Black Friday

I am usually too lazy to do a lot of shopping on the busiest day of the year, but I do like to go downtown to check out Black Friday, since it's never usually too crowded there.

This was the sale selection in my size at Saks (this is the 7-7.5 rack):


It's crap, right? I'm on a no-shoes except for the Mauds ban for awhile, but I was still disappointed. The clothing selection wasn't much better, imo.

The only pairs I really loved there, were some from Kate Spade, especially these glitter pumps. The last pair was an 8 (too big for me), but they were darling in person and perfect for holiday parties.

Kate Spade Charm Glitter Bow Slingbacks, FW 2010

If you'd like to try to track them down, they are sold out on the site, but you can still use the store locator. Here is the link.

All is not lost though, I finally ended up buying those Doc knockoffs at Kmart. Really, one of my best buys all year. $20, and I've been living in them this weekend!

Guest Blogger: Wedding Shoes

This entry is a guest blogging by my dear friend Jess, of the blog Consume or Consumed, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing for over ten years. Wedding shoes are so special, and I was happy to be a part in helping her find hers. I was honored to witness the happiness between her and her partner and wish them many years of bliss.

***

Christian Louboutin Coquine in Yellow Satin

I can't say enough good things about my wedding shoes. But choosing them wasn't an easy or quick process. When I (along with my partner) decided to get married, I told myself that if I hit the lottery (and miraculously become less clumsy on atop anything higher than 3 inches), I would buy Christian Louboutin Very Noeud satin bow pumps to wear that day. Then I remembered that I don't play the lottery. So I started looking at Caparros (which are pretty enough, even if they do unabashedly knock off many CL styles). I was resolved to pick up some pretty purple satin slingbacks even though they didn't feel fabulous enough for my wedding day outfit. That was until my dear friend, Erin of the incredible shoe blog Shoe Love, started sending me links to auctions for Christian Louboutin styles on eBay. After adding a few to my watch list, I noticed that no one had bid on one specific pair with a reserve price and a reasonable heel height that I could manage (80 mm). I am usually a size 37.5 or 38 in European brands but I had no clue what I would wear in CLs. These were size 38 so I hoped they might fit me. I set my snipe service to bid at the last minute. Unfortunately, because the reserve was not met, I didn't win. No one did. Eventually the seller relisted with no reserve and a much lower starting price. I won them for $50 less than I was prepared to pay. And they arrived soon after, complete with the red shoe bag and box.

When I tried them on at first, I felt a tinge of worry wash over me. They seemed to be long enough in the sole to fit my feet, but the toe box felt narrow. And on a day when I would be wearing them for hours and hours, I wanted to be relatively comfortable. I stuffed them with as much tissue as I could squeeze and periodically wore them around the house with socks in the hopes that things would stretch. Satin doesn't stretch much, but somehow (perhaps it was the placebo effect) they seemed to be more comfortable after a few tries. This was around six months prior to the wedding date. I was set to start dress shopping and was glad to have shoes.

But when I told people I purchased wedding shoes before even trying on a single wedding dress, many seemed surprised. This made me worry a bit too. Had I made a rash decision? Just in case I ordered a pewter pair of bejeweled Stuart Weitzman pumps and the purple Caparro slingbacks (pictures here). After I selected my dress, I brought all three to my first fitting appointment. I tried each on with the dress, while standing on carpet so I could return if neither of the new pairs worked out. The Loubs were the clear front-runner. They complimented the dress so well! And my mom, sister, and the bridal boutique employees felt unanimous agreement with me. I stuffed the toe box again and packed them away 'til the week of. I probably could have worn them more frequently to practice and stretch the toe box. But I kind of forgot about them, unless it was a fitting appointment day. When I packed up my things to check into the hotel on the eve of the wedding, I was excited to bring such fancy shoes with me. I put them on and walked around the hotel room the night before, to get an idea of how they would feel. And I wore the Caparros to the rehearsal dinner.

The day of the wedding was a blur of excitement and joy. And although I did get blisters from the narrowish toe box, I had band aids and was so distracted by my enthusiasm that I barely felt my feet. I did switch to flats (borrowed from Erin herself) for some of the dancing. When I took off my shoes I put them on a table and a few of my cousins gushed over their signature red soles, in addition to their general sparkle and beauty. I felt confident in my selection and was glad I went with the Christian Louboutins. They were the most glamorous of my options and well worth the blisters and the price.

***

Note: since I am greedy and don't have boundaries, I asked Jess to try on these shoes as well and found them to run small. These 38s were just barely big on me, and should I have the luck to be her shoe twin someday, I would need a 37.5.

Oh the Horror

Boy, it's been awhile! Not on hiatus, just busy.

On a shoe subforum I frequent, there is a "shoes in action" thread. Here is a recent favorite, taken at the Shadowcast performance of Rocky Horror Picture show. I hadn't been to see it at a theater since my teens, but I was happy to be an elder member of the audience and enjoy the show. I went as Columbia.


My erm, 'interesting' costume. I am never using color hairspray again! It took days for it to wash out, and got everywhere. I sadly didn't even win the costume contest, which had the exciting prize of a still from the movie signed by Barry Bostwick! Face blurred because I was making a silly face. What can I say? I'm vain.


On another note, I am quasi-banned except for the Louboutin Maudissima that I am hoping to get soon. You know, once I figure out what I need to shill to make these happen for me. I'm not usually a retail girl (read: full-price), but I've been looking for a low-vamp shoe for quite some time and these are exactly what I want.

Christian Louboutin Maudissima in Black Patent, S/S 2011

I have some other recent acquisitions to share, but need to unlazy about taking real pictures.

More tights! More tights!

I made an amazing discovery the other day - Trasparenze stockings at TJ Maxx. I couldn't believe my eyes because I can't even seem to find this brand in the US (at least around here) at regular price and to see them steeply discounted makes me beyond giddy. Now I'm on the hunt to seek out more.

Check your local TJX and Marshall's, folks! As a side note, it was also posted on tPF that CLs were found at TJX, so an even better reason to run there.

Trasparenze "Erline" tights, shown with Nine West T-strap heels

Fit on these tights is small. I usually lean towards a 3 in Trasparenze, and these are a 4 that are quite snug on me. Unfortunately, I don't think they make larger than a 4 so I'm SOL (and my chances of finding them at discount if they DID make that size is questionable).

PS: Don't forget Saks friends & family is still going on. Perfect chance for you (and me) to pick up those Wolford Bondage tights.

The color purple

I'm wearing purple today, are you?

It seemed fitting as I got these shoes recently, to post them today. I am in no way trying to show my vapid consumerism as a sign of solidarity, but the color is in theme -- in spirit. (Incidentally, it is cold as hell outside and I am not wearing these shoes, but instead purple thermal leggings and a black dress)

When Terry de Havilland 'came back' with a line of chic platforms, I noticed them on Shopbop. Amazing, beautiful. Kind of terrifying, actually. I remember still toddling around in kitten heels at the time and pretty much frightened by the toweringness of these shoes.

Years later, I decided I needed them in my life. Per usual, I decided to stalk eBay until a pair came up to my liking and size(ish). This brings us to the beautiful Margot style in purple suede and python. They're crazy, and still kind of intimidating to wear, but I can't wait til spring to break these beauties out. (After I get the strap shortened by my cobbler -- they're a bit big on my ankles) The color is closer to that of the second picture.

The suede is really interesting on these. From some angles, it almost looks like satin, but it's a really cool metallic suede that is the softest ever. These are not for wallflowers, and I welcome that.

Terry de Havilland Margot Wedges, circa 2004?

Fit on these is slightly small. These are a 38, and I think a 37.5 would have been perfect (and I could have worked a 37 with mild toe overhang). Comfort seems great thanks to the massive platform.

Shine on you crazy diamond, pt. 2

Remember those green glittered shoes? These? I ended up returning them (and sold the other shoes I bought that day. It was fail all around). I just couldn't make the sizing work, and for St. Patrick's Day-esque shoes, I wasn't really willing to make it work.

I really wanted something in green glitter though, so I decided I was going to try to make them myself with a pair of shoes I got on clearance at Target awhile ago. Armed with some really good tips from the D.I.Y. thread in the Louboutin subforum of the Purse forum, I stopped by JoAnn Fabrics and picked up some green glitter and tacky glue. Then to a hardware store for some tape to tape off the parts I didn't want to get glitter on.

I taped off the bottom and inside of the shoes in preparation, like many had recommended before starting.


First I used tacky glue that I applied with a spatula. It was really time consuming and kind of messy. I ended up going out and getting tacky glue that had a built in brush attached to it. This was so much quicker and easier, not to mention way less waste/mess.

All said and done, it took maybe an hour for both (probably 45 minutes for the first shoe, and 15 for the second which I completed maybe a month later after I unlazied enough to finish them).

Lessons learned? I didn't tape off the second shoe. For dyeing shoes, I think it's totally appropriate and necessary, but for glue and glitter I realized I didn't need to -- the glitter got everywhere anyhow. If I decide to do another pair of glittered shoes, I would definitely get a mix of fine AND chunky glitter. I think it would lay better and have a better textured look. This looks a little clumpy to me.

The ladies in the D.I.Y. thread swear by Gem Tac, but I couldn't find it in-store. Perhaps next time, as I hear it's really nice and easy to work with. I did like the Aleene's tacky glue with the brush, though.

These shoes aren't nearly as fabulous as the originals, but I had fun doing them and I saved an embarrassing amount of money by doing them myself. Next up in D.I.Y.? Probably dyeing a nude pair of shoes black to make them more everyday. When I get brave enough, I want to work with crystals.

Something's fishy

Lately I've totally been into mesh, netting, sheer... shoes. I've already got the market cornered on the stockings front in those genres, but the idea of having a peekaboo shoe is pretty sexy to me.

This isn't a new idea, to be sure. I have some vintage pumps that allude to this version of sexy, and that's exactly what it is -- an allusion, a peek. Like a blouse with a sheer panel, understated and cool.

I troved the internet to see more of what I'm craving right now and found these shoes.

From ModCloth, "A Night's Tale Heel". They do that annoying Anthropologie thing where they don't tell you who makes it so you can buy it somewhere else. I like the silver and black combined. The open toe and back makes them perfect to me for nights out.



Lori's Shoes (a really great shoe store and website, with good customer service in my experience) has the Jeffrey Campbell "Clara" bootie. I'm not always a fan of peep-toe booties, but I think these pull it off well.

On the more subdued side is Kate Spade's "Karlisle" pump. I think these work on all occasions, and definitely give the bang for your buck. Not too sexy to be worn at the office, but fancy enough for a dinner out.



Manolo Blahnik does a lovely mesh pump that was very near to what I was looking for, until I found it exactly.


And me? I've been wearing these non-stop since I tracked them down. I don't usually love pointy toe, but I find these subtle enough to placate me.

Christian Louboutin Haute et Nue Mesh Pigalle 100mm in Black Leather

Fit on these is slightly big. These are a 37.5, and I probably needed a 36.5. I have them padded with heel pads and two insoles to make them fit, and they are still a touch big. I had a hard enough time finding my size though, that I make it work. Because they have no structure, they are really comfortable.

If you wanna be my shoe twin, I find these pop up on eBay from time to time. There is a petrol pair currently up now from Jordan Price (!!!). Note they are 120mm which runs a half to full size large.