Flashback Friday! Naughty Monkey -Need To, Tan

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, we had such a great time the morning of our first Small Business Saturday (click here to revisit my escapade) that we decided to venture back downtown in the evening.

Our first stop was to grab something to eat, and when we saw the sign for Dino's Pizzeria (real Italian), we couldn't resist.  So there is a difference between real Italian and authentic Italian, but the crust was very thin (which we liked) and for $2.99 got two slices of pizza and a drink!

 

 

Next, we set out to satiate our insatiable sweet-tooths, which led us again to Savannah's Candy Kitchen (different location), where we feasted on Chocolate Pecan Gophers (think pecans covered in caramel and topped with a swirl of chocolate), while we watched the confectioners make/pull saltwater taffy.

 

We were even showered by the sweet and sticky treat (quite literally, there were signs warning us to 'Watch out for falling taffy', which coincidentally was my first and last time trying it!

 

The river front in Savannah offers many sites during the holiday season, and to kick off this year's celebration, we witnessed the annual Boat Parade of Lights; each one decorated with holiday lights, slowly drifting along the serene night time river.

 

 My last stop was to see the big guy himself...you know I can't resist a man in a red suit!

 

 

 

Baci a tutti!

Designer: Naughty Monkey

Name: Need To
(the suede version of this shoe is sold under the name Want To)

Color: Tan
Style: Platform Ankle Bootie
Heel: 4.75 inches (12.07 cm)
Platform: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with strap and buckle accents

Beautiful in any color; click here to see these beauties when I first wore them,

here to see them in Black and here to see them in Grey!
 

 

 

How I Styled It?

While perusing websites during my Black Friday shopping, I came across a fabulous color combination on Banana Republic which I saw repeated on various web pages: grey tights and tan booties!  Two colors which I would not ordinarily pair, but they worked beautifully together.  The dress I got the dress during a winter clearance sale from Belk, the short sleeve turtleneck is from Say What?  The scarf, leather jacket and bag, I all got from markets in Sicily.  SN

N.Y.L.A. -Pace, Brown

Buongiorno a tutti!

Sock it to me!  From sky-high wedges to platform clogs, I'm really feeling my grove this week, or should I say, I'm feelin' groovy?  Can you dig it, my fellow cool cats of the 'sole' persuasion?  No jive talking as we keep it hip. We solid?

After a few days of retro styling, I'm ready to enter the time warp back, but you gotta give it up to the era of disco, bell-bottoms and platform shoes...they really had style!  So get down with your bad self as I check you later and catch you on the flip-side...peace out!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 284:  Thursday November 29th 2012

Designer: N.Y.L.A.

Name: Pace

Color: Black

Style: Platform Maryjane Pump Clog

Heel Height: 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Platform: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)

Material: Leather Upper with stud detail along mid-sole

 

 

 

Beautiful in any color; click here to see these beauties in Black

or click here to see the Mino from Black Rooster in Burgundy!

 

How I Styled It?

One of my all-time favorite trends in clothing has got to be the bell-bottom pants; long sleek lines ending in a dramatic flair, I once laughed at a pair my mother had held on to, that was of course until she fashioned a mini skirt for me out of the bell!  This particular pair I'm wearing, I bought at Old Navy last year, which was quite hard to come by after selling out several times.  The turtleneck sweater is Macy's Style&Co, while the jacket is Mossimo from Target (winter 2010-11).  The clutch is from Guess and the scarf era un regalo da mi'amica Brigida...molto grazie, gioia!  Un bacino!  SN



2 Lips Too -Too Chaos

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, I am feeling a little Hippie-Chic, this morning!  Channeling my inner Flower Child and letting my Free Spirit soar, I'm embracing the counter-culture of freethinkers, beatniks and drop-outs as I let my inner Bohemian breakaway!

 

So many times I have romanticized that bygone era of outta-sight platform shoes; towering, sky-high platforms that one didn't just wear, but rather wore out:  dancing, shopping, to the beach and all points in between, and they were worn by everyone!   Yes, men likewise participated this footwear fashion frenzy alongside their female counterparts as they expressed their free love by day caught disco fever at night!  It saddens me some, having missed out on one of the most exciting shoe trends ever; although fashion is so wide spread now, cutting edge, widespread fashion shoe trends will never again entrance a culture like the platform shoe.  Peace, Love and Happiness!

Baci a tutti!


Stella Notte

Day 283:  Tuesday November 27th 2012
Designer: 2 Lips Too
Name: Too Chaos
Color: Leopard
Style: Ankle Strap Wedge Open-Toe Shootie
Heel: 5.5 inches (13.97 cm)
Platform: 2.5 inches (6.35 cm)
Material:  Lace-up printed fabric upper with cutouts and 'photo' stacked wedge

To see how I rated these shooties, check out my review of them here on Tumblr!

Philip Simon -Peytoon, Grey

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, after two days of indulgence (Thanksgiving and Black Friday respectively), I spent they day giving back to my community; during Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) holiday shoppers are encouraged to shop locally, supporting the small businesses which are the foundation of local economies.* 

When one thinks of Toronto, the glitz and glam of downtown often come to mind, but before Toronto became the metropolis that it is today, small businesses are what drove the city.  It was a nostalgic day for me as I recollected times from my own childhood when I would escort my mother to the local businesses she patronized; not one for shopping (then), I relished the opportunity to go because it usually meant I would eat breakfast at the lunch counter while she shopped...and I always ordered hot chocolate and toast with butter.

My first Small Business Saturday started off with breakfast (be forewarned, everything we bought had to to with food!).  At Goose Feathers, an Express Cafe & Bakery, I enjoyed a grown up version of my breakfast of yester-year, I ordered a double shot of espresso-cappuccino and a sticky bun.   Next  stop was the Savannah's Candy Kitchen where I indulged in a giant white chocolate peanut butter cup and chocolate covered English toffee.  I made a quick stop by the Globe Shoe Company and realized that although I love shopping locally, I do not have the funds with often accompany this little luxury.  So there were no shoes for me...or so I thought, until I ran into the only man I have ever met who actually looks good in a red suit!

 

 

One last stop had me entranced, much the same way I was as a girl every time I passed a toy store; Super Nintendos and He-Man figurines to the original Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony Planet Fun had retro toys for the kid who lies dormant in every adult, which, funny enough, the store was packed with adults who fawned over toys they once had or had wanted.  With the morning officially over we headed off to the second half of our Small Business Saturday, which you'll have to come back and read on Friday!

 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 282: Sunday November 25th 2012
Designer: Philip Simon
Name: Peytoon
Color: Grey
Style: Wedge Athletic Shoe
Heel: 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Platform: 0.75 inches (1.91 cm)
Material: Suede, Leather and Pebbled Leather Uppers, leather lining along with metal eyelets and D-Ring details

To see how I rated these shoes, check out my review of them here on Tumblr!

*Amex, Small Business Saturday

 Beautiful in any color; click here to see these beauties in Black!

 

How I Styled It?

It was a cold morning, and knowing that we were going shopping, I decided to layer on thinner items of clothing instead of wearing a bulky coat; so I started with an oxblood-colored oxford under a grey sweater.  I layered that with a cashmere blend cardigan I got from the market.  I hadn't worn this lovely capelet from Newport News (several years ago), in quite some time.  The scarf is also from the market, the bag is Bongo, the jeggings are Hue and the socks are Old Navy.   SN

Flashback Friday! Timberland -Lexiss, Brown

Ciao a tutti!

Okay, my felllow Shoe-A-Holics, these Lexiss boots from Timberland have been favorites of mine for quite some time; and reviewing the tops posts of the month, a favorite of my readers as well (4 out of the top 5 are Timberland boots).  Some years ago, when a friend of mine had invited the children and I to his farm to ride his horses, I wore these boots, but secretly envied the beautiful suede riding boots my host had donned.

So I took to task searching for the perfect riding boot that was also affordable (I wasn't planning on becoming an equestrian, but wanted to have something functional yet stylish enough to wear while the the kids took horseback riding lessons on the Italian farm), and everywhere I looked, I was led back to these boots.

Not good when it comes to decisions between something fabulous and something amazing, so I chose both the brown and the tan (the black was still full price), and I have not been disappointed; as the Italian say, "Like fine wine," and like vino, these boots seems to get better with age!

 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Designer: Timberland
Name: Lexiss
Color: Brown
Style: Tall Riding Boot
Heel: 1.5 inches (3.81cm)
Platform 1.2 inch (1.27 cm)
Shaft: (15 inches (38.1 cm)
Material: Leather Upper, full-length inside zip and decorative straps with buckles on heel and shaft

To see how I rated these boots, check out my review of them here on Tumblr!

 

My Timberland Lexiss boots (the brown, the black and tan) are my go-to winter staple footwear; whether it is cold or rainy, I'm on the farm or in the city, with pants or a skirt, these are a no fail option.  Today, I decided to mix it up; I love my market tights (and for 2 Euro, about $3.50, who wouldn't) and kept them in the same color family as the boots.  I read somewhere that when you match your hosiery and footwear, you appear taller, which is great in flat boots!  I pulled out a long sleeve crew neck tee in oxblood, but in the morning light, it looks more like an cherry red.  The fur trimmed military jacket in olive, I paired with the red (do you remember my Adding Color to my Life -Olive?)  SN

Two Lips -Fur Sure, Black

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, I'm feeling a little Ski-Lodge-Chic this morning!  With much of the country engulfed in these cooler temperatures (I am so glad that it will be in the 70's, that is low 20's for my me metric readers, by the weekend), I felt it was time to break out my cold weather gear and brave the frigid temperatures and take that proverbial plunge into the Arctic; but I can't do it!

I can't do the this cold weather thing; I can't do the snow, freezing rain or sleet. I can't do the three- foot snow drifts, salt trucks at midnight or the cold blowing wind.  I can't do the functional scarf, thermal mittens or scully (that is touque for my Canadian readers), and I most certainly cannot do the toes-oh-so-cold-that-I cannot-walk-thing (it's hard to strut in a pair of boots like this when you can't feel your toes); so I shall leave the braving of the elements to those of you in the Northern latitudes as I head back into my lodge, and cozy up by the fire under a down comforter and sip on a warm mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream and all the trimmings, whilst I read vacation brochures for an exotic locale in the Caribbean!

 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte


Day 281: Tuesday November 20th 2012
Designer: Two Lips
Name: Fur Sure
Color: Black
Style: Back-Zip Stiletto Tall Boots
Heel: 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Platform: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Shaft 15 inches (38.1 cm)
Material: Leather upper with faux fur, back zip, strap and buckle detailing

Are you crushing on these boots as much as I am? You can get them here at 6pm.com!

To see how I rated these boots, check out my review of them here on Tumblr!

Beautiful in any color; click here to see these beauties in Tan!

 

How I Styled It?

From the moment I bought these boots, I knew I was going to pair them with this fur lined hooded vest.  The fur trend is still going strong after several seasons, and instead of going 'all in' with a furry jacket or vest, I opted for the sleekness of a trimmed vest (and of the other jackets which I own).  The boots are over-the-top, and I didn't want anything to compete or detract from them.  The skinny jeans and v-neck long sleeve tee are from Old Navy.

ALDO 4 the Cool People –Samyn

Attention, Shoe-A-Holics!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog for this Shoe-Stopper of a post!

Shoe-A-Holics, today's blog post is brought to you by the letter S!

1.         sum·mer/ˈsəmər/

Noun: The warmest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from June to August.

 

I bought these shoes during the summer.

2.       sale/sāl/

Noun: The exchange of a commodity for money; the action of selling something.

I bought these shoes on sale.

3.            snagged/snaggd/

Verb:(Informal) To have caught unexpectedly and quickly.

I snagged these shoes for 90% off!

4.         sleek/slēk/

Adjective: (of hair, fur, or skin) Smooth and glossy.

These shoes are sleek!

 

5.        sex·y/ˈseksē/

Adjective: Sexually attractive or exciting.

These shoes are sexy!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Note

Day 280: Sunday November 18th 2012
Designer: ALDO 4 the Cool People
Name: Samyn
Color: Black
Style: Open-Toe Oxford Wedge
Heel: 3.5 inches (8.89 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with lace up detailing and leather wrapped wedge

To see how I rated these boots, check out my review of them here on Tumblr!

Are you crushing on these beauties as much as I am? You can find them here, at 6pm.com!


How I Styled It?

It was a toss up when deciding to piece together an outfit to go with these shoes; I really had my heart set on wearing a pair of oxblood cropped pants, but over the last week or so, I moved from being within 3 lbs (1.5kg) of my diet goal to within 10 lbs (5kg), so the skinny cropped pants were out. Skirts are so forgiving, and I managed to fit my way into this mini skirt from Old Navy (bought 3 years ago), a Derek Heart bralette tank, and this cropped leopard print sweater from Body Central (also from a few years ago) topped off the outfit. SN

A Word About the Cool People

The Cool People is a cutting edge brand that is committed to bettering the world through charitable contributions. A portion of their sales go directly to charity. Bringing passion and determination into every shoe that they design, The Cool People is the brand for the dreamer in all of us. The Cool People clothing and shoes are only available at Zappos.com and its affiliates.

Definitions are from Google's online dictionary

Antia -Gianna, Cognac

Ciao a tutti!

 

Some years ago, my family studies teacher said something quite profound; in a seemingly ordinary class, he said, "Everyone you meet will remind you of someone you already know."  These words have stuck with me for over 20 years,  and in that time I have met some amazing people and have forged very strong connections to people who have I felt I had known for years, although I only knew them for hours.

 

 

My shoes have taken me to some incredible places, and as far away as I am from home, the new places I go somehow remind me of places I have already been; even a city girl like myself, born and raised in a busy metropolis, can become nostalgic at a farm, reminiscing of milking sheep at L'Antica Tenuta Malerba, picking wild asparagus at Azienda Agricola Infantino, strawberry picking in the summer as a child, apple picking in the fall or drinking apple cider in the  farm's general store as we sought refuge from the cold Canadian winter, I have some fantastic memories of being on a farm, and today I created another.

My shoes took me to Ottawa Farms, a family owned and operated establishment for over a century.  And as I watched the joy unfold in my own children as they navigated the corn maze, and the sheer delight they experienced as they discovered (and subsequently fired) the corn cannon, I was taken back to the carefree days as of my own youth as I ran through an apple orchard with my cousin while our parents sat, talked and laughed with the proprietors.

The friendly and genuinely welcoming atmosphere we encountered, made all of us feel at home.  And as the sun set on our extraordinary evening at the farm, and the children pleaded for one last turn thorough the corn maze, we bid adieu to our gracious hosts and promised we would return in the spring for their annual Strawberry Festival.

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 279:
Thursday November 15th 2012
Designer: Antia
Style: Gianna
Color: Cognac
Heel: 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Platform: 0.875 inches (2.22 cm)
Material: Calf Leather Upper, leather lining and leather wrapped wedge. Cutout detail on vamp with top contrast stitching and dual buckle detail

Would you like to know how I rated these shoes? Check out my Tumblr page!

 

Beautiful in any color; click here to see these beauties in Black!

How I Styled It?

On such a warm day, you know sandals were a must; but with temps sure to drop quickly after sunset, I had to strategically dress, cool enough for the late afternoon (in the mid-70's), and warm enough for the early evening (low 60's).

The skirt I bought at Ross Dress for Less, and the short sleeved turtleneck is Say What? The jacket and belt are both from Old Navy and the back I got from the vendor's market in Pisa, Italy.
SN