Study of Shoes and Stilettos

Black suede, velvet and leather strappy Mary Jane’s with 4-inch heel, from Coach. That’s right, Coach. Several years ago I went to Chicago for the weekend to reward myself after a particularly grueling year. I went to see Wicked, visited some of my favorite museums, and wandered along The Magnificent Mile for two days straight. In my wanderings and window shopping, I found these lovelies. They are, to date, the most expensive pair of shoes I own. I got them on sale, a really big sale, but they were still $156.74. I know this, because the receipt is still inside the box. Do I regret this purchase? No. Do I wear these often? No. Do I think they are a waste of money? Absolutely not. They are like the “good china” your grandmother had, beautiful and delicate and not meant for every-day wear. Will I hand these beauties down to my daughter? Maybe, if she happens to be a size 10. (wink.)

Here are a few similar pairs, although nothing quite so outrageous in price. Happy Monday.

BCBGeneration Drift Mary-Jane Pump

T.U.K. Mary Jane Pump

MICHAEL Michael Kors Clare T-Strap Heel
(these ones are a little pricey, but so pretty!)

Bordello by Pleaser Spectator Pump
(I love these, absolutely love them!)

Gray plaid “Prison Issue” Vans.  It’s Friday!!  And it’s been one of the crazier, busier, more stressful weeks in recent memory.  Words can hardly explain how thrilled I was when I realized today is the beginning of my weekend.  ”Prison Issue” Vans have Velcro tab-closures instead of laces, I have them in red as well and usually get compliments on how awesome they are.  In the vast halls of the Interwebs these are a bit of a rare commodity, I found them (in men’s sizes, careful if/when ordering) in black and gray, but that’s about it.

Happy Shopping, Happy Friday, Happy Weekend!

Cream and white cowboy (cowgirl?) boots with feather/flame-ish detail.  I was never the type to always want a pair of cowboy boots.  I grew up in the Wild Wild West geographically, but my town was just a quiet little town.  Sure, we had a rodeo every summer, and I was a bit obsessed with horses as a girl–what girl wasn’t?–but my horse dreams always involved riding bareback in the circus and not becoming a rodeo queen, thus no boots.  (Note: while both circus performers and rodeo queens both wear sequins, I think it’s pretty obvious which version I lean towards.)

These beauties were a gift from my amazing Aunt Mouse (not her real name, don’t worry), she and I used to be the same shoe size, but then her feet tragically grew about a half-size and she gifted me several pairs of shoes, including these boots.  I was looking around the Interwebs at cowboy boots, and they are expensive, yo!  Seriously, most pairs are $200-$300, and some go up to $800!!  And that was just a preliminary search!  I was baffled.  I had no idea they were so expensive!  I went to Toronto a few months ago and–among other things like visiting a SHOE MUSEUM–found a row of cowboy boots in a thrift store, I admired them and took an artsy-ish photo, but what I should have done is buy a pair at those low prices (and with Canadian money it’s like it’s free–their dollar bills are pink and purple, which seems like monopoly money to me.  I heart Canada!).

Here are a few pairs I found for under $100, enjoy!

Coconuts By Matisse, Burgundy Gaucho Boot (red cowboy boots?  Sold.)

Groove Kick Knee-High Boot (these come in purple AND red AND tan! Love!)

Western Cowboy Lizard Boot (a sleek, shiny option)

MIA Traill Western Boot (I love these.)

Western Cowboy Firewater Boot (turquoise flames on boots?  Rawr!)

Black leather slip-on loafers, the brand is worn off the inside but I’m pretty sure I got these at Nordstrom Rack.  Yesterday’s exclamations over the spring-like weather must have angered the snow gods or something, because as soon as I headed out the door to my car–in springy, strappy satin sandals--it started to gently snow.  By the end of the day the roads were solid ice and there is a few inches of fresh white stuff on the ground.  C’est la vie, right?  Today I opted for practicality, which is so unlike me!

Additional loafers for your enjoyment and perusal:

AK Anne Klein Zeru Patent Leather Loafer

Circa Joan & David Neema Driving Loafer

Sperry Top-Sider Madaket Suede Loafer

Michael Kors Winsor Loafer

Two Lips Studded Slip-On Flat (only $36.50!)

Let me tell you a little something about ordering from Endless.  While I was looking around their site the other night for some links to include in yesterday’s post I found a pair of heels (which you’ll see next week) that I thought were adorable and they were on an incredible sale.  I ordered them at approximately 8:00 pm on Monday and used their standard, free shipping option.  By the time I got home from work on Tuesday they were waiting for me.  Um, that’s incredible!  I can’t think of any better form of instant gratification than a new box of shoes outside my front door, less than 24-hours after I ordered them.  /end soap box.

Chocolatey brown satin strappy sandal with 3-inch heel, from B.P.  The last few days it has felt like spring here, it even smells like spring!  In fact, my allergies kicked in last week due to a prolonged thaw!  Don’t worry, I’m sure it will plummet into sub-zero temperatures and a couple more feet of snow will fall in my valley before too long.  But for now I am enjoying the toe-baring weather!

Here are a few sassy pairs of satin heels to tide you over until summer (or, if you happen to live somewhere where it’s always 70-degrees and sunny, you can wear them now)(it has not been 70 here, more like 50)(excuse the excessive parentheticals), or if you need to dress up for a fabulous party or swanky event or an otherwise uneventful Tuesday.

Calvin Klein Rudie T-Strap Sandal

BCBGeneration Erica Pump

Ok, I know these next two aren’t strappy or summery or anything–but there is snow in the forecast and these ankle booties just seem so cozy and snuggly!

Kenneth Cole REACTION How Chicky Ankle Boot

Liliana Carrie Open-Toe Ankle Boot

Burgundy patent-leather pointy-toe pumps with bow and fringe at the toe and 3-inch heel, by Anne Klein.  I love how classic these heels look, I have worn them with dark, skinny jeans and a white button-up, or a suit, or (like today) a printed dress and cardigan.  They go with everything.

I tried to find a similar pair of heels, but apparently burgundy patent leather + menswear-inspired pumps are harder to come by than I thought! I did find some lovely burgundy heels though. I have a huge crush on these layered leather platform pumps and wish I had the extra pennies to order them. Ditto on these burgundy patent-leather Mary Jane’s from Joan & David. This pair of pointy-toe pumps from Charles by Charles David are swoontastic, and they have some color combinations that made my jaw drop (I’m looking at you, camel and orange.)  Here is a really cute pair of Menswearish ballet-flat from Chinese Laundry. I also found two pair of fantastic heels made from several different textures in the same, deep burgundy hue; slingbacks from Anne Klein and these day-to-night stunners by Lovely People.

Hot pink and white leather PUMA sneakers.  I know I’m probably not technically supposed to be wearing white or white-ish shoes this time of year, but sometimes a girl needs a little pink.  And this particular brand of pink happens to come with white leather.  Just go with it, it’s Friday and my brain is fried.  Like these?  You’re in luck, Endless.com has them here. Well, they are close anyway, these were another Nordstrom Rack find five years ago and have been worn to death.  (Why?  Because they are fabulous, that’s why.)

Happy weekend!

Black suede PUMA sneakers.  I have several pair of PUMAs and wear them all the time on my more casual days.  I am not in the office today, but am instead volunteering with a group of high school students.  This makes Thursday awesome for a couple of reasons. A) I can wear jeans (yay!) and B) I don’t have to file a TPS report (double yay!).

I couldn’t find these particular sneakers online, I got them five years ago at Nordstrom Rack (along with a pair of identical shoes in gray), but I did find these fantastic purple PUMA’s that I will proceed to dream about for the next several hours.  (Love!)

A Note from the Editor: I don’t know what my deal is lately, but I am wearing a TON of suede!  Gray sneakers, navy blue pumps, gray pumps, chocolate brown pumps, and now these black sneakers!  It’s winter!  There is snow and all things wet on the ground!  Suede is impractical!  Meh, I guess I’m the poster child for impractical footwear (not that this is anything new or anything, just stating some facts).

Dark gray suede Italian pumps, gifted to me from my favorite Aunt.  She and I have the same shoe size, and when her feet grew a half-size she handed down several pairs of beautiful shoes.  These are the gray sister of the navy blue suede pumps I wore last week.

In hopping about the Interwebs I found a couple of fantastic pairs of gray heels, I particularly love these Gray suede menswear-ish pump by Tracy Reese. This gray flannel pump looks particularly cozy. And these fabulous oxford-inspired, menswear-ish, spectator-like heels.  (Yes, that’s a mouthful of a description, but they’re just so perfect!)  They aren’t gray and they aren’t suede, but they are all kinds of fabulous, so I’m including them here.

Chocolate brown suede vintagey pumps with slight pointed-toe, 2.5-inch heel, and bow detail.  These are one of the very few pairs of shoes I own that came from a thrift store, I absolutely love them.  They are so feminine and sweet and perfectly shaped.