I'm leaving on a jet plane

Have you ever been to an airport, waiting to pick someone up or waiting for a flight and just sit and people watch?  I love to people watch, maybe because of my curious mind and nature.  But I’m always so intrigued at airports.  People coming, going, running to catch flights, sleeping, you see everything!  You see people with so many different emotions as well.  I don’t know, I just think they’re really interesting.  Reading peoples body languages to really figure out how they’re feeling is also a good one too.  I personally try to figure out the dynamics of a group or couple that I see.  You know?  Like, when you see a couple and they’re doing that awkward, nervous smile and look away.  And they’re bodies are turned inward, clearly interested yet cautious.  That’s first date/new relationship status right there.  I don’t know, try it sometimes see what you can see!  But anyways, that was just my additive thoughts.  Back to shoes!  So the reason for starting this post at the airport, is because this weekend I am flying to Boston to see my little brother graduate from high school (Ohmygawddd!)  I flew out this morning and stopped in Atlanta.  Currently I’m on the plane to Boston..too much turbulance for my liking.  I had a few minutes to kill in Atlanta because I landed at gate B and had to go to A (when does that ever happen?).  I started people watching and directed my attention to their shoes.  I always struggle with what shoes to wear when I fly.  I always want to look good, but then I think about the 4 mile walk I could potentially be making and think twice about the wedges I pick out and look to my Nikes.  I decided flats were appropriate, but it got me thinking what other people think when they get dressed to fly.  Some I could tell dressed purely for comfort.  A woman behind me in line at Starbucks this morning was wearing black sweats, a black t-shirt and flip flops.  Clearly dressing for comfort.  But when I got to Atlanta there were some women decked out!  Still comfortable yet much fancier than sweatpants girl (not that it was hard to be fancier than her).  I noticed a lot of flip flops as well as sneakers.  I noticed that sneakers were popular among families traveling with young children.  There was also of course the typical business man in the suit and dress shoes.  I saw very limited number of women wearing heels and if they were wearing heels, they were very low, or were small wedges.  Very interesting things to be seen.  I’ll keep my eyes open for any interesting shoes/outfits tonight at graduation. =)   

Manolos

As many of you know, Manolo Blahnik was in Savannah this past weekend to accept the Andre Leon Talley Lifetime achievement award.  I went to the panel with Manolo and Andre and it was so great!  He is an amazing designer and a seemingly fabulous person.  While I was there, I couldn't help but notice people's shoes.  I was curious if everyone paid special attention to the shoe selection that they made that day before leaving for the panel.  There was one woman who was wearing strappy sandals and a patterned dress.  While the patterned dress was not of my taste, the shoes were fabulous!  Strappy sandals will always be sexy and these were no exception.

Put your paws up

So for all you lady gaga lovers, there is currently a gaga-thon on Fuse tv.  As I was flipping through the channels this morning, I stumbled upon the gaga fest and Bad Romance was on.  (Old school lady gaga at this point!) Anyways, that girl has some bad ass shoes in the video!  Definitely check it out!  I cannot say that I always am on the same page with gaga when it comes to her fashion sense, but this video I love.  Check it out, if not just for the shoes, for the video and fashion!

YouTube - Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

the hidden wedge trick

Generally speaking, we all want to look and feel taller.  Those of you that were blessed with legs for days, be grateful, we all cannot be so lucky.  Flats are yes, practical, comfortable and cute, however they can sometimes make your legs look shorter.  But why should we short-leggers be limited to the flats we choose to wear!?  Oh!  But wait!  Certain retailers have designed something ingenious!  A wedge shoe, with the wedge covered!  So!  That means, the look of a flat, with the height and leg-lengthening of a heel!  Praise them!

These are from Aldo, and come in this color, black, grey fabric, black fabric and navy fabric and are on clearance for $30! Such a steal!

I think these are adorable!  Also from Aldo, they come in this color and a khaki.  On sale for $39.98!

The hidden wedge Ugg boot! Shopstyle.com Koolaburra boots, $300

These are fun summer shoes!  80%20 Asos.com, $125.56

Jeffrey Campbell, Nordstrom.com $119.95

These are Aldo shoes, on Asos.com for $64.63

Jeffrey Campbell, $126 shopstyle.com

These are from Aldo, on shopstyle.com, they come in brown as well. $34.98

So many good deals! 

NUDE!

While yes, color is a huge part of spring and summer trends and hot picks, this spring and summer fashion has gone towards the nude.  Nude color is in, as well as whites, and neutral colors.  Sheer fabrics are a must and the combination of these trends will only make your summer months hotter.  Even the face of make-up has turned neutral, while nude colored lipsticks (yes as well as bright, bright lipsticks) are popping up all over the place.  Looking to the Free People website, their shoe selection makes it very clear which trend they're leaning towards.  Most of the shoes (in the high heel/wedge section) are neutral colors.  Creams, whites, browns and blacks are the color frontrunners.

These can be found on the free people website and are Jeffrey Campbell $128

I love these H by Halston platform heels. $90 at Bakersshoes.com

Minimarket wedges from Urban Outfitters, $348

Jeffrey Campbell from Urban Outfitters, $229, ONLINE ONLY!! so cute.

I LOVE these! They're Camilla Skovgaard $535 at shopbop.com

How cute are these?! They're Sam Edelman at shopbop.com $100.  Globe shoes on Broughton street also had these a few weeks ago.

Color

One of the trends right now, is color blocking.  Big pops of color are what people want.  One of the ways that people are sporting this colorful trend, is by pairing a bright accessory or fashion piece, with a neutral color.  I saw a girl walking around Broughton street wearing a little black dress, and multi-colored snake skin heels.  Pairing the shoes with a bright outfit, might have been too much, way over the top.  However, pairing them with a little black dress made it an interesting focal point and give it a little something extra.  She looked trendy and well put together.

These shoes are from Shoedazzle, which prices all of their shoes at $39.95.  So bright, and would be so cute with a neutral colored outfit drawing attention to them.

Now these babies, these are bright!  Between the shine and the fuschia, there is some serious color going on.  Also from Shoedazzle.

I love these!  From Bakers shoes, they're Jessica Simpson and are $90.

Multi-toned wedge

One of the trends that I've been noticing a lot in the shoe world, is the multi-toned wedge.  A lot of designers are creating wedges that have either two different colored yarn or fabric through the heel.  I think that it gives the shoe a really interesting look and also adds something extra to the shoe.  I was walking down Broughton street today (BEAUTIFUL day in Savannah!) and stopped at Globe Shoes and window shopped a little.  They have some really interesting shoes (check out the Sam Edelman pumps with spikes on the heels!  I need them..) and a few with this multi-toned wedge.

These are from Aldo and are $70.  They come in tan, blue, yellow and red.

These are also from Aldo and are $100.  These are a little much for me personally, but I am a girl of simplicity.  They come in this green, and yellow.

Again, from Aldo and these are $110.  They come in this color and then a two toned brown.  

just fabulous

I saw a commercial for a new shoe website that is almost EXACTLY like shoe dazzle.  You go through the same style quiz and they match you with a stylist and different handbags and shoes.  Shoe Dazzle offers more than just handbags and shoes, however other than that I don't see many differences.  They both charge $39.95 per item (I think shoe dazzle is a monthly fee while just fab just charges $39.95 for all their items...I think).  I also found that shoe dazzle has more of a selection than just fab, and just fab offers a select amount of different shoes every month.  I made an account on just fab so it said within the next day or so I would get my shoe selection from the stylists.  We'll see what they say!  I would definitely stick with shoe dazzle though! =)

a little something extra

I've just been searching around the web looking for fantastic shoes and I tend to end up on style.com whenever I'm looking for something fabulous.  I looked into the accessories report, which usually has fun stuff and I got lost in all of the shoes.  The link I attached has shoes fitting into spring 2011 trends down at the bottom.  You can also choose the fall 2011 shoes on the left hand side drop down.  Have fun browsing!

Zazzle!

Thanks to my dear friend bianca, I have just discovered this amazingly cool website.  It is custom everything!  They have EVERYTHING you can imagine and more.  It's really fun to poke around at all the neat things they have (although somewhat overwhelming because they have SO much!).  One of the things that you can customize is shoes!  Yay for shoes!  There are only a few different style options for you to choose from and they're all sneakers, so if you're looking for something different here might not be the place however it was really neat!  I made one and I found that it was very similar to the Vans customization shoe sections, yet they had different patterns and colors, and I think more options.  It starts at $60 a pair and the price only changed when I added a second pair of laces to my sneaker (only $2 more).  Definitely check this site out (good Mother's day gift ideas too =) !

My sneaker =)

Bows

Bows have become increasingly popular over the past few years and this morning I saw a woman sporting one of the cutest shoes with the cutest bow accents.  She was wearing a red dress with a cropped white jacket.  She was very put together and her shoes only added to her cute ensemble.  

This is what the shoe looked like, with clear straps and a big white bow.  So cute!

why would you wear that..

Now I understand that we all have our own personal style and whatnot and are entitled to wear what we want to wear.  Freedom to express ourselves, one of the many reasons I love America.  However.  I must say that certain posts on this blog will be about people wearing certain shoes (such as Mick, who was highlighted last week).  Now, Mick was a positive example of someone wearing shoes in an interesting and creative fashion.  This post...not so much.  Yesterday I was driving on Drayton Street on my way to Starbucks and as I was sitting at the Liberty Street light, I noticed a girl walked (or stomping I should say) on the sidewalk next to me.  Let me try to paint a picture for you what she was wearing.  She was wearing a light, cream-ish color dress (i say cream-ish because there is no real color name for what it was), with a small black purse with diamonds (it kind of looked like a purse a flower girl would carry..no joke) and the kicker was on her feet was a pair of high top Nike sneakers.  Black and gold nike sneakers.

The combination was atrocious.  The sneakers were cute, and if worn in an appropriate manner, I would have loved it.  However. Between the purse, the dress and the kicks, I was not feelin' it.  Unfortunately being in the car and driving, I couldn't talk to her and figure out what statement or whatever she was trying to make was.  I just knew that I had to share this with you all, because I know we have all seen people that outfit's make us cringe.  To each it's own.  I'll end with that.  To each it's own.    

vans for everyone!

Now, we all know that looking fabulous does not mean sporting the hottest new pair of Louboutins.  Sometimes you just have to give your feet a break from the 5 inch platforms you rocked the dance floor in the night before.  The good news is, Vans has a custom shoe site just for you!  I personally have a special place in my heart for Vans.  The website offers 4 different basic shoe styles.  I chose what's called the 'Era' style, which starts out at $60.

(This is what the first step looks like after you choose your shoe which asks you for your shoe size and gender.)  

From then you have a variety of color options from which to choose, choosing white or black as your base color shoe first.  You then get to choose what colors go where.  You have 9 different places that color can go. 9!  It's really neat to play around with all the different color combinations that you get to choose from.  

This is my finished shoe =)

So I thought that was pretty interesting (and cheap too!)  I mean, that's a custom designed shoe for $60.  Not too shabby!  Have fun!

get yo kicks

One of the things that interests me so much about shoes is who is the wearer of these fabulous finds.  A friend of mine, named Mick is an architecture major here at SCAD.  Now, one might think that architecture majors, or architects in general for that matter are all very straight laced and 'sperry top sider' if you will.  Mick is the exception to this common stereotype.  He has over 16 pairs of shoes and has collected them over the years (per the fact that he says his feet haven't grown in years).  

These Vans are Mick's favorite pair.  The bottom is made from flip flop material, which makes them ultra comfy.  

These are NikeID (that as you can see he had customized with his nickname in high school; 'Micknasty'.  They're one of his favorite pairs.

The above three are more of his favorites..do they say stuffy architect to you?!  Breaking the stereotype! 

Moral of the story..next time you meet someone, check out their shoes.  Without knowing anything about them, do they fit their personality?  As much of it as you know, that is.  And once you learn more about them, does your opinion of them and the shoes they wear change?  Just some interesting thoughts..

   

ShoeDazzle!

Continuing on from last week's post about Milk & Honey shoes, ShoeDazzle is another specialty shoe website.  The site suggests new customers create an account.  They ask a series of questions about your personal style and asks for your e-mail address and to create a password.  Once you're completed the questions about your style, it gives you a 'you style' page.  (Mine was flirtatious, youthful and femme..some-what my style..)  So based on your 'personal style' that you established by taking the quiz, designers on the website create 'your personal showroom' that has shoes handpicked and 'designed' for you.  Each pair of shoes is $39.95 and essentially you are required to purchase one pair of shoes per month for a legitimate membership...they call it a 'monthly style service'...check it out and let me know what you think..I'm not entirely sure that I've figured it out or what I think of it yet.  I'll keep you posted with more info!

i want wedges!

I love wedges.  I do.  I think they're super hot and give you comfort, height and look of a heel.  Dress them up or down, I love them.  Since my last few shoe notes have been fitting for one who's shoe budget is of a slightly higher price point, we all cannot be so lucky all the time.  Whether you've been to one too many bars, spent a little too much on the impromptu shopping spree last weekend,  or just the slightest thought of filling up your gas tank (yikes!) has got you down, here are some places that carry some hot wedges for spring that won't break the bank.  

Bakers Shoes

$39.99 (on sale!)

Tan & Black

Bakers Shoes (LOVE this store!)

$29.99 (on sale!)

Bakers Shoes

Red $49.99   Bone $65.00    Black $65.00

I LOVE these!

DSW

$39.95

Brown, Blue, Beige

DSW

$59.95

Black

(love these!)

Forever21

$29.80

Light Brown

Aldo

$39.98

Black Satin, Bone

Hope some of these catch your interest!  Next time you're in Target, check out the shoe deals too!  

my milk and honey shoes

As I'm enjoying my beautiful Sunday day, I found myself where else but Milk & Honey shoes.  Here are a few of my must have shoes!

Love, love, love!  4.5 inch heel, 1 inch hidden platform, black patent leather, gunmetal metallic heel and silver studs.  $320.

The one negative I would have to say about Milk & Honey is that some adjustments don't change, such as the heel doesn't get bigger when you increase the size.  

I wouldn't mind having these either...($250)

4.5 inch heel, beige and black snakeskin, $320

I have been dying for a pair of all glitter super high heels, and preferably with a platform.  Theses are 4.5 inches tall, with a 1 inch outside platform and are gold glitter.  $275.

milk & honey shoes

As I sit here sipping my coffee, what better to do than to customize and create my perfect shoe.  Sounds like the best way to start a day to me!  One of the new shoe customization sites is milk and honey shoes.  Milk and Honey has two ways to purchase shoes.  They have a ready to wear section.  The ready to wear section has shoes that have already been designed that you can choose from, however they still give you the options to alter certain parts of the shoe so you get exactly what you want.  The second option that milk and honey offers is a full customization option.  You create your perfect shoe.  You choose everything, and I seriously mean everything you can think of!  Since the website is customization, the shoes do cost a little more ranging from $200 and up (it varies based on the customization).  However!  You are getting exactly what you want.  (Worth it to me!)  It's a really fun website and it lets you be as creative as you want.  The perfect way to spend my Saturday morning!  They also have how the website got started and the founder's story, which is kind of cool so make sure you check that out!  Enjoy designing your perfect shoe!

studded, bedazzled, etc. etc.

So one of the trends that's been happening a lot in the shoe world is studding or bedazzling the heels and backs of shoes.  I think it's such a hot look that adds a unique detail to a maybe average or simple shoe.  Last night, while sipping on my St.Germain champaign cocktail at Lulu's chocolate bar (delish by the way..Thursday's are $5 champaign night) I noticed a girl sitting to my right sporting a pair of these fabulous styled shoes.  They were simple black pumps with small metal gold dots down the heel and back.  Super cute.  


   

Christian Louboutin, Fall 2010

Christian Louboutin, Fall 2010

Miu Miu, $895 at Neiman Marcus

Although these aren't bedazzled or studded I'm still loving Mr. McQueen's take on this trend.  You can find these at Bergdorf Goodmans for a mear $1,675

Now we all know that this shoe shopping habit can get a little $$pricey$$ so here are some bedazzled shoes that won't lighten your wallet.

Rosegold

BlueFly.com

$95.00

more to come so stay tuned!