Minor Modifications

Since it's been a while since I posted one and the some of my favorite ladies on Twitter were talking about embellishing their sneaks, I thought I would share an old shoe customization project with you.


This was a pretty small and fast one so I didn't take step-by-step pictures but I can describe it pretty easily. Basically I just added some sparkle to my step.

I found some sneakers that I liked that would lend themselves easily to a crystal pattern. The Converse-y ones actually came from the Target kids section a year or two ago. Their canvas so good for gluing on and had a stitched wave element on the sides.



All I needed to do was to get flat backed Swarovski crystals from Michael's (arts & crafts supply store), fabric glue and tweezers. I got a few colors of pink and clear in regular and a tiny size. I also bought some cute oversize laces in white with pink polka-dots.

Then I just glued the crystals on. This whole project took almost no time at all.




On the back tab I did a pattern with clear crystals and some randomly placed pink ones.

Insides -

Here's where the small crystals came into play... Yes, I actually did put my name on them in tiny crystals. Yes, I am ridiculous.

So there you go. A pretty simple project. One thing to note. I should try other glues because every once in a while a crystal will fall off. I just end up gluing on a replacement.

I wear these to work and to walk around. They're a lot of fun, extremely sparkly in person and, I have to admit, little girls adore them.

Shoe Customization: Gold Oxfords

I hate when I can't find (or afford) a pair of shoes that I totally fall in love with. Sometimes they don't have my size or they run out. Not that I usually accept those reasons at first. Typically I will still attempt to hunt them down. I'm very patient and will search all over. But if I've already done my shoe hunt and I still can't find them, I'll still try to find a way to get what I want.

The latest pair that I fell in love (okay obsession!) with were these boyish gold oxfords that Kelly Wearstler was wearing on the Domino October 2008 cover. Ever since then, I've been searching and searching for them or for a pair like them. This is how obsessed I was. First I looked at the magazine's "resources" section. Not there... hmmm... Then I tried a simple online search. Nothing. I then contacted Domino editorial. I mean they were bound to know, right? Nope! They said they were Kelly shoes that she had brought with her and that they were custom made. This gave me hope. All I needed to know was where she got them made. Time and distance are no barrier these days, right? Sadly, the Domino staff didn't know where they came from (and apparently they had received a number of inquiries besides mine).

Okay, now I was determined to find out. This was getting ridiculous. So I called her offices. Yes, yes, I have a problem, I. Know. This.

If you can believe this I actually spoke to someone on her staff (alright, I'll admit it. I made up a pretense of wanting them for a photoshoot or something. I told you, I am obsessed with getting something I want). They told me that she had them custom made somewhere in Italy or they were vintage from Europe or something but they/she didn't remember where so there was no further info they could give me.

Yeah. Sure.



I finally gave that all up as a dead end. I figured I would just need to do a search online and see if I could find a good substitution.

But you would think I was searching for the Holy Grail or something. I mean there is a serious opportunity in the marketplace because I found nothing. Well, I actually did find a lot of gold jazz shoes but not a lot of this style of oxfords.

The closest pair I found were this pair from Toast. They were pretty good but first of all they started at size 37, which is way bigger than my 35, although I did actually consider them. But they are around $300 and not quite the right color. Still, as a back up, not a bad choice, right?




Then I was sifting through the YOOX sale and found these Apepazzas. The style is pretty good, albeit a bit too pointy. They describe the color as gold. I'm not sure if I believe them, though. And still $130 plus shipping. Not that that is a huge amount, but it is a lot for a third choice.



Then I remembered I had a pair of vintage deadstock oxfords that I had bought on eBay a while back when I was looking for a off-white bucks alternative. I wasn't too thrilled with them at the time and considered reselling them. This would be a good option for another shoe customization project!

The shoes cost me about $15 and I bought black and antique gold acrylic paints, varnish and a gold leaf pen from Michaels. Total - $15.



The shape is slightly more elongated and these have holes where Kelly's didn't but I couldn't be too picky at this point.

Pristine vintage!

I love the heels on these.

Supplies...

I started out by testing on an interior spot if I could paint the gold right on them or if I needed to do the basecoat of black. I determined that I did need the black to get the right depth of color I wanted. I used the paint pen on lace holes which are metal.

One shoe done with the base coat.

I ended up doing two coats of the black and then I did the gold as each shoe dried. I was worried that the paint would dry and make the leather too stiff but so far that doesn't seem to be an issue.

Both shoes done...

I then did a coat of satin finish varnish to protect them. I could do a few more coats but I'm impatient. I don't put my shoes through too much abuse so I think they'll be okay.

Once they were all dry I had to lace them up. I had a vision of using ribbon laces but I still need to find the perfect color. After going through my boxes of ribbon I picked a few to use for the time being. But I think I'm going to end up getting a pair of black regular type laces for them. More cord-like.

For now I put the mauve-y wire-edged ribbons in, which I think are cute with the gold.

Bows! I edged the ribbon ends with some Fray-chek to stop them from shredding.

What do you think? Of course, they'll look closer to the "inspiration" pair when I get the black laces, but not bad, huh?

I think they are super cute! Now I just need to plan an outfit around them. And the good thing is I can swap out the laces and touch them up if I get any scuffs.

Now I have what I want (sort of), am recycling by giving a vintage piece a new life and saving myself a good amount of money. I like the customization projects I've done so far. Maybe I need to plan on doing more in 2009.

Shoe Customization: Corset Sandal

I'm kind of in love with these Alexander McQueen uber-tough ankle-tie heels. They're kind of scary but I would love to be able to add more toughness to my wardrobe with them.

But they're about $1000+. Sooooo, I'm not going to get them anytime soon, I don't think.



I wanted to find something that would have a similar feel but be easier on my wallet. Especially given the fact that they are not what I would call a "classic-wear-anywhere" shoe.

After some searching I found these corset style heels. They're actually a bit trashy (the brand is "Pleaser" for Pete's sake!) but since they were only $35 I felt I could make something out of them.



The style seems simple enough that they don't look totally trashy. My biggest issue was with the clear heel. I felt I could paint them and you'd be none the wiser.



So I dug into my pile of arts and crafts supplies and got my acrylic paint and paintbrushes out.



Before. After.



Not too bad, huh?





Not one to leave well enough alone, I thought it might be fun to add a contrast heel... and some glitter. Yeah, glitter might be too much but if it starts to look too crappy I can take off the paint and then just repaint them solid black.



Granted not the best lace up job here...



but I think they'll be pretty cute with this black sequined dress I just got.





Sexy, not too trashy right? The simplicity really helps.

Glitter!



Not a bad solution for the price.

Shoe Customization: Stripe Espadrilles

I have a lot of shoes and a lot of them are what I would call "stand out" shoes. Most of my shoes are not safe shoes. They're typically not neutral or practical and many times more art than function. I've also realized I don't have a lot of flats.

Over the years I've gone from searching out stand out styles to include higher end brands or even overseas. One of the new things I love are when designers do one off work or capsule collections (more to come on that). Then you know it is really unlikely that someone is going to have the same shoes on as you are.

The other thing that is fun is to customize shoes to get exactly what you want truly ensure you have a shoe unique to you. Shoe Missy, the designer I mentioned previously, inspired me to "make/embellish" a pair of custom espadrilles.

These were my inspiration from Topshop in the UK (about $75).

I also like the Christian Louboutin espadrilles that came is several colors (notice the little toe-cap - about $350)

Here is my base shoe, nearly identical to the Louboutin's, from Target (about $25)

After an hour or so and some red acrylic paint, here's what I ended up with (pardon my phone pic):

Pretty close and cute, huh? Since I couldn't change out the ribbon, I added a little red plaid heart button to the back of the ankle.

Voilia! I'm a summery peppermint with totally custom shoes just for moi!