New Month, New Shoes: April 2014

First of all, I have to send a big THANK YOU to ShoeDazzle for picking me as a winner of the birthday shoefie contest for this past Friday!!  Woot, woot, and a very happy 5th birthday to you!!  Here's the photo I posted on my new Instagram account that gave me the win - the shoes are "Misaki", a downright fabulous open toed bootie from the gx by Gwen Stefani collection that is exclusive to ShoeDazzle (fyi, $59.95 VIP members, $110.95 non-VIPs and it also comes in red faux suede with black accents).

So let's get onto the new month of goodies!  Wow, April 1.  Where is this year going?  At least it's in the 70s here this week so I can start breaking in all my new sandals!  I don't want to think about closing up my toes again until long into fall.  It's also time to start showing off fun pedicures, like the one I'm sporting in the above photo.  I decided to do an ombre grayish blue theme (goes from inky black-blue to silvery light blue) with colors from Nicole, Essie and OPI.  That reminds me, I need to make an appointment for this weekend for a new one...  OK, done!  We're talking all sandals for my top 3 ShoeDazzle and JustFab styles!

ShoeDazzle: "Star" by Paper Fox ($54.95 VIP members / $64.95 for non-VIPs)

This is first and foremost the style I will be purchasing this month.  I have been looking for a gladiator sandal boot with a sexy heel that will nicely fit my smaller calves.  This is definitely it - and it also comes in nude.  I'm always more partial to black, so black it is for me.  I am a sucker for a tie front (if you haven't figured that out by now), and I love the studded details.  "Star" is a 4.5" heel with a 1" platform which could be a bit teetery, but with a little practice you will look like a star wearing them.

ShoeDazzle: "Breana" by Beau+Ashe ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)

This sandal is reminiscent of a sandal I had bought on clearance/final sale a few years ago - but it ran big so I ended up selling them on eBay.  It's the caged style and stringlike straps that caught my attention on the other pair, and here again I find myself wanting.  I also like the front of these with the way the vertical straps are placed, and the delicate buckled ankle straps.  With the single sole, it looks like these are about a 4" heel.

ShoeDazzle: "Jaycee" by Shoedazzle ($39.95 VIP members / $49.95 for non-VIPs)

Time to add a little color into the wardrobe with this next pick, "Jaycee".  I would hope these shoes would be as pretty and vibrant of a faux patent pink in person as they are in the photo, so fingers crossed!  The sandals are so unique with the insides being almost like a bootie in structure, and it gives a nod to graphic nature of retro mod fashion.  But the icing on the cake?  Tiny spikes on the buckle to keep with my rocker chic style!  They also come in silver - also pretty - and have a 4.25" heel.

JustFab: "Tallie" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

Last summer I had seen a similar strap treatment but on a knee high gladiator sandal.  I thought it was too much black on the leg as a boot, but as a caged ankle bootie sandal I love it.  The studded detailing and the buckled ankle strap give it an edge.  The heel height looks to be about 4.5" but again with practice will be worth being able to strutt your stuff in these

JustFab: "Makenna" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

I thought this sandal was just so unique in style, as JustFab puts it, "part gladiator and huarache".  I wish it came in other colors besides the navy and cognac (light brown) but as navy I would definitely consider wearing it.  The thick ankle strap mixed with but not touching the gladiator upper is a silhouette I haven't seen before, and I do like how the middle vertical strap is about the same thickness as the ankle strap to balances it.  I know it would be easier to walk in than the stilettos with the 4" stacked chunky heel, but would still give you that height.

JustFab: "Cosette" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

I love this simple cross cross strappy gladiator sandal, and all the colors it comes in!  I'd pick the seafoam for now, but both the black and pink would work well with my wardrobe too.  Even the nude version is appealing here with the caged styling.  This bootie has a zip back entry and 4" heel with a 1" platform.