A Christmas Carol

My absolute favorite Christmas story is A Christmas Carol.  It’s the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, grouch and miser, who is visited by the ghost of his old business partner one cold Christmas Eve.  Jacob Marley is covered in heavy chains—each link a bad deed he committed in life.

The Back Chain Shoe by Jeffrey Campbell has eight draped chains over the back of the heel—gold woven with black suede.  (Note the tiny gold links around the bottom of the pointed toe too!  Marley was a busy, evil man during life.)  The rest of the pump is black suede also, and the heel is about four inches high.  Find them at Karmaloop for $164.

Marley urges Scrooge to change, lest he spend his afterlife with a chain as heavy as Marley’s.  Marley sends three more spirits to change Scrooge’s heart—the first, the Ghost of Christmas Past, who is a constantly-morphing humanesque figure in white robes, with what looks like candle-flame on its head.

White, with a tongue of flame (or rhinestones)… the Daryn by Badgley Mischka is very reminiscent of the Ghost of Christmas Past!  I just adore these all over.  They’re also available in black, but they’re not as ethereal as the white.  Your choice for $158 from Zappos.

The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his early years, and the events that made him the Christmas-hating man he is today.  Scrooge is then handed off to the Ghost of Christmas Present, a tremendously jolly giant in a fur-lined green robe and a holly crown.

The Collector by Gianmarco Lorenzi embodies the fun and warmth of the Ghost of Christmas Present—and his green fur-lined robe too!  The boots are green suede with a heel and platform that make these shoes, uh, not a good choice for heel amateurs, but no time like the present, right?  Yours for $1396 from Farfetch.

The Ghost of Christmas Present opens Scrooge’s eyes to both the joy and the sorrow around him, especially the plight of his loyal employee Bob Crachit and Crachit’s struggling family.  (Struggling in no small part due to Scrooge, thank you very much.  Founder of the feast, indeed!)  Scrooge is then handed off to his final spectral visitor, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a tall, forbidding, silent spirit robed in black, like Death.

A little frilly for death, maybe, but the draped mesh bow on the Penny by Zigi Soho gives the feel of the flowing robes of Scrooge’s final haunter.  The satin upper cuts away at the peep toe and up the front, and attaches around back with a buckle.  A 4.25-inch heel and half-inch platform complete the look.  Yours for $50 from DSW.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge what his sad future is likely to be should he not amend his ways.  It all proves too much for Scrooge, who swears there and then to change.  And when he wakes up in his own bed on Christmas morning, he does change, bringing light and joy to those around him who he had wronged, and enriching his own life through friendship and love.

Which is what I wish you this Christmas.  (And shoes.  I always wish you shoes.)

National Pomegranate Month

Little known fact: November is National Pomegranate Month.  (Mmm, pomegranates…and now I’m back from wasting an hour on Pinterest pinning pomegranate recipes.  What were we talking about?  Oh!  Shoes, that’s right.)

Ancient Egyptians regarded the pomegranate as a symbol of prosperity and ambition.

Ambitious, indeed!  The Plasma by Guess would be appropriate for someone with her eye on the corner office.  Sleek patent leather in pomegranate red, a pointed toe, a four-inch heel…classic but still fun!  Also available in black; your choice for $85 from Macy’s.

Some Jewish scholars believe that the pomegranate was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

The Basked Sandal by Zigi Soho is so seductive, isn’t it?  The faux suede upper almost reminds me of butterfly wings…gorgeous.  The heel is 4.75 inches high (ouch!), but there’s a half-inch platform to help you out with that.  (Well, it might not help much.  But sexy as these are, you may not be wearing them long!)  Also available in black; your choice for $70 from DSW.

In the Ancient Greek mythology, the pomegranate was also known as the “fruit of the dead,” and to have sprung from the blood of Adonis.

Oooh, dark.  If this is what death looks like, I think I may be down.  The Abeli is soft faux suede and sleek red patent swirled with black.  A peep toe, four-inch heel, and three-quarter-inch platform complete the look.  Also available in all black and black with cheetah, but neither holds a candle to the red and black!  Find them at Nine West for $79.

 I call pomegranates “delicious”!  Happy National Pomegranate Month!

Be Happy!

Did you know that August is National Happiness Happens Month?  It is!  Hooray for happiness!  While it’s really things like friends and volunteer work that make people happy, those are kind of hard to find shoes for.  So we’re just going to go with... puppies!

They’re little Chihuahuas!  These little Mary Janes have curious eyes, black noses, and pointy ears.  Awwww.  Available in whole sizes for $25 from Etsy seller Em & Sprout.

Rainbows!

The Highlight by Zigi Soho is so cheery: bright, striped fabric; knotting detail at the toe; a raffia-wrapped sole.  I don’t see how these couldn’t make you happy... if they don’t, double-check that you have a pulse, okay?  Yours for $28 from 6pm.

Cupcakes!  And unicorns!

(And pink and glitter!)  The Demon Donkeys by Iron Fist are so amazing—it’s a pink flat covered in cupcakes (and skulls, owls, and unicorns), and are topped at the toe with a glitter bow (with three rhinestones down the front) and an ice cream cone-shaped silver charm!  Even the print on the inside is sketched-out cupcakes and ice cream cones.  Love.  Find them at Punk.com for $40.

Bluebirds of happiness!

The Fresh Cut Grass is a sweet suede T-strap with a round toe, scattered with bluebirds and roses!  And look at the bow on the toe—too cute.  Also available in blue or black; your pick from Irregular Choice for $139.

And finally, some advice:

Now that’s the spirit!  These flip flops are actually a custom job—for $20 you have your choice of colors and you can have them say whatever you want.  I think these strike a good note, though!  Find them at Bonanza.

I hope you found a pair to make you smile—since really, what’s happier than shoes?

Millions of Peaches...

Ah, the sweet tastes of summer.  Strawberries, melons... and don’t forget the peaches!  What’s summer without peaches?  Peddler’s Village knows this, and this weekend is their Peach Festival and Sidewalk Sale.  Peach treats, good shopping... you’ll be in for a nice afternoon.  And why not go in peachy shoes?

Peaches and cream!  The Pizzazz by Zigi Soho is a peep-toe with height to spare, on a six-inch striped wedge and a 2.25-inch platform.  (All the better to reach peaches on high branches!)  Also available in a really nice seafoam; find them at DSW for $80.

Feeling a little snaky?  The Mooz by Miss Me is a sweet little peach flat with gray and peach snake print on its almond-shaped toe.  And look at that double bow!  Love.  Also available in taupe, off-white, and black; yours for $30 on Endless.

The Kenley by Bebe is so sharp: white polka dots on peach fabric tied at the toe; and bright white 5.5-inch wedge and 1.5-inch platform.  The angles are really interesting on this—go check out the other photos at Macy’s.  Also available in nude; your choice on sale for $55.

The Troppic is like peach pudding!  An opaque, creamy peach jelly material makes up this sandal, and it has a perfect bow at the toe.  Also available in black or bright yellow; yours for $30 at Steve Madden.

The Wanda by Badgley Mischka is an unexpected little pump—the outside is tied together with a bow, tipped with rhinestone spheres!  It has an elegant 4.25-inch heel.  Also comes in white, black, gray, and what looks like a bluish-lavender; on sale for $108 from Bloomingdale's.

The Peach Festival is this Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.  Feel like picking your own?  Head down to Linvilla Orchards—you can grab a bushel through mid-September.

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: 25% off Blowfish

Bloomingdale’s: If you’re a Loyallist, get a $50 gift card with a purchase of $200-$299, a $100 reward card with a purchase of $300-$499, and a $150 reward card with a purchase of $500 or more

Macy’s: Summer shoe sale and clearance—40-65% off

Neiman Marcus: Receive a beautiful green and blue brooch with a purchase of $350 or more and code TRENDNM

Steve Madden: 30% off select new fall styles

Bastille Day

Bonjour, mes amis! You may not think of Philly as a French city, but each year we celebrate Bastille Day to the max. What’s not to love about a restaurateur dressed as Marie Antoinette hurling TastyKakes off the roof of a glorious old prison while people dressed as French peasants celebrate in the streets? That’s right! If you’re planning on celebrating Bastille Day (and I hope you are) you’ll need shoes.

Spending the day as a French aristocrat? These would be perfect:

  The Mamie by Seychelles is the pinnacle of upper-class elegance. The upper is intricately punched gray leather, and it features a round toe and a 1.75-inch heel. Only sizes 7 and 8.5 left, you lucky gals—$70 from DNA Footwear.

French peasant? Eastern State recommends “wooden shoes or sabots.” Clogs it is!

  The Bouquet Clog by Zigi Soho has a 4.5-inch wooden heel on a 1.5-inch platform, and a synthetic upper with a trio of flowers. Storming the Bastille never looked so good! Available in cognac (shown) or pink, and you can find them at DSW for $60.

Not planning on dressing up? You can still get in the French spirit! How about this classic French pattern: toile!

  The Toile Landscape Wedge by Anthropologie is so lovely—a white and orange toile, tan leather trimming, laces and slingbacks, all on a 3.75-inch cork wedge with a one-inch platform. Yours for $128.

In case il pleut, you’ll be needing these: The Black Fleur de Lis Rainboots are rubber with a padded insole, about a foot high, and fit calves up to 14.5 inches in circumference. Order down half a size—they run big! Pick up a pair at Target for $25.

And the pièce de resistance: Oh, je t’aime!! (Yes, yes, the Bastille was stormed in 1789 and the Eiffel Tower went up a hundred years later. Don’t care.) The Tour Eiffel by Giuseppe Zanotti has the bleu, blanc, et rouge of the French flag, a stunning silver stiletto, and a rhinestone-encrusted Eiffel Tower up the front of the foot. They seem to be out of stock just about everywhere, but if they ever come back they’re about $400.

Have fun storming the castle!