Back to School

If it’s the week after Labor Day, that means it’s back to school time!  Whenever I see the marbled notebooks in the store, and little tykes waiting on corners for the bus, I’m reminded of the back to school song by one of America’s greatest songwriters—that’s right, I’m talking about Adam Sandler’s immortal Back to School.

Ohhhhh...

Back to school,

back to school,

to prove to Dad that I’m not a fool.

If you ARE a fool, then jester shoes for you!  Bright yellow curly-toed shoes are topped with burgundy points tipped in bells!  (There’s a bell on the toe too, in case you missed it.)  The laces are burgundy too, which I think is a nice touch.  Yours for $46 from Costumes4Less.

I’ve got my lunch packed up,

my boots tied tight…

How cute, for back to school!  The Drench is made of Doc Martens signature vulcanized rubber, but in cheery red with white polka dots!  And look at the red laces up the front—be sure to tie them tight!  Yours for $100 from Dr. Martens.

I hope I don’t get in a fight!

Should you get in a fight, the Diablo is a legit boxing shoe!  Nylon mesh, patent leather vinyl, and a non-slip rubber sole all but ensure you’d win that fight.  (Err, though you might want to consider boxing lessons and not just boxing shoes if fighting is a habit for you.)  Available in eight different colors; your choice for $70 from Ringside.

Ohhhh...

Back to school,

back to school,

back to school...

Frankenshoes

At Halloween, I am reminded of a story—a story of a man who thought he could improve on the human design, and sewed together parts of different people to create a new, superior creature.

The man was Dr. Victor Frankenstein.  I think we all remember how that turned out.

And yet, I keep seeing the same thing in shoe form.  Some designer, in a room somewhere, has a stroke of design genius (or just a stroke, I sometimes wonder), and the result is a shoe that honestly looks like it should be two different shoes.  Or three different shoes.  I christen these “Frankenshoes”: parts of many shoes sewn together to make a new, unnatural creature.  Take this one:

I see three different shoes in the Moya: an oxford (seen in the punched dot detail around the foot), a short boot (since the laces stop just above the ankle), and a tall boot.  But it’s got an air-cushioned insole, so at least you’ll be comfy while other people scratch their heads!  Yours from Dr. Martens for $157.

The Oruga is part Peter Pan boot, part moccasin, and, I don’t know, part fan boat, I think.  (Just look at the sole!  Definitely part fan boat.)  At least the yellow suede is very happy!  Find them at Camper for $150.

Okay, so the Sneek by Airwalk is definitely part sneaker and part wedge, but the thing that makes this a Frankenshoe for me is that it has both laces and one strap of Velcro across the front.  Why?  Why laces and Velcro?  How many different sneakers are we trying to make this be?!  Yours for $30 from Payless (and it’s BOGO time, so you can get another pair for half off while you’re there!).

But perhaps, like Frankenstein’s creature, these shoes are misunderstood and just want to be loved.  So if you ever come across a Frankenshoe, be kind to it.  It’s not its fault that the designer lost all sense.

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Boot sale-- up to 25% off select boots
Bakers: 50% off almost all boots
Bare Feet Shoes: Buy one pair of boots and get the second half off using code BOOTS12
Lord & Taylor: An extra 15% off regular and sale items with savings pass or code SAVEMORE
Macy's: An extra 15% off with code SAVE
Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Philadelphia Collection

If it’s September, it’s time to get your style on: the Philadelphia Collection is back!  Now through Wednesday, all kinds of fashion events are going on in different locations across the city.  And you can’t forget the shoes, of course!  Here are some shoe brands being featured this week (and the local stores where you can find them!).

The Tobacco Suede Knee Boot Noon-Bi by Fiorentini is a beautiful combination of brown suede and a rich brown leather on the foot, up the side, and around the top of the shaft.  A nice stacked heel keeps you grounded.  Find them at Head Start Shoes for $565.

This boot is HOT.  The Alize is a patent leather boot bedecked all over with silver studs.  And all the laces up the front… and the four-inch heel…you run the risk of driving every man in your life mad for you.  Be warned.  Find them at Dr. Martens for $168 (knocked down from $305!).

The Galaxy Replica Sneaker by Martin Margiela is sort of like every awesome thing ever from science class.  The snakeskin upper (a sneaker! of snake-embossed leather!) is printed all over with images of the Milky Way.  The shoe itself is a replica of a 1970s army training shoe, so there’s a little history thrown in too!  Yours for $592 from Joan Shepp.

The Maeve by Dolce Vita would look so perfect under jeans for fall, yes?  The nude suede, the delicate punch detailing, and my favorite, which is a little hard to see here: when you open up the zipper in the back, the two halves are connected with seafoamy leather!  LOVE.  Get them from Third Street Habit for $84.

So put on your fashionable best and enjoy the Philadelphia Collection while it lasts!

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: $10 off $75, $35 off $150, and $70 off $250 (only through tonight!)

Bloomingdales: $25 off $100-$249; $50 off $250-$499; $100 off $500-$999; $250 off $1000 or more

Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular, sale, and clearance with code SALE

Macy's: 25% off two or more pairs

Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Brilliant!

Are all of these gray skies leaving you yearning for something a little more cheery?  Today’s your lucky day: it’s the Philadelphia Flower Show!  This year’s theme is “Brilliant!”, an homage to Great Britain.  Capturing the majestic beauty and creative inspiration of Great Britain, displays at this year’s Flower Show will pay tribute to centuries of inspiring, influential design sense of London.  Smashing!

To inspire you, here are shoes with a nod to the colors in this year's logo, all with a little touch of British style:

First, the yellow of the daffodil:

Is there anything more British than houndstooth?  It’s so Sherlock Holmes!  The Nickel Flat by Restricted has the yellow of the daffodil too, of course, in the perfectly tied bow at the pointed toe.   Love!  Find them at DSW for $40.

Now the purple of the morning glory:

Wellies, of course!  Well, maybe not officially Wellies—these are the Olivia by Kamik.  Perfect for any unexpected spring rainstorms, these boots have a 13-inch shaft and a 15-inch circumference—and a nice little buckle to boot.  (To boot… ha ha!)  Also available in red, navy, green, dark brown, gray, and black, but the purple are really the winners here!  Your choice for $50 on Zappos.

And blue for that… whatever that is*:

(What? I’m a Shoe Fairy, not a gardener.)  The 1461 is a classic by Doc Martens: an upper of full-grain, smooth leather; an air-cushioned sole; welted by Goodyear.  Also available in red and a few different kinds of black, but there’s something so lovely about the blue!  Find them at Doc Martens for $110.

And red for the roses, of course:

Complete with thorns!  The Annabel WP is punktastic: three straps (with spikes! and rhinestones!) zigzagging up the front, held together by black mesh; a massive 2.5-inch platform and 5.75-inch heel; and a zipper up the back to let you in.  Also available in blue; your choice from Bakers for $70.

Pluck your favorite pair and have a brilliant time at the flower show!

The Flower Show runs through this Sunday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and it’s open late so you can head over after work!  Tickets are $27 ($20 for a student under 24).

*Thank you to Deputy Shoe Fairy Rosie for alerting me that the blue flower is a delphinium!

Rock the Vote

Today is Election Day!  Thank goodness; no more political ads cramming the mailbox or taking over your TV.  But seriously, today is a day to exercise citizenship in one of its most important forms.  What’s that?  You think your vote doesn’t count since you’re not an undecided voter in Ohio?  Pshaw, I say!  Today’s ballots are full of local and state races where your vote really matters, even if your state may have already been decided president-wise.  So will you be going red for the Republicans?

I love the Dabble Mary Jane by Franco Sarto: classic but trendy, with patches of patent leather at the toe, around the back, and down the 3.5-inch heel.  It’s got a half-inch platform too, and the rest of the shoe body is suede.  Also available in black or navy (though with snakeskin touches instead of patent); find them at Macy’s for $80.

Or blue for the Democrats?

Suede, studs... what a rockin’ little shoe!  The Kstudd by Steve Madden is a round-toe flat with a lightly cushioned leather footbed and rubber sole.  It’s available in a ton of colors (red suede, seafoam suede, gold glitter, brown leather, black leather, and nude patent), so you’ll have a hard time picking—check them out at Zappos for $50.

Maybe you’re a fan of the Green Party:

A nice solid boot for you, Green Party!  The Broken In 1460 is a classic: milled leather in a woodsy green, metal eyelets, and they’re designed in a way that makes them feel already broken-in, so go ahead and hit the trails!  Yours for $78 (on sale from $130!) at Dr. Martens. 

Or another third party:

(Yes, the third party color is white!  Who knew.)  Isn’t the Caraker lovely?  It’s so simple and sleek and clean—I just adore it.  How unexpected would it be under a suit or something?  It also comes in brown or black, but neither can hold a candle to the white.  Find them at Call it Spring—and on sale, too!  Only $35 instead of $50.

Whoever you’re voting for, VOTE.  You can find sample ballots online for your district so you can see what positions are open and who’s running.  It’s worth 20 minutes of research to be an informed voter.  And remember: smart women vote!  And I know you all are just as smart as you are stylish.  Polls close at 8:00 PM in PA!  Ditto for DE and NJ!

Fall Trend: Oxblood

Everyone survive Sandy okay?  Hooray!  Let’s celebrate with one of fall’s most sophisticated trends: oxblood.  No, not the real thing; the color!  It’s a dark, almost purplish red that is quintessentially fall but also striking for the holiday season, and it’s popping up everywhere—like on booties:

 Love!  The Kimora is a sleek lace-up bootie (look at all those eyelets!) with a slender four-inch heel and a non-slip grooved sole.  Don’t you just love the curve up the back by the heel?  So sexy.  Also available in a buff color; find them at Doc Martens for $105.

...on pumps:

How I love women’s shoes inspired by men’s shoes!  The Tally Loafer by Impo is an oxblood patent leather penny loafer on a 3.25-inch heel (which is also wrapped in patent leather! usually it’s a stack heel).  Also available in a steely gray or a warm brown; yours for $40 from DSW.

...on flats:

This bejeweled beauty is the Emma by Sperry Top Sider.  It has a suede upper just covered in studs (in like three colors), and if you don’t like the oxblood (ahem, “berry”), it also comes in gray, black, and a tealish-navy.  Find them at Macy’s for $109.

…on wedges:

The Leggy is a simple patent leather slingback wedge, with a five-inch heel and one-inch platform under its peep toe.  The oxblood color sure looks sleek in patent leather, doesn’t it?  Though it’s also available in black, dark grey, and a sort of purplish-gray they’re calling “wine”—your choice from Nine West for $70.

…on boots:

Love!  The Amelia by Miz Mooz is a striking knee-high boot with buttons all the way up its 15-inch shaft—eleven, to be precise!  It has a shapely 2.5-inch heel, 14.75-inch leg circumference, and zipper closure up the inside.  Also available in olive, gold, brown, and black; your choice for $220 from Zappos.

It’s everywhere!  So go out (working streetlights permitting) and pick up a pair of oxblood something for yourself.

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Fall boot sale: save up to 35% and free shipping on any boot order
Bakers: Everything on sale, up to half off
Lord & Taylor: Take 40% off boots
Macy's: Take 15% off and free shipping with code ELECT
Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Happy Olympics!

I love the Olympics!  Love them, love them, love them.  I have the dates written in my calendar like three years in advance.  I will be watching every single sport NBC decides to air.  Fencing?  You bet!  Modern pentathlon?  Wouldn’t miss it!  Kayaking?  Can’t wait!  Synchronized diving?  Already set my DVR!

In the spirit of the Summer Games, I give you shoes inspired by this year’s host city, London!  Let’s start with a classic:

Does it get any more British than Doc Martens?  Their 1460 is part of their classic collection, an 8-eyelet boot made of black leather, adorned with the Union Jack in red and white leather at the toe.  Yours for $140.

Aren’t these sweet?  The Patty is a beautiful felt pump, with a moderate heel and a round toe—stitched with the Union Jack, of course!  And to prove your love for the UK, there is a red felt heart smack dab in the middle.  Love.  If you agree, find them on Irregular Choice on sale for $84!

The Bob’s World Nation Slip On by Sketchers is the perfect casual Olympics-watching shoe.  Fabric upper and lining, rubber sole, and it comes in the stars and stripes too, if you want to cheer on the American teams!  Your choice from Endless for $40.

Gaa!  I love these!  I want to wear them for both weeks of the games and never ever take them off!!  The Jacked Up by Iron Fist is a sparkly tribute to the Union Jack: silver, blue, and red sequins adorn a round-toe pump with a 3.5-inch heel.  Whole sizes only; yours for $60 from Punk.com.

Whichever your favorite, pull ‘em on, root for the good ol’ US of A, and enjoy a fabulous fortnight of athletic feats!  Opening ceremonies is tonight-- don't miss it!


I also want to mention that Bus Stop Boutique is having a "Go For the Gold" Olympics sale today from 11 AM-8 PM!  Grab all your gold jewelry (get it?) and get 15% off, plus have a glass of lemonade on the house.


Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Pre-season event: 20% off new arrivals and free shipping
Bloomingdales: 40-75% off select styles
Lord & Taylor: 20% off with savings pass or promo code FINAL
Macy's: 25-65% off select shoes
Nordstrom: Anniversary sale
Payless: End of season nclearance
Steve Madden: 30% off select fall styles

New Store: Dr. Martens

A new shoe store graces our fair city!  Yay!  Recently opened at 1710 Walnut is a new Dr. Martens store—the only Dr. Martens store in the greater PA/NJ area, in fact!  (The next nearest is NYC.  Other stores between there and here carry their shoes, of course, but there isn’t a whole dedicated store!  We’re special.)

Let’s start with a classic Doc Martens silhouette:

The Vintage 1490 is what comes to mind when you think of Dr. Martens: Quilon leather (a reissue of their original leather from back in the day), Goodyear-welted, yellow stitching.  No wonder it’s been around so long!  Also available in burgundy; yours for $210.

The classic has been updated a bit since then as well:

While it has a lot of the same style as the 1490, the Regina is a whole new animal!  A bit of a heel, some nice punch detailing... and, of course, the black and white leopard print upper!  Rawr.  Yours for $230.

Not yet girly enough for you?

Yowza!  Look at the stiletto on the Kimora!  It also comes in a lovely brown, and (although it doesn’t seem to be on the website at this moment) black studded with rhinestones.  (It’s in this month’s Where magazine, I promise!  It's called the Zita, and it’s gorgeous.  I can't seem to find it online anywhere, but why would Where lie to me?!  I will find you, fabulous boots!!!)  Pick up a pair for $190.

Okay, enough boots.  Time for shoes!

How sleek are these?!  The Nevena has a stacked stiletto, leather outer (of course) and lining, zipper up the back, and buckle that crosses it.  I just love that little buckle.  Comes in black too!  Yours for $170.

And to finish, a not-so-classic oxford:

It’s bright pink!  The 1461 is bright pink all over—even the sole.  Even the laces!  This is not for the faint of heart, maybe; but if your heart is strong they can be yours for $110.  Pink not your thing?  It also comes in black, zebra, purple, yellow, silver, printed in floral patterns... take your pick.

The Doctor is in—be sure you don’t miss your appointment!