I’m Still Around
I’m still around. After a summer of doing almost nothing on a daily basis, this fall has been a whirlwind of non-stop activity. The good news is that I’ve found a new job working full time. The bad news is that with working full time and attending graduate school full time, so there is less time for updating my blog. I do plan on updating as much as I can and and I don’t plan on another super long hiatus as I’ve done in the past. The picture of the Converse represent my casual weekend style since I’m not longer able to wear them on weekdays. One day soon, I need to write a post about casual work wear, because I have plenty of questions on that subject!
While most of my weekends are now consumed with homework, I don’t really have much time for the extracurricular. However, I did manage to go to the opening of the infamous Magnolia Bakery here in Chicago. I know that it is a New York staple and it was featured in an episode of Sex and the City. So you can imagine how packed the opening day was with long lines and deluge of people walking around with Magnolia Bakery bags. Overall, I really liked the look and feel of the bakery and while it been open for less than a week, already looks like it fits right in within the Chicago landscape.
As far as the cupcakes? Well, I’ll just say that there are some other shops in the city that are favorites, but since this is right around the corner from my job, I’m sure I’ll be sneaking in periodically for a sugar fix!
Counting on Fall: Shoes
It’s finally beginning to feel like the first signs of fall are underway. The weather in Chicago is not smoldering hot, the final “final” sale racks at retailers are almost empty with leftover summer clothing and a trip to Target is more hectic than usual with kids buying their back to school supplies.
I’ve been contemplating my Fall wardrobe and slowly but surely planning everything out. The catch is that I’m not going to be buying much of anything this fall and I feel like I’ve already gotten everything that I set out to buy. I’ve been planning on cutting down my fall wardrobe drastically. I’ve bookmarked an article in the New York Times about people who are making an effort to have a more minimalistic wardrobe and put an end to the conspicuous consumption. While I’m not necessarily going to pare my wardrobe down to 6 pieces, I am looking to only have a few key pieces and accessories for the Fall/Winter and use what I already have. My goal is to make this a complete lifestyle change.
So what is a better way to hold myself accountable? Documentation, my friends, is everything.
I began this season with shoes as I was pretty sure of what I wanted to buy this season: 1 pair of boots, 1 pair of oxfords and 1 pair of flats. I began a passive search a couple of months ago, but it wasn’t until pre-fall sales started popping up in my inbox that I was able to really capitalize and get what I wanted for a reasonable price. After receiving an email from Steve Madden with a great sale price on their fall shoes, I decided to buy 2 pairs of shoes from their store. I have not bought anything from Steve Madden in a long, long time and I remembered it was because the fit could be quite unpredictable. So I decided to go ahead and give them a try.
I’ve been looking for a nice pair of oxfords for the longest. I knew I wanted a them in a nice, brown color. The verdict is still out on these since I’ve only put them on once. They are a little narrow, so I want to see how they will fit once I break them in more. I plan on doing a lot of walking in these shoes, so comfort is key.
The boots! I think I’ve become obsessed with finding the perfect “granny” or “combat” boot. I wrote a past last winter about finding a perfect pair of boots and while these are not among my wishlist candidates, they will do. The price was perfect and I while it might sound like a weird detail, I love the larger laces. I was happy when I opened this pack until my mom had to burst my bubble with:
“Wait, didn’t you buy a similar pair of these shoes last winter?”
“Um…I don’t think I did…”
“Look in your closet and see. You bought them at that huge, loud store (Zara) and you got all giddy about those, too!”
So I went home and put the shoes side by side.
Well damn. Well, I can say that the Zara boots are taller and they have a zipper on the side. Plus, I see the Zara boots as more “combat” style and the Steve Madden boots as “lace up” style. Could that be right?
The only other thing I’d like to find is a nice, durable pair of flats. I mostly wear flats year round and I buy 1 good pair each year. With these purchases, I also bought a pair of Delman flats, but they were way too narrow. So the search continues…
Have you bought any new shoes for fall? Any shoes on your wishlist?
Dreaming Of…Kate Kanzier
I feel like I should be grateful with all of the shopping options that I have in the U.S–and living in Chicago, no less. It’s true that we don’t have a Topshop and Henri Bendel jumped ship a long time ago. We’ve only recently been graced with the presence of Zara and although there are numerous boutiques and shops for every taste imaginable, we are still missing something. That something is Kate Kanzier.
Okay, okay, I might be exaggerating. The London-based store opened their boutique in 2003 and has quickly become a cult hit. Their footwear and bags are reasonably priced and model classic styles. My personal favorites are the faux suede “Luella” brogues listed above. A perfect fall shoe. Here are a couple of other favorites:
I understand that they ship worldwide and seeing that I unfortunately won’t be visiting London anytime soon, I think I’ll just have to bite the bullet and order. Well, when the blue suede shoes are back in stock, that is. Isn’t that a great reason to bring an outpost closer for easier access?
Are there any stores that you like, but can’t gain easy access to because it’s your country?
I’m in the mood for…
I really don’t know what has gotten into me lately, but as I’ve been going on a mini (and I do mean mini) shopping spree, I’ve been buying items that I might admire, but I normally wouldn’t buy. This is especially true when it comes to clothes/accessories with a print or pattern. I’m mostly a solid girl, black or white, nothing in between.
It all began when I bought this pair of Penny Loves Kenny shoes from Gilt last week. Shoes that feature red so prominently are usually not my style, but I loved the way they looked on Gilt’s website (and were a steal), so I took a dive and got ‘em.
Most of my shoes–especially the fancy ones– are black and these feel like they are a bit impractical. However, the task is to be creative and make them work while channeling Tim Gunn.
After that, I thought I thought it was an anomaly. That was, until I fell upon a pair of Moschino shades at the Off 5th outlet last week. I was mainly attracted to their shape as I’m still stuck on the large frames trend.
When I picked up the frames and examined them closer, I noticed this heart pattern. I just couldn’t resist.
Maybe it’s because Spring is in the air, so I’m actually acting on my craving for color? Whatever it is, I don’t know if it’s going to stop anytime soon.
Do you ever buy things that aren’t normally “your style”?
My newly discovered gem: Chie Mihara shoes
I admit that I am quite limited in my knowledge of the vast array of shoe brands out there. I pretty much stick to my tried and true brands that have gained my trust over the years. I’ll occasionally try out a new brand, but there is always lingering skepticism.
So when a friend suggested that I check out shoes by Chie Mihara, I told her I would oblige, but I was still reserved.
After one visit to the website and after browsing through each section, I became a fan. I know I’m way late to the party, but I’m glad that I did show up.
The brand, named after its creator, was born in late 2001. Mihara designed for Sam and Libby and Charles Jourdan before striking out on her own and creating her own brand. On the website, Mihara describes her shoes as “design, comfort and quality.” An excellent combination.
What I like about this shoe line is that it packs so much personality while remaining classic at the same time. I would call her shoes trendy, but I think they definitely stand out amongst the pack.
Another plus? Mihara’s dedication to a comfortable shoe–and yes, that includes heels.
Here are a few of my favorites:
All photos from chiemihara.com
A Change of Heart
One thing I have always said about fashion is that you never say never. You may have your personal style resolutions down pat, but there can always be an item or two that pulls you in and you just must concede.
I religiously wear my ballet flats when there is no snow on the ground. I wear them out like Amy Winehouse wears her light pink ballet slippers. I only try to buy one new, durable pair once a year.
However, flats are not easy to wear during Chicago winters. Walking in piles of snow that turns into dirty slush leaves precious flats open to ruin. Yes, boots are the best solution, but how about an alternative?
So I’ve opened myself up to a shoe that I swore I’d never wear: oxfords.
There really isn’t a good reason as to why I swore off wearing oxfords. They just never really were my style, I suppose. However, as my own personal style continues to slowly evolve, I’m becoming more open to wearing items that I’d otherwise never considered. My biggest reason for opening up to oxfords is practicality. I think they are the next best pair of shoes to wear when I want a break from my boots–and when I want to remain comfortable.
Here are a few pairs that I’ve had in mind:
And so it turns out…
So it turns out that I did tell a little fib: I wasn’t quite done with my F/W 09 shopping just yet.   The problem is that I love wedge heels in the Fall and my Seychelles wedges are basically falling apart. After almost 3 years of wear and tear in bars, on the muddled streets of Chicago and beyond, it was time to find a new pair. The problem was, I just couldn’t find a pair I liked. Well, I found a pair and they were the Acne Atacoma wedges shown below:
Love em. But for $480 USD, I couldn’t see these appearing in my closet anytime soon.
Then, as I was perusing the web for nothing special this morning, I stumbled upon these Jeffery Campbell wedges:
They are at a more manageable height (3.5″ wedge with a 1″ platform), from a shoe brand that I like and I have found great success with their shoes and…$99! That’s a bit more like it for my budget.   No, they are not quite the Acne Atacoma wedges, but they will do for the days when I want to wear a comfortable heel to give myself a little more height.
And so yes, I did broach my “I’m done with Fall shopping” pact that I made, and yes, it did happen quite easily. I’m hopeful that I won’t falter again.
Image Source: Acne website, Solestruck website
Flat Out
One of my few self-authorized purchases over the past couple of weeks that I’ve been looking to capitalize on has been a nice, comfortable, fairly inexpensive pair of flats. My mother and friends relentlessly clowned my Payless flats and said they looked like house slippers, so I decided another pair might be in order.   I’ve never really felt that flats should cost over $150 and even that would be a bit steep.  I even bought a pair of Tory Burch flats because I thought that they would be the everyday shoes and I wouldn’t need a pair of flats for a long time. Wrong. The cute golden T/T medallion fell off after two weeks and I had to go to Nordstrom to get them replaced (for free!). And after another 2 months, the bottom of the shoe has started to display some serious signs of wear and tear, including a torn sole.  And these are $195 shoes, folks. No sweet deal there.  On the lower end, I bought a pair of Nine West flats over the weekend for under $60, but those flats were hard and my feet were starting to look like some serious ugly was about to happen.
So, ever since I’ve seen Susie Bubble’s post about this shoe company, Marais USA, I’ve been quite intrigued what they will have to offer. Most of the shoes are flat or have an extremely low heel (1 and 1/4 inches) and the prices range from $49-$69.  In the “About Us” section of the website, it explains that the creators, Catherine Chen and Haley Boyd, just wanted to create “simple, versatile and essential styles that don’t break the bank”. Amen to that. They’re not yet available from the online shop, but I do think I’m going to take the plunge and buy a pair. Normally, I hate buying shoes online, but I think this might be worth the gamble. Here are two pairs of shoes I’m contemplating (but in black):
Pics from Maraisusa.com
The first pair aren’t flats, and have a baby wedge, but that’s fine. And I quite like the second pair since they have a round toe. Either way, once they become available to order online, I’m definitely going to get a pair and if this company can win me over.
Spring is in the air
Spring is in the air and I’m starting to get excited.   Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery and open-toed shoes.  In the colder months, I won’t even let myself slip into a peep toe. So right now,I’m going a little crazy with all of the selections I have to choose from. Here are some of my favorite picks–and eventually, I will buy one of these pairs. Also, please note that I’m not even going to go there with expensive shoes. It’s just not even in my realm of possibility right now, so it would would just be cruel to do so.
These Corso Cormo sandals are not exactly gladiator, which is a continuing trend this season, but they are well within the spirit.  I’m thinking these would be perfect for shopping and/or brunch with a friend/significant other. Selling for $129 on Piperlime, they are a bit steep, but I’ve found Corso Como to be of good quality, so plan on these being a keeper for a few seasons.
These braided sandals by Wanted are adorable and the braiding displays intricate detail. For $50 at Piperlime, they are a steal.
Generally, I don’t like wooden platforms and no, they are not showing any toe. However, these Seychelles platforms have caught my attention. They are adorable and come in black and purple. For $100 on Piperlime, someone might think I’m sporting a pair of Chloe wedges instead.
Leave it to J. Crew to to provide comfy and stylish flats for multiple occasions. Wear it on a casual day to work or dress them up with a cute dress. A little boring? Maybe. If I wanted to revert to my usual safe route, I’d snatch them up in a minute.
I once said that if Dolce Vita was the last moderately-priced maker of shoes, then I’d be content for the rest of my life.  Loving these black platforms and I could see wearing these shoes whenever I get ready to make a statement. Not too bad for $162.
And I found these Dolce Vita shoes on the Urban Outfitters website. Cheaper than the aforementioned Dolce Vita shoes for $128, but I’m still a bit unsure. Maybe it’s the 5″ heel.  Still, I can envision so many outfits that these shoes would be perfectly paired with.
Overall, I haven’t done much shopping for Spring clothes, let alone shoes. I did relent and bought two pairs of comfortable and moderately chic everyday shoes from Payless. Yup, you got it, Payless. They are the shoes that I wear everyday to work and since my $195 Tory Burch Reva flats need to be replaced for the 2nd time, I refuse to another pricey pair right now. Feast your eyes on these:
Both pairs were $11.99 each. Not bad at all. And no, I am not showing any toe yet.
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