Study of Shoes and Stilettos

Red patent leather peep-toe sling backs with 4″ heel, by Guess.

I’ve shown these shoes before but I absolutely love them.  Red heels are one of the ultimate staples in my closet, they will always make me feel better about the day.

I am still getting used to this whole “take pictures of yourself” thing–good thing my apartment complex has several mostly hidden places where I can pose in front of my mini tripod without feeling too ridiculous.  I bought this chocolate-brown pencil skirt on a whim and it has become one of my go-to pieces when dressing for work.  Pencil skirts.  You should own one (or four!)  I tried on four or five red necklaces with this top, but the high V-neck and the ruching and buttons down the side made most of them feel like far too much.  Any suggestions?

Shoes: Guess
Sweater: Bohme
Pencil Skirt: TJ Maxx
Bracelet: Tiffany

Round toe, flat, leather riding boots with studded detail at ankle, from Bohme.

It’s a typical Rocky Mountain Spring around these parts, we go from 70 degrees to snow and then back again in the same week and this cycle hasn’t stopped since March.  I predict that it will probably snow once or twice more before we hit triple-digit temperatures.  The last few days have been rainy, gray, and downright freezy–on Monday we hit a new record for lowest recorded temperature in 80 years!  I don’t mind the chill, and I certainly don’t mind that it is summer temperatures elsewhere because the combination of those two factors means that I found and purchased these boots for $20 dollars over the weekend, and can still get a wear or two out of them before summer hits!  Win-win!

Blue linen dress with smocked top, puffy sleeves, and cut-outs at the hem.  Paired with a fresh tank and well-loved denim blazer this sundress becomes office appropriate.  I love that the boots and thrifted belt compliment each other so well.

For the most part, I wear the same jewelry day in and day out: a Tiffany bracelet and a pair of diamond earrings.  However, lately I have tried branching out a bit to incorporate some fun jewelry, different colors, statement pieces, etc.  These bangles were purchased together–I’m not skilled enough to mix them myself yet, baby steps here–and I fell in-love with the cocktail ring the moment I saw it.

Boots: Bohme
Dress: Max Studio, Nordstrom Rack (shop similar dress)
Tank: B.P., Nordstrom
Nude Fishnets: Department store
Denim Blazer: Express (purchased 8 years ago)
Belt: Thrifted
Bangles: Bohme
Ring: Ann Taylor Loft

Ok, so I realize this has previously been only footwear, and while I still will include my shoes in every single post, I will also include outfits, accessories, and probably a story or two from my life as well.  We’ll see how it goes, wish me luck!

In the last couple of months I have been working extra hard at my job, finishing up several enormous projects in a mostly-timely way and trying not to think about the twelve-hour days those projects required.  I have also finished my semester at the University with grades that are passable.  And then I went on a much needed mini-vacation and spent some quality time with Mother Nature.  The photo above is the top of Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park, a strenuous hike with a 1,500 foot elevation climb in 2.5 miles.  Chains and scrambling are required.  But the view?  The view is spectacular.

In the last few days I have had a little time to clear my head, forget about finals, and my company has actually hired an additional person to take off some of my work load.  I finally feel like I can breathe again!  And blog again!  (Hello blog, did you miss me?  No?  Fine.)

If anyone is still reading this, rest assured I will be back with more shoes, outfits, accessories, the works.  Cross my heart and kiss my elbow!

Two weeks ago Lucha Shoes launched their first pair of kicks, and as a proud owner I can attest to their general fabulosity.  I don’t usually wear flats, which this blog more-or-less proves, but I have practically lived in my Lucha’s the last 10 days or so.  As soon as I get home from work I put them on, I wear them on weekends and rainy days and Monday’s and…oh, wait.  I’m getting distracted.  You’re not here for me to wax poetic (or Carpenter-ish) about these shoes, although, be warned, I could do such a thing without any encouragement whatsoever.  You’re here to see if you won a FREE pair of Lucha shoes!  Right?

I counted up all the comments from my site and the Lucha blog, all the tweets, the blog posts mentioning Lucha Shoes and my little contest, and ended up with nearly 100 entries!

And entry #57 was Jen from Little Miss Penny Wenny!!  She entered several different ways, and the winning entry was linking to her own blog and mentioning the contest and Lucha shoes!

Drop me an email, Jen and I’ll get all your information! (heidi.theshoeologist at the gmail)

Thank you all for entering!!  And I certainly hope that you will buy a pair of Lucha’s, even if you didn’t win.  I am actually going to be ordering another pair in grey this week because I have found (shockingly!) that red shoes don’t necessarily “go” with everything.  (I know, I can hardly believe it myself!)  However, I’m convinced that a pair of red and a pair of grey will cover my casual-shoe needs for the rest of forever.  Well, until they come out with a new color.  (wink!)

What are you fighting for?  Fight with your feet.  Lucha Shoes.

This contest sponsored by Lucha Shoes, all opinions are 100% mine.  For more information about sponsoring The Shoeologist, please email me at heidi.theshoeologist[at]gmail[dot]com.

Black patent leather, pointy-toe heels by Gabriella Rocha.  These heels could easily become the workhorse of your wardrobe.  They go with absolutely everything, are easy to take care of, and are the epitome of class.

Nine West Pointy Toe Tabera Mid-Heel Pump, Black Patent ($48.51)

BCBGeneration Tinas Round Toe Pump,Black Patent ($56.90)

Nine West Pointy Toe Bounding Pump, Black Patent ($79.00)

Calvin Klein Whinnie Round Toe Pump, Black Patent (08.00)

ALSO! Remember to enter to win a FREE pair of Lucha Shoes! Contest entry and details are here. Contest is open until March 18.

Navy blue patent leather Mary Jane’s with 4-inch heel and almond-shaped toe, by Nine West.  I found these beauties at Nordstrom Rack for half-off of half-off.  I ended only paying $15.00 for them.  And they’re blue!  And shiny!  And look at the fancy, strappy bit on the heel!  Swoon!

I love shopping at Nordstrom Rack, I love that my feet are not an average size so there is always something fabulous there for a great deal.  (Size 10 is far from average, yo.)  I had a hard time finding navy, patent leather Mary Jane’s that are available right now…but I think you’ll see that these are just as fantastic.

Madden Girl Sursey Pump ,Navy Patent ($39.95)
(Available in a bunch of other colors as well!)

Nine West Reptile-Print Rocha Pump, Navy Patent ($54.11)
Navy! Patent Leather! With a reptile print! Triple love!

United Nude Modern Mary Jane, Navy ($134.69)
I can’t get over the structure of these heels! I don’t know a better way to describe them, but they are fantastic!

ALSO!  Remember to enter to win a FREE pair of Lucha Shoes! Contest entry and details are here. Contest is open until March 18.

Black PUMA sneakers, love them for casual Friday.  Admittedly, these were initially stolen from an x-boyfriend.  I mean, we were dating at the time of said shoe heist, but I totally stole his shoes.  And I wear them on a fairly regular basis.  And I love them.  (Thanks DL!)

PUMA Soleil Suede Fashion Sneaker, Black ($60.00)
Here are the exact shoes I’m wearing today…well, the women’s version of them. (wink)

PUMA Cat Fashion Sneaker, White/Black ($65.00)
I love the hot pink lining of these! So adorable!

PUMA Repli Cat III L Sneaker, White/Hot Pink ($70.00)
Who doesn’t love the pink and white combination? I mean, seriously. (OK, I realize some of you don’t like pink. And I’m not particularly obsessed with it, not like Pink Suede Shoe at any rate, but I think a little pink on your feet is fantastic.)

ALSO!  Remember to enter to win a FREE pair of Lucha Shoes! Contest entry and details are here. Contest is open until March 18.

Have you heard of Lucha Shoes?  I am guessing probably not, which is a shame because they are the next big thing.  On the other hand, Lucha’s have only been available for purchase for approximately 48 hours, so you aren’t too far behind the curve.

As the very first sponsor of The Shoeologist, I am particularly fond of Lucha.  And you should be over the moon about them because they are giving away a brand new pair of FABULOUS shoes to one lucky reader of The Shoeologist!

Aren’t those perfectly adorable for Spring!?  They come in men’s and women’s sizes–men come in blue and gray, women in gray and red!  (Red!  I’m swooning!)  Lucha’s are more durable than their competition, the sole lasts longer and the fabric can withstand more of a beating.  Oh, and they are only $38 dollars, considerably less expensive than the competition!  Hello!  That is fantastic!

Want to hear the coolest part about Lucha Shoes?  I mean, besides the durability and the comfort and the fantastic price-point and all that jazz?   Lucha is Spanish for “a fight”, on the inside of the sole of each pair of Lucha’s there is a space to write down what you are fighting for.  Fighting against a disease?  Write it down.  Fighting against poverty or hunger or for civil rights? Write it down.  Are you fighting for love?  Write it down.  Fighting for Mexican orphans to have something other than rice and beans? Fighting to wear stretchy pants in your room, for fun? Write it down. (And then have a good giggle because Jack Black?  He’s funny!)

Fighting to go back to school?  To graduate?  Are you fighting to pass your Microeconomics/Calculus class? (Ahem, that would be me.)  Write it down and wear it on your sole (ha!  I’m so punny!).

Fight for your education, fight for civil rights, fight for your political beliefs, fight for your right to party (thank you Beastie Boys), fight for a team on which you play, fight for a team you cheer for, fight for your school, fight for a band you love, fight your mother-in-law (kidding, kind of…), fight your weaknesses, fight for spiritual growth, fight bad karma, fight temptations, fight pollution, fight global warming, fight against child prostitution, fight for clean energy, fight the BCS, fight for a cancer cure, fight HIV. The possibilities are endless…

What are you fighting for? Fight with your Feet!  Lucha Shoes.

I love it!  As soon as I heard that Lucha Shoes come in red I knew that was the color I simply HAD to have.  They have been ordered and are on their way to me and I can’t WAIT to flounce about town in sassy red shoes.  Dah, they’re so cute!

Alright, let’s get down to the nitty gritties of how you are going to win a pair of these fabulous shoes to do your own around-town flouncing!

Contest Rules:

• This contest is open until Friday, March 18 at midnight Pacific time.
• One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries, the winner will be announced on Monday, March 21.  The winner will be able to choose what color he/she would like.  (Keep in mind these shoes come in men’s and women’s sizes, so gentlemen–you know, the two that read this blog–make sure you throw your hat in the ring for this one.)
• Entries that do not adhere to the entry rules (below) will be deleted, so pay attention, ya’ll.

How to Enter:

There are lots of ways to enter this contest, you can enter once, or you can enter four times, just make sure to read the rules carefully so I can keep track of your entries.

1. Leave a comment on this post. (Multiple comments will not be counted.)

2. Leave a comment here, on the Lucha Shoes blog, telling them what you’re fighting for. (Multiple comments will not be counted, comments that do not include what you are fighting for will not be counted. Play by the rules, mmmkay?)

3. Follow @luchashoes on twitter and tweet about this contest.  Your tweet MUST include the following three things, @luchashoes, @theshoeologist and the hashtag #FightWithYourFeet.  Copy your tweet and paste it in a separate comment on this post.

4. Mention this contest on your blog and leave a separate comment here with the direct URL of your post (not your home page, but the post mentioning this contest).  For blog entries to be considered they must include a link to Lucha Shoes AND THIS POST on The Shoeologist.

What Are You Fighting For?

Fight With Your Feet

Lucha Shoes

Follow The Shoeologist on Twitter and Facebook.  Follow Lucha Shoes on Twitter and Facebook.  All the cool kids are doing it.

If you would like to sponsor The Shoeologist, please email me at heidi.theshoeologist[at]gmail[dot]com.

Black satin slingbacks with 2.5-inch heel by Karen Smith.  After wearing fuzzy slippers for 10 days due to a nasty sinus infection, I decided to ease my way back in to the world of wearing heels.  I’ve had these heels for ages, they are classic and go with pretty much everything.  And with a modest 2.5 inch heel they were just the ticket to get used to being at work all day.

Bella Vita Classic Sling Pump, Black Satin ($43.97)
These have some fabulous detail on the toe! Heart!

J.Renee Edison Pump, Black Croc ($46.72)
I do love me some faux-croc heels, they are classic forever and ever.

Nine West Manequin Pump, Black Leather ($64.39)
I really love these, Nine West makes some of the classiest shoes!

Steve Madden Staciee Slingback Pump, Black ($89.95)
Swoon!

VANELi Zinaida Dress Pump, Black ($100.00)

Hello? Is this thing on?

*tap, tap, tap

Hello? Oh. Hi. It’s me. I’ve spent the last week buried under a really heinous sinus infection and three midterms. It was unpleasant at best and excruciating at worst. I think 6 of the last 8 days I spent in fuzzy socks and pajamas, donning shoes only to go to the University and muddle through my Economics midterms in a foggy stupor. Somewhere in there was a sinus scrape which resulted in two black eyes, and some antibiotics that finally offered a bit of relief.

So, now that I’ve dug myself out of my studies and my sinuses (yes, it’s gross, I know) I am now buried in work. I’ll be back tomorrow with a fancy pair of shoes and another giveaway, cross my heart and kiss my elbow!