Philly Film Festival

Grab your popcorn!  The Philadelphia Film Festival is here.  Now through Sunday, over a hundred films will be shown in area theaters (now including some suburban theaters as well).  What’s your fancy?  Perhaps one of these:

Art & Craft is the story of Mark Landis, one of the world’s most prolific and successful art forgers.  Fueled by a mischievous desire to deceive, Landis has copied hundreds of famous artworks and offered them up for donation to countless museums around the United States. With his impeccably clever eye for detail, the schizophrenic Landis has managed to fool dozens of curators, but he might have met his match in Matt Leininger of Cincinnati Art Museum: an obsessive collector who, despite having been introduced to Landis for only a few minutes when being duped by him, will stop at nothing to expose him.

A Monet?  Or a Landis?  Or the Chloe Pump by Andrew Stevens?  Only an expert can tell!  (I’m the expert.  It’s the Chloe.)  The outer is a combo of watercolor-print satin in greens, pinks, purples, and blues, and textured fuchsia leather around the back and down the 4.5-inch heel.  Yours for $70 at Neiman Marcus Last Call.

Crescendo! The Power of Music examines the impact of El Sistema, a youth orchestra program that has transformed the lives of disadvantaged children worldwide, based on the principle that music can be the engine for social change.  Since its inception in Venezuela in 1976, El Sistema has been putting instruments into the hands of at-risk children and has inspired similar programs to take shape around the world. This impassioned documentary follows three kids as they participate in a pair of Sistema-based programs in the United States—including West Philadelphia’s “Play On, Philly!”  As we witness the children discover themselves through the power of music, we see art's transformative power and the effect it can have during one of life’s most crucial stages.

The music written on the Note Slingback by Miu Miu sure has spirit—just like the young musicians in these programs.  A 3.5-inch heel and slingback complete the look.  They’re a high sellout risk, so hurry up and get your pair for $350 from Overstock.

Adapted from Cheryl Strayed’s powerful account of her solo 1,100-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, Wild delivers a striking and emotionally rich story of self-discovery and perseverance anchored by a brilliant performance from Reese Witherspoon.  When she hits bottom after the loss of her mother and her divorce, Strayed decides to leave her demons behind by embarking on a life-changing journey from the Mojave Desert to the Oregon-Washington border, despite being a novice hiker.

The Renegade by Lowa is for day-hiking only, people!  Do not wear on any coast-long trail.  But for regular ol’ hikes, the Renegade is perfect: waterproof, shock absorbent, and with excellent traction.  Available in six color options; your choice for $225 from REI.

Art & Craft shows on 10/26 at 2:25 PM.  Crescendo! shows at 3:15 on 10/25 (the latter includes a performance from Play On, Philly!).  Wild shows at 8 PM on 10/24.

Fall Trend: Smoking Slippers

Before now, I would have associated smoking slippers with a man in a velvet robe sitting in front of a fireplace, smoking a pipe and reading the newspaper.  When they first started appearing in stores, I wasn't sold.  But it wasn't long before I was!  I am now a full convert to the smoking slipper fad.  And with shoes like these, how can you not be?

WANT!  WANT!  The Crest Embellished Embroidered Smoking Slipper by Miu Miu is sort of what you think of when someone says smoking slipper: velvet, an embroidered crest... but oh, the heel.  The half-inch heel is gold lacquer, embedded with big rhinestones.  I can barely stand the awesomeness.  If you love it too, it can be yours for $650 at Saks.

Speaking of rhinestones:

I love the bright blue of the Jewel Detail Smoking Slippers by Gianni Bini Hugh—and it's positively covered in rhinestones!  From heel to toe it's a veritable sea of blue sparkles.  It also comes in black or a lovely golden if you're not sold on the blue; your choice for $80 from Dillards.

It's a smoking slipper.  It's snakeskin.  It's got dangling black enamel spiky tassel-things.  The Nell flat by Circus by Sam Edelman has it all.  I particularly like the black trip around the foot opening-- I think it sets everything else off so nicely!  Find them at Nordstrom for $80.

And here is even more smoking slipper awesomeness.  The Geneva by Bass is a simple smoking slipper, but the material is anything but simple: it's silver and black lace!  (Or gold and black lace, or a weird black sequin thing.)  There's a plush leather footbed, too, so this is comfy AND fabulous!  Yours for $69 on Zappos.

And if you really can't give up your heels:

The Jada by Tahari has the same signature smoking slipper silhouette (this time in black suede), but on a three-inch heel.  (The shape is really reminding me of the cat shoe by Kobi Levi, to the point of distraction.  Anyone else?)  Yours for $70 from DSW.

So give smoking slippers a try this fall!  (But, er, maybe not the smoking, okay?)

St. Patrick's Day

Raise your glass of green beer: Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day!  Even if you’re only Irish at heart and not by genetics, this is one holiday everyone can get into.  You will, of course, need green shoes if you’re going to do this holiday justice!

The Glamour by Carlos Santana is a wee bit o’ magic: sparkling green and gold glitter, a pointed toe, and 4.5-inch heel.  Also available in multi, purple, or a really beautiful blue; your choice for $69 at Macy’s.

The Santiago Lace by Keen is a classic sneaker with a natural canvas upper in a springy shade of green (or white, or yellow, or navy), laces up the front, and rubber touches—and $5 from every pair of this limited-distribution Santiago style helps to build communities around the world through the HybridLife Hope Program, which creates loans for entrepreneurs in developing countries to start their own businesses, boost their economies, and improve their lives.  Hooray for helping!  And they’re a steal for $17.50 on 6pm.

Adorable!  The Jocasta by Tracy Reese is a sweet little green suede pump with straps all over the round toe—and look at the little bow!  It has a 3.5-inch heel, also comes in black, and can be found at DSW for $110.

So perfect for spring!  The Sweetheart Wedge by American Eagle has a canvas upper in a green and white polka dot print, peep toe with knot detail, slingback, and woven rattan over its four-inch heel and one-inch platform.  Also available in coral polka dot, black polka dot, and solid white; your pick for $25 from Payless.

Normally I don’t go in for the smoking slipper trend, but I really love the Embroidered Smoking Slipper by Miu Miu.  Its grosgrain upper is embroidered with gold thread; its half-inch heel is studded with crystals… what’s not to love?  Also available in blue, pink, black with blue embroidery, or pink-on-pink, but the green is just so rich looking!  Yours for $650 from Neiman Marcus.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all, and Erin go bragh!

Sales this weekend:

Bloomingdales: If you're a Loyallist, save $25 on a purchase of $100-$249; $50 on $250-$499; $100 on $500-$999; $250 on $1000 or more

Call it Spring: Free shipping on orders over $45

Lord & Taylor: Save 20% on regular and sale items with code SALE

Macy's: Take 25% off when you get 2 or more pairs

Nine West: Friends and family sale: 30% off your entire purchase

Steve Madden: 30% off new spring styles

DIY: Glitter Soles

I just fell in love with this new trend for fall!

  
See the glitter on the sole of the Glitter-Sole Suede Peep Toe Pumps by Miu Miu?  To die for.  Bad news: these’ll set you back $690 at Net-a-Porter.  Good news: You can do it yourself for much, much less!

What You’ll Need:

·         Decoupage and sealer glue (I used Martha Stewart’s)

·         Glitter in the color of your choice (I used Martha here too)

·         Tape (I used masking tape, but you could use painter’s tape too)

·         Shoes of your choice (No one-inch heels!  Make sure they are high enough that you’ll be able to see all the glitter underneath!)

I glitterized two pairs, since I couldn’t decide which one to use:

The Carli by Steve Madden is a beige patent leather pointed-toe pump, with fun stitch detailing around the heel and a four-inch heel.  They’re also available in teal, black, and magenta, any of which would look super cool all glittery.  I picked the beige since it was in the clearance section of my local DSW!  You can find them online for $60, or try your luck in-store to find them for less.

My friend Melanie also gave me a pair of Nine West pumps before she moved.  (Yay having the same shoe size as a friend!)  They look a little like these:

The Andriana is a black leather pointed-toe pump with a 2.75-inch heel.  It’s also available in navy leather, red patent leather, and leopard, and you can find them at Nine West for $79.

(I know these are both stilettos and not chunky like the Miu Mius above, but they also have a line of glittered stilettos I fell in love with.  Too bad they’re only available in-store in Paris, Milan, and London.)

Instructions:

Step 1: Tape your shoe.  I used a point towards the toe, and outlined the rest of the shoe as well so I didn’t have any escapee glitter permanently glued where I didn’t want it.

Step 2: Are you using new shoes?  Scuff the soles up a bit with sandpaper-- it'll help the glue stick better.  I skipped this and wished I hadn't.

Step 3: Cover the sole in glue.  (Warning!  The brush in the Martha Stewart glue hold a lot of glue.  Let some drip off before putting brush to sole.)

Step 4: Sprinkle with glitter, then set aside and let dry.

Step 5: I did a second glitter layer, but this is optional.  I thought the extra layers of glue and glitter would help it last longer.  Let dry again.

Step 6: Seal with a final layer of glue or two and let dry.

Step 7: Peel off the tape and enjoy!

How’d mine turn out?  What do you think?  Here's the black pair, with white gold glitter:

And the beige pair, with smoky quartz glitter:

Happy Birthday, Philly Shoe Fairy!

Yesterday was Philly Shoe Fairy’s first birthday!  I certainly didn’t think when I put up my first post last May that I’d go for a year—yet here we are!  This calls for a celebration.  There is a party on Sunday, of course (you’re invited!  come shopping with us!), but why not wear some celebratory shoes too?  Come on, these just look like a party!

The Colby by Kate Spade is just the happiest shoe—look at the curling ribbon/confetti feature on the toe!  It makes me think of balloons and birthday cake and party hats and joy.  It has a four-inch heel and slingback, and also comes in all gold—but the colors are just too fun.  Yours for $245 on Zappos Couture.

The Corvala by Nina is so fun!  A body of shimmery fabric, netting, feathers, jewels... what’s not to love?  It also has a four-inch heel, peep-toe, and ankle strap, and can be found at DSW for $60.  (We’ll be at DSW on Sunday, so look for them then!  Or if you order online, you get $5 off one pair, $10 off two pairs, and $20 off three pairs, now until Monday!)

Sequin explosion!  The Sydney by Xhilaration is a closed-toe pump just covered in gold (or black) sequins, and has a 4.75-inch stiletto and 1.5-inch heel.  Find them for $30 from Target.

The Mergel is so springy!  A bright pink sandal with ruching at the toe and a big bow at the ankle over a 3.5-inch heel... a zipper up the back lets you in.  Also available in black or white; pick them up at Call it Spring for $50.

 

The Jewel-Heel Glitter Platform Sandal by Miu Miu has so many wonderful things: silver glitter, gold trim, but look at the heel!  It’s four and a half inches high, clear, and embedded with rhinestones!  Awesome!!  If you agree, head over to Neiman Marcus and pick up a pair for $990.

 

So I’ll hope to see you on Sunday, but even if I don’t, be sure to wear a fabulous pair of shoes this weekend anyway, just for fun!

 

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: Any web order gets you $15 off a $75 purchase next time you're in-store
Bloomingdales: Spring shoe sale-- 25-30% off select shoes
Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular and sales items with promo code MOM
Macy's: Mother's Day sale: save 20-30% on select styles, plus save 15% (and free shipping!) with code MOM
Payless: Summer preview sale

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!