Save the Ta-tas!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same.  There are a bazillion pink products out there that contribute a little towards research, so if you’re going to buy shoes this month, why not one of these?

The Brown Disco Baby Breast Cancer Ribbon Boots by Ariat are made of exquisitely detailed leather: embroidery, rhinestones, punching, and scalloping.  Look, it’s even pink on the inside!  It’s got a one-inch heel and an eight-inch shaft.  Find them at PFI for $80 ($10 of which goes to breast cancer research).

The Maryellen by Ellie is a nude patent slingback pump with a peep toe, four-inch heel, platform, and pink sole.  (Adorable!)  And the print on the inside of the shoe is covered with little pink ribbons.  I’m not sure what the donation amount is exactly, but it says that some of the money will go towards fighting breast cancer.  Find them at My Shoe Addiction for $54 (whole sizes only).

The 990 by New Balance has a pigskin upper with mesh inserts for breathability to the stability-enhancing ABZORB midsole plus something called ENCAP to promote a healthy gait.  New Balance will contribute 5% of the suggested retail price of sales from the Lace Up for the Cure Collection with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000 each year to Susan G. Komen through 2012.  Yours for $150 from New Balance (that’s a $7.50 donation).

These Multi Ribbon Flip Flops have an interesting pattern on the sole—four ribbons meeting in the middle in a pinwheel shape.  It has a white upper, white and pink ribbon charm detail, pink side soles, and can be found at ShopKomen for $20.

These don’t come with any donations that I can find, but they look cool so I’ll include them:

This satin pump has a rhinestone-edged awareness ribbon above the peep toe.  It’s a really lovely shape, with a three-inch(ish) heel—and it comes in a bunch of other colors in case you want the ruby to support AIDS awareness, the white for bone cancer awareness, the black for melanoma awareness, or the silver for brain cancer awareness (among others).  Your choice for $71 from Light in the Box.

I don’t want to add to the pink saturation of the month, but it’s worth thinking about.  Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States.  So wear your sunblock, and get screened for breast cancer when your doctor recommends.  I’d hate to lose any of you to something preventable, okay?

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Fall boot sale (save up to 25% on select styles)
Bakers: 25% off over 100 styles
Call it Spring: Free shipping on orders over $45
Lord & Taylor: 25% off one pair of boots; 30% off two or more pairs
Macy's: 15% off one pair, 20% off two pairs, 30% off three or more pairs
Nine West: Buy one, get one half off

Fresh Ink

In case you haven’t caught any of the eight thousand tattoo shows on TV lately, ink is making a major comeback.  In fact, the Philadelphia Seaport Museum has a new exhibit featuring both contemporary designs and their historical context.  Not quite brave enough to go in for the real thing?  Here are some tattoos you can take off at the end of the day.

So many classic tattoo images on the Teeze by Pleaser: skulls, birds, roses, anchors, winged hearts with “Love” banners...  The ribbon seals the deal for me over that little keyhole—so cute!  Find them on Endless for $80.

The Dayna by Ellie is rockabilly to the max!  A leopard-print T-strap upper, and a cork wedge with tattoo imagery all over its 4.25-inch wedge and 1.75-inch platform—I love that little swallow near the toe!  Whole sizes only; find them at Sears for about $34 (and hey, free shipping!).

Or you could just go full country in these:

The Anteater Print Boots by Ariat have a decoratively cut brown leather toe and a cream suede shaft screen-printed with tattoos!  Even the top edge of the boot is scalloped—I love all the detailing.  These beauties can be yours for $140 from Drysdales.

The Sashaa by Betsy Johnson are a cheery yellow flat (also available in turquoise) covered in tattoo imagery all the way to its metallic toe cap.  So cute!  Find them at Shoes.com for about $66.

And for the sassy bride:

Yes, those say “Till Death Do Us Part”!  Imagine your guests’ faces when you kneel during the ceremony—hilarious.  Etsy seller taylorsays does custom work as well, so if you can dream it, she can do it.  These sky-high beauties (almost six inches tall!) will run you $240.

Past to Present: Tattoo Paintings runs until May 20.  Inspired by what you see?  Go aboard the warship USS Olympia (part of the museum) and get inked at the Mighty Warship Olympia Tattoo Festival II, running from June 1-3!  How awesome would that be, getting tattooed aboard a ship that served in the Spanish-American War?  Come on, that’s awesome.