4th of July

Oh say, can you see by the dawn’s early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

The Bekah by Penny Loves Kenny is all patriotic and nautical and so perfectly summery, what with the stripes and lacing and cork!  It’s a serious wedge (six inches) but there’s a 2.25-inch wedge, so it really only feels like 3.75 inches.  Also available in red with black stripes and yellow with blue stripes, but neither is quite as awesome as this one!  Your choice for $89 from Zappos.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

The flag print on the Gloriee by Madden Girl is so perfectly aged, and in graphic swathes across the shoe.  (Stripes here!  Stars there!)  There’s some red elastic on the vamp to help it fit, textured non-slip sole, and cushioned footbed—great for any 4^th of July adventures you might be embarking on!  Available a few places, but I found the most sizes at Bealls for $34.

And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there!

The Star-Light by Wedge Welly is perfect in case we get some afternoon thunderstorms!  A red 2.5-inch wedge and accent stripes compliment the blue shaft covered in multi-sized stars.  Size 10 only, I’m afraid, but if you’re a 10 they can be yours for $90 from ShoeBuy. 

Oh say, does that star-spangled yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Perfect!  This pair of star-spangled heels is made of distressed denim (so all-American!) in stars and stripes.  The red heels are about 5.3 inches high, and the hidden platforms are about 1.77 inches.  Love, love, love.  Find them at Maykool for $27.

Happy 4^th, Philly girls!

It's Cookie Time!

Out of the depths of frigid winter comes a ray of hope: Girl Scout Cookies!  Is there anything happier than the first time you see a troop of small girls yelling “GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!” at you in Market East on your way home from work?  If there is, I don’t know it.  And everyone’s got their favorite—you could spend an hour arguing about the merits of Mango Crèmes versus Thank You Berry Munch, but most people go for the classics.  Like Thin Mints:

Black and green: just like the interplay between chocolate and mint!  And even better: Poetic License named it the Sweet Ending, which is so Thin Mint appropriate!  It has a contrast lace outer, tied at the front with a minty green ribbon, and finished with a brown basket-weave 3.25-inch heel.  Also available in gray and eggplant; your choice for between $53 and $98 on Amazon.

Or the coconut and caramel goodness of Caramel deLites:

The Marloww by Madden Girl remind me of the skinny flakes of coconut and the swirly drizzles of chocolate that make this cookie so tasty.  And look at all the gold studs!  Fancy.  They have a half-inch heel and a zipper up the back to let you in.  Also available in black with silver studs or gold fabric with gold studs; take your pick for $40 on Zappos.

Or my new favorite: Lemonades!

The Mexa by Type Z is so yellowy and springy!  And I like how the satin ruffle around the heel is vaguely reminiscent of lemony frosting being poured on the back of a cookie.  (What?  That’s just me?)  The body of the round toe shoe is satin as well, but the 5.25-inch heel and 1.25-inch platform are in shiny yellow patent leather.  Also available in black, champagne, a fiery orange, purple, and a really sweet pink—the colors run between $27 and $49 and can be found at 6pm. 

Whichever is your favorite, go buy some cookies and help the Girl Scouts.  Everyone wins!  Get them before they’re gone!

With this, her fifth tip submitted to Philly Shoe Fairy, Deputy Shoe Fairy Maria Gianfrancisco becomes our very first Lieutenant Shoe Fairy!  Congratulations Maria!  I salute you.

Chinese New Year

This Sunday is Chinese New Year!  We say farewell to the Year of the Dragon and welcome the Year of the Snake.  A little about the Snake: it is the most enigmatic, intuitive, introspective, refined, and collected of the Chinese Zodiac signs.  The year is meant for steady progress and attention to detail.

Oh, but not only is it the Year of the Snake, technically it’s the Year of the Black Water Snake, which you have to admit sounds way cooler.  In honor of the New Year, here are a selection of shoes—in black snake, of course!

So pretty!  The Daena by Isolá is a classic heeled sandal, with three straps of black snake across the toe and topped with an impeccable bow.  The 4.75-inch heel is snake too, as well as the one-inch platform.  Yours for $120 from Nordstrom. 

The Zama by Sam & Libby is a classic black flat with some sophisticated touches: the snake (of course), but also the grosgrain ribbon and bow at the toe.  Perfect for work, the weekend, a night out… anything!  Find them at ShoeMall for $30.  (They’re also available in brown snake for that price, or in leopard or tortoiseshell for a little more.)

There’s a snake on my boot!  The Sanguine by Madden Girl is a classic Western boot with an eleven-inch snakeskin shaft decorated with embroidery.  The faux leather at the toe and the details at the top are solid black.  (Or brown; it comes in brown too.)  A 1.5-inch heel completes the look!  Find them at DSW for $60.

Rockin’!  The Slither by Dollhouse is one sexy bootie: a snakeskin upper, solid black 4.75-inch heel, 1.5-inch faux suede platform under the peep toe, and more suede trim at the ankle, topped with little spikes.  Awesome.  Also available in red (which might be a little much, even for me) and a lovely cream color; your choice for about $30 on Amazon.

Gung hay fat choy, all!

Sales this weekend:
Bakers: 40% off all full-price items, plus an extra 20% off sale items
Bare Feet Shoes: Valentine's Day Sale, up to 70% off
Bloomingdale's: Save $50 on purchases from $200-$299.99; $100 on purchases from $300-$499.99; $150 on purchases of $500 or more
Bus Stop Boutique: Valentine's Day Sale 2/11-2/14: 15% off gifts (plus grab a pair of tall boots for only $150!)
Lord & Taylor: Save 20% off regular, sale, and clearance with code FIRSTLOOK
Macy's: Save an extra 15% off and free shipping on purchase over $99 with code TICKET
Neiman Marcus: Free Ippolita bracelet with purchase over $350
Payless: Buy one, get one half off

Christmas

It’s the most sparkly time of the year!

With tinsel and sleigh bells

And garlands and candles and stars shining clear!

It’s the most sparkly time of the year.

It’s the bright, shiniest time of the year!

With sparkles and glitter

How ornaments shimmer and shine without peer!

It’s the bright, shiniest time of the year.

Yay Christmas—it’s almost here!  When I was thinking about how to do a Christmas post, I thought that instead of elf shoes or something I would give you the sparkliest shoes I could find.  (Plus today is my birthday, and you know how much I loooooove glitter!)  How better to be merry on Christmas than in a pair of these?

Oh, they’re like snow!  The Iris by Bouquets has a 3.5-inch heel, round toe, and are covered in sparkling, iridescent glitter.  These are serious snow princess shoes!  Also available in bronze or black glitter; find them at Zappos for $48.

Don’t you just love the red on the Helena by Promiscuous?  So festive, it’s ridiculous.  A 4.5-inch heel, one-inch platform, and ruffle feature at the peep toe make these perfect for any Christmas party.  Also available in black and an interesting lavender and silver combination; pick them up at Zappos for $40.

The Toriie by Madden Girl are party shoes indeed—just look at the glitter on the one-inch platform and five-inch heel!  The rest of the upper is bright pink satin.  Also available in black; find them at Steve Madden for $50.

These back beauties have a leather upper studded with rhinestones and solid black heels.  Just about $80 from Light in the Box.

And the grand finale:

The whole bootie is rhinestones!!  Love!  It’s like wearing ice.  The Sparrkk has a five-inch heel, one-inch platform, and a zipper up the back to let you in.  A pair can be yours for $250 from Steve Madden. 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Sales this weekend:

Sorry ladies; the Shoe Fairy is on vacation until the New Year.  Be back then with all the post-holiday deals!

Miss Piggy: Style Icon

For most people, the words “fashion icon” conjure up images of someone like Coco Chanel or Lady Gaga. For me, it’s Miss Piggy: her hair and makeup are always impeccable. She has several closets full of sparkling, elaborately feminine outfits. She is rarely seen without a classic strand of pearls. (Insert “pearls before swine” joke here.) She believes a feather boa is an everyday accessory. But now, riding high on her new movie The Muppets, Miss Piggy has reached the pinnacle of fashion: Jerome Rousseau has designed a shoe inspired by her awesomeness. And the shoe is rockin’! I know, Piggy, I want them too! The Diva Glitter Pump won’t be available until January, but then you can find them at Saks for $595. In the meantime, tide yourself over with one of these:

The Iridescent by Betsey Johnson is a bright pink peep-toe pump with a 4.5-inch heel, half-inch platform. They’re down to size 6 only in the pink, but plenty more sizes are available in black and gold. All are $110 from DSW.

The Sookiee by Madden Girl is a round-toe slingback pump with a five-inch heel and one-inch platform, covered in light pink glitter. Also available in black, silver, or multi glitter or nude or red patent leather; prices vary between $30 and $55 on Endless.

The Peep Toe Metallic Pump by Fergie has a black 4.5-inch heel and a bright pink sparkling body with a side cutout. Warning: they run big! Find them at QVC for $50. The Victoria G Glitter Platform Pump has a 5.25-inch heel, a 1.25-inch platform, and a nice round toe. Also available in multi glitter from Bakers for $42. The Farella by Call it Spring has a shorter heel than the others (2.75 inches), but just as much glam. Also comes in multi glitter and black satin; find them on Zappos for $40. Any of these would do Piggy proud. Enjoy!