Go Red For Women

Take look around today, and you may notice a higher-than-usual occurrence of women wearing red.  That’s because today is National Wear Red Day, sponsored by Go Red For Women and the American Heart Association.  Its purpose is to raise awareness of heart disease in women.  Not to frighten you, but 1 in 3 women (that’s fully a third of us) will die of heart disease or stroke.  The good news is it’s 80% preventable, so take some time today to learn a little about heart disease.

Here are some red shoes that fit the bill today:

The Milena by Michael Antonio is a red faux suede bootie with lines so sleek I can barely stand it.  It has an almond toe, 4.5-inch heel, one-inch platform, and a zipper on the inside to let you in.  Also available in tan, black, and a pretty rockin’ blue; your choice for $30 at DSW.

The Britt Lace Ballet Flats are sweet round-toe flats adorned in that most ladylike of fabrics, lace.  It also has leather trim and soles, memory foam footbeds, and a half-inch heel.  Available in black lace too; find them at Talbots for $40.

Put a little python in your life with the Lory by Jessica Simpson.  This pointed-toe pump is a classic, and would work for the office or evening with its three-inch heel.  Also available in black suede, gold metallic, and black and white zebra snake; each is $80 from Macy’s.

Okay, so these FlexFlops aren’t red, but they do come from the American Heart Association store, so a portion of your purchase will help support the cause.  Plus they fold up into that adorable pouch studded with red stones, so you can take them anywhere!  Yours for $24.

So take a little time today and learn about heart disease in women.  It may be one of the smartest decisions you make.

Sales this weekend:
Aersoles: End of season sale-- extra 25% off
Bakers: $30 off $100
Bus Stop Boutique: Winter mini warehouse sale!  50-75% off
Lord & Taylor: 20% off with savings pass or code BONUS
Macy's: Extra 20% off with promo code RED
Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Black Friday

This is it, ladies: strap on your running shoes, and get ready for Black Friday!  Every shoe in the world must be on sale today, so if you’ve had your eye on something today may be the day to bring it home.

In the spirit of Black Friday, here are some festive black shoes that may serve you well in the upcoming party season.  (Note: these prices are all from earlier in the week.  I bet they’re cheaper now!)

I. LOVE. THESE.  The Cacy by Jessica Simpson is a gorgeous black glitter D’Orsay pump with a pointed toe, 4.5-inch heel, and HOLY COW WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT ANKLE STRAP.  It’s laser-cut lace!  This is just too beautiful.  It’s also available in plain black suede, but why would you choose that when you could choose glitter?!  Your choice from Nordstrom for $98.

Speaking of lace, how about the polka dot mesh on the Fracine by Nina?  It’s so delicate!  It’s sort of hard to see here, but on every one of those dots is a black rhinestone.  And how I love the floppy bow over the peep toe—it completes this shoe for me.  Its three-inch heel is very reasonable for a party shoe, and it can be yours for $99 from Lord & Taylor.

How about a bootie?  The Saffi2 by INC International Concepts is a suede peep toe bootie adorned with a smattering of multi-sized rhinestones.  These will sparkle on the dance floor, all right!  The heel is 4.25 inches high (with a quarter-inch platform too), and there’s a zipper up the back to let you in.  Also available in equally gorgeous (or even more gorgeous) shades of navy and blush; your choice for $130 from Macy’s.

Sexy and classy… the Jeweled Bow Patent Leather Pumps by Dolce & Gabbana is the little black dress of shoes.  Look at the gorgeous cut of the vamp, and the pointed toe, adorned with a grosgrain bow and rhinestones galore!  Ovals, pears, rounds… are sparkling in a cluster.  A 4.25-inch heel completes the look.  Find them at Saks Fifth Avenue for $795.

Ready, set… SHOP!

Sales this weekend:

Sorry ladies; I’m away this weekend so I can't scout out the sales for you.  But I'm pretty sure every shoe in the world is on sale today, so run amok!

Dad-isms

This Sunday is Father’s Day.  Dads play an important role in our lives, and though they might all be different, all dads tend to say the same things, don’t they?

“Hey” is for horses.

The wedge on the Catskill by Jessica Simpson is covered in a basket weave that looks just like hay!  (Which is for horses.)  The straps are stretchy elastic and patent leather, and the inside of them and the sole of the shoe are covered in a fun print.  Also available in brown; your choice for $80 from Lord & Taylor.

I’m not sleeping; I was watching that channel!

                                                      

Aww, I used to watch The Simpsons with my dad every week.  (Or he was mostly watching, when he wasn’t “resting his eyes.”  And snoring.)  This pair of wedges has the yellow family all over them, and yellow straps to match!  Find them on Etsy from seller Graceylou3 for $52.

Don’t worry; it’s just a little blood.

A little blood, dad?  A little blood?!  Even if it was only a tiny cut, it sort of felt like the Bloody-12 by Pleaser at times, didn’t it?  (Though hopefully if it was actually this bad, dad was driving you to the emergency room.)  Also available in white with splatter; your choice for $40 from Exotic High Heels.

Money doesn’t grow on trees.

Oh my god, I can’t believe these actually exist.  And they’re not even joke shoes!  They are real shoes by Sketchers that you can buy!  With Daddy’s money, of course… good thing these are named Daddy’s Money – Gimme Moolah.  (I am not even joking right now.  That is their actual name.)  Look at the dollar signs, the “Daddy’s $” on both sides (and the tongue too)… even the print on the inside is all about Daddy’s money.  It's also available in gray and white, and a pink, white and gray combo; your choice for $46 from 6pm.

Thanks for everything, dad.  Happy Father’s Day.

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: Take an extra 20% off sandals

Bakers: Buy any 2 pairs of flat sandals and get 30% off

Bus Stop Boutique: 15% off gifts for dad, and enjoy a complimentary Brit-IT brand J. Shoes beach towel for Pops with purchase!

Call it Spring: 30% off all sale shoes

Lord & Taylor: Friends and family sale-- take 25% off with promo code FRIENDS

Macy's: Extra 15% off with promo code SAVE

Nine West: Buy 2 pairs and get 20%off your whole purchase

Back to School

Back to school time!  Even though I am several years removed from this being back to school time for me, I can’t help but get a little caught up in the excitement.  (Yes.  I am a nerd.  I LOVED back to school time.)

You know, going to the store and getting new black-and-white notebooks…

The Camya is actually sort of a snow-leopard print, but you get the idea.  The peep-toe upper is made of a pony fabric, and the four-inch heel and one-inch platform are wrapped in black patent.  Also available in (get this) fifteen other options—everything from floral to red patent to gold sparkles.  Your choice for $99 from Nine West.

…new pencils…

I sort of love the pointed toe on the Tidal Flat by Restricted—very reminiscent of the pointed end of a pencil!  But the real star feature of this shoe is all the cutouts: rectangles, circles, and triangles.  (Get ready for geometry, class!)  Find them at DSW for $45.

…crayons in the big pack, because that’s where my favorite crayon (cerulean) was…

The Claudette by Jessica Simpson is actually listed as cerulean!  I see I have a kindred spirit in their design office.  This pointed-toe suede pump has a cutout by the inside of the foot and a 3.75-inch heel wrapped in matching patent leather.  Also available in black, gray, red, and burnt umber (crayon color alert!); your choice for $79 from Nordstrom.

…Elmer’s glue….

The Easy Does It by Chinese Laundry is white patent at the heel and pointed toe, but with a band of clear by the toe too.  (Just like glue—starts white and dries clear!)  Also available in black and a sort of lipstick red; find them at Macy’s for $40.

Is everyone else excited for school now?  Yay!

Book Shoes!

So on Tuesday I gave you a book about shoes.  Today I give you: shoes covered in a book!

What do you think?  I started with a cheap copy of one of my favorite books (Jane Eyre) from Books·A·Million, a bottle of Mod Podge, some little metal frames from the scrapbook aisle of Michaels, my trusty E-6000 glue, two little tombstone-shaped pieces of foam (what? it’s the only foam I had in the craft box), and a pair of pumps by Jessica Simpson with a shape similar to these:

Mine were in a floral print and have a gold heel, but the Oscar Glitter Pump by Jessica Simpson is navy glitter all over and a 3.5-inch black heel.  I bet all the glitter would hold the glue well, though!  You can find these at DSW for $60.

So you’ve got all your supplies.  Now what?

1. Remove pages from the book.  (I cut mine out with an X-Acto knife and made a book safe with the shell!  I wasn’t going to waste a good book—I love books almost as much as I love shoes.)  Set aside a stack of your favorite pages to cover your shoe, and two that will fill the little frames at the toe.

2. Spread Mod Podge on a section of the shoe, and press on one page at a time.  There’s going to be some folding of pages around the curves of the shoe—just smooth them down with glue.  Cover the whole shoe this way, and then cover with extra layers of Mod Podge to protect the paper.  Let dry.

3. Glue pages into the little frames.  I sandwiched the pages between pieces of clear plastic that the frames came on in the packaging.  Since my frames didn’t sit flat on the toe of my shoes, I glued them to little pieces of foam.

4. When the shoes are dry, glue the frames (foamed or unfoamed) to the toes.  Done!

There are so many things you can do with this: use a comic book you love; use newspaper and make a gift for a journalist friend; make a collage of photos... anything!

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: 25% off things with studs or spikes

Bloomingdales: Free shipping on orders of $50 or more

Lord & Taylor: Save 25% with promo code FRIENDS

Macy’s: Fall boot sale: save 20-30% on select styles

Nine West: Save 30% on your entire purpose

Spring has Sprung!

Today is the first day of spring!  Of course, it’s felt like spring for quite some time, what with the seventy-degree temperatures, blooming daffodils, leaves on the trees... it’s not supposed to be this warm until May, people!  Not that I’m complaining, mind you.  And we’re due for more days of glorious weather.  Enjoy them in shoes like these!

It’s like a dish of fruity sorbet!  The Savanna by J. Renee has a 3.25-inch metallic heel, trio of sunny colors, and a slingback.  Find them at Zappos for $90.

These strappy beauties are made of green faux leather with straps in blue, white, green, red, and yellow.  They have around a three-inch heel with a slight platform—these would be beautiful with a flowy white sundress and some chunky jewelry in one of these colors!  Also available in a red mix and all beige; find them at Light in the Box for $30.

Bright and beautiful!  The Evangela by Jessica Simpson has suede leather upper with patent leather detailing, a 5.25-inch heel, 1.5-inch platform, and sass to spare.  I love the contrast buckle at the ankle—it really brightens it up!  Also available in cheetah or a very nice blue and green combo; find them at Zappos for $98.

The Granville by Michael Antonio are a vision in blue!  Straps galore, a happy blue color, a five-inch wedge with a 1.5-inch platform... and I love the print on the insole!  Also available in brown and yellow; pick up yours from DSW for $45.

And what would this be without a shoe from Call it Spring?  It’s got “spring” right in the name!

The Coatley is a pink jelly sandal!  With rhinestones!  And a bow!  CUTE OVERLOAD!  Also available in black and clear, but...why, when there’s pink?!  Ahem, excuse me; got a little carried away there.  But for $20, these are an absolute steal!

So sneak outside if you can, go get some ice cream or frozen yogurt or something, enjoy the blooming trees and flowers (and, er, try not to die from pollen inhalation), and just revel in the new season.  Yay spring!


I'm back from Orlando in one piece!  Just because I was away doesn't mean I wasn't thinking of you, Deputy Shoe Fairies, or of shoes-- check out the Mickey Mouse ears I picked up at Disney!  They have a shoe on them!

Some...day...my prince...will come.... la, la, da dee, da dum...

Philly Film Festival

Come one, come all: the 20th annual Philadelphia Film Festival began yesterday! Two weeks of every kind of film under the sun: shorts. Foreign language films. Classics. Documentaries. Grab a friend, get your tickets, and experience something new!

How about something for tonight? The Artist is a French movie filmed in black and white that reinvents the timeless tale of an actor’s rise and fall in film against the backdrop of the golden age of Hollywood. Oh—and it’s a silent film!

  There’s something so 40s-starlet about these! The Vertical Evening Pumps by Caparros is black satin with a four-inch heel, silver strap and toebed, and multicoloured rhinestone feature. Find them at Macy’s for $79.

Feeling more like Shakespeare? This weekend check out Coriolanus, a faithful adaptation of Shakespeare’s tale of rivals, civil unrest and betrayal in ancient Rome (but set in the modern day, and starring Ralph Fiennes!). This is the first time this powerful, historical play highlighting war as an eternal human drama has been brought to the big screen.
The Big Momma is a camo print, kiltie, buckled, charmed, bungeed, fur-lined platform boot. Badass. Pick up a pair from Irregular Choice for $235.

On Saturday or Monday, check out Green: an off-kilter, miniscule take on the erotic thriller. When two New York intellectuals move to the country for a writing project, the fabric of their relationship and reality is torn by a new friend. They’re green, of course! But the Quiana by Promiscuous is also a little off-kilter in its own right: crazy reptile-print stripes and mesh surround the foot over a 4.5-inch heel, with a zipper up the back and a cushy insole. Also available in beige, black, red, purple, and taupe from Zappos for $59.

Winter not coming fast enough to suit you? Race to the Bottom of the Earth is a bold documentary of endurance and survival about Philadelphia-based explorer Todd Carmichaels’ attempt to not only be the first American to solo trek the seven hundred miles across Antarctica to the South Pole, but to set the record for fastest trek at the same time. See it tomorrow or Wednesday, November 2.

Love these! The Jessica10a Strapped Fur Knee High Boots are snow princess boots: white fur, white faux leather, white lacings, and a beautiful stiletto. Yours for $45 from Amazon.

The Philadelphia Film Festival runs until November 3 and tickets seem to be $12. 


Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: Up to 35% off all boots
Bakers: All dress shoes and dress boots on sale
Macy’s: Save 20-30% on select styles
Nine West: Free shipping on all orders
Lord & Taylor: 25% off with savings pass or promo code FRIENDS

Philly Fringe

Rejoice, culture lovers: the Philly Fringe Festival is here! Two weeks, tons of shows, something for everyone. Yay! In the spirit of the festival, here are some avant garde shoe/show pairs you might enjoy.

WHaLE OPTICS is a modern Moby Dick adventure (with microphones instead of harpoons). This mythic tale follows a composer chasing whale songs on a seemingly accidental quest from New York to the wilds of Colombia's Pacific coast to the white icescapes of Antarctica.

  The Beckery by Jessica Simpson is a blue suede peep toe pump on a two-inch cutout platform with a 5.25-inch cutout heel. (Seriously, check out the other angles online. The side view is FIERCE.) Also available in cranberry or purple; pick up a pair at Macy’s for $98.

Look up! Philadelphia School of Circus Arts presents a dazzling flight back to 1900s Paris with The Green Fairy Cabaret. Fly with the Green Fairy as she presents aerial and acrobatic feats, plus comedy, juggling, and spectacular physical skills. Daytime performances are family-friendly. Nighttime shows have special rewards. Equal measures vintage and trippy—just like absinthe! The Perfectly Lovely by Poetic License has a velvet upper, a 4.5-inch heel and .75-inch platform covered in multicolor glitter, and elastic heel strap with a bow. Pick up a pair at DSW for $70.

When their plane crashes on a deserted island, a group of schoolboys learn where evil truly lives. Curio Theatre Company presents this unique outdoor experience of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies in Clark Park. Come see the darkness within mankind and yell, “Kill the Pig!”

  The Kevan Feather Trim Gladiator Sandal by Jimmy Choo are a work of art. An elaborate leather and mesh upper, a cascade of colorful feathers, a 4.25 inch heel... you’d be queen of the island in these, baby. Yours for $2,495 from Nordstrom.

WHaLE OPTICS, September 1-11, Prince Music Theatre. The Green Fairy Cabaret, September 8-10, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts. Lord of the Flies, September 2 and 7-9, Clark Park. 


Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: 15% off everything
Bakers: Labor Day sale, plus free cosmetic set with a purchase of $100 or more
Bus Stop Boutique: $30 off Matiko this month
Macy’s: Labor Day sale, 20-30% off
Payless: BOGO! Now through September 6
Steve Madden: 25% off using code FALL25
Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular and sale items/25% off clearance using code LDAY (extra 10% with Lord & Taylor card and code LDAYPLUS)