Titanic at the Franklin

Boy, it’s been cold around here lately!  You know where else it was really cold?  In the north Atlantic, just shy of 101 years ago, when the luxury ship RMS Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.  (Actually, that sounds way colder.)  Some of the objects that went down with the ship have surfaced at the Franklin Institute in their new special exhibit, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. 

While I don’t think any shoes survived to make it on display, I give you some modern interpretations of women’s shoes found in this 1913 ad—likely styles wealthy women wore on the Titanic!  (Why wealthy women?  Those $10 shoes in the ad equal a $232 pair of shoes today.  I tried to keep the prices of these pairs similar, ‘cuz I am a NERD.)

Inspired by the purple and gold brocade slipper, the Goodie by Badgley Mischka is a purple satin peep-toe with a 4.25-inch heel, three-quarter-inch platform, and oval rhinestone feature reminiscent of the slipper’s rhinestone buckle.  Also available in navy and crimson; your choice for $245 from Shoes.com. 

Inspired by the two-tone walking boot, the Amelia by Miz Mooz is a tall black boot (with a 15.25-inch shaft) buttoned up the side Victorian-style with eleven buttons.  (There’s a zipper up the other side, of course, so you don’t have to deal with all the buttons.  The ladies in the ad didn’t want to deal with “the inconvenience of side buttons” then; you don’t have to deal with them now either.)  It has a 2.75-inch stacked Louis heel and is also available in burgundy, dark brown, olive, and camel.  Your choice for $170 at Infinity Shoes.

Inspired by the satin dancing slipper, I give you the E30130 by Giuseppe Zanotti.  The upper is purple suede delicately arranged in half-moons, held together by purple lacing.  There’s a zipper up the back to let you in, and a four-inch heel and half-inch platform complete the look.  Find them at Zappos Couture for $1,150.

Inspired by the Russia riding boot, the Calabria by Mercanti Fiorentini has a beautiful chocolate leather upper with perforated detailing around the toe and ankle, a 15-inch shaft (with a 13.5-inch circumference) lined in leather, and a one-inch block heel.  Yours for $300 from DSW.

Hey, if you’re going to go down, go down in style, right?  J

Check out the exhibit at the Franklin between now and April 7.  Daytime tickets are $29 for adults, but if you go Thursday through Saturday after 5:00 PM they’re only $19.50.  Sweet!

Go Flyers!

Hey hockey girls: the Flyers are back!  The lockout is over and the Broad Street Bullies take the ice tomorrow vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Are you ready?  And more importantly: are your shoes ready?  Here’s a selection in Flyers orange!

So summery!  The Sunscreen Jelly Sandal by American Eagle is just that: a plastic jelly sandal in bright orange (or blue, or black), with a silver buckle at the ankle, orange trim at the sole, and rainbow thread around the footbed.  The best part: they’re an absolute steal for $15 from Payless!

The Entourage by Fergie are just too cool!  The stained four-inch stacked heel and matching one-inch platform, the swervy cut to the body, and, of course, the orangey-black snakeskin around the heel, studded with small bronze spikes!  Awesome.  Also available in black and a lovely teal; yours for $60 from DSW.

The Abie by MIA is a pointed-toe suede flat, but what makes it special is the scallop detail all around the foot opening.  It has a leather lining, slightly cushioned leather footbed, and is also available in a sort of dark teal; your choice for $47 from 6pm.

The Shannon by Miz Mooz is a beautiful boot in orange (well, “whiskey”) leather.  It’s part Victorian bootie and part cowgirl boot, but 100% beautiful.  Comes in black or burgundy as well; find them all on Amazon for $130-$170 depending on the size.  (And while you’re there, zoom in on the buttons.  They’re great!)

The 314764WA020 7535 by Alexander McQueen is a striking orange suede sandal with curvy cutouts that are reminiscent of the Flyers logo, don’t you think?  And look at that heel!  Sort of a comma heel in reverse.  That’s a 4.25-inch heel, by the way, and a 1.25-inch platform.  Yours for $830 from Zappos Couture.

Happy hockey!

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Spring preview sale: save 20%
Bakers: Save 40% off full-price items, plus take an extra 20% off sale items
Bloomingdales: Save 30-65%
Lord & Taylor: Save 20% with savings pass or code FINAL
Macy's: Super Weekend Sale & Clearance: save 30-65%
Nordstrom: Winter savings up to half off

Happy Shoe Year!

Happy New Year, deputy shoe fairies!  I hope you all are eagerly awaiting a fresh start in 2013.  A new year, a new you… and why not try a new color?  In fact, Pantone recently announced its color of the year, and it’s emerald!  (It should look familiar to you Philly gals… it’s similar to the Eagles’ signature color, midnight green.)  While I am sorry to see Tangerine Tango go (hooray for orange!), I have to say I’m looking forward to a year of emerald.  Put your best foot forward in a pair of these!

The Panther by Miz Mooz almost looks like a mermaid’s tail, doesn’t it, the way it’s scalloped?  It has a cushioned leather insole, just over a quarter-inch heel, and is also available in red, orange, fuchsia, a beigey color they call cognac, blue, and black… your choice for $100 from Zappos.

Thinking ahead for spring!  The Knott Open Toe Cork Wedge by Unze is, well, an open toe cork wedge, with a knot detail over the peep toe, slingback, and about a three-inch wedge.  Also available in an equally lovely navy or coral; find them at Amazon (whole sizes only) for $30.

I love the sort of unexpected silhouette of the Jami by London Rebel: it looks like a regular pump, except for the chunky, curving 3.25-inch heel.  Oh, and you can’t see, but on the back there is a black stripe up the heel, holding five ribbon folds in place with silver studs.  Very cool!  Also available in black with pink up the back; get them from DSW for $50.

And the emerald pièce de resistance:

The A09270MAFM39 4664 by Sergio Rossi is so gorgeous that I think I’m actually salivating.  They’re like bejeweled emerald cages for your feet!  They have a suede upper with delicate curved cutouts studded with Swarovski crystals, a skinny four-inch heel, quarter-inch platform, and… oh, there I go, salivating again!  You may have to trade in some actual emeralds to buy them, though—they’ll run you $1,670 at Zappos Couture. 

I hope you’re inspired by the new color of 2013.  I think we’re in for a glamorous year!

Fall Trend: Oxblood

Everyone survive Sandy okay?  Hooray!  Let’s celebrate with one of fall’s most sophisticated trends: oxblood.  No, not the real thing; the color!  It’s a dark, almost purplish red that is quintessentially fall but also striking for the holiday season, and it’s popping up everywhere—like on booties:

 Love!  The Kimora is a sleek lace-up bootie (look at all those eyelets!) with a slender four-inch heel and a non-slip grooved sole.  Don’t you just love the curve up the back by the heel?  So sexy.  Also available in a buff color; find them at Doc Martens for $105.

...on pumps:

How I love women’s shoes inspired by men’s shoes!  The Tally Loafer by Impo is an oxblood patent leather penny loafer on a 3.25-inch heel (which is also wrapped in patent leather! usually it’s a stack heel).  Also available in a steely gray or a warm brown; yours for $40 from DSW.

...on flats:

This bejeweled beauty is the Emma by Sperry Top Sider.  It has a suede upper just covered in studs (in like three colors), and if you don’t like the oxblood (ahem, “berry”), it also comes in gray, black, and a tealish-navy.  Find them at Macy’s for $109.

…on wedges:

The Leggy is a simple patent leather slingback wedge, with a five-inch heel and one-inch platform under its peep toe.  The oxblood color sure looks sleek in patent leather, doesn’t it?  Though it’s also available in black, dark grey, and a sort of purplish-gray they’re calling “wine”—your choice from Nine West for $70.

…on boots:

Love!  The Amelia by Miz Mooz is a striking knee-high boot with buttons all the way up its 15-inch shaft—eleven, to be precise!  It has a shapely 2.5-inch heel, 14.75-inch leg circumference, and zipper closure up the inside.  Also available in olive, gold, brown, and black; your choice for $220 from Zappos.

It’s everywhere!  So go out (working streetlights permitting) and pick up a pair of oxblood something for yourself.

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Fall boot sale: save up to 35% and free shipping on any boot order
Bakers: Everything on sale, up to half off
Lord & Taylor: Take 40% off boots
Macy's: Take 15% off and free shipping with code ELECT
Payless: Buy one, get one half off