Month: September 2007

I’m not feelin’ it, Vera

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

Because Target has done so well with its capsule Go International collections, it’s no surprise other department stores like JCPenny’s and Kohls are going to find their own partners for limited edition collections.

I’ve never been in Kohls actually and even when I heard about the Vera Wang collection she is doing with them, I was not enticed. I’ve haven’t really followed her designs or think much about her other than her wedding dresses (admittedly gorgeous) or, now, mattresses.

But in the last week or so, two of my favorite bloggers wrote about her collection. Daddy Likey was not overly impressed and didn’t mince words, but Style Spy found some pieces that she liked. So, because I think you can find something at any store, and because I needed to go to Target which is right next door, I thought I would pop in and check it out for myself.

First off, when I step into the store – I hate it. I hate the layout and it just seems really annoying. Even more than I think a TJ Maxx usually is. Which means that right off the bat I am not in the mood to shop.

I saw this skirt which they have tried to glam up in the ads, but the hem looks crap-Y. And I think it would balloon out at my knees in a very unappealing way.

The dress looks o-kay in the picture, but on me, not so much. And that belt would have gone straight in the trash.

Tried on this skirt and a black pencil skirt with a satin “car-wash” pleated edge. This skirt didn’t do much for me at all, mostly because the pockets bulged out. The black skirt was okay but it didn’t get me jazzed, so I put it back.

I did like this black chemise from the intimates/nightgown area. I thought it could have made for a cute dress with a long sweater and tights. But after trying on all of those other depressing pieces and the general overall store negativity I had going on, I decided it wasn’t that great. I really do want a pretty slip/nightgown/chemise, but I’ll wait and get a really nice quality piece.

The only thing I did like there was this skirt (not Vera Wang) for $20. It was actually kind of satin-y but I have about 15 black and white patterned skirts. I don’t need another one. So that went back too.

All in all, I didn’t see the entire collection but I was not impressed. Hopefully, you’ll do better, especially if you are a Vera fan.

Jewels at the Emmy’s

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I’m not a bit celebrity hound or fashion tracker, but I took a quick flip through some of the Emmy pictures and it was great to see so much bright jewel colors. They made everyone look vibrant and happy.

I think Heidi Klum’s dress was one of the best. It’s a great color and it totally suits her shape. Plus, I love that she paired this burgundy with dark purple shoes.

America Ferrera can tell Glamour to go stuff it. She looks great is this bold color. No retouching needed.

Helen Mirren is gorgeous, as always, in a regal purple (I know, bad pun). By the way, what’s up with Sandra Oh? I think she has lost a ton of weight. I hope she doesn’t go too far. She’s looked so healthy and strong in the past.

Kristen Bell, I don’t know who you are but I love your dress and its color. This reminds me of the vintage yellow dress Renee Z. wore a few years ago. It’s drapey but she’s obviously thin enough to make pull it off.

Mary-Louise Parker is very smoldery in a tight red (my favorite color for evening wear) satin dress. I hope she is comfortable enough to sit down though! Ilike her bag too.

Minnie Driver is another personal favorite and she looks surprisingly good in yellow. It’s not a color I can wear and I’m surprised that she looks so good in it. At least in this photo. Andshe has a great cuff bracelet to toughen it up.

I’m sure there are the fashion commentators who would say that the red carpet has been boring and too safe, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with looking pretty and making good choices. I can’t pull any inspiration for dresses for me, but I hope some of the color works its way into the market.

Dear Neiman Marcus..

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

Dear Neiman Marcus

I love you very very much. You have beautiful clothes and a great cosmetics department. And you can’t beat the shoes, of course.

But your folks tend to be a little snobby (as only a high-end store associate can) and false flattery. I mean, I know you aren’t there for altruistic reasons, and I am probably not as fabulous as you exclaim that I am. So I’m not completely clueless.

I can, however, excuse your faults. I don’t throw stones in a glass house. But what I can’t condone is blatant ignorance and high pressure. Shouldn’t you know your product backwards and forwards and shouldn’t you be trying to seduce me and my credit card, not turn me off by pressuring me.

I mean, seriously.

I was in the NM closest to me last weekend. So I had to go to the shoe department while my corrupted husband was getting his Kheil’s fix (that’s a whole other story). I’d seen most of these shoes online already, but there were a few that I was admiring in person, including a pair of grey Prada’s made for the 100th anniversary. I really wasn’t going to buy anything that day so my usual “out” is that they probably won’t have my size in stock. (Unfortunately this is true far too often.)

So when the snob-y sales assoc came over, I asked about the Prada’s and mentioned that they probably wouldn’t have my size. He, of course, said they may have some in the back. When he came out, he said they didn’t (duh!) but to try on a another size for fit. I know he wants to make the $700+ sale, but if they don’t fit, they-don’t-fit! Geez!

Anyway, I try them on, annndddd they don’t fit and I say “Oh, well”. He says I wanted you to try on the “5 1/2’s for size, blah, blah, blah…”.

Um, those are 36.5’s not 35.5’s. So that means they are 6 1/2’s in US sizes, not 5 1/2. No where near my size. Then, THEN, he pushes me to order some from another store because there are only a few left. How do I know he even can order the right size after that! I say, “Well, I’ll think about it and call you back after we finish shopping” and he still continues to pressure me.

I got really cranky after that. Needless to say, I did not call Mr. Sales Associate back and I probably would not give him the sale the next time I am in there. So Neiman’s, please train your sales staff better so the shopping experience can match the quality (and price tag) of your merchandise.

Luv ya,
Poochie

Hot Dog under a Heat Lamp

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I was reading Gala’s blog today and she linked to a post talking about a very young woman who died of skin cancer. It still amazes me how many people still layout in the sun A LOT and still go to tanning beds.

I can’t believe there are people who don’t know how horrible tanning beds are. I’m from Florida but extremely fair (aka Irish Chicken Meat skin), and, luckily, never got into tanning. It was way too boring to lay around like a hot dog under a heat lamp. I’ve since moved to North Carolina and it amazes me how many tanning salons are here. People are obsessed with it, and with getting tanned/burned.

Is the whole skin cancer message not getting through to people?

Why is tanning and being tanned still considered a good thing. Maybe we need to hand out some ribbons and hold some races to get it more noticed and generate more awareness about it.

Please please please don’t layout and don’t go out without sunscreen. Not only will you look younger and better, but You. Won’t. Die.

I also always ask if babies and kids have sunscreen on too. You would be surprised how many don’t.

Better yet, play up the whole lack-of-tan element. I love parasols. I have some vintage ones, a lacy one from Italy, a black kind of Goth black velvet one and some pretty Asian ones – in florals, red and white splatter patterns and rice paper. You can get some for less than $20 at Pearl River.

And there are pretty hats for all seasons. I love straw hats with flowers on them and then pinning vintage brooches, but there are tons and tons out there, especially online.

Don’t wait until they have to cut something off of you. Wear the sunscreen and cover up. A tan can fade but a big biopsy scar will last far far longer.

Photos from Swan4 and KateMonkey – Flickr

Building a Fall Wardrobe – Part 2

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

Since I’ve been writing for this blog, I’ve been reading more fashion magazines like Vogue (American and UK) and Glamour and WWD. The images and designs are inspirational and in the overwhelming majority, aspirational. Unlike high-end shoes, I tend not to buy a lot of designer clothes. Maybe it’s because I know their life cycle is shorter, or because I tend to sit in an office most of the day. Or it could be that I live in a small-ish Southern town where I won’t get much use out of them. Or maybe I know I will get tired of my clothes much faster than I do my shoes. Or maybe I’m just to cheap.

Anyway, my wardrobe mainly comes from Target, Gap and Anthropologie with some Old Navy, JCrew and Ann Taylor mixed in. I mentioned the pieces I just bought from the Gap – some classic, some trendy. Here are some of the new pieces I got from Target.

These are the brighter, trendier, more disposable pieces that I’m fine if they only last a season.

  1. Argyle sweaters in 4 colors (I got the green one too). I like to add colorful scarves and gloves with these. This year I can wear them with skirts and add bright socks and tights.
  2. Dark brown cardigan with stylized alligator design. This has a classic look but could be paired with a bright color underneath
  3. Black pencil skirt with great seaming
  4. White button-down shirt with low v-neck. This will look great with jeans but also layered under my Libertine skull sweater vest.
  5. Faux leather biker jacket with puff-shoulder detail in brown- I can’t wait to wear this with jeans and boots
  6. Purple alligator clutch. $12!!! And so cute
  7. I also got a brown skirt that will be great with my chunky wing-tip shoes and many of my sweaters

They are all a bit streamlined preppy, I guess, but apparently the catholic school influences live on.

Building a Fall Wardrobe – Part 1

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I know everyone is buzzing about the fall shows, especially the New York shows. There’s coverage of each designer and those in the audience and folks on the street and in the general vicinity. While I like sifting through all the great pictures, I’m more interested in buy stuff for me to wear now.

But I’m not shopping in any couture houses any time soon. Heck, I’m barely going to make it into JCrew based on my shoe shopping habits. So I’ve been shopping from the versatile options at Target and Gap to start.

I tried to be a little more organized with my purchasing this year so that I wasn’t randomly buying stuff. I’m also trying to keep my new purchases in the palette of black, greys, reds and greens. I wanted to get some lighter sweaters and I needed new jeans. I also wanted a dress to wear with my new tights and the Nine West booties, I might get.

So here’s what I got from the Gap. Their sweaters are very soft from the cashmere woven in, but not 100%, which I think is better. I got:

  • a fun sweater dress with grey and black stripes
  • two light sweaters in dark green and red
  • long-sleeve t-shirt in bright green
  • two kimono sleeve heavier sweaters in black and charcoal
  • Long and Lean jeans
  • low-top red Converse Chuck Taylors – fun for casual days!

These are my first purchases. I got a bunch of stuff at Target and may supplement with some JCrew sweaters too. Gap has been doing some sales, so I highly recommend gettin’ on over there!

Sock Dreams

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I think even more than some of their shoes and clothes this season, the Prada color block knee socks have captured the attention of the market. The unique style and fearless use of color is extremely strong in a time when creating an eclectic look is so valued.

I think it also has to do with being a sophisticated take on the “school-girl” look as well as the fact that we don’t see people really using all of the accessory options that are out there.

I personally love socks, stockings, hats and gloves but it is surprising how little they are worn in this day and age. Which is a shame because there are so many beautiful options out there, especially in hosiery. But most people seem to be content with going the easy, simpler route and not having to bother with adding those options on.

I don’t think I’m ready to go for the Prada footless sock with open toes combo, but I am ready to get to wearing cute tights and knee and over-the-knee socks this fall. Especially with my new Miu Miu Naplak heels.

These are such, soft almost pastel, colors for the Fall palette, but just delicious. I bought, from Sock Dreams, a bunch of over the knee socks to wear with them and skirts. Since I also have some other brown wingtip heels in tan and brown, as well as some chunky black and burgundy mary janes, I’m sure I’ll have tons of color combos to work with.


Now I just need to get more skirts to wear with them. The Tabio socks mentioned on Kingdom of Style are the closest I’ve seen to the actual Prada socks. I may have to get a few of these because their colors are perfect to match some of the plaid skirts I already have and will also go with my argyle sweaters (which I can’t wait to break out!). The color banding on the arch and top is the best part.

Target also has a ton of great opaque stockings and knee-socks out right now. I bought stockings in dark brown ribbed, teal, red, orange and purple. I also got some fun orange argyle socks. They will be a great jolt of color during the winter when I am wearing darker color clothes.

Now’s the time to get them, they’re very inexpensive – perfect for a seasonal item.

Beauteous Bespoke

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

Bespoke is defined as:

– adjective
British.
a. (of clothes) made to individual order; custom-made

One of the great things about the Internet is the ability to connect with new up-and-coming designers from around the world and to be able to purchase items that are unique with amazing craftsmanship. You can collaborate with these designers and have items halfway around the world created to your specifications and then shipped directly to you.

One designer that I was completely taken with is Hetty Rose shoes. She has beautiful and interesting designs, but what sets her apart is that she creates them using vintage kimono fabric. I fell in love with the Amalie style. It really shows off the design of the fabric. What I also like is that both shoes will be different based on how the fabric drapes on the shoe.

After speaking with Henrietta about the shoe I wanted, she sent me a list of measurements needed. So we traced my feet, took some pictures, filled in the dimensions and sent them off to her to match up with a last in my size.


Henrietta had just gone to Japan on a fabric buying trip and provided me of pictures of 5 or so fabric options to choose from. I have to tell you – it was difficult to decide. The designs were beautiful – so full of color and interest. I debated a while between a two of the fabrics but in the end I chose this pattern.

The colors were very vibrant and I liked how the white background would make them pop!

Then it was time to pick my heel. I had four options to decide between: a skinnier heel, a more curvy chunky heel, the wood heel below or the wood heel covered in fabric as it was shown on the website. Because I wanted to showcase as much of the fabric as possible, I picked the wood heel covered in the fabric.

Henrietta sent me updates about how my shoes were progressing and event sent me photos of the work in progress. Here is my fabric on the last and cut out ready to be assembled. We did have one running change when she found a small smudge on the toe fabric of one shoe. It was easily solved by adding a signature Hetty Rose peep-toe. You can see the proposed placement in the top image.

A few weeks and they are done! Henrietta sent me pictures of my finished beauties before carefully wrapping them up and winging them away to America! Didn’t they turn out great!

I love the mix of black, yellow, pink, salmon and red.

The leather inside is very very soft and the hand-stitching around the peep-toe and the edges is a playful touch. One of my favorite parts is that the sole of the shoe says “Hand Made with Love by Hetty Rose”.

They are so eye-catching. I got tons of compliments and inquiries about them.

Prices vary by style and fabric, etc., but they well within the range of other non-custom designer shoes. I would highly recommend her. Plus, how often do you get to say that you have the only pair in the world of these shoes.

Ensemble du Jour – and an "adventure"

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

This post is late. I actually wore this outfit on Thursday of last week but then I had an “adventure” that day and a funeral to go to on Friday. So I got kind of tied up and didn’t write about it.

The Outfit
The outfit is a new green henley from Target with a khaki linen skirt and a long wood bead necklace. Sort of a nature-toned Summer-Fall transition-y type outfit.

The Focal Point
My Steven Madden needlepoint heels. They are a few years old but because they are so unusual, I don’t wear them all that often. I think I actually got them through the Victoria’s Secret catalog back when it wasn’t so slutty. In retrospect, these may have been knocking off a Miu Miu design because I remember seeing something similar (but with a chunkier design) from them. But these are actually done pretty well and are quite detailed.

Close-up of toe and heel (thanks for the camera work, Hon!)

Okay for the embarrassing adventure – on Thursday I was eating my lunch at my desk, as usual. I had just popped a carrot in my mouth and I inhaled at the same time and the ginormous carrot got lodged in my throat. Totally stuck, and would-not-move! When I realized that I could not dislodge it by swallowing or drinking water, and I actually wasn’t able to cough or breath, I thought, “Crap, I am totally screwed here.”

Lucky for me I was near my co-workers and got up in a near panic, gave him the panic-face and the “Help me I’m choking to death here” motions and he gave me the Heimlich maneuver. Full on Heimlich. Twice. On the second time the damn carrot popped out. Coughing ensued. Co-worker panic ensued. It was scary and insane.

Of course as I’m standing there hacking and wiping my eyes I’m thinking to myself, “Oh thank God, the carrot didn’t land on my shoes. They’re fabric.”

Yeah, I’m not right in the head.

A Shoe List – Red

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I’ve heard that red shoes have been considered racy or even trashy. I can’t believe that. Red shoes are a wardrobe staple. As much a basic as black shoes. I would say that after black shoes, red would be the next thing you should buy. I mean, they go with so many colors and can be as elegant as they can be preppy and classic.

So, it goes with out saying that I have quite a few pairs of red shoes. The list:

  1. Stuart Weitzman pointy and high Red Quasar with gold heels

  2. Formal red satin heeled sandals

  3. Pedro Garcia red satin heels with distressed edges

  4. Target red platform espadrilles

  5. Shoe Missy red polka-dot peep-toe heels

  6. Shoe Missy Strawberry Fields heels

  7. Vintage La Rose red velvet heels

  8. Red pleated satin heels with black ribbons – similar to the Louis Vuitton Balmorals

  9. XOXO baby doll t-strap heels

  10. Aerosole dark red buckle heels

  11. Via Spiga cranberry Refer loafer heels

  12. Paolo metallic red lizard print wedge sandals with red crystal buckles

  13. Nine West lipstick red ponyhair heels

  14. Vintage boudoir heeled slides

So yeah, I guess I like red shoes just a bit.