Dîner en Blanc

This Thursday is going to be one of the summer’s hottest events: Dîner en Blanc.  Hundreds of people will don their most glamorous white outfits, grab a picnic table and a friend, and make their way to an undisclosed location for the fanciest picnic dinner you’ve ever seen.

This is a dress-to-impress event, so if you’re going, perhaps you’d like to step out in a pair of these:

Ooh, the polka dots on the Adelia by Menbur make it feel so summery, don’t they?  White mesh surrounds the foot and covers the 4.75-inch heel, and a flower adorns the peep toe.  (The platform, though, is just plain satin.)  Yours for $198 from Macy’s.

Just LOOK at the rhinestone detail on the heel of the Kiara by Badgley Mischka.  Gorgeous!  Rounds, baguettes, pears, marquis…dozens of sparking stones make this simple satin peep toe something extraordinary.  Also available in emerald, red, sapphire, and “latte” (a sort of champagne-y color); your choice for $245 from Zappos.

Feeling a little more fun?  How about the Heart by Blue by Betsey Johnson?  A half-dozen straps cross the front of the foot, each attached by a tiny silver heart.  Adorable!  The vamp is covered in subtle white lace, and a zipper up the side lets you in.  Also available in silver metallic and black lace—find them at Nordstrom for $140.

The Lido by Caparros is such an interesting shape, how the lace swoops up the front to the ankle strap.  (Which has some elastic, by the way, to give you some extra comfort.)  The four inch heel is covered in white satin, and there’s a zipper up the back.  Also available in an equally sexy black lace; yours from DSW for $60.

Okay, my fancy diners!  Have a wonderful time on Thursday!

January Spring

What is this?  Have you seen the forecast for this weekend?  It’s going to be 60 degrees!  Not even halfway through January, and it’s going to be 60 degrees.  I hope your plans for the next two days include enjoying this freak heat wave, and in the spirit, I give you a few spring-inspired shoes to get you in the mood!

The Justpretend by Nine West is a cheery pink patent D’Orsay flat (well, almost flat—there’s a three-quarter-inch heel), topped at the peep toe with an ombre flower.  Adorable!  Find them at Zappos for $85.

The Carlina by Ted Baker is a simple peep toe, sure, but look at the print: it’s all flowers and rosebuds and dragonflies and moths!  Perfect.  It’s got a 5.5-inch heel and a 1.25-inch platform, and can be yours for $115 from 6pm.

The Park Lane is like wearing spring on your feet: the bright blue of a sky; flowers popping up all over.  (The net mixed in there is a nice touch, don’t you think?)  The outer is suede, and it has a 2.5-inch stacked heel.  Yours for $119 from Irregular Choice. 

I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it!  The Suede Cutout Bootie by Menbur is so lovely: a suede upper with elaborate cutouts up the front, which is covered in a field of petaled flowers and rosebuds (see then hidden under the open ones?), a tonal three-quarter-inch platform, a 4.75-inch heel, and lacing.  Also available in nude, but it lacks the joy of this corally-red.  Find them at DSW for $150.

Okay, so maybe you won’t be going hiking in these this weekend.  But when the snows come back, you’ll be happy to have these little touches of spring in your closet!

Sales this weekend:
Bakers: 40% off full-price items and an extra 20% off sale items
Bare Feet Shoes: Buy one pair of boots and get one half off with code BOOTS12
Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular, sale, and clearance items with code SALE
Macy’s: The “Big Deal Shoe Sale and Clearance”
Steve Madden: Boot sale (up to 30% off)

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