Back to Brogues

Thanks to some of my lovely readers, I've been actually able to track down my dream white oxfords.

But now I face another dilemma... do I get them?

I can get these very shoes but they are 496GPB (approx $740) with the commando soles.  I could get them with flat soles for 305GPB (approx $450).  Pricey.  Which I knew they would be. 

So should I be more frugal? I did order the Steve Madden Milites but they ran very very small. So I sent them back. I could order up and have a frugal option.

Today I got an email about these Robert Clergerie trompe l'oeil Jili wingtips which are interesting but still not cheap at $495 at Barneys.

My newest, and least expensive, option are these Markey oxfords from ASOS.  They're only $63 have a good look but a dark sole.

So, more options.  What do you think?

UPDATED:

Here's another witty option.  Not really a serious contender but unusual... What-A-Cut-Up Brogues from Anthropologie - $238

Multi-color Madness

These shoes are making me (almost) wish I wore a size 9!

They're golf shoes but you could take off the cleats and be good to go.

And only $26 on Etsy!  Someone get them and then tell me how you wear them

Matching Philosophies

This post is entirely too image-heavy but I can't help it.  I'm totally smitten with basically every look that came out of the Philosophy show. 

I too am a bit surprised that this is a Fall show but I'd buy this and save it for the following Spring. I'm, admittedly, not the best at mixing patters or layering.  I'm more the matchey-matchey type and this tonal look from coats to dresses to tights down to adorable wingtip and multi-strap mary janes is right up my alley. I better start saving now because I really think I need every piece.  And with shoes in this many gorgeous, coordinated shades, I can't skimp in that department either.

But let's just get on with the pretty pictures, shall we...

All I can say is, Le Sigh!

Ensemble du Jour: 12-10-10

I got all ambitious on Friday night and took a whole slew of pictures for posts.  I've been meaning to take outfit posts all week but have been leaving so late from work that it didn't work out.  But I had time on Friday so I thought I would try the auto-timer.  But the angles and lack of light made them all turn out crummy, so I asked the hubby to take a few shots.  Somehow I look like I'm 2 feet tall in a Willy Wonka room.  How did he even manage that?!?

But look - my hair's still dark!  And apparently I've lost all my lipstick and eyeshadow!  Whoo hoo!

But I did have sort of a cute outfit on.  Purple cardigan from New York and Company, lavender polka-dot cami from Target, woven, almost knitted skirt from Anthropologie (about 8 years ago), brown tights and Nine West TwoStepr pumps.

The details are what make this skirt, the overlapping panels, woven together multi-colored yarns/threads, the mint green velvet ribbon stitched through and the pom-poms.

I actually tried to style this similar to how the skirt was styled in the catalog.  I wish I'd saved it.  At the time they had these awesome wingtip heels in the shot and I couldn't find them in my size.  So I gave Nine West a shot and came away with two perfect pairs that had all the details I was looking for. 

These are great because they fit perfectly and are not too high for walking around all day.

They're so snazzy, I love them. They feel like precursors to all the brogues and oxfords I'm wearing now.

Le Sigh - Brian Atwood Patent Spectator Pumps

Here's a sexy take on the menswear spectator wingtip - Brian Atwoods gorgeous bi-color peep-toe pump with pinked and perforated backstay.

Simple. Elegant. Sex-ay!

Available at Neiman Marcus - $695... Le Sigh!

Checking all the Boxes

While we all adore and went a bit ga-ga cutesy over the Miu Miu spring collections, I'm just as smitten with the fall heels.

I love love LOVE these wingtip-inspired patent peep-toe heels. The color combination is gorgeous, they're mary janes and have a bow.

How can you resist?

Miu Miu Spectator Mary Janes - $650 from Saks Fifth Avenue.

Magic Shoes

I try not to rank the items in my wardrobe. When people ask me what are my favorite pair of shoes I usually say I can't pick just one because I love them all.

But these might be near the top.

I bought these Marc Jacobs peep-toes in 2005 on a business trip to Ohio. I went into the Nordstroms at this really nice open air mall and just instantly fell for them. I didn't even have room to pack them but I had to have them. I think I actually wore them out of the store.



They have such a great retro look to them but the colors are just so modern and fun. This is the Marc Jacobs I like. Some of his newer stuff, not so much.



Mixed materials in burgundy, purple and pink.

Because the shoes are so vibrant I wore a simple black pencil skirt with a kicky pleat in the back and a pink cami under a purple cardigan. This shade of purple is one of my favorites. I need to find more tops in it because I always get compliments when I wear the color.

(yes, I should have put some lipstick on for this!)

Since cleaning up my closets for Summer I'm determined to wear more of my existing shoes, so get ready for more pinks and whites. I have my new New York purchases to work in too, so I really need to get on the picture taking!

Imitation = Flattery?

Not all that long ago, I wrote about these really classic and very well made brown oxfords that I had bought from Nine West. They're really well made and a classic pair of shoes that will be great forever but are totally on trend right now.



Little did I know how "on trend" the are. I am seeing vintage-y brown oxfords all over the place, especially coming from the designer offerings. I just saw these two pairs in the last few days and was surprised how similar all three looked.

This pair from Rupert Sanderson is on Net-a-Porter now. Very similar color and shape. A bit more added detail with the tassel ends to the laces and the wingtip detailing. The heal is a bit more delicate too. But not far off at all.

And at $950, about ten times more expensive.



These Dolce & Gabbanas are what caught my eye when I first got the latest Barney's catalog. They too are only slightly more detailed than the Nine West pair but are going for $795. I can't find these on the Barney's site, but they do have them at Neiman Marcus for the same price.



I think all three are gorgeous shoes. And I really like the extra detailing of the designer shoe... maybe not 10 times more but... I still like it.

Of course, I'm very happy with my pair and, now that the crisp weather is here, I'll be pairing these up will all sorts of cozy and bright tights as well as some great plaid and tweed skirts.

I love Fall!