Spring Trend: Flatforms

I remember my first pair of flatforms.  I was about 14 or 15 years old, and they were black velvet with two thick, embossed straps.  We bought them in the shoe store in the Sears shopping center in Commack, NY.  I was still learning my way around shoes and thought they were very stylish.

Years later I’d chuckle at those shoes, since they were really quite ugly when you got down to it.  Ugh, the flatform.  There’s nothing elegant about it.  What was the shoe world thinking?  It was the late 90s; there was so much wonky fashion there.

Today I am sad to report that the flatform is back in a big way.  I will be passing this time around, but if you missed it in the 90s and feel left out, now’s your chance!

The Hectic is a white faux leather sandal on a three-inch platform.  It’s got a wide strap over the toes, and a thick strap around the ankle with a silver buckle.  The white is very refreshing for summer, anyway!  Also available in black; your choice for $50 from ASOS.

This is the Original Flatform Sandal by Teva, which, sadly, combines all the best (worst?) parts of both Teva and the flatform.  (Sigh.)  The two-tone flatform is 1.5 inches at the toe and 1.75 at the heel, and the straps are made of traditional Teva textile in blue and black, thong-style at the toe.  Also available with white straps and an orange and black platform; find them at Nordstrom for $50.

The Strappy D’Orsay Flatform by Qupid is part espadrille and part flatform: a two-inch platform wrapped in braided jute, topped with a black faux leather sandal and ankle strap with golden buckle.  Yours for $40 from Charlotte Russe.

For the office, perhaps?  The Lace-Up Flatform by Kisser is a classic black Oxford atop a 2.5-inch white flatform.  Yours for $85 from Topshop.

Whether you try them or not, flatforms are here.  Hmm, I don’t see any velvet sandals here…

Go Union!

Can you believe it’s already been five seasons that the Philadelphia Union have been playing soccer in Chester?  And they’re already become such a part of the Philly sports landscape—that didn’t take long!  So if you’re one of the Union’s fans, you already know that the season begins tomorrow with an away game against the Columbus Crew, but next Saturday is the first home game against the Montreal Impact!  Get your tickets and be ready with shoes in the club colors: blue and gold.

The Royal Marriage by Irregular Choice is the perfect marriage of blue and gold!  The upper is leather trimmed with sparkling gold around the foot, and the round toe is adorned with a rainbow of blue and gold stripes in different materials.  The 3.5-inch heel is wrapped in gold metal too!  Yours for $102 from Heels.com.

Ooh, preeeeeeeeeetty.  The Delite Me by Luichiny has a sizeable shiny gold wedge (5.25 inches at the heel, and 1.5 inches under the toe) wrapped in faux suede laser-cut roses.  This will be just too perfect for summer, so grab a pair from Overstock for $75.

In case you’re going to one of their Wednesday games straight from work:

Perfect for work, and blue and gold for the game!  The Sonar Heels are faux suede trimmed in gold around the bottom of the foot, and decked out with bold gold chain across the toe.  It says, “It’s okay—I’ve got this.”  And you can get them for $72 from ASOS.

And finally, in homage to the stars on the Union logo:

The Star Stiletto Sandal by Giuseppe Zanotti is so shiny and beautiful!  You’d be the belle of PPL Park in these gorgeous things.  The upper is blue leather bedecked with almost a dozen golden stars, and a zipper up the back lets you in.  Yours for $1727 from Farfetch.

Go Union!  “I’m looking over a four-leaf clover…”

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: 20% off Stitch-N-Turn styles
Bakers: 20% off flats and sandals
Bloomingdales: $25 off a purchase of $100-$250; $50 off $250-$500; $100 off $500-$1000; $250 off $1000+
Lord & Taylor: Save 20% on regular and sale with code SALE or savings pass
Macy's: 25% off two or more pairs of shoes (regular, sale, or clearance!) with code SHOES
Nine West: Friends and Family sale-- 30% off your entire purchase
Payless: 30% off all comfort styles

Hop to It!

I can’t understand why people don’t like frogs.  I think frogs are adorable, with their tiny webbed feet and sweet little faces.  And their bright colors!  Frogs are beautiful.

Adventure Aquarium thinks so too, and have brought in 20 special guests for their new exhibit Frogs: Nature’s Messenger.  Frogs like the yellow banded poison dart frog:

Aww, look at him.  This frog has one of the loudest calls among poison dart frogs; their call can be heard from some distance and is described as an innocent-sounding, bird-like trill. It is the only poison frog known to aestivate, which means it will go dormant during the dry season.

The Pisces has the yellow and black of the frog on the four-inch heel and round toe, respectively.  (They say it’s an almond toe, but it looks round to me.)  The upper is faux suede, and it has an ankle strap with little silver buckle to finish off the look.  Yours for $56 from ASOS.

This little guy is the strawberry poison dart frog:

This species can be found primarily in Central America – and mostly in humid lowlands or forests, as well as in spansive, undisturbed areas like plantations.  It is known for its wide range of color morphs with up to 30 different variations.

The Lipstick Red/Royal Blue Patent Leather Ballerinas by Sergio Rossi are pretty much just what the name says!  I am sort of mesmerized by the shiny blue cap toes… I keep getting lost in their shininess.  They’re 100% leather, and are half off at Stylebop!  Now $272.

This is the dyeing poison dart frog:

This is one of the largest species of the dart frog family, capable of reaching average lengths of 2 inches.  It gets its name from a legend that members of various tribes in the Guianas of South America would rub the toxin from this frog onto the skin of young parrots, magically changing their green feathers to yellow or red.

The Bonnnie by Betsy Johnson (and no, that’s not a misspelling—three Ns in the name) is a beautiful blue peep-toe pump, with touches of the black polka dots that also adorn the dyeing poison dart frog.  (The netting on the toe is nice, but on the 4.25-inch heel—now that’s special.)  And see that pink shadow, under the toe?  Yeah, the sole is bright pink.  Pink-splosion!  Find them at Heels.com for $110.

So have I won you over to frogs?  Even if I haven’t, go to the aquarium and check them out!  Maybe they’ll win you over themselves.

Aloha!

It may still be a little early for things to be blooming outside (...freakishly warm winter not withstanding), but inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center it’s a tropical paradise!  That’s right, it’s time for the annual Philadelphia Flower Show, and this year’s theme is Hawaii: Islands of Aloha.  In the spirit of the Aloha State, here are some shoes sure to get you thinking warm thoughts!

An espadrille, of course!  The Helena has a tropical-print toe, raffia-covered 3.5-inch wedge, and canvas ankle straps. Just imagine it with a billowy skirt... perfect.  Find them at ASOS for about $36.

The Nancita has a slight heel and an almost jelly shoe-like upper.  The yellow has green and clear rhinestones in the starfish, and the other colors (black, seafoam, pink, blue, and white) have other flattering combos.  They run small, so maybe order a half-size up.  Find them at Nine West for $49.

These are really leis for your feet, aren’t they?  Multicolored flowers around the foot, raffia around the heel and platform... find a grass skirt and a coconut bra and you’re good to go!  Find them on Amazon (whole sizes only) for $60.

The Pethtel has a little bit of everything: cheetah print, zebra stripes, and of course tropical flowers!  Also available in a blue combo from Call it Spring for $30.

These just make you think of cocktails in straw umbrellas on a beach, don’t they?  No wonder Brian Atwood called it the Mojito!  The raffia runs down the almost five-inch heel, and it’s got a pink platform and strap at the toe, along with a blue strap at the ankle.  Find them at Neiman Marcus for $1,452.  (Waiter?  Where’s that mojito?)

Until Friday, aloha!

Go and escape to the tropics sometime this week—the show runs until Sunday, and is open til 9:30 PM on weeknights so you could even head over after work. Tickets are $27 for adults and $20 for students, and all proceeds support The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and its acclaimed urban greening programs, including City Harvest.  Thursday is even Girls Night Out, featuring food & wine tastings, health & beauty samplings, and tutorials, shopping, raffles.  Grab some girlfriends and go!