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!

Vacation (window-) shopping

I was out-of-town this weekend for a conference, and delightedly checked out the shopping in Washington, DC, my beloved stomping grounds from many years ago. I hadn't been there in nearly a year, you may recall the last time I was there for a Louboutin signing, but this time shoes were only a secondary part of my visit.

I only had a bit of time on Sunday to peruse, but I managed to make it to Tyson's Galleria so I could check out the fall wares from Neiman's and Saks. This way, I know my size when sales come as I am decidedly not a full-price shopper. I had wanted to check out the Georgetown shoe shopping as well, but it was so disgusting outside I couldn't deal, and alas I ended up leaving town early.

My favorite find of the trip is from a brand I typically loathe. I'm not sure there's anything that annoys me more than logos ruining the design of something, and Fendi seems to be a master culprit of this habit. First I'll see a beautiful shoe, sadly ruined by their ugly little Fs all "look at me, bitches!"

But, oh the ponyhair! So pretty!

They are available at the Neiman Marcus in Tyson's (703-761-1600) or online at Barneys. I highly recommend the lovely sales associate Tina, who is so wonderful and remembered me, nearly a full year later.

Fendi Ponyhair Bootie, Fall 2010

Fit on these seems true to size. I don't like bugging sales associates when I know I am not buying, so I didn't ask for a larger size than the 36 that was on display, but it seemed as though I would need a 37, but could make a 37.5 work since they are booties. I could not, however, size down.

Next up we have two somethings so fabulous (and completely out of my price range) I couldn't help but try it on. Fur and crystals and satin, oh my! At a mere 3k, surely these would tempt any shoeductress.

Rene Caovilla Jeweled Sandals, Fall 2010

I would say these run true-to-size to slightly small. Both of these were a 36.5 and fit, but just barely. Were I to cough up six thousand dollars (from where, I don't know) and get these, I would probably go with a 37 since there is an ankle strap.

Tomorrow I will weigh in on the not-so-over-the-top, extravagantly priced shoes.

Poor man's Brian Atwood

Like many, I'm sure (at least based on the rate these have sold out), I've been lusting after the Brian Atwood "Harrison" pump. So sexy with the corset detailing in the back. Even if I could find them, I am so gutted for fall and cannot stomach the price ($1050, aka more than my mortgage -- it hurt to even type that).

I was looking around for shoes to recommend to an e-pal that had 50s styling to them (I recommended the Enzo Angiolini "Maylies"), and somehow this pair of Jessica Simpson shoes showed up in my search.

They aren't as high, or as elegant, but for nearly 1k less, I'll take it.

Brian Atwood Harrison in Grey Leather

Jessica Simpson Nellia in Black Leather

Brian Atwoods are available at NAP, Jessica Simpson pair at Zappos.

Can't wait for fall

With the hot sticky days of summer coming to an end, I am excited to break out some awesome stockings I picked up on sale at Marshall's awhile back.

I've posted about the Wolford collaborations before, but these are by far the fanciest stockings I own. A very lucky find for a great price. It's definitely worth checking out your local Marshall's/TJ Maxx to check their stocking selection for other great pairs of stockings. I've also seen Emilio Cavallini, Miss Sixty, and Givenchy hosiery there as well. A treasure trove!

I look forward to pairing these with a simple black dress, but I'm really hoping I can find something the same rust color in the stockings.

Kenzo for Wolford stockings, Mossimo Valonia shoes

Fit, like most Wolfords on me, is slightly small. These are a size large, and I usually waffle between a medium and a large in the brand.

You say it's your birthday...

About seven years ago, I had the most perfect pair of Barbie-pink colored heels. The heel was maybe 2.5" tall, and they were bright, stop people in their tracks kind of shoes. Well, they were, until the heels got totally jacked up and I had to retire them.

I'm usually pretty specific about what I'm looking for when I look for shoes, and ever since those lovely loud shoes from my past died, I have been on the hunt for a replacement pair. (Well, quietly on the hunt anyhow. No one really needs fluorescent pink heels)

These showed up, in my size-ish on eBay and I decided to take a chance, you know, being my birthday month and all. These are supposedly my official birthday shoes, and I have been wearing them nearly every day since they arrived. It's love!

And yes, they are really that bright in person!

Christian Louboutin Patent Simple Pump 100 in Fluo Pink Chic

I typically take my true US size in Simple Pumps, but these are a half size up and work perfectly!