Study of Shoes and Stilettos

Black sequined peep-toe, platform pump with 4.5-inch satin heel by Mainframe.  These are the ultimate party shoe, but I am wearing them at work today because, well, I can.  These fabulous heels were a gift and when I opened the box I thought they would be a “special occasion only” shoe.  I was dead wrong, I have worn these to work, on dates, to church, I’ve worn them everywhere.  There’s nothing quite like a little sparkle at your feet on a Thursday.

(Side note: in looking at most of these pics it has come to my attention that I have really veiny feet.  Is that normal?  I mean, seriously, the top of my foot looks like the forearm of some meat-head hopped up on steroids!  Maybe I should invest in more tights.)

(I would like to ap0logize to these beautiful shoes for mentioned meat heads and steroids in the same post as they.  Twice.)

Happy Thursday.

Bordello Siren Sequined Pump ($63.95)

Bordello Cabaret T-Strap Sequined Pump ($59.95)
(these ones come in so many fabulous colors!!  Red!  Pink!  Silver!)

Chinese Laundry Ladybug Sequined Peep Toe Platform Pump ($58.00)

Today is the last of the party shoe mini-series, and we are ending on one of my all-time favorite pairs of heels.  Click here for the rest of the party shoes.

Magenta satin t-strap peep-toe sandals with rosettes and 4-inch heel.  I would like you to take a moment to just admire these–they just might be my favorite pair of shoes.  I have worn these only a few times–to the symphony, on a fancy date, around in my apartment on a particularly sad day–they never fail to make me feel like a million bucks.

I have been touting wearing fancy party shoes with jeans, however these ones must be seen.  Please to wear with something that shows a little leg, okay?

I can’t find these online anywhere, but here are a couple of options that are similar.  (Well, they are close–the ruffled roses on a T-strap aren’t to be found.  Sob!)

Miss Me Dazzle-32 Sandal, Coral ($33.78)

Calvin Klein Rajah Ankle-Strap Sandal, Fuchsia (109.00)

Badgley Mischka Kiwi Sandal, Raspberry Satin (137.90)

Bordello By Pleaser Preen Peep Toe Platform, Fushia Satin ($41.95)

This week is all about party shoes, those fancy, satiny, ruffled, sparkly heart-stoppers. Click to see all the party shoes here.

Black open-toe heels with ruffles, ankle wrap and 3.5-inch heel.  I used to wear these fairly often–usually with slacks to prevent raised eyebrows at work–and I had forgotten about them until I started digging around in my stacks.  Such a cute pair of heels!  Swoon!  I tried to find some similar ones, but unfortunately search results for “bedroom shoes” were more fuzzy slipper and less fantastic heels.

Touch Ups Ivanna Pump, Black ($55.16)

Dyeables Frilly Sandal, Black ($19.95)

Betsey Johnson Nelson Pump, Black Satin (40.95)

This week I’m posting all about party shoes, the ones I rarely wear but still are so beautiful I get butterflies in my stomach when I think about them. See other party shoe posts: pink satin peeptoe heels, and silver sparkly strappy sandals.

Aqua-teal strappy evening san,dal covered in rhinestones with 4-inch heel.  These lovelies also came from my beloved Nordstrom Rack.  I love the diagonal strap, and the little rhinestone-encrusted flower on the toe, and the saturated color.  These would be perfect with a silvery gray dress, or a black pencil skirt, or jeans and a sparkly top.  Oooh!  Or hot pink!!  Oh man, these would be fabulous with hot pink!  How often do you get to wear bedazzled aqua shoes!?  Not often, sadly.  I must do something to fix that. (And I’m seriously crushing on the hot pink + aqua

There are not many aqua evening shoes around the interwebs, but here are a few heart-stoppers.

Luichiny Gettin Hitched Sandal, Teal Satin ($32.92)

Charles by Charles David Wisper Sandal, Turqouise ($63.22)

Luichiny Gal Lop Sandal, Teal Satin ($68.95)

This week I’m posting all about party shoes, the ones I rarely wear but still are so beautiful I get butterflies in my stomach when I think about them. See here for other party shoe posts.

Silver sparkly strappy sandals with 3.5-inch heel and criss-cross straps at the toe.  I found these at Nordstrom Rack almost 8 years ago for $35 dollars, marked down from a hundred.  They started out at t-strap shoes, but I was in an anti-T-strap phase and clipped it off.  (What was I thinking!?  I’m glad it was just a phase!  I love t-straps!)  At any rate, I have worn these to the opera, the ballet, a fancy black-tie party, dancing, (smooching!)…I love them.  They go with just about everything and what girl doesn’t need a little sparkle at her feet every so often.  Am I right?

There are about ten-thousand options around the Interwebs for something sparkly and fantastic, here is a small sampling.  Seriously, if you need  a little pick-me-up click through these links.  So many pretty shoes!

Coloriffics Jessica Platform Sandal, Silver ($61.95)
criss-cross straps, peep toes and a lot of sparkle!

Jen + Kim for Coloriffics Devote Ankle-Strap Sandal, Sterling (83.00)
silver silk shantung with a sparkly buckle

Nina Clorele Sandal,Gunmetal ($99.95)
strappy leather sandal with rhinestones and silver baubles, love

Cynthia Vincent Alora Ankle-Strap Sandal, Gunmetal ($295, but oh-so pretty!)
metallic mesh strappy sandal, goodness, these are fancy!

Michael Antonio Casey Sandal, Silver ($49.46)
strappy silver snakeskin

Nine West Edera Sandal, Pewter ($78.95)
glittery leather straps in all kinds of awesome shapes

Bordello by Pleaser Violette-12G Sandal, Silver Glitter ($56.95)
sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!  swoon!

Nina Corvala Sandal, Gunmetal ($89.95)
sassy and strappy with a little flouff at the heel

This week I’ve decided to take a little break from my regular daily footwear postings and do something a little different.  I have several boxes of party shoes that rarely get worn, so in honor of Valentine’s Day* I will be putting a little sparkly, a little frill, and/or a little satin up everyday.  I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Hot pink satin peep-toe pumps with 4-inch heel, by RSVP.  These beauties would be fabulous with a little black dress (or a little gray dress, or a sparkly dress, or a creamy dress…you get the picture) or a pair of dark, skinny jeans and a flouncy, sparkly top.  I love the pleating and the peep-toe.

Caparros Lizzie Open-Toe Pump,Hot Pink ($64.95)

Martinez Valero Carolina Platform Pump, Fuchsia (09.95)
(These have the most fantastic detail at the toe! Hello, “bedroom” shoes!

GUESS WHondo3 Peep-Toe Pump, Pink ($49.47)

Mojo Moxy Inferno Peep Toe Pump, Fuchsia ($58.76)

Menbur Sling Back Pump, Fuchsia ($52.25)
(These are made in Spain, sling-back and a bow on the toe, absolutely beautiful!)

Whelp, that’s it for today.  Come back tomorrow for something sparkly!

*I know some of you may hate Valentine’s Day / Single Awareness Day.  I am not exactly looking forward to it this year either, I don’t have a date nor a party invite, which means I have no excuse to wear any of these beautiful shoes.  I may just end up ordering a pizza, watching a cheesy chick-flick, and trying them all on again. One by one.  Alone.  In my apartment.  Don’t judge.

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!)

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

Leopard print d’orsay* heels with sequin and lace embellishments, 4-inch heel and a peep-toe, by Steve Madden.  I don’t know if I can explain in how many different ways I love and adore these shoes.  I love the pony-hair animal print (not real pony hair, obviously), I love the sparkly bits, the peep toes…these are easily one of my all-time favorite pairs of shoes.  I wore these lovelies for 15-hours straight, from work straight to a holiday party, and by the end of the night I was still trotting all over the place without any kind of foot pain.  That, my friends, is the mark of a fabulous pair of heels.

*Vocabulary Lesson:

• A d’orsay (door-say) heel is cut away on the middle of the vamp from the toe-box to the heel so that the arch of the foot is exposed.
• The vamp is the center part of the shoe, the part that goes over/around your arch.
• Perhaps a bit more self-explanatory, the toe-box is the area where your toesies live.

Editors Note: Goodness, I never realized how many definitions it takes to explain something like this!  Huzzah for the mini vocabulary lesson!

Elizabeth has been one of my biggest fans and she actually sent me a picture of these shoes several months ago (or I may have seen them on her blog…either way.  I loved them immediately, of course).  Thanks a million, E., for subbing for me today.  Class?  Leave her a little comment love, won’t you?

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“Cinderella is proof that that right pair of shoes can, in fact, change your life”. –Unknown

Hi there.  Elizabeth from Such a Sew and Sew here.  First, I want to thank Heidi for letting me guest post today.  I love getting my daily shoe fix here at The Shoeologist.  Though I do not have 200+ pairs of shoes {or even 20+ pairs of shoes} I love pretty shoes and am excited to show you my favorite pair.  They are these beautiful 3¼” Silver Spectator Pumps.  I love everything about them – the ankle strap, the pretty rounded toe, the shiny silver patent leather. They make me feel a little magical, kind of like Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz {if you’ve read the book, you’ll know her magic shoes were silver instead of ruby} when I wear them.



My only regret about these shoes is that I didn’t also get them in the beautiful plum color too.  Thanks for letting me share my own little piece of shoe heaven with you today. And remember, if the shoe fits . . . buy it in every color!