Super Bowl

This NFL isn’t going to let a little thing like a northern winter stop them from holding the Super Bowl this weekend!  Now NFL fans the country over will get a sense of what our Januarys are like.  Every single year.  Cold and bleak.  So very cold.

We have two out of town teams coming in.  The first is the Seattle Seahawks, the only NFL franchise in the Pacific Northwest.  Their colors are college navy…

The Skull Flat by Alexander McQueen is this fall’s hottest silhouette, with a subtle edge: the sequined skull on the front!  Ooh, me likey.  It also comes in black, but the blue is more fun!  Find them at Nordstrom for $645.

…action green…

The Evelixa by Nina is the bright action green of the Seahawks!  It’s a classic satin peep toe pump, but there’s a ribbon ruffled across the toe, which gives it just a touch of party.  It has a 3.5-inch heel and a half-inch platform, and is also available in red, navy, white, grape, and black.  The grape is fun!  But take your pick—they’re $54 at 6pm.

…and wolf grey.

The Tonal Fur Wrap Boot by Muk Luks is a boot-like slipper covered in gray fur… wolf indeed!  How cozy would these be just around the house?  Better than sitting outside at the Meadowlands, definitely!  Also available in brown, but I have to say, the brown is kind of ugly.  Stick with the gray.  Yours for $16 from Wal-Mart.

The Seahawks playing the Denver Broncos, whose colors are Broncos orange…

Ooh, I like these.  The Neevo by Ted Baker is a beautiful suede pump with a pointed toe, four-inch heel, and touches of gold everywhere!  See the little band at the bottom of the heel?  At the tippy-tip of the toe?  And the whole sole is gold too!  Also available in two other equally beautiful options (pink and purple)—your choice for $120 from Zappos.

…Broncos navy…

The Nikita by Fergie may have a simple silhouette, but the shiny patent leather and touch of silver metal at the four-inch wedge make it a little unexpected.  It also comes in black with silver, and a really lovely burgundy with gold—find them all at Shoebuy for $57.

…and white.

Okay, I just love these.  The Thora Evening Pumps by Badgley Mischka may look simple, but that flower… that flower!  It’s so sculptural.  It’s like pages in a book.  I am fascinated by this flower.  The heel is 3.25 inches high, and is available in a light pink in addition to the white.  Yours for $195 from Macy’s.

So wear your team colors and let’s hope the people in north Jersey don’t freeze on Sunday!

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Take an extra 20% off boots
Bus Stop Boutique: Winter warehouse sale now through Sunday!  All shoes $25-$100.  Buy 4 pairs and get the 5th free!  Bring your own bag and they'll give you an extra $5 off.
Lord & Taylor: 15% off regular and sale and 20% off clearance with code FINAL
Macy's: Take an extra 15% off with code WKND
Payless: Buy one, get one half off
Steve Madden: Take an extra 35% off clearance with code 

Restaurant Week

The only thing better than delicious food is getting delicious food for a deal.  Fortunately, it’s Restaurant Week!  Almost 125 restaurants are offering three-course dinners for $35 (or lunch for $20!) between now and September 27.

Oh, and the only thing better than getting delicious food for a deal is wearing awesome shoes when you go.  How about shoes inspired by some of the restaurants?  Let’s start off with some cornbread, yellow tomato gazpacho, pork belly with wax bean and green tomato, and malted milk custard from Pumpkin BYOB.

The Tricky Wedge Sandal by Charles by Charles David is such a lovely shoe: a woven 4.25-inch wedge and one-inch platform topped by straps of orange patent leather.  Almost like pumpkins in a basket, wouldn’t you say?  Also available in navy, nude, and black; your choice for $60 from DSW.

Or perhaps you’re in the mood for horiatiki salad, keftedes, leg of lamb with mint pistachio pesto, and loukoumades at Opa:

The Emera by Vince Camuto is very evocative of the Greek isles, what with its suede and leather upper studded with round and rectangular rhinestones.  It zips up the back to let you in, and is also available in black, aqua, and an especially lovely violet.  Yours for $66 from Nordstrom.

Maybe head to Oyster House, and enjoy four oysters on the half shell, clams casino, sautéed flounder, and s’mores:

The Pearl Pointy Pump by Alexander McQueen is a red suede pump with a pointed toe, 3.75-inch heel with a plate of gold around the back of the heel—studded with pearls!  Pearls, you know, from oysters.  Well, not these, not really.  But for $1095 from Zappos, I suppose there was always the possibility…

So come hungry and enjoy the next two weeks!

Restaurant Week runs from now through September 27, but not Saturday, September 21.  Make your reservations today!

Go Flyers!

Hey hockey girls: the Flyers are back!  The lockout is over and the Broad Street Bullies take the ice tomorrow vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Are you ready?  And more importantly: are your shoes ready?  Here’s a selection in Flyers orange!

So summery!  The Sunscreen Jelly Sandal by American Eagle is just that: a plastic jelly sandal in bright orange (or blue, or black), with a silver buckle at the ankle, orange trim at the sole, and rainbow thread around the footbed.  The best part: they’re an absolute steal for $15 from Payless!

The Entourage by Fergie are just too cool!  The stained four-inch stacked heel and matching one-inch platform, the swervy cut to the body, and, of course, the orangey-black snakeskin around the heel, studded with small bronze spikes!  Awesome.  Also available in black and a lovely teal; yours for $60 from DSW.

The Abie by MIA is a pointed-toe suede flat, but what makes it special is the scallop detail all around the foot opening.  It has a leather lining, slightly cushioned leather footbed, and is also available in a sort of dark teal; your choice for $47 from 6pm.

The Shannon by Miz Mooz is a beautiful boot in orange (well, “whiskey”) leather.  It’s part Victorian bootie and part cowgirl boot, but 100% beautiful.  Comes in black or burgundy as well; find them all on Amazon for $130-$170 depending on the size.  (And while you’re there, zoom in on the buttons.  They’re great!)

The 314764WA020 7535 by Alexander McQueen is a striking orange suede sandal with curvy cutouts that are reminiscent of the Flyers logo, don’t you think?  And look at that heel!  Sort of a comma heel in reverse.  That’s a 4.25-inch heel, by the way, and a 1.25-inch platform.  Yours for $830 from Zappos Couture.

Happy hockey!

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Spring preview sale: save 20%
Bakers: Save 40% off full-price items, plus take an extra 20% off sale items
Bloomingdales: Save 30-65%
Lord & Taylor: Save 20% with savings pass or code FINAL
Macy's: Super Weekend Sale & Clearance: save 30-65%
Nordstrom: Winter savings up to half off

Shoes in the News: Shoes Worth Hiding

You must’ve seen it in the news this week: Bryn Mawr’s resident shoe queen Beth Shak is being taken to court by her ex-husband, who claims she hid a million dollars’ worth of shoes from her list of assets when they divorced three years ago.  Read that again: a MILLION DOLLARS’ worth of shoes!  This made not only national news, but international.  Here’s an article from Australia.  Here’s one from Pakistan!

In her honor, I give you a selection of outrageously expensive shoes that would surely have Mr. Shak’s lawyers hunting you down.

The Marlene by Jimmy Choo is just effusively fun—purple suede, a six-inch heel with 1.5-inch platform, straps covered in teal goose feathers, and feathers dotted with tiny rhinestones.  Fun fun fun!!  These beauties can be found on Net-a-Porter for $1995.

The Wave Strappy Wedge Sandal by Alexander McQueen is so smooth: a shapely metallic ombre wedge (5.5 inches!), and undulating straps from your toes to your ankle.  My favorite line in the description?  “For the Alexander McQueen Spring 2012 collection, Sarah Burton drew inspiration from the architecture of Gaudi and diverse oceanic life.”  Must account for the $4630 price tag!  Still can’t resist?  They’re yours from Neiman Marcus.

If Cinderella got her shoes from a jewelry store instead of a fairy godmother!  The Dallifac by Manolo Blahnik have four-inch heels, leather everything, and straps covered in dazzling emerald-cut crystals.  Find them at Nordstrom for $1195.

Beth’s particular favorites?  Louboutins—700 of her pairs!

The Pluminette by Christian Louboutin is part of their 20^th Anniversary Capsule Collection, which features “a capsule collection compiled of favorite pieces from decades past.”  I’m not sure exactly which decade this is supposed to be from, but it’s pompom-tastic!  Crepe satin, ankle strap, 4.5-inch heel with half-inch platform, feather explosions (and red sole, of course)... this is a party shoe for sure.  Find them at Saks for $2450.

I sure hope the former Mrs. Shak wears a pair like these to her court date.  Awesome!

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: 15% off any purchase

Bakers: Buy one, get one half off—anything!

Bare Feet Shoes: Buy one, get one half off between now and the 4^th using code JULY4BOGO

Bus Stop Boutique: 20% off summer sandals and shoes until July 3

Lord & Taylor: 20% off with code JULY4 or savings pass

Macy’s: 10% off and free shipping with code FOURTH

Old Navy: $1 flip flop sale tomorrow only!

Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Better Than a Glass Slipper

So unless you’ve been under a rock for the past month or so, you may have heard a little something about a royal wedding that took place across the pond last Friday. Thousands (or even millions!) of people were waiting on tenterhooks to see Kate Middleton’s dress—who designed it? What would it look like—classic? Or fashion-forward? The dress (by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen) didn’t disappoint, except for one thing: not one photographer got a picture of her shoes?!

Wait no more! The Official Royal Wedding Website described them thus: The wedding shoes have been hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen and are made of ivory duchesse satin with lace hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. There aren’t any official pictures, but the general thought is that they looked similar to this pair, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen:

  This gorgeous pair will set you back $995. However, if you don’t live in a castle and haven’t just married a prince, there are a few cheaper ways to pull off this look.

  The Lightsout Slingback Pump by kelly & katie features lace over fabric, an almond-shaped peep-toe, a floofy accent at the toe, and 4.5” heels with a half-inch hidden platform. Only about $50; courtesy of DSW. 

Pumps not your style but still love the look of lace? Why not do lace in bootie form? How much do you love these? Trio by Glint has lace sides framed in ivory satin with a 3.5” heel, will set you back about $100, and can be found at Nordstrom.

And if you’re like me and wish the royal wedding dress had a little more sparkle to it, I’ll throw you a rhinestone or two:

  Open-Toe Pump 04325 by Menbur has a 3.75 inch heel, three-quarter inch platform, and is made of white silk adorned with white lace and white rhinestones. The little picture doesn’t do it justice; take a look at Amazon. You’re out of luck of you’re not a 6.5 or a 9.5, but if you are (and I am—hooray!) they can be yours for $110.

It might be a little tough to find lace shoes now, but give it a month or two and I’m confident you'll find a lot more as this trend catches on.

Sales this Weekend: 
Bare Feet Shoes: 20% off entire website with the code MOTHER20
Joan Shepp: Free shipping in the month of May
Lord and Taylor: 20% off storewide
Macy’s: Mother’s Day Sale, save 20-30%
Payless: Buy one, get one half off, now through May 16