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".

May the Fourth Be With You: Star Wars Heels

It's Star Wars day!  How do you celebrate?  I've got on a Star Wars t-shirt right now with a pair of jeans, but I wish I had a pair of heels to complete my outfit.  I decided to take a peek on Etsy to see if I could find some contenders to do just that.

Vada/Storm Trooper Heels, approx. $69.26 USD by CustomShoeGeekness

If I could wear one of these pairs today, it would be this one.  We tend to go for the Dark Side in this house, so these would be perfect.  CustomShoeGeekness is out of the UK, and only ships to certain countries - thankfully the USA is one of them.  Her lead time is 2-3 weeks once ordered.

R2D2 Star Wars Heel Shoes w/Box, $100.00 by DeathStarDoll

The Star Wars love story...  in sparkly heels with R2D2 on the bottom!  These are perfect wedding shoes, and they even come with an R2D2 keepsake box.  Besides these fabulous heels, DeathStarDoll makes other Star Wars themed items for your special day.  She's based in the US and her lead time on the shoes is 2-4 weeks.

Star Wars Heel, $200.00 by CustomPaintedHeels

Although these are a bit pricey, all the shoes offered look to be high end brands and VERY well painted.  I even spotted a Jack and Sally pair in her sold items for future reference...  I like this idea because if you don't want all your geekness to hang out, you can get the design you want painted on the bottom of the heel.  You also don't have to pick R2D2 or even pick this particular pair of shoes to get the design painted on; this is just an example of what she can do.  The lead time for this shop is 4-6 weeks.

New Month, New Shoes: May 2014

My list of home improvements are all completed, and the company that they were inspired by is now heading back home so I am *finally* back to my normal routine and perusing my shoe stomping grounds.  It just so happens it is also a new month of shoes to discuss today, so I am happy about that.  The part I'm not so happy about is the actual shoe offerings at both ShoeDazzle and JustFab this month.  The shoes in general don't have their normal edginess for some reason, much more classic styles and colors which I don't really go for...  Although that disappoints me personally, my wallet isn't going to be as depressed about it.  I have three shoes I've added to my wish list from ShoeDazzle (when I usually add 10+ styles), but back to just one pair this month from JustFab.  I can only hope the mid-month drops bring some styles worth noting.

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

I used the store credit that was waiting patiently for the new releases on these shoes this morning.  They're also the #1 seller right now, so grab them while you can.  The snakeskin and bungees are a different and edgy take to the standard gladiator, and the bungees will actually contour your foot/ankle shape - bonus!  Although I love the snakeskin pattern on these shoes (my biggest selling point), I do wish they would have come in other colors/patterns.  I'd also probably be ordering every one of them right now if so.

ShoeDazzle: "Haru" by gx by Gwen Stefani ($69.95 VIP members / $95.95 for non-VIPs)

I'm really happy to see we're going to be getting new shoes from Gwen Stefani's ShoeDazzle exclusive gx line every month.  I am already a fan of many of her styles, and this one is no exception.  The unique "Haru" comes in 3 different color combinations - black, red/white/black, and indigo/black/white/gray.  I'd probably get the black just because it goes with everything, but both the red and the indigo are also strong contenders if I were to find them on sale.  Also worth noting - the metallic capped heel is a great touch.

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

Although this shoe has a classic silhouette, the pattern is a wonderfully unique way to do the stripes trend for the summer.  This open toe pump features 2 color combinations - deep purple/white and black/white which can be seen well when placed next to each other.  I thought the purple was black/white when I saw it by itself.  I know I will have a hard time choosing one over the other with purple being my favorite color, so I will probably go with both versions when all is said and done.

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

For the amount of new shoes each of these sites add each month, you'd think I'd find more than one as a "must add" to my shoe collection.  This month, this was the only one that caught my eye at JustFab - "Aldeen".  These lace up, cutout, gladiator-ish stiletto sandals are downright stunning, but only in black.  They also come in a weird yellowish-light brown color called "cognac" which doesn't have anywhere near the same impact as the black version does.  It is also noted on the site that they run about a half size small, so make sure to size up if you decide to order them.

Back Next Week!

I'm so sorry, I had not planned on being on hiatus for most of this month.  Home improvement projects take a lot longer than expected...  You know, you fix up one thing and the thing next to it looks bad, needs to be fixed/painted/replaced/etc., and so on, and so on.

On the plus side, I've cleaned out my closet to make room for some new shoe arrivals.  I'll be listing lots of things I've decided to part ways with on ebay soon - brand spanking new in box shoes along with some clothing, a few handbags and some Monster High dolls.  I have several pairs readily available for purchase now so have yourself a look now or later.

Signing off to get back to work.  In my best Schwartzenegger voice...  "I'll be back!"

Will Work For Shoes

I know we all joke about working for this or that, and I've always said I would work for shoes...  It finally happened last month.  Besides being a shoe addict, I am an artist/graphic designer and I designed a logo for my friend's new photography business.  She asked me what I wanted for payment, and I thought I'd probably buy shoes with the money anyway so why doesn't she just pay me for the work done with shoes?!

I picked out a few different pairs that I had on my wish list and told her to surprise me with her selection.  Yesterday these were the ones that showed up at my door (I promised to show her a photo of them).  They're called "Telisa" by Beau+Ashe from ShoeDazzle. 

My quick review of Telisa:  As a 6.5, they're true to size.  They could definitely use some extra padding.  They are extremely easy to walk in for someone who wears high heels.  An expensive looking shoe, very well made.  The ankle strap is non-adjustable and I have skinny ankles.  There isn't a lot of extra room on my ankles so an average sized ankle or smaller is all that will fit in these.  Overall, very happy with them!

★

Jeci was also my good luck charm in the "shoefie" contest I won the other day.  She made sure that I was participating, and I'm really glad she did.  With her encouragement (which happened to be right when I was starting my photo shoot) and me knowing her photography skills, I took the time to get THE most perfect photo of my new shoes to submit - it only took 14 tries! 

Everything worked out in the end for both of us, so thank you Jeci for both the shoes and for being my cheerleader!  Best of luck with your new endeavor!! =)

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.