Sometimes I feel like a restaurant critic (my not-so-secret dream), reluctant to reveal a favorite store or item out of fear that its appeal will then decrease or others will disagree with my opinion. However, I feel compelled to pass on information about a fantastic shoe. It is one of those coveted, perfect combinations of comfort and style. A client of mine had these shoes, and after determining they went with nearly every outfit we created, I deemed them quite perfect.
So here they are, Petrina Lulu dark denim wedges by Clarks.
You're welcome!
Here are some fun facts from The One Hundred by Nina Garcia:
60% of Americans claim to have owned at least one pair of Converse in their lives.
Converse high-tops are also called Chuck Taylors, because in 1918, a high-school basketball star, Chuck Taylor, began wearing them. He later promoted and lent his name to the sneakers.
I think Converse sneakers are terrific. These days my favorite version is the white Jack Purcell (above). They go with jeans, shorts, summer dresses, and casual skirts. Love them!
When my brother and I (above) were growing up, we could not wait to go to the Vans shoe store for our new tennis shoes each fall. I would get so upset when they got their first stain. I've been a big fan of Jack Purcell tennis shoes for years, and I still get bummed when they get dirty. So imagine my joy upon reading whowhatwear's tips for keeping white sneakers clean. Yeah!
Image credit: wardrobeoxygen.com
I just read another another brilliant "capsule" wardrobe post from wardrobeoxygen. It's always a good idea to plan your fancy outfit in advance--for an occasion you know is coming up or one that surprises you. Shopping in a panic rarely ends well. So think about putting together your own formal wear capsule wardrobe now.
Photo credit: minelli.com
For the past 3 years, I have been looking for black leather booties. I've been picky about what I want regarding the heel height, gap around my ankle, leather versus suede, tassels or no tassles, zipper. . . Finally, I purchased a pair over the summer while I was on vacation. They seemed perfect, and they look fantastic, but they are not comfortable. Today I cut out tiny squares of felt, and, using a glue gun, applied the felt to the area around the zipper that had been causing blisters. If this little fix does not do the trick, it may be time to say "uncle" and begin another search. Sigh.
Photo credit: strutdenver.com
Yes, I did go downtown for a bit of Fiesta this week though I don't like crowds. The silver lining was purchasing these sandals by Global Girls. I'd been coveting them for years, but their relatively high price tag kept me from getting them. But in the spirit of Fiesta (I know that's a weak excuse), I finally caved in. They are gorgeous, handmade sandals and support a very worthy cause (see Global Girls goals below).
Our Goals
Establish
a co-op within an underserved community in which we train impoverished
women to develop handicraft skills so that they may produce goods
marketable goods and gain an economic livelihood.
· Artisan Identification
Identify talented artisans who demonstrate need and commitment to work.
· Training and Design Assistance
Provide training in handicraft skills to artisans to achieve the quality of workmanship that Global Girls requires.
· Market Connection
Promote the artisans handicrafts in the US and international markets.
Image credit: athleta.com
For the past couple of weeks, my younger daughter has been wearing my running shoes when she exercises. I don't object to her borrowing them; what I am unhappy about is the fact they are not her size! Her feet are one size bigger so running in tight shoes is neither comfortable nor good for her.
It's important to get that each garment or shoe suits its purpose. If you are just going to cruise around in sport shoes, go ahead and wear ones without much support (like my older daughter's chic and sporty Nikes). The ones pictured above are another example of a decidedly cute but not necessarily practical exercise shoe. If you need your clothing or shoes to really work for you, please get the best ones you can afford. Your body will thank you.
Photo credit: James Hamilton
When I was pregnant, I loved wearing clogs.While I may not have considered them the most fashionable shoes I could sport, they felt heavenly as my girth increased. I liked reading about the Clogmaster, Cecilia Tidlund, in Sunday's Los Angeles Times.
She has been spreading the "clog gospel" for over 32 years, and custom fits each pair of shoes she sells to clog devotees. When she moved from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, Tidlund's fans had to "make do with reaching her by phone or email and waiting for the two yearly visits she promised them."
I may not be ready to purchase a pair of Tidlund's clogs--especially since I have not been able to find their price anywhere--but I admire her work ethic and insistence on a precise fit.
I recently wore my $18.00 Payless sparkly pumps which I purchased last year for a wedding. Let me say again how much I adore these shoes for their comfort and sheer killer look. When my husband and I were walking by a local boutique the other night, we saw a similar pair in the window. They were priced around $500. Sure, maybe they were better made and had real crystals covering their surface instead of glittery fabric, but my shoes are fabulous. And I felt quite smug about my frugal shopping.
Image Credit: Harper's Bazaar
Image Credit: kittiesandcouture.com
I have blogged about the belt cheat sheet that I keep near my closet. Now I have a new cheat sheet. . . for booties.
These shoes can be perplexing. What do you wear them with? Do you wear socks? Tights? Skirts? Jeans? What color? How should they fit around the ankle? Is it best to get a black or to go with something like gray or burgundy?
Since booties hit the scene a few years ago, I have started to cut out pictures from magazines and print out photos I've seen on Pinterest and fashion blogs which show booties looks that I like. I use these photos to inform me how to wear with my booties. I also use them when I shop in order to dismiss or try out booties I see in stores. Here is a link that I found particularly helpful:
http://www.pinterest.com/aszyperski/ankle-boot-outfits/. Wardrobe Wisdom is a big fan of cheat sheets!
I've seen the word shooties in a number of magazines and catalogs recently. It makes me laugh every time. The ones above are by Botique 9. Go here and here to see more shooties (hahaha).
Image Credit:vincecamuto.com
I've been re-reading some pages I tore out of fashion magazines. Vince Camuto, who founded Nine West and has shoes and clothing at Nordstrom, among other places, has some very sound shoe advice. InStyle magazine calls him the Shoe Savant.
When asked about fit, Camuto says: "The most important thing to do is make sure your heel sits firmly against the back of the shoe and that the front part of your foot, from the ball to the toes, is lying flat."
Before buying a shoe, Camuto recommends you "Push down on the insole with your index finger. If the material takes the imprint of your finger and lifts back up as you remove pressure, it's made with memory foam--a good comfort indicator."
The three shoes he says should be in one's closet for summer and early fall are:
Booties "Wear them as you would pumps."
Pumps
An embellished sandal
Image Credit: sallyjanevintage.blogspot.com
Sometimes I do not heed my own advice. Several months ago I purchased some shoes I thought were ideal. They are wedges (I tend to wobble in other shoes) with a 2 1/2" heel, perfect for work. These black peep toe shoes went great with my pencil skirts and dresses. However, they pinched my bunion, leaving me in agony most of the day. Did I return them or have them stretched? No. I just let them languish in my closet.
Then my fashion-savvy friend at work suggested I take them to Nordstrom on my next trip to Paseo Nuevo, where they would happily stretch any shoe. That very week I headed to Paseo Nuevo; since the 9 West store is steps from Nordstrom, I thought I'd check to see if they could help me first. A friendly young man in the store stretched my shoes while I did a little shopping. When I returned, the shoe felt so much better. He told me I could bring any shoe in, not just the 9 West brand, and they would stretch it at no charge.
Wardrobe Wisdom tip of the day: Go to 9 West so you can wear those shoes you've been avoiding!
This will be my last post for a bit since my family and I are traveling in Europe for a month. I will try to check in and will, of course, post any photos of extraordinary fashions I see. I'm sure I will have some Wardrobe Wisdom to share with you when I return in mid-July.
The word is out, and I am not too proud to say I am quite pleased with my purchase. As I stated in a previous post, I needed a pair of shoes that I could both ride a bike in and wear comfortably on a rocky beach this summer. Having resigned myself to wearing not-so-attractive, Tevas, I was disappointed to come up empty handed after failing to find an inexpensive pair.
I turned then to Ebay and to Croc. I know. . . I know. . . I have ridiculed Crocs ever since they came on the scene, having found them hideous. My fashionable co-worker gave me a lot of grief for even considering Crocs. But I persevered, and found a pair that suit my needs: They are not atrocious in appearance; they are comfortable and lightweight; they will serve the dual purpose I need them for; and they were only $20.
Laugh at me all you want. I am content with my new shoes though I don't think they will make it into my suitcase upon my return to Santa Barbara in July.
Shoe by LK Bennett
I've been there: falling in love with a pair of shoes that are just right in terms of style, color, heel height, and material. Yet. . . they are killing my feet! Here is a reminder to:
"Never be rushed into purchasing a uncomfortable shoes, no matter how shiny the leather. Beauty is not, at least in this case, pain."
Image Credit: calleencordero.com
Lately I have been half-heartedly shopping for some summer shoes and sandals. What I have in mind are replacements for my cognac colored flats, black sandals and a silver pair of wedge sandals. In addition to checking out the shoes in Santa Barbara, I have been poring over websites.
But today I stopped hammering on my keyboard and realized I was looking for things very similar to what I already had instead of venturing out a bit and seeking something fresh. What was wrong with me? I get frustrated with my clients sometimes who have hired me to update their look yet cling to outdated styles. I am not an advocate of all things trendy, but it is important to see what is currently available and to broaden our vision.
With this in mind, I am now ready to get serious about shopping for shoes. I love the ones above--which are different from everything I have--but they are a bit (read: way) out of my price range.
Image Credit: Bodenusa.com
Why, oh why are heels so preposterously high these days? I hear this all the time from clients and friends who are looking for shoes--from pumps to boots. For the last few years heels have been sky-high: 3 1/2 inches and upward were the norm. And really, even though celebrities claim their Jimmy Choos are "super comfy," we regular folk know better.
So it was with great joy that I came across this news from whowhatwear.comhttp://www.whowhatwear.com: the new heel height is under 3 inches! Go here to read the entire piece and to see photos of the new styles. I, for one, am looking forward to shopping for shoes again.
I tried on a darling pair of Havaiana flip flops (above) at The Bikini Factory in Summerland yesterday. They were tempting to buy, but I don't need them, especially after reading the hilarious and spot on "Against Flip-Flops: Put a Shoe on, You Slob" from Slate.com. I've had thoughts similar to that of author Dana Stevens who says, "Because of the ease with which they’re put on and removed—along, perhaps, with their generic ubiquity—flip-flops connote a sort of half-dressed slatternliness, a sense that the wearer has forgotten to do anything at all with his or her body from the ankles down." Yes, I believe there is a time and place for flip-flops, and I certainly wear them a lot in the summer months. But, like Stevens, I would appreciate people putting a shoe on most of the time.
Images from Tieks.com
One of my alert and very fashionable blog readers sent me a note about some shoes she loved: Tieks. She said she has walked for hours in them and it was like walking on clouds. So now I am passing this information along to you. A bonus feature of these shoes is how they fold up neatly, making them easy to stash in your bag for a mid-day shoe switch. Go here to watch a video about this company; it helped me understand the price of the shoes.
Image Credit: ChristianLouboutin.com
This interview is definitely worth a listen. I appreciate that Louboutin only designs spectacular shoes and handbags; he has not launched a clothing, perfume, or lifestyle line, nor does his face constantly appear in fashion magazines. He is low key.
Years ago I purchased a pair of black kitten heels with pointy toes at a consignment store. The shop owner excitedly showed me the red soles of the shoes (Louboutin's signature), and insisted I was getting a bargain. As I've said before, I am not a big label person, but I sure do like those shoes!
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