Words of Wisdom

Today’s Ben Franklin’s birthday!  The good Dr. Franklin would have been 308 years old today.  Of course, in Philadelphia it’s very much like Ben himself is still with us (you may even see him on the streets sometimes), but his sage and often tongue-in-cheek advice lives on even without him.

Fish and visitors smell after three days.

Not the fish on the Under the Sea!  (Unless you wear them for three days straight?  Probably not even then.)  These are so fun—almond-toe pumps of blue suede, embellished with sea creatures in metallic fabric.  The four-inch heel is even patterned like light at the bottom of a pool—nice touch.  Yours for $105 from Irregular Choice.

Wine is a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.

The color of the Monika II by Badgley Mischka?  Wine, of course!  This satin pointed toe pump has a very reasonable 2.5-inch heel and is also available in white, but I don’t think we should go against Ben’s wishes. J  Your choice for $80 from 6pm.

Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

The little silver studs on the toe of the Felecia by Report sort of remind me of silver nuggets you’d find in a mine.  But these can stay where they are; don’t go digging them out, education or no!  I also like how it’s glitter on the front and solid metallic on the back.  Find them at Macy’s for $50.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

A penny loafer, of course!  And the Tabitha by Coach has the color and shine of a new penny to boot.  These pointed-toe flats don’t come with pennies pre-loaded in the slots, though, so save two pennies and stash them in there for future use!  Also available in black; your choice for $140 from Zappos.

“Does thou love life?” Franklin once said.  “Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”  Franklin lived by those words.  On his birthday, do the same!

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: If you're a member of VIP Rewards, get an extra 25% off everything!  If not, sign up and get the coupon sent straight to your inbox!
Bloomingdale's: Five day sale-- save 20-65%
Lord & Taylor: Save 20% with code SAVE
Macy's: Super Weekend Sale: save 40-65% on select styles, plus 10% off with code WKND (plus an extra 25% off clearance)
Nine West: End of season sale
Payless: All Champion shoes 30% off
Saks: Free shipping on all orders with code JANFREE

Easter

So it may not feel completely like spring out there yet, but it’s time for Easter!  These shoes are sure to make up for any unspringiness that may accompany us this weekend.

The Lady Dragon IX by Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Melissa is too cute: a jelly heel in mint green with a sculptural pink bow at the peep toe.  It also has a 3.5-inch heel and a slingback with a double pin closure.  If you’re not digging the green (how is that possible?) is also comes in pink with blue, orange with fuchsia, and black with white; your choice for $190 on Zappos.

The Cammy Mary Jane by Mojo Moxy is a surprisingly sexy Mary Jane—those three mint-green leather straps up the front and the four-inch heel sure help!  The body is a floral-print satin and ends in a round toe in the front.  Also available in a lighter floral print with cream-colored straps; take your pick for about $70 on Amazon.

The Kit Bow Pump by Fioni is a sweet floral print peep-toe pump topped with a bow and four-inch pink heel.  (It’s got a one-inch platform too, and also comes in solid black or solid tan.)  On sale for $20 from Payless, but hurry—the floral print is down to limited quantities!

The Antonella Wedge by Report is a 3.75-inch braided wedge, topped with a cheery floral print at the round toe and heel, and trimmed with teal around the toe and at the crisscross elastic straps.  Also available in black and white polka dots, navy and white stripes, and a navy floral, but the teal is just so cute!  Yours for $49 from Macy’s.

Hey, even if spring is taking its good sweet time to arrive, hurry it along with these springy shoes!

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: Save 20% off select dress styles
Lord & Taylor: Take an extra 40% off already-reduced styles
Macy's: Save 20-30% off select styles
Neiman Marcus: Real deal sale: save up to 40% off
Steve Madden: 20% off plus free shipping with code LOVEIT

Longwood Lights

We all know that Longwood Gardens is beautiful during the day.  But through September, it’s also beautiful at night, thanks to light installations by Bruce Munro.  Just look at these photos—breathtaking.  Just breathtaking!  Inspired by color in the night, I give you black shoes with just a touch of surprising color:

Does the Sexy Platform Pump by Carlos by Carlos Santana remind anyone else of those scratch art things?  That’s what I think of when I look at them.  But these are even better: it’s glitter!  It has a five-inch heel, 1.5-inch platform, and is also available in a rosy gold color.  Find them at Macy’s for $110.

The Fame by J. Renee is the classic work pump with a twist: black patent leather with bright purple around the foot, down the three-inch heel, and making up a bow on the toe that just can’t contain itself!  Find them at Shoebuy for $56.

The Katie by Report is a classic black peep-toe flat (well, a half-inch heel), but it has a beautiful cluster of jewels at the toe!  Green, blue, purple, pink, orange... all held in a gold setting.  Elastic around the foot helps to keep it on—yours for $55 from Zappos.

The Masqraid is covered in tiny rhinestones, ready to reflect all of Bruce’s light sculptures.  A black upper, vibrant purple on the toebed and 5.25-inch heel, and turquoise on the outer part of the 1.5-inch platform.  You could wear this with so many things... if you agree, pick up a pair at Steve Madden on sale for $99.

The Jessie-1A by Miss Me is a lovely peep-toe wedge standing on a 4.5-inch heel and one-inch wedge wrapped in bright striped fabric!  It’s like the coolest macramé project ever—the art teacher you want to be wears these.  On sale for $39 at 6pm! 

Lights by Bruce Munro runs through September 29.  There are extended evening hours from 6:00-9:00 PM Wednesdays through Sundays.  There are also a ton of special events: wine dinners, lectures, family activities...

Sales this weekend:

Aerosoles: Now through next Sunday, code AS812 donated 15% of your purchase to Autism Speaks

Call it Spring: Half off all sale and clearance sandals

Lord & Taylor: 15% off regular and sale and 25% off clearance with code STYLE

Neiman Marcus: Free shipping with code AUGFS

Steve Madden: Spend $75 and get 20% off and free shipping with code AUGUST20.  Spend $125 and get 25% off and free shipping with code AUGUST25

May Flowers

I know the saying is “April showers bring May flowers,” but we had it a bit backward this year: not a lick of rain and plenty of flowers in April; drizzly skies and flowering plants that have already gone into full-green mode in May.  A bit depressing!

But never you fear!  Here’s a bouquet of spring flowers for you:

The Lifetime by CL by Laundry is like a spring garden!  Pink, yellow, blue, and orange flowers fill the body and 3.25-inch heel, and there’s pink piping around the foot opening and a little bow at the toe.  Adorable.  Also available in a black and white floral print/polka dot combo; find them at DSW for $40.

What a sweet little wedge!  The Tonic by Rocket Dog has an all-over... what are they, tulips?  I’ll say tulips.  A round toe, woven 1.25-inch wedge, and fold detailing at the front complete the look.  Available in two other prints and a solid black as well; yours from Zappos for $50.

How cool are these?  The Brander by Report is like looking into a tropical garden through the wooden blinds over the windows in your home in Hawaii.  (Mental vacation break!.... Aaaaand, we’re back.)  They have a six-inch stacked heel—I know!  That’s tall.  Fortunately, there’s a 1.5-inch platform to help you out.  And you should be on the veranda drinking piña coladas anyway, not walking anywhere.  Yours for $195 from Macy’s.

The Devon by Alice + Olivia is a classic pointed-toe pump in a cheery red, yellow, and purple floral print (that’s printed leather, people!).  It has a 4.25-inch heel, leather lining and sole, and padded insole, and can be yours for $295 at Saks.

And, well, since it is raining:

These rain boots by Journee are a rosy way to get you through a rainy day!  Pink, yellow, and red roses adorn the foot-high shaft (with a 13-inch circumference).  Find them at Target for $33.

Whatever the forecast, you’ll always have a little spring to wear!

Back to School

Labor Day is over, and you know what that means: back to school! Ahhh... new backpacks, new books, new pens (can you tell I’m a bit of a nerd?). But don’t forget—new shoes! Let’s get into some school spirit, shall we? College-style! Ready, and:

“T” for Temple, “U” U-ni-versity! Fight, fight, fight! For the Cherry and the White, for the Cherry and the White, we’ll fight, fight, fight!

The Marika by Ivanka Trump have cherry and white written all over them! A half-inch platform, 4.5-inch heel, patent leather... just beautiful. On sale for $112.50 from Zappos.

Fight on, Pennsylvania! Put the ball across that line. Fight you Pennsylvanians! There it goes across this time. Red and blue we’re with you and we’re cheering for your men. So it’s fight, fight, fight Pennsylvania—fight on for Penn!

The Diane by Report are burgundy and blue suede and patent leather, with a 5-inch heel and 1.75-inch platform. Find them at Macy’s for just under $75.

Fight, fight, fight, fight; fight on, Explorers; fight on for L.S.U. Give ‘em “L,” give ‘em “A,” give ‘em “S-A-L-L-E.” So fight on to victory! I ADORE these! The Caskade by Nina has a navy satin and gold mesh upper, blue jewels at the toe, a shiny gold four-inch heel, T-strap, and leather lining. Also available in black/silver, burgundy/gold, and brown/silver for just under $100; yours from Zappos. My current school!


Fight on for Drexel, we’ve got the stuff we need to win this game. We’re gonna fight on for Drexel; take the Dragon on to fame. Fight on for Drexel, the gold and blue is on another spree. We’re gonna fight, fight, fight, fight for Drexel U, on to victory!

The Knot is made of blue suede (or black or red) with a one-inch platform and 4.5-inch heel. And I sort of love how the swirls are reminiscent of Mario’s undulating shape! (Mario’s the dragon.) Find them at Nine West for $99.

And my alma mater! “V” for Villanova, “V” for Victory, “B” for Blue and “W” for White—for the Blue and the White we will fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight for Villanova, fight for Victory; for we’re out to win the fray, Villanova leads the way, with a capital “V” for Victory!

The Olé by Kate Spade New York have a four-inch braided wedge, grosgrain ribbon around the ankle, and a blue and white rickrack toe. And the zigzags kind of look like V’s! Woo, Villanova! Yours for $225 from Nordstrom.

Oh, and St. Joe’s, I guess. Shake your tail feather. Et cetera.

The Porsha by Rampage has a polka dot upper, cushioned insole, and three-inch heel. Also available in zebra patent, black floral, and pink floral (the dots are cutest, though!) from DSW for under $20!