The Shoes of Downton Abbey

All you British TV buffs, I have good news for you: Winterthur has an exhibit right now full of nothing but the drop-dead gorgeous vintage fashion of Downton Abbey! 

I have to say, though, most of the shoes of that time weren’t much to shout about.  They were sensible.  Simple.  Something like these:

The Vanity by DOLCE by Mojo Moxy is a beautiful little pair of Mary Janes, isn’t it?  The upper is a soft brown trimmed in brown patent leather, which swoops in petal-shaped cutouts on each side.  The heel is three inches, and solid at that.  Also available in black; your choice for $46 from 6pm.

The Exotic Embossed T-Strap Heels are just that: nappa leather embossed in crocodile and snake, and trimmed with all those menswear details I love (hooray punches!).  The T-strap and three-inch heel complete this classy look.  Find them at Brooks Brothers for $174.

This pretty faux leather pair is the Classic Confection by Bettie Page Shoes by Ellie.  This has some of the masculine detailing of the last pair, but in a delicate color and lined in a floral print.  (Oh, and the sole is covered in cheetah print.  Probably not historically accurate, there.)  There’s some teardrop-shaped cutouts at the toe, and the heel is 3.75 inches high.  Yours for $70 from ModCloth.

How fun are these?  The Shirley by Crown Vintage is a faux leather Mary Jane trimmed with four buttons on the outside.  (And some elastic on the inside, for extra comfort.)  And look at all the itty-bitty cutouts on the strap!  Beautiful.  Also available in black and brown, but when this gorgeous blue is available I don’t see how you could turn it down.  Your choice for $60 from DSW.

The exhibit runs now through January 4, but if you go while it’s warm you can picnic on the grounds while you’re there… and pretend you’re on the grounds of the Abbey.  Bring tea. Or heck, go to one of Winterthur's teas!  Mmm, tiny sandwiches.  I have such a weakness for tiny sandwiches…

The Awesome Fest

It’s summer, and you know what that means: it’s time for outdoor movies!  Grab a blanket, chair, friend, and snack, and curl up for a night with one of your favorites movies.  And good news: this year, The Awesome Fest (bringing you over 50 events this summer) is concentrating on the best movies from the ‘80s!  Like The Princess Bride:

You’ll have fun storming the castle in this pair of boots by Ellieshoes befitting the Dread Pirate Roberts!  These faux leather boots have a fold-over cuff, tall but solid heel, fancy stitching, and ribbons laced up the side.  (In the photo they’re black, but the description says they may be red… it’ll be a surprise!)  Whole sizes only; yours for $40 from PartyBell.

Or Raiders of the Lost Ark:

The Engineer 8R by Frye are reminiscent of Indy’s boots, no?  They look like they’ve been to hell and back (or at least to Nepal), but they’re brand-new leather topped with buckles.  Plus they have Goodyear welt construction, a thirteen-inch circumference, and six-inch shaft—tall enough to help keep out the snakes.  (Why’d it have to be snakes?!)  Available in six other color options as well; your choice for $248 on Zappos.

Or Who Framed Roger Rabbit—because you’re not bad; you’re just drawn that way. 

I know this heel is slightly terrifying, but just look at the curve of Jessica Rabbit’s red pumps—the Dagger by Pleaser is about as close as you’ll get to the real thing.  Pointy toe, sky high heel (that’s 5.5 inches with no platform to help you!), and sexy attitude to spare.  Just, er, be careful in these, okay?  Lounge singing only; no running about.  Find them on Amazon for $77.

Plus there’s a ton of other movies too if these three aren’t your favorites—then again, that’s inconceivable! 

The Awesome Fest runs from this Friday (June 14) through August 17. The Princess Bride is on June 21.  Who Framed Roger Rabbit is on June 29, and the voice of Roger Rabbit will be in attendance!  Raiders of the Lost Ark will be on August 10.

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.

Groundhog Day

Of all the little random holidays scattered throughout the calendar, I love Groundhog Day the best.  Not just because it’s such a Pennsylvania holiday, but because of the sheer randomness of it all.  Will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow and condemn us to six more weeks of winter?  Or will he not see his shadow and grant us an early spring?  We’ll have to wait until Thursday, but there’s nothing quite like rodent-based weather forecasting!

But I digress.  How about some brown fur in Phil’s honor?

Fierce!  The Sexy Viking Boot by Ellie are suede, with laces all the way up the front, a fur cuff, and a four-inch heel.  Also available in a lighter brown and black; find them at Amazon for around $30.

Now Kathy Van Zeeland makes purses to die for, but how about this boot?  A 3.25-inch heel, three buckles, fur all the way up the nine-inch shaft... really nice.  Also available in black and taupe from QVC for about $100.

The Pilot by Stuart Weitzman is a velour wedge, three inches high, with laces up the front (see how they tie around the back of the ankle?) and, of course, faux fur.  Also available in black; find them on Zappos for $325.

The Icy Wedge Boot by Coconuts has a faux suede upper, faux fur up the side and around the top, and a four-inch wedge with half-inch platform and eight-inch shaft.  Don’t they just look cozy?  Love them!  Also available in black; pick up yours from DSW for $80.

So pull on a pair of your favorites, get up early, and see if the groundhog is giving us winter or spring!

Veterans Day

If you still have to go to work today you may forget that it’s Veterans Day, but it is! A day to honor all of our veterans who have kept and continue to keep us safe. I thought I would honor them the best way I know: shoes.

Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail, and the Caissons go rolling along. In and out, hear them shout, counter marching and right about, and those Caissons go rolling along. For it’s hi! hi! hee! In the field artillery, count out your numbers loud and strong (two three four, hut two three). And where e’er you go, you will always know that the Caissons go rolling along.

If you’re army, how about the Green Camo Boot by Ellie? A 4.5-inch heel, lace-up front, and pointed faux leather toe... this boot kicks ass and takes names. Like the Army. Yours for just under $62 from Beston.

Anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh! Farewell to foreign shores, we sail at break of day (‘ay, ‘ay, ‘ay). O’er our last night ashore, drink to the foam until we meet once more. Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home! If the Navy is more your thing, the Anchor by Ellie is for you! An adorable peep-toe pump with a five-inch heel, bow on the toe, and anchor on the heel... and don’t you just love the polka dots on the inside? Pick them up from Shoebuy.com for $72.

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,climbing high into the sun; here they come zooming to meet our thunder, at ‘em boys, give ‘er the gun! (Give ‘er the gun!) Down we dive, spouting our flame from under, off with one helluva roar! We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey! Nothing’ll stop the U.S. Air Force! I sort of love the Wing Invader by Irregular Choice for the Air Force: not only the wings on the heel, but the snarling face on the front reminds me of those shark faces painted on the noses of WWII aircraft. These fierce beauties can be yours for $127 from Wayfair.

From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land, and sea. First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean: we are proud to claim the title of United States Marine. Nothing’s tougher than a Marine; you’d be hard-pressed to find a tougher heel than the Jamma by Vince Camuto. A thick 4.75-inch heel with spikes up the back, rockin’ snakeskin, a hidden 1.25-inch platform—oh, and a bow with spikes on it. Yours for $139 from Zappos.

We’re always ready for the call; we place our trust in Thee. Through surf and storm and howling gale, high shall our purpose be. “Semper Paratus” is our guide, our fame, our glory, too. To fight to save or fight and die! Aye! Coast Guard, we are for you.

All the straps on the Politic by Qupid remind me of the harnesses on helicopter rescue suits and diving suits—perfect for the Coast Guard. Plus they’re the blue of the ocean! (Though they also come in purple.) A four-inch heel, a zipper up the back... this is a beautiful boot, and a pair can be yours for $45 from DSW.

But seriously, thank you to all our veterans. A special thank you to my grandfathers (Papa Jim, army; Grandpa Chuck, Coast Guard; Grandpa Charles, army). You are a special generation, and I thank you for your selfless service. 


Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: all boots up to 50% off
Bakers: boots up to 40% off, plus 25% off any item when you buy a boot!
Bus Stop Boutique: Designer of the month: NICOLE! Pick up a pair of NICOLE boots or shoes & enjoy $20 OFF
Macy’s: 10% off plus free shipping using promo code VET15
Nordstrom: Half-yearly sale for women and kids
Payless: BOGO!
Steve Madden: free shipping on any order (no minimum) using code HOLIDAY
Lord & Taylor: 25% off boots, and an extra 20% off regular and sale prices with code NOV
Saks: Free shipping on all orders using code HOLIDAY