PMA Fashion Doubleheader Part I

If you love fashion (and I know you do), now is an excellent time to head on over to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Now through the fall they have two (count 'em: two!) fashion exhibits on display, both very different.

First up: Silver and Gold Fashions Since 1960.  Come explore this presentation of glamorous and glittering dresses and accessories that utilize metallics in fashion-forward ways. See how designers Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, Geoffrey Beene, Paco Rabanne, Rudi Gernreich, and others have used sparkling fabrics, embroidery, sequins, beads, and linked rings to put a twinkle in your eye.

I’m sorry, did someone say something?  I couldn’t hear you over the sparkles there for a second.  But there are gorgeous dresses on display, handbags… even shoes!  Ugh, I want these so badly:

They’re by René Caovilla.  The rhinestone bow.  The openwork toe.  The slender slingback.  They’re too impossibly delicate and beautiful to be real, like fairy princess shoes.  It’s ridiculous how much I love these.

This pair was designed by Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.  Look at the shapes in this: the chunky heel, the crisscross toe with cutouts.  It’s somehow casual and professional at the same time—masculine and feminine.  What a beautiful shoe.

Oh Prada, I want to like these, but they remind me just a little too much of clown shoes.  And you do silver so much better now!  Just look at these:

THIS is what I’m talking about!  The Metallic Leather Rose Bow Pumps are so freaking gorgeous that I’m currently thinking of banks I can rob so I can buy them.  Silver leather covers the 3.25-inch heel as well as the rest of the upper, and the pointed toe has a black patent leather bow adorned with a small silver rose.  I am dying here.  The cuteness.  I just can’t.  But if you can, they’re $690 at Saks.  They deserve to be in a museum someday. 

So concludes Part I of our two-day tour of fashion at the PMA.  Stay tuned for Part II on Friday!

Workplace: Business

The last stop on our tour of workplace footwear is the professional workplace.  This would be something like law—somewhere where your wardrobe should impart confidence and competence, but never frivolity.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish!  It just means that you can’t show up in a courtroom looking like Elle Woods.  (Yes, Legally Blonde lied to you.  I’m so sorry.)

But try these!

The Draper by Mojo Moxy is classic, sophisticated, and (yes!) a little fun.  The white and burgundy combo is a little unusual for this type of shoe—it also comes in white/black, white/gray, and white/royal, but they look a little costumey.  It also has a T-strap and a four-inch heel.  They run small, so order up!  Yours from 6pm for $70.

OHMYGOD, I love these.  The Carli by Adrienne Vittadani is so much more than just a classic black pump—those swirling cutouts at the toe are sort of awesome.  I also love the shape of the toe, and its 3.75-inch heel is very reasonable.  Also available in what they call beige, but is actually is sort of a lovely glowing rose color—your choice for $99 from Macy’s.

The Agalia by Isaac Mizrahi is a beautiful pump: a nude, pointed toe body, accented with a bow-accented strap in black.  It is ridiculous how much chic that bow gives to this shoe, and I heart the blush-and-black combo (though it also comes in black with gray).  A three-inch heel finishes the look.  Find them at Lord & Taylor for $135.

Suede.  Kiltie.  Tortoiseshell.  Navy.  The Suede Kiltie Pump by Prada has everything needed for a traditional work shoe, but in a fashion-forward way.  Because of the chunkiness of the three-inch heel I would wear these with pants and not a skirt in the professional workplace.  Also available in black with a black buckle; your choice for $500 from DSW.

So thus ends our tour of footwear in the workplace!  I hope you’ve found it helpful, and (as always) I hope you’ve seen some shoes you love.

Sales this weekend:

Call it Spring: Extra half off all sale

Lord & Taylor: Extra half off already-reduced shoes, or 15% off regular-price shoes with code SAVINGS

Macy's: Extra 25% off clearance

Nordstrom: Anniversary sale

Steve Madden: Sneak peek!  30% off new fall styles

Shoes in the News: The Pope Retires

Yesterday was Pope Benedict XVI’s last day as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.  He’ll most likely be remembered for being the first pope in, oh, six hundred years to step down from the pontificate instead of leaving it via death, but I personally will remember him for his shoes!

Come on, those are kind of rockin’ shoes for a pope, and you know how I love a bright pop of color with a simple outfit.  But, like most things in the church, there is a liturgical reason for them:  “The tradition of the red papal shoe goes back the time of ancient Rome, when they could only be worn by the Emperor, the Empress and the Pope. John Paul II gave up on them but Benedict XVI brought them back. According to his private secretary Monsignor Ganswein the Pope wears Red because it's the color of martyrdom.”  (From no less a source than GQ.  When was the last time a pope was in GQ?  He was even named Esquire’s Accessorizer of the Year in 2007!  What is this?!) 

Ahem.

When he first took the post, a rumor went around that the infamous red shoes were made by Prada.  That’s not true (unfortunately).  But in the spirit of the pope’s last day, here’s a pair of red Prada loafers for you!

The Smoking Loafer by Prada is just that: a slip-on loafer made of red leather, with a round toe and Prada logo in gold at the tongue.  Also available in blue, nude, and black (the latter trimmed in white around the foot opening—nice!), but really, they can’t hold a candle to the red.  Find them at Nordstrom for $490.

Now that he’s Pope Emeritus, Benedict will be leaving the red shoes behind and entering retirement in “a pair of hand-crafted brown loafers made for him by artisans in Leon, Mexico, and given to him during his 2012 visit.” 

It’s only fair I give you a pair of those, too!

Classy.  The Fuller by Naturalizer is a faux croc loafer in a chocolate brown, with a tapered squared toe and a 1.5-inch heel.  (Though I believe these are made in China, and not Mexico.)  Also available in brown Fellini leather, black Fellini leather, and black croc; take your pick from Shoebuy for $71.

Stay tuned to see what footwear the new pope will pick!

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: Save 40% on all full-price items, plus an extra 20% off sale items

Lord & Taylor: Save 25% on regular and sale shoes

Macy’s: Save 10% and free shipping on orders over $99, plus save 20-30% on select styles

Nine West: End of season sale: up to 70% off, plus free shipping on any purchase

Nordstrom: Shoe clearance: save 33% or more

Steve Madden: Free shipping on orders over $75 with code SMFREESHIP

Fall Trend: Sssssssnakeskin

So we covered the fur trend for fall. Another animal-kingdom-inspired trend this season: snakeskin! More subtle than other animal prints; just as sophisticated as the classic alligator, but fresher. So! Let’s help you slither in to this trend. We’ll start with a flat:

The Jungle Flat by Mia 2 is the perfect pointy-toed flat in black snakeskin with gold studs and buckle. Great for work but still perfect for a casual weekend outfit—so versatile! Find them for $35; online only from Kmart.

  The Flambeau is a gray and black snakeskin peep-toe slingback with a statement silver buckle. It has a four-inch heel and one-inch platform. Also available in six (six!) other color combos; find them at Nine West for $89.

  The Brit Wedge by Lovely People has a four-inch wedge, back zipper, and all kinds of little detailing. It comes in brown snakeskin with a stacked heel and gold grommets (shown) or a really sleek black snakeskin with a black heel and silver grommets. Yours for $40 from DSW.

For just a hint of snakeskin, try the Vega by Ellen Tracy. It’s black suede, with a patterned patent bow and heel. It’s just so sleek! Yours for $99 from Macy’s.

  I love these—they are serious chunks of snake! The Au Brie by Luichiny have a 4.5-inch heel and a two-inch platform, plus a peep toe, cushioned footbed, and ankle strap. They come in snake or cheetah; find them at Zappos for $90.

Now for something a little fun!

  Pink! Yellow! Crazy knotted straps! The Snake Pumps by Michael Antonio are really kind of awesome. It has a 4.25-inch heel, and a zipper up the back (and elastic knotted straps) to help you keep them on. Yours from Bare Feet Shoes for $45.

This one is actually made of python. I guess I didn’t realize people still did that!

  And a whole lotta python! My goodness. The Genuine Python Boot by Prada have a 4.5-inch heel, has a side zip, and are special order from Nordstrom for $2,700.