Animal Prints and Pastel Shades + Style With a Smile Link Up

Finally it’s sandal weather! It feels like it’s been a long time coming. I’ve been eager to test my new sandals from Strive and it was worth the wait! This is my second pair from the brand and they are absolute saviours for my feet. (I’m having surgery on my right foot later in the Summer.) My other pair are snake print, and staying on the animal theme I chose leopard print this time. I consider them both neutrals so they will go with lots of different outfits – especially important for taking on holidays.

Mixing animal prints and pastel shades is not an obvious combination for me, but I like the contrast…

I wanted to keep the colour scheme of my outfit light but still work in different touches of animal print. Immediately I thought of my Monki jaguar jumper that I waited ages to find on eBay after it sold out (previously featured here and here). Then I added a fun bag from SkinnyDip (also from eBay) which is a really good match for the sandals as the leopard prints are roughly the same pattern and shades. Mixing animal prints and pastel shades is not an obvious combination for me, but I like the contrast against the pale pink trousers and blue sweater.

Mara Leopard Print Sandals

Let’s talk about the sandals a bit more. Firstly, for someone like me with flat feet who overpronates, the supportive footbed is incredible. They really support my feet on the inner arches, which is exactly what I need. The cushioned micro-fibre lining prevents rubbing and the lightweight EVA midsole creates a ‘walking on air’ sensation.

Unlike my other Strive sandals which have three adjustable straps, these have none. I was a bit concerned that this would be an issue for me as I have slim heels but a wide forefoot. Some of the reviews on the website have suggested an adjustable ankle strap would improve the design. However, although they are a little baggy on me this does not affect the fit or comfort of the sandals. In fact, thanks to the high fit of the upper and the moulded footbed, they don’t really need the strap.

We are planning on going on holiday in July for my birthday (it’s a big one!) and I will definitely be taking both these and my snake print sandals; they are perfect for wearing in both the day and evening. But in the meantime I can wear them here…as long as this sunny weather continues!

Strive have given me a code for my readers for a generous 15% discount – just enter SPLASH15 at the checkout! 🙂