Reigning Rain Boots

No matter what part of the country you live in, you’ve undoubtedly had to pull out your rain boots this season.  Some of us have had to live in them with the seemingly endless storms.  Living in Southern California, we haven’t had much opportunity to pull our rain gear out these past few years.  And, thankfully we have been able to make up for it these last several months. 

And while it’s been some several years since I’ve had any inclination to shop for them, rain boots have definitely become more fashionable and more adorable.  Kate Spade hasn’t disappointed with Raylan donning the sweet bows.

But rain boots have also grown in variety becoming far more functional as well as being very stylish.  Gone are the days of your childhood galoshes with the tote bag stiff handles.  Still holding my number one pick are the Steve Madden Tsunami.  Getting out of those slippery suckers when I’m drenched make me so grateful each time I zip out of those in under 30 seconds flat. 

While the Hunter Gabby has proven to be as rugged as they are stylish over time, the Hunter knee-high wedge rain boots have become one of my go to pairs.  

A wedge rain boot.  Genius!  You get the all the awesome slimming height of a heel with the stability of flats you need on slippery surfaces.  And of all rain boots, this silhouette is my favorite for office wear.  They go so perfectly with skirts and dresses.  They are sleek and so unbelievably comfortable.  Truly.  I swear these suckers are squishy in all the right places and yet supportive in all the essential places.  This is like taking jellies to a whole new level!

Most of all I’m jazzed about all the awesome rain boot options we have to switch up our daily work wardrobe and break out of any fashion work wear rut you may find yourself in.  Let’s go celebrate the great rain and splash like no one’s watching.

*hearts*

2017 Trends Taking Us To New Heights

Versace Spring '17

As we move into the new year, the Spring and Summer shows move us to new heights… shoe heights that is.

Marc Jacobs Spring '17

One thing is really clear about this year’s trends, they’re bringing back all the fun in fashion.  

Vivienne Westwood Spring '17

The exuberant proportions of the 90’s serve as a reference for where we’ll be going this year.  And this time around, it includes our shoes in a totally new way.

Gucci Spring '17

Last summer’s platform sandals and espadrilles have crossed over into more than just leisure wear taking it to another level.  And we see the introduction of ultralow loafers and ballet flats.

 

Chanel Spring '17

Boots are being designed with mid-calf shaft heights which makes them wearable by more calf widths for one, and more COMFORTABLE so you can be stylish that much longer in your marathon long working days to nights.

Louis Vuitton Spring '17

The trend I’m most excited to see and try is the new heel heights that are not the basic 1", 2", and 3½” heights.  The new heels are about ¾” high and 2½”.  Most shoes I’ve seen in this height have a block heel.  It reminds me of kitten heels but far more stable to walk in.

 

Salvatore Ferragamo Vara Pump, 1 1/4"

J. Crew Velvet Ankle Strap Heels, 1 2/5"

Louise et Cie Brianna, 1 1/4"

While I don’t know if I’ll be rocking the gladiator platforms, I am rather excited that 2017 promises to bring innovative styles to this Working Girl’s Shoe Closet.

-->

Wishing you a stylish new year!

*hearts*

Uuuuuuugh... My Love/Hate Relationship with Uggs

Uuuuugh, UGG!  I hate you.  But I really do love you.  How long have these wooly mammoths been on the market?  Going on three decades now?  And still I can't resolve my relationship status with Uggs.  When girls in my high school were trotting around from class to class in shorts and Uggs, I swore then I would never wear them.  They were officially on the 'Not On Your Life' list of shoes I'd rather die than wear.  Birkenstocks had solo'ed on that list up until that point in my young life.

-->

Growing up in Southern California, I found it insulting to our incredible weather to wear Uggs.  They were utterly unnecessary in a climate that on a severely cold night reached the upper 30 degree range.  And that was rare.  Aside from giving you insta-cankles, they were just blobby and aesthetically so unflattering to any body shape other than matchstick-like planks.  And like every other teenage girl, I of course, felt like a double-stuffed Oreo the majority of my youth.  So of course, these were just viscerally rejected from Day 1.

A short two and a half decades later, like its counterpart on my "Don't Insult Shoes By Calling Them Shoes" list, Uggs and Birkenstocks were holding strong.  They were a Winter staple no matter what coast you lived in or what the actual temperature was.  Holding strong to my "shoe ethic", I had never entertained the idea of even trying a pair on.  I had no desire to do so.

As life kept happening, and I continued into adulthood, shoes were sometimes not my ultimate and first priority and focus in life.  Work, relationships, aging, and all that comes with that would occasionally take precedent.  And when I least expected it, Uggs were back in my face.  A friend I came upon was such a devotee to her Uggs.  She swore by them October through February of every year.  She was a Disney Freak meaning she had one of those super deluxe crazy expensive annual passes and she would only wear Uggs to get her through all that park hopping and Main Street walking.

On rare occasion, we found ourselves at The Grove shopping and she insisted on getting me into the Ugg store.  I politely agreed and even complimented some of the styles by saying, "oh, these aren't as bad" with a half smile.  She begged me to try on a pair so that I would understand.  Being a committed shopping partner, I finally agreed.  And. OH. MY. GOD.

I UNDERSTOOD.

My first pair of Classic Shorts in Black came home with me.  I had no idea you could wear clouds on your feet.  The utterly soft pillowy-cushiony-deliciousness was like having my feet in mother's womb.  I instantly handed over my credit card like I was handing over my license thrilled that the bouncer thought I was too young to get into the bar.  Color me blissful.

My friend passed away unexpectedly earlier this year from undetected cancer sadly.  She found out when the stage 4 was more like stage 5.  Truth be told, I have worn my Uggs less than 10 times since purchasing them sobered by the realization that they are still Uggs.  I make it a habit to clean out my closets at least 4 times a year.  I always have the conundrum of whether to keep them or get rid of them.  I am confronted with my love/hate of Uggs.  I put them in the 'Maybe' pile and ultimately, always put them back in my shoe closet.  They make me and everyone else look like they have cankles.  They are not "cute".  They blobby.  I rarely feel the weather justifies the actual need to wear them.  However, when I do, I still feel like I'm walking on clouds and think of her.

Dedicated to V.

*hearts*