New Shoe Review: ShoeDazzle's "Margee"

I've got a few more recent shoe additions to review on my to-do list, but I had to skip that list and go straight to number one when today's review subject arrived.  I have the somewhat similar Bethylin striped wedges that ShoeDazzle offered last summer.  They are a natural and black striped and textured fabric, and I painted the red strip on the bottom sole purple to match my wardrobe better.  They're a nice shoe, but I find that I have not worn them much in the year that I've owned them, mostly because I would rather the natural color be a stark white.  "Margee" looks to be a different story, especially because this girl 1) doesn't like wedges and 2) these could easily become one of my favorite pairs of shoes.  Onto the review!

"Margee" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.95 for non-VIPs)
"Margee" was the one must-have-immediately shoe on the wish list when the June mid-month drop hit.  I was overly excited when the box from ShoeDazzle was delivered Tuesday, and I could not wait to try them on.  My first impression is that they are incredibly comfortable!  They are well padded soles as well as the textile that the vamp area of the upper is made of is all fabric, very pleasing to the toes! The ankle area straps are vinyl backed but still quite comfortable.  I did have a bit of an issue at first with the buckles being a little stubborn, but once I took them off and put them back on again that issue disappeared.  Next I walked around outside in them before settling down poolside for a Instagram photo shoot.  They are a high heel (5.75" heel with a 1.5" platform) but because I'm way more used to stilettos at that height than wedges, they did take a little bit of getting used to.  By the time I completed my short walk I was a downright pro.  The quality is there for the most part.  The stripes on the heels are decently lined up to match on both shoes, but this is probably a coincidence more than quality control as I've learned in the 4+ years I've been with ShoeDazzle.  If that possibility of not matching is something that might bother you, you might want to order two pairs to mix and match, then send the remaining two that don't match as well back.  I did notice that the stitching on one of the ankle straps wasn't as straight as it could be, but that's not something anyone but I would notice while wearing - still a red mark in quality though.  Did I mention that they were true to size for my 6.5 feet?  They're also pretty lightweight for a wedge shoe which is really nice.  I love the Burtonesque black and white stripes, and these fit into my wardrobe so well.  If this color combination is not your cup of tea, they also come in a red and white striped version.  Great offering, ShoeDazzle!

New Shoe Review: JustFab's "Aldeen" and "Tallie"

I've been trying to catch up with reviews of all the shoes I've added to my closet in the last couple of months, and today it's JustFab's turn.  I had featured both of these shoes in my April [Tallie] and May [Aldeen] monthly picks.  I waited a bit to make them mine, and I was glad I did.  I picked them up in the May sale - two pairs for $49.95 - but the semi-annual sale going on right now is even better.  It's two pairs for $39.95 - so it's buy one get one free!

"Aldeen" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)

When I was out taking pictures for my Instagram of these shoes this past Saturday, three different women stopped me to ask me where I got my shoes.  They are very eye catching and sexy, that's for sure!  Although the site is saying that these run half a size small (some of the reviews say that as well), I did not find that to be the case for my 6.5 feet.  They aren't too bad on the comfort side, although for long periods of wear I'd definitely get inserts.  They're really easy to walk in for the heel height.  As far as quality goes, it's about a 6 out of 10 for me.  There is a small spot on one of the laces where the top material has come off already - although easily covered with a sharpie I was a bit disappointed. The biggest problem with them is the back zippers.  They are really difficult to zip up once you get the shoes on, but unzipping them hasn't been an issue.  They're also a bit of a hassle to get on and off in general.  All that said, I would not part with them.  Oh, and these also come in this weird 70s yellowish-tan color called "cognac" in case you were wondering about other colors.  Trust me, stick with the black.

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

These were one of the shoes I could not wait to get my feet into.  Overall they did not disappoint, and I think if I were to be out photoing them I would at least get the response from passers by that I did for "Aldeen".  I found these shoes to be true to size.  They are lacking in the comfort aspect, but not for the sole.  I don't think I'd use inserts in these as they are well padded, but I sure as hell will keep a BandAid Friction Block Stick around the first few times I wear them.  The textile that the upper is made of is a bit stiff and has a lot of potential for blisters.  They are easy to walk in for the heel height, and I really like that I can adjust the ankle strap if needed.  The zippers are much easier to work than the "Aldeen" shoe, but still don't go up and down as easily as they should.  Again, it's a shoe I wouldn't part with!

New Shoe Review: ShoeDazzle's "Jaffe", "Haru" and "Corinne"

Ah, nothing like a big box of shoes showing up at your door to make the day that much better!!  That happened Monday when I received 3 new pairs from ShoeDazzle.  With all of these new arrivals being recent releases, and two of the pairs being shoes that I have talked about before, here are my thoughts on the 3 of them.

"Jaffe" by Paper Fox ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)

I picked the black and white version over the solid silvery gunmetal of "Jaffe".  The contrasting colors mixed with the strap placement, and then add to that the single sole, pointed toe and stiletto heel - you have one very sexy and stunning shoe, and even more so in person!  As a size 6.5 it's true to size.  I found it decently comfortable in walking around my house in it, but for long periods of wear I know I would need some sort of insert.  I also found them very easy to walk in for the heel height.  There were no quality flaws that I would note here either.  My only gripe about this shoe is that the side "buckle" is really a folded over velcro strip.  It is adjustable which is nice, but had they made that an actual buckle I think the shoe would have been perfect.

"Haru" by gx by Gwen Stefani ($59.95 VIP members / $95.95 for non-VIPs)

If there's one thing I can say about the gx line of shoes it's that they are really, really comfortable.  Except for the "Misaki" open toe booties, I don't think I would put an insert into any of the pairs I have (these, "Izumi", "Hoshi", and "Mayuko").  As far as "Haru" goes, these also come in an indigo/black/white/gray version, and a red/black/white version.  I chose the black as I felt it would best match my wardrobe, and I really like the noticeable contrast of textiles in the upper in person.  They are true to size for a 6.5, but I will warn that the ankle strap is not adjustable.  I have small ankles and I don't have much additional room once they're on.  I found the shoes easy to walk in, and really comfortable as I mentioned earlier.  I would say that they're also well made, though I do think they're a little pricey.  I try to save my VIP credits for the gx shoes to make them more affordable.

"Corinne" by Paper Fox ($39.95 VIP members / $54.95 for non-VIPs)

I didn't talk about this shoe before, but it grew on me since its release.  My hair has blue and purple streaks in it, and this year I've added some cobalt pieces to my wardrobe.  I thought these would be a nice addition to my wardrobe, and an alternative to an all black shoe.  They come in a black version with a muted gold heel/sole, and then this version which is considered blue/silver on their site.  I would say the heel/sole is a muted glossy black, not silver, so I don't know where the silver fits in on these.  The faux suede that the straps are made of is actually pretty comfortable.  That said, I would keep a BandAid Friction Block Stick around just in case the first few times you wear these to prevent possible rubbing and/or blisters.  The sole itself isn't the most comfortable so I'd look for some inserts for longer periods of wear.  They are true to size for my 6.5 feet.  I also thought they were easy to walk in for the heel height and well made.

Proper Hair and Good Shoes

Besides my love of shoes, I have a bit of a fascination with the fashion and style icons of the 1960's.  On my powder room wall is a black and white photo collage of some of those lovely ladies back in the day - head shots of Twiggy, Tina Louise, catwoman Julie Newmar, Goldie Hawn from her "Laugh In" days, and one of the first supermodels, Jean Shrimpton.  I also have Nancy Sinatra sitting in a white mini dress with her matching signature white knee boots, and Brigitte Bardot in short shorts paired with a very fashionable hat and black thigh-high boots.  In the middle of these photos is a poster of the ultimate 60s icon Marilyn Monroe tying on a pair of lucite heeled sandals with her famous "man's world" quote printed on the bottom.  There is even a pair of black high heeled shoe ornaments hanging on the wall all of these fabulous women.

Why did I decide to decorate this way?  Well, both these women and 1960s fashion have lasted the test of time.  Seeing their faces as I get ready each day reminds me to always try to look my best, and to make sure I have a perfect head-to-toe outfit to complement.  I believe Iris Apfel said it best with this quote from Harper's Bazaar:

Mid Month, New Shoes: June 2014

Well, now I know why I didn't find much to add to the wish list at the beginning of this month.  Both ShoeDazzle and JustFab were waiting for mid-month releases.  ShoeDazzle also released new gx by Gwen Stefani shoes in this mid-month drop, so I was especially happy to see that (although now a lot of the gx shoes are starting to look a little too similar in style for my taste).  I have added 12 pairs from ShoeDazzle to my ever-growing wish list, and 1 from JustFab.  Although I added so many of them, I'll be sharing my favorites of the bunch with you.

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

"Randi" caught my eye for 2 reasons - it's a very retro pinup shoe as well as it's red, white, and blue with black polka dots, perfect for a July 4th outing if you've got one to go to.  Normally I don't go for the whole red, white and blue thing, but these I couldn't welcome faster into my closet. I really like the combo of the ankle strap with the "x" strap underneath it (for lack of a better term).  It adds some extra sexiness to the silhouette of the shoe.  They look like they have about a half inch platform, and a 4" heel, so these also should be pretty easy to walk in.  Now I need to find the perfect fit and flare dress to match these!

ShoeDazzle: "Margee" ($39.95 VIP members / $49.95 for non-VIPs)

As a girl who doesn't like wedges, these are on my MUST HAVE list.  The Burtonesque stripes sold it for me, as well as the positioning of them on the wedge heel.  I'm super picky about wedges I will add to my collection because they usually aren't remotely flattering to the foot, but this one actually is.  It's a 6" platform wedge as well, and has a really cute ankle strap with a circular buckle to balance out the boldness.  "Margee" also comes in a red and white striped version.  Love it, love it, love it!!

ShoeDazzle: "Jazzy" by Paper Fox ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)

I really love the Paper Fox brand and these sandals are no exception.  "Jazzy" is a stunning cutout sandal, especially with the double ankle strap and the way the lattice comes up the leg a bit.  I am really happy to see that these ankle straps are adjustable and the shoes are not a back zip entry because this style has the potential of not fitting properly on the foot/ankle.  If the lattice isn't flush to your foot, you're going to get gaps and rolls, not remotely the look you were intending on.  This shoe has a 1" platform and is a 5" total heel.

ShoeDazzle: "Filme" by Paper Fox ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)

What can I say about these?  The metallic finish in gunmetal got me to look closer at them, but the fact the straps mimic film is what made me put them on my wish list.  They also come in gold, but the gold is not something I'd wear.  I go for the unique, and these definitely are that.  They look to be a single sole sandal, and about a 4.25" heel.

ShoeDazzle: "Clique" by Paper Fox ($45.95 VIP members / $54.95 for non-VIPs)

Geometric patterned shoes can go either way - the pattern distracts from the shoe itself or works with it.  "Clique" is one that works, and works quite well.  The description says it is 80s inspired, but I really like these pumps as opposed to the horrible fashion of that decade.  It comes in both fuchsia and chartreuse, and I find myself wanting both colors.  It's a single sole pointed toe silhouette, so it might require going half a size up.  The heel height looks to be about 4.25".

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

Although this is considered "fall preview" (grumble, grumble...  it's not technically even summer yet!), I am in love with this open toe knee high boot.   It does look big in the calf area on the model, but it says that it has a 14" calf circumference.  My guess is that she's in a large size and has very skinny calves, because 14" would be downright perfect for me.  The patterned cutouts sold me on this boot, and I really think it is a great alternative to a gladiator sandal/boot.  Of course, it would work for early fall too but definitely one I'd wear whenever it's warm enough out.

New Shoe Review: "Eloy 2" by Guess

When you purchase shoes from heels.com, you accumulate points for every purchase in their Customer Loyalty Points Program.  They give you 1 point per dollar spent.   Then for every 15 points you have earned, you get $1 credit.  The best part is that the credit does not have an expiration date.  For someone like me who purchases from them sporadically, that is a great feature of their program.

I decided it was time to finally cash in my loyalty points from when I saw the black and white striped "Eloy 2" by Guess.  Although only $59.99, having built up nearly $20 in credit made the shoe even more appealing.  The pointed toe, single soled silhouette is my favorite among shoes so I knew I couldn't go wrong with adding this stunning pump to my closet.

I can never get enough of black and white stripes, and these stripes are part of a beautiful satin fabric on the upper.  I don't think I'd try to Scotchgard them, but I will definitely make sure to wear them when rain is not in the forecast.  The sole is black throughout and treaded on the bottom.  It is also man made, making these a vegan friendly shoe.  The stripes are even in width (not pinstriped) but being on the thinner side this shoe can work with more items from my wardrobe.  "Eloy 2" is a very comfortable shoe and easy to walk in with a heel height of 3.75", lower than my normal average heel height.   The pointed toe sometimes makes me size up a half size, but that did not happen with these shoes;  I stayed true to my 6.5.  The quality is wonderful on these.  The stripes are lined up in the back of the shoe where the heel seam is, something I am very particular about.  Overall, I am very happy these are mine.  Now I just have to find the perfect occasion to wear them!

New Shoe Review: BCBGeneration's "Clemento" and "Odessa"

Classic shoes.  That is what BCBGeneration is overall.  But there are shoe styles in this brand that mix up the classic aspect a bit and end up on my wish list.  Sometimes they really bring that unique edge that I always seek out to make them part of my shoe collection.  That's what the two pairs I recently added to my closet had, "Clemento" and "Odessa".  That said, I also don't normally spend much for my shoes.  Although both of these retail over $100 - $118 and $110 respectively - I was able to pick up both pairs for a combined $63 and some change, over 70% off!  Pretty good considering they're both genuine leather uppers, and are a brand known for quality.

First up, Clemento, $118.00.

I thought I got a deal when I tried to purchase it through ShoeDazzle with a partial freebie of a VIP credit for $67.  Turns out their inventory was off and my order was cancelled.  Cue the frown. Then I found it on Dillards.com for less that what I paid for it on ShoeDazzle (but with shipping costs would have been close to SD in price), but that wasn't meant to be either.  When I went back to buy it a little later, my size was gone!  So I googled for the shoe and ended up on BCBGeneration.com where I was able to pick it up for less than half of the retail price!  I signed up for their mailing list which gave me an extra 15% off my order, and it was free ground shipping.  What started out as sadness ended up putting a big smile on my face. But now for the review - I love this rocker-esque caged front heel!  It was all that I had wished for and more.  First off, the sexy studded ankle straps are adjustable so whether you have skinny ankles like me or have a bit more to love, you'll be able to make these shoes work for you.  There is also a back zip entry, so once you get those buckles to where you want them you'll be able to get in and out of the shoes with ease.  The sizing was true to size for me - a 6.5 - and usually pointed toes mean sizing up.  They are easy to walk in, have a non-skid sole, and the padded footbed is really comfortable - but I've only worn them around the house.  So far I'm thinking I may not have to get inserts for these.  The quality is as expected - no issues here!  Side note: they also come in a nude version, but the nude is not for me.

Second, Odessa, $110

I had my eye on these slingbacks but was going back and forth over buying them.  I broke down and purchased them when they were on clearance for $15 shipped from ShoeDazzle, and I had a $5 off coupon which made them $10.  How could I pass this up?!  They appear to be just your average black slingback until you see the bottom of the shoe.  There is row of nice and sharp little black spikes underneath giving it an edge.  They're perfect for those days when my skull-laden shoes aren't appropriate but I want to keep my personality in my outfit.  Although now ShoeDazzle is sold out of "Odessa", you can purchase these at 6pm.com for $72.99 (cheapest I found it).  They also come in red, a metallic silver, and a black/white snakeskin (all of which appear to be even cheaper than the black version if you google them). My review on these: Again, true to size (6.5) for a pointed toe style.   They are very easy to walk in with a 3.5" heel, a lower heel height than my normal 4"+.  The footbed is really comfortable,  the soles are non-skid, the quality is fantastic.  Truly a twist on a classic!

Sole Spotlight: Skechers' Memory Foam Shoes

Normally I speak of my beloved high heels here, but I wanted to share my experience with walking shoes.  As my followers know, I sustained a severe ankle injury back in 2008, and I've also had mild knee issues my whole life.  As my main form of cardio exercise, I currently walk about 30 to 35 miles per week at about a 4 mph pace so I need good shoes to keep everything as pain free as possible.  Finally I found shoes to keep that ice in the freezer: Skechers' Memory Foam shoes. Last fall I had to pick up a pair of work shoes for my husband from a Skechers brick and mortar store, and they were having a sale.  I decided to check out their walking shoes on a whim, and found these: Women's Synergy Elite Status, $65.00.  Besides being a very neutral white (I prefer my workout shoes to be as plain as possible to match everything, but they come in many colors and styles), my feet felt in heaven when I tried them on.  They have a very cushy memory foam sole which truly feels like walking on clouds.  They are so pillowy and comfortable, I have never felt anything like it.  Using them for my walks instead of my old shoes was instantly known.  I walk anywhere from 5 to 10 miles per day, 5 days a week, and I didn't have to ice my knee or ankle as much.  Within a few weeks I stopped icing altogether.  They were definitely a keeper!

As much as I love them, there is a down side to these particular shoes and that is that they get very warm.  In the fall, winter and early spring it was noticeable but not something I objected to - especially in the winter, I was really thankful for how warm my feet stayed when out walking.  Come spring and 60 degree plus temperatures, they felt way too hot and it was time to find something new, besides being time to replace them with all the miles I had put on them.  About that same time I received an email from Skechers about a new product, Skech-Cool.  These shoes were supposed to have the same memory foam technology but designed for air flow.  I knew I needed to try them.  I purchased these: Women's Chill Out Lace Up, $75.00, again the most neutral color scheme of the line.  When I put them on it was obvious that they weren't as pillowy feeling as the Synergy Elites that I had been wearing, but the air flow more than made up for it.  There are vents on the front and side, and the sole is a gel infused memory foam that has little perforations in it to help increase flow inside the shoe.  The only thing I'm not so keen on is that I don't like the way the soles wear with the tread, so I'll be back to a flex sole like the Synergy Elite Status for my next pair.  And of course, vented!

The memory foam has definitely been worth switching to, and even more so as I discovered a couple of weeks ago.  A few of times a month my workout consists of delivering flyers which takes me a little over an hour to do, and consists of 76 flights of stairs (76 up, 76 down) in 19 different buildings.  I misplaced one of the Chill Out shoes, the Synergy Elites would have been way too hot to wear, so I grabbed my old Nike shoes instead.  Within the first 3rd of the workout I was incredibly sorry I didn't look harder for the missing shoe.  My knee started to hurt and the bottom of my feet started to ache only a couple of buildings in.  By the time I was done I felt exhausted, my ankle hurt a little bit but my knee felt pretty bad.  I had to ice for the first time since the fall.  If I wasn't already sold on the memory foam shoes for their comfort alone as a walking shoe, this sold me on them as a long time customer.  If you haven't had a chance to check out these shoes for yourself, I would strongly suggest you take the time to do so.  They're ultra comfortable, stylish, and most of all, very affordable.  Two thumbs up from this girl!

New Month, New Shoes: June 2014

Summertime!  Time for fabulous sandals and other open toe shoes.  It's by far my favorite season of the year, a time where I go out of my way to dress up, shoes most definitely included!

As excited as I am about the next few months and the shoes I'll get to wear, I'm again very disappointed in the offerings for June at both ShoeDazzle and JustFab.  JustFab is giving us some FALL shoes this month - boots and other assorted closed toe offerings - and it's not even summer yet: um, fail!  But I really don't know what's going on at ShoeDazzle.  For starters, it seems like there are way less than normal new arrivals - which leads me to believe that the rest of the shoes are either coming as Daily Deals or in the mid-month drop (let's hope).  There were also no gx by Gwen Stefani shoes this month.  That just added to my disappointment.  They've been so good at giving us unique, affordable shoes and right now there's only 2 pairs I added to my wish list.  Actually, make that 2 pairs from ShoeDazzle, and 1 from JustFab.  Although that's great for my monthly budget, I really would like to see a swing back to the shoe sites that I've come to love.

What are your thoughts on the two shoe sites??  I am curious to know if anyone else is feeling the same way.


ShoeDazzle: "Jaffe" by Paper Fox ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)
This shoe is so unique in style, I am thinking it's must be big name designer inspired.  It also comes in a solid metallic gunmetal tone, which is also quite stunning.  Me?  I definitely prefer the black and white mix if I have to pick between the two.  It's very sexy with the contrast, the strap placement, and the cutouts.  I love the pointed toe and the single sole as well.  It says in the details that this is a 5" heel, but I don't think they are that high; I am guessing that is a misprint.  These shoes will be my next ShoeDazzle purchase!

ShoeDazzle: "Sudana" by Paper Fox ($49.95 VIP members / $59.95 for non-VIPs)
The photo for this shoe wasn't showing up for some reason, so I passed it by at first.  I saw the style in a leopard version - which doesn't have nearly the appeal that this does to me - but I really liked the silhouette of the shoe.  I'm glad I went back to look!  Besides the unique style, the graphic nature of the shoe is what caught my eye - it has a bit of mod flair.  These are 5" heels, but with a 1" platform.  The black part is elastic, so this shoe looks to be pretty versatile in the ankle department.  Paper Fox is a ShoeDazzle brand that I really seem to connect to.

 



















JustFab: "Rozelle" by Paper Fox ($39.95 VIP members / $49.00 for non-VIPs)
I have a somewhat similar pair (but MUCH more rocker chic) in my closet - Pleaser's "Delight-667".  Although they are similar in strappy style, this sandal is a toned down version of what I own.  The best part about these is that the hardware is all silver - no repainting needed!  The 3 buckles are adjustable so it looks like those with more narrow or wide feet and ankles would have a shot at making these work.  They also comes in a stunning metallic blue which would make me sit down and think about what color I would get.  The faux leather stiletto heel is a tall 6", and the platform is a 1.5".