Payless is ready for Spring

It's been a while since I've checked up on what Payless has going with their designer collections.

It seems they are still going strong with their design.  I've picked out three favorites from each collection.

I love the modern style of these Isabel Toledo Marina flats.  The aqua color is going to be strong for spring and these will work with tailored outfit, jeans and even into the Fall with tights.

Christian Siriano's strappy Rosa heels can't get any sexier.  Lacing, hot hot red and a curvy leopard print.  They may be a bit high for it but sultry dancing is almost required.

But I think my favorites are the print wedge Mapleton sandals from Lela Rose.  They just look so airy and fresh.  Summer stripes with a bold print and a pop of coral?  These are the ones I plan on buying to wear with a swingy white skirt.

There are tons of other styles too.  Thank goodness for their BOGO!

Instant Access - 7/11 - 7/24

You want shoes, I've got shoes!

Kate Spade Luggage Stripe mules (circa 1998)

 Lela Rose for Payless Grosgrain ribbon peep-toes

Miu Miu Fall 2010

Oh, Deer! Pistachio

Bass x Rachel Antonoff Odette Saddle Shoes - Pink & White

Bass x Rachel Antonoff Aurora Tassel Loafers

Odettes again - so cute!

Oh, yeah, manicures too - Essie Topless & Barefoot plus gold glitter

The tiniest watercolor necklace pendant.

I like white.

New tools - a wireless keyboard for my iPad

Colorful words from Kate Spade.

Happy Week to you!

Spring Kicks

Although you may not think so, I'm kind of a fan of Payless.  They're doing well (pretty well) with their designer collaborations and have some cute shoes.  If you're looking for some fun flats for spring and summer, these are cute and affordable options.

I really think these Lela Rose Carolina black flats ($35) are interesting. They're not totally peep-toe so they'd still work in the office but aren't plain jane.

Also by Lela Rose are these Miraflores flats ($35) that are really neat with their mixed materials. I especially like the knot detail on the toe and they'd be great to ground a sundress or with a denim skirt/shorts.

I adore gingham, especially in the summer. It just says sunny skies to me.  These American Eagle Audrey knot ballet flats are so sweet ($17, in multiple fabrics).

I love that Isabel Toledo is back.  I've been wearing my oxfords and flats all winter and I think these urban Mesh flats ($35) would be great walking around or biking around the city shoes.

And the Champion Gem skimmers ($28) just say "yoga shoe", which to me equals comfort.  They come in black as well and the toe band is adjustable. I like to wear shoes like these to walk around our favorite near-by destination, the mountain town of Asheville, because they are soft and light on my feet.  Perfect for shopping on a relaxing weekend.

I still love my heels, I promise, but with all the cute flats out now, it's hard not to get get my eye redirected.

Lela Rose for Payless - Spring 2010

As we've seen, the designer & mass merchandiser collaborations have been kind of sucking lately. Which is really disappointing because there is great opportunity to do cute design at a mass-retail level.

And we know it's doable. The Mizrahi collection did it well for a number of years at Target. Heck, Merona and Mossimo have done well there for ages too. I've bought tons of clothes and shoes from there.

But it's really changed lately. Either they've had to cut back on design & quality due to economic conditions or they really don't think we'll notice.

Well, people are noticing. I'm sure that's why they've changed the whole Go International program. Of course, it becomes a vicious cycle - we don't buy it, they cheapen it up to cut costs, so we don't buy it, etc.

Luckily there is one collaboration that seems to at least be making an effort and that I still think is doing a good job - Lela Rose for Payless.

I often get the snob label placed on me, especially when it comes to shoes. That I only like or buy expensive stuff. And frankly, that's not true at all. I totally judge each shoe individually. If I like (or don't like) the looks of a shoe, I don't care who makes it. And I have to say, most of the time, I'm a fan of this line.

And the Spring 2010 collection seems like it will have several pieces that I will want to get. My favorite is this style called Bently in a really pretty citrine fabric and twist bow.



The other colors are really pretty too... fuchsia, stone, taupe...

I really hope they keep the height they were shown in. Payless does tend to "tone down" the designs between runway and store and I really wish they wouldn't.

I also really like the casual and sort of preppy wedge sandal Ashland which comes in cute combos like the black and white gingham with green accents, the cross-hatched circles with taupe and the modern geometric pattern with black.

The Zephyr cross-strap sandal is cute too, especially the delicate ankle straps.

I like the citrine pattern again but also the solids in the fuchsia and navy.

There are a few other styles that are cute too, including a multi-strap wedge and a elegant heeled sandal, so check them out here.

I'm really looking forward to trying them on. The styles will be available in February per the site.

Featured Shoe: Lela Rose Ribbon Heel

I while back I posted about these darling Lela Rose for Payless Ribbon heels but then I neglected to follow-up with an in action post.




They are just as cute in person and actually comfortable.



The flash washes the color out a bit but these have a great graphic contrast.



I paired this with a Mizrahi for Target black trench dress and it was a great work outfit.



Cute. Love the ribbon pinking.

I think the heels are out of stock but as of this writing the flats are still there. Get them while you can!

Black & White & Red All Over

I almost forgot to mention the other pair of shoes I bought while I was in NYC.

I was walking down the street back to my hotel and saw this huge picture of these really pretty shoes in the window. Peep-toe heels that looked like they were made of wide black and white grosgrain ribbons with red edging. They were fresh and pretty and, since I wear those colors all year round, pretty much perfect for Summer.

They were at Payless...





I've actually really liked the other Lela Rose heels I've bought, so I'm hoping these will be good as well. I probably won't be walking all over town in them so, I think I'll be fine.

These are very pretty in person, so if you like the style, I would say check them out.

I ended up having to order mine online because the stores in NY were all out of my size. Don't forget, you can have them ship it to a store near you for free.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I've been trying to be good about planning out my outfits the night before for the next day. I have a tendency to just throw something on because I'm always rushing in the morning. I'd end up wearing the same thing all the time and not wear any of my fun cool stuff.

I wanted to wear this new JCrew jacket, which I just love. It's green metallic bouclé and I like that it has a classic shape but some interesting details to it... and it was on sale! Whoo! Of course this jacket would be great with jeans (and I'm sure I'll wear it with jeans soon) but I had a client meeting so, while I could wear jeans, I didn't really want to.

So that meant a skirt. I have this dressy denim pencil skirt that is less casual but still has some texture to the dark navy fabric. Once I decided on the skirt, I was debating shoes. Oh yeah, and the fact that it was darn cold out. So I needed some tights. I had been thinking I would wear these Claudio Merazzi heels, but thought with so much green I'd be getting into leprechaun territory. And what tights would I wear?



10-28-08 by Princess Poochie

The Focal Point

I ended up deciding on navy tights and my Lela Rose navy and tan polka-dot heels. The navy tights, heel fabric and skirt give a streamlined look and the blue is equal in tone to the green of the jacket. I had a tan camisole on under the jacket which tied back to the dots in the shoes. I also wore a brooch with pearl on it. They mirrored the polka-dots. I also liked the contrast in the two patterns, especially since the jacket's is more textural and tonal.



I really like these navy tights from Target. I bought them to wear with a grey outfit (yet to be worn) but I'm happy with them here too.



I need to put an insole or heel gripper in these. They're a bit slippery, especially with having the tights on.

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?

Ensemble du Jour

It's Friday and it's been raining all day. Snore.

I wouldn't mind a nap right now but nope, gotta work. Sooo....

The Outfit
Pink SJP Bittne tank under my Mizrahi brown herringbone blazer with the faux suede collar and elbow patches. I'm wearing this over jeans and have accented with a vintage Weiss strawberry pin.



My pin looks like this one but the rhinestones are more iridescent. I have a single strawberry version too which was my grandmother's. One of the few things I have that were hers.



The Focal Point
The brown herringbone pattern is in both these shoes and in the jacket. The shoes are the Lela Rose for Payless Finsbury in brown. It's a cute style and a pretty comfortable heel.





This blazer makes me feel sort of scholarly with it's patch pockets. I think that is such a cute detail. I think I need to get a sweater with patches to really go the full bookish look though.