Under Wraps - Pedro Garcia Emelyn Pump

I am so ready for Fall. It's my favorite time of year. I can't wait for tights and tweed and blazers. This year I'm influenced by dark woods and moody fairy tales. My colors will be charcoal, navy, black, creme, olive, white, and dark brown with bursts of red, bronze and burgundy.

These Pedro Garcia "Emelyn" pumps would be perfect. I love the dark colors and the black bows.

I love the raw edges but I really want to know how well these Swarovski crystals glitter under the netting. A muted glitter perfect for the dusky light of Fall.

I am really ready for Summer to be over.

Pedro Garcia Emelyn pumps - $495 at Nordstroms

Ensemble du Jour

Finally! Some color!

It has been raining for days so when it finally stopped on Thursday, I was able to wear outfits I had been planning in my head but couldn't wear. I refuse to wear really nice things when it's raining. I'm too worried they'll get ruined.

OCD? Yes, maybe.

On Thursday I had a few meetings, so I got to wear my new JCrew jacket. I adore this blue color. Its so vibrant. I paired it with a dark red cami, a khaki pencil skirt and my Pedro Garcia distressed satin heels.


1-8-09 by Princess Poochie

I just realized that my outfit above is like a reverse of this one... apparently I like the color combo.

On Friday I really wanted to wear my new pink satin skirt but haven't decided what other color to pair it with (red? coral? another pink? black is too easy. any ideas?). So even though my head was full of pink I went to the next item on my mental "want to wear" checklist - my new baby blue fishnets.

I'd been thinking how to wear these and ended up layering the color tone rather than contrasting. I so slack about working the contrast. I like to tie things together. Maybe too much.

The top was a simple black v-neck and the skirt was one of the cute Old Navy polka-dot ones I got on sale a while back. I added tons of blue including my Lou Lou Loves You bow, Louboutin Helmuts and a ShoeMissy rosette (pinned down by my waist).


1-9-09 by Princess Poochie

I'm not doing great on my resolution of planning my outfits in advance. I really need to figure out a better system than writing ideas in a notebook. Since I have stuff tucked away in multiple rooms I tend to forget all my options and wear my favorite stuff over and over. I need solutions! In the morning I'm just too rushed to remember and integrate.

Maybe a image library of everything that can be done like a flip book...or a phone app that I shake and it comes up with an outfit.

How do you all remember and plan your outfits, especially if you are in a rush? I'm open to ideas so send them my way!

Sale! Sale! Sale!

As my good deed for the day, I am altruistically telling you about three great sales I've found out there. Okay, maybe I can't afford to buy anything else right now and, thus, can't keep all the bargains for myself, but it's still a good deed right?



Start off at a new favorite online store - Shoe-runway.com. They have lots of markdowns, most to 30% off, including these super-cute strappy red heels by Berney Demore. Click the pics for direct links. This is where I got the pretty strappy Nicole Brundage sandals. And they have new styles coming in soon.



A true classic, French Sole, is also having a big warehouse sale too. This weekend, Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st October 2007.

End of lines, discontinued styles and factory samples all at 80% discount plus half price and less !! A unique opportunity to buy their famous shoes at remarkable prices. If you are lucky enough to live near by, visit their warehouse just off Junction 11 of the M4.

From 10:00am until 4:00 pm each day.

Buy some for me!



Footcandy, another great resource for designer shoes, is marking down some of their past season items to really good prices. I don't think any of these styles will look out of date next year so tuck them away. Some of my favorites are these cream Vera heels from Pedro Garcia (just like my red ones).



I also think these Tobies boots by Constanca Basto are totally cool. I love mix of the tan and black, plus they have great pointy toe and heel.




Happy Shopping!

Favorite Fall Colors

I love Fall. I love that it's still dark when I wake up (sort of) and it's getting dark when I'm driving home from work. The cool weather, crunchy leaves, bonfires in the backyard and romping around with the dogs.

Coming from Florida I never really had a Fall until we moved two years ago. we get the seasons now and it's still so novel to me. And I love the colors - dark greens, mossy browns, deep red, bright pumpkin...



Pedro Garcia (whom I'm having a bit of a love affair with lately) seems to be ready for fall if these heels are any indication. These are pointier than mine but still have the trademark frayed edges and I love that deep moss color.



Pumpkins! I can't wait to roast em up, puree them and make a pie!



And aren't these gorgeous??? I love that the colors are called "Fossil" and "Flame". So pretty!

I never really wore orange a lot but I am getting more and more into it. It is a strong but really versatile color.





Not really for kicking around in the leaves but I bet they look great with a pair of jeans and a JCrew cable-knit cashmere sweater (and cute patterned headband, of course!).

P.S. Photos courtesy of Katmystiry and Catalepsy on Flickr

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
Even though it was Friday, I was to have a meeting so I dressed up a bit. I wore a light grey pleated skirt and white v-neck knit top. I have a long necklace made of faux grey pearls and hematite beads. It's very long so I looped it tight around my neck and the then rest of it hangs longer down.



The Focal Point
Because the white and grey are so icy and cool, I wanted a strong contrast, so I went with my red Pedro Garcia round toe pumps. I love the distressed edges the most.




Happy Friday!

Princess Poochie says:

Here is the latest shopping challenge that has been put forth before me:

I was wondering if you could offer some advice. I have just bought the most wonderful vintage suit to be married in. My fiancé and I are eloping to Boston to be married at the end of October. I was wondering if you could offer some suggestions on a nice shoe to go with it. I would like the heel to be no more than 3 1/2 inches high and with nothing around the ankle. I'm fine with either open or closed toe.

- J.S.




Well, J.S.

That is a gorgeous vintage suit. Lucky you! You will look elegant and weather appropriate. But, yes, the challenge is what shoes to wear with this one-of-a-kind outfit, that will work with the style of the suit, the color and the level of formality. Being in a transitional time of year, that can be a challenge. Plus, most bridal shoes are white and shoes in the bone/cream color can tend to be more summer styles with wood heels. Not really what you want in October.

I think a perfect style for this suit would be a t-strap heel or, ideally, a round-toe babydoll style with a sculpted Louis heel. I also love these which I found on eBay (click on the image)-



They are kind of small, but I hope someone snatches them up! They need some work but they have a great style and heel. Looking for shoes like this also can help define a style to guide your shoe search.

A conservative yet still dressy style are these Bandolino's on Zappos. They are neutral enough to not compete with your suit.



I really like these by Giuseppe Zanotti which are the priciest at $498 on Zappos. The wood heel is typically for Summer but I think the unusual shape, the braiding on the sling-back and the crystals elevate it. I think the shape would be good with your outfit too. And the color seems right on.




These Pedro Garcia's Jeweled d'Orsays in "fossil" are $450 at Saks. What I like is that they provide a contrast to the suit and pick up the darker tones in the fur. You could definitely wear these after the wedding.




My absolute favorites are these - Beatrix Ong's Aster - on Shoe Runway . I think these would be the best for you. They are about $250. The styling hearkens back to the time period of your suit but they are not over the top. I just adore them.



Another option would be the Beatrix Ong Sadies. They are very unusual but there's no reason to play it safe on your wedding day! You are off on a brave new adventure, wear adventurous shoes!

Hope this helps. Have fun and congratulations!

Please feel free to send me your questions. I love it!

Luv
Poochie

Flirty Ruffles

Although you see a ton of menswear tailored styles coming in for Fall, sometimes you have zig while others zag. I love the stacked brogues and wingtips and two-tone shoes but Fall and Winter is a time for get-togethers and parties and drinking Kir Royals. Sometimes you need a really flirty, girl-y, ruffle-y shoe to go with that party dress or to glam up a skirt.

I love the almost excessive embellishment of these shoes which go to the other end of the spectrum when compared to the more dignified shoes.



These Pedro Garcia Ruffle Ballet Flats in Flint are $335 at Neiman Marcus. They're kind of a silvery lavender and I love the almost distressed look that they have.

These Miu Mius in black suede are the nighttime glam version of the Naplack with the chunky heel that I featured a few posts ago. With a change of materials and a more glam heel, this style goes from quirky school girl to intriguing vixen. Wouldn't they be perfect with a really sleek dress?



Gorgeous. Buttery soft leather ruffles. Pearly lavender. Enough said. Loeffler Randall Ruffle Pump - $375 also at Neiman Marcus.



And when you are ready to dance the night away or make an impression, in jeans or at a company event, these Moschino Cheap & Chic Scallop Edge heels are so flamboyant and "Notice Me" that you need to be ready for all the attention. Of all of the shoes here, these are the ones I would get first. That ruffle is quite nearly perfect. They're $455 at Barney's.

I'm sure there will be some lower cost options available as the season goes on. These are just too pretty for them to not be reinterpreted all across the board.

I'll keep my eye out for ya!

Anatomy of a shoe search

I have a pretty small shoe size. And apparently many designers and stores don't feel that it is worth making or carrying shoes in a size 5 or 5.5 because many times when I see a pair of shoes that I like they don't start until size 6. Ugh! Many times I'll go into a store and keep picking up shoes and putting them down. I'm sure the employees think it's because of the price but mostly its because they usually put the smallest size out and there are none in my size!

And I know there are plenty of people who have this same size because you keep buying my shoes!

So it's really hard to find shoes in my size. Not that you would believe it by looking in my closet. Maybe its all a part of nature's system of checks and balances and what keeps me to a tolerable level. My only justification is that when I see a pair of shoes I like/want and it's in my size, I get it. I also admit I'm a little compulsive... and stubborn. I just can't believe I can't get what I want and can't find those shoes somewhere. When I can't just jump online and get them, I have to go on the hunt.

Take these Nine West Harmon platforms in nude patent.


I spied these in Lucky's (If I remember correctly). When I first saw them they weren't available. Then I went right to the Nine West site. No luck. They had them but starting at size 6, which is actually unusual because they often carry 5s. So I called customer service. I was told they actually would not be making these shoes in my size. What the heck! Nothing online, nothing in their stores, nothing in a Macy's etc.

Grrrr!

Finally, I went to my fallback - Zappos.com, of course. Now remember, Nine West themselves, told me they were absolutely not making this shoe in smaller than a size 6. Guess what I found on Zappos?

That's right, those babies right there...in my size. Ha! I win!

Another search went on for the red Pedro Garcia's I showed in my outfit of the day. Saw them on Shoewawa (my crack), couldn't find them online. I actually emailed the corporate buyer (in Spain) and they pointed me to a store in Texas that had them. Whoo hoo! These beauties are worth a little effort, don't you think?

Now, my friends sometimes overhear these "research" efforts and think I'm nuts. But, the moral is: never take "No" for an answer. Those perfect shoes are out there somewhere... probably...unless I got to them first.

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
It looks kind of lazy on the hanger here, but my comfy outfit today is a dark grey denim skirt with a lavender grey 3/4 sleeve shirt from Old Navy. The necklace is a coral color and made from lace by Cursive.




The Focal Point
It's ALL about the shoes today - Pedro Garcia Vera in Poppy. What I love about these are the distressed edges and the depth of the color in the satin. You can't get this from cheap fabric. They are a deep red, almost rouge. Hmmm...Dreamy....