If Mondays Were Shoes

I have never been a morning person, and I most certainly am not a fan of Mondays. After a couple of leisurely weekend days it's always so difficult for me to get back into the swing of things.   Truly, if Mondays were shoes, they'd be crocs.

However, Mondays should ALWAYS be better than a pair of crocs, lol.  After scouting some of my favourite shoe sites this morning, I found a pair of unique Mary Janes worthy of a Monday mention.  They're on clearance too which sweetens this deal.  So meet...

"Mary Jane - Electropus" by Too Fast Brand
(currently 50% off at $36.99 final sale from TooFastOnline.com)
For those looking for something truly unique, or fans of the dark deep sea and its creatures, this is a really fun mary jane.  I love the thicker blue glittered heel and the detail of the octopus buttons on the straps.  The polka dot lining gives it some extra cuteness.  The artwork is done in a colour scheme that I know will easily transition easily through the seasons.  Couple that with the easy going style and this shoe becomes super versatile from work to play to everyday.   They're vegan, so no leather on these either.  Too Fast Brand shoes come in whole sizes only and from asking around it sounds like half sizes would be best sizing up.  I'm sure this is something you don't already have in your closet so jump on them while you can.

 

Countdown to Kick-Off: Shoeperbowl Sunday

Now that we know which two NFL teams are playing next week, it's time to start making preparations for the big game.  Big screen TV - check!  Good eats - check!  Team apparel - check.  Team high heels - what?

You may not have heard of it yet, but there is a company in Florida called HERSTAR™. They offer platform pumps inspired by team colors for football, baseball, the NCAA (the NCAA shoes actually have logos with them), and the NBA (currently on $10 clearance). They also have some novelty shoes and offer a small range of apparel.

To thoroughly let your girlie-girl out on game day, and to show who you are rooting for, you might want to pick up a pair of their commemorative suede heels in your team's colors with "XLVIII" on them.  They're listed at $99.99 but are 50% off right now with promo code VDAY2014.  They do mention that the sizing runs small, so make sure to order at least a half size up.

Seattle Seahawks		Denver Broncos

Not a fan of either team but still want to be festive next Sunday?  You're in luck.  You can find your team's shoes instead (no "XLVIII" or logos) in just about all the color schemes for $89.99.  You can even go all out wearing a pair of faux pigskin inspired heeled boots or shoes.

Pigskin High Heeled Boots ($139.99)		Pigskin Shoes ($89.99)

★

I'm a die-hard Chicago Bears fan and would love to have a pair of the Bears inspired shoes shown below.  I wish the heels had the actual team logos on them, but I am sure the price would be substantially higher with the royalties that they'd have to pay to the National Football League.  To get around this, I would most likely look for embroidered bear head logos in a smaller size to attach to the toe box area of each shoe.  With the 50% off sitewide sale going on right now, I think I might have to do just that.

Chicken Soup for the Sole

On January 23rd, 2008, I was outside running.  It was a nice January day, sunny and mid 50s.  I had only made it about a half mile from home and good thing - I did something I couldn't duplicate in a million years. The toe of my running shoe caught in a crack in the sidewalk.  It stopped my foot but my body kept right on going.  I had definitely injured my ankle.  I was alone at home as my husband was out of town, and I did not bring my cell phone.  I had no idea how I was going to get home. The humorous part about this (well, now it's humorous...) is that as I was curled up on the ground watching my ankle swell up like a balloon and wanting to kick myself with my good foot for stupidly leaving my phone at home, a woman who lived across the street from where I fell came out to get her mail.  She thought I was a kid playing on the sidewalk and walked over to see who I was.  Thankfully she helped me up and walked me over to her house for some ice, but most thankfully she was nice enough to drive me back home.

Once home I was able to find a friend to give me a ride to urgent care to have it checked out.  I had several x-rays taken and there did not appear to be a break, but due to the swelling they were not sure.  It turns out you're better off breaking your ankle than spraining it - I had no idea.  I also had no idea what I was in for with this injury.  I was sent home with a plastic brace and painkillers, and was scheduled for an MRI.  A few days later the pain was becoming unbearable and my foot was so cold it felt like there was no circulation going on due to the extreme swelling.  I had to return to the doctor.  More x-rays were taken but still no break was found.  I was given a big, ugly, clunky black immobilization boot to trudge around in in the meantime. 

When the MRI results came back, they showed that I tore through the 3 ligaments on the outside of my left ankle (anterior talofibular, posterior talofibular, and calcaneofibular ligaments), and a partial tear to an inside ligament (tibiocalcaneal ligament).  It was officially diagnosed as a severe ankle sprain.

A few weeks later my doctor had put me in physical therapy.  I found out there that my ankle joint was nearly frozen from all the immobilization and was presented with a plan to basically to learn to walk again on it.  This pretty much killed me within.  I already was forced to cut my long hair quite short due to harsh damage before the injury happened and didn't feel like myself  to begin with.  Here I was, a bit of a workout freak now barely being able to do anything.  I was in a lot of pain, and no fun shoes in sight.  I became quite depressed and started to gain a little weight from the inactivity.  It was a dark time in my life.

Over the next few months I did make some progress, but not enough for my satisfaction.  I was able to walk without the brace but with a cane; having to do this embarrassed me as a young person.  It did push me enough to get rid of it as quickly as possible, but nothing motivated me like my cousin Beth's wedding.  I was able to work my way up to a 2" heel for her wedding in May (4 months and 2 days later), but this was with a very noticeable limp.  Also, you could still see the swelling in my ankle that long after the initial injury - which amazed me - but at least with the swelling being obvious, I didn't have to explain myself if people who didn't know about my injury were wondering what happened.  Although it was so nice go back home and see my cousins and other family members who I hadn't seen in a while, I couldn't dance and I certainly didn't feel like myself.  By the end of the night wearing my 2" heels became such a challenge that I could barely walk barefoot.  I had to be carried to my car.

That night and lack of feeling like the girlie girl I am was the kick in the pants I needed.  I also wanted to get back to running again, yes, and it did push me enough to work hard. But the thought of never being able to strut my stuff in my beloved heels again rocked me to the core.  In the next 6 weeks I made huge strides in therapy.  I started doing walks back and forth in an olympic sized pool on my toes as if in heels.  I forced myself to walk up and down stairs on my toes.  I was doing balancing exercised again on my ankle.  I was done with therapy in July and started feel how close my high heels were to being back on my feet.

By September I was starting to work out pretty regularly again but ended up with bad tendonitis on the inside of my ankle.  I had overdone it.  Again I was visiting my orthopedic, but this time it was just to get a cortisone shot.  I had another shot in October, and I realized I needed to take it slow and steady as to not have any more roadblocks.  I swear my heels in my closet were calling to me like sirens of the sea, or more like screaming at me to get my act together.  I needed to focus and get on track to wear them, and I did.

Finally, just about a year later, I purchased my first new pair of 4" heels again, a pair of tall fitted black knee high boots.  I remember that day well.  I went to the mall walking perfectly normal in 4" heels to visit Bakers Shoes to get the pointed toe stilettos I had my eye on.  That was the final victory I needed to put this ankle injury behind me.

★

Everyone has their motivation to do things in their lives, and for me, it was my love of shoes that got me through a very difficult year - both physically and mentally.  Having a closet full of them helped too as the thought of getting rid of my fabulous collection terrified me.  Ever since my injury, I wear my high heels with added pride and always offer a silent thank you to them for being the "chicken soup" that I needed.  Oh, and one more thing: now I take long brisk walks instead of running outside. ;)

Tuesday Trend: Snakeskin

I will admit, snakeskin is not a pattern I've ever really gotten into - until the last few years.  I've always associated it with the black and white version you find on tacky cowboy boots, not a look I would ever embrace.  The newer versions are so much more colorful with no hint of western wear in sight.  I can admit that  I own a few pairs of heels in this pattern, one of my favorites being a deep plum, black and grey by Michael Antonio.  I'm now looking to add some more of this trend to my wardrobe especially with the new arrivals I'm seeing at my internet shoe stomping grounds.

"Joycelyn" by ShoeDazzle ($39.95 VIP, $45.95 non-VIP, from ShoeDazzle)

I've already got these strappy sandals waiting patiently for the weather to warm up.  The photos in no way do the textile justice.  It's a metallic pastel rainbow of snakeskin which is downright gorgeous in person.  I would say they are true to size (as a 6.5) and decently comfortable to walk in.  They are worth every penny in my opinion.  My word of caution would be to those with larger ankles or wide feet - the straps do not adjust.  Side note: these also are available in a gold metallic version.

"Duchess" by BCBGeneration ($110 from Zappos.com)

The first pair of (faux) snakeskin shoes that I fell in love with were a pair of corseted black snakeskin open toe booties from ShoeDazzle in 2011 (style name "Ciara" and love!), and these are on a similar wavelength with their caged style.  They're a bit more than what I'd normally pay for shoes, but I also make sure to sign up for email lists and consult the coupon sites such as retailmenot.com to make sure that I can get the best deal possible for every pair I buy.

"Python Dream Corset Heels (#93984)" ($30.80 from GoJane.com)

I am very attracted to the corset styling on these sandals, and especially the bright blue!  I might possibly replace the tie before wearing with something that looks a little more sturdy, but for the price you really can't go wrong - maybe even grab them in both the blue and the fuchsia it is offered in.  You know the saying, "if the shoe fits, buy it in every color."

My Other Closet

Do you pinterest?  I certainly do.  As of right now, I have nearly 17,000 pins across 74 boards - I don't know if that is a good or bad thing! ;-)  Some of my boards of course are shoe-related: shoes (almost all heels), a board specifically for this blog, my personal shoe collection (a helpful "catalog" for me) and things that I am selling on eBay (mostly shoes, and a few other things here and there).  The rest are my interests which range from Tim Burton to cats to cute yet creepy dolls to vintage cars.  You can tell a lot about a person when they're a pinterest aficionado.

On lazy days like today, it is so easy to lose track of time while pinning.  I was looking through my boards for some cuteness, humour, some inspiration...  I've come to the conclusion that after amassing as many pins as I have, I have both a "real closet" and a "pinterest closet".   Now I'm on a mission to find the pin that tells me how to make my pinterest closet real.

Sole Spotlight: the Online Shoe Club "ShoeDazzle"

I'd have to say in the past year or so, a good portion of the shoes I've added to my closet have been from ShoeDazzle.com.  The shoes they carry are affordably priced, a good value for the money, and best of all, they have a great selection of really unique, edgy shoes.  I've also been a member of theirs for almost 4 years now, and I can tell you that in the last year and a half, ShoeDazzle has really impressed me.  The first few years I made purchases here and there, and some were returned due to quality issues or ridiculous fit issues.  I can't say that anymore; I am smitten with them again.

I know a lot of people aren't sure if they want to join a shoe club?  Here are 10 reasons why I would join ShoeDazzle if I was not already a member:

1. First and foremost, the shoes and their wide selection of styles I would add to my already very crowded closet.  It is rare that I don't find at least 5 styles per month that I'd love to get my feet into that are NOT something I already own.  They also have bags and jewelry available, and on occasion offer other items.  I have only purchased 2 bags and 3 bracelets in my time as a member, but I feel that they've also been of good quality for the price paid.

2. To VIP or non-VIP: this ultimately depends on how diligent you would be to remember to skip the month by the 5th if you don't have the cash on hand or want to be charged.  If you don't skip, you would be charged $39.95 on the 6th of the month and would receive a credit in that amount on your account, something a lot of people don't like.  However, being a VIP also means priority access to sales, up to a 25% reduction of the regular retail price, and you don't have to meet a minimum purchase price to receive free ground shipping.  You also have the choice of reduced shipping for faster receipt - $6.95 for 2-5 business days, and $17.95 for 1-2 business days.  My advice:  Go VIP.  The best thing I've done is make a habit on the first of the month when the new shoes arrive to automatically hit that "skip" button.  That way I can leisurely browse and purchase when I'm ready rather than get the automatic charge, and I still get all the benefits.

3. Rachel Zoe. Ever since she teamed up with ShoeDazzle I swear they've done a 180.  The shoe selection  is so much better along with the quality improving by leaps and bounds.  To me, her influence really turned the company around in a good way.

4. Members-Only Daily Fix Deals.  Monday through Saturday an item is introduced at a reduced price with free shipping (even if you aren't VIP you get the benefit with that item).  Most of the time the items are new introductions, but they also offer older items at a substantial discount, especially on Saturday mornings.  They call it the "Saturday Morning Steal", and they're usually well worth taking the peek.  If you like the shoe offered there is the incentive to buy it to save another $5 (on average) before noon PST.

6. Designer brands at a discount - Steve Madden, Betsey Johnson, Jessica Simpson, BCBGeneration, Chinese Laundry, Michael Antonio... just to name a few.  The catch is that they are offered in limited quantities so you have to pay attention to the new arrivals to make sure you don't miss out.

7. The sales!  right now they're doing a sale for VIPs only - $25 boots and booties!   They've even done such fabulous sales such as get a free clearance pair with a regular priced pair, or an extra percentage off sale items for VIPs.  The sales alone are worth joining for.

8. Their loyalty program ("Style Points").  You receive 25 points per $10 spent, and 200 points per friend referral with first purchase.  When you hit 1000 points you receive a $39.95 credit which covers most of the shoes and bags offered.  Between my own purchases and the amount of people I've gotten to sign up, I've been able to pick out quite a few pairs on their dime.  Score!

9. Not sure what size to get or if you should buy it right away?  They allow their customers to post online reviews, something I do for every pair I purchase.  The reviews usually will clue you in to any sizing issues, quality issues or things like if you might have smaller/wider feet why the shoes might or might not be for you.  They're very helpful and have made up my mind for me at times when I couldn't on my own.  The other thing they offer is that they also will post a graphic on an item when it's low stock or the quantity left when it's 10 or less pairs, another helpful hint.

10. When you first join you will take a fashion quiz so they learn your style to make your bi-monthly showroom suggestions.  It's a nice feature and they usually are decently on track with their suggestions.  However, you can click on the "shop by" link on the top menu to browse all the shoes, bags and jewelry being offered.  That's where I start every month.

And now, to turn it up to 11... Click this link and you will also get 50% off your first purchase.  Do it!  You won't be disappointed.

Simple Tweaks: How To Repaint Shoe Hardware

Every now and then I fall in love with a certain shoe only to find out something needs to change on it to appeal to my taste and style.  Usually the reason is because the hardware on the shoe is an ugly gold or cheap looking brass.  Obviously I'm not going to attempt to change out the hardware, but after much trial and error in painting materials over the last few years I have found a very cheap and sure-fire method to change those metals into my preferred silver.  How, you ask?  Simple.  Nail polish.

Take this bootie, "Sari" from Paper Fox.  I loved these shoes until they arrived.  The photo makes the gold look considerably better than it does in person.  It's a really brassy bright gold which I despise.  I found a bottle of Sinful's "Heavy Metal" which is a somewhat matte silver with some super-fine glitter in it.  Granted, I am an artist, so the painting part of this is a bit easier for me.  However, I spent time here and there over a couple of days building up coats on the buckle and the grommets to cover up the gold.

Here's what they look like now:

Another pair that I painted was "Elisabeth" from ShoeDazzle.  It was the heel this time that made me crazy - this too was a TACKY bright gold.  I used the same nail polish mentioned above to paint the heel because the shoes have a glitter effect to them.

The after photo, and I think the repainted heel matches the shoe better too:

The things I would recommend for a successful shoe hardware repaint would be the following:

1. Look for polishes that have more of a matte finish.  They're more forgiving if you don't feel you have a steady hand. 2. Take your time in painting, even possibly investing in tiny brushes from a craft store.  Nail polish doesn't easily come off of areas you don't want it to be on, so be careful. 3. I've used paper (standard printer paper) as painters tape, wrapping it around the shoes and securing the paper with tape only on the bottom sole when this method is needed.  This way no sticky residue stays on your shoes. 4. I usually do about 3 coats for full coverage. 5. Make sure to leave a couple of hours in between coats and/or areas that touch (such as buckles) to make sure they dry completely. 6. This also works for things such as a chip on a colored stud, or an area of hardware that unfortunately wasn't fully painted.  I've used this method for both - the key is to make sure the polish matches as closely as possible, and to only build up paint on the area which isn't painted.

Good luck with your shoes, and happy painting!

A Shoe In The Hand

I don't watch many award shows but I do make a point to watch the Golden Globes and the Oscars.  I don't care as much for the awards as I do seeing Hollywood dress up for the occasion - dresses, shoes, hairstyles, the works.  There were a few looks I loved - Uma Thurman in Versace, Jessica Chastain in Givenchy, and Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Roberto Cavalli.  I would even go so far to say Jenna Dewan-Tatum stole the spotlight from her husband in her stunning black and white gown.  I am also quite curious to know what shoes she paired with it.

As far as my favourite moment of the show (or maybe EVER on a Golden Globes broadcast), it was Emma Thompson presenting, hands down.  She comes onto the stage barefoot and holding her shoes in one hand, a martini in the other.  First she points to the signature bottom of her Christian Louboutin open toe pumps saying, "I just want you to know, this red, it's my blood."  Then, a few minutes later, upon realizing she has no hands available to open the envelope to announce the winner, she tosses her shoes behind her.

I am guessing she's someone who isn't used to wearing heels, and in that case, I can't say I blame her for throwing them.  Although if I had spent my hard earned money on those Louboutins (I found a very similar CL shoe - "Palais Royal Trepointe" for $975 at Barneys.com), I certainly wouldn't be doing that.  Would you?

Winter Wear

Although I LOOOOOOOVE wearing my high heels, there are days that dictate the heels stay put in the closet (such as in this past week of frigid arcticness across North America).  Being a girl who loves a more goth/rocker look, I have some closet staples that I turn to in times like these.

First up we have a pair I am wearing now...
"Brett" by Leila Stone
($25.00 VIP, $59.95 non-VIP, from ShoeDazzle)

I love these boots so much, I bought 2 pairs!  They do run about a half size large - even with thick winter socks - so make sure to take that into account if you would like a pair.  The calf measurement is on these is 14.5", perfect for those with a small to medium calf.  I wear them over both leggings and skinny jeans.

"Colton" by JustFab (currently sold out -  purchased from JustFab.com for $39.95, also sold at heels.com for $54.99)

The two reasons these combat-styled boots made me purchase them: 1) they're a bit taller than the standard combat boot, and 2) it's all in the details - the buckled ankle straps and the tiny studs on the back of the heel. They're pretty versatile too - they go just as well with shorts in the summer as they do with rolled up boyfriend jeans in the winter.

"Rock On Tall Boot (Black)" by Abbey Dawn (currently sold out - purchased from JustFab.com for $39.95, retailed at $114.99 from heels.com)

These were a STEAL through JustFab at $39.95, and are a pair I tend to wear mostly with dresses in warmer weather.  They also work nicely over leggings for the winter so they made an appearance this past week.  I have smaller calves (13.5") and the 6 in these (whole sizes only, size down a half size if you're in between sizes) fit me like a glove.  There's not a whole lot of room to adjust them either so thankfully they did fit as well as they do.  They also come in a tartan plaid, and there are some 5's and 6's in the red plaid still available through heels.com.

Last but not least... "Starlight Fugg Boot" by Iron Fist (purchased from punk.com, no longer in business.  $40.00 from amazon.com)

I'm not a big fan of the Ugg Boot style, but these were too cute to pass up!  I rarely wear these outside of the house - I consider these more to be my slippers.  They keep my feet incredibly toasty on these cold days, and who doesn't love an adorable star print?  These come in whole sizes only.  I'm a 6.5 and I wear a 6 in Iron Fist shoes.

Do You Know Them All?

There are many types of heeled shoe styles, and they all have their own special names.  My personal favourites are the pointed toe mary jane, the pointed toe pump (with or without ankle strap/detail),and a platform pump.  Though I don't wear them very often, I do like a kitten heel.  They're perfect for the times you want to be a bit dressy but know you can't max out the heel, such as running through airports.  I'm not a fan of the wedge heel or the heel-less shoe style, but that's something to discuss on another day.

How many of the styles pictured can you identify without looking at the names underneath them?

Tuesday Trend: Pointed Toes

One of the latest shoe trends has been a return to the non-platformed sole coupled with the pointed toe - my preferred shoe shape.  I've seen a lot of pumps in this style, but also a lot of shoes with ankle straps or ankle decorations, something I really like to make a standard pump into something unique. I do think that this pointed style looks and feels best on a smaller, average to narrow width foot, but if you like them, who cares?  Wear them!

Some of my favourite and more importantly, affordable shoes in this trend:

Iron Fist's "Skull It Out Heel" ($45.00 at ironfistclothing.com)

These lacey skull cutout pumps are already in my closet.  The skull pattern is subtle, which is nice for those places you want to be you but you can't shove it in their face.  They're decently comfortable and easy to walk in for the heel height.  Iron Fist shoes only come in whole sizes.  I'm normally a 6.5 but order a 6 in Iron Fist shoes.  These 6s are just a tad big on me, probably due to the pointed toe.  Some heel liner inserts took care of that issue.

Truth or Dare by Madonna's "Skalecki" ($99.99 at heels.com)

I love the ankle corset tie closure and triangular studs on these shoes.  I only wish that the pyramid studs were silver and not that other metallic color.  Something to note - I own a few pairs of Truth or Dare shoes, and in the pointed styles I have needed to go up by a half size, so a 6.5 to a 7.

Pleaser's Heat-08 ($50.95 at inkedshop.com)

These edgy faux patent shoes are on my wish list.  I love the studded ankle strap, the shiny stiletto heel, and the metal toe cap on the vamp.  I'm not sure how adjustable the ankle strap is, and this might be a problem to those with thicker ankles.  Pleaser's shoes only come in whole sizes, and I have to go up to a 7 in their shoes.

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

Seven years ago I moved away from a climate which has a lot of snow.  Besides my health being so much better and being a summer girl at heart (I now have 6 months of summer!), the next best thing is that I don't need those "sensible winter shoes" anymore.  I know you know the ones - the ugly, non-stylish snow boots you must have to trudge through foot high snow drifts just to pick up a gallon of milk at the grocery store, and those flat, clunky, rubber-soled shoes that don't do anything for your outfit but you won't skid on the ice?  I'm so glad that's all behind me now.

A friend of mine posted this photo of what I would call "shoe snowplows" on my facebook profile the other day.  It appears that you strap these little plows to your shoes as the strap goes around the back of the heel and the toe goes into the back of the plow.  The question is, if these accessories were actually functional, would you put them on your shoes?  Nice idea, but I can't say I'd want the opportunity to use them.

New Shoe Review: Hello Kitty Meets T.U.K.

I was so excited when I received an email that the Sanrio site was selling limited edition Hello Kitty shoes from T.U.K. - a brand of shoes that I love.  There are 4 "Hello Kitty x T.U.K." styles, and they are all "creepers".  They range in price from $90 (the mary janes) to $100 (the mondo creepers).  I love them all, but which one to choose??

I had a little extra holiday cash to spend on myself this year, so after much contemplation I decided to treat myself to a pair of the black mary jane creepers via Sanrio (they are also now available for purchase via the T.U.K. site, Amazon, Sourpuss Clothing, and a couple other sites).  I even had a coupon for free shipping, making this deal all that much sweeter.

When I opened the box, I swear I let out a squee.  They are just too cute!  I adore a mary jane to begin with, and a mary jane with hello kitty on it?!!!?  You cannot go wrong!  The inside is adorned with a red and white bow pattern - just too cute!  I unbuckled them to put them on, and all my happiness went out the door.

I normally wear a 6.5 shoe, and I have to go up to a 7 in T.U.K. as they only produce whole sizes.  I ordered a 7 and these were HUGE on me.  I was able to put my entire thumb behind my heel.  I don't even think going down to a 6 would work in this case; possibly the 5 would work but I would want to try them on in a store before I would decide to purchase them again.

My other disappointment with the shoes is the weight of them.  They're very heavy, almost 4 lbs for a size 7 pair.  The nearly 1.75" platform is nice to have for someone who loves heels, but for the weight of them I'd prefer to have a much smaller sole.

They ended up getting returned and sadly Sanrio did not have a smaller size for me to exchange them with.  Due to that weight I mentioned before, it cost me a lot to return them - nearly $20, and the cheapest method I found was UPS ground.  I wanted to save others from having to be in the same predicament that I was with these shoes, so I even spent the time to write a detailed review for the Sanrio site.  I don't think they liked it much because almost 2 weeks later it still is not published.

If you decide you want a pair to join your collection, I would strongly suggest that you find them in a store to try on before buying them (if possible).  Luckily I already have an adorable pair of Hello Kitty heels (style name "Louisa") that I obtained through JustFab in 2012.  These are more my style anyway. ;)

New Year, New Month, New Shoes! - January 2014

I look forward to the first of every month because that is the day I get to see all the new shoes at the two shoe clubs I am a member of - ShoeDazzle and JustFab.  I think they're both great companies, but in the last year JustFab hasn't been as good as it was in the past for me.  Their shoe styles seems to have gone more average (shoe styles you'd find at Target) and the quality seems to have suffered a bit as well.  Also in the past year - and maybe Rachel Zoe's arrival helped it become this - ShoeDazzle has soared to new heights for me.  Their shoes are unique and edgy and cool, three things I look for before adding a pair to my wardrobe.  I don't have any shoes from JustFab to share with you this month.  Maybe they'll surprise me with something that is more my style next month.  Until then...

My top 3 choices from ShoeDazzle are Tanika, Telisa, and Nafessa, all shown below.

Tanika by Beau+Ashe ($45.95 VIP members / $49.95 for non-VIPs)

This shoe remind me of the union jack and mid century modern art at the same time.  I love the cut outs and ankle strap, and the PVC gives it an edge.  My word of warning is in the pin closures for the ankle strap.  If it's not flush to the foot, it might not look so good and might cause issues while walking because the shoe might flop around.  I'll at least try these with my next order because it they are quite the unique addition to my wardrobe.  If it doesn't work, ShoeDazzle does free returns.

Telisa by Beau+Ashe ($49.95 VIP members / $54.95 for non-VIPs)

I adore anything black and white striped, and this certainly fits that bill.  The black "stripes" are also of contrasting matte and patent textiles, a detail which I really like.  My only concern is the ankle strap because it's not adjustable.  If you have larger ankles, this might be a shoe to avoid.

Nafessa by Scene ($39.95 VIP members / $49.95 non-VIPs)

This shoecomes in a black and white version as well.  Purple is my favourite colour, so therefore I'd have to pick the purple; it's not often you find purple shoes, let alone a pleasing snakeskin print!  Both the back/heel and the front tie are in the snakeskin - fabulous detail!  I also love a caged style that this is.  It's a great transition shoe from winter to spring.  Come on warmer weather!

Not sure if you want to join a shoe club?  In the next few weeks I will go through the pros and cons of joining one, so make sure to check back for more information.

Happy new year, and happy shopping!