OMG Shoes

shoegasm....

2011-07-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

Alexander McQueen. Neon Pink. Ankle Booties.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..................................

Pink Blazer

2011-07-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

I need this in my life.

Zara double breasted blazer. Why oh why is there not a Zara near me?

My New Babies

2011-07-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

NastyGal was having a fantastic sale and I just couldn't pass these lovelies up. Thank you Mr. Jeffery Campbell.

Shoe Rail

2011-06-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

As a girl with a lot of shoes, you have to start getting creative with ways to store said shoes. You have to be able to see your goods, least you forget about those perfect purple peep toes that would look great with the dress you are wearing today! And you have to be able to get to them easily. I am lucky in that the closet in my current apartment is nice and big with a looooong shelf across the top to store a good portion of the shoes. The others are in bookcases (shoecases in my vocab) and smaller shoe racks on the floor of the closet as well.

But I have another friend with copious amounts of shoes moving to LA to a small one bedroom apartment so we were brainstorming ways to store shoes without taking up too much of the already limited space. Well my brillant fiance came up with the idea of using towel racks! [He obviously is also well versed in shoe storage since he asked ME to marry him :) ]

So the idea is that you can circle your room at the height of the door frame with towel racks and then just hook your heels over the bar! You get storage and art all in one! Of course this won't work for wedges or flats, but those can be saved for the more traditional methods of shelves and floor space. And if you are shorter, just get a small folding step ladder to store right next to your dresser or something to use to get the shoes when you need them. Who needs a chair rail when you have a shoe rail!

White + Turquoise = Fab

2011-05-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

From my wedding inspiration board you can see that I love the idea of wearing turquoise accessories with a wedding dress and plan on doing it when the time comes for my actual wedding. Due to this I couldn't help but notice this trend happening at Cannes this year! So fabulous :)

Photos from fashion.telegraph.co.uk

Fashion Cannes-D

2011-05-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

A few of the looks I'm loving from the Cannes Film Festival...

Photos from fashion.telegraph.co.uk

Moon Shoes

2011-05-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

In collaboration with Spanish performance artist Alicia Framis, United Nude has come up with a shoe for the "Moon Life" project, based on the premise that humans will one day live in outer-space. The carbon-fiber shoe comes flat, packed with assembly instructions and interchangeable uppers that you can switch out for a custom look.
- Story from Refinery 29

While these shoes look like pieces of art, they are actually meant to be worn! I wouldn't mind giving them a try... and I also wouldn't be surprised to see Lady Gaga in these either!

JC Shoe Porn

2011-05-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Just a few newer looks from Jeffery Campbell I am currently lusting after...

Mildred Paint

Skate

Benched

Pixie Cut

The Perfect Summer Wedge?

2011-05-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon these fantastic Naughty Monkey Wedges on Victoria Secret's website today and fell in love! The bright blue ones are fantastic! They manage to incorporate a few trends (espadrille, boho, prints, and even chains!) without being too over the top. And at only $75 they are a true steal! I can see myself wearing these all summer long with a variety of outfits :)

Inspiration

2011-05-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

I recently got engaged and am in the early stages of planning our wedding. One thing we do know is that we will be doing a destination wedding on a beach in Mexico as it has always been our dream. (Not to mention that is also where he proposed!) We don't have a resort picked out yet, but we do have some general ideas so I decided to create an Inspiration Board. I am sure it will be one of a few but I thought it was fun so I decided to share :)

McQueen for the (future) Queen

2011-04-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

Royal bride Kate Middleton picked British label Alexander McQueen for her wedding dress, revealing the design to the world as she arrived at Westminster Abbey to marry Prince William, the second in line to the British throne.
The dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar, a loosely woven silk, with the skirt echoing an opening flower, with white satin gazar arches and pleats and a train measuring 9 feet. The ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry and is a hallmark of McQueen’s designs.

I honestly was so excited that it was a Sarah Burton creation I shouted! If you follow this blog at all you know I am big fan of McQueen so you should understand my excitement. However, I am sure my fiance was more than a little confused to be woken up with shouts of "Yes, McQueen!!!" early this morning. :) Kate's sister, Pippa, also wore a Burton designed dress that was lovely... do I sense a trend coming of having MOH and bridesmaids wear white/ivory?

New Shoe Love

2011-04-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Last night I was at a local Belk store for their Girl's Night Out event. The whole store was an extra 20% off and they had free, amazing food and drinks! (Gelato and champagne in a can with mini straws!) I was there working with Mahogane' Style but also had time to do a little shopping of my own and picked up these lovelies.... for an amazing price of $56! And believe me, they look even better on. Shoe <3

Vince Camuto Carine Cool Grey

One for One

2011-04-28T19:35:00.000-07:00

I recently bought my first pair of TOMS shoes and I LOVE them!

Ever since I first heard about TOMS I have been intrigued. Everyone always talked about how extremely comfortable they are and I love their One for One program. (For every pair of shoes bought, they donate a pair to a child in need). So finally I went to my local Nordstrom and tried on a pair... and walked out with one! They really are SOOOOO comfortable and are now my go to shoes for running errands and the like. I also recently wore them to an event I was working with Mahogne' Style and they were perfect. They are light, have support, and (despite some opinions) fairly stylish. These will def be my go to shoes for any event when I have to be on my feet for extended periods of time.

And as seen here on Kiera Knightly, you can even wear them with dresses! So what are you waiting for? Buy a comfy pair of shoes, and know that you are helping a child in need too!

Spring Trends

2011-04-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

At the begining of the year I obtained an internship position as an assistant to a local stylist. Our first big project was putting together a Spring Fashion Trend Event that happened this past week. Part of my work on this event was putting together 4 different trend boards to showcase some of the trends of the season. The 4 trends we chose to feature were 70s Glam, Flower Prints, Minimalism, and Color Blocking. Check out the finished products!

New Shoes?

2011-04-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't bought a pair of shoes in a little over a month.... a pretty big accomplishment when it comes to me really. So of course I am craving a new pair! Here are a few that are currently on my list.

Aldo Forwood Wedge

Aldo Krone Wedge

Steve Madden Wiicked

Steve Madden Bevv-b

More Lovlies

2011-04-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

My friends and I have been admiring these wonderful Casadei platforms seen from Rachel Zoe's The Zoe Report. Now if only I had $850 to spend on shoes :)

Dieing....

2011-04-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

Yum!
Giuseppe Zanotti Women's E10089 Ankle-Strap Sandal $1,495

The Ice McQueen

2011-03-09T13:44:00.000-08:00

Spring Style

2011-03-09T10:50:00.000-08:00

Images from Refinery 29

Want......

2011-03-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

First saw on lookbook here: http://lookbook.nu/look/1650256-Bipolar-soles

Update: I FINALLY found these lovelies. They are Michael Antonio Tibor and are available on a multitude of websites. Currently Endless.com seems to have the most selection of sizes and colors.

Siriano Shoes

2011-03-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

I own two pairs of Christian Siriano shoes for Payless, from two different collections... most notably the towering talon heeled number from SS 2010 that are so very McQueen-esque. So when I saw his runway collection for SS 2011 I was super excited to see how the retail versions would come out.
Overall I am underwhelmed. While the inspiration is there I really wish they would have stuck closer to the runway models. I am sure it has to do with the target market of Payless... but what about us fashionistas that want the real thing?! I want that sculpted, curved heel!

Runway Shoe

Payless Version

Flatforms...

2011-02-25T13:46:00.001-08:00

There are many trends that we see on runways that never really make the leap into the general public... and I hope that these flat platforms are one of those. I just think they are ugly and clunky. I don't care who makes them. PASS....

Shoe Stalking

2011-02-15T08:51:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I tuned into the Grammy's to catch a few performances (most notably Lady Gaga's) and found myself obsessively stalking a pair of shoes. Specifically the ones worn by Gwyneth Paltrow in her performance with CeeLo of F*ck You. The performance was fun and sounded great, and both CeeLo (in his crazy turkey getup) and Gwyneth looked fabulous. But the show stopper for me were the shoes. Thankfully The Possessionista came through with the ID: Christian Louboutin (who else!) Futura Retro Colorblock Booties from his Spring 2011 line. Yum!

Spring vs Fall

2011-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

I know we are in the middle of Fall 2011 NY Fashion Week but at the same time all I can think about is the new spring lines coming out in both editorials and in stores. A few of the looks that keep popping up that strike my fancy come from Lanvin. I love the colors, the flowy fabric, and leather details... not to mention the one shoulder silhouette.

Aspirations

2011-01-31T13:39:00.000-08:00

I love shoes. We have established that. I am lucky in that I have a large closet to store the majority of my babies, but what I dream about at night is to one day have a house with an entire room dedicated to my shoes and clothes. My little fashion oasis....

Images from WeHeartIt.
The last one is of Jane's closet from Sea Of Shoes.

Shoe Love

2011-01-28T13:55:00.001-08:00

Headline Heel from Asos.
Available March 7.
You know I am allll over these bad boys!
Muah <3

Diffusion

2011-01-11T13:22:00.000-08:00

I was recently pleasantly surprised to find out that Dolce Vita has a line of shoes for Target... and not only are they are cute, they are awesomely priced! I am currently thinking about getting the gold rope sandals and the nude wedges for my upcoming trip to Mexico in March.... thoughts? :)

Sandals by Dolce Vita
Flats by Dolce Vita

the swan queens

2011-01-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

I FINALLY managed to watch Black Swan this weekend and it certainly did not disappoint. When I first heard about this movie I was immediately intrigued. Natalie Portman is a favorite of mine and then add in ballet, you have a movie I want to see. Then I learned that Rodarte did all the costumes in the film... well that was just the icing on the cupcake! The film was fantastic, Portman was amazing, and the costumes were breathtaking. If you have not yet seen this movie, it is definitely worth seeing. Be prepared however as it is a typical Aronofsky film... a little dark and twisted.
Below are a few sketches done by the Mulleavy sisters for the costumes.

Photos from WWD

Desert Beauty

2011-01-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

I love all natural landscapes, but there is something about deserts that truly captivate me. Growing up in Western Colorado certainly had something to with this, so I just wanted to share a few pictures of my "backyard" so you can enjoy the beauty of desert landscape as well.

This first two are ones I took while driving home from my boyfriend's family home on Highway 50 between Delta and Grand Junction.
The third and fourth are typical landscapes of Western CO and Eastern UT.
The fifth and sixth are from the Colorado National Monument.
The last is of Mt. Garfield, part of the Bookcliffs range, that makes up the north barrier to the Grand Valley.

Paper Inspiration

2011-01-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Pictures from weheartit.com

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T12:05:00.001-08:00

I know its late but I wanted to say it anyway!

A few close friends, and a few new ones, and I went to a local Irish pub which ended up being one of the best New Years on record. We danced, drank, and just had an all around great time. I think 2011 is going to be a great one :)

Recent Acqusitions

2010-12-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

The last two shoe purchases I have made... and great ones at that.

Christian Siriano for Payless Holiday Collection

Vince Camuto Briva

And just so you know I did an update count at I am currently at 134 pairs of shoes. One of my Christmas presents from my bf last year was my 100th pair of shoes so in a little less than year I have bought 34 pairs. I mean it doesn't really seem like that big of a number until you realize that I averaged buying 0.65 pairs of shoes a week! Crazy I know, but I love them :)

Week of Obsessions?

2010-11-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

The second of my current obsessions... a cropped sweater.

After watching the Blitzgiving episode of How I Met Your Mother this week I was instantly drawn to the sweater that the character Zoey wears on Thanksgiving. After only a few minutes of searching I found it... however not in the lovely cream as worn on the show. Shopbop carries it in gray and orange and 80sPurple has it in Navy. I am leaning toward the orange, but the gray is also great and of course extremely versatile.

Speaking of those Jeffrey Campbell's...

2010-11-24T08:17:00.001-08:00

Although it has taken me long enough to get on the Lita train... I am currently OBSESSED. I must have these shoes. Right NOW! And now that I have made the decision to purchase (most of the time this really is that hardest part), I have to figure out what color I want... I really like the Taupe (pictured below) but they are not readily available in my size. I like the brown as well but the trouble is there are two different browns. The distressed and the calf, and I like the calf better in pictures I have seen. But now another catch! Only Solestruck makes the distinction so if I purchase from another site how do I know what brown I am actually getting. Oh the dilemmas I am facing on this. I seriously sat at my computer pouring over websites and photos for over an hour last night until my bf broke me out of my trance. I know this is silly but I need some direction. PLEASE HELP!

How to Become a Star Style Blogger

2010-11-24T07:42:00.001-08:00

This was created by Refinery29 and I just thought it was clever and hilarious and had to share...

Shoes I Need In My Life

2010-11-08T12:28:00.001-08:00

I want... nah NEED... these, or at least some version of these, in my life.
Pretty please with sugar on top? :)

Giuseppe Zanotti

Burberry (I wouldn't mind the jacket either!)

Jessica Simpson

Rachel Roy

Baby Phat

The Final Product

2010-11-04T07:08:00.000-07:00

As promised here are a few shots of me and Steve in our Futurama costumes on Halloween. I think that they turned out really well, especially Bender!

A special thanks to Kate for letting me dress up her precious puppy Percy to act as my Nibbler for the night!

Also a little favor... if you like Steve's Bender costume help us and vote for him in the below contests! Thanks :)

1) http://ihaveabuzz.clearcontests.com/front/OpenContest.asp?Action=New&ZH=0&SurveyID=99767&zx=151
Enter your email at the bottom and vote for #34 once a day today through Friday Nov. 5th noon EST

2) http://inhabitat.com/greenhalloweencontest/
Just find Steve's picture and click vote.

3) Lastly, go to the scrubadoo.com facebook page and like it and then find and like Steve's photo.

Lavin. Heart. H&M.

2010-11-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

Love. That's all I have to say.

Nature Walks

2010-10-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

I am heading to Asheville for the weekend to visit a good friend and most importantly enjoy one of nature's greatest shows... the fall colors.
I can't wait for the hikes we have planned and to get back to the mountains (however small they are compared to the majestic Colorado Rockies I grew up with).

The Best Time of the Year

2010-10-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday of the year. When else do you get to dress up and build costumes from scratch (well of course besides a Gaga concert...)? This year my boyfriend and I are doing a themed costume... Leela and Bender from the animated series Futurama!
I will of course post the finished products later :)

Hello. Goodbye.

2010-10-15T14:05:00.001-07:00

With cool weather seemly around to stay I think its time to welcome crisp air, blue skies and crunchy leaves...

And bid adieu to summer picnics and lazy days spent by the pool.

The Queen at McQueen

2010-10-06T07:27:00.000-07:00

This season was the first collection completed by Sarah Burton under the Alexander McQueen name since McQueen's tragic passing this past February. Burton, who was McQueen's second in command for nearly 20 years, did an amazing job keeping the well recognized McQueen aesthetic while adding touches of this season's trends and her own touches. I no longer have any worries about the future for this deeply loved brand.
Long Live McQueen.

Cut. It. Out.

2010-09-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

Versace Spring/Summer 2011 Runway
I absolutely love the sexy cutouts with the lady-like silhouettes and the bright colors.
The shoes and styling are spot on as well. Love <3>

Giddy Up!

2010-09-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have been loving the Equestrian Trends this fall, especially after watching a few Mad Men episodes with Betty at the stable... and even Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum 2. I love it so much that I couldn't resist buying these Enzo Angiolini riding boots when they were marked down 50% on 6pm.com! Now I just need to find the perfect camel color leggings.
(top image from Vince Camuto)

------UPDATE------
So the boots were delivered and.... sadly they were very disappointing. I don't know if it is my foot or just the design of the boot, but they bunched very unattractively around the ankle. It's truly sad because the leather and overall design were gorgeous. I guess its back to the search...

2010-09-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

"I was a failure in Boston because they thought I was too fashionable to be intelligent, and a failure in New York because they were afraid I was too intelligent to be fashionable."
-Edith Wharton, A Backward Glance

I can relate to this all too well working in the finance world while having a strong interest in fashion and shoes... You really can be intelligent and stylish at the same time.

Some Much Needed Inspiration

2010-09-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

Arctic Office Temps and Cloudy Skies...

2010-08-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

...Make Me Long For Cozy Sweaters and Fall Boots

Source: Vanessa Jackman

Taller Please

2010-07-17T18:28:00.001-07:00

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Dany Dress: BDG Western Shirt Dress from UO Belt: American Eagle

You're My New Obsession, All I Want Is You

2010-07-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

Jeffery Campbell Fall 2010 Lookbook

Warming Up

2010-06-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

I come across a lot of shoes in my daily web browsing and in all honesty there are not many shoes out there I don’t like. However, sometimes it takes a little warming up to the design for me to become a fan. There are a number of shoes that I instantly rejected but over time came to like. A great example is the D&G face shoes. I thought they were just bizarre but once you see them on, they really do add something to the whole outfit, and are a great shoe. (Seen here on Jane from Sea of Shoes)

My most recent example are these Maison Martin Margiela peep toe booties. My first reaction was repulsion. I mean it looks like an old trash bag scrunched around the ankle. But then slowly images of outfits crept into my mind… fueled by thoughts of Ke$ha’s love of garage bags (The City anyone?) To me the best shoes are statement makers, and these definitely fill the role!

Friday Funday

2010-05-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Glasses: Forever 21, Shirt: boyfriend's (Lucky Brand), Pants: Martin & Osa, Shoes: Restricted, Necklace: Gifted, Ring: BCBG

Ankle Fever

2010-05-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been caught up in the ankle pant trend. I think part of the attraction, for me personally, is that these garments are perfect for showcasing your shoes! And on top of that these pieces are so versatile that you can wear them to work as well as out on the town with the girls with extreme ease.

Ironically I was visiting Charleston, SC last weekend with my bf and we heard a lot about women’s ankles on our historical carriage ride through the city. In the mid-late 19^th Century when hoop skirts were the rage, it was absolutely scandalous to see a woman’s ankles. So much so that if a man were to walk up a staircase behind a women and catch a glimpse of a bare ankle he was to drop to his knee an propose marriage right then and there! (Thus the double “Open-Armed” staircases: women go up on the right and men on the left.) Can you image the heart palpitations that someone of that time would have to see all these women walking around in ankle pants today… Oh the scandal!

when i dance i feel free

2010-04-23T07:24:00.001-07:00

Yes Please!

2010-04-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

I will take these in a size 9 thank you very much!
(Jeffrey Campbell Giggle Tic)

Meet Jessa

2010-04-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

As a shoe connoisseur, if you will, I do a lot of online shoe shopping and browsing. But also being a bit of a deal seaker, it is not unusual for me to find shoes I love and then keep tabs on them to make sure I get the best deal before purchasing. That being said I found the lovely Jessa by Boutique 9 on both endless.com and NineWest.com, but with the price being over $100 I did not purchases right away.... and I am so glad I didn't! A few weeks later Gilt Group had a sale on Boutique 9 and of course Jessa was featured in the lovely taupe color I had been lusting after for a full $100 cheaper than retail price! Needless to say I swooped in and snagged these beauties. And with Gilt's super fast shipping (seriosuly HauteLook you need to take some notes here...) I was wearing Jessa within a week! They are super comfy with the small platform and soft leather and the detailing and ankle wrap are simply to die for. The perfect addition to my spring wardrobe!

RePurpose!

2010-04-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

So a few weekends ago I was in Charlotte for a friend's bachelorette party and we all received a free Stoli t-shirt at one of the bars we went to. Of course it was an XL! So most of the girls were like "oh its a great pj shirt!" and I was like "....ummmmm no." LOL. From that moment on I was determined to repurpose this t-shirt into something functional and fashionable. I thus decided that I would try my hand at the the shredded scarf look....
So I forgot to take inbetween pictures but it turned out fabulous and it was SUPER easy! The first thing I did was cut off the bottom hem and then cut off the body of the shirt right below the arms. I decided that I wanted to add some dimension and interest so I decided to reverse tie-die, but of course you could skip this and make it even more simple. Once the bleaching was done, I cut into strips. (I was not super careful and varied between 1/2" - 3/4"-ish wide). Then you take the circle strips and stretch them out a bit to make the edges curl in. Then I cut another thin strip from the sleeve to wrap around all the other strips to keep them together and then... put it on and wrap it around twice! Fabulous and soooooo easy :)
(FYI I have a disc cutter and mat that can be purchased from any fabric store that makes this MUCH easier than if you were attempting with scissors.)

World Peace?

2010-03-12T06:46:00.000-08:00

If you could wish for one change in the world what would it be?

“That everybody could afford my shoes.”
-Christian Louboutin in AnOther’s Proust Questionnaire.

Shoe Porn

2010-03-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

So I bought my first true shoe porn collection piece today! A pair of beige, cutout, ankle cuff pumps from the Christian Siriano collection for Payless. Most of his spring line has been out for a few weeks (and my reaction was total blah) but they just released the true statement, runway pieces and I could not NOT buy them. For only $79.99 they truly are a steal. It got even better with the 15% off coupon code (30576) I found. For an even better deal Payless offers free shipping if you pick it up in the store! I was totally torn between the blue pump and the cutout ankle cuff pairs but in the end I couldn't resist the extra over the top details of the cutouts! I can't wait to get them and actually wear them, hopefully they live up to my expectations. I'll let you know :)

Strike a Pose

2010-03-02T13:29:00.001-08:00

My good friend S (The Girl's Daily) often makes it a point to find and then implement the newest and greatest model poses in our pictures when we all go out. Well I think I finally found one that is PERFECT for me to try ;)
I might have to give it a try this weekend when we hit the town in Charlotte for my friend's bachelorette party.... watch out!

Armani for Lady Gaga

2010-02-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

It has been reported that Armani will be designing some of Lady Gaga's costumes for the Europe leg of her Monster Ball Tour. Check out a few of the sketches... love it!

Oxfords

2010-02-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

The oxford trend has been slowly building steam and seems to be a big hit for spring. I have to confess that I have been very hesitant to jump on this trend. For one we all know that I am not really much of a flat person as far as shoes go, and I guess I just never really liked any of them. However, with more and more styles popping up, and along with them, more and more ways to style them, I am definitely warming up to these. I am leaning towards the styles that are two-, or even tri-, toned or that have interesting details, like cut outs.
If you are a reader of the Sea of Shoes blog, I have to say Jane's Comme des Garcons tri-tone brogues, and her styling of them, were a big reason for me to rethink this trend.

R.I.P.

2010-02-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

The fashion world has just lost one of its brightest stars. Alexander McQueen has reportedly committed suicide. His brilliance, creativity, and influence will be missed greatly.

Holy Ads Springtime!

2010-02-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

So this evening I sat down to peruse some of my recently received spring fashion magazines and was instanly in a state of pure fashion bliss... specifically having a few shoegasms in a row! The first (and major) was this ad from Gucci.

So not only are these boots the most spectacular things you have ever seen but I just love the whole composition. The model's almost contortionist pose, the blue of the water and sky in the background, the clear Lucite like bench she is sprawled on, the sexiness of the black one piece. Just wow. WOW. Oh to only have $1550 of extra money laying around to spend on shoes....

The next ad was for Yves Saint Laurent. The part I was drawn to was of course the platform sandals (but I mean really who makes better platform sandals than YSL?). The heel on these is just great with the horizontal bar. Not to mention the platform, caged style, and the white leather. Drool.

I wish I could have found the actual ad because it was so simple yet so effective. All you see is the model's legs from the mid-thigh down and the background is a neon pink with dark black shadows of her legs. It really makes the white shoes pop.
Oh I will def be dreaming of these two shoes tonight... and to think, I am only a few pages into the March issue of Elle. Here's to spring fashion!

(PS I really hope you got the batman reference with the crazy title on this one, haha)

Drumroll Please

2010-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

If you were paying attention during my last blog I am sure that you figured out that I have at last reached the shoe century club. I now currently own 100 pairs of shoes! As it turns out my wonderfully, fabulous, greatest, boyfriend ever bought me my 100^th pair for Christmas and I love, love, LOVE them. They are the Anne Michelle Savoir 27 Black Buckled Ankle Boots! So now I just have to plan the party so stay tuned for details ;)

Site Seeing

2010-01-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

Once again I would like to share some great websites that I have come across in all my web surfing.

LuLu's - this shopping site is cute, trendy, and budget friendly. They have everything from dresses, to shoes, to jewelry, to hats. I love their shoe collection, especially their selection under $50! My boyfriend bought me a pair from here for Christmas and they are fabulous (stay tuned for a post).

Ruche - this is a great shopping site that is very Anthropologie, but without the extreme prices. I haven't bought anything from here yet, but its only a matter a time because every time I visit I find a slew of things I love. I also like that they have an eco-friendly section.

LoveMyShoes - I just visited this website for the first time last night, but so far so good. They are currently having a 50% off sale on Fall and Winter styles (hurry it ends 1/10/10) and I ended up snatching up 3 pairs of shoes (including rain boots... FINALLY) for $62. Can you believe that? Cuh-Razy! I will definitely be returning from time to time :)

MyLifeIsAverage - Lastly, this website is just for fun time wasting. In the vein of FMyLife, these are just short posts from people all over the world talking about things that happened to them. However, these are much happier in nature... so go on, kill some time!

Hope you all find these just as great as I do, and if you have any sites you love, pass them on!

oh Hermonie, how I love thee

2010-01-06T09:14:00.000-08:00

Emma Watson is continuing to front the Burberry campaign this spring and in one shot is wearing the lavender trench I simply covet and blogged about before. Gotta love this girl! Not only is she super cute, can act and model, but she also has her sh*t together (she is attending Brown University) and isn't falling apart like many a famous child star. Keep it up Emma. (Oh, and a side note, that's her brother on the left!)
Can't wait to see Emma and company in the next installment of the Harry Potter movies!

...96, 97, 98, 99....

2010-01-04T17:05:00.000-08:00

So this post is a little late but I still wanted to share some of my recent shoe purchases.
Pair 96 is a fabulous pair of Jeffery Campbell Gray Palace Pumps that I found on ebay (brand new in the box)! I ended up winning them for $45... the original retail price is $175. Woo Hoo my first "designer" pair off shoes and for a great price. (Mine are actually a lighter gray than this picture.)

Number 97 are the Steve Madden Laady pumps in black/gray that I purchased during a Black Friday sale on the website. I have to say I am loving these right now as they are super fun with all the straps but the closed toe is great since it has been cold.

A few weekends ago we made a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for a friend's birthday and we hit up the outlet malls where I scored #98 and #99. Kenneth Cole provided me with these fabulous frilly pair (Unlisted Natural Wonder) for only.... wait for it.... $15!!! Definitely could not pass them up for that price. (Mine are actually a great magenta color.)

Number 99 came to me by pure fate. As my friend and I stepped into BCBG (one of our shared fashion meccas) I just knew that I would be finding something fabulous. Once we made it to the shoes we both reached for this pair of Cras Moonstone wedges breathless. The super friendly sales girl asked if I wanted to try them on and before she could finish asking I just blurted out "size 9"! When she came back she had two boxes (usually not a good sign) and told me they only had a 8.5 and a 9.5 (definitely not a good sign). Before I could totally lose hope I grabbed the 8.5 and slid it on my foot... and lets just say I was feeling a little like Cinderella. It fit! Freakin' fantastic! Obviously they are now mine and I am loving them...I wore them on New Year's Eve to being in 2010 (oh and I finally wore my LC dress from this post) :)

So there they are, putting me that much closer to my shoe party!

2009-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

OMG I Die!

2009-12-03T14:11:00.000-08:00

So Christian Louboutin released a couple preview pics of his Spring 2010 line and wow... bananas! I am so in love with these.
Now only if I could justify spending $1086 on shoes they would be mine!

Jeggings = Jeans + Leggings

2009-11-14T15:04:00.001-08:00

Hot or Not? That has been my internal question on this trend, and I think my final answer is 'It Depends'. Until recently I was leaning towards Not because I was with the Just-Wear-Your-Skinny-Jeans camp. But I have been rocking my (plain) leggings recently and have been loving them. They are just so comfy, and seriously they really are the only way to go when wearing thinner/clingier long tunic tops. So then come along my awesome new OTK boots (#95 if you are counting) and I was thinking that shoving my jeans into these was kinda a pain. I wanted the versatile, casualness of my denim but wanted the ease and comfort of leggings. Thus me needing a pair of jeggings! This leads me to the 'depends' part of answer. Obviosuly I think they are great for pairing with boots, tunics and the like. I am, however, in the definitive NO camp for wearing them like an actual pair of jeans. Really, there is no substitute for a solid pair of pants (unless you are Lady Gaga but that's another post). My final verdict... Jeggings are a definite yes for this fall/winter but they belong in your accessories pile and not the pants!

Shoes, the Recession's Not-so-Gulity Pleasure

2009-11-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

I came across this article in the NY Times today and found it... interesting. While it was informational and definitely had its funny moments, it also left me with a tad of a sour taste in my mouth. I just feel some of the lines were mocking women buying shoes... but maybe its just me. What do you think??

lust/want/need/love... NOW

2009-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

So I have been wanting a pair of gray ankle boots for awhile now but I can't seem to find the perfect pair. These Aldo boots are out of my price comfort range (at $170) but I can't get over how hot these are. I mean the folded V ankle cuff, the studded platform, the stiletto heel.... I'm drooling. Anyway, let me know if you find a similar style that is more wallet friendly. Until then, I will dream of you Zinke.

Pantless People

2009-10-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

Halloween is my favorite holiday. And no, it’s not about the candy. I LOVE dressing up. I mean you get to dress up as something totally different and try new things with no inhibitions… well I still have some, but you get the idea. Anyway, this year I decided to go as the spectacularly fabulous Lady Gaga. Only “problem” is that she is a serious advocate of the pantlessness look. In order to totally own this outfit and be the best Lady G out there I have been hitting the gym harder than usual and focusing on the gams…. But I digress. Gaga is out there on the fashion side but I gotta give it to her. She loves pushing the envelope, going all out, and is totally unapologetic about it all. After a year filled with pantless Gaga and Beyonce joining in on the fun, we are starting to see this in all parts of the fashion world. If you noticed, many top designers sent looks down the runway this past month that would definitely be defined as pantless. It’s only a matter of time before this hits mainstream… I just hope it doesn’t go as bad as I have in my head. But I have a feeling that this Halloween will be filled with pantless people trying out this trend in one form or another. I mean just in my group of friends there will be 4 of us sans pants on the 31^st! (In addition to my Lady Gaga will we have a Beyonce and two Single Ladies backup dancers of the male variety ala SNL!)

Hello. Good Buy.

2009-10-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

I love Target. It's no secret that I shop there at least once a week. Not only do I buy all my groceries there but they almost always have great fashion and accessories for very budget friendly prices. Tonight I went to target to find some navy blue tights to wear with a dress I recently purchased on HauteLook.com. Sadly, they didn't have any navy blue tights but I found so many great things that I had a very hard time not buying them all! Instead of the original tights I ended up getting some great lace patterned tights that I have been meaning to get all season long. I also found a great black and white checkered scarf that was on clearance. To top of my purchases I bought a jersey pencil skirt from the new GO International collection that is a fabulous pink and black houndstooth. A few of the things that I did not buy (on this trip anyway) included a great silver boyfriend watch, a bold oval black cocktail ring, a belted strapless houndstooth dress (also from GO Int'l), an infinity scarf (there were 2!), and some great red plaid pointed toe flats. Needless to say Target is not only a great place to save money on household items but you can style yourself in all the latest trends with out breakin' the bank!

L.O.V.E.

2009-09-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

Seeing as it is “Fashion Week Season” I have found myself a little behind with getting around to looking at all the pictures/slideshows and reading articles about the shows that I am interested in. So today I was playing catch-up on the WSJ site checking out their fashion section, reading an article about London’s fashion week when I came across this Burberry Prorsum trench-dress.

To me it was just breath-taking. I can’t get over the shoulders! I mean it’s just so strong and yet undeniably feminine all at the same time. Usually I am not a big fan of lavender but it just works so well for this piece. Gah! Just love it and wanted to share a little tiny piece of my fashion love with you all. Happy Monday!

I Die. OMG I Die.

2009-09-24T11:09:00.001-07:00

Talk about a fabulous deal! Today on 6pm.com they were featuring select Oh Deer! shoes for $15.95. That is more than 75% off retail in some cases! Now if you don’t know Oh Deer! they are great shoes that retail for well over $100 in almost all cases. I have never bought a pair but I have tried a few on and they are defiantly well made and comfortable shoes, not to mention cute. So obviously when I saw this sale I got super excited. I couldn’t decide which ones to buy! After much internal debate (and external, thanks B) between styles and colors I ended up buying the Slash sandal in green (I saw these in a boutique a couple of weeks ago on sale but they didn’t have my size) and the Jester mini-wedge in purple. With shipping and tax I spent a total of $41.87. The combined retail price of these shoes is $375. That means I saved over 88% on this purchase!!! Can it get any better? I think not. To make sure you cash in on future sales like this head over to 6pm.com and sign up for their emails. :)

91

2009-09-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

It official, you asked for it. As of this afternoon I will have a total of 91 pairs of shoes! 91! I am totally ridiculous and yet still want more. This is why I had to build a shoecase (more on that later) and its already full! Anyway, how many pairs do you have??

Update: A friend suggested that I throw a 100 party when I reach that mile stone. I think its a great idea so I will keep you all posted ;) Only 9 more to go...

Bring on the Boots!

2009-09-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

I definitely caught boot fever this season. We all know that boots are always a part of fall and winter trends but I really feel that this year it really IS all about the boot. We have been seeing such a wide range of styles that it is so easy for anyone to get caught up in the wave. Of course there are the motorcycle boots that I obviously love. But there are also booties, cage styles, over-the-knee, platform, cowboy inspired; the list just goes on and on. I, as always, have a wish list a mile long but I wanted to share just a couple that have really shot to that top of that list. The first is a Calvin Klein over-the-knee boot that I saw in a Dillard’s ad in the September Issue of Vogue (where else?!?). They not only have the great over the knee styling that I love, but they have a great buckle detail that give it just that extra pizazz! The second boot is part of the J. Aldridge by Sea of Shoes collection from Urban Outfitters. I just can’t get over how awesome these look. The peep toe with the lace up front is just sick. So… anyone want to buy me a present?? :)

OMG Shoes!

2009-08-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

This past Friday was my birthday and I have to say that totally celebrated with shoes! I realized that I bought/received 4 pairs of shoes last week. Obviously it was a happy birthday ;)

The first pair that I bought was the Steve Madden Cheryl in Midnight blue. I can’t tell you how long I have been on the lookout for the perfect blue shoe and once again SM came through for me. They were included in the Fall Preview Sale so they were already 40% off, but then I had an extra 25% off + Free Shipping birthday coupon so I scooped them up for a great price. These were my birthday treat to myself…

Then came along the great sandal clearance email from Aldo (Thanks M for passing it along). I had been eyeing these great beaded sandals with ankle straps almost all summer but either they had been too expensive (originally $70) or didn’t have my size in the store when they were on sale (only to $30). So when I spied them for $17.95 and in my size you know I jumped all over that! These were just my I-wanted-them-and-they-were-a-great-price buy.

Pair #3 came in the form of Nine West’s Oskari wedge in Ivory. Once again these have been on my wish list for some time but of course I was waiting for the best time to buy. I had another 25% off coupon to NineWest.com that I was planning on using for these shoes but then about a week ago they sold out of my size L Needless to say I was pretty bummed, but then Endless.com came to my rescue. They dropped the price on the Ivory and I bought those right away because I didn’t want to be disappointed again. These were my “They are actually a present from someone else because they gave me birthday money” shoes…. So thanks T&V!

Last but not least is the gift from my wonderfully fabulous boyfriend. Can I just say that he seriously is the best gift giver ever!!! He bought me my Steve Madden Motorcycle boots that I blogged about earlier! Yay! And I can say they are fabulous… great quality, awesome fit, super comfy. He is such a smarty and bought them during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale so he got a great deal on the price too. What can I say I trained him well ;) Needless to say I made some great additions to my closet (although I am running out of room again) and it was a fantastic birthday!

Trend Alert

2009-08-27T08:28:00.001-07:00

This past January I was taking a class entitled Fashion Presentation. One of the projects was to give a PowerPoint presentation to the class predicting a fashion trend that you thought would be coming in the next year. We were required to do some historical research since we all know that trends tend to recycle themselves about every 30 years or so. Well my prediction was that Fringe vests would make there way back into the spotlight… and guess what? I was right! We have been seeing fringe on many accessories the past few seasons and I knew it was only a matter of time before it started showing up on the clothes themselves, and what better place than the oh-so-popular vest! Also, with the 40th anniversary of the infamous Woodstock this year we were bound to see some of those fashion influences pop up somewhere. As the fringe vest is now in the current fashion spotlight there are tons of opportunities to jump on in from all price points. Target currently has an option that is offered at the wallet friendly price of $14.99 and it has good reviews… so go fringe yourself!

Kick Start

2009-08-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

It’s that time of year again… Fall. Well it’s not really fall (and won’t be for a long time here in the south) but now is the time when all the fall merchandise is making its way into the stores and magazines. One trend that I am all about is the motorcycle boot. I love the tall shaft with a low, somewhat chunky heel and buckle details around the ankle and top look. Nordstrom featured a Steve Madden boot (the Frenchh) in their Anniversary sale that fit this description perfectly. I almost bought them as boots are the one exception to my (current) rule of not paying over $100 for a pair of shoes, but lucky for me I discovered a look-a-like pair at Endless for half the price! The Mia Liv boot is priced at $48.97 and you can barely tell the difference between the two. Hopefully the Liv will soon call my closet home ;)

Bringing Home the Blog

2009-08-05T09:53:00.000-07:00

So I have been neglecting my blog… yes I know this, you don’t have to point it out to me, lol. Anyway, I am going to try to get back in the blog groove b/c I actually have a few things that I would like to share. I am going to start off with a book review of Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello. It is a memoir of his adventures as a reseller of all things Hermés, especially the infamous Birkin bag. I have to say that this was the book that I had been waiting to read all summer! Not that I really had to read this exact title, but in the sense that I wanted something intriguing, and funny, and intelligent all wrapped in one. I kept reading these titles that advertised all of this but totally fell flat for me so when I picked up this book I was pleasantly surprised. On top of the previously motioned qualities, it’s EXTREMELY interesting for any fashionista, or for that matter anyone who knows any of the rumors and tales of the exclusivity of the Birkin bag. Tonello effortless leads you through his life and Hermés learning curve with wit, humor, compassion, adventure, and tons of information. Seriously I can’t recommend it enough so just stop by your local library or bookstore and pick up a copy already!

Confessions of a ... Shopaholic?

2009-05-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

I don’t consider myself a shopaholic. I mean we all have those few and far between impulse purchases but other than that I feel that I am more of a debater. Should I really buy this dress? When will I actually wear this? Is it going to go on sale next week? ... You get the idea. Well, sadly I have to say that all these preconceived notions of myself flew out the window with my discovery of a few websites that are along the lines of an online sample sale. These websites carry collections from fashion designers to luxury home goods for only a limited number of days at dramatically reduced prices. These sales “open” at 11:00am and then it’s every shopper (and their internet connection) for themselves! If that collection is popular you best be logged in early and ready to pounce because they fly off the shelves faster than surgical masks in Mexico City.
On Tuesday Lauren Conrad was featured and the prices were to DIE for! We are talking 80-90% off everything. Almost all the items were on hold or sold out with in 1 minute. This however did not detour me. I found the dress I wanted and, what can only be described as manically, hit the refresh button. Luck, and persistence, were on my side and I was able to snatch up the dress when it became available again (someone foolishly let it back into the wild)! YESSSS!!!! Pure euphoria!!! I bought a dress from LC collection for 84% off!!! Score!!!
The reflection came only after the elation subsided. Was that really me? Obsessively stalking a piece of clothing for almost an hour online just to say that I landed that elusive piece of fashion at a reduced price? Yes. And I would (and probably will) do it again. All I have to say is that I feel bad for you if I was to ever encounter you at a real sample sale and we were after that last pair of Prada boots in a size 9. Watch your back. I am not afraid to fight dirty!

The Infinity Dress

2009-05-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

The infinity dress. The convertible dress. The 7-in-1 dress. Call it what you will but I love them. Victoria's Secret has had one listed for a couple of seasons and I have always wanted one, however not enough to spend over $100 on it. Recently, while I was in Mexico on vacation (no I do not have swine flu) I saw one in a little shop (almost $50 and not good quality). This did provide me with the opportunity to get my hands on one to see how it was made though. The design was so simple I knew that I could easily make this dress myself. Upon doing some research on the web I found a couple of sites that showed how to do it with one stitch! One! Thus began my adventure.
I went to a local fabric store and found some great turquoise jersey fabric on sale so I bought the needed amount and set off to make the dress... and many mistakes, lol. The first skirt I cut out I ended up making the waist about 2x too big (mistake in calculations due to excitement), thus leaving with me not enough fabric to make the straps once I cut out the second skirt. So I had to go back to the fabric store (about two weeks later) to get more fabric for the straps. Once I had those cut out and pinned the parts together I cranked up my sewing machine.... and about 20 min later I had a finished dress!!! Of course the first thing you do is try it on...... I guess I didn't really think about where the dress was going to sit on me and in the end the "waist" is still too large. And to top it off I didn't quite catch the ends of one of the straps in a seam so I have a little flap at the end.
Even with these problems I have to say that it actually looks okay :) Given the fact that it can be worn so many ways I can easily wrap the straps in ways to cover up my mistakes. So in the end I still ended up with my infinity dress and have learned from the mistakes and can now easily make another for me or my friends. So who wants one???

Surf's Up

2009-03-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

The internet is the ultimate time wasting tool. From the great procrastination power of facebook to the mindless wanderings on Wikipedia, there is always something to do on the web. As I tend to spend way too much time wandering around websites I find “new” favorites all the time. In the last few weeks I have come across three websites that have easily made their way into my top slots… for now. Check them out. Hopefully you will love them as much as I do!

fmylife.com

I don’t really know how to describe this website besides hilarious and awesome. Just check it out :)

Polyvore

Lets you express your inner stylist/magazine editor! I put together a nice layout for a girlfriend to help give her ideas on a girls night outfit.

ModCloth

The newest of my favorites… it has really cute stuff at great prices (Check out the shoes!). I would say it has a similar style to Urban Outfitters but has a lot of other options as well.

Sex is coming back!

2009-02-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

People Magazine has confirmed that there will be a sequel to the hit Sex and the City: The Movie! All the major players are signed on including writer/director Michael Patrick King. They are set to start shooting this summer with it being released in 2010.
I for one am super excited! I loved the series and own the collectors box DVD set. I hosted a 'Cosmos and Manolos' party for the first movie and now am definitely planning another in 2010 :)

Latest Obsession

2009-01-19T10:06:00.000-08:00

So one of my latest shoe obsessions is the fold-over ankle bootie. I just can't get over the great styling of these. You can't go wrong with skinny jeans or my favorite... a skirt with tights and some added flare of leg warmers! I know it sounds a little much but believe me, when put together with all the right pieces, that is one puzzle that every girl should have! There are quite a few of the fold over booties out there but I am currently lusting over the color choices of Dolce Vita's Wynona Ankle Boot. I mean I can't bring myself to decide between the orange, the cream, the black, the brown... the list goes on.

A Little Shout Out

2009-01-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to give a little shout out to two of my good friends who completed the Disney World Marathon this weekend! I am not one of those people who have running a marathon on my list of things to do but I still think that its a great accomplishment. So, way to go J&M! I am proud of you both :)

A Few of My Favorite Things

2009-01-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

What girl would not want a pair of designer shoes for her birthday? Well that is just what Barbie is getting for her 50th Birthday! As 2009 marks the iconic doll's landmark year it has been announced that there will be a special runway show at Fashion Week in NYC this February to celebrate. Christian Louboutin (the designer of the iconic red sole stilettos for those fashion virgins) has designed a pair of heels in the classic Barbie 219 Pink that will be debuted at this runway show.

I for one can barely wait to see what these will be like and I am sure will soon become my newest (unattainable) shoe obsession. I mean... What is better than Barbie and Louboutin? Not much!