Fuel For
Thought

What separates a good chunky dad shoe from just a shoe you would find in your dad's wardrobe?

Clean and crisp. The soles are chunkier and higher than what my dad had in his wardrobe!

What are the best ways to style the silhouette?

I have a general rule when it comes to fashion. I don't style bulky with bulky. So if I have a wide leg pant on, I’ll style with a slimmer fitting top. When styling the chunky dad shoe, I would be careful not to overdo the baggy look. In saying that, it completely depends on your body shape as I have seen girls on the streets of NYC pulling off the ‘suit and chunky dad shoe’ look flawlessly, whereas I would disappear. Balance is key, so if you are wearing the shoe with wide leg pant accessorise with statement earrings or necklace.

What should you avoid when trying to pull off this trend?

I would personally stay away from skinny jeans, but then again you don't want to
overdo the baggy so it could work on some!

When shouldn’t you break out your chunky dad sneakers?

On the golf course, a fine dining restaurant or in the bedroom...

For someone who hasn’t worn the dad sneaker before, where should you start?

Instagram! The chunky dad shoe is dominating the news feeds this year and with a simple hashtag search, you can be inspired by people all over the world, celebrating and showcasing their unique style and interpretation of the chunky dad shoe look.

How can you dress the style up?

Blazers, jewellery and accessories. A blazer thrown over a casual outfit can effortlessly takes a look from Sunday casual to evening casual. I have fallen back in love with my pearls too so would pop my pearl earrings and bracelet on with my tweed blazer and pair with the yellow colourway.

The style has appeared at Fashion Weeks across the globe. What is a Kiwi spin on this style?

Kiwi fashion has always had a tomboy look and feel, so this is a style that I feel many kiwis would be confident pulling off. My own spin on this style is incorporating bright colours and classic elegant pieces that contrast against the casual tomboy style of the shoe.

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@holly.estelle

Being The Exception

You were made to take a step up and a step beyond the norm; to challenge the status quo; to be courageous, and to reach excellence within yourself. All that limits us from reaching our ultimate potential is ourselves. If there was a most wanted list for people who will try and stop you from pursuing your dream to be the exception, you are public enemy #1!

Fitness coach Kayla Greenville talks about aligning her body with the seasons - "We already have everything we already need to succeed, so it's about being mindful, practicing self-love, and knowing you are so much stronger than your circumstances. You have the ability to be resilient and live an exceptional life, and to grow into the person you dream of being."

Overcoming Challenges

The journey is always bittersweet: you'll never get to easy unless you go through hard. It's never plain sailing, often filled with curve balls coming at you at different directions, speeds, and with varying ramifications. In order to be the exception, you have to fight through these exceptional circumstances, taking this misfortune and turning it into a ladder that will lead you to your dreams.

Often it's about finding perspective - Taking a step back and assessing your thoughts, emotions and physiology. Once you're able to gage where your mind and body are at, it's about setting goals, dissecting the challenge into smaller, more achievable steps, and putting the work in. "No matter what the setbacks, keep chipping away and you will succeed," says NB sprinter Olivia Eaton.

Trusting the process and your ability, whilst difficult, is one of the most important things according to fitness athlete Libby Angus. Libby talks about the a time when she thought she was close to failure:

"For a competition I did really well in, about two or three weeks before I literally was like ‘I am giving up, I am done'. It was hitting this point that forced Libby to realise "If you sit back, relax and go with the flow" it will all come together the way it is meant to."

Finding Inspiration

Finding and acting on inspiration when a challenge arises is a steadfast way to get your journey in the fast lane. Libby Angus talks about surrounding herself with real people, those who use this authenticity to connect with others. "Make a conscious decision to surround yourself with people who inspire you. Nothing will motivate you more than people who strive to be the exception, loving what they do and doing what they love. Even if you're not there yet, it's the hunger that will make you feel alive."

So take the time to do what you love, and chip away at it even after setbacks. Put energy and passion into it, and ride the wave - everything will come together in the end. In the wise words of Kayla Greenville; "every single moment is an opportunity to choose how great your life is, you get to decide."

The good news here, is virtually any type of exercise will help. Often the key is finding an activity that fits into your current lifestyle - park walking, beach jogging, gym workouts, tennis, bike riding, even gardening... the list goes on. Find something that you love doing, and that works for you.

Meditation in Motion

Incorporating regular activity in your daily routine can increase your overall mood and cognitive function. By focusing only on your body’s movements you can clear out those daily irritations clogging your mind, helping provide clarity and calmness in everything you do.

Goals as Guidance

Taking the first step towards a new goal is often the hardest part. Sticking to a good routine is easy when you start small and have established a few stepping stones to measure your progress. If your primary goal is to increase your activity levels, getting out for a walk at lunchtime, or blocking out an hour every weekend to get into the garden can be all you need to get you on your way. Incrementally build up these bursts of activity and you will be positively surprised by your mental and physical progress.

Sleeping as Salvation

Another important factor to consider is the power a good night of sleep.This not only eases stress-levels, but also aids in muscle recovery so you can keep up the activity you’ve introduced. Think of it as recharging your phone - it needs juice to function, and so do you!

Remember, don’t think of exercise as another ‘to-do’. Do something that suits your lifestyle - whether it’s a game of tennis, a stroll in the park or a spring clean - and make it a part of your regular routine. You’ll be on track to finding your calm for a lifetime of benefit.