You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2009.
Bright, happy, printed silk flats
These days, who isn’t thankful for a bargain? A friend with a mild addiction to Ebay reminded me of this as he snatched up deal after deal amid bidding frenzies. I’m an Ebay fan, but often forget all about it as I have my normal rotation of stores firmly in place. One on heavy rotation is J. Crew. I love me a ballet flat and some of the most adorable come via J. Crew. I love them in fall and daily alternate between them and boots exclusively for a good 4 months. I’ve found several pairs of flattering skinny denim, a feat in itself, and adding a pair of bright flats to them adds happiness to any outfit. Not wanting to pay retail price (naturally, I rarely do, anyways) I scoured Ebay for less expensive alternatives. This J. Crew pair with their silk tie-inspired pattern and navy trim were an easy decision. Really, just about anything trimmed in navy is going to catch my eye, and given my addiction to said color, will go with nearly everything in my wardrobe. Even more of a bargain.
prov⋅e⋅nance
[prov-uh-nuhns, -nahns] –noun
place or source of origin: The provenance of the shoes has yet to be determined.
Date of Purchase: Fall 2009
Circumstances: As mentioned above, I was scouring Ebay for some bright ballet flats. I had my mind set on yellow suede, and still do, but the asking price for yellow suede flats was still ridiculous. I spent close to a week ‘watching’ items and pouring through page after page of shoes until I found these: magenta silk and navy tie print, navy leather trim, near perfect condition, my size and a straight bargain. I snatched them up for less than $20, including shipping.
Compliment Meter: 3. Several compliments, especially on the silk material and pattern. Naturally, everyone was rather impressed with the price. Shoe confidence level: High.
Comfort: As with all ballet flats, a little breaking in is necessary, but overall no complaints. Overall, an 8 out of 10.
Worn with: White oxford from Rugby, grey cashmere vest from Banana Republic, skinny denim from Urban Outfitters.
Thoughts: “I can’t wear flat shoes. My feet repel them.” ~Mariah Carey
New Launch: Fossil Womens Shoes
I like variety. I can bore easily, so when a new line of shoes launches and gives me new styles to observe and dissect, I sit up and take notice. This is particularly true if the line is being done right under my nose; in this case, under my feet, technically downstairs in the same building. When I learned some time ago Fossil was launching shoes I couldn’t help but be excited, and not just because of the impending discount I would be getting. The prospect of a vintage-inspired line piqued my interest.
A small collection has been launched with more to follow for spring. Of what I’ve seen so far I’m interested in the Allison ankle boots with their unique taupe grey color. It’s an easy but unexpected neutral and the olive leather wrapped wood grain heel helps these stand apart from the current sea of ankle boots. I’m envisioning them with a diaphanous dress, blazer and tights; skinny jeans and cocoon knits, all the while being cozily stylish. Especially in our frigid office.
“The Wizard of Oz along with Cinderella - and those two great pairs of shoes – hook girls on them for life.” ~Stuart Weitzman
Billy Reid's Lurleen Equestrian Boot
The hunt continues: my perennial quest for boots. This year’s goal, a carryover from last year, flat riding-ish boots. Although these made it through the Pair Diem challenge, and I gave these away after they received a mediocre rating, I am still in need of the right flat boots. Equestrian-inspired but not too cosutmey, a little tough but not too biker, well designed but not trendy, classic but not old-lady. Perfection. That’s what I want.
I discovered this photo from a fashionable colleague and oh how I’ve fallen in love with these boots from Billy Reid. The back zip, the tab snap, the asymmetric curved top with loop, the simplicity. Without trying them on I will not claim perfection, but I just adore them. And the photo? Very well styled. It would take a lot to get me to want, much less wear, leather leggings…but Billy Reid is coming pretty darn close.
“I’m always astonished by how much men misunderstand women. For one, men don’t understand how a woman can own 300 pairs of shoes. For a woman, it’s the most natural thing in the world.” ~Christian Louboutin
Women have long been borrowing from the boys for fresh additions to the closet and truth be told, we often look better in their clothing anyways. On the screen in Bonnie and Clyde, Annie Hall, and on the frames of Diane Keaton, Lauren Bacall, and Kate Hepburn for example. These and other glamorous style icons have adapted mens blazers, trousers, hats and neckwear in a decidedly relaxed feminine way that reads, ‘I nonchalantly threw this on…and that’s precisely why I look so stunning.’
I am a fan of menswear-inspired oxfords and blazers. Fitted, of course. Maybe wearing nothing but button-down shirts with a blazer and plaid skirt for 10 years cemented them into my style psyche. Bottom line: everyone looks good in a blazer. Everyone. The uniform-wearing days might also explain my recently resurgent fascination with mens oxford shoes. I love the black and white saddle shoes that the local prep schools require their girls to wear and I have a severe soft spot for suede bucks; so very preppy, so very east coast. I owned not only bucks back in school, but also a pair of black monk-strap loafers, during the 90’s…a little Winona Ryder in Reality Bites with her heavy wingtip oxfords and floral feminine dresses. I never desired to go as far as looking manly, or even androgynous, but loved toughening up my naturally girlie tendencies with more structured pieces.
Church's traditional brogues
My latest shoe craving is in the form of these menswear shoes, traditional brogues: a heavy shoe of untanned leather, born in Scotland and Ireland, usually possessing perforations and wing tips. The best known and best made brogues hail from the British Isles, arguably from Church’s. Each Church’s pair is hand made and has been since 1873, and brogues are their specialty. They’re on my desires list. See also Cole, Rood & Haan’s brilliant offerings.
Oxfords graced last year’s runways and the menswear trend is bearing heavily on fall/winter this year as well. For gents these are an easy, classic, can do no wrong shoe in my book, particularly with dark, clean denim. For the ladies, I think they’re the perfect complement to skinny jeans and loose knits, tights and sweater dresses, bare legs and shorts. There are many iterations: two tone, heeled, flat, smooth, wingtip. I’m craving a light tan, wingtip cognac pair. Not as severe as black, the lighter brown blends into the skin, elongates the leg, and it looks great with navy, my favorite color. (Am I too grown up to have a favorite color?)
Images via Gant, Anthropologie, J. Crew, the Sartorialist, Net-a-Porter
Go get a pair. Tell me how you’ve worn them. Maybe take a picture or two.
For a few more pairs, visit here:
Steve Madden ‘Melin’, Steve Madden ‘Tuxxedo’, J.Crew ‘Elsbeth Oxford’, Cole, Rood & Haan (multiple styles)
Steep black girlie heels balancing menswear tweed.
I’m not a huge TV watcher and generally don’t get addicted to shows. Since the addition of fancy-pants cable and DVR in my new apartment, this has changed. My latest loves are shows revolved around what I love: fashion, food and dance. This translates visually into Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, and the guiltiest pleasure, The Rachel Zoe Project. Watching Rachel, Taylor, Brad and the daily struggle to outfit starlets with fabulous clothes while Rachel attempts to not break her own bank account is pretty entertaining. One thing always present on Rachel’s tiny frame, other than her monstrous sunwear: super high platforms. These sky high suede heels, by Jessica Simpson, are my tribute to Rachel. I even wore them on Halloween when I dressed as miss Rachel. (complete with sunwear, starbucks and my assistant Brad) I love the material and the small cut-out along with the bow-like addition on the sides that add just the right abount of sweetness to the severity. The one inch front platform also helps offset the 4.75″ heel. What I can’t wait for? wearing them with everything this fall and winter..and i do mean everything.
prov⋅e⋅nance
[prov-uh-nuhns, -nahns] –noun
place or source of origin: The provenance of the shoes has yet to be determined.
Date of Purchase: Fall 2009
Circumstances: Sunday afternoon shoe perusing, one of my favorite weekend activities; not shopping with an exact fashion goal, just browsing the current footwear offerings. Once again I find myself in DSW (and of course while there I must check on the beloved RL’s, you guessed it, still full retail). I love looking at shoes aisle after aisle, imagining what outfits they would compliment best. I recently, internally, started forming an attachment to vertiginous platforms. It’s not that I hadn’t previously liked them, that’s just how my shoe shopping tendencies work. I am attracted to a style, I digest it, internally, almost unconciously mulling it over, looking for my perfect iteration of a trend, and then it happens: I spot the pair. I know they answer that little voice in my head and fill the void on my mental ‘get list’. This accurately describes when I found these shoes, no hesitation. Purchased.
Compliment Meter: 5. Very positive responses, especially about the height. Could have been sheer respect or disbelief that I even wore a pair of heels this high. Comments of the day, “You look like a journalist” and “Wow, you are tall in those” (heard several times) Either way, Shoe confidence level: High.
Comfort: Moderate. The thick heel is walkable and the platform helps, but by mid afternoon I was in pain. Consequence, a significant heel hangover. Overall, a 6 out of 10.
Worn with: Ballet-neck 3/4 sleeve black knit top from Club Monaco, tweed ankle-length slouchy cuffed trousers from Forever XXI, skinny silver belt from J. Crew, OPI’s Boris and Natasha on my nails.
Thoughts: “Who doesn’t look better with 7 more inches?” ~Rachel Zoe
Your Thoughts