Back to School

Back to school time!  Even though I am several years removed from this being back to school time for me, I can’t help but get a little caught up in the excitement.  (Yes.  I am a nerd.  I LOVED back to school time.)

You know, going to the store and getting new black-and-white notebooks…

The Camya is actually sort of a snow-leopard print, but you get the idea.  The peep-toe upper is made of a pony fabric, and the four-inch heel and one-inch platform are wrapped in black patent.  Also available in (get this) fifteen other options—everything from floral to red patent to gold sparkles.  Your choice for $99 from Nine West.

…new pencils…

I sort of love the pointed toe on the Tidal Flat by Restricted—very reminiscent of the pointed end of a pencil!  But the real star feature of this shoe is all the cutouts: rectangles, circles, and triangles.  (Get ready for geometry, class!)  Find them at DSW for $45.

…crayons in the big pack, because that’s where my favorite crayon (cerulean) was…

The Claudette by Jessica Simpson is actually listed as cerulean!  I see I have a kindred spirit in their design office.  This pointed-toe suede pump has a cutout by the inside of the foot and a 3.75-inch heel wrapped in matching patent leather.  Also available in black, gray, red, and burnt umber (crayon color alert!); your choice for $79 from Nordstrom.

…Elmer’s glue….

The Easy Does It by Chinese Laundry is white patent at the heel and pointed toe, but with a band of clear by the toe too.  (Just like glue—starts white and dries clear!)  Also available in black and a sort of lipstick red; find them at Macy’s for $40.

Is everyone else excited for school now?  Yay!

Brilliant!

Are all of these gray skies leaving you yearning for something a little more cheery?  Today’s your lucky day: it’s the Philadelphia Flower Show!  This year’s theme is “Brilliant!”, an homage to Great Britain.  Capturing the majestic beauty and creative inspiration of Great Britain, displays at this year’s Flower Show will pay tribute to centuries of inspiring, influential design sense of London.  Smashing!

To inspire you, here are shoes with a nod to the colors in this year's logo, all with a little touch of British style:

First, the yellow of the daffodil:

Is there anything more British than houndstooth?  It’s so Sherlock Holmes!  The Nickel Flat by Restricted has the yellow of the daffodil too, of course, in the perfectly tied bow at the pointed toe.   Love!  Find them at DSW for $40.

Now the purple of the morning glory:

Wellies, of course!  Well, maybe not officially Wellies—these are the Olivia by Kamik.  Perfect for any unexpected spring rainstorms, these boots have a 13-inch shaft and a 15-inch circumference—and a nice little buckle to boot.  (To boot… ha ha!)  Also available in red, navy, green, dark brown, gray, and black, but the purple are really the winners here!  Your choice for $50 on Zappos.

And blue for that… whatever that is*:

(What? I’m a Shoe Fairy, not a gardener.)  The 1461 is a classic by Doc Martens: an upper of full-grain, smooth leather; an air-cushioned sole; welted by Goodyear.  Also available in red and a few different kinds of black, but there’s something so lovely about the blue!  Find them at Doc Martens for $110.

And red for the roses, of course:

Complete with thorns!  The Annabel WP is punktastic: three straps (with spikes! and rhinestones!) zigzagging up the front, held together by black mesh; a massive 2.5-inch platform and 5.75-inch heel; and a zipper up the back to let you in.  Also available in blue; your choice from Bakers for $70.

Pluck your favorite pair and have a brilliant time at the flower show!

The Flower Show runs through this Sunday at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and it’s open late so you can head over after work!  Tickets are $27 ($20 for a student under 24).

*Thank you to Deputy Shoe Fairy Rosie for alerting me that the blue flower is a delphinium!

Back to School

Labor Day is over, and you know what that means: back to school!  I always looked forward to the first day of school (nerd alert!): new subjects to learn, a new lunchbox, a new outfit, the traditional first-day-of-school photo on the front lawn with my brother.  When this time of year rolls around, I still feel the urge to buy a new outfit.  How about a new pair of shoes, in the school colors of some of the area’s colleges?

Perhaps the red and white of Chestnut Hill College:

The Cerise Wedge by Envy is so summery!  (What?  It still feels like summer out there.)  Red and white stripes at the toe, toebed, and heel; red lacing around the ankle and at the toe.  It also has a three-inch braided rope wedge and one-inch cork platform, and is available in gray or navy if the red isn’t to your liking.  Find them at DSW for $50.

Or the yellow and white of Bryn Mawr:

The Benz by FLY London is so interesting and classy.  A buckle around the ankle and one around the foot as well; white looping details and a yellow upper.  A peep toe and heel (maybe three inches?  three and a half?) complete the look.  Also available in brown/brown and black/brown; your choice from Endless for $173.

Maybe you’ll be found in the scarlet and black of Haverford College:

The Savana by Qupid is a striking little flat—a red (or blue, or yellow) suede upper, and black heel covered in studs.  I like the swoopiness where the two parts meet!  Find them at DSW for $30.

Perhaps the blue and gold of Widener:

The Angelic by Restricted is a beautiful little flat—a yellow fabric upper with blue trim around the foot and across the round toe, under a light blue fabric rose.  Also available in black/neutral, pink/black polka dots, and natural, but I just love the yellow and blue!  Find them at Endless for between $22 and $55 (but the yellow will run you $32).

Or the garnet and gray of Swarthmore:

The Harlie II by L.A.M.B. are just so cool!  It has a grey snakeskin upper with touches of red at the inside of the toe, and a red heel too—4.5 inches!  (There’s a quarter-inch platform too.)  So sleek.  Also available in black snake with shiny silver, black with silver polka dots and black, and neutral snakeskin with shiny silver—all equally lovely.  Yours for $265 on Zappos.

Whatever your affiliation, it’s a good time of year to start anew.  Grab a new pair and bring back the best part of the first day of school!