Birthday Shoes: Which to choose?

My birthday is next month, and I know that one of the things I want is a new pair of shoes.  I want a nice low heel and a closed toe; something that would be good for work.  Something that looks good with slacks or dresses and skirts.  And of course, comfort is a must.  I’m debating several pairs of Danskos from their Sausalito line, which is one of my favorites.  My Sally’s are from this line, and I’ve tried on several sandals from the Sausalito line, and they are always supremely comfortable.  Here’s the pairs I’m looking at:

Dansko Stephanie, on sale for $99 on Zappos

I’ve been eyeing the Stephanies for months.  I actually did purchase a pair on eBay, only to resell them when I found out that these run much smaller than the Sallys.  They are basically the same style as the Sallys, except that they have the added floral and leaf embroidery.  They’d be a perfect year-round shoe – only on the really cold days in winter would they be inefficient.  I don’t have a pair of black work heels right now, so these would fill that gap.  They also come in red, which is gorgeous.

 Dansko Savanna,  $125 on Zappos

I like the idea of a mary jane with more coverage, because sometimes my feet get cold.  These take care of that.  They’d be perfect everyday at work shoes.  I’m not sure how I feel about the floral design though – I don’t like the placement as much as the Sallys.  These are a little cloggier looking too, and I worry they might look too heavy with some outfits, especially in the spring and summer.

Dansko Sam, $120 on Zappos

While these do come in practical black, I just can’t get over how gorgeous that shade of blue is!  These obviously provide the least amount of coverage of the three, and thus provide the least warmth.  But then again, I live in Florida.  These will be plenty sufficient for 10 months out of the year (and then some.  Today it was 75 outside!).  They’ve still got a closed toe so they’re good for work.  And blue is basically a neutral in my wardrobe, which has tons of blues and cool colors in it.

I’m leaning towards the Sams right now, largely because of that color.  Which pair do you think I should get?

Shoe Lust: Fluevog Swing

Fluevog Swing, $209

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about getting a flat pair of ‘vogs.  I have two pairs of Fluevog heels (yellow Malibrans and orange Fiorenzas) and while they’re gorgeous, I hardly ever feel like wearing 2.5 inch heels.  My feet are very sensitive to heel heights over 1 1/2 inches, and those shoes kill me after just a few hours.  I’m debating selling the Fiorenzas and buying the Swings shown above instead.

The Swings are such a cute, classic, jazzy design.  They’re a lot less flashy than most Fluevogs, but I don’t necessarily mind.  They’re still way cuter and more feminine than most of my usual flats.  And I read about someone having their cobbler punch holes so that you can add laces – this sounds so cute!  I have a feeling that these would get a good amount of wear.  They would go with dresses and skirts and with jeans and shorts too.

So what do you think?  Should I go for the Swings?  Should I sell the Fiorenzas to pay for them, or slowly save up the money?

Shoe Lust: Seychelles Blimey

Seychelles Women’s Blimey Pump $91 – $109 on Amazon

It seems like I’ve been noticing a lot of bloggers wearing these gorgeous, high heeled oxfords lately, including Keiko Lynn.  I realize I’m a little late in catching onto this trend, but I am finding myself so drawn to this style now.  I love the “school-girl chic grown-up” look to them, and I think they look fantastic with dresses and black tights.  The 3 3/4 heel on these shoes might take a bit of getting used to for me, but they would definitely be excellent for days when I don’t have to do tons of walking.

Shoe Lust: Terra Plana Doll

Terra Plana Doll  $150

I had never heard of the shoe company Terra Plana until Oranges and Apples mentioned them in a post about online ethical shopping. They use a lot of recycled materials, many of their leathers are vegetable tanned, which is better for the environment than traditional tanning processes, and they have beautiful designs and colors.  I’m particularly taken by the bright fushcia color of this pair of kitten heels.  And the price is pretty reasonable.  Not cheap, but these sound like they’re built to last, and it always feels go to know that you’re buying something that was made in an ethical and environmentally sound way.

Shoe Lust: Doc Martens Liele Blossom

Doc Marten’s Liele Blossom  $149

I love constrast.  I think that having two normally opposing elements in proximity bring balance and harmony.  That is what I see in these boots.  I love how they mix the tough, punk-rock quality of Doc Marten boots with soft and girly embroidered pink flowers.  These would be equally awesome paired with a black top and skinny jeans, or with a pretty pink bohemian dress.

Shoe Lust: Swedish Hasbeens High-Heeled Jodhpur

Swedish Hasbeens High-Heeled Jodhpur  $368

I had never heard of this brand before, but then I saw this shoe featured in BUST’s December issue and had to learn more.  Turns out Swedish Hasbeens is a pretty amazing company.  They make amazing and colorful leather shoes, bags and belts based on seventies designs.  Everything is made using materials and processes that are good for the environment and for the people making them.  The price tag is a bit high, but no so bad considering the amazing quality and workmanship.  They’ve got quite a few stores in the US, which might persuade me take the three hour drive to West Palm Beach.   Their website also ships internationally.

Shoe Lust: Tsubo Pina

TSUBO Pina Boot $139.95 at Amazon

I’ve discovered that in Florida, knee-high boots are rarely necessary (Um, except for this week, when it’s been in the 30s and 40s).  However, my feet get cold easily, so I like to keep them covered during winter.  My solution – ankle and mid-calf boots.  I could see myself wearing these adorable slouch boots almost every day.  They would look fantastic with skinny jeans or leggings,and they would be awesome with tights and a skirt or dress as well.  They look very comfortable, and since they aren’t knee-high, I don’t have to worry about them being wide enough to fit my calf.  Plus, they have contrast lining in bright colors (blue in the case of this pair).  Love.

Shoe Lust: Fluevog Heron


Fluevog Heron  $425

Aren’t these boots gorgeous?  I love the dark charcoal with the pop of red coming from the sole and stitching.  The one inch heel makes them close enough to flats to be comfy, but dressier than completely flat boots.  I love the double buckles and the subtle slouchiness too.  They’re too pricey for me right now, but that doesn’t mean I can’t long for them.

Shoe Lust: Frye Matilda Double Strap Ankle boots

FRYE Women’s Matilda Double Strap Boot $231 at Amazon

This is one of those beautiful shoes that I can admire from afar, but will likely never wear.  Because let’s face it, if I attempt to walk in a heel that is higher than three inches, I will fall down constantly.  But for those who can handle a pretty intense heel, these are stunning.  I love the color, I love the double buckles and studs.  And ankle boots are perfect for Florida, where it doesn’t get cold enough for knee-high boots very often.

Shoe Lust: Dansko Solitaire

Dansko Women’s Solitaire Clog $114 at Amazon

When Dansko graciously offered to send me a free pair of shoes, these were my first choice.  Unfortunately, they were out of my size at the time.  The actual shade of the blue in these shoes really varies from one website to the other, but I’m guessing that it’s somewhere between a dark blue-black and navy.  I love the stitch detailing on the mary jane strap, they have the comfy Sausilito sole with just enough height to elongate the leg a bit and still be super-comfy.  And the dark blue color could really be an intersting accent in outfits.  They would look great on their own, with tights or even with handknit socks. I could see myself wearing these a ton.

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