Shoemergency Avoided

When doing some research on a previous post, I came across a rather nifty little item called the ‘Stiletto-2-Go’ kit by our friends at Foot Petals.  Invariably, we have all had that moment of desperation to try to salvage that pair of fabulous heels that feel make our feet feel like we have nails in our soles.  Worse still is that ever so seemingly insignificant rub that turns into that blister from hell.  We like that as much as we like Danielle living in “love and light” on the Real Housewives of New Jersey, right?  Boo on all counts.

Foot Petals ingenuity has been turning those torture devices they started out being into our most cherished lovely heels that we would have otherwise chucked, regardless of how much we spent on them.  The great adhesive pads have put an end to that horrid burning sensation on the balls of our feet from uncushioned but beautiful shoes.  And now, they have made us a little ‘to go’ pack because we multi-tasking ladies hate not being prepared!

This adorable little tin packs (http://www.footpetals.com/Stiletto-2-Go.html) 1 pair of Heavenly Heelz, Sole Stopperz, Tip Toes and 8 Strappy Strips to cover you in any shoemergency situation.  I think that the only thing I would add are band-aids but that’s really an easy fix. ;)  The tin is small enough to toss in your tote, store in your desk drawer at work, or even keep in your car’s glove compartment or seat pocket.  They come in 3 perfect colors: Black Iris, Buttercup, and Silver Rose.

I’ve been able to find these for as low as $15 on Amazon.com making it affordable to keep one at work and in your tote and in your car!  Shoemergencies are now a thing of the past. ;)

Eco-Chic White House Flair Couture-sy of Payless

I hope that you had a great time with the weekend drama on the Emmys and the season finale of Drop Dead Divas on Lifetime TV.  I hope my post will give you some Monday Motivation. ;) 

If you’ve been even near a magazine this September-eve, you have definitely heard of Isabel Toledo’s new shoe line for Payless Shoes.  Ms. Isabel designed that to die for sage dress and coat combo that First Lady Michelle Obama wore to the presidential inauguration back in January 2009, putting her on the fashion map.  The New Jersey native of Cuban decent went all out with extremely graphic designs for her first shoe collection looking to make high fashion accessible to all.  (http://www.payless.com/store/catalog/subsubcategory.jsp?trail=1016%3Acat10283&subCatId=cat10113&catId=cat10088&changedFacetValue=&brandId=&categoryType=&addFacet=1016%3Acat10113)  And let’s be clear, this collection is not for the wall flower. :)

I spent my Friday afternoon trying out her new haute designs at my local Payless Shoe Source and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of materials used in her collection.  Because they are the featured shoe in every magazine, I could not resist trying on the ‘High Ghillie.’  While being incredibly comfortable and easy to wear, the rubber sole of the shoe is very yellow, almost like a taxicab.  

I then moved on to try something a little more my style, the beautiful ‘Toreador Pump’ that is like a present wrapped in a red satiny bow.  The d’orsey style fit my foot like a glove and was very comfortable due to the extra padding in the ball of the footpad.  The big feature of this heel is that it has a texturized rubber sole for tons of traction making it perfect for all urban terrains including cobblestone crosswalks, marble office foyers, and carpeted cubicles.  The additonal rubber sole also helps with shock-absorption when hitting your daily 10,000 steps. ;)

Curious about her flats, I then tried on the ‘Pom Pom Flat’ because it was too cute not to!  It has a faux fur pom pom sitting in the middle of a pilgrim style buckle detail that adds a real punch of sass to your basic black flat.  It also comes with a rugged, texturized rubber sole for serious pavement pounding.

These are all incredibly well priced ranging from $34.99 to $54.99 and a real bargain with their BOGO (Buy One Get One 1/2 off) promotion.  And, the really great under-advertised bonus of Isabel’s entire collection is that they are all man-made materials for the eco-chic veganistas out there.  This gal is bringing us affordable eco-chic White House flair couture-sy of Payless and we love it!

What Would Project Runway Shoe? Episode 5: Military + Lace

Apologies for being light with the blog this week.  I’ve got a few things in the works for Fashion Night Out (#FNO) so keep on the look out. 

If you haven’t seen my recent posts, I came up with a weekly Friday post that I've titled 'What Would Project Runway Shoe?" (#WWPRS) where I suggest a shoe to go with the winning look of the week.  We’re in Week 5 now and the drama, divas, and hate is being taken to the next level.  Spoiler Alert!!  Stop reading if you want to wait to watch last night's episode first. ;)

A very fabulous congratulations to last night’s winner for his military and lace design, Puerto Rico’s own, Casanova.  Tim Gunn rightfully warned him that the look could easily go into Grandma’s closet rather than the chic girl’s closet if he didn’t steer the design in a more fashion-forward way.  See the design here: (http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/designer-portfolios). I have to say that I really loved that lace open backed blouse. Let’s be clear, you won’t be wearing this outfit to any of grandma’s bingo nights! :)  Kudos to Ms. Peach too! She turned out a great blouse that I really want for myself!

Mr. Casanova paired the winning look with sweet little classic black patent pumps.  This is one way you could go with the look but to kind of really funk up the military aspect and the edgy belt with the hardware, I think a shoe with more attitude is a stronger choice.  I have picked the Boutique 9 ‘Denya’ bootie in black to live up to the funkier edge that this look can pull off. 

What made me say, “Ooo, that one’s good”, for this outfit was the combination of the front ruffle that mimics the front ruffle on the blouse.  What made me say, “That’s the one!” was the meshing material that the bootie was made with to compliment the lace effect.  What made me say, “That’s DEFINITELY the one”, was the open back of the bootie that mimics the open back of the blouse.  And, the more I look at this bootie, the more I’m loving it.  It really turns up the funk edge by giving the look that extra notch of “Yes, boys, this is the hauteness” attitude that is the other essential accessory with sporting this kind of fierce outfit.  This is no “Golden Girl vest.”  Funny enough, this shoe was featured in Marie Claire magazine for its fabulousness.  And Marie Claire rarely steers us wrong. ;)

Although I don’t personally have the ‘Denya’ in my shoe closet (yet), reviews have raved that it is really comfortable.  The meshing is usually a good sign because its softer than leather and would likely not squeeze your foot too tightly as some booties tend to make your feet feel after a couple of hours.  The Nine West Boutique 9 collection also tends to be more comfy than their regular line and has a higher attention to details and quality craftsmanship.  These booties were definitely made for a girl’s night out and are reasonably priced at $130.  You can buy them online at: http://www.ninewest.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-ninewest-Site/default/Search-Show?q=denya.

Now that Tim Gunn did the smackdown on Gretchen’s manipulation and bullying of Team Luxe, I’m pumped to see if next week’s episode brings more of Michael C’s tears or Ivy’s inflated self-affirmations, or BOTH!  Have a great weekend!

High on Style, Low on Pain

There’s something about mixing a good sneaker with a fashionable heel that makes my heart skip a beat.  I think it’s the fact that you really get the best of both worlds: blister and pain free feet in a fashionable ensemble.  Now while I have been in love with the concept, I’ve felt that some of the genius technology has been used towards more “mature” footwear styles.  Don’t get me wrong, they have been very sophisticated and classic but more in that law firm attire kind of way.  And let’s face it, no one dresses up as “sexy lawyer” for Halloween, right? ;) 

These ‘Air Renfrow OT Sling’ by Cole Haan seriously rise to the occasion of bringing you the all of the style and none of the pain.  These are definitely on the higher side with their 4 ¼” heel but they have a 1 ¼” platform that goes along with it.  Seeing a pattern with platforms yet?  Basically, that’s where all the magic happens.  The platform is where shoe designers get to stuff their gorgeous design with cushion and shock absorbing materials to enable you to wear these babies on your marathon long days without skipping a beat.  The tapered stacked heel is not a stiletto heel with gives you a better footing, literally, especially when navigating sidewalk cracks and subway grills.  These open toe slingbacks are sophisticated and sassy all at the same time.  They also come in a fabulous embossed python print that serves as a great neutral for those days where you’re going with a lower key outfit with just a pop of feminine sass.  They are on sale right now at Cole Haan (http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=314599&productGroup=314499&cp=froogle&CS_003=4386239) for $129.95 which is quite a bargain for being high on style and low on pain.

What Would Project Runway Shoe? Episode 4: Empire of the Sun

As a huge Project Runway fan, I couldn't resist but come up with a weekly Friday post that I've titled 'What Would Project Runway Shoe?" (#WWPRS) where I suggest a shoe to go with the winning look of the week.  We’re in Week 4 now and the claws are definitely out.  Spoiler Alert!!  Stop reading if you want to wait to watch last night's episode first. :)

What a crazy hard challenge they had last night!  Philip Treacy has an unparallel vision with his hats and he is clearly a force to be reckoned with in his craft.  Major kudos to Michael Costello for his winning look last night that played off the gold tones of the red sun-like hat. (http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/designer-portfolios?designer=michael%20c)   He paired his drapey dress with Steve Madden’s Caryssa in a nude tan color.  This was a good choice because it did not fight to be seen as a whole outfit.  You want the hat to be focal accessory to the dress.  Picking a neutral shoe will not fight with the drama that the hat brings to the outfit. 

Having said that, I would have gone with a little more shimmer to bring the gold story throughout the whole outfit.  I mean, let’s be real here, the woman wearing a Philip Treacy hat is fierce and embraces drama.  So my pick is the Nine West ‘Accolia’ available at Piperline.com (http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=59435&vid=1&pid=518829&scid=518829032).  The simple straps in the gold tone go very well with the design of Michael C.’s dress because of their asymmetric design.  The tan Steve Madden is a good choice for the purposes of the runway but the Nine West ‘Accolia’ harmonizes, as Michael Kors would say, with the dress’s aesthetic.

Strangely enough, I have these in silver that I wore for a wedding I was a bridesmaid for a couple of years ago.  I’ve worn them two or three times since then.  They don’t have a terribly well padded sole but they don’t feel like you’re barefoot either.  They have a very decent 3” heel which is not too high “to show the good china” in a short dress. ;)  This shoe hasn’t gotten great reviews in terms of wearability.  This is partly due do the fact that the straps are made with synthetic materials which tend to stretch in a way that leather normally does not.  This is a shoe you want to be a little snugger for this reason.  I have worn them out dancing, wore them for 10 hours for a wedding including pictures and dancing.  They aren’t the epitome of comfort but for $49 they really complete Michael C.’s empire of the sun ensemble quite nicely.

The Pleasure Principle

This new line of kicks caught my attention because they have this amazing super padded cushion in the ball of the shoe, not to mention they go through the roof on the va-voom scale.  The Velvet Angels line is from Irvine, California and they design “luxury-attainable footwear for the sexy woman that has a strong sense of self and is continuously seeking to update her fashion-forward style.”  Hello?  Have we met??   Its like they’ve known me all my professional life! J

I found the ‘La Loco’ style on Bluefly.com (http://www.bluefly.com/Velvet-Angels-tan-leather-'La-Loco'-platform-pumps/cat20458/305615302/detail.fly?referer=ca_froogle&cm_mmc=ca_froogle-_-na-_-womens_shoes-_-305615302&mr:trackingCode=B1B1BCDF-6B4D-DF11-BAA3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA) and ordered them with the excitement like it was Christmas.  When they arrived, I was jumping with joy.  I couldn’t wait to feel this extra padding hug my feet.  The first day I wore them to work, I was seriously amazed.  

The 5” heel truly did not matter in terms of my comfort level.  They have about a ¾” visible platform but they also have another ½”– ¾” platform inside that comprises that additional padding in the ball of the shoe.  To add to the yumminess, the padding has a suede-like covering for extra softness.  And where do I start on how tall they make me feel??  I can see all the dust on the tops of the cubicles around the office!  The fact that they match my skin color almost perfectly makes me legs look like they go on forever - ever - ever - ever... *swoon* ;)

I have to say that after testing these babies out, they really are fantastic shoes.  I had some hiccups with my order but the fab team at Bluefly.com and Leslie Nelson, Director of Customer Sales, came through to make me a happy camper.  Very special thanks to Leslie and her team at Bluefly.

'La Loco' comes in tan, black and yellow.  I’m looking forward to seeing more of the Velvet Angels fashion-forward styles that are all about the pleasure principle.

All the Colors of the Rainbow (for Under $25)

In scouting out inexpensive fun flats, I stumbled upon what I felt like was the ‘Rainbow Wall of Flats’ in Charlotte Russe.  The range and arrangement of colors displayed made me perk up and want some sherbet ice cream instantly! J  With all the fun jewel tone suedes as part of the new incoming Fall Fashions, I thought I had to write a post and share the find.  I really like these because they are really a great transition wardrobe piece that takes you from Summer to Fall.  The bright and sunny colors are great for the warm summer outfits and they are the new haute-ness for Fall.  ;)

I tried on about 5 different styles.  I was really impressed with how soft and cushy they were.  The materials on a few styles are a combination of leather and man-made materials.  But, most styles are all man-made/synthetic materials for our Vegan Fashionistas out there.  They have rubber soles and little rubber heels which are the comfort factor you can actually feel when walking around in them.  The detailing is also well done.  Attention was paid to making the added embellishments look clean, which makes the shoe look much more expensive than it really is.  For example, the rosettes on the red ones in the picture are done with grosgrain ribbon and are not sloppily sewn to the shoe.

They have a large range of styles that are really cute and fun without being too youthful.  They are a great accent color to pop your outfit without looking like a teeny-bopper (even though we all still have that sass, of course ;)).  The prices ranged from $19.50 to $22.50 but I just discovered online (http://www.charlotterusse.com/ ) that they are knocking off $10 bringing the prices to as low as $9.50!!! (Insane, right?)  I can't attest to their durability since I haven't tested them long enough.  I imagine these will not withstand the test of time.  However. these are a great way to trend up your wardrobe without making the investment that you would with more classic pieces that will carry you through years of fashions.  

The colors available online are a little more limited than the range in the actual stores but I haven’t confirmed if they have the $10 discount in the stores.  Either way, you can have all the colors of the rainbow in your shoe closet for under $25. J