KoP Gets Even Bigger

Hold the phone…what’s this?  The King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall in the United States (you heard me, Mall of America), is expanding?  That’s right!  They’re building a connector between the Plaza and the Court, which will add 155,000 square feet to an already-enormous mall.  There will be a fancy food court…valet parking… 50 new stores and restaurants.  (Fifty?  How is that possible?)

There’s no list of new stores yet so I can’t say if there are any new shoe stores in the mix, but I do know that KoP is already a haven for shoe lovers.  You could go to Aldo…

This sweet little flat is the Zicia.  The vamp is made of ballerina-pink microfiber, capped at the pointed toe with metallic silver.  And look at the pretty silver bow at the toe too?  Could this get any more adorable?  Also available in black; on sale for $28 at Aldo.

…or Payless…

This is the Raven by Lower East Side.  While the wine suede outer isn’t quite marsala, it is in the same family.  (Mmmm…wine.)  I do love the slouchiness, and that little buckle around the back.  A zipper on the side lets you in.  Also available in black suede and black, gray, and brown faux leather; your choice for $35 at Payless.

…or Steve Madden…

The bright flowers-on-black motif on the Vincible is kind of sexy, don’t you think?  (Not to mention that 4.5 inch heel… looks taller than that.  Looks very, very tall.)  I also love the curved cut of the upper part of the vamp—it makes such a lovely shape.  Find them at Steve Madden for $100.

…or Salvatore Ferragamo…

This gorgeous sandal is made of snake print leather, delicate black lace…and feathers!  Look how nicely the feathers are arranged.  The heel is just shy of four inches, and a slender ankle strap keeps them on.  This is fun and sophisticated at the same time.  Yours for $1350 from Salvatore Ferragamo.

…or my favorite, DSW.

Oooooooh… pretty.  The Nakkita by Betsey Johnson almost looks like those iridescent butterflies, but made of teal and blue rhinestones of different sizes.  There’s a 4.75-inch heel and a half-inch platform, and a zipper up the back to let you in.  Find them at DSW for $130.

The expansion won’t be done until October 2016, but hey!  There’s still plenty of shopping to do until then!

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: 25% off sitewide
Call it Spring: Extra 30% off all sale
Lord & Taylor: 20% off sale and clearance with code WINTER
Macy's: Extra 10% off with code SALE
Payless: Clearance sale: up to 60% off

Long Live Betsey!

You may have noticed that Betsey Johnson is on the new season of DWTS!  Let me just say, she was ROBBED the first week.  Her dance was great.  She moves great.  (The lady is over 70 and can do cartwheels and splits.  If I did a split, someone would have to drive me to the hospital.  I am only partially kidding.)  Yes, there were some problems with feather boas at the end, but… FIVES?  FIVES?!  Judges, j’accuse.

This week, the judges are all “ALL HAIL QUEEN BETSEY!”  Now that’s more like it.  (Though they were also all, “We love your make-under!”  Umm, hello.  This is Betsey Johnson.  Let her be the awesomeness that is Betsey Johnson.)

In honor of Betsey, here is a selection of her designs that you can wear while cheering her on this season!

Not just leopard… HEART leopard.  Heart leopard PONY.  Because that is how Betsey rolls.  Can we also appreciate the gold down the inside of the 5.25-inch heel?  (Don’t worry; the platform’s 1.75 inches.)  And the zipper up the front?  Very nice.  Yours for $110 from DSW.

The Lavitaa is a wedge high top in color-blocked black, white, and pink.  And look at the zippers!  Not only the one up the back, but the curved ones up the sides of the front.  (And look at the lithe gold nameplate at the base of the three-inch wedge!  Heart.)  Also available in a brown and black combo; your choice for $55 from 6pm.

The Mortica is a pretty little T strap pump trimmed in black suede.  (And the suede trimmed with little silver skulls wearing bows!)  The rest of the vamp is a floral and lace print in blacks, pinks, and yellows.  The heel is five inches, but the platform will help you out with that.  Find them at Heels.com for $70.

LOOK at the flowers on the Meadowww.  It’s adorable.  It takes a classic round toe bootie and makes it something special.  Also available in blush; available from Amazon for $40-$125 depending on size and color.

Go Betsey!  We believe in you!

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: 20% off select comfort styles

Bakers: All wedges $20 off

Call it Spring: $20 off lace-up boots

Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular and sale with code SAVEMORE

Macy's: Extra 10% off with code AUTUMN

Payless: Comfort sale-- up to 40% off

Dîner en Blanc

This Thursday is going to be one of the summer’s hottest events: Dîner en Blanc.  Hundreds of people will don their most glamorous white outfits, grab a picnic table and a friend, and make their way to an undisclosed location for the fanciest picnic dinner you’ve ever seen.

This is a dress-to-impress event, so if you’re going, perhaps you’d like to step out in a pair of these:

Ooh, the polka dots on the Adelia by Menbur make it feel so summery, don’t they?  White mesh surrounds the foot and covers the 4.75-inch heel, and a flower adorns the peep toe.  (The platform, though, is just plain satin.)  Yours for $198 from Macy’s.

Just LOOK at the rhinestone detail on the heel of the Kiara by Badgley Mischka.  Gorgeous!  Rounds, baguettes, pears, marquis…dozens of sparking stones make this simple satin peep toe something extraordinary.  Also available in emerald, red, sapphire, and “latte” (a sort of champagne-y color); your choice for $245 from Zappos.

Feeling a little more fun?  How about the Heart by Blue by Betsey Johnson?  A half-dozen straps cross the front of the foot, each attached by a tiny silver heart.  Adorable!  The vamp is covered in subtle white lace, and a zipper up the side lets you in.  Also available in silver metallic and black lace—find them at Nordstrom for $140.

The Lido by Caparros is such an interesting shape, how the lace swoops up the front to the ankle strap.  (Which has some elastic, by the way, to give you some extra comfort.)  The four inch heel is covered in white satin, and there’s a zipper up the back.  Also available in an equally sexy black lace; yours from DSW for $60.

Okay, my fancy diners!  Have a wonderful time on Thursday!

June Bride Week Part II

 Dear Shoe Fairy,

I am getting married next year and I am looking for teal, peep-toe heels that have an ankle strap. I wear a size 9 or 9.5, and can spend up to $100 (cheaper the better).  I am going to add peacock feathers to them. I'll try any height.  Maybe they’re more aqua than teal—something like these:

Can you help?

Catherine

Dear Catherine,

You bet I can help!  (And congratulations too, of course.)  This one already comes bedecked with peacock feathers:

And rhinestones too!  The Peacock Platform Sandal by Johnathan Kayne is beautiful blue satin, with folding details at the toe and on the ankle strap.  It’s got a 4.5-inch heel, but the 1.5-inch platform makes it feel like only three inches, which is eminently reasonable for a long day on your feet.  Size 9 comes in under $100 at $93, but the 9.5 is $122—find them both on Amazon.

Since your example photo was suede, I give you the Haylie by Besty Johnson.  The heel is sizable at 5.5 inches, but there’s a one-inch platform to help out.  (And the ankle strap will hold you in!)  These are just a smidge over your price range at $130, and you can find them at Heels.com.

If you want to have a hand in the shoes you wear, try the design-you-own feature from Nina.  Here I started with the Electra and just covered it in their teal blue luster satin.  Plus you get to pick what kind of sole you get—so I picked silver glitter for you, of course.  This heel is four inches, but there’s also a 3.25-inch version—each will run you $125 at Nina Shoes.

Response from Catherine:

Omg love them all!!!!!  Maybe I will change my shoes every hour.

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: Extra 20% off everything

Bakers: 20% off two pairs, 30% off three or more pairs

Bus Stop Boutique: Sale tonight!  15% off everything

Call it Spring: Extra 30% off all sale shoes

Lord & Taylor: 20% off sale and clearance with code JULY.  Also, sandal sale!  25% off one pair, 30% off two pairs, 40% off three or more pairs

Macy's: Extra 20% off with code REDHOT.  Also, 20% off one pair, 25% off two pairs with code GREAT

Nine West: Buy one, get one half off the entire site

Payless: Every sandal now on sale, plus buy one get one half off, plus 10% off whole order with any sandal purchase (code ZZBOGO)

Saks: Designer sale-- up to half off

Cherry Blossom Festival

The skies are gray, it’s raining…but the blossoms are coming!  The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival began on Wednesday with sushi making and karaoke, and continues with events through the end of April.

Our unfortunate winter means the trees aren’t quite ready for their close-up, but the organizers are pretty sure there will be something blooming by next weekend.  (There better be.  I don’t think I can take much more of this.)  But until then, here are some pink petals to hold you over!

The Iris Sandal is so simple and exuberant at the same time.  The upper is pink satin (including T-strap and flower), and it rests on the tiniest of wedges—so lovely under jeans, or with a skirt, or whatever!  Also available in ivory and a really lovely blue; your choice for $79 from Betsey Johnson. 

These sculpted beauties are the Flower Power to Ya by Mel.  The body of the sandal is a pale pink jelly material, but each strap is adorned with a big jelly flower with a metallic gold stud at the center.  They just scream “summer,” don’t they?  I want to eat an ice cream cone in these.  Whole sizes only; yours for $35 from ModCloth.

The Adele by Badgley Mischka is fluffy with flowers!  Two large blossoms adorn the T-strap on each shoe, whose body is pink satin.  The heel is 4.75-inches high, but the platform will help out with that.  How perfect for a spring wedding?  Find them at Shoes.com for $165.

The Classic-Floral by TOMS would be perfect for wandering through the blossoms.  (Next week.  When they bloom.  Because they WILL bloom next week, won’t they?!)  The cotton upper is strewn with pink flowers everywhere, and you know the deal, that TOMS will donate a pair when you pick up a pair for yourself.  Which you can, for $54, from Nordstrom. 

The Isis by Dirty Laundry is so bold and bright and beautiful!  The cork wedge is four inches at the heel and an inch under the peep toe, and is topped with a fabric slingback and flowers.  Also available in white, turquoise, sand, black, and mint (the mint is eyelet!); your choice for $40 from Zappos.

So hold tight—one more week and the flowers will be here.  Just a little longer now!

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: Almost all boots 40% off

Bus Stop Boutique: Happy 7th birthday, Bus Stop Boutique!  They're having a party next Wednesday from 6-9 PM.  Save 15% on all spring goodies, plus you get a special prize if you find one of the seven lucky pennies hidden throughout the store!  Can I just say here how much I love Bus Stop Boutique?  Happy birthday, girls.  Here's to seven more.  

Lord & Taylor: 15% off regular and clearance with code SPRING

Macy's: 20% off one pair, 25% off two pairs, 30% off three or more pairs

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.

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.

Polka Dots

So my colleague Melanie told me she found these graphic black and gray polka dot heels at the Nine West Outlet at the Gallery at Market East, and asked for a PSF polka dots post!  Absolutely—polka dots are SO cute for spring.  While I can’t find any pics of the ones at Nine West, I did see them in person and they’re very cute.  The pattern is similar to this, actually:

The Shelley by Bandolino has a burgundy patent leather 2.25-inch heel, with burgundy patent at the toebed and piping as well.  Find them at Endless for $53.

Nine West does have a lot of other polka dotted options as well, even if I couldn’t find a photo of Melanie’s—like these:

The Crusader has a five-inch patent leather heel, one-inch platform, and bow at its peep-toe.  And look close at the bow—it’s got a patent leather buckle around it!  And the red insole is so sexy, right?  Yours for $99.

Gaaa!  Love!  The Alana by Fergalicious has a satin upper and ruffle, synthetic sole, and...I’m sorry; I got distracted by how adorable they are.  Where am I?  Oh yes.  Also available in black; find them at DSW for $30.

Oh god, now I’m just completely overwhelmed by cuteness.  The Canddee by Betsey Johnson has a polka dot fabric upper, T-strap, satin bow at the peep-toe, and lightly padded footbed.  Also available in black with white polka dots and a light pink bow, black, nude, or fuchsia satin, or leopard with a black bow—could these be any cuter?  Find them at Zappos for $99.

So nautical!  This polka-dotted wedge by DIVA Lounge has a serious tan wedge, fabric upper, slingback with silver buckle, and a bow at its peep-toe.  Also available in black and pink from Amazon for $27.

And just in case it rains (it is spring, after all):

Don’t they just make you want to sing in the rain?  (Heads up, though, if you’re planning on swinging around lampposts Singing in the Rain-style.  That ends in injuries.)  These blue beauties have one-inch block heels, eleven-inch shafts with a fourteen-inch circumference, and a buckle at the top.  Find them at Target for $33.

Aren’t polka dots happy?  Go forth and be happy!

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is Monday!  So begins the year of the dragon:

Philly Shoe Fairy’s first cowboy boot—and it’s rockin’!  The Dragon by Old Gringo has a leopard-print leather upper, studs, 2.75-inch heel, and embroidered orange dragon—and hey, did you know tangerines are often used as decorations on Chinese New Year?  In Chinese, their name sounds similar to the word for luck.  But if the orange isn’t doing it for you, it also comes in a brown-and-bone combo, as well as the classic black.  Find them on Zappos for $550.

If you want to decorate properly for Chinese New Year, you’ll need peonies!

While any kind of flower will do as a symbol of a new beginning, peonies are known as the “queen of flowers.”  Long live the queen in the Iconn-L by Betsey Johnson!  This pink floral print beauty has a 4.5-inch stacked heel, one-inch platform, and zipper up the back.  Plus a bow on the peep toe and folded ruffles up the front!  Beautiful.  They can be yours for $66 from 6pm.  (Also available in a black floral print as well.)

Also good luck?  Songbirds:

A red bird might be luckier, but any songbird will do!  These beauties have a printed satin upper, serious heel and platform, and snake-y yellow rhinestone feature up the front of the foot.  $60 from Light in the Box.

But perhaps the most iconic colors of Chinese New Year are red and gold:

I love this!  The Mahla by Penny Loves Kenny is a red suede pump with a gold cap toe and T-strap—not to mention the grosgrain bow, 4.75-inch heel, and 1.75-inch platform.  Love, love, love.  Also available in black/silver and nude/gold; find them at DSW for $60.

Gung hay fat choy, all!

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: 20% off all new arrivals

Bakers: $30 off ankle boots

Bare Feet Shoes: Half off Steve Madden shoes, and up to half off boots

Call it Spring: Free shipping on orders over $40

Joan Shepp: 50-70% off all fall merchandise

Nine West: 25% off select platforms

Payless: BOGO!  Buy one, get one half off

Steve Madden: Spend $100 and get 20% off; spend $125 and get 25% off (Plus free shipping on orders over $75 with code SMFREESHIP)

Lord & Taylor: An extra 50% off already-reduced shoes, 50% off a selection of boots, and an extra 20% off using code FINAL

Bloomingdales: Winter clearance: 30-65% off a selection of styles