Make Art

I have a quick peek at some enticing boxes the other day and I was finally able to take the good shots that I wanted so I could really showcase these shoes for you. If you have "Liked" the Shoe Daydreams page on Facebook or follow along on Twitter, then you may already have a good idea of what the reveal will be.



What I have are two very different styles - the Camilla Skovgaard London S10012 pump and the Marc by Marc Jacobs "Love" Mouse ballerina flat - but they both appeal strongly to me.

Camilla Skovgaard makes some damn sexy shoes. She has a very defined presence with her strong and sexy shoes. I recognized this with the Chastity sandals I bought from her line last year and this season has been even better. One thing I've found with her designs is that they look even more amazing on.



These pumps, I have to say, are gorgeous to look at but are perfection on. They have the perfect round toe, the heel shape is amazing, they are high but have a very cushy internal platform and are supported by the amazing saw-tooth rubber sole.

Love!

They also come in a wonderful porange-y coral and an elegant sandy taupe. I so so soooo wish they came in sky blue as well. How amazing would that be?

I needed a simple black pump but then knew I could just get a plain pump. The shape of these are classic but the sole gives them that extra edge.

The second pair, the Marc Jacobs mouse flats are just the opposite. White, bright, sweet and flat, these iconic shoes have been reborn in a ton of different ways from a fuzzy leopard print to trompe l'oeil to encrusted with rhinestones.

But I am head over (no) heels for the white patent version I now posess. I've been in love with these whimsical shoes for ages and kept them in the back of my mind, mostly because they came out so long ago and I didn't like the newer versions. But then I stumbled across these on Amazon in my size!

They may possibly be the last pair in white anywhere because I've been searching for them online and can't seem to find them anywhere (they are still available in red, blue and black on Amazon, however).

Yes, these could be deemed too sweet or too silly but I think they are s'wonderful.

I love the details: the rhinestone eyes, the delicate ears and nose and the stitched on curly tail.

I know I'm waxing lyrical about them but feel as though I've acquired a piece of art. Like the Koons Balloon Dog, I value these as a bookmark in the design evolution of the designer.

I have four other pairs of shoes by Marc Jacobs that are now many years old and they are each wonderful but very different from his aethetic today. And their details spoke to me just as certain paintings and architecture do. My shoes are functional items and I wear them but, in many ways, they are also part of a very curated collection.

And this brings me to something I want to say, and will elaborate on in a future post - to some of the shoes companies, designers, buyers and stores: Make art or go home.

From sexy heels to whimsical flats, don't waste our time with less than your best. I value your work but resources and time and money are scarce. We should only be seeing the best of the best from what you create (and stop going the easy route with the knock-offs, okay. There is a way to do good design at all price points).

Designers, even if you have to bow to the economics of the real world and the demands of the company owners, the buyers and the stores with most of your line, keep a glimmer of art there. Maybe a deal can be made and only one is made available. Maybe you can only make a few of them, but I know they will be wanted and treasured.

I know I may not be able to get all of them or afford them, but I'll be behind you 100% and rooting you on!

Ensemble du Jour

This outfit is one of the (many) that I brought with me to New York and didn't end up wearing.

The Outfit
A v-neck grey tee with buttons bought on sale at the Gap with a green cardigan from Target. I'm wearing my cropped jeans and for jewelry I'm wearing my jade bracelet and necklace again. I'm just loving the pale translucent greens of the two pieces.



The Focal Point
But what inspired the color choices were my camo Manolo Blahnik Sedarabys. Yes, these are the same style worn in SATC ("the" silver heels in episode 83) but I think I prefer the fabric over the silver leather.









I especially like the dyed green stacked heel.



Sooo cute, right?



I know I've recently purchased a few new items. But I need to hold off on getting more new stuff and focus more on what I have. I'm going to hold off on the buying for a while (ohhh but the Pre-Fall stuff is coming. Must. Re-sist.) and see how I can mix up my current stuff in new ways.

Can we make it to the end of the year??? We'll see!

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
Today is one of those crazy mixed-up weather days. You're not sure whether to wear something warm or spring-y. I was going through my off-season closet and saw that I had put this Merona skirt in with my warmer weather clothes. I'm not sure why because it could be paired well with darker tights. The material is very suit like to me. It kind of a dark taupe with black and black pin-stripes. It has a really nice sheen to it. The top is a simple knit black v-neck from Ann Taylor.




I went very simple for jewelry, just my watch and regular rings. The outfit has sort of a corporate feel to it, so I wanted to keep it simple and streamlined.

The Focal Point
Even with, or maybe because of, the simpleness, I wanted to interject a little something off-kilter. A little bit of controlled chaos.

I did end up getting the polka-dot Anatole pump from Lela Rose at Payless. These actually are really nice. the colors are great, the fabric has a nice satin sheen to it (both which pull it back to the skirt) and it has a great heel. Much better in person than it even appears here.



It's a bit of a weird combo mainly because I'm not wearing any navy. But for me the background color of the shoe ties to the lightest color tone in the skirt and the muted navy plays off the black top. The shoe's office look goes with the look of the skirt. I'm kind of liking it. What do you think?

Rain, Rain, Come Back Today

I am a sucker for a crystal embellished high heel. And these sandals from Alexander McQueen look like they are covered in sparkling raindrops.



And the nude color further enhances the feeling that you were running through a misty meadow. Is that too cliche of a picture? Too bad commercial-esque? Okay, probably, but they do have an amazingly delicate feel to them.



I would wear these with jeans or with a very very neutral outfit. Something like a crisp fitted white shirt and a khaki skirt, with only diamond studs for earrings. Basic but gorgeous.



Gah! They are amazing. They remind me of my Clichy heels. Of course, all this beauty comes at a pretty steep price - $1689 on Zappos. But, if I had the money, I would be all over these in a hot minute.

Le Sigh!

Varietals and Versions

One of my favorite times is when the designers start adapting their fabulous designs for the different stores so that each store (were talking Saks/Neiman Marcus/Barneys) gets a "unique" shoe.

What I like about it is that if you like a particular element but not the total package, you can find a variation that works for you.

Now, granted all of these are gorgeous Prada heels, but I do like having the option to pick my favorite version of them.

First up - a classic peep-toe at Saks for $750. These are my favorites.





These are slightly different being in black and the crystals are clear. As sandals, they really stand out. They're also $750 at Bergdorf Goodman.




And last but not least the mary jane peep-toe option available at Neiman Marcus for, you guessed it, $750. I guess they are sticking to that MSRP.






Now obviously there will be overlap (espceially for Neiman and Bergdorfs) from store to store. What bugs me is when you can't find a version (possibly seen on a star or in a magazine) to buy it. Or when you don't know all the versions out there. Like during the fall season when Miu Miu did all the versions of their brougue heels. The ones I bought I love but later I found out there were a million other versions and it made me crazy that I didn't know them all.

I'm sure as an average person who also does not have access to all the great stores on a regular basis I'm going to miss out somewhat. Which makes me sad. Don't they want my money????

I have been using Shopstyle.com a lot to see all the shoe versions of particular brands. It's great because it will link you directly to the site selling the shoe I want. I love enabelers!

I haven't used all of the functionality of the site, but I'm liking it so far. See what you think.