Back to Winter!

Hey!  What happened to that heat wave we were supposed to have?  I was expecting 64 degrees on Sunday, and instead I could see my breath and the city was swallowed by fog!  So much for that.  Just goes to show you that winter can attack at any time!  Got your snowboots ready just in case? 

Confession: I hate most women’s snowboots.  They’re all solid black and utilitarian-looking (read: boring!).  But I would never foist those upon you, deputy shoe fairies.  Here are some snowboots that would actually be fun to wear!

Now we’re talking!  The Regalia Rain Boot by Dirty Laundry is beautiful in bronze and brown.  The upper is made of rubber and faux leather; the 18-inch shaft is lined with faux fur; fits calves up to 16 inches around.  Yours from DSW for $40.

Okay, these are cool!  The Plimsoll Tall Leaf by Bogs is waterproof, of course, but it’s also anti-microbial.  Plus they’re temperature rated to 40 degrees below zero, so you’re set no matter how cold it gets.  Also available in brown, a sort of brick color, and the ubiquitous black; your choice from $130 from Shoebuy.

The Juggle by Nicole is a classy snowboot made of stone-colored suede, trimmed in faux shearling and encircled by three faux leather belts buckled in gold.  The shaft is 17 inches; the shaft circumference 15.5 inches; the heel says four inches but I know that ain’t right!  Also available in a black faux leather; your choice for $90 from 6pm.

How cute are these?  The In Love by Volcom are lined with pink fur, but my favorite part about these are the colored eyelets on the sides that hold the lacing!  They sort of look like Fruit Loops, don’t they?  Also available in a black boot with light blue fur; $50 from Zappos. 

Now there’s no excuse not to be ready when the snow comes!  It is winter, after all, lest we forget.

Stupid winter.

Dinosaur Attack!

Confession: I love dinosaurs.  I watch pretty much every dinosaur special that the Discovery Channel shows.  I linger in the dinosaur hall of every natural history museum.  I have a toy dinosaur in my office at work.  I’ve seen the Walking with Dinosaurs arena show twice.  (I have indulgent friends who go with me to these things.)

Why do I love dinosaurs?  Because I worked for “Dino Don” Lessem for awhile during and after college on his travelling exhibits program.  There was a triceratops head outside the office door, a raptor on the porch... even a replica archaeopteryx fossil in the bathroom.  Everywhere was the haphazard joy of dinosaurs.

So imagine my happy surprise when I saw that the Giant Mysterious Dinosaurs exhibit at the Franklin Institute is one of Dino Don’s!  You can bet I’ll be going.  In the spirit, I give you shoes inspired by some popular dinosaurs:

The stegosaurus: 30 feet long, 14 feet tall, and spiked like the nastiest five-ton plant-eating cactus you ever saw.

Fab!  The Steampunk Predator Pump by Metropolis has a five-inch heel with ridges up the heel like the plates along a stegosaur’s back.  Not to mention the spikes around the platform—nice.  Also available in white patent leather with silver detailing; yours from Amazon for $110.

The velociraptor: short, smart, and fierce as hell. 

Short, smart, and fierce!  The Honored by Nicole has a leather upper and lining, slingback, half-inch heel, and stones and beading at the peep toe.  Available in honey (shown) and stone for $99 from Zappos.

And lastly, my all time favorite dino:

Ankylosaurus, baby!  The tank of dinosaurs.  What shoe could be worthy of this awesome beast?

Spikes all over, a 1.25-inch platform which would work like a club in a pinch... yes, the Shark Spike Stiletto Pump by Speed Limit 98 will do nicely.  (Not to mention the five-inch heel and abundance of gold glitter!)  Also available on Amazon, for about $48.

The dinos in the exhibit are more exotic than these: super huge, unicorned, feathered... (Though in reality, the velociraptor is feathered too—I used an old picture.  But I digress.)  You’ll need to head to the Franklin Institute to check them out!  The exhibit runs through April 15.  Tickets are $25 if you go during the day (that includes admission to the rest of the museum) or $10 if you go in the evening.  Pretty good deal!  You could get dinner afterwards.

Sales this weekend:
Sorry ladies; my computer's on the fritz.  But it's getting fixed this weekend and I'll have the sales for you next Friday!