Study of Shoes and Stilettos

Steve Madden red patent leather, peep-toe, platform pumps with 4-inch heel.  Today is National Wear Red Day to raise awareness for heart health for women, tragically, I haven’t done laundry in about 3 weeks and my stash of red tops is buried at the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper.  But I decided I could wear red heels instead.  I know these are more summery than February-y, but between the Go Red for Women and Valentine’s Day I figured it didn’t really matter.  Right?  Right.  Here’s some additional bright-red lovelies for your Friday-viewing pleasure!  Happy Weekend!

GUESS Hondo3 Peep-Toe Pump

Madden Girl Fawwn Platform Pump

Jessica Simpson Kally Pump

Franco Sarto Women’s Now Platform Pump

Vince Camuto Renees Open-Toe Pump

Gold metallic snakeskin peep-toe, platform sandals with ankle strap and 5-inch heel, by ShoeDazzle.  Are these particularly “winter weather” appropriate?  Mmm, no, not really.  Have I ever been one for “practical” or “appropriate?”  Mmm, no, not really.

Ok, so let’s chat a minute about ShoeDazzle, they are a subscription shoe dealer, which sounds a lot fancier than it really is.  Basically, you get a new pair of shoes every month for a pretty low price, I’m on month two and have already purchased extra pairs.  And not all of the shoes have 5-inch heels, I promise.  You actually take a little “shoe preference” quiz and they give you a selection based on that.  If you don’t like any of them you can request new ones.  It’s a pretty sweet gig.  And, of course, I get referral points if you use this link to join.  So head over there, check it out, report back to me, okay?  Okay.  Happy Tuesday.

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!

Today’s shoes are brought to you from across the pond, Mackenzi is one of my most favorite former students and I was thrilled when she volunteered to fill in for me from her outpost in London.  Miss Kenzi, you have a great start on some amazing style with these beauties!

I have always, always, always wanted to own a pair of red patent leather heels. They are sassy, classy, and seriously hot.  However, I have never found that pair that is just quite right. Then I found these beauties. They are everything I ever wanted in a red shoe; skinny heel, peep toe, shinny, eye popping color, these ladies are the complete package. And the best part? Only $20. I’m in love.

Shannon is all-together lovely and charming and all those things you look for in a friend who lives in your computer.  Plus, she does awesome things like send me pictures of  shoe ornaments (as in, things that go on a tree).  Clearly, we are meant to be friends.

Howdy from Texas! (No, we don’t always say that, but it’s a good distinguisher from the other substitutes thus far.) What a wonderful opportunity we shoe-lovers have here to share while The Shoeologist is off getting sand in her toes.   In the southern part of Texas, our Christmas weather currently has a high of a nice chilly 78 degrees. Which is why I can still wear my favorite pair of shoes just a few days before Christmas.

This pair of gray suede peep toe slingbacks are from my favorite designers, Elie Tahari. Now, if you are familiar with Tahari, you might be with me and consider her a luxury designer… I shop sale racks only. But, during a quick trip to Marshall’s to look for a dress, I saw these shoes. And it was almost an “angelic” moment, for I could hear a chorus. (Maybe it was the background music, but go with it.) I tried the shoes on and they fit perfectly. They spoke to me and said, “We are coming home with you.” So, of course, they did!

One of my favorite aspects of these shoes is they are probably one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I own! I have worn them to work, and then social functions that evening, and it was only around the 12-hour mark that my feet started questioning my sanity.  Now, I fear these shoes were on such deep discount ($50) because they are no longer available…I cannot find any place on the internet to guide you to these lovely beauties. However, if you are at one of your local discount shopping stores, you never know what type of luxury shoes you can find at not-even-close-to luxury pricing.

Chocolate brown faux-croc leather, brown tweed, and camel suede peep-toe 4-inch pumps by Amanda Smith. I love these shoes; I love them so much, in fact, that I have them in three different colors; brown, black and red.  I’ve had all three of these shoes for several years now and I find that they will go with absolutely everything.  Jeans, casual skirts, dressier outfits, suits, whatever.

Toe Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Polish, Floral Taffeta

Make sure to enter my giveaway for a FREE pair of Muckboots!  Contest is open until December 15, 2010.

Seychelles Little Owl Sandals in navy blue suede and silver metallic leather, with 4-inch heel and peep-toe.  I have been looking for some navy blue footwear for several months now and when I accidentally slipped into Nordstrom yesterday I had no intention of even buying shoes.  But they were having a sale.  And as I scanned the racks of discounted shoes my eye zeroed-in on these beautiful suede and metallic heels.  I audibly gasped.  And when I tried them on it was all over, they simply had to come home with me.  What?  They were on sale! Besides, they go perfectly with my dress.

Toe Nail Polish: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Polish, Floral Taffeta

Make sure to enter my giveaway for a FREE pair of Muckboots!  Contest is open until December 15, 2010.

Wild Diva black peep-toe, T-strap, platform heel.  In the last 24-hours my neighborhood received about a foot of snow (oh man, am I wishing I had these boots RIGHT NOW!), so I sensibly wore a pair of clunky-but-warm snow-boots to shovel out my car.  But as soon as I arrived in the office I peeled those off and slipped into these 5-inch heels.  Can you wear peep-toe shoes with tights?  Absolutely.  Extra points if your tights are a fun color like these bright red ones. 

Piperlime is having a 20% Off Sale today with Coupon Code LUCKY20.  I think you should hop over there and pick up something for your own Happy Monday/Early Christmas present.  Or for someone else’s Christmas present (I’m a size 10).

Cyber Monday Sale! Get 20% off all Piperlime merchandise! Enter coupon code LUCKY20.

If you’re looking for some T-strap sandals to wear, here are a few options that I love.  These both have ruffles up the front, which always makes things more fabulous.  These Betsey Johnson Walland Sandals are already on sale, but drop down to just $80 with the 20% coupon code.  And these Pierre Dumas Belinda-16 Sandals are marked down to $35 and will drop even further with your 20% coupon code!  Happy Shopping!

 Red leather, suede, and faux stamped croc peep-toe 4-inch pumps from Amanda Smith.  I particularly love the cut-outs on the toe.  I actually have these pumps in 3 different colors; the red ones here, black, and a lovely pair in brown tweed (which will be worn at some point, I promise).  These heels are incredibly comfortable and go with everything. 

Besides, there is something to be said for combating rainy Monday’s with red shoes.  Right?  (Right.)  If you aren’t wearing red shoes today here are a few more pairs to lift your spirits.  I love these red patent peep toe pumps from Guess, and the teeny little cut-outs on these red suede heels from Franco Sarto are absolutely divine, and who wouldn’t immediately fall in-love with these Bandolino peep-toe heels in red stamped croc?  Communists, that’s who.  Everyone else should be swooning by now.

Toe Polish Color: St. Petersburgundy by OPI

Black leather, suede and faux croc peep-toe pumps by Amanda Smith with cut-out detail on the toe and a 4-inch heel.  These classic pumps have been worn year after year and I am both surprised and delighted with how well they’ve held up.  I love the mix of suede and leathers and the cute cut outs on the toe.  There is something to be said for owning a no-frill pair of classic black heels; but there is more to say about owning a pair that are a oustanding.  These fit into the latter category; at least they do in my closet.

Toe Nail Polish: Alice in Wonderland, Thanks so Muchness by O.P.I.
(Admittedly, I bought this bottle of polish simply for the color name.)