Favorite Things: Spring 2011

My year is divided not by actual seasonal months but by fashion seasons. It's not officially Spring yet but I'm salivating over the new spring colors, textures, clothes, shoes...


I'm loving the nude shoes that have come out this Spring and these Lucky Brand Emmie flats match my skin tone (with a little pearly shimmer). I'm hoping that the nude flats will make me appear taller and of course, go with everything.


I' m also on a bit of a make-up kick and am trying to brighten up my look. I've read endless positive reviews of Tarte's LipSurgence natural lip stain. I remember running down to the make-up store to get it only to find it sold out. I had given up on it until my sister came to visit me this past weekend and BOUGHT THE LAST STICK of the color I wanted (Enchanted).

Being the good big sister I am, I didn't take it from her and went down to get one when the next shipment came in. It was everything I dreamed of. It gave me a subtle pink lip (like I was out running in the cold or something), lots of non-greasy or sticky moisture, and a lovely mint flavor. I also love the line because they are cruelty free and made without parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates, sodium laurel sulfate or synthetic fragrances. I can eat and not have a napkin or cup smudged with pink!

Yee-Haw!

I have been looking for boots forever. I'm short, have skinny calves and can't rock heels outside of SFactor. I have been willing to shell out dough for Frye, Marc Jacobs or Loeffler Randall but it has got to fit and got to be perfect.

So after looking for hours, ordering and returning countless pairs, I found non-suede grey boots to match my grey bag - yes, I'm a matchy matchy girl. They're flat, have a little scrunch but do not look like wigwams, tapered at the ankle so I don't have cankles but still can pull on, hit right at the thickest part of my calf, and are super light and comfy. And of course, since it was buy one, get one half off, I HAD to get the black cowboy boots. No crazy stitching, just a basic casual boot with a little heel. All for $85 and same day shipping! Now that's a recession bargain!

My, My, Frye

There's a store in the West Village called "Shoegasm." One day, S and her mom walked by it and her mom was like, "what's that?" I think I just had one.

I have a boot thing and I've been eying Frye boots for awhile. People rave about the quality construction and comfort. The double row of buttons on these (spats times two!) nearly made me pass out. These boots are incredibly hot.

Now, you may ask, why am I not wearing those instead of my UGGs or my FitFlops Billows (shipping tomorrow - yay!)? 1, I'm short. Those boots have a 15 inch shaft and that would clear my knees. 2, the heel is 3.5 inches and as you know, I'm still tipping over in class. 3, they look heavy. 4, that silly shopping embargo - these boots ain't cheap!

Another option are these awesome cowboy boots but I'm not sure I'm ready to rock all that stitching. I do love the shape and the pointy toe.


These are another pair that might work...

Fitflops for Winter!

So, back in the summer when I wore my fitflops everyday, I sent an email to my beloved fitflops asking them, "What will I wear in the winter? Can you make an UGGs fitflop?" They said to check back in November and...

Here it is! The fitflop billow! I know, they are ugly like my UGGs but, if they give me the same amazing arch support as a fitflop with the warmth of a shearling UGG, I'm so ordering 1 in every color. I do wish they were higher like a boot but I can wear my leg warmers over them. They don't ship until 12/5 so I'll let you know how they turn out next month.

www.soleprovisionsshop.com

Christian Louboutin

Sure, I cried when Big proposed to Carrie with a Manolo Blahnik shoe. But, I lost my sh** today watching Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. This dowdy girl from DC wanted to get styled for a terrace party at her new NY apartment with her NY boyfriend. So, at this fitting with a designer that Tim Gunn set up, she was so nice to the designer that the designer gave her the Christian Louboutin shoes she tried her dress in. GAVE her a pair of $895 Miss Gres Zeppa Christian Louboutin shoes!!! She didn't need them to give her any of the things they gave her - she and her boyfriend have an amazing apartment in the city! They could buy it themselves! I need to put on some fluorescent orange crocs with orange fleece and get on that damn show.

Ok, reality check, Louboutins are really high. There's the simple pump which is lower but I'm not sold on the rounded toe. The black patent peep toe is so classic but how wearable? I like the Mody Blues in the blue AND the nude. I'm just learning how to wear heels and am really reliant on ankle straps. One day, maybe one day, I can wear the super high ones you see here with the bows.

I was also really surprised with some of Tim's tips and choices. Black jacket and brown skirt? Never match shoes and bags? I disagree. And Rachel Zoe was just talking about how when she shops for her clients, she shops for herself. Very dangerous.

Spat Boot with Button Detail

I get obsessed about designs. My co-worker, "No, you?" Like the spectator pumps, I've been looking for a spat boot with button detail for the longest time. N: "did you see them?" No, like my mother, I make up a shoe in my head and look all over for the closest thing to it. Like Goldilocks, the ones I've found were too high, too low, too funky, too antique, too expensive. I finally found them and LOVE the cap toe.

Update: Doris says I look like Mr. Peanut.

System: Shoes

This will sound like heresy but truthfully, you only really need 6 pairs of shoes. I've come to this realization because despite a closet and attic full of shoes, I really only wear a few. I made a decision early on to: (1) wear flats (so all pants are hemmed for flats), (2) no brown in my wardrobe (so no brown shoes, belts, bags, etc.), (3) comfort AND cuteness.

I keep 2 pairs of shoes at work: a black and a bronze (metallics are great neutrals) pair of pointy toe JCrew flats with skinny buckles. They are simple enough to go with everything and have a little bit of detail to be interesting. Black pair for black outfits and bronze pair for lighter/ white outfits.

In the summers I wear Fit Flops everywhere (see Fit Flop) and in the fall/winter, my UGGs. I know, I know, L started it! We went to Short Hills and she got a pair and I HAD to have a pair that very day. I went home and started feverishly looking for a tall black pair - impossible to find! Then, at 9:45 PM, I found them at Campmor, called to reserve them, threw my sister in the car (D: A, you are crazy! you are so crazy!), and drove like Nascar to pick them up before the store closed at 10 PM. They changed my life. Never again will I have cold feet. I got the spray so they are also water resistant. And I think they are cute. I wear them all the time. D: It is spring, it is hot, you cannot wear your UGGs anymore. I admit, I wore them once to a party and nearly overheated to death.

For those of you who just cannot stand UGGs, I highly recommend any boots by La Canadienne or Aquatalia. Cute, comfortable (memory foam sole!), and waterproof. If I have to go without my UGGs, my Canadienne Lilis are hot enough to commute through a snowstorm, wear all day at work, and go out for drinks. And they won't get all messed up from salt and yuckiness. I like wearing them with fancy tights/ fishnets. Boots are a fall/ winter must but fit is really important. I can't stand pirate boots! Gar! I'm short with skinny legs so I have a very hard time. La Canadienne Lili has a shorter shaft at 13 inches (yes, SHAFT, there I said it). I like boots to hit right at the fattest, roundest, part of the calf and not over. Most boots are 15-16 inches which is practically over my knees (which is a good look for class but not everyday).

Sneakers, of course (I got fitted at Jack Rabbit Sports - not pronated baby!), and evening shoes. I have a "wedding dress" that I wear to all weddings and fancy occasions. I didn't know it when I bought it from a little boutique on Bleeker St. but it's the pink dress that was in "Mean Girls." I got these adorable patent leather peep toe flats with grosgrain bow from Barneys. Fantastic for all fancy events.

I will say, activity shoes throw a big wrench into this system. I have rock climbing shoes, snowboarding boots, water shoes (my very lesbian Tevas), stripping shoes, travel shoes...