Platforms for Summer (Under $200)

I have my eye on a few pairs of shoes for summer.  For best in show this season, Nine West is the big winner in my opinion.

Colorblock: This style seems to be very popular - the style from Asos is sold out, but I hope it will come back in stock...

Asos Haven ($170.34):

Nine West Stylin ($89):

Espadrilles: My favorite category! If I only get one pair of shoes this year, I would choose Braxton, I love them! I can't wait to buy them and wear them.  I also really love Illy - can't you just imagine a young Marilyn Monroe wearing them?

Nine West Braxton ($99):

Nine West Illy ($140):

Nine West Keenster ($89):

Nine West Nacia ($89):

Rachel Rachel Roy Shiori ($139):

The sexy/tough super-platform: You will be able to touch the sky wearing these heels! I am normally not a fan of mules or peep-toes, but I really love the pair offered by Rachel Rachel Roy.

Rachel Rachel Roy Fenwick ($149):

TopShop Pristine ($195):

Frye Tamara, ($198):

photos lifted from asos.com, ninewest.com, rachelroy.com, topshop.com, and stores.thefrycompany.com

Shop Blast: booties

OK, I fail at being decent blogger. But work and school comes first. On to some stuff!

If you don't have the cash to spend on the Burberry Aviator boots, pictured above, TopShop has a very reasonably-priced alternative called AMORE with a shearling detail.  $190

You can satisfy any craving you may have for 70's glamour with the large platform and gold detail on these ALLY boots, also from TopShop.  $160

Noletta - a super cute basket bootie with a cap toe from Nine West.  Available for pre-order
now, $99.

Frye Engineer 12r.  Classic and heavy duty - mine got a lot of use during the Snowmageddon last year!  Order a half-size larger than what you normally get to have some extra room for thick or multiple socks. $208

Y'all know I love wedges.  I think Alejandro Ingelmo is the newest hotness to hit the shoe scene and this style Cece is totally my speed.  $995

If you are a size 8.5 I hope you can snap up these 3.1 Phillip Lim Orchid booties! $220.50

photos lifted from style.com, topshop.com, ninewest.com, thefryecompany.com, endless.com, and theoutnet.com

Shop Blast: casual, flat shoes

pastel + punk rock: Converse All Star Slim in gray violet, $55

nice color for fall: Converse Chuck Taylor in rust, $45

buy a pair and one will be given to a child in need of shoes: TOMS Siebe Perforated Nylon in red orange $48

raw fabric ballet flat: Lanvin Bow Ballet Flat in fawn $550

a variation of the cap-toe ballet flat: Nine West Sketchpad $69

studded cap-toe ballet flat: J.Crew studded ballet flats $138

wool-lined mocs: Quoddy Wool-lined ring boots for J.Crew $300

"Everybody haffi ask weh mi get mi Clarks": Clarks Wallabee boot (this is the women's boot, but you can check out the men's section for different colors and styles if you can fit a Men's 6.5) $110

photos lifted from converse.com, toms.com, barneys.com, ninewest.com, jcrew.com, and zappos.com

Men's Week: Shoes

I really only like two kinds of men's shoes.  Converse Chuck Taylors and long, and usually laced, dress shoes with an almond or a slightly squared off toe - I don't like the extremes of a total square toe or a round, clownish toe when a guy is trying to look sharp.


I have (or gone through) 7 or so pairs of Chucks, I love them! They fit my flat feet well.  I can't wait for these Missoni for Converse sneakers to hit the market!  Converse makes hundreds of different kinds of shoes for men, women, and children and I don't like to be confined to just the women's section.  On their site you can customize a pair with a selection of colors, prints, and styles. 

I feel a long stretch of foot looks great coming out of a slim-cut pant leg.  The elongated, boat-like type of shoe might be called "European" style.    00oo00 always has the most bangingist shoes (and carry-on luggage, but that is for another day:-P)

 

 

photos courtesy of wwd.com, nytimes.com, and 00oo00.blogspot.com

Over-the-knee boots: High Heels

High-heeled OTK boots can add instant sex appeal to your look.  My favorite high-heeled look from Bill Cunningham's feature this week is to the left.  I really like that she is wearing these boots over solid black tights, and  that there is not much room between the top of the boot and the bottom of her trench.  Not promiscuous sexy, but spy-girl sexy.  You can also pair these with jeans, lacy tights, or back-seam pantyhose.








I found a few gorgeous options for this style after the jump...

Over-the-knee boots: Flat

"There's no question: the shoe has disappeared."  This week's NY Times' "On the Street" is entitled Leg It.   Bill Cunningham is saying that the number of women wear boots, and in particular this year the style of over-the-knee ones, has exploded.  In his pictures I saw a lot of these boots in grey suede and  black leather, usually with a round toe,  worn with tights/leggings and fur or sweater coats.  The picture to the left is my favorite of the flat OTK boots.  The roominess in the thigh area gives it an urbane feel, rather than an overtly sexiness that was associated with thigh-high boots previously. 




Let's check some cute options after the jump

Yowza! Dolce Vita Arie boots

HO.LEE.CRAP.  These Arie boots are hot!!!! I bought some double buckle boots from Dolce Vita a few years ago and love them.  These would make my shoe collection into an even happier family, but $308 is  out of my budget right about now.  The platform is 1 inch and the heel is 5.5 inches.  Right up my alley.  Not on my wishlist, but I suppose they can make my lustlist?  These are so bad ass.



picture courtesy of shopdolcevita.com

New Shoes!

I was very habitual in the ritual of buying shoes - I used to buy at least twice a month. Never anything too expensive or too "for decoration purposes only." But boy, it still feels good to buy new shoes that you need, that you've had your eye on, that are SURPRISINGLY comfortable. I passed Max Studio in Tyson's Galleria last week when I was on my way from where I parked to the store I wanted to check out when I saw them: Ikram in black. They didn't have my size, but because I was in the Galleria, I got some great service! They ordered a pair from another store and rang me up when they came in. I had Friday off so I took advantage of the Capital Beltway during the mid-day (and how sweet it was) and went down there to try them on. They were a bit big, so at first I was prematurely disappointed, but from the years that I worked in Nine West and from the countless pairs of shoes that I have bought over the years, I know you gotta get up and walk around and really test them out. So I did just that, and they did not rub me the wrong way and my feet were not sliding all over the place. I will give them a full day test during the work week, but so far, I count this as a major score! I am so picky, what can I say.

But I must confess, they are not my ideal black cut-out shoe/bootie. That honor goes to Dior Tejus. I fell in love with that shoe when I saw the Autumn/Winter 2009 presentation (that I saw online, ahem).


I went to my local Dior boutique to see them person and to check the price (expect to pay around $1400!!!!) and they are just so beautiful. The heel is just a work of art. I am not sure if John Galliano designs the leather goods as well as the clothing, but the attention to detail is amazing. And it is great to see Dior applying the importance of detail to all facets of the luxury brand. As it should be, am I right? But can you believe the price? On sale, they will probably still be out of my price range, sadly.

I am happy with Ikram, I have been looking for a gorgeous platform black shoe that will be great for the colder months, and so far I am very pleased... and for 1/10th of the Tejus price.


pictures from http://www.maxstudio.com/
and from http://www.style.com/fashionshows/detail/F2009RTW-CDIOR