Boot Season!

It’s officially fall.  It’s October.  It’s… boot season!!!  Tall boots, short boots, all boots under the sun: it’s your season to shine. 

Problem: boots can be pricy.  They regularly cost $200 or more, and that’s not even luxury brands.  With an eye on your wallets, I give you a selection of boots all under $50.  At that price, you could get them all and be ready for the entire season!

Let’s start with a classic:

The Reina Riding Boot by Dexflex Comfort is a lovely classic silhouette, with just a touch of metal around the ankle.  The heel is one inch tall, and there’s a zipper on the inside and a stretch panel in the back for some give.  Oh, and there’s a memory-foam insole, people—memory foam!  Ugh, I want my feet in these rightnow.  (And PS, available in wide calf sizes too!  Yay!)  Available in this dark brown or black; your choice on sale for $50 from Payless.

The Fennel by Jellypop is a little more involved with buckles and straps—but it’s that split of fabric down by the outer ankle that just sells me on these.  I love that.  I have no words for how much I love that little split of fabric.  The heel is two inches high, and the shaft and circumference are both just over 14 inches.  Also available in black in addition to this taupe, but I just don’t like the black as much.  Find them at 6pm for $40.

Booties too, don’t forget!  The Breanne by Kelly & Katie is a quilted faux leather bootie with almond cap toe, zipper up the front, and three-inch heel.  It’s the quilting on this that makes it feel like fall to me—like I should be wrapped in a lovingly-made blanket in a cozy chair in front of a fire with a book and a mug of pumpkin tea.  (It’s not too early for that yet, is it?)  Yours for $50 from DSW.

I love a black and brown riding boot, and the Ralph by Nature Breeze delivers.  Plus it’s an over-the-knee boot for a little va va voom!  It’s got a 1.25 inch heel, buckle detail at the ankle, and a zipper halfway up the inside to assist you in getting in.  Find them at Overstock for $47.

Beauty and brains bring both boots and big bucks!  (Ha ha, I got started with like two Bs there and couldn’t stop myself.)  But really: with these inexpensive boots you can have it all this fall.

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: Buy one get one half off entire site

Bloomingdales: 20% off regular and sale with code FRIENDS

Bus Stop Boutique: Party tonight from 6-10 PM!

Call it Spring: $20 off lace-up boots, and extra 30% off sale

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

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

Nine West: Buy two and get 20% off

Party Down!

Happy birthday, Philly Shoe Fairy!  (Or blogaversary.  Whatever.)  The DSW in King of Prussia opened early just for us, shoe angels that they are:

There was food, fun, and shoes of course! 

Mia went home with the Mindy by Kelly & Katie.  It’s a shoe she knows and loves: she already has it at home in navy!  It has a 2.75-inch heel (very manageable!), slingback, and peep-toe with folded fabric: versatile, elegant, and just enough fun!  Also available in silver and black in addition to the ivory and navy; your choice for $40 from DSW.

Just in case winter hasn’t totally let go get (and really, who can tell?), Kristin walked off with Violanne by Naturalizer.  This beautiful boot has a brown suede upper, faux fur lining, and look: lacing up the back!  Perfect.  On sale for $50 from DSW; but only because the teeny-weeny sizes are left. 

These are just two pairs of shoes that found happy homes on Sunday.  And don’t forget the second annual High Heel Walk Off!  Congrats to our three winners:

Left to right: Denise who won for her artful use of a scarf in her walk (and strutting it in heels a full size too small); Penny who won for walking in her gold-heeled shoes like she was born in them; and Tia for doing the running man.  In the heels.  Like a champ.  Congrats to you all, Deputy Shoe Fairies!

All in all, it was a wonderful morning.  New friends, old friends… and SHOES!  Birthdays don’t get better than that.

Love and thanks to everyone at the DSW in King of Prussia.  You guys are amazing!  Coming in on a Sunday morning and being so kind and helpful and spirited… you are the best friends a Shoe Fairy could have.  You guys rock.

Party Recap!

Happy birthday to Philly Shoe Fairy!  We had a fabulous morning full of cupcakes, raffles, t-shirts, new friends, and shoes, shoes, shoes!  Truly, DSW is the happiest place on earth, amirite?

People of course found beautiful shoes to bring home with them.  Cindy chose these slinky gold sandals by Andrew Geller.  So chic!

Susan knows that a nude pump is essential for summer, and she gets it right in this pair by Kelly & Katie!

Pam went home with these beauties by Guess.  Killer platform; delicate cutouts!

Pam also had the distinction of being one of the winners of the High Heel Walk Off: find a pair of high heels in your size and be prepared to WORK IT!  Extra points for heel height and style.  Pam’s fancy posing and exceptional balance tied her with DSW employee and fierce walker extraordinaire Nick!

Well done, both!  You make me proud to have you as deputy shoe fairies.

All in all, a wonderful start to year number three, wouldn’t you say?  Very special thanks to the wonderful people at the DSW in King of Prussia, especially manager Nancy!  I am so lucky to have them in my backyard—and you are, too, readers!

Ask the Shoe Fairy

Dear Shoe Fairy,

Help!  I'm going on a series of very important interviews this winter, but I recently herniated two disks in my back, and currently can't walk in heels!

I'm most likely going to be switching off between two suits—a black pantsuit (like this) and a gray pinstripe skirt suit.  I'm looking for a pair of flats that will be conservative enough for the most important interview of my life, but will also help me to stand out a bit in a sea of applicants in black suits.  Most importantly, they need to be comfortable and supportive enough for me to walk around in all day, even with my bad back!  Since I'll be traveling all over the country and can't predict what the weather will bring, it would also be nice if they had a thick-enough sole to navigate a few puddles or light snow.

Ideally, I'd like to spend around $50, but could splurge on something slightly more expensive if necessary!  (Also—I'm a size 10!)

Thank you!

~Kristin

Dear Kristin,

Always happy to help a Deputy Shoe Fairy put her best foot forward for an important interview!  Let’s see what I can find for you...

I love pink and gray together... plus the flower on the toe of the Betsy by Kelly & Katie is a little unexpected with a suit!  There are three tiny rhinestones in the middle of the flower, too.  It marks high on the comfort scale, also comes in black, and can be found at DSW for $30.

Croc is a classic work print, but the blue of the Goal by Sam and Libby makes this one special!  Also available in black, red, beige, or a very cool metallic yellow and silver combo; your choice for $30 from 6pm.

The Heaven by SM is a classic round-toe patent leather flat, but it’s the color that makes it special.  Don’t like the purple?  It also comes in a bunch of other colors too!  Find them at 6pm for $24.

All of these shoes are patent leather so you won’t have to worry about them getting ruined in the snow; plus they have free shipping so you can order them and try them on at home to make sure you can wear them without hurting your back.

Feel better soon, and good luck with all your interviews!

-The Shoe Fairy

Black and Tan

At choir this week, a few of us were admiring a fellow soprano’s shoes, which were adorable penny loafers in black and brown.  Black and brown! we thought.  They go so well together, yet so many people shy away from mixing the two.  No more, we say!  Long live black and brown together!

Aah… the perfect boot.  The Cazadora by Bandolino has a two-tone leather upper, buckles at the ankle and at the top of the 15-inch shaft, 1.5-inch heel, and lightly cushioned footbed.  Perfect!  Also available in all black, all cognac, and all dark brown, but none has quite the specialness of the two colors together.  Find them at 6pm for $105.

So sweet!  The Carrie Lace Flat by Kelly & Katie is tan satin underneath black lace (sexy!), capped with black at the toe and topped with a bow.  It’s a steal, too, at $40—check them out at DSW.

Sky high!  The Truth or Dare by Madonna Rochella is not for the faint of heart.  That’s a five and a half inch heel and a 1.5-inch platform hiding under the leather upper.  (I love the curving of the brown leather around the back, by the way.  Nice touch.)  Yours for $130 from Zappos.

The Empire Flat by Wanted is the classic black and tan!  Shiny black patent leather is topped with a curving brown bow at the toe and brown trim around the foot opening.  Simple, but not boring!  Find them at Bakers for $40.

Strap-tastic!  The Carolyn by Cole Haas is a sexy, sophisticated black leather bootie criss-crossed by straps of brown leather and gold buckles.  The three-quarter-inch platform is brown too, though the 3.5-inch heel is black.  Find them at Nordstrom for $239 (on sale from $398!).

See?  Neutrals working together!  I love it.

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: 10% off all boots
Bakers: Buy one, get one 25% off
Lord & Taylor: Buy one, get one half off boots; 15% off regular price items and 20% off sale items with code BIG
Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Miu Miu, Myself

A friend sent me this link to Honestly...WTF for instructions on how to recreate Miu Miu’s fabulous rhinestone-heeled shoes with the message “Oh yes you will!”  Melanie obviously knows my fondness for (1) shoes, (2) rhinestones, and (3) crafting.  Challenge accepted, Melanie!  Challenge accepted.

Step 1: find the shoes you want to sparklefy.  I couldn’t pick from among the shoes I already have, so I used it as an excuse to buy a new pair:

The Daffodil by Kelly & Katie is a sweet navy satin number with a four-inch heel, half-inch platform under its peep-toe, and pintucking on the toe and the sides.  I thought they were a good mix of simple but not boring.  I found them in (my favorite!) the clearance section of my local DSW—you can find them online too, for $40 instead of $90, though I think I may have paid a little less in-store ($24 or so?).  They also come in black, grey, and champagne, any of which could be really lovely.  I wasn’t sure whether to pick a satin or leather-type shoe—would the glue stick to a patent leather surface?  Would the glue just be absorbed into a satin shoe?  So I got a satin shoe and figured I’d try.

Step 2: gather supplies.  I ordered the E-6000 glue the website recommended from Amazon.  I selected a number of larger, varied rhinestone shapes from my rhinestone box (yes, I have a rhinestone box) and went to my local Michaels to pick up some 4.5 mm and 3 mm clear round rhinestones.  I ended up using about a pack and a half of each.

Step 3: Glue the larger rhinestones around the heel of the shoe, mixing the shapes.

Step 4: Fill in the gaps and down the heel with the 4.5 mm rhinestones.  Be sure you don’t place them too close; otherwise you won’t have room for the 3 mm stones.

Step 5: Fill in any leftover gaps with the 3 mm rhinestones.  Done!

They took me three hours from start to finish.  I will warn you that the glue has a strong smell, so if you have a nice day it might be a good idea to open a window or even do it outside... I was beginning to get a little woozy by hour two!  But I think it was worth it in the end—they look beautiful.  You could do black rhinestones, or multi-colored rhinestones... really, the possibilities are endless, and you could make a plain pair of shoes a really fabulous pair of party shoes.  (Oh, and as of right now, I haven’t lost any stones from my satin shoe, and I let them bounce around in my car for a day and I wore them to work yesterday as tests.  I really like that E-6000 glue!)

Don’t forget: Philly Shoe Fairy’s first birthday party this Sunday!  I hope you can come and celebrate with us! 

Also, ironically, today is Melanie's birthday!  Happy birthday, Melanie, and thank you for the challenge!

Thanksgiving

This week, we take a moment to pause from our busy lives and remember all the things we are thankful for. Friends. Family. Health. Tables so overflowing with turkey and stuffing that it would take a large extended family at least three days to eat it. And, of course, shoes. (Seriously. Last year at a Thanksgiving party we had to go around and say what we were thankful for. My friend next to me had on the most adorable flats, so of course they totally distracted me from any deeper thoughts that I might have said...)

Are you cooking? You’ll need one of these: Yes, that says “Will Cook for Shoes”! It’s such a festive color, and look at all the adorable shoe silhouettes... and a handy little pocket for any kitchen utensil you might be using. Find one at Bed Bath & Beyond for $20 (or less, if you have one of their ubiquitous coupons). And while you’re running around, you’ll need a pair of these:

 
Harvest flip flops! With a veritable cornucopia of fall spilling out over your feet: pumpkins, squash, apples, corn... even a cheery cardinal to keep the toes on your right foot company. Yours for $35 at Sears.

As for your party shoes, maybe you’re feeling pilgrimy:

  The Morgan by Kelly & Katie is the ultimate modern pilgrim boot: three-inch heel, side buckle, square toe. Yours for $45 from DSW.

Prefer to honor the Native Americans who helped the pilgrims survive those first winters? Fierce. Just... fierce. The Kythira Feather 2 Sandal by Koolaburra had a Merino wool upper with kickass fringe and feather details—this is just one pair of all-around awesomeness. Also available in black; pick up yours for $176 from Wayfair.

When everyone’s left, curl up in a pair of these:
     The Women’s Slippers—Ballet with Bow from Dearfoams are both super comfy and super cute! They come in red, slate, espresso, or black—heck, you could wear these at dinner and no one would suspect they’re slippers! Yours for just under $17 from JCPenney.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Better Than a Glass Slipper

So unless you’ve been under a rock for the past month or so, you may have heard a little something about a royal wedding that took place across the pond last Friday. Thousands (or even millions!) of people were waiting on tenterhooks to see Kate Middleton’s dress—who designed it? What would it look like—classic? Or fashion-forward? The dress (by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen) didn’t disappoint, except for one thing: not one photographer got a picture of her shoes?!

Wait no more! The Official Royal Wedding Website described them thus: The wedding shoes have been hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen and are made of ivory duchesse satin with lace hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. There aren’t any official pictures, but the general thought is that they looked similar to this pair, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen:

  This gorgeous pair will set you back $995. However, if you don’t live in a castle and haven’t just married a prince, there are a few cheaper ways to pull off this look.

  The Lightsout Slingback Pump by kelly & katie features lace over fabric, an almond-shaped peep-toe, a floofy accent at the toe, and 4.5” heels with a half-inch hidden platform. Only about $50; courtesy of DSW. 

Pumps not your style but still love the look of lace? Why not do lace in bootie form? How much do you love these? Trio by Glint has lace sides framed in ivory satin with a 3.5” heel, will set you back about $100, and can be found at Nordstrom.

And if you’re like me and wish the royal wedding dress had a little more sparkle to it, I’ll throw you a rhinestone or two:

  Open-Toe Pump 04325 by Menbur has a 3.75 inch heel, three-quarter inch platform, and is made of white silk adorned with white lace and white rhinestones. The little picture doesn’t do it justice; take a look at Amazon. You’re out of luck of you’re not a 6.5 or a 9.5, but if you are (and I am—hooray!) they can be yours for $110.

It might be a little tough to find lace shoes now, but give it a month or two and I’m confident you'll find a lot more as this trend catches on.

Sales this Weekend: 
Bare Feet Shoes: 20% off entire website with the code MOTHER20
Joan Shepp: Free shipping in the month of May
Lord and Taylor: 20% off storewide
Macy’s: Mother’s Day Sale, save 20-30%
Payless: Buy one, get one half off, now through May 16