Month: August 2007

I’m kind of scared to admit this… a shoe list

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

So I was just over on the Shoewawa site and they asked the eternal shoe lover question:
How many pairs of black shoes do you own?

So I started my list – no going up-stairs and checking for sure. Here’s what I came up with off the top of my head:

  1. Black boots low
  2. Black boots high
  3. Black boots with corset lacing on back
  4. Black heeled mary janes
  5. Black Jimmy Choo corset sling backs
  6. Black patent Manolo Mary Janes
  7. Black Alexander McQueens open-toe heels with organza roses
  8. Black jeweled flats
  9. Black ankle-tie sandals
  10. Black Aerosoles with big silver buckle
  11. Black t-strap heels
  12. Black ankle strap heels with creme flowers
  13. Black espadrilles
  14. Black vintage chunky heels
  15. Black oxfords
  16. Black patent with acrylic heels
  17. Black peep-toe suede Louboutin heels
  18. Black peep-toe leather heels
  19. Black glitter pointy flats
  20. Black patent loafers
  21. Black satin dressy heels
  22. Black satin kitten heels
  23. Black cotton Chinese mary janes
  24. Black Yvea Saint Laurent Tribute sling-back heels
  25. Black Dolly Dagger Shoe Missy “award” heels
  26. Black with white polka dots heel by Shoe Missy
  27. Black and burgundy wing-tip chunky mary janes
  28. Black patent wood platform peep-toe slingbacks
  29. Black sneakers
  30. Black double strap mary janes
  31. Black 40’s style platform ankle-strap
  32. Black heeled slides with rhinestone hearts
  33. Black polka-dot wellies

Those are all I can remember off the top of my head and these are the ones that are predominantly black – not another color with black as an equal or an accent.

Yikes! Thirty-three!

Um, is that just wrong? Or so very right.

Gatsby Dreams

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I aspire to a dream life filled with cool spring days spent in the shade of an elaborate Victorian gazebo sipping lemonade and having afternoon tea.

watching the cricket match, or…

playing croquet, or…

relaxing in my tennis whites after a rousing match.

In my imagined world there are garden parties and Pimms cups in silver cups. I love the casual aristocratic look of the gentlemen in their whites from the 20’s. In my mind its a blending of British and New England old school. Maybe that’s why, when these Parrotfish (!) Oxfords went on sale at Anthropologie, I had to have them.

They’re a creamy white leather with pink, yellow, white and grey striped silk with lovely leather soles. I wore them today with a white shirt and capris – a nod to the classic men’s style of yesteryear.

Once we install the gazebo and croquet lawn in the front yard, I’ll invite you over on a Saturday afternoon for a round.

Love with the head or the heart?

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I’m not really sure why I love these shoes. I have a feeling that the strap may be stretchy (okay, maybe not) and that the heel is bordering on the dreaded “camel-banana” heel, but I still love them and want them.

Prada Bi-color Mary Janes in Nero and Arde suede

Maybe it’s because they look like velvety soft smoke. Maybe it’s because they call the colors Nero and Arde rather than the more plebeian black and grey. Maybe it’s because they look like smudgy graphite from a really soft pencil. Or maybe it’s that they will look freaking amazing with opaque black tights and a skirt for Fall.

They’re snuggly… I want them.

Inspiration…British Colonial Style

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

One of my favorite movies of all time is Out of Africa. The sweeping vistas and epic story are great, of course, but I fell in love with it because of the clothes. I love British Colonial style with its equestrian boots, tones of white, brown and khaki in linen and cotton and the great hats.

Picnics optional. Riverside hair washing mandatory. Le sigh!


This is a helplessly, hopelessly romantic movie with poor Denys Finch Hatton dying in the end. But I wasn’t really sad about that. It empowered Karen. And Denys’ philosophy, which struck a real chord with me, would have felt the sacrifice was worth it. I totally agreed/agree with his: “It’s better to want someone, not need someone”. Not a popular sentiment in any time period and one that is hard to accept by some. I remember getting in big trouble when I expressed that feeling during a previous relationship.

No, the saddest parts to me are not that she was left alone, its when she has to part from Farah to go back to Denmark. You could tell that there was a real love, partnership and mutual respect and friendship there.

The other is that she never went back to Africa.

Best boots

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

All the Fall boots are coming out and I know there will be controversy about this… but, I think these are the best boots from Autumn/Winter 07.

Miu Miu Bow boots. They look really soft, a great heel, not too pointy or chunky. And I love the extra embellishment of the bow. It’s not too overdone. Over jeans or a just over-the-knee skirt would be perfect.
They’re $995 but just delicious. Well done again Miu Miu.

Anatomy of a shoe search

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I have a pretty small shoe size. And apparently many designers and stores don’t feel that it is worth making or carrying shoes in a size 5 or 5.5 because many times when I see a pair of shoes that I like they don’t start until size 6. Ugh! Many times I’ll go into a store and keep picking up shoes and putting them down. I’m sure the employees think it’s because of the price but mostly its because they usually put the smallest size out and there are none in my size!

And I know there are plenty of people who have this same size because you keep buying my shoes!

So it’s really hard to find shoes in my size. Not that you would believe it by looking in my closet. Maybe its all a part of nature’s system of checks and balances and what keeps me to a tolerable level. My only justification is that when I see a pair of shoes I like/want and it’s in my size, I get it. I also admit I’m a little compulsive… and stubborn. I just can’t believe I can’t get what I want and can’t find those shoes somewhere. When I can’t just jump online and get them, I have to go on the hunt.

Take these Nine West Harmon platforms in nude patent.

I spied these in Lucky’s (If I remember correctly). When I first saw them they weren’t available. Then I went right to the Nine West site. No luck. They had them but starting at size 6, which is actually unusual because they often carry 5s. So I called customer service. I was told they actually would not be making these shoes in my size. What the heck! Nothing online, nothing in their stores, nothing in a Macy’s etc.

Grrrr!

Finally, I went to my fallback – Zappos.com, of course. Now remember, Nine West themselves, told me they were absolutely not making this shoe in smaller than a size 6. Guess what I found on Zappos?

That’s right, those babies right there…in my size. Ha! I win!

Another search went on for the red Pedro Garcia’s I showed in my outfit of the day. Saw them on Shoewawa (my crack), couldn’t find them online. I actually emailed the corporate buyer (in Spain) and they pointed me to a store in Texas that had them. Whoo hoo! These beauties are worth a little effort, don’t you think?

Now, my friends sometimes overhear these “research” efforts and think I’m nuts. But, the moral is: never take “No” for an answer. Those perfect shoes are out there somewhere… probably…unless I got to them first.

Poor Leonardo

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

While I greatly admire Leonardo da Vinci and his ever inventing mind, I do not want to look like I am wearing walk-on-water-shoes*

These Patent Mary Jane Wedge shoes(???) by Tapeet are described as:

– Black/gunmetal patent leather.
– Elastic strap.
– 3 1/2″ wedge heel with anthracite mirrored bottom.
– Made in Italy.

Bad Italy! Bad!

*If you would like to see Leonardo’s invention brought to life on film, check out “Ever After” with Drew Barrymore.

Bubblegum Plastic

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams


While shoes are obviously, my true love, I also like to find fun accessories too – from handmade pins to vintage gloves. Bubblegum Plastic is going to be dedicated to sharing all of this with you.

Thank you to everyone who asked about where I bought something, or went and bought something because I recommended a site.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Menswear for Fall

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

Target is on trend with many of the shoes for Fall. If you are looking for an affordable way to pull in styles with menswear fabrics like tweed, houndstooth and plaid, and wingtip designs, this is the way to go. What’s great is that they all look pretty comfortable and if they get messed up during the crummier weather, you don’t have to worry about it.

Issac Mizrahi Kacy Tailored Pump – these also come in brown

Mossimo Dory Slingbacks – also in brown

Xhiliration Sierra T-strap – also in black

Xhiliration Narda Menswear Flats – these are actually kids flats ($12!) but their sizes will fit up to a 6 or 7 womens.

If you try any of these and like them, let me know!