Penny For Your Thoughts

Oh my aching credit cards!  I don’t know about you but I really went crazy with all the sales during this past weekend.  I did make it out to the stores but mostly, I shopped online and made out like a bandit.  I wish I could say that I’m done with my Christmas shopping but that would be silly!  The retailers are totally throwing me lots of designer bones and I’m all too happy to chomp them up. 

These ‘Urquiza’ penny loafer pumps by Aldo enamored me taking me back to my grade school days of starched plaid uniforms.  These adorable pumps have that classic coin pocket that actually fit a dime, but I'm working on getting that penny in there. ;)  But in true Aldo form, they have brought that great balance of fashion, professional style and sex appeal in this fantastic pump.

The high 4 ¾” heel is a platform heel that includes a 1” platform.  While this heel seems a little high for a girl on the go, the stacked heel makes this a very wearable pump.  It has a solid heel that is substantial enough to withstand subway grates and sidewalk cracks.  This is also a good counter to the sole being smooth.  It’s hard to keep your balance if your shoes are slipping with each step, but having a substantial stacked heel actually gives you that added balance.

My favorite thing about the ‘Urquiza’ is the overall design and feel of it.  You can take it in so many directions-style wise.  The insanely cold wind that has swept into LA has me in boots 24/7.  And while we all know I love my boots, I need a break.  These are a perfect alternative because they go PERFECTLY with tights, the opaque ones or the totally adorable crocheted knit ones that look like those school girl knee highs.  Again, the trip to memory lane with the updated adultness is a big win for me on these.  The structured stitching will always make these grown up and office appropriate.  They come in two gorgeous neutral colors, khaki and cognac.  These are so versatile for great office fashion and beyond, that they will be a go-to staple in your shoe closet making them well worth their $125 price.  But, the fond memories of being a school girl are worth a penny for your thoughts. ;)

A Twist on the Classic Pump

At my first glance of these pumps, I got flashbacks to Molly Ringwald in Pretty In Pink.  I’m thinking poufy metallic lamé   Guinea Sax prom dresses and ruffled cuff socks and pumps. ;) And just like Molly, the 'Marni' pump from Rosegold is adorable from toe to heel. But after a longer second look, I realized that the classic shape of this silhouette demands its comeback time and time again.

This great pump has a 1” platform that cranks you up 4 ¼” inches in total.  A platform does you several important favors.  The first is that you appear taller and thereby thinner because you are elongated to flatter any body shape.  The other thing a platform does is offer you an extra layer of shock absorption.  The platform is essentially a built-in mechanism that helps you be able to run around in these for hours at a time because shoe designers also use the opportunity to add more cushioning there in the ball of your foot.  You also get a great inner cushion in there that is a Rosegold signature. ;)

My favorite part about the Marni is its versatility.  The almond toe makes this silhouette timeless.  Matching this style with the open lattice design gives you a pump that can go from day to night quite easily.  You can style these with your classic suits and pencil skirts for work and then change into your mini with colored tights for a night out with the girls.  Because of how comfortable they are, you could actually wear them all day AND night too! :)  The open lattice design can be edgy so you can let loose but because they in a more conservative shape, they really are a twist on a classic pumps. ;)  And at about $87 on Endless.com's sale, its like getting two shoes for the prices of one, making this a great bargain!

The Chic Mommy Wedge

As several of my fabulous friends begin the motherhood chapters of their lives, they are struggling to find fashion that works with the demands of being a new mom.  No sleep and no time.  Unwilling to fall into the trap of mom jeans and stretchy pants in their mid-30s, they beg for easy wardrobe options that require NO thinking whatsoever.  As such, I give to you the chic mommy wedge.  Again, being the Shop It To Me stalker that I have become, I saw these fabulous Gucci Leather Wedges on the Designer Shoe Warehouse site that just instantly made me think, PERFECTION.  Wedges are that fantastic marriage between flats and heels.  You get all the stability that flats give you with the height that you get from our beloved heels.  Now, imagine if all marriages could be this great at give and take. ;)

These Guccis are fantastic for the chic mom on the go because they have a 2 ¼” heel that makes it feasible to have one little cutie patootie hanging off one shoulder and the other three totes of their stuff on the other.   You slip them on and you’re out the door.  BUT, here’s the best part.  THEY ARE GUCCI, which means, you have fine Italian luxury at your toes, literally.  They have the glamour and pulled-togetherness built in.  And this is primarily WHY these are perfect for the chic mommy.  The style is timeless and classic with the perfect round toe.  As far as comfort, Gucci has proven to be one of the few high end designers that never fails on delivering a comfortable shoe.  The sweet little double G logo on the back of the shoe is tastefully done to last you at least through the terrible two’s.  Not to mention that it retains your status as still being that stylish woman you were before motherhood.  I firmly believe that you don’t have to lose your gorgeous style sense just because now Osh Kosh and Gymboree dominate your laundry basket. ;) Chic mommy can have it all. ;) 

Now in terms of price, these fabulous little ones will be yours for a sheer $99.95 from our new favorite go-to Gucci supplier, Designer Shoe Warehouse.  And you can get free shipping with any $35 purchase (and free membership sign up) using the code SHIPR.  And trust me, this Gucci selection of deals is worth signing up for! ;)  These fabulous wedges come in ELEVEN colors, so I strongly recommend getting multiple colors at this incredible price.  You will not regret it… but you might regret not getting that extra pair when little sweetie pie spills all over you and your wedges. ;)

For those of us that prefer a little more height with our wedge, you can get this same amazing wedge in a 3 ¼” heel for the SAME deal of $99.95!  How are you still reading this and not entering your credit card info on the DSW site?? ;)  Your hardest decision now should really be picking which colors. :)  I’ve got some ideas and things in the cooker for you lovelies so that’s part of why I’ve had fewer posts as of late.  I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!!

New York State of Mind & Boot

I just returned from a wonderful long weekend in New York City and my cup overflowth with fashion inspiration.  I packed for some chilly, windy Fall weather only to be completely surprised by utterly perfect warmer Fall weather.  Besides, this LA girl would rather be warm than cold ;) In making NYC wardrobe choices to pack, I felt it a crime to not bring along my ‘Wyatt’ boots from Tory Burch.  In fact, I felt I needed to step up my airport style so, I wore them on the flight there and back.

I got these almost a year ago, but I remember it like it was just yesterday. :) While most of the country was still stuffed from dinner and underslept in a crazed store for those incredible Black Friday sales at the crack of dawn, I was glued to my computer pouncing on my Shop It To Me daily email.  Yes, it’s quite an uplifting daily experience that I highly recommend. ;)  These gorgeous knee high boots were a complete steal for $175, reduced from their $550 retail price.  So you know that as soon as I could type my credit card number in correctly, I was doing my happy dance in my pjs.

I got them about a week later and could not be more pleased.  The boot is most DEFINITELY soft.  It’s a pull on boot, my first ever.  I was nervous that they wouldn’t fit over my calves since I’ve always struggled slightly with boots in that area.  I’ve never been a fan of most pull on boots because they’re usually made of a material that always looks cheap to me.  Even in the picture.  And that’s just not my style.  So these looked SO expensive, partly because they were originally. ;)  But more than that, they looked substantial but not stiff.  Granted it was just a picture I based this all off of but I figured the deal was too good not to take a chance and return if need be later. 

I really love them.  They have a very molded foot that brings such a massive benefit to your toes.  The benefit is that the molded foot keeps your foot from sliding all the way forward squishing your toes because 3 ¾” heels will do that to your toes. :)  The stacked heel is solid.  And by solid I mean that when the first leg of my flight was late and the airline shuttled me across the tarmac to catch my connecting flight VIP style and I had to climb the crazy spiky metal stair case with my two carry-ons, I didn’t stumble once.  The boot’s construction gave my foot enough support to have unsquished toes but enough mobility at the ankle to have the agility of a supergirl. :)  And the little gold iconic Tory Burch logo on the back just dot the ‘i’ in fierce, which is how you feel in these boots.

The rounded toe gives it its timelessness and classic feel.  The tailored shape worried me that it may give me a "cankle" look.  But surprisingly, the slouch at the ankle is anything but... The fit is a perfect snug that doesn't slide down but still let me pull them off quickly at the airport security line.  The foot pad isn't terribly well padded.  But to resolve this, I usually wear my boots with ankle socks for the cushy softness they add.  It makes them wearable for my cross country flight and a night walking around Times Square, dinner in Hell's Kitchen, a jaunt over to Bryant Park, the New York City LIbrary, a quick stop at Magnolia's bakery for cupcakes, admiration of Rockefeller Center pre-tree lighting, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Penn Station.

Truly inspired by the amazing fashionistas all over New York City with their chic boots everywhere, made me want to find more delicious boots like the ‘Wyatt’.  It doesn’t hurt that Ms. Tory Burch also keeps turning it out with fabulous shoes, boots, flats, bags and clothes. ;) Thanks NYC ladies!

The Work Clog

As the new Fall and Winter shoe fashions came up on us in late August, the clog intrigued me the most.  It has the nostalgic tone of the 70’s style that went hand in hand with Farah’s flipped hair do and oversized sunglasses.  In more modern times, I’ve only seen women sport a very dowdy version of the shoe that makes me wonder if they were really going for that homely look at the office.  Excited about the fresh modernized update on the clog, I immediately tried on as many as I could find in my vicinity.  The let down is that while they were cute, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was that “other” kind of working girl, no matter what I was wearing while trying them on.  This was totally unacceptable for work.  But I was determined to find a work appropriate clog for the season.  And I finally succeeded. 

The ‘Ginara’ by Banana Republic is the perfect work clog.  I first tried them on in the cognac brown which was actually very nice.  I knew that I wouldn’t have that Stripperella feeling wearing these with a pencil skirt to the office.  I opted for the grey suede which Banana Republic actually calls “Smoke” only because I could actually use more grey shoes options in my shoe closet. ;)

What makes this pair a win is their shape and style.  They hang with the rest of the fabulous clogs out there in the 4” range, with about 1” being the clog platform.  The inner sole is entirely cushioned with a pad that you can feel hug your foot when you slip it on.  This delicious cushion padding makes it perfect for sporting them all day long.  The very simple and streamlined design of this clog keeps it clean and sophisticated.  There is some detailing with the seaming across the shoe but its very minimal in that Calvin Klein kind of way.  And you want that because since its a clog (a little over the top already) keeping it clean and minimal makes it more work appropriate.

The detail that most sold me on this clog was the tapered heel that balanced the shoe between Hookerville and frumpy gardening shoes.  It gave it enough sophistication to make it great pairing with work attire very nicely.  The strap in the back helps keep it nicely secure and from flying off should you take a misstep along the marble floors.  The edgy studs around the sides give the clog versatility to wear with more casual outfits, you know, the way clogs are intended to be worn. ;)  Priced at $140, it makes it a good investment for your shoe closet because it will make you very current and it is easily a shoe you will wear well into the Spring.  Leave it to Banana Republic to be able to make the more trendy fashions work appropriate.  Although, to be completely honest with you, I’ve had my money on them from the start. ;)  I’m off to New York City so I hope you all have a fabulous November weekend.  Stay warm! ;)

Too Gucci To Be True

I was browsing through my Shop It To Me daily email when I came across these beautiful Gucci ‘Hollywood Horsebit’ peep toe pumps.  As I started to drool, I saw that they were on sale from $450 down to $150 at DSW.  And THAT’S when my heart dropped.  I have not tried on a pair of Gucci’s in quite sometime so I had to take a leap of faith on the sizing AND that they were going to be comfortable.  For $150 Gucci’s, it was a risk I was very willing to take.

When my favorite man in brown delivered them last week, I was skipping to my Lou.  I admired them for the gorgeousness that they are.  The red color is more of a deeper red than a classic cherry red but not so red that it’s like a fine red wine. :)  It’s a great red that works almost like a neutral. 

I wore them to work yesterday for the first time.  I was nervous since I didn’t bring my back up flats (The Ultimate City Flat for the Ultimate City Girl) in the case that I should need a lifeline.  But, I took another leap of faith that I would be ok.  Well, that and the fact that I knew I could be parking my behind most of the day so I could avoid walking around too much.  The stiletto thin heel is 4” high and not a friend to sidewalk cracks.  HOWEVER, given that they are 4” high and have what I would think to be too little padding on the ball of the foot, they were amazingly comfortable.  I walked a good six blocks before I felt the ball of my foot start to feel a tinge.  And these are long blocks!  When I did get to put it in “Park”, my feet did not burn.  There was that tinge that starts to make you feel like you’re going into burn mode, but I never actually got there.  I ended up standing for a two hour presentation and never once thought that my feet were hurting because they weren’t.

The fit was very snug but in that way that your foot feels very secure inside the shoe so that it doesn’t feel like it could slip off.  The vamp of the shoe has a fabulous silver horsebit detail that make them unmistakably Gucci.  Now, I know that being a cute little peep toe makes them seasonal.  Except that I actually sported my favorite rain boots the Steve Madden ‘Tsunamii’ that I raved about in ‘Can't Rain On My Parade’ to keep my tootsies warm outside in the morning when it was raining.  The great zipper on the back made them easy for me to zip of them and into my ‘Hollywood Horsebit’ peep toe pumps.  Having stumbled upon DSW in my Shop It To Me email for such a great deal was really what made them *too* Gucci to be true. ;)

Oh Joy! HeelsUp!

I’ve had a KER A ZEE week!  Driving from LA to San Diego for my 9 to 5, presenting at a State Conference, having a project at City Commission the next morning has left this Working Girl pooped.  Then, I met with sweetie pie fashion correspondent Carolina Davalos last night to talk shop.  After two delicious margaritas at my favorite local margarita stop, I came home to the best present I could have asked for this week.  Mr. Postman had brought me my long desired 'HeelsUp' by Nine West.

Getting these little beauties was challenging to say the least.  Having been featured in just about EVERY September issue, even the pre-order on the Nine West website was sold out.  In trying to resolve this matter with customer service, I got an automated response that was “less than satisfactory.”  Now, you know that it’s not pretty when someone comes between a regular girl and her shoes…. Now, picture me.  Mmmm hmmm, I’ll let you fill in the rest of that. ;)  My sweet Twitter friend, @nluvwshoes, who also just joined the blogosphere with Shoe-Radar.com, came to my rescue.  We tweeted our disappointment and got on the Nine West radar.   Long story short, I got in contact with an actual human being.  Apparently, Nine West had no clue how wildly popular these would be.  I had to wait a bit before placing my pre-order…. BUT THEY ARE FINALLY HERE!

So, were they worth the long wait and all the drama?  Oh. My. God. YES.  Emphatically YES!  They are so pretty! As tired as I was after this insane week, I tore the box open to try them on immediately.  I walked all over my apartment at midnight as I got ready for bed wearing them. They are so comfortable.  The leather is so incredibly supple.  And they fit like a glove, snug but not tight so they don’t slip off when you take a step. 

The attention to details on these pumps really is what makes this pair so special. The gold buckle is so shiny and elegant.  The square toe makes the classic pump a little more modern but still sophisticated. The way that the leather is folded around the corners of the toe is done impeccably.  And there’s a little seam on the back heel that just gives it such a great character and uniqueness. 

The dark grey color is a more of a smoky brown grey that is really an unusual shade.  The 4 ½” stacked heel has a concealed ¾” platform that has a great little smidge of padding at the ball of your foot.  The sole as little patches of rubber to give you that great traction regardless of the kind of urban terrain your facing.  The heel is almost like a stiletto but more substantial that a pin thin stiletto.  This is fabulous because it gives you that sexiness of the high heels but still have actual stability.  The only downside I see about this pair is that the platform does seem to weigh it down a bit.  It’s not a deal breaker though.  You will still be able to rock these fabulously in the office and be Heels Up. ;)

Bootie-licious

Ever since I saw Ms. SJP sport some grey/milk chocolate suede lace up oxfords last Spring, I’ve been obsessed with finding a pair to add to my shoe closet.  So after months and months, the search finally came to an end!  I found these delicious chocolate lace up booties by Coach at the superfab Nordstrom Rack a few weeks back.  The instant I tried these on, I knew these were meant for me.  *swoon*

The search for lace up oxfords was difficult not because I couldn’t find any, but because I couldn’t find a pair that were the right proportion for my body.  The wonderful thing about suede and velvet is that they deflect light and are very slimming.  How could that EVER be a bad thing you ask?  When it makes your foot look disproportionately small like a cartoon character.  Not really a good look for anyone, Ladies. :( I tried on some super cute pairs all over the place from Bloomingdale’s to Zara’s.  The oxford booties were all gorgeous and comfortable, but the sole edging that is one of the great details of an oxford along its perimeter was what made the shoe, and more importantly, my foot look crazy small.  And having a booty of my own, it made my body proportions totally exaggerated like one of those cartoon ladies that has a high booty and teeny little feet.  You want shoes to make you look more balanced not cartoony. :(

That’s why the proportions of this Coach lace up bootie were perfect for me.  The thicker and contracting “natural” rubber sole edging around the shoe gives the shoe the right amount of width to make my proportions balance out in a flattering way.  The fact that the soles are texturized rubber is just incredible to having traction on any kind of urban terrain.  You won’t have the faintest of wobbles with the grip that these babies give you.  The 4” tapered stacked heel is really about 3 ¼” because the rubber sole offers a platform of about ¾”.  The platform rubber sole is also your friend because it gives the ball of your foot an extra cushy layer of shock absorption letting run around town a little longer than you normally would in your heels.  And the little tassels on the laces just make these that much more endearing bringing out that back to school girl in you. ;)

Since these are suede, you do need to do a little TLC maintenance.  If you spray them with scotch guard spray before you wear them the first time and then about half an hour before your wear them each time, your suede should look good and last you a long time.  You may have to give it a little brush or two with a nailbrush on occasion but that’s about it.

I got these for a total steal at $87 at the Nordstrom Rack since they were originally priced at $178.  So whether you’re out voting or celebrating the Giants win, OR BOTH, you’ll be bootie-licious in these. ;)