Study of Shoes and Stilettos

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.

Casual Friday + Overnight Snow Storm = leather winter boots.  I have started a massive overhaul of my shoe room, and in the clean-out discovered these black boots.  They only come up to the lower part of my calf, but seeing as how we don’t have 3 feet of snow on the ground (yet) I am totally fine with that.  Rampage black leather boots with 3-inch square heel.  (I know, I know, square, chunky heels aren’t really “in” anymore.  But here’s what, a stiletto heel would last approximately 10 feet on my sidewalk before you landed on your kiester.)

Navy blue suede pumps with 3.5-inch heel and square-ish toe.  These were a hand-me-down from my favorite aunt, they are Italian made and a classic regardless of that Elvis song.  Looking around the Interwebs, I found this navy suede platform pump and  this lovely pointy-toe version from Nine West,   I also really like these brighter royal blue suede pump from ZiGiny.

Elektra snowshoes, gray and chrome with teal accents.  I’m not actually wearing these today, but I wore them on Saturday and thought I’d share.  During the winter the valley in which I live collects pollution like you cannot believe.  The air becomes brownish gray, your eyes hurt and most people develop a “smoker’s cough” after a few days.  Seriously, the toxicity blocks out the sun, it’s like I live on a hostile planet or something.  At any rate, the only thing to do is to head up one of the many canyons to get above all the muck and enjoy the blue sky and clean–if thinner–air.  So on Saturday, that’s exactly what I did.

(Ok, I know there isn’t any blue sky in this pic, but that’s because it was snowing.  You can take me word for it that it was nice, clean, white fluffy snow and not acidic snow.)

Burgundy Mary Jane with T-strap, 3.5-inch heel, and cut-outs at the toe, by Report.

It’s been a crazy weekend here at Casa de the Shoeologist, I had a pretty wicked head-cold yesterday and hardly moved from the comfort of my bed. Today the temperature is in single digits, I start classes again at the University, and I would very much like to be snuggled up under a fluffy feather comforter.  Instead, I’m bundled up at work in thick tights and a snuggly sweater with a steaming cup of cocoa.  It’s almost as good (who am I kidding, it’s not the same at all but it’s all I’ve got to work with).

Here is a gorgeous pair of burgundy T-strap heels from Frye.