Firebird Festival

Looking for something to do this weekend?  One of my favorite local festivals is going on: the Phoenixville Firebird Festival!  What’s not to love about a day of dance, music, art, and parades, followed by the burning of a three-story wooden bird in honor of the town’s name?  As one of my friends would say, that’s just awesomesauce.

In honor of the awesomeness, I give you shoes that sparkle and swirl like flames in the night!

The Arden by Promiscuous has so much going on—the rhinestones, of course, but also the curving shape of the upper, and the unusual heel.  See it on the back shoe in the picture, the cutout?  The bottom zigs all the way back in to meet the ball of the foot.  It’s nuts.  It’s got a six-inch heel and 1.75-inch platform, and is available in black or red from Zappos for $81.

I love the upper on the Sublime by Two Lips—it really evokes the feeling of the phoenix’s wings, doesn’t it?  It’s studded with gunmetal rhinestones on the upper and on the 4.25-inch heel, and a zipper up the back lets you in.  Available in black or red; your choice for $63 from 6pm.

The Fern by Nina has a glitter fabric d’Orsay upper, slender 3.25-inch heel, peep toe, and an air of simple elegance.  Also available in black, bronze, grape (which is KICKIN’, by the way), navy, and pewter—your choice from Shoes.com for $79.

The Beccalyn by Enzo Angiolini are fabulous for so many reasons.  One, the rhinestones all over the 1.5-inch platform.  Two, the rhinestones all over the 4.5-inch heel.  Three, the swirly shape of the rhinestones up the back, like sparks swirling up from the phoenix aflame.  And four, THERE ARE RHINESTONES ON THE SOLE.  Rhinestones on the sole!!  I’m in love.  If you agree, pick up a pair in red, dark pink, or dark purple for $120 from 6pm.

Come on down to Phoenixville for the Firebird Festival!  Activities begin at 3:30 PM and continue on until the burning of the bird at 8:00 PM.  There will be flamenco, belly dancing, puppets, storytelling... something for everybody.  Come on down!

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Biggest sale of the year (up to 60% off); free shipping over $50
Bakers: Holiday sale (up to 50% off); free no-minimum shipping
Bloomingdale's: "A Great Sale" (save 20-30%)
Lord & Taylor: 25% off all shoes with code FRIENDS
Macy's: Save 20-50% off select styles, plus an extra 15% off and free shipping with code EXTRA
Nine West: Free shipping on all orders

MLS All-Star Game

Hey Philly!  The MLS is hosting their All-Star Game at PPL Park in Chester tomorrow night—not bad, considering we’ve only been in the league for two years!  MLS’s best of the best will take on British football giant Chelsea F. C. at 8:30 tomorrow.  In the spirit, I give you shoes in the colors of some of the MLS teams!

First, of course, the navy and gold of our Philadelphia Union:

  

Bring it ON, other guys!  The Studded Pump by McQ has got to inspire a little bit of fear, what with that five-inch black patent stiletto and gold spikes around the heel!  The body is of navy suede (I love that little cut at the heel) and has a black half-inch platform too.  Find them on Zappos for $445.

I know they’re a rival of the Union, but for you, Maria, something for the New York Red Bulls:

I am sort of digging the Lupe by Fioni.  It has an unusual shape (in red or black faux suede), a five-inch chunky heel (practically a wedge) and 1.5-inch platform.  It even looks a little like a bull’s horns from the front!  On sale at Payless for $17.

I am loving a lot of these team names.  How about the Portland Timbers?

The Anti Wedge by Two Lips is sort of nautical, sort of hippie-granola, sort of summer chic!  It has a striped upper, five-inch wedge and 1.5-inch platform (cork, trimmed in more stripes!), a leathery ankle strap... and if you’re not into the green, it’s also available in red or blue.  Whole sizes only; find them at DSW for $50.

Or the Chicago Fire!

Aren’t they beautiful?  The Inferno is a brand-new pump with a beige mesh upper, licked at the toe and heel by red glitter flames.  That's a six-inch heel, by the way, and probably an inch or 1.5-inch platform.  It’s so new, in fact, that it’s not even in stock yet!  Keep an eye on BuyCostumes and they can be yours (eventually) for $45!

Whoever you’re cheering for, be sure to check out the game on ESPN2.  Or hey, there are still tickets available!  Why not go out and make a night of it?

Mardi Gras

I love February.  I love February because it has Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and Mardi Gras.  Who would’ve thought that the shortest month could fit all these awesome holidays?  Which is great, because there’s often not a lot to celebrate about February.

But I digress—Mardi Gras!  Mardi Gras has everything I love: parades, costumes, sparkles, New Orleans, parties with wonderfully silly traditions like sticking a plastic baby in a cake, parties with awesome things like beignets, po’boys, pralines, jambalaya, and hurricanes... In honor of this most indulgent of days, let’s find us some Fat Tuesday footwear!  Of course, the official Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold, and green, so here’s a party shoe for each.  Green:

The Evelixa by Nina is apple-green satin with a ruffle over its peep-toe, one-inch platform, and three-inch heel.  Also available in silver, gold, ivory, black, red, navy, or canary; your choice for $89 from Macy’s.

Purple:

The Eclypse by Two Lips has two different purples for double the fun!  It’s mostly dark purple (the straps, the toes, up the back, two of the flowers) but that bright purple flower just makes the whole thing!  Also available in nude or black; find them on Zappos (on sale!) for $64.

And gold:

The Hottness by Steve Madden is just that: hot!  Covered in gold glitter, crossed straps at the ankle, a peep-toe, a one-inch platform and 4.5-inch heel... this is just one beautiful shoe.  Also available in silver glitter, black satin, and nude patent from Steve Madden for $90.

And here’s one with all three colors!

The Tender by Madeline Girl has green suede on the upper, purple suede on the two-inch platform and 5.5-inch heel, and two gold buckles.  These are a DSW online exclusive, so you’ll have to pick them up on the web if you’re interested.  Also available in red or black; either can be yours for $80.

And the grand finale:

Awesome.  Just... awesome.  Gold platform, five-inch heel, and insole; green back, toe, and ankle strap; purple toes and edging... and that’s ignoring all the beads and feathers!  These are seriously Mardi Gras in a box.  They can be yours from BuyCostumes (whole sizes only) for $55.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Happy Shoe Year!

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and you’re ready to embark upon 2012.  And why not tackle you list of resolutions in new shoes?  Start off on “the right foot,” so to speak!  (Insert groans here.)  And a little informative factoid to help you get started: the color of 2012 is orange!  Yes, Pantone has selected Tangerine Tango as the color of 2012.  Time to get pickin’!

The Helen by Two Lips is stacked high with straps of orange suede, on top of a one-inch platform and five-inch stacked heel.  A zipper up the back helps you in.  It’s also available in a really lovely blue; find them at DSW for $70.

A little more suede, perhaps?

The Cupcakes Peep-toe Pump by Chinese Laundry is a suede slingback on a 3.5-inch heel, and is available in black, dark camel, and aquamarine in addition to pumpkin.  Find them all on Amazon for between $60 and $80 (though the orange are all $60).

Okay, enough suede.  Patent leather!

The Quilla by Gabriella Rocha has a round toe, lightly padded footbed, one-inch heel and 3.75-inch stacked heel.  Also available in black patent and gold glitter (with black heels), burgundy patent with a stacked heel, and purple with a purple heel—all on Zappos for $45.

Now for a party shoe:

The Vamp Sandal by Jimmy Choo has beautiful orange straps, a silver buckle at the ankle, a one-inch platform, and a 4.5-inch heel.  Too beautiful!  It also comes in fuchsia and nude patent as well as nude and black suede, but the orange is my absolute favorite.  Find them at Nordstrom for $750.

And a flat, since you can’t be in heels all the time:

The Hamilton Loafer by Michael Michael Kors is a leather beauty, with a half-inch heel and metallic accent at the toe.  If you’ve had enough of orange by now it also comes in brown, but either way they’re $110 on Amazon.

And in case 2012 isn’t all sunshine:

The Gingham Rainboots by Western Chief are too cute, with the orange and white checked trim!  Bright orange outside, soft white cotton inside, and a one-inch heel and eleven-inch shaft with a sixteen-inch circumference.  Yours for just over $20 from 6pm.

All of a sudden winter seems less dreary, doesn’t it?  So put your bright foot forward and greet 2012 in orange!

Boots Fur Fall

Fall is here! (Officially. As of today. I know it doesn’t exactly feel like it out there, what with the like 160% humidity, but trust me—fall is here!) One of my favorite trends for fall: fur. It’s everywhere! It’s luxurious, it’s fun (and for you vegan types, it’s fake). Treat yourself with some fur this fall! Maybe these:

The Fur-Trimmed Wedge Booties have a half-inch platform, 3.5-inch heel, and is made of faux fur and faux leather. Priced at $45; find them at Bare Feet Shoes.

  Oh, how I love these!! The Henriq by Nina have a twelve-inch shaft (seven inches in diameter) covered in fur and laced with ribbon embellishments. They also have a one-inch platform and five-inch heel—these are some seriously beautiful boots. Like a ballerina in a Moscow winter. They can be yours for $179 from Macy’s.

  The Osage by GUESS are so sophisticated—a 4.5-inch heel, three-quarter-inch platform, and a leather upper with buckles and straps. Available in bisque (shown) or black; find them at Nordstrom for $159.


Rock star fur—badass! The Fur ee Bootie by Two Lips have a five-inch stiletto (look at that spike!), one-inch platform, silver buckles... these are some powerful boots. Find them at DSW for $120.

  The Purr by Naughty Monkey look classic from the front, but are a little punky from the back. They come in a bunch of colors if the gray isn’t your thing (black, taupe, and chocolate with beige)—find them all on Amazon for $90.

Sales this weekend: 
Bus Stop Boutique: Open house tonight, 5:30-8:30! 15% off
Macy’s: Hot List Sale (20-50% off)
Nine West: Free standard shipping on any purchase; limited time
Steve Madden: Free shipping on orders over $75 using code SMFREESHIP
Lord & Taylor: 20% off one pair, 25% off two pairs, 30% off three pairs

Red Hot Philadelphia Summer

According to this article, Philly gals can’t get enough of OPI’s Malaga Wine on their nails this summer. If you’re one of the ladies walking around with these raspberry-crimson toes, let’s get you some shoes that best show them off! I love the idea of strong crimson toes peeking through this frilly, nude wedge—ladylike and seductive at the same time; all the color focus is on the toes but there’s still so much going on subtly. The Sandy Wedge by Two Lips has a five-inch cork wedge, a 1.25-inch platform, and a synthetic upper and sole. Also in black; find them at DSW for $50.

I love red and teal:

Bam! The Bridgit has a teal microsuede upper (or pink, or natural, or black) with a slingback, and a 3.75-inch wedge and a 5/8-inch platform wrapped in rope. Find them at Bakers, on sale for $20!

Nothing looks richer than red and gold:

  The Ivalee by Isola have a leather upper in gold, black, or ivory, a sleek T-strap, a four-inch heel and a half-inch platform, and a leather insole with a cushioned toe. They even have studs around the heel, since the spikes post was such a big hit. Warning: runs narrow! Pick up a pair at Macy’s for just under $170.

Red and white: so bright and cool!

The Hooped Caged-In Flat is a classic gladiator sandal with silver studs and chain detail, and a zipper going up the back for easy entry. Also available in black or tan. Pick up a pair from Bare Feet Shoes for $25.

And the grand finale, if you’re an 8.5:

The I00092 by Giuseppe Zanotti are so beautiful: sleek ankle and toe straps, red jewels all around the heel, leather lining and sole, and a four-inch heel. Get these Italian beauties from Zappos Couture for $850.

Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: 10% off everything $34.99 and below—no coupon needed!
Bakers: 25% off Blowfish
Payless: BOGO! Now through September 6
Steve Madden: 25% off $75 using code SAVE25; 30% off $125 using code SAVE30
Neiman Marcus: Exclusive Roxanne Assoulin cuff with $350 purchase of regular-priced women’s clothes and accessories using code TRENDNM