Happy Shoe Year!

It’s officially 2015!  Yay!  Time to try something new, right?  How about Pantone’s new color of the year?

Meet Marsala.  Says Pantone, “Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. This hearty, yet stylish tone is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.” 

And shoes too!

The Mandy by Coach is a nice kitten heel pump, with a pointed toe adorned with a two-layer folded bow.  Even that’s topped with gold!  There are so many nice details here… not the least of which is the color.  Also available in black, which is a little more pricey than the burgundy, which clocks in at $116 at Loehmann’s.

The Chuck Taylor Classic by Converse is a classic in a new color: it has the white rubber sole, but the canvas vamp is Marsala.  It’s a way to try out something new in a way you already feel comfortable!  Yours for $50 at Amazon.

The Lario by Wanted is a simple round toe ballet flat, though it has two special features: the faux snake vamp, and the Marsala color.  Elastic around the foot helps keep it on and a little gold button adorns the heel, but otherwise we’re talking sweet and simple.  Find them at Shoes.com for $39.

The Zyla by BCBGeneration is a kid suede pointed toe pump in the proper shade of Marsala.  The heel is 3.5 inches tall, and the ankle strap is adorned with square golden studs.  Ladylike with just a wee bit of an edge!  Find them at Overstock for $47.

Hungry for Marsala?  I hope so!  Enjoy 2015’s flavorful color of the year.

Sales this weekend:

Sorry ladies; I’m still on vacation.  But go out with your new gift cards in hand and see what you can find!

Philly Fringe

September has arrived, and with it the Philly Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe!  Over two weeks of the unusual, the obscure, the absurd, the unexpected, and the oddball, taking place all around the city.  There’s something for everyone, and it’s a great way to experience something new and support local artists!  In honor of the festival, I give you shoes inspired by three shows you might be interested in:

In Barbie Blended: A Pop Rockin' Musical by Theatre Underground, Sophie wants to be a rock star. Her mom wants her to be a beauty queen. Her neighbor wants her to look like Megan Fox. And Barbie wants her to become a woman. A world premiere musical that investigates the consequences of growing up in the caffeinated age of twitter, pop music, and pornography.

 

Of course it’s a pink shoe—we’re talking about Barbie here!  The Glamm by BCBGeneration is pink (or black) suede, with a one-inch platform and four-inch heel—and it covered in pink rhinestones!  Pink rhinestones, people!!  Yours for $118 from Macy’s.

Devotedly, Sincerely Yours is a swingin’ big band portrait of a courageous female starlet of the United Service Organization (USO) who risked her life to entertain American troops overseas during World War II. This compilation of archival texts and songs investigates war as experienced by a "soldier in greasepaint."

Why, hello sailor!  These Sexy Sailor Shoes are bright blue with white stripes around the foot and peep toe.  The finishing touch is the bow and red anchor at the toe!  Available in small, medium, or large (6, 8, or 10) from HalloweenCostumes.com.

Open Air is the festival’s signature event.  Imagine walking along on a balmy evening in late September, and you’re looking up the Ben Franklin Parkway. You speak into your phone and twenty-four robotic searchlights—placed along a half-mile stretch of the Parkway—move to the sound of your voice, interpreting your inflections into motion and transforming the city’s skyline. You stop speaking (or singing or humming or rapping) and the lights continue to move, controlled now by other speakers collaborating with you from up and down the Parkway.

I love how the Marilyn by Type Z looks just like the light beams of Open Air criss-crossing over the Parkway.  It’s made of black suede and faux leather, has a 3.5-inch heel and half-inch platform, and would add just a touch of rock to any outfit.  Also available in pink on red, tan on nude, navy, gray, brown, and black patent; your choice for $79 from Zappos.

Barbie Blended runs tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday in the Gershwin Y Blackbox Theater (tickets are $15).  Devotedly, Sincerely Yours is also tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church (tickets are $18).  Open Air runs from September 20 to October 14 along the Parkway, and it’s free!  There are a ton of other options too—go!  Explore!

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: End of summer sale—save up to 65%

Bakers: Take 25% off select styles

Bloomingdale’s: Free returns on orders through 9/19; free shipping on orders over $150; extra savings if you’re a Loyallist!

Call it Spring: Free shipping on all orders over $45

Lord & Taylor: Save 20% off the newest looks (with limited exclusions) with savings pass or promo code NOW

Macy’s: Fall shoe sale: 20-30% off seasonal styles (and sandal clearance, 50-75% off)

Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Steve Madden: 30% off using code BOOT30

Double Duty Flip Flops

So on my trip to the beach this weekend, I packed about five pairs of shoes. Shoes for dinner, shoes for the beach... by the end, I was relying on a single pair. Waterproof, sandproof, fancy enough for dinner, easy to walk in the sand, and matched everything: The Libby Gem Stone Flip Flop by Mossimo was just perfect. And I got them cheap! You can too—$3.88 if you’re a 5, $12.99 if you’re a 9 or 10, from Target. (Also available in bronze, black, silver, and blue.)

If you’re headed to the beach this summer, I give you some more picks for flip-flops that (1) won’t get ruined in the sand or water, (2) can go straight from the beach to the bar, (3) won’t be responsible for any twisted ankles in the sand, and (4) aren’t so expensive that you feel you’ve lost a limb if you leave one behind. (Though you’ll still miss them, ‘cuz they’re adorable!) The Lucy Flip Flop by OKA b. is oh-so-classy in black and red (also available in all tan), and that flower is waterproof, unlike all those fabric flowers out there. Yours for $20 from DSW.

How about a bow? The Gilda Thong Sandal by BCBGeneration will match everything you pack, and is just too cute with that adorable flower-bow thing on the toe. You can pick them up at Macy’s for just under $17.

  Time for a little more summer color! Oh, and rhinestones—the Jeweled Thong Jelly Sandal has rhinestones going all up its front, ending in a tiny bow. Lovely! Find them at Bare Feet Shoes for $18.

  The Latai Gem Flower Flip Flops by Mossimo Black come in silver or gold and have a nice-sized rhinestone flower at the toe. Find them at Target for between $7 and $11. Slip on these babies and you’re ready for a day or night at the shore.

Enjoy!