Center City Sips

It’s that time of year: sunny days (well, maybe not today), al fresco dining, and Center City Sips!  On Wednesday afternoons from 5:00-7:00 PM through August 29, enjoy $5 cocktails, $4 wine, $3 beers, and half-priced appetizers at over 90 (that’s right, 90!) different restaurants. 

Perhaps start with a pinot grigio and garden gazpacho or pistachio duck confit terrine in the garden at M Restaurant at the Morris House Hotel:

The Emmie by Lucky Brand is a sweet floral print, round-toe flat, with a satin upper and a tan leather patch at the heel (stamped with a four-leaf clover! love!).  Perfect for enjoying a sip in the garden.  Yours for $53 from Macy’s.

Perhaps a champagne and Pop Rocks cocktail and some tapas at Raven Lounge?

The Swan by Coloriffics has a black satin upper with feathers at the toe, a four-inch heel with .75-inch platform, and a lightly cushioned footbed.  (Also appropriate if you’ve seen Snow White and the Huntsman and you were inspired by Charlize Theron’s Ravenna!  Or if you’re still thinking about Black Swan.)  Anyway, this pair of fabulously feathered footwear can be found at 6pm for $90 (also available in white).

Can I tell you how much I love the idea of a restaurant named Winthorpe & Valentine in this city?  (What?  You haven’t seen Trading Places?!  Go fix!)  Enjoy a Georgia Peach Margarita and truffle fries at the swanky, wood-panelled bar in the Westin:

I love how the warm brown of the Solstice by Softspots is reminiscent of the bar’s decor, but the businessy style is reminiscent of the movie.  You could play a banker in these, all right!  They have a leather upper with kiltie and buckle feature at the round toe, a cushy padded insole, and a 1.75-inch heel.  Also available in black and navy; find them at Zappos for $85.

It doesn’t matter where you go—just go! It’s a good deal, a good excuse to try a new place, and a good reason to get together with friends.  Cheers!

Summer Flats

Yay!  Summer’s here!  (Well, maybe not meteorologically, but culturally.)  I had a request for summer flats—easy, comfortable, stylish.  Happy to oblige!

The Daisy Peep Toe Flat by American Eagle is just the right color for summer—and how about those flowers on the toe?  So pretty!  If you don’t like the coral, it also comes in navy and black.  But why would you pick those for summer?  Find them at Payless for $20.

The black and white of the Stripe Flat by French Follies is so nautical!  (It comes in blue, too, if you’d like to be even more nautical.)  It has a flexible sole, round toe—and look at that little bow!  That bow just makes this for me.  Yours for $29 from Bakers (web only!).

The Emmie by Lucky Brand are so summery for so many reasons!  The print on its jute upper is almost a batik, like sarongs you wear at the beach.  The interplay of blue and white is like light playing on the bottom of a pool.  Fabulous.  If you agree, you can get them at Macy’s for $59.

A little white lace to brighten an outfit!  The Troxler is a sweet little round-toe flat that will match anything, and it also comes in a nudish-pink and black if the white is a little too sweet for you.  Find them at Call it Spring for $35.

You already know I love shoes like these, but the Grommet by Marc by Marc Jacobs is just perfect for work!  Black and tan are so classic together, but the grommets make this modern at the same time.  There’s a buckle across the peep toe as well for a little extra flourish.  Find them at DSW for $200.

Whatever shoes you’re in, happy summer!

Sick Day

I’m home on a sick day, I’m afraid, so pardon the short post.  Today for me it’s just orange juice...

This lovely flat is the Gemma by Børn.  Leather on the outside, suede on the inside... and look at the pretty bunch of flowers on the round toe.  Also available in black, blue, rose, and something called “Panna Cotta,” which really just looks like silver.  Pick up a pair at Nordstrom for $90.

...tea...

The Fret by Marc Fisher is a lovely brown suede pump with a bow on its round toe, a slingback, and a four-inch heel with one-inch platform.  Originally $79; now on sale for $30 at Macy’s!  (Also available in wine or black suede as well.)

...and leftover cheddar-ale soup:

The Fiona by Lucky Brand has a leather upper, buckle feature on the toe, and a 1.5-inch wooden wedge.  Also available in two-tone brown or two-tone black; yours from Zappos for $79.

Center City Shopping Saturdays

Not to alarm you, but Christmas Eve is three weeks from tomorrow. EVERYBODY PANIC! Okay, breathe. The Center City District has you covered with its Shopping Saturdays! Not only are there special promotions in stores all over the city and free parking at certain garages (woo!), but their Shopping Saturday team will be out in different neighborhoods each week with hot chocolate and shopping bags—and a chance to win a $500 Center City shopping spree! Who wouldn’t mind that? Think of all the shoes you could buy! Speaking of shoes, there are a number of places where you can pick up a pair or two while you’re out. Like Joan Shepp:

How perfect are these for the holiday season? The Turner by Jeffrey Campbell has two-tone grey suede (how I love gray), leaflike cutout features, a platform and 4.5-inch heel, and plenty of mini-studs for sparkle. Yours for $192. (Plus if you go this weekend, there’s hot apple cider and 10% of all sales is donated to the MS Society—you’ll be doing good for other people during this season of giving.)

Maybe Arcadia Boutique?

The Believing by Melissa is a pretty sweet little plastic shoe! I love the blue—it almost glows. (Technically it’s listed as grey, but it looks pretty blue to me. It’s also available in olive, which looks like olive.) Velcro lets you in, and they will mold to your feet after a few wears! Pick up yours for $98. (Going tomorrow? There’s a trunk show with designer Kelly Lane from noon until 7:00 PM—and champagne and mimosas all day!)

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas if you didn’t stop in Macy’s to see the light show and Dickens village! Why not pick up a pair of these while you’re there?

  Ah, Christmas in the mountains. The Northview by Lucky Brand has a leather upper with plaid flannel on the inside (cozy!), a 4.5-inch stacked heel and three-quarter-inch platform, and a nice round toe. Available in sequoia leather with this lovely red plaid, or black leather with a black/white/gray plaid—your choice for $209.

Seriously, get shopping! Support our local businesses and have some fun while you’re at it. I mean, when else will you be able to sample local beers in a soap store? A SOAP store. Promotions run each Saturday until December 17—more details about special events and deals available here.


Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: Biggest sale of the season—up to 60% off
Macy’s: Extra 15% off plus free shipping with code PERFECT
Nine West: 25% off everything!
Payless: Holiday sale: they don’t exactly specify, but it looks like all the festive party-looking pieces are on sale
Lord & Taylor: 20% off with promo code READY