Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Buying Basic Black

This may sound hard to believe but... I do not really have a single "basic black" pair of heels.

Understandably, you don't believe me.  But it's true!  Oh sure, I have a ton of black heels in various iterations  - peep-toe, sandals, slingbacks, platforms, t-straps, mary janes, flower heels, with giant roses, patent, cloth, etc. - but not a simple black pump.  No chunky sole. No embellishment. No corset lacing.


What I wanted were plain (not patent), pointy toe, black pumps.  Thin heel. Sexy. Simple.





But, as simple as you would think this would be, I was struggling.  The heels needed to be high but walkable, which in my size meant less than 4".  I wanted shoes I could walk around the city if I wanted to but still had some height.  I wanted a silhouette that was both sexy and professional.  A delicate heel profile that spoke to me like the inspiration images above.

But 400+ pages on ShopStyle and I was not thrilling to many.


My ideal was the Christian Louboutin Helmut.  I think these are one of the sexiest shoes around.  But I have a pair in blue and they run big and are not easily available so they were out.  The Zara knock-offs were not available either. 



I narrowed it down, after looking high and low, to two options.

The Louboutin Pigalle was option 1. But I know how this heel is cut and on me it tends to cut low at an uncomfortable spot on the sides of my feet, plus it's just an inch or so too high.  I'd never be able to wear these around. Although they are a darn pretty shoe.

The second option, and the one I ended up with, was the Blahnik BB heel.  The height is a bit shorter than my chartreuse pair.   And they are pretty close to perfect.  The topline isn't too low.  The vamp is the perfect height.  The heel isn't too high and is just thin enough.  Great profile and great from the front and back.


Considering I recently got black wedges with ankle straps, black and nude crystal sandal-y heels, black and nude Rockstud kitten heels, and black patent beribboned mary janes... these had better be perfection or I'm in big trouble!

Do you have a "perfect" black heel?

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

I'm Getting Old

How I know I'm getting old...

I was browsing Luisa Via Roma and saw these Casadei Blade Heel pumps and my first thought was "Damn those look uncomfortable!"









































I mean at my size and 110 mm these would be totally unrealistic for me but I shouldn't be thinking that, right???

Sigh!


Monday, July 9, 2012

Grimmy Grimms, we love you

I am beyond sad.

My sweet love kitty, Grimmy, has passed away.


Grimmy found us about 10 years ago. She showed up on our back porch and we let her sleep there at night.  Every morning she would cry outside our glass door until I came out and held her on my lap, where she would purr and purr.


Over the years, Grimm, who was a total house cat and a bit clumsy and crooked, would continue to be nothing but love.  She wanted nothing more in life than to be next to you or sleeping on you.  She would sleep on my pillow at night with her paw resting on my cheek or with her head resting on our arm, if she was next to us.  And she was just as loving with the other pets, especially Badger, our pup.


Sometimes Grimm would be pushy but generally she just wanted to be near you.  In the past year she developed diabetes but never fussed about getting her daily shot.  The vet said she purred for her whenever she was there.

But on Saturday, I was lying on the couch and Grimmy was right where she always wanted to be - sleeping on my chest.  I noticed she was breathing heavily through her mouth. I took her right in and we found that her lungs were surrounded with fluid and she couldn't get any air.  In the end, we discovered she'd had cancer but we never knew it.






I can't express how much I miss her and will always miss her. I loved this little (big) kitty with a big heart more than I can say.  I'd, selfishly, hoped for more time. For more days, months and years filled with her love.  I just hope that we gave her everything she needed because she gave me more than I could have ever asked for or been worthy of.









I love you, Grimmy Grimms. 
7-7-12


Friday, July 6, 2012

Parasols, Please

I have a serious love for parasols and umbrellas.

Growing up in Florida, I know to be stocked up with umbrellas for the rain and parasols to avoid the sun.  My pasty skin hates the sun and heat so I have quite a collection of both.

But there is always room for more!



I saw this image on Pinterest and was smitten.  A pink heart umbrella became a must have!

They come in tons of different colors to if you prefer a more traditional red or even white, black, purple and more...





In the process of looking around, I found the amazingly girly and lush designs from Lisbeth Dahl.  I couldn't resist this stripe-y number...


Or this pink pagoda with glitter dots.  Yep, I got all three!



I also am tempted by this frilly dotted number...




Maybe a bit more restrained but still lovely and also, Lisbeth Dahl...







One style I've always liked are the clear bubble umbrellas... Maybe that will be next.


And for pure excess, I really love this Guy de Jean parasol, although I can't decide between the mauve, creme or black.  They're all so good!




Protection, from sun or rain, is important but it can also be fun.

I love upgrading my "mundane" accessories, from wellies with ribbons to ruffly umbrellas.  It makes the day so much better!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Shoe Daydreams is FIVE!


Shoe Daydreams is Five!

It's hard to believe that I've had this site for five years already!  It's been a time filled with fun and friends and amazing experiences.  Thank you to everyone and I look forward to more years of day dreaming together. 

Much luv,

Poochie

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Movie Style - Take This Waltz

I'm not often one for reviewing movies on here but I just watched Take This Waltz this weekend and the wardrobe really stood out to me.

*Don't read below if you don't like spoilers or movie images!*


Taking place in Canada in the summer and filled with characters in their late 20s, was interesting to me how the quirky clothes, activities and decor all meshed together to create strong layered backdrop for the complex emotions on the screen.

What kept running through my mind the most, however, was how much I felt that everything Margot (Michelle William's character) wore look like it was sourced from ModCloth. Heck, if they were smart, they'd be advertising all around/over this movie.















Not that this is a bad thing, but it does support the childlike, whimsical but not twee, impulsive nature of Margot and downplays the sexuality of the character.  And I'm not reviewing here but this movie is all about lust and desire.  It's much more sexual than sensual, in my opinion. 

A charged exchange... 




The clothes work perfectly to capture the essence of a sultry, young-but-not-young, impulsive summer filled with change.


Monday, July 2, 2012

Inspiration = Flattery? Kate Spade Enchantment Under the Sea Coin Purse vs ModCloth Carp Diem

Obviously shoes are not the only thing that can and will be knocked-off by some sites.

Case in point...

Kate Spade each season puts out a whimsical little coin purse to go along with their current collection.  From tennis balls to owls to pineapples and hedgehogs, they are a cute little luxe item.  A few seasons back they created the Enchantment Under the Sea fishy.  I loved the crinkly gold and the clever use of the clutch opening to create a wide mouth.




But now this piece has been almost exactly recreated and listed for sale on ModCloth as the Carp Diem Clutch.





I hate to keep picking on ModCloth but they keep insisting on picking up knock-offs.  Either they know it and are okay with that (hello TopShop!) or they are woefully ignorant of what's out and popular in the fashion world.  I mean, this isn't my job and I can see these examples in 2 seconds, shouldn't their buyers know better?

Or are they more about selling cute (albeit not original designs) to the masses???

Thoughts?

UPDATE 7-2-12 2:31pm: ModCloth has responded and is taking down the piece -

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We're committed to supporting original designs and the valid intellectual property of all designers, and our designers and suppliers guarantee that they have full legal ownership and copyright to their designs. We're removing the Carp Diem Purse from our site based on your feedback, and if you have any follow-up questions, please contact press@modcloth.com. Thanks again, Turi at ModCloth

Thank you for your response, ModCloth!