pair them with metallic or bold-coloured attire to create a striking, unforgettable look.

7. Metallic Marvels

Metallic heels in shades of gold, silver, or iridescent hues are a festive staple. Their reflective surfaces capture the light beautifully, making them perfect for evening events. Whether you prefer sleek, minimalist designs or bold, architectural shapes, metallic heels are incredibly versatile. Wear them with bold, jewel-toned outfits or neutral ensembles to let your shoes steal the show.

8. Embellished Elegance

Embellished heels are a must for those who adore intricate details. Think pearls, crystals, embroidery, or floral accents – or even all-over sequins! These shoes exude sophistication and elevate even the simplest outfits. Best paired with elegant evening gowns or tailored suits, embellished heels are the epitome of festive luxury. Ravel’s chic take comes in the form of sequins. Edson (https://www.ravel.co.uk/ravel-shoes-c2/heels-c23/black-sequin-edson-court-shoes-ravel-p1571) – an iconic court shoe silhouette – is fashioned in all-over shiny black sequins for the perfect sparkle. And if you did prefer a boot, the Currans boot comes in both all black sequins (https://www.ravel.co.uk/boots-c1/heeled-c9/black-sequin-currans-pointed-toe-ankle-boots-ravel-p1547) and a silver overlayed with sequined black lace (https://www.ravel.co.uk/boots-c1/heeled-c9/lace-currans-pointed-toe-ankle-boots-ravel-p1896) for the ultimate sultry, glam look!

Let your heels do the talking this festive season. Whether you prefer the sparkle of rhinestones, the elegance of velvet, or the whimsy of feathers, there’s a style for every celebration. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold designs and textures to express your unique holiday style. Ready to step up your shoe game? Explore the latest party-ready heels at www.ravel.co.uk and make every outfit unforgettable.

And if you’re not a heels girl, then not to worry. Our extensive range of flats means you’re covered no matter the gathering, occasion or party!

If you’re a trainer kind of gal, then a metallic silver pair may be just up your street! Silver trainers are the perfect choice for Christmas if you’re not a fan of heels, offering a blend of style and comfort for the festive season – particularly on Christmas Day if you’re indoors at your in-laws and you want to impress without any catastrophes! Their shimmering finish adds a touch of glam to any festive outfit, effortlessly elevating even the simplest looks like jeans and Christmas jumpers, all while keeping you grounded and comfortable. Whether paired with a sequin dress, velvet trousers, or a cosy Xmas knit, silver trainers bring a modern twist to traditional holiday attire. Ideal for parties, family gatherings, or a festive night out, they let you move freely and confidently without sacrificing seasonal sparkle. Ravel’s options of zip-up or slip-on mean you also have a choice of what style is more suited to you. And if full silver isn’t your vibes, there’s also subtle or statement studded styles to tempt you. You simply cannot go wrong, especially as all of these will help you to transition into the New Year and spring season too! https://www.ravel.co.uk/ravel-shoes-c2/trainers-c38

Footwear

What’s Your Number? Confessions of the Sole.

Posted on July 14, 2017

Be honest. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

It’s OK, nobody’s judging. We understand better than most just how addictive shoe shopping can be. But we don’t just want to know how many of you are hoarding the heels and stockpiling the sandals. We want to know how many of your shoes you actually wear, and how much you’re spending on them.

Are the stereotypes true? Do most UK women buy shoes only to keep them in boxes, never to be worn?

To find out, we asked over 1000 UK women a series of questions about their shoe-buying habits, and the results are in:

So, how many do you own?

The majority of our ladies told us their shoe collection consists of 11-20 pairs, with 40 per cent giving this figure. Meanwhile, just over a fifth of women reported owning a sizeable selection of 21-30 pairs, which should safely see them through any occasion known to (wo)man.

And yes, there are some who take it several steps further:

10 per cent of our ladies own a whopping 31-40 pairs of shoes, and just under five per cent are harbouring up to 50 pairs, leaving us suitably impressed at their commitment to footwear variety.

On the other end of the scale, we found that a surprisingly large proportion of women (a fifth to be exact) own a much more conservative 0-10 pairs of shoes. Whether due to a lack of interest, a smaller budget or simply a storage issue, these cautious shoe shoppers certainly challenge the ‘women are obsessed with shoes’ stereotype.

But how many do you wear?

So, we know that the majority of women own anything between 11 and 30 pairs of shoes, which is a hefty number. But we wanted to dig a little deeper and find out how many of these shoes ever actually see daylight.

If you can believe it, over half (54 per cent) of our ladies admitted that they wear fewer than five pairs from their shoe collections on a regular basis. So for the average 21-shoe collection, that’s less than a quarter making it out of the wardrobe.

The second largest proportion of the women we surveyed (35.7 per cent) said they wore 6-10 pairs out of their collection regularly. This still only amounts to around half of the average shoe collection.

But we’re not done.

We also asked if anyone had ever bought a pair of shoes only to never wear them. An astonishing 58 per cent answered yes, they’ve still got at least one pair of shoes they haven’t even taken out of the box, let alone worn.

But why?

Pain.

That’s the reason most women gave for neglecting a large chunk of their shoe collection. 59 per cent say the main reason that stops them from wearing certain pairs of shoes is that they’re simply too uncomfortable.

We’ve all been there. It hurts to wear them, but it hurts even more to accept the fact that we can never wear them again.

The second biggest reason for so many shoes going un-worn so often is a very practical one: They’re seasonal. 38 per cent of our ladies said seasonality plays a big part in how often they wear certain pairs of shoes. And that’s absolutely fair enough; we wouldn’t wear strappy sandals in the depths of winter either.

After seasonality, our survey revealed that struggling to match a pair of shoes to an outfit is the third biggest reason why some get abandoned, with 16 per cent of the vote. Sometimes a pair of shoes will steal your heart on first sight, but they simply don’t go with anything in your wardrobe. It’s a sorry state of affairs, but it happens.

The finances

So with well over half of women admitting to never even wearing some of the shoes they buy, we were curious to know just how much is being spent on them in the first place.

Our survey revealed that the majority of women (65 per cent) buy fewer than five pairs of shoes in a year, and the highest proportion (46 per cent) will spend between £31 and £60 on each pair.

On the whole, we’ve found that the average UK woman will spend roughly £250 per year on new shoes, with each pair costing on average £45.

So, if we take our average woman owning around 21 pairs of shoes and only wearing 5 of them regularly, we’re potentially looking at a staggering £720 worth of shoes gathering dust at the bottom of the UK’s wardrobes.

So it appears that the stereotypes do have an element of truth to them. Over half of women do in fact spend lots of money on shoes, only to keep them in boxes with no intention of wearing them.

But really, where’s the harm in that? If you want rows and rows of beautiful shoes that you’d rather keep in perfect condition, then that’s your prerogative.

Survey Methodology

In this survey, we asked 1626 females a series of questions on how many shoes they own, how many they wear and how much they spend. To retrieve our data, we gave each participant a multiple-choice survey which they could use to select the most appropriate answer based on their shoe collection and buying habits.

Fashion Footwear Ravel

5 Ways To Brighten Up Your Office Outfit

Posted on June 25, 2017

It can be difficult to add seasonal changes to an office outfit, especially if there is a certain dress code in place. This summer however, you needn’t feel stuck in a rut with your outfit choices whilst at work because at Ravel we’ve got some excellent ways to brighten up your office outfit.

Firstly, let’s consider the popular summer shades that have the potential to work well as office attire when incorporated correctly:

Coral – A summer staple and an all round flattering colour on every skintone.
Green – One of the most popular shades for 2017 due to Pantone choosing it as their ‘Colour of The Year’ – from emerald green to lime green, it’s all groovy.
Pink – Not just any pink, but ‘millennial pink’ which is the shade everyone has been swooning over. It’s a beautiful dusky rose.
Blue – A whole spectrum of blue is perfect for summer, from cool water light blue to modern navy.

Now we have a colour palette in mind for ways to brighten up an office outfit, it’s time to take a look at our suggestions!

1. Sun-inspired accessories

An inexpensive way to update an otherwise plain work outfit is to treat yourself to some stylish accessories. As summer is all about embracing a new colour palette, accessories is a fabulous method of incorporating shades into your everyday work look. Plastic jewellery such as bangles or beads can radiate a bright colour especially well. A beautiful statement necklace can add extra style whilst also being eye-catching – the perfect finishing touch.

If you love your designer handbags but tend to steer towards a ‘safe’ colour such as black or navy, take it to another level by investing in an on-trend metallic bag or looking for a python print that will add a little something extra to create a fashion forward work ensemble.

If you’re not too keen on bright pops of colour in your accessories, you could simply layer up or coordinate your jewellery. For example, as rose gold is very much still in fashion, match a pair of rose gold earrings with a rose gold bracelet and necklace. You could also opt for a watch that has a coloured dial face. Another way to accessorise can be to layer necklaces or bracelets, or even ‘stack’ multiple rings onto one finger. It’s a subtle detail that will still be noticed, without being too overpowering.

2. Summer footwear

Here at Ravel we believe that a good pair of shoes can change your entire mood, whatever the occasion. When you’re wearing uninspiring footwear for work, you just might feel that your whole outfit isn’t as great as you want it to be!

For those who prefer a bit of height to their everyday shoe, we suggest working the combination style of a wedge and espadrille for summertime. A wedge espadrille can make you feel summery even when you’re sat inside enjoying the office air con, and we have a number of espadrille wedges to take your fancy here at Ravel. Choose from black, navy or coral coloured wedge espadrilles for assured style that can be worn with skirts and trousers.

If there’s no policy on open toe shoes in your office, then hurrah! This summer calls for a stylish sandal that can add a spring to your step from the photocopier to your desk. Get on board with the ever so popular embroidery trend with the Ravel Savannah flat sandals in white leather with beautiful floral embroidered detailing, or swap your usual black footwear for a more summer season appropriate hue with the Ravel Anderson strappy sandals in tan. Bring the timeless denim trend into the office without wearing jeans by opting for the Ravel Ritzville flat sandals in blue denim which can be worn from desk to cocktails with friends!

3. Embrace prints

It’s such a classic look but animal prints and other creative patterns can work wonders to bring an outfit right up to date. Subtle pops of leopard print or Aztec print fit right in with summer wardrobes and can be styled effortlessly for work too! Our V&A footwear collaboration will suit those who seek some exceptional prints due to the patterns that are taken directly from an artist’s work from the V&A archive. We love that the V&A footwear takes a print and makes it work perfectly on different footwear styles, such as ballet pumps, wedges, pointed court shoes and sandals. The V&A women’s shoes with the red rose pattern would be a wonderful pop of colour for an otherwise plain work outfit, as would the intriguing 70s inspired print with browns and turquoise colour scheme. The flat pumps and pointed court shoes are absolutely ideal for the work environment.

4. Lighten your wardrobe

An obvious yet failsafe method of brightening your work outfit options is to invest in a summer work wardrobe. Trade the darker colours with lighter ones, or opt for light shades of your current favourites if you don’t want to step too far outside of your comfort zone. The ‘millennial pink’ is a popular top colour, whilst textures such as ruffles are an important summertime detail not to miss out on. Similarly, with the prints mentioned above, a patterned shirt can really bring some elevated style to your look as a welcome summertime outfit option for work. From polka dots to paisley, something that will bring your outfit to life is exactly what you need! If you’re feeling daring, why not try out a white trouser suit?

5. Nail it at work

The power of a good manicure and pedicure should never be underestimated. Bright colours on the fingernails (and toes if they’re being shown off in sandals) can lift your mood whilst adding to an overall outfit. If you’re current work wardrobe is tethered to the usual colour scheme of greys, creams, black and white, then temporary changes such as painted nails can go a long way into brightening up the look, even if it is subtle! Whilst red will always be a staple nail varnish shade, try a vibrant turquoise or coral nail varnish for summer that will contrast wonderfully against a grey or navy jacket, or select a lovely lilac nail polish shade that will bring a touch of femininity to your office outfit.

Brighten your work outfit this summer with Ravel and take a look at our popular range of sandals, flat pumps and wedge espadrilles to add some seasonal updates to your footwear collection.