Flat-Footed

I might be willing it, but I BELIEVE warm weather (I'll even settle for just warmer weather) is around the corner. One of the things that happens to me at this time of year is that I start itching to throw away all of my boots and booties and let my tootsies breathe! But not just yet. So the easy transition is the flat. A little skin exposure, but no mandated pedicures just yet. I need approximately 7 more degrees on the outdoor thermometer to get me to this point - watch out boots! Your days are numbered...

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

(here)

Splurge-worthy

I haven't actually splurged yet, but I am 92% sure that I will... soon. Yesterday my feet were tired and a bit swollen at the end of a long day. So I decided to finally buy a pair of simple basic Toms on my way home, just for a bit of relief and to add a good, casual go-to to my shoe wardrobe. Lame-o here landed on boring grey (do you spell it "grey" or "gray"? just curious.).

(Toms)

When the salesman brought them out for me to try, he also cleverly brought out a few other shoes that he "really digs right now" just to show me. (How did he know I'm a sucker for those "impulse" displays by registers?! that I have some sort of biological aversion to self control?!) Everything he brought out was perfection. But never in my life have I tried on something like the new Frye 'Carson' Ballet Flat. For serious, ladies, it's a winner on every level. First of all, Frye. Right? Second of all, it comes in several cool, cute, and sassy-pants colors/patterns. Third of all, it was literally like stepping into a pillow. And still so so simply chic and delicate. I tried on (and fell in love with) the orange one:

(here you go)

I am telling you, it is worth it. My tootsies have never.ever.ever. felt this good before in any flat. Honestly. PLUS, Frye has a great deal that lots of folks don't know about, which is that if ever in the lifetime of your shoe, its sole gets roughed up too much, you can send it back to Frye and they'll completely resole your shoe for a mere $20. For life. The quality is just beyond, obviously. I'm thinking $150 is totally reasonable for this splurge. Plus, the leather feels like BUTTTTTTTERRRRRRRRRRRRR.

What say you? Splurge? or Self Control? (I do have some birthday $$ to spend...)

Winter

Winter's supposed to get here any minute now. We've been so lucky - not only has the snow held off (we've had less than an inch in total since fall "ended"), but the temps have been averaging in the 40s and 50s, and even a few days nearing 60! So, the fact that it's January 12, and we're just now getting all the snow warnings, is less painful than if they were coming in November, like normal. I don't know if I worded any of that the way I wanted to, but I haven't had any coffee, so you'll forgive.

Mostly I started writing about this today because in the elevator on the way up to my office this morning, there was a young gal with the cutest winter boots on, in preparation for the onslaught the weather folks are getting all worked up about. Meanwhile, there I stood, in clunky but cute fashion boots, thinking, 'will these be ruined by the time I get home this evening?' But p.s., people are totally geeking out about this "winter storm watch" as if they've never experienced winter weather before and as thought they don't live IN FREAKING CHICAGO! Seriously, there's hardly anyone at my office, and my bus commute down the usually-traffic-heavy Lake Shore Drive this morning was a breeze. Maybe I missed some sort of memo...

So anywhoozits, I started considering the winter boot... a shoe in which I often do not invest. For the past two years I've added a yummy fleece boot liner to my Hunter rain boots and called them winter boots. This works fairly well, because the snow in Chicago tends not to stay soft and fluffy--or even packed--for very long. It's usually lovely for 10 minutes and then gets wet and slushy and grey-brown-gross. So tall wellies are effective for multiple reasons. That said, they're not the warmest, in spite of those liners, and they are more difficult to get on and off with said liners.

All that to say that I'm considering a purchase of some truer cold-weather boots. Suggestions? Here are a few possibilities (I guess)...

(By Kamik, available at Nordstrom)

(by Jellypop, available at DSW)

(by Khombu, available at Macys)

(by Beartraps, available at Famous Footwear)

Do you have any recommendations? Any brands you swear by? I clearly don't know what I'm talking about/doing.

Photo Challenge Day 18

Your shoes.

I took them off for maximum posing enjoyment...

(Nine West Gianne - I got them at DSW, but they're not on the DSW site for some reason)

(they're new and I already wore them three times this week... {love them})


All 30-Day Photography Challenge posts here.

Mastering Indian-Summer-Wear

I'm trying to enjoy every last drop of this week of Indian Summer here in Chicago. News reports are already torturing us with the "warning" that ours will be the worst winter in the country this year... Jerks. I don't know how to prepare mentally for that. I almost wish it could have been a surprise. Instead, I'm already starting to panic about my likely turn as a recluse in the months ahead. Not good. But NOW. NOW it's warm and delightful. That magical bit of warmth and sunshine that taunts you with the memory of summer neatly set in between cold spells. I'll take it. If this is the winter I throw up my hands and give up, then I'll suck the life out of these last yummy-warm-happy days.

But I feel weird dressing summery when it's October, you know? Like, it's warm, but it's just warm-er. It's not summer again. It's fall. Just a bit of meteorological comic relief to help us out, but still fall. I think I got it right (or at least acceptable) from head-to-ankle, but I think I went too summery with the footwear, and I knew it when I put them on, but I didn't really have the *right* fall/Indian Summer shoe, so I just went with it.

(Please forgive: a) my beautiful background of my office; and b) my aging rock star (aka Richie Sambora) hair... that's another story for another day...)

(Also, I mentioned the bracelet before here, and the shirt here)

But see what I mean? Too summery with the sandals. Maybe something like this would be more Indian-Summer-appropriate:

(DSW)

(DSW)

(ModCloth)

Or even something like one of these:

(Urban Outfitters)

(Endless)

What do you think? Which would have worked better for between seasons? How do you dress to fit these not-quite-a-season days?

Desert Boots and Dad

It's not just my mom to whom I can credit my fashion sensibility. More on that in another post, and in frequent mentions. My dad is a sharp dresser. I remember going shopping with him as a kid, and picking out smart socks and ties to go with his work outfits. He likes to look good, and I think that's an incredibly wonderful characteristic in a man. My dad also appreciates a good shoe. Here's a great photo of me as a little kid, still in Israel, wearing an understated outfit in order to highlight the pièce de résistance: a pair of my dad's boots (on the wrong feet). They're Frye's. High-five, Dad:

This past weekend my parents were in town and it was just a really great visit. We felt no push to do touristy things, and just played it all by ear - we cooked together, we feasted together, we walked a lot, we read in the same room, we chatted, and just generally enjoyed each other's company. On Saturday afternoon we wandered about in a nearby 'hood and poked around in a few stores. We popped into a shoe store and while my mom went over to the Ladies' department to pursue a pair of tall, dark red boots, I followed my dad over to Men's. While he pursued some sensible Keens, I pointed out a pair of casual-or-dressy shoe-boots I thought were fantastic, trying to encourage him to try them on.

"We used to call these 'Desert Boots' and they were all I wore for a time in the '70s."

Of course they were. Aren't they great? They're also still called desert boots, for the record. They're great for a man, but they're also great for a gal. They work casually with jeans or cords or cargos, but just as well with tights and a skirt or dress, no? Here are a few, and with contemporary upgrades, for the ladies:

(These are the "originals" - by Clarks, and available in a bunch of colors, and suede)

(Big Buddah on Endless - I'm really loving the wedges)

(Dolce Vita at Nordstrom)

(Fryes on SALE on Endless)

(Kelsi Dagger on Endless)

(Wanted - also Endless)

(Steve Madden at Nordstrom)

(a shoe-ier version in fun orange at Urban Outfitters)

(and a lace-less similar style, also at Urban Outfitters)

(Mia - DSW)

What do you think? Are you open to welcoming this style back in? Or do you want to kick it back to the desert, in the 70s? I love the "updates" - color, height, detailing. And I'm loving the tried and true flashback look, too... I would love to see Dave in the originals. But I'll have probably have to use reverse psychology... or a time machine.

Bensimon Sneaks

I have been quietly loving and admiring the cute Bensimon elastic sneaks from a distance.

(très adorable, non?!)

I don't know why I haven't bought a pair... Just being frugal, I guess. HOWEVER. They're on sale today at Madewell. For $39.99 (down from around $55-$60, depending on the vendor).

The only issue I'm having is that I really like those light blue ones (above). And the sale shoes are only available in rose poudre:

buy 'em anyway?

UPDATE: bought 'em.

Shoe Fixation: Ecote @ UO

Sorry for the break in posts since last week -- I went back to Massachusetts to visit my parents and be with my Mama for Mother's Day and decided to basically disconnect while I was there. Ahhh...

But now I'm back! And while I have been legitimately obsessing over this shoe purchase for about a week and a half now, today I was complimented in the perfect way on them by someone other than myself, so I figured I ought to share. I bought these at Urban Outfitters on a fluke-I-happen-to-be-in-the-neighborhood-probably-should-do-a-walk-through visit recently:

(Ecote Basketweave Skimmer in Coral)

They are delightful. I put them on almost as soon as I purchased them, and they required no breaking-in! They're super comfy, a fun splash of color, and they pretty much go with everything. I can dress them down to bum around on the weekend, and I can dress them up with an outfit to work. I have pretty much done both of the aforementioned dressings every day since I've had them. I love them. The compliment they received this morning went something like this: "Oh! Those are fantastic! They are basically grown-up jellies." And that's exactly what they are... stepped-up, dare I say sophisticated, jellies. And not in chafe-and-sweat-potential plastic tubing. Bonus.

When I was thinking about posting them, I went hunting for them on the Urban site. They appear to no longer be available online, so you'll have to go (do it!) to your own Urban and find them in a basket on the floor like I did. Prowling around the shoe section of the site, though, I did find tons of other awesome-looking shoes to delight and entice me away from my work... (all images from/shoes available at urbanoutfitters.com)

(Sessun T-Strap Sandal)

(Deena & Ozzy Mixed Band Peep-Toe Wedge)

(Deena & Ozzy Oxford Wedge)

(Ecote Basketweave Ankle Wrap Sandal)

(All Black Linen Ankle Wrap Sandal)

(Matt Bernson Raffia Wedge)

(Matt Bernson Triple Buckle Heel)

(Modern Vintage Platform Wedge Sandal)

(New Kid Lasercut Loafer)

(just to whet the shoe appetite...)