Study of Shoes and Stilettos

Red satin strappy sandals with 4-inch wedge heel by Steve Madden, via Nordstrom Rack. These are one of my favorite pairs of summer heels, I love the wedges, I love the straps. I feel like these shoes are lingerie for your feet, but, you know, the kind that is appropriate to wear to work.

I found this skirt a few weeks ago and have absolutely loved wearing it, it is perfect for road trips or other long bouts of sitting where you don’t want to look (or feel) like a slouch but are desperate for some slouchy-feeling clothes. Coincidentally, the chevron pattern means I can also wear it to work without worrying I’m too casual. Double win!

The Details

Chevron skirt: Old Navy
Cream T: Downeast Outfitters
Tan cardigan: Old Navy
Red scarf: Urban Outfitters I absolutely love the sheep print on this!
Coral-like silver ring: From a teeny little general store in Wisdom, MT
Red strappy wedges: Nordstrom Rack
Silver bracelet: Tiffany

**This post is part of Kayla‘s 21 Day Challenge. Day 3: Mix patterns. Check out the rest of the participants in the Flickr group here.

Bebe strappy leather sandals with chunky wooden platform and a staggering 6-inch heel. Surprisingly, these aren’t all that tricky to walk in, and are remarkably comfortable. Seriously. The platform makes the heel not quite so severe, and I can’t tell you how tall and important I feel when rocking a six-inch heel. Goodness, I love these shoes!

I love how this is a fairly classic outfit until you get to my ankles, and then it’s sass and spunk all the way. I kind of wish I’d worn this with a hot pink belt instead of the brown one, but I suppose that just means I’ll have to wear it again.

The Details

Blue and white polka-dot blouse: Banana Republic
White tank: Old Navy
Brown pencil skirt: TJ Maxx
Brown belt: Forever 21 (I think)
Shoes: Bebe
Pink bangles and ring: Claire’s
Silver bracelet: Tiffany

**This post is part of Kayla‘s 21 Day Challenge. Day 2: Tuck it in. Check out the rest of the participants in the Flickr group here.

A few months ago I did a giveaway for a free pair of Lucha Shoes, and while that was then and this is now, you should probably know that I’ve worn both my red and gray pairs to death, wandering around the city, casual hiking, grocery store, movies, etc. They are my staple weekend shoe.

Hi, I’m trying to get back into more regular fashion blogging. I can’t promise every day, and I won’t even promise a completely different pair of shoes for each post (although, I still haven’t cycled through all the shoes I own. It’s gonna take some time, just sayin’).

The Details:
Stripey cardigan and floral/lace top: Forever 21
Jeans: Nappi Clothing
Shoes: Lucha Shoes
Necklace: Nordstrom Rack (about a hundred years ago)
Red Cuff: Claire’s
Silver bracelet: Tiffany (gift)
Turquoise Ring: street vendor in Mazatlan, Mexico

**This post is part of Kayla‘s 21 Day Challenge, I will be remixing the cardigan two more times in the next three weeks. Check out the rest of the participants in the Flickr group here.

Chocolate brown snakeskin t-strap espadrilles from Banana Republic…the exact same ones I wore last week.  Whatever, I love them and it’s not freezing or rainy or miserable, so espadrilles must be worn.  Truth be told, when I left the house this morning I was wearing boots, but one look at the slice of blue sky that was so lovely, I marched myself back upstairs and grabbed the first pair of shoes with peep-toes.

This dress started it’s life as a mid-calf, homemade pioneer dress from the thrift store.  I chopped off the hem (although I think I need to take it up another inch or two), took the sides in several inches, and made the sleeves a little less puffy.  I loved the summery plaid and the pockets–pockets!!–so any and all adjustments were totally worth it.

The Details
Dress: thrifted and refashioned by me
Cardigan: Old Navy
Belt: Forever 21
Necklaces: Horseshoe Necklace (no clue where this one came from), Mayan calendar necklace (Mazatlan, Mexico)
Earrings: Claire’s
Turquoise Ring: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Espadrille Wedges: Banana Republic

Black snakeskin boots with 3.5″ heel, almond-shaped toe and enough sass to make it through even the roughest day. I love the slouchy feel, and I love the thicker stacked heel–these boots were definitely made for walking!  The tights are a dark purple-plum color, which is tricky to see from this photo, but it’s been overcast and rainy for weeks and I tried.

It is cold.  It is (still!) raining.  And I would like to point out that I am wearing boots, tights, a wool skirt, jacket AND a scarf.  At the end of May.  Gaaaaah. [/weather rant]

The Details
Black and white striped button-up (that you can hardly see): Old Navy, clearance
Denim military-style jacket: Ross ($12! Win!)
Lime green scarf: SF Chinatown ($5)
Wide black belt: Downeast Outfitters
Charcoal paneled skirt: Macy’s (8+ years ago)
Black ruffled headband: Anthropologie
Purple Tights: no ideaFaux-diamond earrings: Express (a million years ago, I wear them almost every day…or, I did before I started documenting my outfits and accessories for the Internet.)
Black Snakeskin Knee High Boots: Nine West

Magenta, grey and black suede peep-toe D’orsay pump with metallic trim and platform heel, thrifted (seriously!)

Two things:(1)  it has been raining here for almost 3 weeks.  I live in the middle of the desert.  This is not normal!! (2) The upside is that everything is ridiculously green, so I’m trying not to complain too much about it.

I found this skirt on clearance at a department store (Z.C.M.I., which was purchased by Meier and Frank, which was bought-out by Macy’s) 8 years ago and have worn it almost every week ever since.  It still looks great!  I love the paneled seaming and the charcoaly gray color.  Here’s to buying great basics!  *clinks glass

A friend of mine gave me a Piperlime giftcard for my birthday a few months ago.  Usually, I am the type to immediately spend that kind of gift on shoes, but I decided to branch out a little and see what else I could add to my wardrobe.  This silver bauble collar-style neckalce caught my eye, and seemed to be something Kendi would love (when in doubt, repeat this mantra: What Would Kendi Wear?).  I have tried it a couple of different ways and am loving how it brings a bit of sparkle and interest to an ensemble.  Yay for trying new trends!

The Details
Striped T-shirt: H&M
Magenta Cardigan: B.P., by Nordstrom
Charcoal paneled skirt: Macy’s (at least 8 years old)
Wide patent leather belt: Downeast Outfitters
Silver bauble necklace: Piperlime
Bracelets: handmade gifts, Tiffany
Silver bauble earrings: Claire’s
Rose ring: Macy’s
Suede color-block heels: thrifted ($10!)

Gold metallic snakeskin round-toe pumps with peek-a-boo toe cut-outs and a 4″ heel, by BCBG.

These are one of my most-loved pairs of shoes, I have had them for years and they are starting to show signs of wear, but I absolutely adore them and they go with practically everything.

It has been raining like crazy around here for the last couple of weeks (a pretty rare occurrence when you live in the middle of the desert) and I’ve had to resort to inside pictures to save my camera from becoming waterlogged.  So, instead of looking at pretty trees you get a portion of my book collection.

Lately I have become obsessed with cocktail rings, I had a little ring-shopping spree a few weeks ago and am still trying to figure out how to wear the all!

The Details
Teal shirt-dress: Shade Clothing
Gold belts (2 worn): Shade Clothing
Earrings: Macy’s
Cocktail Ring: Ann Taylor Loft
Gold chain necklace: Claire’s
BCBGeneartion Shoes: Nordstrom

Bright pink Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers.

I started collecting Chuck’s a few years ago and have them in a half-dozen colors at this point.  I love them.  They are my ultimate casual shoe.  And today? Today is casual Friday.  Chuck’s it is!  This weekend will be spent in Redrock country, and I can’t wait to see a little sunshine (it’s been raining for 5 days, which is exactly 4.5 days longer than I remember it ever raining here).

Hot pink headband: Claire’s
Stripey T-shirt: H&M
Green cardigan: Old Navy
Pink/purple/metalllic scarf: Express
Horse necklace: Etsy
Jeans: Nappi clothing
Pink rose ring: Koo de Ker
Chuck Taylors: Converse.com

Shiny black patent leather peep-toe stiletto platform with 5″ heel, by Gianni Bini.

A girl can never have too many pairs of black heels, at least, that’s what I told myself when I found these beauties.  The platform heel makes the super-high heel much easier to walk in, and the shiny patent leather and fun cut-outs make these one of my favorite pairs of black heels that I own (and I own, I don’t know, 30 pairs of black heels…ish).

I wear this charcoal pencil skirt all the time, it’s one of my favorite pieces.  And the cardigan is a new find from ASOS.  I loved the lavender stripe and the longer, slouchier cut.

I have developed a bit of a crush on large, cocktail rings, perhaps you’ve noticed?  This purple and blue ring is about fourteen different kinds of fabulous, and looking at it now I wonder how I questioned whether or not to include it in my ring spree last week!  My birth stone is amethyst, and while I’ve never particularly loved purple jewelry, I am crushing on this ring hardcore.

The Details:
Charcoal Pencil Skirt: Banana Republic
Light blue pinstripe blouse: Express
Black belt with leopard print trim: Ross
Varsity cardigan: ASOS
Lavender pashmina scarf: Chinatown, San Francisco
Turquoise earrings: Chinatown, San Francisco
Amethyst ring: Macy’s (clearance! $7.00!)
Silver bracelet: Tiffany
Black patent heels, Gianni Bini: Dillards

American Eagle T-strap sandals.

Yep, I’m pretending it’s actually springier than it really is!  Sandals and a cardigan (and a jacket and a scarf that are not pictured) for a dinner date?  Absolutely.

This ruffled tank top is supposed to be a lemon-limey green, but it looks kind of chartreusey-mustardy-yellow in the photo.  Regardless, I think the belt should be switched out for a darker chocolate brown, the lighter tan blends too much into the top.

This is my first time wearing gold jewelry.  Seriously.  I found the ring and loved it, and decided I needed a few other gold items to wear with it because I am not the kind of girl who can mix silver and gold in the same outfit.  (Do you do that?  Mix metals?  How does that work?)  At any rate, I love the owl necklace and I was ecstatic to dig the orangey earrings out of my jewelry box.

Sandals: American Eagle
Jeans: Nappi clothing
Greenish ruffled tank top: Old Navy
Chocolate brown cardigan: B.P., Nordstrom
Studded leather belt: Banana Republic
Owl necklace: Claire’s
Orange and gold earrings: Mazatlan, Mexico
Gold leaf ring: Claire’s