Black and Tan

I have been smitten for months with these multi-strap mary janes from Chanel.  They combine the best of the classic black and tan combination with a really modern style.

Seeing them in person was even better.  Sadly, they looked great on.

Talk about temptation....

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.

Featured Shoe: BCBG Max Azria Caldea Blush

If you were looking at my Flickr Color Study set you may have seen these beauties when I listed my Pink Color Study group.



One thing doing this project is doing is reminding me of some of these adorable shoes I have lingering in my closets. I need to get them out there more often. At the very least they need to be photographed!

I don't remember exactly where online I first saw these BCBG Max Azria Caldea heels but I remember swooning over how amazing they are.



You really need to look at these images bigger because they are just so detailed. Pink, tan and dark brown sections with dark brown stitching and scalloped edges.



They are just a confection!



Plus they have an amazing heel shape.

I wore these with the pink Liz Claiborne plaid skirt and a grey tee. I was quite girly.

More pics on Flickr!

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
I was all dressed this morning and on my way to work. I had planned on wearing my Alexander McQueen skirt from YOOX, then, as I started to leave I felt something hitting my leg.

Yeah. It was the stupid security sensor tag!!!!!

And I can't take the frigging thing into a store to get it taken off. So, as much as I wanted to wear it today, I had to do a last minute switch to what I actually wore.

I pulled out this little skirt from Anthropologie and my scoopneck tee from Target.



What I liked about the skirt was the feather pattern and the overlapping pieces of fabric with distressed edges which give it more of a texture matching the pattern.



I also added one of my new Target beaded necklaces. I like the texture but this does tend to lose little fibers as you wear it.



The Focal Point
I can't say that I have one really because I was so annoyed by the stupid stupid tag. The skirt pattern set the tone for everything else. I haven't worn this skirt since last summer and I may have actually worn these sandals with it. Hmmm...

These cute Jimmy Choo sandals have a funny story with them. We were visiting Orlando with my in-laws a while back. I love the Jimmy Choo store there and we just had to pop-in to see what they had.

Uh oh, big sale.

I was trying on these leopard print sandals and another pair of these cafe au lait sparkly sandals and just couldn't decide which to get.





My M-i-L surprised me by saying she would get one pair so I could get the other. Whoo Hoo!

As we were paying the hubby and my F-i-L walked in and essentially were like "Aaack! What's going on here?!?"

Busted!

I had to profess my innocence. I swear I didn't do any mind tricks or anything.







Then later that night they were asking us how much the shoes cost (always a dangerous question, right?). When we finally 'fessed up, my F-i-L said, "I thought the would have been more."

I said, "Let's go back to the store right now!"





Aren't they delightful? I soooo love them. Thanks again, guys!

Smooches!

Ce sont si adorables*

These are the cutest shoes I have seen in a long time. I know I have some Barbie shoes but these are all candy sweetness. This isn't even a shape I would typically go for but the pink and tan combo is one of my favorites and I just love the stitching, scalloping and cute back straps.



Darling Manolo Blahnik Suley sandals - $685 at Neiman Marcus

*These are so freakin' adorable

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit
Today is a rare day. I actually wanted to wear a pair of pants. And then did! I'm not a huge pants-wearer. I don't even own that many pairs. This is one of the few pairs I own. They are a pair of cropped plaid pants that are somewhat business dressy. I like the look of cropped pants with boots, so to keep the neutral color scheme going I pulled my tan boots out of the bottom of the stack in the closet and paired it with my JCrew crest sweater.



These crest details that JCrew uses on their clothes and accessories are my weakness. I just adore them. How cute is this lion rampant?



Also loving the orange! I paired a JCrew equestrian patterned headband in orange to tie back to the orange in the crest.



The Focal Point
I've decided that it's all eyes on my boots today. They are a nice neutral camel color and have a great heel, shape and height. They're so versatile too. I wear them with pants, jeans and skirts. But the material (a faux leather) lets them be sturdy enough for rainy weather, which we are getting some today.



I like the pants but I'm eager to get back in to a skirt. And more color.

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.

Out on the Town

During the week I have to dress up (somewhat) for work but on the weekend I tend to slug out. Now most of the time I could spend the entire day in my bathrobe, but I do actually have to get dressed and essentially "arm" myself when I go out to take care of my chickens.

Yes, I actually do have chickens and, while they are fun and I like them alot, they are also messy and like to peck at me sometimes. So I grab an old t-shirt from the pile, pull on my "yard" jeans and my fun polka-dot wellies.



My chickens don't appreciate my fancy shoes...

But I do have an outfit worth mentioning this weekend. We decided on Saturday to go out to a casual dinner and see a movie, which we never have time to do anymore it seems like. I wanted to go see Sydney White but they hubby said "Hell, no!" so we saw the Bourne Ultimatum - and Matt Damon was rockin' the shit in this one!

Anyway, since it's been too hot to wear any of my new stuff during the day AND because I got my new Miu Miu Spazzolato on Friday, I decided to "test" them out. I wore a new dark grey pin-stripe mini skirt from Old Navy, a black v-neck top, black knee socks and my new shoes.

Look at 'em, just look at 'em!



I have been a bit Miu Miu obsessed this Fall and, I think, with good reason. Plus, Miu Miu shoes are amazing! They have a built in cushion in the sole that makes them the comfiest shoes I've work in a very long time. I had no idea but am totally sold on them. Plus they're soooo pretty!

Drive Time

If you value/appreciate/revere your shoes like I do, it is small but wise investment to prepare for possible negative contingencies. Maybe it's the former Girl Scout in me, but I hate when I get stuck in a situation without a back-up plan.

I keep several umbrellas in my car and my office and I have "rain shoes" in case I'm wearing shoes that can't or shouldn't get wet. Rain, ugh a huge bane of my life. The other danger zone for my shoes is in my own car. Between debris in the mats or the dirt on the pedals, my heels can get messed up in my car just as easy as outside. Another issue is that in some of the killer stilettos, it can be hard to shift. I also hate when my shoes fall off the seat onto the floor, causing just as much damage as if I had left them on.

So I came up with brilliant but easy solution of having bin just for my shoes that I keep on my passenger floor. I don't drive many people around so I have the room. Something small (and pink) like the one below is perfect because I can throw it in the backseat or the trunk if I need. It's also the perfect size to keep a pair of driving mocs (in a box) and the shoes I'm not wearing.


I love a driving moc, not just for its intended purpose, but in general. I keep these Isaac Mizrahi mocs in the car so I can easily slip them on. And I don't care if they get dirty or smudged because they were only $30. Plus, they are safer than wearing flip flops in the car. When you have a stick shift car, it is important that you are able to push in the clutch, switch gears and that your feet don't slip off the pedals.


But I think they are so cute I have another pair just like them for actual wearing around!