Lock Down Your Fabric - Blahnik, Rousseau, Jcrew and Anthropologie

I haven't written on this blog in ages but I had to make this post because I was so appalled and amused by this fabric situation.

Designers! This is why you lock down exclusivity for your materials!

To start with - these are all current season and currently available for purchase shoes.

First up are the Manolo Blahnik BB's in this great embroidered floral fabric. $765 at Saks.

But I also found these JCrew Ankle-wrap slingback heels in the same fabric. $228

And then I found two shoes from Jerome Rousseau - Abelline Sandals for $595 and Booties in a black version of the floral for $895.

I also found the black version in an offering from Anthropologie - the Ouigal Pearl Block heels $228

Obviously, it's a popular fabric, but seeing it all over really dilutes the special-ness of it. It makes you remember the fact that these are produced versus crafted.  And that's not usually what I want in a shoe.

Doing Denim DIYs - Crop Step and Crop Fray

I've never been a big fan of pants in general or jeans specifically. I always found them uncomfortable and would wear denim skirts (still do) to get my denim fix.

That's kind of funny because I live in, essentially, the home of denim, where a 100 year old partnership still lives on to produce American denim and some of the best selvedge around.

But lately I've been embracing pants more - patterned especially - and finding I also really love the denim jean/heel contrast.  But while I like wearing it more, I absolutely am not into spending a lot for it.  Maybe it's my long-standing anathema or just the fact that I'm not tall and lanky, but I just can't bring myself to spend a lot, even if I like it.

Sure maybe there are some magical technologies built into the fabric weave or the structure of the cut, but I probably won't ever find out. My range generally runs from JCrew at the top end to mostly Old Navy.  Maybe I'll be won over some day by some vintage Japanese selvedge but I can't really ever picture me buying $1000+ jeans.

However, I was nearly won over to the $200 camp by a pair of Mother Denim Crop Step Fray Jeans, especially when paired so perfectly by Emma Roberts.

I really like this look. Lots of ankle. A classy heel. It's polished and casual and the lack of a full hem keeps it from looking too "done"

But then I thought, I can do that!  I mean, sure the main jeans need to be good too but I've been recently wearing a pair of straight legged jeans that I'd cropped and frayed myself, why not give this a shot too.

So, I took advantage of the Old Navy Labor Day sale to stock up on a bunch of jeans I needed - from a pair for wearing outside with the animals, to new grey and mid-wash blue skinnies, to the pair to give the crop step fray action.

And I'm happy with the results, especially for $20 (50% off sale!)

I'll have to get a better shot but I like how the cropped but still longer back really frames up the shoes in the front.

And at the end of the day, it really is all about showing off the shoes!

Imitation = Flattery? SJP Angelica and Maddalena Pumps vs Manolo Blahnik "Something Blue" Hangisi

To say I'm utterly disgusted and disappointed would be putting it mildly.

When I saw that the SJP collection was coming to Bloomingdale's, I thought I would go by and see how the collection, which I've reviewed previously, was expanding.  I figured I would see some pretty yet boring pieces along the lines of the initial styles.  I was not expecting to see something shocking.

But I was absolutely floored to see that SJP had utterly ripped off possibly the most iconic shoe from all of Sex and the City - the Manolo Blahnik "Something Blue" Hangisi pump.

Here is the Angelica from the new SJP Collection at Bloomingdales (The similar 'Maddalena' style is at Nordstrom's and has a pointier toe.) -

And here is the Hangisi. The shoe which is essentially the emotional touchstone of Carrie and Big's resolution in the movie.  The shoe he proposes to her with. The shoe bought for her wedding, abandoned and then worn for the simple ceremony they ultimately had. A shoe created just for this movie by Mr. Blahnik.

In some articles the leveraging of the style is more blatant. Heck in the Bloomingdale's item description, they even include a reference to "something blue". I know the Blahnik team is involved in the SJP Collection, which makes it even more disappointing. Why not use her line as an opportunity to do something new and delightful.  It can't be the price point because these heels are over $500 (ironically, that is what they said the MB's were in the movie. Now they're over $900), not exactly a bargain.

So am I being too harsh? Are they different enough? Or are they leveraging a little too heavily on the SATC/Carrie magic and not creating any magic of their own?

Read more in the Imitation = Flattery series.

Pop! Fizz! Clink!

On Valentine's Day we had a swanky cocktail party.

 We decided that no where in town would they do something as fancy as we would like so we decided a dress-up, black-tie optional party it would need to be.

I mean, who just wants to sort of get dressed, up go eat a prix-fixe meal with a ton of other people (probably not having a great time) and then come back home.

So we cleaned up the house and planned a bunch of food and a great bar and invited a bunch of friends - couples and not!

The husband looked dashing in his tux. 

And I wore a Sonia Rykiel sequined dress with sheer collar and cuffs paired with the Manolo Blahnik Fiocam black patent mary janes.

I'm glad our friend got a few action shots during the party.  We were having so much fun we didn't get any during the event.  I think this needs to be an annual thing… or at least more often than we've had them, which is like several years apart!

Changing my Spots

It sounds crazy but I think it worked. A vintage leopard coat, teal v-neck and fishnet-y tights, red skirt an a House of Holland double necklace in tonal crystals.

I love to pair the tonal tights with the girly scallop edges of the Manolo Blahnik Erratic Mary Janes. 

Subtle it is not. 

Dots for Days

Sometimes you have to go big…

And sometimes you have to take the pattern one more step.

Always loving polka-dots, the shirt from Ann Taylor is new.

The tights are from Wolford, which I've have but haven't worn, and then paired with the "urban shoe myth" Manolo Blahnik Camparis.

Pants and Pumps

For someone who claims to prefer skirts, I'm wearing a lot of pants lately.  My new uniform is fun pants and awesome shoes.

Red Old Navy pants and spiked Louboutin Pigalles…

Black diamond Old Navy pants and mint Kate Spade Karolina Bow pumps..

Jcrew olive military-inspired tuxedo-stripe pants plus old Jimmy Choo Thunder slingbacks…

Old Navy red print pants plus Manolo Blahnik red sequin heels...

Plaid pants and red Valentino Rockstud kitten heels…

I think I can make it through winter like this.

Buying BBs

Manolo Blahnik really knows the way to keep me buying their shoes. They tend to take my favorite style - lately the perfection that is the BB pump - and make it available in tons of different fabrics and colors.

And they are continuing with their "made-to-order" option, now via Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

I first fell in love with the BB when I got a pair in neon lime green (similar to the current Cocorita option) but I've now expanded my collection to black, red, and the grey/burgundy Bipunta cap-toe version.

But I'm thinking ahead to spring and I really think I need the marine blue and nude options.  Of course the fuchsia and cobalt are beautiful too. 

I love that you can chose your height preference too... although I think 105mm is the only option to truly showcase the slender, iconic BB heel.

Back in Black

If you've been sad that the "Urban Shoe Myth" Manolo Blahnik Campari black patent mary jane has been unavailable for a while, you are in luck!

Bergdorfs is selling them again!

It's hard to tell from the site's images, but the heel looks a bit lower than the pair that I have.  I'll have to go home and measure them.


If you want a sexy, classic, never-going-out-of-style heel, this is the mary jane for you.

When you see a shoe myth in the wild, you need to pounce!

The Only Shoe I Need Right Now - Manolo Blahnik BB in Red

I feel like the only shoe I need to complete my right now would be these Manolo Blahnik Red BB's.

The BB heel truly is perfection.

Look at that profile.

Not too pointy, a beautiful arch, sexy heel.

Gorgeous!

Ensemble du Jour - Graceful in Greenery

I am so excited to be wearing my Spring/Summer dresses. I'm sure I'll be complaining about the heat soon, but as of right now, the weather was balmy and the sun was bright.

I paired my ModCloth Graceful Greenery dress with a lavender cardigan and for shoes, I wore it with chartreuse Manolo Blahnik Sedarabys (for work) and then lupine Converse Chucks (for play).

I love the photo print of a cool floral-filled and wooded glen...

A vintage purse goes perfectly with this dress...

I hope you had a great holiday as well!

Pushing up Daisies

The shoes I'm most dreaming about for Spring, are these Manolo Blahnik daisy heels.

Either the slingback version...

Or the cute ankle boot...




 They're both adorable. I just love how happy they are!