shoe love: Dollhouse Basanti Bootie

a few weeks ago i paid a visit to Ross, hoping to find some cute shoes (it seems my local store always has a great selection, but i find better clothing and handbags at sTJ Maxx and Marshalls-- funny, huh?). sure enough, i found these adorable Dollhouse Basanti Booties. these heels are exceptionally comfy (the insole is cushioned and there it has a hidden platform to offset the 3 1/2 inch heel) and i can wear them with everything, thanks to their neutral hue.

i love, love, love them! they are still available online, and who knows? maybe at your local discount retailer. :)

xo
pic taken by me :)

Spring Trend Alert: Clogs

clogs, if you haven't already heard, have become the season's 'it' shoe. yes, you read that right. thanks (mostly) to Chanel, clogs are the hottest style in footwear.

seriously?

i'm more of a heel-wearing gal myself, so hopefully you can understand my i-don't-think-clogs-are-cute attitude. i mean, most of the one's i've found online are just hideous. plus the fact that crocs somehow kept showing up when i was looking for them made me feel a bit queasy. yuck.

funny enough-- just in time for this post-- i found a pair of clogs that i would actually wear:



these Steve Madden Daynty clogs have a heel, a platform and are available in three colors (also, notice the peep toe-- *love*). the clog pictured is in a very spring appropriate color and would look great with jeans or a playful, floral dress.

tell me: will you be hopping on the clog trend bandwagon?

xo

Style Find: Chinese Laundry 'Hide and Seek' Bootie

with spring approaching, i have shoes (among other things) on my mind. thanks to the april issue of People Style Watch, i spotted these fabulous booties from Chinese Laundry. i'd love to add them to my collection!

called Hide and Seek, these chiffon peep-toe booties are feminine with a bit of an edge. though they are black, the sheerness keeps them light, making them perfect to wear with both delicate and structured pieces. i'm also loving the 5" heel and platform toe-- fabulous for my short, heel-loving self, ha! :)

find these Hide and Seek booties at chineselaundry.com

xo

The New Classic Accessory: Nude Shoes

i have been obsessed with nudes. now before you go there, i'm talking about the color. especially when it comes to my bags and shoes. nude was once "the hottest trend", but in my opinion is now a new "classic". nude shoes really makes sense: they go with anything and everything!

to me, nude refers to different tones, not just one color. when i think of the term, it ranges from a sandy beige to a deep cocoa-- think skintones.




if you pay attention to footwear on the red carpet, you'll notice that most actresses wear nude shoes because it makes legs appear to be longer. there is no break between the leg and shoes if the color matches your skin. nude shoes also offer us gals the reliability of always having the "right shoe" rather than having to hunt down the perfect shoe to go with that new ensemble.




of course, that doesn't mean we have to stop buying those fun, colorful shoes...

here are some examples (getting as close to your own skintone is best, but even if you're off a bit, it will still look chic):


xo

Be & D 's Kan Kan Platform Sandal Featured on Oprah

Be & D 's Kan Kan Platform Sandal was featured on Oprah's "Bag and Shoe Intervention" show last week, and just like the talk show host, i am loving them.

Oprah actually gasped when she saw them and couldn't stop talking about them!

but while she may have referred to them as "car service shoes", these are definitely shoes i could wear everyday since i already wear heels everyday. plus, these have a hidden platform in them which are fabulous for support!




as you can see in the above pic, these shoes look fabulous when worn! fyi, here are the details about the look: dress: Theory, Macy's; jacket: Rachel by Rachel Roy, Macy's; shoes: Be & D Shoes: Kan Kan sandal, shopbop.com; necklace: Fenton, FentonUSA.com; ring: Kara Ross, Macy's; pantyhose: Donna Karan, Macy's; purse: Christian Louboutin pillow clutch, NeimanMarcus.com

xo
shoe images: shopbop.com
model image courtesy of Oprah.com

What I'm Shopping For: Boots!

it's that time of year-- boots are everywhere despite the still warm weather. well, at least it's cooling off, so that's definitely something to be thankful for!

ok, on to what i really want to dish about: boots!

my search for the footwear-- that will keep my feet dry during the rain and make my cooler-weather pieces even more exciting and fun to wear when its cold-- has begun. here are a few (ok, more than a few) pairs-- from ankle boots to knee highs-- that i found while perusing the 'net that just might inspire your next boot purchase...



ankle boots:



Fioni Sasha Ruffle Bootie





Spring Swick Bootie





Kelsi Dagger Rosabella




casual:



White Mountain Flirt






Naughty Monkey D-Ring Boot





GoJane Slouchy Suede High Heel Boot




a little different:




Type Z Danica






Seychelles Dos I Do DOS-I-DO



**tell me: what type of boots do you shop for each year? do you stick with traditional styles, go with the trends or a little of both? leave your answers in the comments!

xo

Fabulous (and Flat) Shoes

i have a friend who is 5'9, and since her husband is about 5'11, she never wears heels (that to me is such a bummer!). i've tried convincing her that it would be ok, but she isn't into being taller than her guy, thus her shoe wardrobe consists of only flat shoes.

while on the Piperlime website, i was inspired to search for-- and found-- some fabulous, yet still flat, shoes i thought she, and those of you who love flats, might love to wear...





Seychelles Square Dance flat has an almond-shaped toe, brushed hardware accents and snake embossed leather. these would be great to wear with everything from jeans to a fun dress.



to add a bit of preppy fun to an otherwise casual look, these flats by Restricted are perfect.



this pair by BCBGirls is ultra-feminine and can be worn with almost anything thanks to its neutral color.


xo

review: Havaianas

for many flip flops are a staple. living here in southern california, there isn't a day that goes by that i don't see them being worn by many people. when it comes to flip flops, Havaianas is the most popular brand, and thanks to the company, i had the opportunity to try them out for myself.

if you are a regular reader, you know i'm not big on flat shoes. sure, i'll wear running shoes for exercise and i have a pair of slip-on tennis shoes for going places like amusement parks, but wearing them (especially flip flops) as an "everyday" shoe just isn't me.



Havaianas makes every type of flip flop you could ever imagine-- i tried a pair in their High Lite style, but my favorite pair turned out to be their Slim style-- they are sleek, simple and oh-so comfortable! i received a pair in Chocolate, a dark brown, and they felt great when i wore them to the beach (somewhere flip flops are a must!). to test them out even further, i also wore them to walk to the Starbucks across the street on a few occasions, found that they were perfect to wear after pedicures (they are so much more comfortable than the pair i used to wear), and was happy to have them when i had to make a late night drug store run.

so...i guess i could make these flip flops work under certain circumstances, wouldn't you say?

to find a Havaianas retailer near you click here and be sure to visit Havaianasus.com to view the entire collection of styles.

xo

Boutique 9 Itala Sandal

browsing the Piperlime website, i came across these violet t-strap Boutique 9 Itala sandals. aren't they amazing? purple, in my opinion, works in any color combination, and this style is the perfect way to add a bit of glam to an otherwise casual look.



i love that this shoe uses a mix of textures (glossy straps and a woven midsole are complimented by a wooden heel and platform), so they can really be worn with everything from your favorite slim-fitting jeans to a fun flirty dress.

visit piperlime.com for more details

xo

My ShoeDazzle Shoes!

my first pair of shoes from ShoeDazzle arrived about two weeks ago, and i am happy to say i love them! unfortunately, there was a bit of a bump in the road to get my shoes...i'll explain...


the FedEx box came...


the ShoeDazzle box!


box opened...


a shoe bag (very thoughtful!)


the shoes!


excitement...


tried them on...


a little too big... (whaaa!!!)

ok, so my size 9s felt like they were 10s-- there was no way to make them work. i had another pair on its way (i had chosen the first pair really close to the end of the first month and the second pair the same day they sent my choices in the second month), but thankfully i was able to call customer service-- the woman i spoke to was fabulous-- and change my size before they shipped. i decided to hold off sending the first pair back until i received the second pair in an 8 1/2...

those were too big too...bummer...

the good news is i sent back both pairs (i was so happy for those return labels-- it made it so easy to do so), and now i am happy to say that size 8 fits, woo-hoo! now i am enjoying my new shoes.

want to see the other pair? i thought so :)



they are called Kismet...


i love the zipper detail



so, my ShoeDazzle experience started out a bit rocky, but since everything was sorted out so smoothly, i think i'll continue with it for a bit. of course, i'll be sure to share those shoes with you as well. :)

xo

Summer 2009 Must-Have Accessory: Strappy Sandals

whether you prefer a flat gladiator style or a fierce pair of heels, the strappy sandal is the perfect accessory to wear with everything from dresses and skirts to cropped pants and short shorts.

i myself prefer a heel variation, since for some reason i really don't know how to walk in flats-- well, that's not entirely true. i just have become so accustom to wearing heels i feel funny when i don't, so i feel like i don't do it very well.



moving on, i think these styles may spark an interest in your quest for finding the perfect addition to your summer accessory wardrobe...



xo

Update on My ShoeDazzle Shoe Choice

first of all, i have to say thank you so much for voting on what shoe you thought i should chose form the fabulous new shoe site, ShoeDazzle!

so here's what happened thus far-- i made my choice a few days after posting the poll. shoe #1 was my choice (click here to see the choices), but i received an email a week later telling me my choice was out of stock, and not going to be re-stocked (le sigh...).

i then decided i would ask for more shoes suggestions to be sent, since i wasn't too thrilled with the other shoes, and they quickly sent more choices-- very good!



i ended up choosing this shoe, suggested by Kim-- it's called Naimah, and looks just like Loki (pair #3), but in neutral tones. now i wait...

hopefully, the shoes will fit and can wear them happily. :)

stay tuned to find out!

xo

Help Me Choose My Shoes From ShoeDazzle!

remember the fabulous shoe site, ShoeDazzle.com, i shared with you last week? well, i've received the picks from the stylists, but-- as i dreaded-- i can't decide!

here are the shoes selected for me...


pair #1


pair #2



pair #3



pair #4



pair #5

do you see my dilemma? so, i'm asking, pretty please, will you take a moment to vote on the pair you think i should choose?* thanks! :)





xo
*your votes will be used to help me narrow down my shoe selection. votes will not determine my absolute choice. i'll be sure to let you know which ones i pick!

Kim Kardashian & ShoeDazzle

Kim Kardashian wants you to have fabulous shoes for $39 a pair, and she's created a website to make that a reality.

ShoeDazzle is Kim's website, launched in november last year, that features a panel, including herself, of fashion-savvy people who help choose shoes to suit your own personal style and allow you to have them for an affordable price!



this is how it works:

take the fashion survey:
the stylists will be able to choose shoes for you based on your survey results.

register:
enter your information to become a member, including shipping and billing information. your credit card will not be charged until you choose your first pair of shoes, at which point you will become a member of the ShoeDazzle Society.

the stylists choose 5 pair of shoes for you to choose from that are based on your individuality and fashion preferences. if you are unhappy with the choices, simply call them at the number provided on the site, and they'll happily send you new shoe choices.

then choose your shoe:
a notification via email will be sent to you when your shoe choices are ready for you simply log back into ShoeDazzle to choose the shoes you want.

i have to point out, this isn't a $39 a month, then-pay-for-uber-expensive-shoes program, but rather a pay $39 a month and choose a pair of cute shoes. period. if you want to skip a month, you can, and you won't be charged.

all of the questions you may have and program info is on the site, so head on over there and check it out.

oh, and fyi, i have signed up myself and am waiting for my choices to be presented to me-- i can't wait! my only fear is that i will like more than one pair...

go ahead and visit shoedazzle.com for all the details-- it won't cost a thing to look around.

xo

Leighton Meester Promotes New Reebok Shoe

Leighton Meester, the new face of Reebok, made an appearance at the Lady Foot Locker in nyc on saturday to promote the new "Top Down" Sneaker by Leighton Meester.

Leighton herself looked fabulous as always in a cream white layered dress. she added a bit of edge to the feminine piece by wearing a leather biker jacket, and of course, a pair of black Top Down sneakers.

what do you think of the shoes?

xo