RSVP -Madison, Red

Ciao a tutti!

The color of energy, passion and action, red is an attention-getting hue that is exciting, stimulating and powerful, and what better way to express these sentiments, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics, than with a sexy silhouette like a pointy-toe pump!

Conveying courage and confidence, a red pump is the perfect choice for a power meeting if you want to display strength and determination, or for a night out when assertiveness and spontaneity is call for; a word of caution, too much red tends to have the opposite effect!*

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 317: Sunday February 24th 2013
Designer: RSVP
Name: Madison
Color: Red
Style: Platform-less Pointy-Toed Pump
Heel: 3.75 inches (9.5 cm)
Material: Kid skin upper

Curious as to how I styled it? Check out my new blog:

La Stella Notte's Style (chic that's easy as 1, 2, 3)

 

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

 

 

 *Empower Yourself with Color Psychology.com -The Color Red

 

 

Enzo Angiolini -Zeller

Ciao a tutti!

Undoubtedly a must have for the winter season, a tall boot provides protection and warmth against the snow and cold; fashion is often sacrificed for function, and durability for luxury, when braving the elements, but an ultra-feminine way to stay chic when the temperature drops is with a tall dress boot.

When looking for the perfect dress boot (a boot to be worn with a dress or skirt), I highly recommend three things:

1)  Buy a pair of tall boots.  Functionally they are warmer than their shorter counterparts, and their longer length give an overall sleeker appearance when they peek out from below long skirts, or when paired with shorter skirts.

2)  Invest in a pair of tall boots with a comfortable heel or wedge; while taller woman have a frame that can accommodate a long skirt, for those of us who are vertically challenged, a long dress or skirt can easily overwhelm a shorter frame.  A boot with a heel will offset the length of skirt, allowing it to fall the way it was designed.

3)  Buy a tall, comfortable heeled boot with an almond toe.  Long skirts and dresses can make you appear taller provided you style them correctly, and one way to do this is with a boot with a tapered toe.  This style creates the illusion of longer legs as one's eye is drawn upward from the toe. Additionally, while pointy-toed footwear is back in style, the almond toe is more comfortable, the style is enduring, and men happen to find it more attractive! 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 316: Thursday February 21st 2013
Designer: Enzo Angiolini
Name: Zeller
Color: Black
Style: Tall Boot
Heel: 3.5 inches (8.89 cm)
Shaft: 17.5 inches (44.45 cm)
Material: Luxe suede upper with ruching along shaft and bow detailing


How did I style it? Check out my new blog:
La Stella Notte's Style (chic that's easy as 1, 2, 3)

Nine West: Aroundtown

Ciao a tutti!

Think plain ol' Maryjane gets a funky update and that's what you have my fellow Shoe-A-Holics, with these  Aroundtown by Nine West.  Gone are the days of prim and proper schoolmarm; replaced with sophistication and charm, a modern twist on the traditional Maryjane, these platform, chunky-heeled beauties in a rich suede upper are a must have for any shoe aficionado!

When looking for a Mayjane style of shoe, the main thing to consider is the strap; at varying heights along the vamp, the strap can be found from within inches of the toe box, all the way up to the ankle (as pictured below).  These, like the traditional flat kind worn by the eponymous character in the Buster Brown comic strip, fasten with a buckle and are adjustable, whereas many found lower on the vamp, are merely for decoration.

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 315: Tuesday February 19th 2013
Designer: Nine West
Name: Aroundtown
Color: Dark Blue
Style: Platform Maryjane Pump
Heel: 4.5 inches (11.43 cm)
Platform: 0.75 inches (1.91 cm)
Material: Suede upper with chunky heel and maryjane strap at ankle

How did I style it? Check out my new blog:
La Stella Notte's Style (chic that's easy as 1, 2, 3)

Two Lips -Fur Sure, Tan

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, if you are looking for a way to embrace the faux fur trend, but you want to do it in true shoe lover style, then a boot with the faux fur is your way to go. 

 

Worn on it's own, it can make a monochromatic outfit pop, and when styled with another faux fur piece (like the vest pictured above or the fur trimmed hood pictured far below), it can tie together an entire look. 

 

Just one word of caution: Faux fur is really a stand out piece that can easily take one's look from outstanding to outdoorsy if too much is worn.  My advice would be to limit the number of pieces worn to no more than two, and to limit the color to no more than one.  While mixing neutrals can create an amazing look, mixing different shades of fur, will achieve the opposite effect.

 



Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte


Day 314: Sunday February 17th 2013
Designer: Two Lips
Name: Fur Sure
Color: Tan
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


How did I style it? Check out my new blog:
La Stella Notte's Style (chic that's easy as 1, 2, 3)

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

 

 

MIA -Rascal 1, Tan

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, a quick way to add Edge to your wardrobe, is with a pair of motorcycle boots!  Reminiscent of James Dean in  Rebel Without A Cause, this throwback 1950's era style of boot, is ruggedly sexy, and instantly brings a cool vibe to your look.

Easy to wear, and even easier to style, pair with bright skinnies for a lean silhouette (picture above), or with a deconstruced mini (pictured far below) for a fun, flirty look.

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 313:  Thursday February 14th 2013
Designer: MIA
Name: Rascal or Rascal 1
Color: Tan
Style: Ankle Motorcycle Boot
Heel: 1.25 inches (3.18 cm)
Shaft: 7.5 inches (19.05 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with Cross-Strap and Buckle

How did I style it? Check out my new blog:
La Stella Notte's Style (chic that's easy as 1, 2, 3)

 

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

 

Pleaser - Legend (8899), Brown

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, if you don't already own a pair of Over-the-Knee (OTK) boots, you should consider investing in a pair.  If you have and any reservations because these boots remind you of a Pretty Woman Julia Roberts or conjure up images of a...well..hehem...streetwalker, then it's time to debunk any misconceptions, and help you buy them with confidence.

 

The first thing to consider when venturing out into OTK territory, is the shaft length of the boot.  This sexy style comes in a variety of lengths from just over the knee to all the way up to your lower hip.  While the latter my seem quite extreme and be reserved for those who play in dungeons, mid-thigh is a comfortable length, and looks universally flattering.

 

The next thing to keep in mind is the height of the heel.  Like the shaft, the heel can range from flat to very high.  A flat boot is a very modest way to wear this style of boot; paired with skinny jeans and cozy outerwear, it creates a unique cool weather vibe.  A wedge heel in this style can give you the height want meanwhile creating a leg lengthening silhouette; paired with a mini, you can get away with looking flirty vice trashy (pictured far below in black).  The stiletto version of this boot (pictured above) is where a lot of attention needs to be paid to styling.  A general rule of thumb is when the hem line shortens, so should the heel, but I believe you can pair this height in heel as easily with a mini as you can skinny jeans, provided the hem of the skirt falls below cuff of the boot (pictured in brown below).

 

One thing to keep in mind when looking for a pair of OTK boots, is that if you plan to sit in them, you may want to consider a pair that have a fold over cuff, corset detailing behind the knee or are made with a 'U' shape cut out behind the knee; leather boots are not made with spandex/elastin, an while they are a natural fiber, there is very little give.  If you are unsure about the flexibility of the upper, there are synthetic uppers (some made with spandex) that can give you the same lean look of leather.

 

Are you ready to get your OTK's?

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte


Day 312: Tuesday February 12th 2012
Designer: Pleaser USA
Name: Legend 8899
Color: Brown
Style: OTK Boot
Heel: 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Shaft: 27 inches (68.58 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with corset lacing

How did I style it?  Check out my new blog:
La Stella Notte's Style (chic that's easy as 1, 2, 3)


Crushing on my boots? You can find them here at Amazon.com. My helpful hint: Size up! If you squeeze your tootsies into pointy shoes in the winter, you'll have scrunched up toes by summer!

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

 

 

Pour La Victoire -Glenna, Dusty Plum

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics,  I have certain shoes brands that I love to buy for 1) Style, 2) Comfort and 3) I have come to trust. MIA shoes for example, I wear a 10 down the line: in boots, shoes and sandals. The width is perfect to accommodate my slightly wider than medium feet; I usually skim through the reviews and generally tend to ignore those that read to size down. I shop with confidence with this brand, and it's a great feeling knowing that what I see will not only look great, but fit as well.   

My shoe advice today is: STICK WITH BRANDS YOU KNOW!

I realize that isn’t always easy to stay with you favorite brands, especially when you see a style that you just have to have or you catch a great designer sale (like I did with these beauties pictured above). Gorgeous as these sandals might be, and although I had gotten them at 93 percent off their retail price, these size 10s fit like a size nine! And the entire time I wore them, I secretly hoped that people weren’t staring at my shoes (or rather the fact that they did not fit as well as they should); for a self professed Shoe-A-Holic, like myself, it was not a feeling I like to have with my shoes…especially not designer ones.

My suggestions: If you shop in stores, try on the shoes! I know this may sound counter-intuitive, but don’t assume that if you are a certain size with one designer, it will be the same fit across the board. And bear in mind that if you are in 'sale mode', trying to score that perfect shoe at the perfect price, it is easy to forget the basics of shoe shopping when caught up in a sale frenzy atmosphere.

Also, if you are planning to shop online, try on shoes in store (if you can) from a particular manufacturer so you basically know how a shoe fits. If you can’t make it into the store, then I strongly encourage you to read reviews of similarly styled of shoes by that particular designer. Shoes are often cut from the same pattern and size, then modifications are made for the style.  
 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 311: Sunday February 10th 2013
Designer: Pour La Victoire
Name: Glenna
Color: Dusty Plum
Style: Platform Slingback Sandals
Heel: 5.25 inches (13.34 cm)
Platform: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)
Material: Rich suede upper, leather lining and outsole with interwoven vamp.

Report -Julian, Tan

Ciao a tutti!
 
My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, living in a country (Italy) known for its fine leather goods, I quickly found out (after dispensing about half of the shoes I owned before I moved), that I couldn't buy all the shoes I had dreamt of buying because of my...ahem, large feet (as I was (im)politely told after having asked for a size 42.5 (US 11) in a sexy leather boot, and that a 'size 42 is a man's size!').  Shopping online was my only alternative; while it has become a lot easier with easy returns and free shipping , this was not my experience back then.  So here is some shoe advice:

SEEK OUT REVIEWS! An invaluable tool when shopping online, or even just researching a future purchase, reviews are the next best thing to trying on the shoes in a brick and mortar establishment. In the past 6 years, I have bought only one pair of shoes in a store, so I do practically all my shoe shopping online. When I bought these sandals, there were no customer reviews to aid my buying experience.  Inexpensive and gorgeous, I went ahead and purchased them (and their compliment in black).  I wish that there had been reviews or even a single review (you can read my review of these shoes), because these shoes are as painful as they are beautiful.

 

Now, nothing is absolute. Reviews only reflect one person’s personal experience with an item, which may or may not be the case for you. When I read reviews this is my approach:

1. I read the reviews and take an average of the ratings, usually disregarding the very best and the very worst. Some people rate the shoes based on appearance alone, indicating they have never worn the shoe, so 5 out of 5 is meaningless. Also, the manufacturing process is not perfect, and if someone received a defective item, then a zero is most likely indicative of the defect and not the shoe. I have also read some reviews where people rate the time in shipping, and don’t even review the shoe!

2. I like to look for specifics in the reviews. For example, I was researching a pair of shoes, and the website on which they were priced lowest, it read that the upper was manmade, but the other websites the upper was listed as suede. The first reviewer had pointed out the error in the specification, and that they were in fact suede.

3. The last thing I look for is if there is a commonality in all the reviews. For example, I found a beautiful pair of designer sandals online with a wooden mid-sole, but every person indicated that after the first wear, the wood had chipped. One person had written that the wood had been chipped upon arrival, indicating poor materials had been used. Another time, I read reviews on a strappy studded sandal, and all the reviewers mentioned the studs fell off with the first wear, indicating poor craftsmanship.

There are so many things to consider when choosing to shop online, but my best advice is to read the reviews, and if you are able to buy online with free shipping, free returns or free in store returns, then your online adventure will be virtually hassle free!



Baci a tuttti!

Stella Notte

Day 310:  Tuesday February 5th 2013
Designer: Report
Name: Julian
Color: Tan
Style: Heeled Gladiator Sandal
Heel: 3.75 inches (9.53 cm)
Platform: 0.5 inches (1.27 cm)
Material: Suede Upper and leather lining with metal rings and stud details

Curshing on these beauties?  You can still find a pair on Amazon.com...if the size is right!

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

How I Styled It

 

One sure fire way to get more milage out of your summer clothes is to winterize them; that is making them wearable both in the summer and the cooler months, by adding normally cold weather items to them. With this dress (I got from Rue 21, years ago), I could have added a sweater over it and tights under it and worn it as a 'skirt', or, if the straps were thicker (these are spaghetti straps), I could wear a turtleneck under it and pair with with leggings and wear it as a tunic. To winterize my sundress today, I decided to wear this suede button down dress (Bomb Boogie Clothing, I thrifted in Italy) open (like a vest). Suede is my cool weather luxe fabric, and with the suede sandals, and teal suede bag (a market find for 5 Euro, $7), I manage to stay warm when a breeze comes along. SN

 

 

 

Old Navy -Basic Pump, Purple

Ciao a tutti!

Okay, me fellow Shoe-A-Holics...my foray into the world of color, although brief, has been a relatively new and exciting experience for me; the only problem I've encountered, has been this infusion of color hasn't translated into footwear.  My Shoe Arsenal is dominated with staples of black, grey, shades varying from brown to cognac to tan, and the occasional splattering of a pink boot, red pump or a green flat.



One thing I have always loved about color is that particular hues or shades can convey so much; delicate with powder pink, powerful with red and happiness in yellow.  I was once told that purple is the color of passion...I guess I'll let me shoes say the rest!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 309:  Sunday February 3rd 2013
Designer: Old Navy
Color: Purple
Style: Basic Pump
Heel: 3 inches (7.62 cm)
Material: Synthetic Upper

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

How I Styled It?

This beautiful ensemble I have had for nearly 5 years, but this is the first time it is being worn.  I ordered it from Newport News, before the economic down turn, after seeing the sweater dress and matching kimono sweater paired with an over-sized purple handbag and purple shoes.  One of my favorite stying ideas is to get a look that has already been styled by a professional.  I like buying items that have a multi color print because it lends itself to possibility of many stying options.  The purple is a deep sensual jewel tone, but I could have gone with a pair of bronze or black shoes and/or clutch.  I would stay away from white, even though white appears in the zig-zag pattern, only because the dress and sweater are both banded in black, and the white would be too stark a contrast juxtapose with it!  SN 

Flashback Friday! Naughty Monkey -Need To, Grey

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, are there any amongst you who doesn't love a bootie?  Short and sweet, they have the luxurious appeal of a boot with a wear-ability of a shoe, and with the flirty embellishments like these buckled straps or fold over cuff, they add a dimension to footwear that can't be accomplished by a boot or shoe alone.  Do you have your sexy booties yet?

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

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 and fold over cuff

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

 

How I Styled It?

.One thing I love about boot season (besides the boots, that is) are all the accouterments that go along with these cold weather beauties: the coats, the hats, the leggings, the gloves and the winter fabrics that they come in: the leather, the tweeds and wools.  Grey, a very chic neutral color, is fabulous in every shade, and what's great about stying grey, is that you can wear so many different shades, and it still looks great.  The fold over, belted jacket I bought at Chadwicks some years ago, and the matching matching cap (complete with contrast piping) I bought from Auchan while in Sicily.  The skirt which is a thick, stretch cotton, I found on clearance at Old Navy, and the tights I bought at a Sicilian market for 2 Euros ($3).  The leather color-blocked clutch is from the GAP.  SN