october's fire

Steve Madden's Neley in 2-toned black

I've chosen this Fall to be unfaithful to the usual cool weather trend of donning booties with revealing sweater dresses of 346,822,762 colors. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my booties but...I've completely succumbed to OTK (over-the-knee) madness with my fire pick for October! I can't lie though, I've never been a fan of mid-length boots so much as I've been a fan of booties and thigh-highs. Beware of my boot-prejudice before continuing to read.

Although I feel the name (it's kind of gnarly sounding?) does not do this fab boot any justice in the attractive marketing department, Neley's explosive two-toned (part sturdy leather, part smooth suede) figure more than makes up for this. Available from Steve Madden stores and Nordstrom (also check this site for written reviews), (169.95, retail) this boot is perfect for the impending cold and the ideal fashion choice for the season that challenges us to outfit ourselves in our hottest yet less revealing garb.

  

The Neley is worn perfectly with most Fall outfits, especially body-hugging sweater dresses or a pair of multi-wash jeans and a strong shoulder top or my favorite, a blazer! Any kind of accessory is explosive when paired with this daring boot. Due to the boot's material contrast of leather to suede, heavy metal or multi-shade metallic accessories pair the best. OTK boots instantly up the ante for any fashion statement. 

These boots do not add any color to an outfit which is the first of its 2 pitfalls. They really only serve to accent legs and embolden your image. The second pitfall is the 1.25 inch platform at the front of the boot. In terms of trend history platforms fall in and out of it more regularly than a 3-month old baby cries. Not that I'd be so worried about this being that platforms will always be back "in" because history repeats itself.

peace, love and shoes

glitterati edition: september's fire

I know, I know...I'm mad late with the shoe blog extraordinaire's monthly fetish, my apologies. I just got back from a trip to Hollywood so this seems appropriate...I'm about to make it up to you (and myself)...

right. now.


Stella Multi

 My pick for this month gives anything glitterati a true run for it's title. Available from Bakers ($79.95, retail) in 3 addictive metallic schemes (Gold, Multi, & Silver), the Stella is the perfect bootleg Carrie Bradshaw Louboutin heartthrob for less than 10% of the price. 



Louboutin Pigalle (debut: Sex and the City 2)

As you might know already, I am the epitome of the minimalistic creator when it comes to fashion and I picture these in any scheme going indubitably well with solid colors, especially black or a deep purple. But if you actually want to follow a trend of sorts, the Stella gives a stellar performance with animal prints as well (i.e. Stella Gold with Zebra print)...everyone's go-to dress-up/dress-down pattern for the upcoming season, Fall 2010. Thus, the Stella is a perfect accessory for Fall outings & Winter holidays.



Stella Gold

I've always been one to go for more subtle twists when outfitting BUT I fell in love with the loud statement made by this shoe. Because a glitter shoe tells a story of 1,000 words, when wearing the Stella, it's not necessary to accessorize much at all. The lack of need to accessorize is my fashion "easy button" (wink, wink). Of course the main pitfall here is that Louboutin would have gone broke and died if he stooped to Bakers level on this one...Stella is a self-proclaimed stunt double to say the most. The lack of commonality between the Pigalle and the Stella is indisputable, but some of us aren't millionaires.



Stella Silver


Anyone that says they'd wear sparkling shoes and not be looking to accomplish star appeal is telling a very bad lie. Putting on a pair of shoes should always complete your look and give you a sense of a grand finale. I always save my shoes for the very end and nothing feels like the anticipation of putting them on last...it's like icing on a cake.
 
Why not bedazzle your look with an edgy basic pump this Fall/Winter while everyone else is rocking booties?

Fergie (right, Silver) and SJP (left, gold) rocking Pigalle




peace, love and shoes

august's fire

Gray is the new black, the new pink, the new hot, the new chic. From Aldo for $90 (retail), Sangrey provides a brilliant combination of both suede and rich gray color. This pairing is perfectly subtle and bold simultaneously just as the transition of Summer to Fall emulates. 

The shoelaces/shoeties remind me of a gorgeous shoe from H&M (third page of Shoes - 2nd row, 1st column) that I fell in love with back a few months ago. This is obviously not the first time that shoelaces have been a part of shoe fashion but I'm really digging it for the Fall since bondage and ties are typically a part of the wear for cooler weather. It will definitely add a twist to your more subtle and/or minimalistic pieces or ensembles.

I tend to be a fan of wider peep toe so I am additionally impressed with how the slimming design is maintained in lieu of the wider opening at the point.

Obviously I couldn't be more pleased with it...fire.

peace, love, & shoes

july's fire

I'm not all that proud to admit that I probably rocked my first real pair of heels right before I turned 19. I was inspired by my first college roommate to expand my horizons and with the nightlife at UVa this wasn't hard. I really and truly found my style by shopping around and actively researching the fashion concerns of women with my body type; hourglass. Since my first year at UVa I've come from being a sometimes confused experimenter to a comfortable exemplar. A point that I think many women miss about fashion is that its not just about glitz and glamour...it's about practicality, cost effectiveness, and comfort. For example, I'm obsessed with V-t's (V-neck t-shirts, American Apparel is best) because they are extraordinarily comfortable and they are versatile for a glitz and glamour kind of evening or something simple like running errands. Anyways, I'm aware that shoes are most every woman's fetish but I don't think there is enough sharing about what actually works.

Being fortunate enough to have a job fresh off the lawn of Thomas Jefferson's academic village has granted me a chance to gain experience in a field I absolutely do not foresee remaining engaged in while giving me a baseline from which to judge my future desires for a certain type of career. I have decided that I need to be doing something (rather soon) that I really love and that is creative. I have decided that I need to find my way to fashion school.

It's been a decision in formation for several months. Not only do I have the drive but much unlike other life plans I try to make I can stomach the fact that in order to achieve this I really do need to have patience. Part of my drive to be a part of fashion is because women need shit that actually fits and fits well. Most clothing on the market is sold in a Forever 21 format (mass distribution of cheap clothing that you can't return) and women just bare with it because there aren't many cheap places to find something quick and easy for an occassion. So I've reinvented the confused experimenter and I've been trying the fashion world on for size....

Blogs with tips and personal anecdotes have definitely helped me with my fashion frustrations. So here it goes...

My shoe recommendation for July, as in July's FIRE shoe is:


Michael Kors KORS original Suede Glitter pump, retail: $195


Now I can speak on this and not on condition of anonymity because I wear them! I often see women jump at the opportunity to buy 4 pairs of shoes or 4 dresses for $200 rather than one quality pair of shoes or dress for the same price. I know most of us are concerned about trends but we are also concerned about our bank account. Now I can't name a specific solution for that worry being that its real and there'll never be a way to keep up fully with fashion trends without dedicating part of your 401k to the cause...however, my solution is that I am a minimalist stylistically.



I rarely rock patterns or intricate pieces...I am not a millionaire so I have to make the most of my wardrobe and minimalism is the best way to go if I want to maximize my options for the time being. Simple prints that boast shape or cut changes such as solid color one-shoulder or low back dresses will ALWAYS go with a pair of solid or eclectic heels that combine a max of 2-3 colors. Obviously black goes with anything...but too much black is NEVER good. No really it never is.


I don't believe that closed toe pumps get the attention they deserve in the Summer. Most women are looking for the same 6-inch strappy sandal in all 10,247 colors available. To stretch your dollar, invest in a pair of heels that you can wear multiple times with most things that you own, and that you know will last.

Glitter, a KORS original are tried and true! True to size, they are sure not to fall off but I don't find that they suffocate my foot, especially in the toe box. Adding approximately 4.5/5 inches to your height, the heel is strategically placed at the very back of the pump. This provides for more ankle support than the average heel, which abandons its rightful post about an inch from the rear usually. To me there is nothing better than a simple, rich, and sexy pair of pumps that would do justice to really any outfit. You can walk around in these for hours. I promise!


I am NOT saying that these shoes don't need to be broken in...they most definitely do but they are totally worth the investment.

While I aim to partake in the fashion industry's endless race for superiority for the purpose of exhuming my creativity I also want to design a line of practical clothing for women with small breasts and fat asses. Yep, just like me. I have a method that has not been used in clothing design previously.

But before I get there I'll be silently cultivating my craft within the walls of my apartment, building my portfolio, sketching pieces, making plans to relocate, learning to sew! and attending fashion school.


I really can't wait to learn how to sew...

stay tuned.