Long Live Glitter!

If you’re on the interwebs at all you’ll have seen a thing going around this week about glitter.  Specifically, that you can now ship your enemies an envelope full of glitter, so when they open it glitter gets all over everything and they can never get it out.  It’s become so popular they’re having trouble filling orders.

I love glitter.  But I have to say, glitter once ingrained is rarely removed.  I worked at a jewelry store for awhile and some manager before my time thought it would be more jewel-y if he or she sprinkled the carpet with glitter.  It was a pretty tough, thin carpet, but let me tell you—we vacuumed that thing every night and I’m not sure the glitter will ever be completely gone.

But glitter definitely has its place—like on shoes!  Take these, for instance:

The Atlantyc is a classic pointed toe pump, but covered in gorgeous gold glitter—even up the 4.5 inch heel, too!  It’s perfect for a sophisticated party—and I’m not going to lie, I have a similar pair that I wear to work.  Because I don’t follow no rules.  Also available in navy; your choice for $100 from Steve Madden.

Okay, so if you don’t want to wear a gold glitter pump to work, these are more subtle.  The Lobster Smoking Slipper is a rounded take on the smoking slipper, with an almond toe and a quarter-inch heel, all coated in fine black glitter.  Available in nine other options (glitter and non-glitter alike); take your pick for $40 from Nine West.

The Passarello by Aldo is not a shoe to be reckoned with—just look at the chunkiness of the platform and five-inch heel.  These could be a weapon.  The glitter is an intense deep red—certainly in the Marsala family, if you’re still looking for a piece!  Yours for $80 from ASOS.

Oh my goodness, look at these!  Aaaaah!  Kate Spade and Keds got together to create the Champion Glitter.  These may be the greatest sneakers of all time.  I mean, look at the laces!  They’re ribbon!  They’ve even got the little Kate Spade spade symbol in stud form on the back.  Also available in navy, gold, black, gold with black ribbon, and multi with pink ribbon; your choice for $80 from Keds.

Glitter for your enemies…glitter for yourself…glitter for all!

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: 20% off tall boots

Bloomingdales: 5 day weekend sale

Lord & Taylor: 20% off with savings pass or promo code SAVE

Payless: Take an extra 20% off clearance with code ZZCLEAR20

New Year's Eve

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve.  Here in Pennsylvania we looove to drop things, but in other countries the traditions are very different!  For instance, in rural Quebec, people ice fish and drink with their friends.

I think if I caught this I might throw it back.  The Pinky Perky is definitely a fish, and it has some really lovely details (the embroidered scales, the silver fins, the refreshing blue) but I have to admit, the face is kind of freaking me out a little.  The vamp is faux suede and the heel is about 3.5 inches; find them at Irregular Choice for $135.

In Germany, a tiny marzipan pig is consumed for good luck.

These little piggies are as sweet as marzipan, aren’t they?  Look at their little faces—their itty bitty noses, their tiny ears, their wee little eyes…gaa!  Too cute.  Plus the combo of three (or is it four?) different pinks is quite nice.  Yours for $32 from Etsy seller iwearbanana.

In the Philippines, many opt to wear new, bright, or colorful clothes with circular patterns (like polka dots) in the belief that circles attract money and fortune.

Bright?  Check.  Dots?  Check.  You’ll be good in the Champion Glitter Dot by Keds!  Yes, each of those white polka dots is rimmed with a thin line of silver glitter.  Matching pink laces complete the look.  Also available in black and gray, but the pink really wins the day here.  Yours for $50 from Zappos.

Happy New Year, wherever you're celebrating!

Fourth of July

Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain…

The American Flag Snip Toe Cowboy Boot by Roper is so American, it’s ridiculous.  It’s a cowboy boot to start, of course, with a stacked heel.  But the leather is distressed red, white, and blue, with stars and stripes!  My favorite little touch might be the star-shaped stud on the pull strap—just enough shininess, and still patriotic.  Yours for $199 from Langston’s.

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

This pretty pump is pretty patriotic! Stripes at the pointed toe, stars on the rest of the vamp, a red 4.5-inch heel… even a red sole!  And the fabric is just distressed enough to make it feel like “Old” Glory.  Yours for about $23 from Ali Express.

America! America!

God shed his grace on thee…

The Patriotic Originals Sneaker by Keds Champion is perfect for a casual Fourth of July, mostly broadly painted stripes but capped with a starry heel.  Plus it’s trimmed with leathery laces!  Nice touch.  Yours for $55 from American Eagle Outfitters.

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!

The Syona by GUESS is flirty for the Fourth!  The wedge is three inches at the heel and 1.5 inches at the platform, but it’s the strap that’s special: blue stars, with a red bow, and a dangling rhinestone GUESS logo.  Find them at Macy’s for $39.

Happy 4^th, everyone!

Sales this weekend:

Sorry ladies; I’m on vacation this weekend.  But since it’s a holiday, and this is America, it’s likely everything is on sale!

Anchors Aweigh!

You guys already know I love nautical for summer.  There is just something about summer that makes me feel like I should be out on a sailboat, eating cheese and drinking wine.  But since I don’t really enjoy being out on sailboats, I’ll just get my seafaring touch from my shoes.  And anchors, especially, seem to be everywhere right now!

The Angelfish by Sperry Top-Sider is so jaunty!  White leather, red lacing, white anchors on blue… fabulous.  But what’s kind of amazing is that it comes in 31 other color options!  Thirty-one!  That may be a record.  So pick your poison—all 32 are $90 from Zappos.

So many anchors!  The Tropez by Charles Phillip Shanghai is just covered in tiny anchors, facing every which way.  Plus it’s in the super-trendy smoking slipper shape, so you’re killing two birds with one stone!  Find them at Neiman Marcus for $60.

I heart anchors indeed!  The Anchor by J. Renee is a navy and white (or black and white) striped flat, trimmed with blue, and with an embroidered heart and anchor over the peep toe.  And check out the red stripes on the insole!  Nice touch.  Yours for $47 from 6pm.

The Anchor by Taylor Swift for Keds has some of the more whimsical anchors on this post, plus red-rimmed blue stars!  And I’m kind of digging those rawhide laces, though I’m not sure how well they’d stay tied!  Find them at Nordstrom for $50.

How about a wedge to finish the day?

How do I love thee, Nautical Smile Wedges by Miss L Fire?  Let me count the ways: I love your woven three-inch wedge.  I love the blue and white trim around the foot and around the bottom of the wedge.  I love the blue ropes and red buckle at the ankle.  I love the kitschy anchor on the peep toe.  And, finally, I love that they say “Hello Sailor” on the sides!  Love, love, love.  Yours from $125 from ModCloth.

Anchors aweigh!

Sales this weekend:
Bakers: Sale ends tonight! 10% off one pair, 20% off two pairs, 30% off three pairs
Lord & Taylor: An extra 15% off regular and sale; an extra 25% off clearance with code FIRSTLOOK
Steve Madden: Half off all clearance shoes, plus fall sneak peek (up to 30% off)

Restaurant Week

I hope you’re hungry—it’s Restaurant Week!  (Or, er, Restaurant Weeks.)  Over a hundred restaurants are offering three (or more) courses dinner for only $35 this week and next—now’s the time to hit up the expensive restaurant you’ve always wanted to try and have money for shoes left over!

Perhaps mussels veloute, Guinness Casserole (mmm....), and the dessert sampler at The Plough and the Stars?

  

The Champion Star by Keds is just like The Plough and the Stars: casual, cool, and chic.  The breathable textile upper is sprinkled with subtle stars, with a lightly padded footbed and rubber sole.  Also available in a blue combo; find them at 6pm for $35.

Maybe four courses at Devil’s Alley?  I’m thinking... pulled pork taquitos, baked potato and bacon soup, Cajun snapper, and Oreo bread pudding.

A little devilish, aren’t they?  The Pizazz Dress Booties by Carlos by Carlos Santana are sleek creations of red suede, trimmed with black piping around the ankle and sitting on a 3.75-inch heel.  Also available in black and a royal blue; your choice for $99 from Macy’s.

You could always curl up in the cream, black, and yellow interior of Meritage and sample their locally-sourced food: local white corn soup with crab, roasted local mushrooms and coconut polenta, and peach cobbler:

Perfect!  The Tangle by J. Renee is a color-blocked pump in yellow, black, and white—it would be so unexpectedly sophisticated with a suit, wouldn’t it?  It has a modest 2.5-inch heel, contrast stitching, and a pointed toe.  Also available in nudes, blue/black/white, and a black combo (all different textures of black! very cool).  Find them at Zappos for $100.

Hungry yet?  Bon appétit!

Restaurant Week runs September 30 through October 12 (though not Saturday, October 6).  And not only can you go for dinner, many restaurants are offering lunch for only $20!  And you still get three courses!  Skip breakfast that day and dig in.