Tag Archives: shoes

Birthday Shoes: Which to choose?

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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?

Thoughts: On Brand Loyalty

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I was organizing my shoe collection the other day (which really isn’t that large by many standards – I think I own maybe 20 – 30 pairs) when I realized something – when it comes to shoes, I am fiercely brand loyal.  The majority of my shoes fit into about 3 – 5 brands – I very rarely purchase shoes outside of those brands.

My Dansko Collection

With clothing, with accessories, I’ve never really been a brand loyalist.  There are plenty of brands that I love, but I don’t buy exclusively from them.  I own plenty of articles of clothing (that I’ve thrifted) from brands I had never heard of.  I have tons of jewelry that is thrifted or second-hand with no brand names attached.  So why is it that with shoes, I almost always buy from the same brands every time?

My Fluevog Collection

I think there’s several different factors at play here.  One is the difference in how I shop for clothes vs. shoes.  The majority of my clothing shopping is done at thrift stores, consignment stores and other second-hand stores.  I do go to the mall occasionally and I do by some clothing on eBay and online, but the majority of my clothes are second-hand.  Generally, when thrifting, I looks first for patterns, shapes and fabrics that I like and find interesting.  I look at the brand afterwards.  There are certain brands that I will go for if I find them – whenever I see J Crew, Anthro or Boden at a thrift store, I will almost always snatch them up.  But usually, I tend to go with whatever I find that looks good on.  This ends up being a lot of LOFT, Gap, Old Navy, Target, etc.  But I don’t really see it as brand loyalty, because I’m not seeking out those brands – I just happen to like a lot of what they offer.

My Keen Collection

In contrast, I buy my shoes almost exclusively on eBay or online.  I don’t really like buying shoes in retail stores, because they often seem to be overpriced, and I don’t like feeling pressured by sales staff to buy.  As I’ve been doing more and more online shoe shopping, I’ve learned which brands always work for me.  I know what sizes generally fit me in those brands.  I know what heel heights I like, and which I don’t.  I know what kind of straps will be painful, and which will be comfortable.  And I’m patient.  If a price is too high, I will watch and wait until it goes down, or I find a better deal.

This isn’t to say that every shoe I’ve ever bought from my favorite brands has been perfect.  I’ve had some that didn’t work out.  But the majority of the time, I know what works for me.

So I’m curious: are any of you like this?  Fiercely loyal when it comes to your shoe brands, but much more lax when it comes to everything else?

Shoe Lust: Seychelles Blimey

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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: Swedish Hasbeens High-Heeled Jodhpur

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Shoe Lust: Born Peony in Silver

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Born Peony in Silver  $89 (Zappos)

When I think of shoes that are perfect for holiday parties, this is one that comes to mind.  The beautiful silver color is festive, yet doesn’t scream “holiday”.  The fact that they’re flats means that you can comfortably dance the night away.  And they’ll still be stylish when December has come and gone.

Shoe Lust: Tsubo Kiho

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tsubo-kiho-whiteTsubo Kiho in White  $190

Could these be a modern version of the white go-go boots I’ve been craving?  I think so.  Tsubo’s are known for being very comfortable.  I love these in white, for a mod feel, but I could easily see myself wearing the brown or black version also.  My only concern is the the circumference of the shaft is only 14.5 inches, which would be painfully tight on my calves.  I could get them stretched, but there’s no guarantee that they could stretch enough to fit comfortably.  I’ll be keeping my eye on these.

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