No matter what the weather

Times must be pretty bad when someone resorts to stealing coupons, right? If you're curious, I'll tell you more, but for now I will say that I can't imagine the gall of people sometimes.

Onto happier thoughts, an order from mytights finally arrived just in time for colder weather. All last winter I had debated ordering the fleece-lined thigh highs from the brand Plush (available at Shopbop), but I was worried they wouldn't stay up well so I never did.

This time around, I found a pair from Trasparenze. They are wool, not fleece, but seem to be very warm and cozy (if a bit itchy) so far. The band at the top stays up very nicely and does not dig in on my legs at all. I love the idea of these, because yes I want warmth, but don't love wearing full-fashioned nylons as much, so these are a perfect compromise.

They look great in person and are semi-sheer. They don't have a "nubby wool" look to them, so if you are hoping for something more substantial, these aren't for you. I find the quality of these to be really nice, especially for the price (which I think is reasonable for well-made stockings).

Trasparenze Jennifer Wool Hold ups, shown with Forever 21 Studded pumps

Fit on the hold ups seems slightly small. I anticipated these running a bit smaller as they are wool, and ordered the size 3/4 even though I fall in the 1/2 range. I probably could have gotten away with the smaller size, but these stay up well and I'd rather have the knowledge that if they shrink a little when I (hand) wash them it'll be okay. They come in charcoal as well and are available at Mytights.

Goodbye summer, hello fall

Still on the hunt for perfect flat black boots, but I spied these at Saks and thought they were fantastic. Maybe when friends and family rolls around.

I love the zipper detailing -- which starts at the back of the boot, and the ability to wear these boots zipped up all the way or snapped down. I wish the toe box was a bit rounder, but they are still pretty perfect.

Belle by Sigerson Morrison Ziparound Tall Boots in Black Leather

Fit on the boots is true to size, these are the 37. The comfort seems pretty decent, but the leather isn't as soft as I'd like. I guess that is par for the course in boots, to keep them sturdy enough to last.

I think it's fitting as I welcome colder weather, I say one last goodbye to warm summer sandals. These blingtastic sandals were and amazing eBay score. 95% off retail. Seriously. I feel very lucky to have found them, even though I'm sure they are incredibly over-the-top. They don't go with everything, but I wear them like that anyhow.

Christian Louboutin Adona Sandals in Silver/Gold Specchio

Fit on the sandals is true to size to slightly large. These are a 36, and I have very mild toe overhang.

Note: the sandals look fantastic because I took the picture with my film camera, not my cheap digi cam. I was finishing off a roll, I don't usually use film to document my shoes. Still looking for a nice digi cam.

Travel Shopping

I was in Columbus this weekend and per usual in my travels, I checked out the local shopping. Or rather, chain shopping but in a different locale. I'm bland and boring like that.

I was super excited especially to see the finds at The Runway at TJ Maxx, and I wasn't disappointed. How come my TJ Maxx doesn't look like this?! Run to your local Runway section if you have one. The prices aren't quite as good as say Nordstrom Rack, but they were decent enough on older finds that might be difficult to unearth other than on eBay.

Just some fun pictures. I was good to my bank account and didn't buy anything. They had lots of cool shoes available, but my favorites were these three. My favoritest was the Sergio Rossi pair. My shopping buddy called them "tacky", but I call them brilliant!

Sergio Rossi Yvette Fringed Sandals

Fit on these sandals seems pretty true to size. These are a 36.5, and while I may have preferred the 37 for length, the ankle wrap would have been too big in a 37.

Yves Saint Laurent Suede Sandals

I'm finding YSL seems to run small. These are the 36 and my foot was loafed into this pair. I think I would have needed a 37, could have gotten away with a 37.5 because of the strap.

Christian Dior Patent Leather Booties

Fit on these seemed true to size. The only size available was the 8, and I thought 'what the hell, I'll try em anyhow', and of course they were too big.

The local Saks at Polaris Fashion Place was fantastic as well. I adored all the eye candy but somehow maintained my willpower not to buy (or rather, they didn't have my size in what I loved).

Love Angel Music Baby

There are a lot of celebrity designers out there, but very few that I think actually do anything creative -- at least more than just redesigning things already in their wardrobe. Or telling their minions to redesign them, anyhow. I find Gwen Stefani to be the exception to the rule.

I really like her designs, both shoe and clothing, but have never crossed that bridge to actually owning anything from the line. Maybe some day.

While at Nordstrom, I tried on the Glamette and Plum shoes from the fall line. Both looked super hot from my viewpoint of them not being on my feet.

I really loved the Plum. The style and design is very retro in my opinion, and they felt wonderful. The price was very decent for a bridge line, and even better if they hit the sales!

The Glamette... well yes these were hot as all get out on. I know everyone is sick of thigh high boots/over-the-knee boots but I still love them. Will still wear them. Even with my love of OTK, these were a little too over-the-top (even for me).

L.A.M.B. Glamette in Black Leather

L.A.M.B. Plum in Black Suede

Fit on the Glamette was true to size. I tried on the 36.5 and the fit was perfect. I would possibly have wanted a 37 to allow for socks. The comfort was nonexistent. Seriously, these may have been the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever had on my feet (and I owned Rolandos until recently, so that is saying something). There was no cushioning and I felt like there were knives jabbing me from the 2 feet I walked in these. I know "pain is beauty" but I don't roll like that.

Fit on the Plum seems slightly large to size. I tried on the 36, and while they were incredibly snug, I'm not sure I would have sized up due to suede's tendency to stretch a lot. They were very easy to walk in and the comfort was pretty great.

The Glamette is available at various places, including Shopbop. The Plum wedge is available in black at Nordstrom online, grey and black at Shopbop, and in a delicious wine color at Nordstrom retail locations.

Note: I wear the shoes pictured a LOT. They are pretty much my go-to black shoe. I wrote about them here.

Mock Doc(k)

Doc Martens have been on the brain a lot lately. My parents never would have spent that much for a pair for me when I wanted them in junior high/high school era, but I was fortunate to get a hand-me-down pair from a friend. I wore them to the ground (literally, the seams were splitting) and had to give them up years ago (had I known then what I know now about cobblers, perhaps I could have saved them).

A lady on one of my fashion boards posted about a pair of Doc knockoffs at Kmart of all places, and I was enticed. She said they were comfortable for a two-mile walk she did recently, and that made me even more intrigued.

I made a trek to Kmart and was pleasantly surprised by how nice they were in person, especially for non-leather shoes. They reminded me of the See by Chloe doc-style shoes, with the wraparound studs. I wish the heel of the boot was flat, but I have a sneaking suspicion these will be making their way in my closet soon enough.

Bongo Lug Fate Boot in Black

Fit on these seems pretty true to size. They didn't have a 6.5, so I tried a 7 and they would be perfect with thick socks and an insole for lots of walking. Available in-store and online (here -- and currently on sale for $20).

"Guest" blogger: Brogues

I went to the mall today to sate my new obsession: leather shirts. I had seen a very nice fitted leather shirt online at NY&Co (available online here). They didn't have it in-store, but while I was at the mall I figured I'd check out what's going on at the stores (btw -- NY&Co is seriously stepping up it's game lately).

I stopped in J. Crew and saw a sales associate with the best brogues I've seen in person. She offered to start me a fitting room, but before I could let the chance get away from me, I (creepily) asked if I could take a picture of her shoes for this blog. She obliged so sweetly, so thank you to M at J. Crew!

J Crew Camden Leather Brogues in Light Ginger Fall 2010

According to M, these shoes run slightly large. She told me she is normally an 8.5-9, and ordered these in a 9 and finds them to be big. She said they are really comfortable and she is able to wear them all day for work. I don't know if they are online-only (they didn't have them in my store), but they are available here.

Eve, the apple of my eye

I've got something of a fondness for snakes. In fashion. It started with the craving for the Diane Von Furstenberg Eve snake dress (which I do not own, but would love to -- size 8, 10, or 12, please email me if you see it!). Maybe instead I feel an affinity with Eve.

Diane Von Furstenberg Eve Dress, 2007

One of my favorite all-time movie lines is from Gas, Food, Lodging:

Darius: Well its like Adam and Eve. He was fine
grooving in paradise, but Eve wanted something
scary. She wanted the fucking edge. She wanted
to jump off cliffs just so she could see what
it was like to fall.

And so, like Eve, I gravitate towards the snakes. In this instance, it's shoes. Ever since the Caovilla "Plisse" sandals (which I also do not own, but would love to -- size 37) Rene Caovilla has been on my radar.

Rene Caovilla Plisse Sandals Fall 2009

Like I needed more overly expensive shoes on my brain, right? So now I have the brand saved as a search on eBay, and then these vintage beauties showed up.

Beautiful red satin shoes with an intricate lattice on the uppers, finished with a crystal-encrusted snake. How could I pass up serpent shoes to match my evil personality? I couldn't.

Rene Caovilla Vintage Satin and Crystal Sandals

Fit on the vintage sandals is slightly small. After trying on a bunch of Caovilla shoes in DC, I've found that a 37 is my perfect size in this brand (up from my usual 36.5 open-toe size). These are a 37.5 and are just slightly big, but the ankle strap makes them work great.

Note: polish is a quick hack job of China Glaze's Lubu Heelz.

Variation on a theme

Once upon a time, Prada did a beautiful shoe collection with sculptural flower heels. I fell in love with the collection, and sought out the shoes. And then I found a dress to match perfectly. You may have read about such wondrous finds when I blogged about it here.

Well, I complained the dress was a bit too snug (it is, even with a corset), and I just happened to be glancing at the Outnet's 80% off flash pop-up sale, when what should appear, in my size but this dress?! It's in another color, and I'm not sure if I will dye it black or not (because in effort of balance and budgets I will sell the smaller one), but I am over the moon at this dress that fits me much more modestly. (and definitely happy I'm not going to rip a seam wearing it)

But wait! What else did I happen to come across but the very Prada shoes I wanted, in a color I didn't know existed. I feel greedy and gluttonous having two pairs of the same hard to find shoes, but I guess selfishness is just a quality I've come to accept in myself. I haven't decided 100% on keeping them, as they are a size bigger than I wear, but I will try padding them and seeing how it goes.




Fit is the same as mentioned in the previous post, but to reiterate - the dress in white is actually two sizes bigger than the black one, and the size in between the two would have been better, but I think this looks better just slightly big than sausaged on me like the other. The shoes are a whole size bigger than the pair in black, but I am hopeful I can pad them to perfection.

DC window-shopping, part deux

On the don't need a second mortgage shoe front, here are some other lovely shoes I spied in DC.

When I saw these boots on a shelf, I thought they were pretty cool looking. They reminded me a little bit of the Balenciaga wedge/heel moto-boots that were a crazy trend (and knocked off by Sam Edelman to great success), but not as intense (or high) as those. I still need a "flat" boot for fall, and though these are wedges, they have good traction and seem really comfortable to walk in. They are available in the knee-high version at ShopBop (though they do not seem to have smaller than a 37), and in a ankle bootie at Saks.

Ash Ursula Wedge Boots, Fall 2010

Fit on these is slightly large. The boots in the picture are a 36, and they fit me well without socks, but a 36.5 would be perfect with the availability to wear tights when it gets cold out.

I really love the brand Elizabeth and James. Nearly every piece I've seen I've fallen in love with, and the shoes are just as wonderful. I really like the snake-embossed pair of these shoes on ShopBop, and Saks had them in leather to try on for size. They are gorgeous, and finely crafted. They remind me a bit of Charlotte Olympia and Nicholas Kirkwood combined, classic with an edge.

Elizabeth and James Mason Heel in Black Leather, Fall 2010

Fit on these is tts to slightly large. I have seemingly been 36.5 in most shoes lately (versus my usual 37), and that's what I took in these with slight heel slippage.

Chie Mihara seems to make amazing, and amazingly comfortable shoes. I had the Lumis, which have recently gone to a new home, and they were wonderful (but I found myself always reaching for ballet flats instead of t-strap flats). I love the vintage-detailing on these shoes, and the modest heel heights that make them wearable.

Chie Mihara Arizona in Red Suede and Chie Mihara Bootie in Black Leather, Fall 2010

Both shoes seemed to run slightly large to true size. I took a 36.5 in the red pair (though in the picture I am wearing a 36), and a 37 in the black pair. I couldn't find the red online, but they are available in grey at Endless, and forest green at Saks. The booties do not seem to be available online in all my sleuthing, but are available at Neiman Marcus, Tyson's Corner. Again, I cannot recommend the lovely sales associate Tina enough (703-761-1600).

I can't wait to get out there and try more shoes on. Viva fall!