David Tate -Katey

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, a must have for any shoe aficionado, is a pair of neutral colored ballet flats; an easy, go-to shoe for any outing involving a great deal of walking, and pairing 'chic-ly' with everything from jeans to minis, you can't go wrong with these.

 

A word of caution when purchasing flats: look for a pair with a padded insole and preferably with arch support; feet can become quite tired while walking and these two factors will alleviate pain associated with a poor quality shoe.  Also, avoid shoes with elastic goring around the heel.  Although they may provide a better fitting shoe (i.e. they won't fall off), the close fitting, gathered elastic has a tendency to cut into your heel causing a great deal of discomfort and pain.

Baci a tutti!

 

Stella Notte

 

Day 352: Tuesday September 17th 2013

Designer: David Tate

Name: Katey

Color : Brown

Style: Flat Ballet Slipper

Material: Suede Upper with exotic snakeskin print and goring on sides

 

 

 

 

 

Mojo Moxy -Celebrity, Fuchsia

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics...with spring finally here, yet still so far away (or at least until next week), an infusion of color is what is needed to rid one of the winter doldrums; a fabulous way to brighten your day and put some pep back into your step is with pop color flats.

Partial to pink, I chose these fuchsia flats with ruffles and corset detailing to liven up this neutral outfit, but any color will do.  If you are  afraid of exploring new color combinations, try adding a  pop of color with a neutral ensemble, for instance: fuchsia with brown or navy, yellow or cobalt blue with grey, or red with khaki.  You may find that a jolt of color is just what you need to fight the winter blues!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Designer: (DOLCE by) Mojo Moxy
Color: Fuchsia
Style: Ballet/Skimmer Flats
Material: Luxuriant suede upper and leather lining with ruffle collar and corset detail

To see how I styled these beautiful shoes, follow the link below to:

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

Steve Madden -Heaven

Ciao a tutti!

Heaven, I'm in Heaven

And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak...*

 

My 300th pair of shoes, and I am at a loss for words!  Thank-you for those of you who have shared my cathartic journey, and likewise explored the depth of your own Shoe Arsenals and personal love of shoes.  When I started blogging nearly 2 years ago, I knew I had a lot of shoes.  This self proclaimed Shoe-A-Holic, has always found a great deal of comfort in shoes; not just physically but psychologically, because new shoes have endless possibilities, and no two shoes take you to the same experience.  Looking back on these 300 pairs, I see the paths I've walked, run, trekked, climbed, the footsteps I have made and subsequently have left behind; but more importantly, as I look forward, I see the myriad of paths which lie before me: routes waiting to be discovered, byways ready to be explored, and trails meant for me to conquer...and I smile, because wherever I go, it will be in a fabulous pair of shoes!

How I Styled It?
I've never considered myself to be much of a fashionista, but over the course of the last few months (and my recent embracement of color), I believe I am certainly on my way!  But a mantra I have adopted when it comes to styling clothes is: don't reinvent the wheel!  Companies pay big money for stylists and style teams to match colors and prints just right, so those of us who are fashionably challenged shouldn't mess with perfection, especially when we can use, if not share the professional stylists and have them work for us, as they do in the stores!  One of the big trends this year is stripes, and the navy/white combination has been one I've been eyeing for some time.  It has a nautical feel, and is an enduring color scheme.  I found this monogrammed sweater already styled with dark bottoms and paired the emerald green flats (2013's "in" color) to add a splash of color (do you remember Academichic's Fashion 101 series? See How to Combine Colors: Neutrals (with a Pop)) to this neutral background.  And the monogram? Stands for Marvelous, of course!

Grazie a tutti!  Baci!

Stella Notte

Day 300: Sunday January 13th 2013
Designer: Steve Madden
Name: Heaven
Color: Green
Style: Ballet Slip-On Flat
Material: Suede Upper with textured rubber outsole

Crushing on these emerald suede beauties as much as I am?  You can find them here at 6pm.com!

*Lyrics from the Irving Berlin song, Cheek to Cheek

Monday's Must Have Shoes: Blowfish -Micasa

Ciao, Amici!

Another shoe every women must own, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics,  is a ballet flat!  As a lover of heels, one might consider my aforementioned statement heresy, but hear me out...please.  Heels are hard on your feet!  Any seasoned veteran of wearing shoes with any sort of elevation will tell you; with brief periods of medically recommended flats, I have worn heels for nearly 30 years (make that 20 years for those of you who think I'm 10 years younger than my actual age)!

In these 30 years, my feet have taken a beating; from wooden platforms and heel blisters, to bunions (and bunionettes...yes, I am quite possible the only person who has been diagnosed with such an affliction) and ant bites (I stepped on ant nests while watching the fireworks on the 4th of July...hubby likes to say that I suffer for my art), my feet have gone through a lot.

But one way I am kind to them, is to to wear a comfortable flat when I get home or to break up the heel routine with a day or two of flats.  Light and breathable, I give my soles time to relax and recover with heel-less beauties, so that I can wear out, and hopefully out wear those 5-inchers! 

Helpful Hint:
I highly recommend ballet flats and to keep a rolled up pair in your purse.  They are fun and flirty, and are so much cuter then walking around in bare feet when at a wedding reception, homecoming or the prom!


Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 222: Monday July 16th, 2012
Designer: Blowfish
Name: Micasa
Color: Natural
Style: Ballet Flat
Material: Sand Blasted Canvas

Check out these adorable Footzyrolls I recently came across starting at $16.00!



Here are some of the artful recreations we saw on today's photo shoot...enjoy!

Working Nine to Five! Mojo Moxy -Celebrity, Blue

Ciao a tutti!

It's been a long work week and dressing down (or as I like to think of it, another way of dressing up) is a wonderful break from the dress code dictated by the corporate office.  This afternoon, I'm sneaking out of work early for some needed retail therapy.  I need an outfit that has a little versatility: conservative enough for clients, yet fun, playful and flirty for a late lunch and shopping with the hubby.

Styling Tip #4: Try what's on trend! Color-blocking.

From the runways of Europe to the hallways of the Mid-West and every by-way in between, the color blocking trend is everywhere this spring season.
Glamour.com bloggers, Megan Gustashaw and Susan Cernek, offer a styling tip for Cheerful Color-Blocking in their article Spring 2012's Most Wearable Fashion Trends; "Bold solid color pieces make simple dressing look glam...[but to] stick to three colors max to avoid the girly, Rainbow Brite look."
Ready for the day, shoulders up on my smock-neck blouse and shoulders down for lunch...I hope you can incorporate these styling tips into your everyday style for absolutely-fabulous look!



Do you have any styling tips for work? Please share!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 167: Friday April 27th 2012
Designer: (DOLCE by) Mojo Moxy
Color: Blue
Style: Ballet/Skimmer Flats
Material: Luxuriant suede upper and lining with ruffle collar and corset detail

Do you remember when I wore these beauties in the Fuchsia color?

Click here to see the post!