Very Valentino - Valentino Rockstud Kitten Heels

Waaaaayyyy back in October of 2010, I fell in love with the Valentino Rockstud kitten heels.  I ordered them from Net-a-Porter (UK) but they were too small (shocking!) and at the time I felt it was best to return them.

What a fool I was!

Even though this collection is almost 2 years old, the Rockstuds are still going strong. Evolving into new styles and onto iPad sleeves and purses.  So I've been pining over them for ages, but never found the classic strappy kitten heel in black patent and tan again.

But finally they are back and, 18 months later, I have them again.

This time I sized up to a 35.5 and I have to say they are one of the comfiest shoes I own.  I love the height and and the twinkly pyramid studs.

I'm so glad to welcome a bit of Valentino into my life!




Shoe/box image via Phiphisblog

Le Sigh - Louboutin Picks & Co Potpourri Spiked Toe & Lace Pump

We all know that Christian Louboutin makes the best spikes. But they've been much more sexy than sweet.

But can spikes be sweet and classy.  Louboutin says yes they can with their Picks & Co. Potpourri Spike and Lace pumps ($1495).  I adore them.

Champagne lace, crystals and subtle studs. You have to love a shoe that combines "lady-who-lunches" with "a-lady-who'll-eat-you-for-lunch" 

Swoon!

Featured Shoe: Jimmy Choo Sissy

About a year ago I told this story of how my mother-in-law (Hey Barb!!!) spoiled me rotten by buying me a pair of Jimmy Choo's. This is the other pair... finally!

Funnily, today I'm wearing the same skirt I wore with those other Choos. Different top though.

These shiny metallic-y numbers are a light cafe au lait color and are called Sissy.



They are quite strappy.

Surprisingly, they are also comfortable. There's that architecture for you.

I don't wear these nearly enough. I fell in love with them because of the color even though it's not a color a wear a lot of. I need to find more to pair them up with.

Designer Focus - Elizabeth Olsen of olsen Haus

The other day I was flipping through a new magazine and came upon an article featuring these really cool shoes. They were graphic and eccentric with a sexy, sometimes 80s vibe to them. I love the delicate shapes and unique use of color and mixed materials.

I hadn't heard of the designer before, Elizabeth Olsen, so I decided to check out her label olsen Haus. The site featured her online look book for Fall 08 - Spring 09 and I was smitten by a whole slew of her pieces.

Check them out:

Pretty neat, huh?

I really liked her "mixed media" techniques and the metallic paint splatter styles. The shoes appeal to my classic shape but unique materials style.

What's even better????

They're completely vegan!

Surprising I know. But it shouldn't be, right?

It's great that we're seeing more and more stylish cruelty-free options. I know this is something I struggle with as we've been changing our lifestyle. Either the shoes/accessories are too "casual" or they are kind of pricey. I applaud designers and companies like Stella McCartney and Te Casan with the Natalie Portman collection to bring a more designer look to this arena. But the prices have been exorbitant.

I still like pretty shoes and want pretty shoes. I'll probably still buy shoes that are not 100% vegan. But as the vegan options grow, I'm seeing more great styles I like. Like these.

And I feel Elizabeth is living her beliefs in an authentic way. She is committed to seeing and being a change in the world. How can I not want to support that?

So yes, these shoes support our beliefs (I like putting my money towards companies I am aligned with) but, heck!. these are just hot shoes.

olsen Haus shoes, these styles and more, can be purchased online and stores around the world.

At the Crossroads

So I am finally wearing my Proenza Schouler sandals that I got on sale. These heels are way higher than they look. Kudos to SJP/Carrie for trotting around in them, even if it is only for a shot or two during filming.

I have a vision to get a cute mustard colored skirt to wear with them, but in the mean time I decided to wear a denim pencil skirt, a black cami and the hook and eye jacket from Patrick Robinson for Target. What's cool is that the hook and eyes on the jacket are a brass metal and it picks up the hardware on the shoes.



Mine are brown leather on the heel rather than the snakeskin version from the movie.



I am totally convinced that all they did for the movie was just cross buckle the straps. I wore them the traditional way but here they are both ways.



From the outside the cross-buckles look cute and the shoe still fits well but you do get a bit of a gap where the bottom strap attaches to the inside of the shoe. So I'm not totally convinced. But I'll probably give it a go with a different outfit.





This is a very graphic and tough-ish shoe. I'm a fan!

4 Heels, 3 Ladies, 2 Cities and 1 Big Disappointment

Way back in February the fabulous Queen Marie did a post about these amazing Jil Sander architectural heels she saw in a magazine. Being a Spring/Summer 2008 shoe, they were not yet available, but I blithely gave my heart away to them.

I had been instantly smitten by the grey and pink color combination, the almost non-existent straps, and obviously, the amazing structural heel.



I'm not usually one for overly modern styles but I was just in love with them. When the styles started hitting the stores I immediately looked online. And while there were several in the line that were similar, the pink and grey color combo were nowhere to be found.



So I contacted the main inquiry line and found out that no one in the US had a 35.5 on the stock list. The only store anywhere that got the heel in a 35.5 was the Milan store. Well, distance is no object when you're in love, right?

Vanessa in the Milan store was very helpful and we finally got the payment information all arranged and my heels were winging their way to me.

Except when they finally arrived and I ripped open the box I was in for a disappointment. The heel was pink and grey. Although the pink was more like a grape-y burgundy and the grey was much darker. Not what I wanted at all. I got back in touch with the New York Jil Sander office and they offered to help me by letting me return the shoes to them and by tracking down another option. Sadly the pink and grey slingbacks that I so loved were not going to be made at all! I was so depressed!

But they did say they had an ankle strap version in either pink, pinkish-orange, or grey. The only 35.5s were only available in the Milan store again, so I said send me the pink or pink-ish orange and then patiently waited.



They're both very pretty, no?



A while later the DSL truck pulled up and delivered the long anticipated shoes. I ripped open the wrapping and there they were.... in bright FRICKING ORANGE!!!!



I did not sign up for orange. I would NOT consider them "pink-ish orange". I look horrible in this color orange. UGH!

Yes, they're still a gorgeous shoe but for the cost, I'm not going to keep a shoe that is less than what I wanted. So, sadly, they went back to New York and ultimately Milan. These shoes are better traveled than I am lately.

I will say that the ladies I worked with from Jil Sander were very nice and very helpful, so I don't blame them too much. They just need to not feature heels that they aren't going to make (I'm not talking runway heels, this was featured in a magazine as a item for Spring) and they need to get their descriptions in line. If you're interested in this shoe be advised, the toe strap is very very tight. Just don't tell me about it because I will be so jealous.

Caramel Dreams

I love pink and tan together. It's a candy color combination but not bright pink and yellow but rather a soft chewy caramel combo.



I think that's why I love these new Pour La Victoire Lourdes ankle strap heels. The shades are so delicate and the straps are just so deliciously strappy. These are shoes sure to inspire much admiration from the menfolk. They look kind of high but they have an inner platform so that should make them more wearable.

To see more views, check them out on Endless. They are $215.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
I've been waiting to wear this outfit for a while, ever since I saw the color combo in the JCrew catalog. It's what made we buy a ton of colored tights and these satin ankle strap heels.

The dress is a black jersey dress from Old Navy and that is just a foil for the bright Goldenrod Yellow tights and candy pink satin heels. To tie back some of the colors, I've added a bright pink rhinestone pin.




The Focal Point
I don't think you could miss the color combo if you tried - so yep, that's the focal point. If I can find an outfit to play up the pink and yellow more, I would wear it. I love dressing in these candy colors and pink and yellow to me is the most sugar-tastic combo.

It's an Alaia. That's a really important designer

This is totally my kind of shoe. I classic shape with a cool pattern and an interesting mix of materials, color, texture.



Such a pretty coral red color and I love the piping in contrast to the white.

Alaia Ankle Straps on sale for$360 at YOOX.com

"Pure Sex"? Yawn.

When I first heard that Agent Provocateur was going to develop a line of shoes, I was actually very interested and intrigued. I've always admired their lingerie, the extensive storylines for each of their collections and their playfulness. Although I find their prices a bit high, I used to have a real "thing" for glam lingerie, so I could see how they were worth it.

And they just signed Maggie G. as their new temptress. She's great! Sexy, yet quirky. Unique.



But I'm so disappointed in this line, called "Pure Sex" by Kurt Geiger. AP already had darling retro heeled slippers with feathers and bows, which I can't seem to find on the site now, and they have replaced them with this line of incredibly obvious and, I think, boring bordering on tacky shoes.



Black strapped patent platforms? Yawn! YSL did this better with the Tribute earlier this year. I don't even find these sexy. They're just so expected and better suited to Frederick's.


Jennie

And they are expensive too. All of these are $495, except the boots which are $570!
These are supposed to be work-wear. They look kind of cheesy to me.


Peep

These come in black too. They look okay on the model, but, to me they look very uncomfortable and I know I would have strapmarks all over my feet.


Belle

These are getting better, but don't look like anything that special. They come in black too.


Misty (I mean, seriously, who came up with these stupid names??? Misty? Blech!)

These have to be the best of the bunch, and I don't even like booties. I think I only like them because they remind me of a Louboutin pair. They have a good heel on them.



Maybe there will be more designs for the line in the near future, but as of right now, I'm unimpressed.

Thank goodness the rest of the site is more "interesting" to look at.