Running In Heels

 So I know many of you must think that I  have abandoned my blog and all the shoe loveliness that I bring to you but I am happy to inform you that I have NOT! While it has been far too much time that has elapsed since I last posted, I have not abandoned you or the shoe loveliness that you depend on. I have a legitimate reason for why I have been missing in action: SCHOOL! This "quarter" or what you may know of as a semester has taken over my life and I can't get away from it. Is this an acceptable reason? I sure hope so, but I promise I will try to do better..notice I said TRY and remember that I also mentioned that SCHOOL thing. So until I am lucky enough to escape again...

Lady with Sole 

The Takeover: Espadrille Fever

Spring is officially upon us and the one thing that I'm looking forward to the most is spring time footwear! I have been reading up on what the hottest shoe types will be and one shoe that is guaranteed to be big for spring and especially summer is the espadrille. There are so many colors and styles, there is bound to be an option for everyone. Check out Nine West's salute to one of the major shoes of the season. Enjoy!

Im Officially Obsessed With...

Mary-Kyri. If you are a shoe lover like me, you are always looking at shoes; weather that is as people pass you in crossing or you are out shopping for shoes. I often discover shoe designers I haven’t heard of before or don’t know much about by flipping through magazines or watching shows that discuss what the celebrities are wearing and then doing my own research on them. The designer that I am obsessed with right now is Mary-Kyri. As a shoe lover like myself, you may already know this shoe brand and know how amazing the shoe creations are. If you haven’t heard of this designer, make sure you check out the website, Mary-Kyri.com, they have amazing shoes! If you are already familiar, just take a few minutes and admire the genius of the shoe line below. Enjoy!



Some friends and I were sitting around a table flipping through a magazine while waiting around to start our project and the page was flipped past these amazing blue shoes. I caught just a glimpse of the shoes and had to go back to the page because I had to know who the designer was and where I could get them. I googled the designer when I got home to find that no, I could not get them (way out of my price range) but I could admire and add Mary-Kyri to my list of shoe designers I am obsessed with.

Obsessed with high-heels from a very young age, the passion didn’t waiver as Mary-Kyri got older, it grew stronger. It was during her teenage years that she set her sights on becoming Australia’s own version of Manolo Blahnik. I would say she is well on her way. She has made her mark on only in her home of Australia but also in America, Paris, New Zealand, and many others. They can be found in boutiques alongside other recognizable names such as Jimmy Choo, Guiseppe Zanotti, and Prada.

Create Your Own: From Four Inch Heels to Flats

Everyone knows how much I love shoes, so I was extra excited when a friend of mine called me and told me about Milk and Honey Shoes. Milk and Honey Shoes is a website where you can create your own shoes.  How exciting! Not only is it exciting, it is very addictive when you see just how many options the site has available for you to chose from. Milk and honey is the brain child of two sisters, not unlike myself, who have an obsession with shoes.

 I think that this is a great site not only for people who simply love shoes, but it’s a great site for those who hae an interest in shoe design, in my opinion. The site is great place to play with color combitations and shoe styles.  Another person who should visit and use this site is the woman who can never find the shoes she wants in traditional retail stores. This site allows you to pick your width and heel height, in additon to style and color. If you have wide feet or very narrow feet, its not always easy to find shoes that come in width options. How frustrating is it to find a shoe you like and it not fit because your foot is wider or more narrow than the average woman? Well, if this sounds like a problem you have, Milk and Honey Shoes is the site for you.

While I think this is over all a very good site, there are a few, minor details that I think could be changed to make the site even better. One problem I have with the site is that the heel size doesn’t change as you create your shoe. As you go through the process of buidling your shoe, the features you chose pop up on the shoe prototype. The heel size is one feature that doesn’t change however. I think to get a better idea of exactly what you shoe will look like, I think it would be helpful to see the actual heel height differences. Heel heights range from 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches, depending on your design. During my initial introduction to this site, It bothered me that some options that I might want to see were not available. After reviewing the site more,  I found that if you want something that is not on the site, they will try and make it for you. I have played around on the site and created shoes but I haven’t actually purchased any yet. I am excited to hopefully buy a pair soon. How cool would it be to say I designed the shoes Im wearing? As someone who one day wants to design her own shoes, I think this is great. See the pictures included to see some of my shoe creating from the site.

If you have never heard of Milk and Honey Shoes, check out the site and let me know what you think. Send me pictures of your creations!

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I Spy: Fashion Faux Pas

We have all seen it…a woman in a business suit, stockings and then we pan down to her feet and she is in sneakers…Ay Dios Mio! This is a fashion catastrophe far worse than many others in my book. I understand that for some comfort is far more important than fashion and style, but isn’t there a happy medium between being comfortable and converting all the way to wearing tennis shoes with your business attire? While I live in Charlotte and haven’t witnessed this particular travesty in person, it is more common in larger cities where there is much more walking required. I am sure if I spent some time in uptown Charlotte during the work week, I am sorry to say I would probably witness it.

While I like to be comfortable, I cannot bring myself to participate in this fashion faux pas in the name of comfort. Call me shallow and superficial but if I have to choose between being fashionable and wearing my tennis shoes with my skirt or slacks for the sake of being comfortable, I’m going ride with fashionable on this one. I know that not everyone agrees with my style over practicality mentality, but I do have a suggestion for those who lean more toward practicality; why not aim for comfort and style? Perfect Example....

Michelle Obama does comfort and style with ease.

With a pencil skirt and button up/sweater combination

 

With a business suit

Investing in a quality pair of flats can give you the comfort of not having to walk around in your heels but it also gives you a little more style and cohesiveness to your look than the mixed match look of business from head to ankle and gym class from ankle to foot. Another option could be opting for a heel that is lower than your normal heel, such as a kitten heel. You could always do what my friend Chelsea Long, author of the Off with your Jorts blog does, never leave home without your “purse flats.” Purse flats are the name she has given to the pair of flats she carries around in her purse and has ready when she needs to relieve herself from her heels. Everyone’s opinion on just how important style and fashion is in the grand scheme of things will always differ and some will never see it as important in their life but for me, it does hold a degree of importance and I think that with a little effort fashion and comfort can co-exist and not have to be independent of each another. Do you think comfort and fashion can co-exist, or do you think you have to choose one or the other?

Tell me what you think of this Fashion faux pas and don't forget to subscribe to my site for updates

Flatform: The New Fashion for Summer

We know what happens when two celebrities get together; we join their names together to make a new name. Well what happens when two shoe types are joined into one? The same thing of course! I give you the FLATFORM…

the joining of a ballet flat and a platform. With the 70’s inspired movement all the rage, the flatform fits in quite nicely and look to be a big style statement for the spring. Style.com reported that many flatforms were seen making their way down the runways of many big name designers Spring 2011 shows including Derek Lam and Prada.

The nice thing about this shoe trend is that everyone can benefit from this trend. Why do people love flats? They love them because they are comfortable and they don’t have to worry about their feet hurting in high heels. And why do people love heels? Well the height of course! Vertically challenged people, like me, love the extra inches heels deliver. Well the flatform is like the best of both worlds. The flat loving people still have their flat shoes and don’t have to teeter on a stiletto heel and those who love the extra height can get it while enjoying the comfort of a flat shoe.

While I am still on the fence regarding my personal feelings about the flatform, I must admit they do provide comfort while still providing extra height and they do provide a certain level of versatility; wear them with everything from skinny jeans to day dresses and skirts. They give you a casual, more effortless look. Still not a fan of the lovechild of the ballet flat and the platform? It seems the jury is still out with many on this one, we will just have to wait and see how many flatforms we see out and about this spring. Not to worry though, the traditional wedge is still an option for you if you are not feeling the flatform but like the idea of combining height and comfort. The wedge is an option and it is getting some love this spring as well.


The wedge was the originator of providing you with both the height of a heel and the comfort of a flat bottom. There is just as much versatility with the wedge options this spring as there are flatform options. So whether you chose to try the new flatform or stick with the traditional wedge, you will have great options for spring!

I'm Officially Obsessed With...

Louboutin. Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with shoes; they have some type of cryptic power over me. I can’t say no to a cute pair; I see them and then automatically in my head I see where I’m wearing them and how incredible they are going to look on my feet..I’m going to look so good in them! Ok, sorry I had a moment, back to my specific obsession. Even those who know nothing about designer shoes, knows Christian Louboutin. The signature red bottom sole has become almost a brand of its own. Anyone who loves shoes dreams of the day they can afford to own at least one real pair of Lou-Bous. Everything Louboutin does is big; starting with the look book he uses to introduce his new collection each season.

It is always exciting to see how fun and well thought out the look book always is. His use of fantasy and dream like environments as a backdrop to his shoes create artistic imagery unlike anything I’ve ever seen done by a shoe designer. The artistry of the look book creates the excitement for the new season’s collection. The look book is so amazing, it is often possible to get so caught up in the world of the look book itself, you forget, the shoe is the star of the photographs. The spring/summer look book does not disappoint. With bold, bright coloring, even the look book is right on trend for what the upcoming seasons will be all about; bright, fluorescent color. The look book is just the beginning of my obsession for Louboutin. His shoes are always extra tall and extra fun. With what looks like no less than four inches in addition to the inset platform built into each shoe, his shoes are a work of art. We can always count on Louboutin to never play it safe and to always give us shoes that you won’t see anywhere else. Check out the spring/summer look book and then check out my favorites from the actual collection. Enjoy!



Louboutin teamed up with photographer Khuong Nguyen for this look book. This is not the first time they have collaborated on one of Louboutin's look books and I doubt it will be the last.



this collection has not even officially been introduced to the world yet and already I have seen this one worn in a spread in a fashion magazine. I have a feeling, this will be a standout from this collection, well done Louboutin!

What better way to make a statement than with an electric blue suede bootie. The possiblities for how you can work this shoe into your wardrobe are endless.

Five Must Have Flats for Spring

Always a bridesmaid, never the bride…flats have always been around, but have often played second fiddle to the more often chosen high heel. Well it may just be time to let the flat have the spotlight. This spring, flats are tapped to be a must-have item in every shoe lover’s closet. While we often turn to our high heels, the benefits of the flat shoe have been often overlooked. While our stilettos provide those extra inches that we so often crave, they also sometimes provide aching feet and from time to time even a twisted ankle as a result of an unplanned heel that happens to find its way into the crack of the sidewalk. Don’t get me wrong, I love my high heels just as much as the next woman, but it is possible to be just as fashionable and just as feminine in a pair of flats as you would be in your favorite four inch heels. Flats are an easy alternative to heels and there are just as many options available as there are of our beloved heels. Pairing an outfit with a pair of flats instead of four inch heels is often an unexpected choice that can lend a sophisticated edge to a look. Check out the 5 great pairs of flats I have found that work not only for spring, but all year round.

         These flats are a fun and flirty option guaranteed to get you noticed. With a combination of yellow polka dots paired with a chocolate backdrop, these flats are a great way to let your shoes make a statement. With such electric color choice, pairing these flats with more subdued, classic pieces such as a casual day dress or shorts and a classic cardigan provide an unexpected twist to an otherwise basic outfit.

Spring flats by Marc Jacobs, the over sized bow with chunky jewels is a great choice to pair with a cocktail dress for a change from the traditional heel. Check out the mouse flats; who but Marc Jacobs could make shoes with a face seem so chic

 

Kate Spade’s spring flat options. From fun bright color     combinations such as these hot pink flats paired with natural canvas to metallics.

Rebecca Minkoff, a designer I have recently discovered, LOVE these basic flats with just a little print. a great compliment for any monochromatic or color blocked ensemble

Gotta Wear Shades: Springs Gonna Be Bright

Spring is almost here and it’s going to be bright. Gone are the normal soft, pastel colors synonymous with spring time. The pastel replacement will be fluorescent colors. Think glow sticks and safety patrol vests. This color trend is being seen everywhere from clothes to shoes and accessories.                       

  

It is being seen on the runways of several top designers. One designer who is pushing the envelope of color is Edmundo Castillo, who along with Oryon Technologies has developed a light sandal, providing aluminescent light

that is controlled by batteries placed in the heel of the shoe.

 

Hyper Color is one of the seasonal trends that will be seen everywhere this spring and summer. Maybe day glow, fluorescent color doesn’t really work for you but don’t worry, there are plenty other in season colors you can try. For the top four more subdued colors for Spring and where the inspiration came from, check out fashionmagazineaddict’s blog where she gives you the breakdown on current colors and how you can get in on the 2011 color trends. Also check out Ispyfashion.com to see great examples of color reflected.  Another great site to check out great shoes is getjanet.com, where Janet, a true shoe lover, shares her shoe wish list for 2011.

Another fashionista, Rachel Zoe, always on top of current fashion trends, has picked her favorite pair of flourscent platform sandals from the runway that she is just ba-na-nas over and has even given suggestions on how to complete the look.

I cant talk about current trends without helping you find budget fashions that will have you on trend. Another website that I have found was shoedazzle.com You can take a style profile and have a stylist help you select shoes that fit your assessment. You even have the option to register with the site and buy new shoes every month. They are also up on the bright color trend and have options to help you find shoes that pop. Stylist Alison Kahn at The Style Den also is sharing her Spring wishlist and showing you how to shop smarter this Spring.

Budget Fashions: How to find shoes that won't break the bank

Ever feel like you are missing out on the best shoe trends because you can’t afford the shoes from all those designers you love soo much? Well, I don’t and it’s because I know that there are great shoes to be had without spending your rent money to get them! All it takes is a few tips and your willingness to spend a little time doing some research. Don’t think term paper research, think surfing the net and walking the malls research (difficult right?). Nothing puts more pep in my step then the look on the face of someone admiring my shoes when I tell them where I got them or how much I paid for them. So are you ready to hear my tips for how you can get that same pep in your step? Ok ok don’t beg, I will tell you!

Tip #1 Don’t rule out catalog shopping. How many of us get catalogs in the mail that we throw away every day. STOP! Don’t just throw good potential sources of footwear without so much as a glance at the shoe section. I’m not saying you are going to find shoes equal to a Louboutin in every catalog you flip through, but isn’t a few minutes of flipping worth finding one great pair of shoes (I vote yes!) Often retail catalogs have fun shoe options and they are almost always on sale or not expensive at all.

Tip #2 Step outside your fashion comfort zone. Most of us have a hand full of stores that we hit when we go shopping. Often there are stores we pass on route to our regulars and never give a second glace. The next time you are out shopping, take a detour on your way to your regular shops and step into a store that you always pass and never enter. We can often find great finds in places we least expect.

Tip #3 Fast fashion stores have shoes too! We all have a favorite one; Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, H&M, and the list goes on. But often we are so busy looking at the clothes; we ignore the final touch to that outfit we find: the shoes. I have found some great shoes in these very stores as prices so good, I could afford to get more than one pair. The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing your shoes from stores that are less expensive is to select those that don’t look cheap. Buying from “cheap” stores, doesn’t mean your purchase has to look cheap. There is no one rule for figuring those one out, you know cheap when you see it.

So I think this is enough to get you started and just to prove to you that I’m not just making this up I actually use these tips, I’m going to show you three pairs from my own shoe collection from each of these tips. Have fun trying these tips out and make sure you let me know what you find; I’m always on the hunt for new shoe finds!

Good Luck and happy shoe shopping!

Lady with sole



This is one of my catalog finds, they look just like a pair Louboutin's but didn't cost me $1600



Classic black with a little twist, got these from a little shop in a stripmall that I hadn't shopped before

These are my latest buy and I love them especially since I only paid $18 for them. They were only $34 which I would have paid but half off is always better!

Top Five Places to Buy Eco-Shoes

So now that I have helped you understand what Eco-friendly means and giving you some insight into how shoes have become a major part of Eco-fashion, lets talk about the good stuff..shoes and where to find them! As I mentioned before, going green and reducing your carbon footprint doesn't mean you have to change your entire life all in a day. It also doesn't mean you have to give up having fashionable shoes. Choosing to start with shoes is a great way to step into the Eco-friendly lifestyle without giving up your love of great shoes. What I want to share with you is five of the top Eco-friendly and fashionable shoe brands/sites you should check out. You are bound to find at least one, if not a few, shoes you love.

1.Beyond Skin - born out of the desire for gorgeous, vegan shoes, this company offers great shoes options that are both stylish and cruelty free. Find everything from cute flats to mid and high heels.

2. MooShoes.com - Also a vegan shoe brand that offers shoes for men, women and children.Their assortment offering includes t-shirts, wallets, books and other accessories in addition to their shoes.They operate with an online store as well as a brick and mortar boutique located in New York City.

3. Simpleshoes.com - Offers unique and cool designs for women, men, and kids produced from water-based soluble glues, renewable care tires, and cork. In addition to their use of unique materials, their prices are at a reasonable range of $50 to $100.

4. Olsenhaus.com - with shoe options that could rival that of many high end designers, this is a site any shoe lover must visit. With shoes made from recycled materials such as recycled TV screens. This is definitely a site that will be added to the favorites file on my computer. This shoe is definitely a favorite of mine.

5.Cri-de-Coeur.com - Self described as "Eco-luxe" this is high fashion for the Eco-friendly fashion lovers. These shoes are produced from materials such as hemp, cloth, and fake patent leather, and combined to create eye catching footwear.

What is an eco-shoe?

Eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, going green. These are all phrases that are becoming more and more common place as more Americans seek to reduce their "carbon footprint" and find ways to become nicer to our planet. So what do we mean when we say these phrases and speak of being Eco-friendly? Eco-friendly refers to goods and services, laws, and guidelines that are safe for the environment and or its natural inhabitants. These who consider themselves to be environmentally friendly are conscious of how the products and services they use will affect the world around them. They consider the impact of everything from apparel to food, and even household products. One item of apparel that is gaining momentum and becoming a large part of the fashion industry is Eco-shoes.

Shoes that are environmentally safe and good for the environment follow the same rules as all other "green" apparel; they are free of poisons and toxins that harm the environment, they are not made of materials that require the harming of animals or other endangered species, and they rely heavily on recycled and reused materials. The innovation and creativity that is being seen in today's Eco-friendly shoes is incredible. The variations and variety of shoe offerings has increased significantly over the last few years. Today, women can have environmentally-friendly shoes and not have to sacrifice being fashionable and chic. Having an awareness of the damage we are doing to the planet and doing your part to decrease the damage doesn't just apply to hippies and "tree huggers" anymore.

Today's green fashion options are making it possible to do both. There are trendy, fashionable shoe options today; from high heels to wedges, to boots and flats that are as much fashionable as they are good for the planet. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle doesn't just apply to paper and plastic anymore. In fact, it is some of these very materials that innovative shoe designers are using for their shoe creations. The new shoe options available in Eco-friendly footwear is a major contributing factor to why this segment of footwear is exploding. Shopping for shoes in this shoe segment has become much easier as more shoe brands are stepping up their efforts on shoe offerings and more brands are popping up left and right. Its so easy to find shoe options today, there is a website ready and available to meet your shoes needs at every turn on the Internet. It is much harder today to tell the green shoe from the other. Green shoes made of fake suede look just like the real thing. The moral of the story is that you don’t have to make huge changes all at once to make an impact on our planet. Small changes count too. The next time you are shopping for a great new pair of heels, just consider giving green a try.

My Story

I have loved fashion for as long as I can remember. I started flipping through fashion magazines and catalogs when that is all I could do (not that much has changed now, I still do mostly flipping). My first publication I got in the mail was the J. Crew catalog. I would flip through it and tag the pages with clothes I really liked. Soon Seventeen and Sassy followed. While my style changed as I grew, my love of fashion never did. Fast forward several years and it is time to be done with high school and head off to college. While I loved fashion, like many practical people, when it was time for me to head off to college and start my big girl life, I never even considered studying fashion; I remained practical and chose to study business. I never thought that everyday girls, like myself, got jobs in fashion; we got "normal" jobs. Fast forward four more years and I graduated from college! After graduating and not being able to find a job in marketing, which is what I studied, I took a job at an insurance company. Normal job, Yes, exciting job, NO. Taking a job in the insurance industry was somewhat of a double edged sword; it was good I had a job but as the only real work experience on my resume, it also meant I became stuck in the insurance industry, no one would give me a job outside the insurance industry. I went from one insurance company to another. Well, after a few years and many uninspired, monotonous days in my cubicle I had an unplanned change occur; my company downsized and I was laid off. While this may seem like a bad thing, it actually turned out to be a great thing. I was unhappy and wanted a change but wasn't sure how to go about making it happen. I took this time as an opportunity to get away from playing it safe and take a chance. I decided to not go back to work and go back to school instead. So I have kind of come full circle, I have made my way back to flipping through magazines, this time not just for fun but because I am a fashion student! I am so glad I decided to step out and take a chance. I am loving school, loving life and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Girls Night Out

This weekend I was reminded once again why a great pair of shoes can not only make an outfit, it can do wonders for your confidence. I have been lately working on cutting back on my shopping and extra spending. Anyone who knows me knows that this is a real challenge for me. I am almost physically unable to go into a mall and not come out with something. With a girls weekend planned to celebrate my good friend's birthday, I took this opportunity to put my quest to save money to the test. I decided I was not going to buy a new outfit, I was going to shop locally and by locally, I mean my closet. After ripping everything with potential out of my closet and trying numerous combinations, I felt good about my final choice, I settled on black shorts and an emerald green loose-fitting top which I paired with my favorite Jessica Simpson Platform sandals. I'm feeling good and I'm ready for Saturday! Fast forward to Saturday...I'm getting ready at my friends house and I think this can't be the same outfit I tried on days before, I am not feeling this at all! What happened between really feeling good about my choice on Friday and hating it on Saturday? Its looking like its not going to be a good night...but I found my silver lining when I finished getting dressed and put on the finishing piece..my shoes! I took one final look in the mirror and now I'm not seeing how much I don't like my outfit, I'm seeing how great these heels make my legs look in my shorts, how much taller I appear, and I remember why I love these shoes so much!

I'm glad I didn't let not loving my outfit put me in a bad mood and ruin my night or my friend's birthday celebration. Another reason, I'm glad is because I happened to be in the right place at the right time to meet the lady who was stepping out in these very fabulous tan and yellow heels. Odd enough of all places, I meet her in the bathroom! Weird I know, but hey, I really wanted to know where her shoes were from. I am always on the lookout for great shoes when I am out that I can feature on the blog under what I have deemed Street Sole, what everyday women you come across are wearing, and how they express themselves with their shoes. Send me pictures of your favorite shoes or fabulous shoes you see while out and about, I would love to feature them on the blog! Her shoes were from Heels.com, check out the site, they have some great shoe selections!

I know to some it may seem over the top to hear someone say, a pair of shoes can have that kind of impact on their mood, but I really believe it. When I put on a great pair of heels, not only does it make me walk a little taller, it really is a confidence booster. You might have a "fat day" where you don't like any piece of clothing in your closet and nothing seems to look good on you, but with a great pair of heels, you never have to worry about a fat day or your shoe not fitting.
So the next time you are hating everything in your closet, throw on your highest pair of heels, stand tall, and strut with confidence!



With Sole,

Bianca

Post-It Art

I came across these creations and I had to share them. Who knew post-its were good for more than scribbling down phone numbers and writing to-do lists on? Check out how these artist have found more creative ways to use post-it notes.Who knew with a few strategically placed post-its you could create real works of art. Happy 30th anniversary post-it!

Artist Rebecca Murtaugh has been using post-it notes as her
art medium for several years now. The pic above is her first art project with post-its, She covered her entire bedroom, walls and furniture include..

Who says you have to spend a lot of money to bring new energy to your living space? Check out the refrigerator ,interior designer, David Stark refurbished with post-it notes

a mantel above the fireplace designed for Metropolis Magazine's Home Exhibition by Post Typography's Bruce Willen

Another of Willen's creations. A colorful addition to a wall in a living room space