What Would Project Runway Shoe? Episode 1

Being the huge Project Runway fan that I am, I couldn't resist but come up with a little weekly Friday post that I'm calling 'What Would Project Runway Shoe?" (#WWPRS) where I suggest a shoe to go with the winning look of the week.  Spoiler Alert!!  Stop reading if you want to wait to watch last night's episode first.

Ok, so now that you've been warned, I'm going to go on ahead and talk about last night's winning look from Ms. Gretchen Jones that was made from the fabric of a suitcase ( www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/rate-the-runway/episode-1#id=6).  The dress was quite simple, as the judges pointed out, with a sparkly red detailing on the sleeves.  The dress itself is somewhat covered up really highlighting the gams with the asymmetric hemline.  In order to focus on making the gams the star of the ensemble, playing off the red detailing on the sleeve with some kicky red strappy sandals would be best.  A higher heel is good match for this because it accentuates your legs.  The strappy style of the shoe is important because when you have a rather covered dress, you want to counter that by showing all the skin in your neverending legs. ;)  

These BCBGeneration 'Asterix' are a great pick.  The matte finish you get from the suede compliments the matte texture of the dress.  The rhinestone detailing along the vamp and platform pump up the volume on the party factor of the outfit and continues the sparkly sleeve theme.  And you probably  know by now, I love me a 4 ¾" heel!  But this includes a 1” platform so it's not as insane to walk in as it seems - but a girl's always gotta have some secrets, right? ;)  The cris-cross straps make the shoe current and a little edgy to keep the dress on trend and fresh.  You can find them for the great price of $82 on Bluefly (http://www.bluefly.com/BCBGeneration-oxblood-red-rhinestone-suede-Asterix-platform-sandals/cat950024/307333301/detail.fly).  


The designers this season are spicy and I hope that their winning designs are too.  See you next Friday with my Episode 2- What Would Project Runway Shoe? ;)

Basic, But Definitely NOT Boring

I was in the market for some “nude” heels that I could wear with outfits that have a lot going on and don’t really need any accessorizing.  I have a mocha-like skin color with the olive undertone, so online shopping for “tan” doesn’t really work for me.  I need to actually see the color on my foot in order to determine if the color compliments my skin color.  So sadly, online shopping is out for me on this one.  After several disappointing options that were too yellow in my shopping excursion, I found myself fixated on these ‘Atlantic City’ pumps from Aldo.  While the hue is a little bit lighter than my actual skin color, and the official color is called “light pink”, it compliments my skin tones very nicely.  It definitely gives that “naked dress”-ness feel like Carrie’s ‘Sex And The City’.  

What sold me on this shoe, and particularly the color, is that it had this edgy pointed toe that brings the fashion forwardness you can’t really get away with in a professional setting normally.  The fact that it fades into your leg while elongating it makes this shoe a complete must have basic for any girl’s shoe closet.  Having that edgy almond-shaped pointed toe is that little detail that distinguishes your whole outfit taking it from just being professional to being stylishly fashion forward.  It has a generous 1 ½” platform to create a 4 ¾” heel making you really seem like you have legs that go on forever.  Major bonus no matter you are (or aren’t)!  And despite the seemingly scary height, it’s actually quite easy to walk it.  This was one of my first 4” platforms and so I was apprehensive the first few times I wore them.  I was pleasantly surprised that the extra platform really adds an extra layer of shock absorbency to make these very wearable.  As always, Aldo doesn’t have half sizes and the shoes tend to run a bit small, so going up a size if you’re a half size is usually a great fit.  

So the lesson here is if you want to take your outfits up a notch while not going too far, go for a nude shoe with edgy details, then you will have a great basic that will definitely not be boring. :)

Reader Question of The Day

Q: I have a closet full of beautiful shoes but they hurt my feet! One pair in particular are Proenza Schouler that are really tight. Is there anything that can be done to save my shoes?

A: Wow, I really hate when that happens! And I think we all have been there at one time or another. But, buck up little trooper, this is a very solvable situation. The trick that has worked for me, and has yet to fail me, is to wet your feet and wear them with your feet wet. The thing about leather is that is a stretchable material and it stretches with water. When you wet your feet, you not only stretch the leather but you’re molding the shoe to your actual foot. So, its like getting a custom fit shoe. I do this when I'm going to be around the house because its kind of weird to out and about with your toes squishing. :) I was also advised that if you heat the shoes, like with a hair dryer, and then put your wet tootsies in speeds up the process. (Thanks for the tip @RPMindy) If this concept seems to weird for your taste, you could try using shoe forms to do the stretching for you. I have yet to go that route since I personally have no qualms about the squishy noise of wet toes in my shoes. ;)

Thanks to @TheSwelleLife for today’s Shoemergency. I hope this helps!

FYI- The shoes pictured here are the 'OI9600' by Proenza Schouler

The Polished Punch of Color

I find Monday mornings the hardest day of the week to find inspiration in my closet, shoe and regular. For some reason, Mondays are the hardest to shake off the sleep from my eyes to see my wardrobe options clearly and draw inspiration. I tend to default into the less imaginative, fashion forward outfits hovering in the brown or black sections of my wardrobe options. So, you can imagine my delight when a coworker of mine showed up in these fresh jewel tone suede peep toes popping with pizzazz. She paired her pantsuit with a Pucchi inspired printed sheath top that matched these Celine Suede Peep Toe Pumps by Style & Co from Macys perfectly without giving that forced matchy matchy look. Sporting the classic light grey suit never looked so stylish, professional and chic. She admitted to me that she shared my level of motivation for dressing that morning. But this proves that when you have the right accessories, like these pretty shoes, you can pull together a really fashionable look with minimal effort.

She told me that she bought them on sale about a year ago. I was fortunate enough to find them online on sale for only $39.99 (http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=378990&CategoryID=13247&LinkType=PDPZ1). They don’t have the purple but they have the great basic colors of black, navy, red, and caramel. She said that she loved these shoes not just because of their sassy saturated color, but because they are really comfortable shoes she can walk in all day long. With a 3 ½” heel that has a ¾” platform, they are a really good height for pants. The hemline hits perfectly when standing. They prevent that dreaded dragging of the pant hem on the floor causing you to occasionally step on your pants, a major fashion don’t.

It was a great Monday morning surprise to find how much a punch of color can really give a typical pantsuit the polishing touch.

Payless? Seriously? Seriously!

One of my readers sent me a “shoemergency” asking for help. She is a new mom on the go and struggles finding cute, stylish and comfortable flats that are vegan. As a new mom that is always on the go, she needs wardrobe options that are easy breezy and have a put together look in a flash. Having great accessories, like stylish shoes, ready to go in your closet make that ‘effortlessly chic’ look truly effortless. In searching for some comfortable and stylish vegan shoes, I discovered that vegan in the shoe world often times means frumpy. I found endless amounts of shoes with very square toes and heavy, thick heels. This look is the express way to Dowdyville. As a new mom, I think there are already several emotional battles over body image concerns. So, I think avoiding all things dowdy and frumpy is Priority #1 when looking for wardrobe options. Finding shoes that are more streamlined, classic and have sleeker silhouettes are your best bet.

Finding vegan shoes that fit the bill proved harder than I imagined, until I found American Eagle shoes by Payless. Yes, as in Payless Shoe Source, the shoe store with the orange sign and the rows of self service shoe boxes arranged by size. I discovered these great finds by way of a tip from a girl in a shop who was sporting the black patent Anstin Point Flat (http://www.payless.com/store/product/detail.jsp?productId=64602&catId=cat10376&lotId=065407&subCatId=&selectedSegment=Adult). I was shocked that they were from Payless. In researching these little lovelies, I was very happy to find that not only do they have a padded insole but a rubber sole on the bottom for extra cushioning, which means REALLY COMFY! Also, the insole was lined in a super soft jersey fabric. Now, I am very weary of less expensive shoes that have a patent finish because they look like they are made out of very cheap looking materials from miles away. Not these! They look really great. The pointed toe and style of these make them very office appropriate. And the very best part of these shoes is that the regular price is only $22.99. I tried on a number of their other flats and found the same good quality of materials, high level of comfort and really cute styles. Unbelievably, some were on sale for as low as $7! I can’t attest to their durability but for such a low price, this is a great way to stay on trend in an affordable way. I am not vegan, but this is an easy way to do my part in supporting cruelty-free efforts.

Office worthy, fashionable vegan shoes for these prices truly deserve recognition. My reader sent the picture on the bottom of her getting rung up at Payless after my suggestion to go there. Looks like she found a few things she liked. ;)

Sadly, I have to say that I wasn’t really impressed with the pumps selections. But, keep a look out as I’ll be doing a post on vegan heels soon. But, in the meantime, Payless. Seriously!

Color Me Happy

I was so excited to head over to the Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale that started last weekend. It’s a little like Christmas for me. I made my way around all the lovelies to see what was catching my eye. I saw these pretty Calvin Kleins in the mailer and thought they were pretty but I was even more taken by them in person. I had reservations about Calvin Klein shoes because I bought some a few years back when they started making shoes. The pair was this beautiful peep-toe wedge of sherbet stripes that got lots of compliments. Sadly, when I wore them to work, I left a trail of blood around the office from the insane blisters they gave me. So this time, I was going to make sure to take my time trying them on to avoid a repeat.

As I slipped on the ‘Scarlet’ Platform Pump, I fell in love with them. They were so well padded that it was clear Calvin did his homework and made some improvements to his shoe designs. The sole has a textured brushed effect that keeps the sole from sliding on carpet. The heel is about 3 ¾” with a ¾” platform. I walked around the shoe department in them as I looked at more shoes to get a good feel for their wearability. They were keepers! I wore them to work yesterday and didn’t have single moment of discomfort. All throughout my day, I would catch glimpses of the pretty berry fuchsia and it made me so happy.

One note, because they are suede, I did treat them with scotch guard spray before I wore them. It’s good to spray them before each wear to maintain the suede looking its best. The spray takes usually about 30 minutes to dry so I usually spray them before I do my hair and makeup to give them time to dry. You should also brush them with a nailbrush from time to time to avoid having the suede looking matted down.

Normally, these are $109.95 but during the great Nordstrom’s sale, they’re only $72.90. Color me happy!

If you’re not near a Nordstrom store, you can order them online (sizes run true to fit):

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3109740/0~2376778~2372808~6028080~6028547?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6028547&P=1

Subway Style

This week's Subway Style is this snazzy snakeskin T-strap from Nine West. The gal I spied these lovelies on said she bought them about a year ago. In terms of comfort, she said that they don't have a lot of padding but that the little padding it did have was in the right spot, on the ball of her foot. She liked the 3" heel because it wasn't too high but high enough for her little petite frame. She sported a dark denim pencil skirt with a black blouse tucked in and an oversized tan tote that made her knock out figure very chic. The entire outfit was so fashionable yet professional, it's entirely appropriate for any office. This is a perfect example of elevating a more fashion forward shoe to that sophisticated level you need in order to make it work appropriate.

I wasn't able to find the snakeskin available but I did find this 'Graceymai' style at Nine West online in a black and white pony hair combination and a black suede and patent leather combination for a serious steal at $29.99, reduced from the original $69 price.

So keep workin' your Subway Style Ladies!

The Ultimate City Flat for the Ultimate City Girl

I’ve already touted the magical deliciousness that a broken sole offers in the previous Reader Question of the Day post dated July 18, 2010. Taking into consideration one of the comments regarding the somewhat pricey Elie Tahari Janine Driver, I felt I owed you a more affordable option. So I spent my last trip to the local shoe shops keeping that in mind. I was strolling through The Gap, when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a corner display full of the elasticized ballet flats. I personally have reservations about elasticized flats because for some reason, my ankles tend to be shredded by these. In fact, I had to give up two pairs of some adorable Seychelles because of that.

So, always willing to try everything once, I tried these puppies on. The leather was that extremely supple kind and the soles were broken. Granted these are only broken into two parts - the sole and the heel - but for $39.50, you can’t be *too* demanding. Admiring the softness and “ridiculously comfortable” fit of the shoe, I realized these shoes actually come in their own little drawstring baggie – BONUS! They fold in half and fit neatly in this little matching 6” bag that would tuck nicely into any tote, handbag, or even your desk drawer at work. I can see these being a great shoe change for when you don’t want to wear out your treasured designer lovelies on the hard city sidewalks, when your feet just can’t take your lovelies from a long marathon day, or even when you’re just needing some serious TLC for your tootsies. They come in 5 great colors: the palest ballet pink, basic black, fire engine red, purple rain, and burgundy laselle red.

At the check out, the sweet cashier informed me that on Wednesdays in July, you can get a 40% discount on any full priced item. This means that you can score these tomorrow at The Gap for $23.70 (+tax). You’ll probably see me there getting another pair. ;)

Here Kitty, Kitty

There’s a very fine line between office appropriate and Hookerville as Carrie Bradshaw would call it when it comes to animal prints. These little lovelies, 'Clever', are from Aldo. I was still moping about my recently imposed Furlough Day at work, which equated to a 10% cut into my disposable income, or rather, my shoe fund. The hot designer shoes of the season became more distant from my reach. So, when I found these last Fall and at a price of $110, naturally, I pounced on them.

At first glance, the 5-inch heel looks rather daunting. However, the platform base of the shoe is over 1 ¼” almost 1 ½” so the actual height your foot is angled is about 3 ½” inches. I find them quite easy to walk in and pretty tolerable for those extra long days. Now, in order to keep it professional looking, I always wear solid black with them. A solid black dress, or black top and skirt or slacks make it a perfect work to evening outfit keeping the shoes as the star of the ensemble. Black and tan is a classic and sophisticate color combination that makes it an easy outfit for any office. I was fortunate enough to score the tan lambskin Jean Paul Gaultier for Target jacket that I pair with it in the cooler Winter months. These are also great to pair with jeans and a basic white t-shirt for weekend fun.

You actually have a lot of animal print options in different styles. This weekend I spied cute leopard prints shoes of various heel heights at Charles David, Nine West, Steve Madden and American Eagle for Payless Shoes! Send me what you decide on. I'd love to see them. :) These Clever are still available on www.amazon.com for a steal at about $70, but they are only available in all black, not leopard.

I’d also like to make a note about Aldo. I think it was maybe over a year ago, they purposely changed the design of their shoeboxes to add a slot with a fabric cord that slides through to make a cute little handle that also secures the lid. This eliminated the need to use shopping bags when customers purchased lovelies like mine. While its not a cure for cancer, it is what one company was able to do to eliminate excess waste. Companies that are eco-conscious while stylishly fabulous are companies I love to shop at and keep recommending.

Reader Question of the Day

Q: Am trying to work out what to wear when trapsing up & down Manhattan! Any suggestions?

A: Great question! Yes, in case you missed it, check out my post from yesterday, The Doctor is IN, Again, Well, Still to see the Dr. Scholl’s Originals as an option. I was able to score mine on www.shoes.com for $40 instead of paying the full retail price.

The great flip flops from Havaianas (www.havaianas.com) are also a fantastic pick. They have been able to engineer the perfect amount of what I call “squish” on the sole to be cushiony while still being supportive enough to keep you on your feet for extended amounts of errand running. And, at a mere $18 you don’t have to spend time debating which color to get because you can easily afford them all.

Many of my girlfriends have commented that flip flops are not their choice because of how dirty their feet get from all the walking about. So, a delicious little flat I’ve come to think of as socks with feet is the Elie Tahari Janine Driver. I first discovered them on the Oprah Fashion Intervention episode last Fall. And you know Mama O never steers us wrong! :) So, I bought my bronze pair on Zappos.com for $198. You can still find them in several different colors and materials for the same price (http://www.zappos.com/elie-tahari-janine-driver-3-black-1). The broken sole effect is what makes this shoe so spectacular. It is so flexible, you hardly feel like you’re wearing shoes at all. It’s really quite amazing. I find that they don’t make my feet too sweaty in the heat either.

I hope that these are some options to help you traipse the balmy streets of Manhattan or any other city streets with comfort, style and without breaking into your savings account! ;)

The Doctor is IN… Again, Well, Still

I remember sitting glued to my TV watching Carrie have an anxiety attack as she told Aiden she need to slow down their wedding plans in the “Change of Dress” Sex In the City episode that aired back on January 20, 2002. Watching as the camera panned out to see Aiden hugging her as they sat on the floor after agreeing to slow down, I couldn’t help but be stunned at what had just happened. AND, I couldn’t stop thinking about her cute red Dr. Scholl’s Original sandals she wore with her Michael Stars tank under the long sleeved t-shirt with blue jeans. Seriously, how cute was that outfit? It was retro and timeless at the same time. Another Patricia Field memorable outfit. Those red sandals stayed on my mind so much, as they did for many women, that I went out and bought a pair in tan. Dr. Scholl’s had an instant resuscitation thanks to Ms. Field, which is why it actually took me a few trips to several stores to actually score a pair.

I have had them for almost 8 years now and have come to terms that I need to part ways with them. They have served their shoe destiny in my life. However, I am unwilling to let the Dr. leave my shoe repertoire. Thus, I have bought a new pair, this time in blue. And I have to say the good Doctor has put in a little work into the Classic. While still being oddly comfortable as shaped wooden soled shoes are, the new ones weigh much less. This is a major plus to those days you do lots of walking and have sore shins the next day and can’t figure out for the life of you why. Also, the leather strap itself, while still being nicely padded on its underside, is slightly slimmer than the old one. The bonus with this improvement is that your foot has more range of motion when walking and less rubbing on the sides of your foot. These improvements make an overall better shoe because it makes for a more comfortable walking experience. I’ve sported them today doing my errands out and about town and while I’m tired from errands (and the insane heat), my feet are surprisingly not tired. If you’re considering doing the Fall clog trend, this may be a good way to ease your way into it too since Dr. Scholl’s also makes several variations of the clog as well. Check out http://www.drschollsshoes.com/ for all the different styles and colors.

Haute Child In the City

Hey everyone,

I got a special post today. Its actually a guest blog spot on Fashionize Haus - the Haus that Fashion built! Check out my Five Summer Lovin' Styles under $150 at:

http://www.fashionizehaus.com/2010/07/footwork-friday-womens-edition.html

Here's to being that haute child in the city!

The Work Wedge

How much do we love our wedges? You know a woman had to have invented that one! ;) Its one of those shoes that has the benefits both worlds- the height of a heel with all the support of a flat. However, finding a great staple one to wear to work can sometimes be like searching for the holy grail. These Nine West http://www.ninewest.com/Glitzglam/4409292,default,pd.html?cgid=2989858&itemNum=2&variantSizeClass=&variantColor=MEDYELE Glitzglam wedges are my current favorite. The leather is that kind that gets softer with each wear. The gold-toned buckle detail adds that polish you need for every professional outfit, making it an instant classic style. The 2 ½” heel makes it marathon worthy! I love the buttery yellow color of the leather because it broadens the range of neutrals in my shoe closet. And at $49.99, it should also be in yours!

Subway Style

I was captivated by a pair of sandals a woman was wearing walking with me down the escalator to the subway platform. They were silver with small jewels lining the decorative straps. The simple yet blingy style in the neutral silver instantly shocked my mind with endless wardrobe options for work. The shiny aspect of them allows for dressing up your Casual Friday outfit but also they lend themselves to sheaths or any other classic cut fit dress for a professional setting. The bling brings the shoe to the attitude of a heel without having to wear a heel. Those mornings when you feel like you’re dragging in the morning come to mind. She said she just got them from a Benetton store in New York a few months ago. I have been able to find them as part of the Spring/Summer 2010 collection: http://www.benetton.com/portal/web/guest/accessories/adult. I don’t have a price yet, but I’m going to be making a beeline to my nearest Benetton and try to snap them up. As you can see from the catalogue picture, they come in gold as well.

Perfect Platform Pump, Well, Almost Perfect

I came across the Ann Taylor Perfect Platform Pump in black in a magazine last Fall and instantly fell in love. For the life of me, I could not remember why I had not bought any Ann Taylor shoes. I used to work in an office that was in walking distance of a Loft and remember that I made a conscious decision to stop buying their shoes. But looking at those sleek elegant lines and that shiny patent leather, it made me drool for that classic sophistication. The added bonus was that there was discount code that knocked off $75 from their original $175 price. I pounced on the Ann Taylor website immediately (http://www.anntaylor.com) to order my treasured find. They were sold out of my size, the 7 ½. I took a chance and bought the size 8. When they arrived, they looked even more delicious in person. I immediately tried them on to find they were too big. I really hate that. I resigned myself to exchange them hoping they had gotten some 7 ½ stocked, but of course they had not. I scoured the internet to find them elsewhere but the only company to carry Ann Taylor shoes, is Ann Taylor. I crossed my fingers to look on eBay but of course there weren’t any listed.

Refusing to give up my classic find, I figured I could try some creative jimmy rigging to salvage the pair. I bought some Dr. Scholl’s insoles for her (http://www.drscholls.com/drscholls/productSearch.do?method=doProductDetailsLookup&searchArg=50). This helped enormously in terms of making the shoe wearable. The added padding really cushioned my foot to sustain the height over long periods of time. However, my heel would keep slipping out. I tried adding a second insole but that only squeezed my toes and made for more blisters. In one last attempt to salvage my purchase, I researched different forums on the internet. I found a great suggestion – lambswool. It’s the stuff that ballerinas use for their toe shoes. You can get a box from Capezio’s online for $7 (http://www.capeziostore.com/Capezio-Lamb-s-Wool-Toe-Pads-p/lwpad.htm). I stuffed the toe box of my pumps and it truly made a custom fit. I’ve worn them several times for long days and they are truly comfortable. Granted after 10 hours on your feet, you are going to have some achiness, but I didn’t have any blisters, my heels didn’t slip out, the balls of my feet didn’t burn and I have yet to fall. ;) Having said this, I really don’t recommend getting the wrong size or doing this with all your shoes. I’m sure it’s probably not great for your feet. However, in a pinch, you can make a pair wearable. And, I will continue my eternal hunt for the perfect platform pump, so keep checking back!

Reader Question of the Day

Q: Need your thoughts on heels! Living in NYC, I walk a lot, and shoes with skinny little heels are always getting caught in sidewalk subway grates. Embarassing, plus it tends to shred the heel itself. Advice on thicker heels (that aren't wedges) for daily work and commute but that are still cute?

A: Great question! Whether its a stiletto heel or a kitten heel, all heels are subject to that horrid subway grate or sidewalk crack. And don't get me started on cobblestone crosswalks for all heels in general! And you're right, it shreds your heel up so that it looks like little Fido has been having a field day in your closet!

What you want to look for are heels that are bigger than the typical grate opening/sidewalk crack. While you're not totally immute to the initial feeling of wobbling through, a wider heel gives you more of "fighting chance" to keep you leveraged on the ball of your foot. Your natural sense of equilibrium kicks in and helps you avoid sinking in to the point of damage, or worse, losing your balance entirely and even falling. :(

Check out these 'Rembrandt' Pumps by Sofft at Norstroms:http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3113867/0~2376778~2372808~6013523~6013525?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype&pbo=6013525&P=1I know that they are a higher heel but the great thing about Sofft is that they have a better cushion at the ball of your foot to help you sustain the higher heel for longer periods of time, lessing that burning sensation in the ball of your foot three hours into your day!

Let me know if this helps and thanks for the great question! And keep the questions coming!

Bronze Gladiator Sandals from The Gap

About a year ago, I was in The Gap and came across these cute gladiators. I liked them because they weren't your typical gladiator sandal. The leather flowers and knots along the strap were unique. I tried them on and loved how soft the ankle strap leather was. I had some hesitation on buying them because the thong strap that goes between the toes had an outer leather covering that's seamed and created a bit of a lip. At $24.99, I figured I could fashion some sort of rub protection should it make my toes blister. Now, I understand the labor issues with The Gap and feel somewhat guilty shopping there but had to go for it because I hadn't found gladiators I really "connected" with. Well, the first time I wore them, I walked maybe a mile total, at the most. The inside of my toes where the thong connected to the sole was stripped raw from that seamed covering. I found a few band-aids and created a cushiony cover to prevent the damage in the future. I put so many band-aids on there over time that it was getting too fat for my toes to wrap around! So, I stripped off all the band-aids and got the white first aid tape to tape down the seam. Then, I got the small square band-aids (that you never use from the variety pack) and positioned them to create some extra cushion around that thong part. That seems to be the solution that worked best. Maybe it was my punishment for patronizing poor labor practices! Regardless, I'm sure it won't be long before I start looking for a replacement pair of gladiator sandals. ;)

Welcome!

I’m a shoe lover and it started as a child. Despite my private school wardrobe restricting me to a uniform, I still had an impressive shoe collection. My sister would tease me that I should open my own shoe store. In my day job, I’m an urban planner and I’m a big public transit supporter/advocate/user. However, I love all things fashion and think that you don’t have to sacrifice style for being environmentally conscious. I also believe you can marry your desires to be fashion forward with practicality and comfort. So, that’s where I came up with this notion. As a government employee, my shoe funds need to be well allocated for maximum fashion style. And while I have gone slightly into debt on occasion for some of my Manolos and Louboutins, I look for ways to get the same level of style, quality and comfortable high heels in more affordable options that are work appropriate. I’m just your every day working city girl who agrees that “flats are for quitters” but understand that flats are important and necessary – from time to time. ;) Enjoy!

The shoe seen above is the 'Jenera' Pump by Linea Paolo. You can find it at www.nordstroms.com for a fantastic deal at $59.90 which is 50% off the regular price of $119.95. I've found that the Linea Paolo line have great squishy insides that make it an extremely comfortable shoe. I've found this squishy factor unique to their shoes. The Jenera's 1940's feel makes it a classic shoe that is a great staple to have in any working girl's shoe closet.