Natural Soul by Naturalizer -Kassandra, Red Pepper

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, if you are looking for a little color inspiration, then look no further than Pantone's Fashion Color Report for Fall 2013.   From ways to style their color of the year, to how-to incorporate this seasons hottest hues, taking a leaf out of Patnone's report is sure to colorize your world.

One of the 'it' colors for the fall is Samba (Red).  Used as a foundation with which to pair other jewel-tones, in conjunction with lighter tones to create a dramatic statement, or used singly as a stand alone piece, Samba red is sure to give a spirited, expressive and distinguished look.

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 356: Monday October 21st 2013
Designer: Natural Soul by Naturalizer
Name: Kassandra
Color: Red Pepper
Style: Slip-On Flats
Heel: 1.25 inches (3.18 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with contrast Moccasin stitching detail at toe and woven leather on vamp

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

Giuseppe Zanotti -E10334

Ciao a tutti!

Well, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics, here they are, the priciest shoes in my Shoe Arsenal!

 

While you take a few moments and experience intense emotions of lust and envy (it's all right, I experienced those things too, when I saw them...then I saw the price), I shall give you a few tips on how you too, can own a pair of high-end designer shoes, without the sticker shock!

Tip One: Save your Money!
Designer shoes, don't come cheap, especially the ones that are made in Italy and Brazil, handcrafted or made of premium materials. If you think of them as an investment piece, you'll see the value of dropping a few extra dollars in a well made pair of shoes that will last and that feel absolutely incredible on your feet.

Tip Two: Shop around!
I love a bargain, but a bargain isn't a bargain, when you find out you over spent on something you could have gotten cheaper. Look online and in stores, because although related by name to their brick and mortar counterparts, most eCommerce businesses are run by a separate entity, with different promotions and sales and sometimes even different merchandise. If you can stand playing the waiting game, then wait until the end of season sales. Sandals at the end of summer are less expensive than in the late winter or early spring, and boots are often at rock bottom prices during the warmer months. Styles generally take several seasons to cycle in and cycle out, so sandals you buy in August or September will be just as fashionable the following April.

Tip Three:  Join retailer's membership clubs (if they're free) and sign up for e-mails!
This is a favorite of mine, because had I not been a DSW Rewards Member, there would have been no way I would have gotten these $800 shoes for more than 90% off!  Yes, you read that correctly!  Many sites, like the aforementioned DSW.com, pays members to shop.  You receive points for items you buy, and when you reach a certain amount, they send you coupons for dollars off a future purchase.  Additionally, this site gives you periodic opportunities to double and even triple your points on a purchase.  You can get free shipping if you spend over $35, and you can use up to 3 coupons per shopping visit.  Wow!  How I scored these beauties for a fraction of their retail value (the sell out price on the Giuseppe Zanotti website was $398), was a Luxe810 sale DSW.com had in August.  These select high-end designer shoes were priced at $99 dollars (only for the weekend).  Combined with a couple of discount coupons, free shipping, and also purchased during a tax-free weekend, these designer shoes are now mine at only a fraction of the cost!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 354: Sunday October 6th 2013
Designer: Giuseppe Zanotti
Name: E10334
Style: Hooded-Thong Sandal
Material: Leopard-Print, pony hair upper, leather lining and sole with ankle strap and buckle

To see how I styled these beautiful Sandals and for other styling tips, follow the link below to:

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

Minnetonka -Belize

Ciao a tutti!

All right, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics...pair number 350!  And aren't they beautiful!  I first shoe-cased my Minnetonka knee high fringe boots last year; with their unique style and unmatched comfort, when I saw these beaded-fringe t-strap sandals, I had to get them, and have not been disappointed.

Both easy to wear and easy to style, these fringed beauties add a playful element to any ensemble, and when paired with a fringed bag, your style will be instantly elevated into Boho-chic-ness!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 350: Sunday September 8th 2013
Designer: Minnetonka
Name: Belize
Color: Brown
Style: Ankle- Cuff Back-Zip T-Strap Sandals
Material: Suede Upper with decorative top stitiching and weaving with beaded fringe details

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

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

Hush Puppies -Limon

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, whether they are quirky, clever or cute, I love a pair of shoes that are different...or at least, secretly so.  And these gladiator flats from Hush Puppies certainly fit the bill!  If you are like me and hate fidgeting with buckles, especially after the nails are done or once fully dressed, these cleverly designed beauties have two functional buckles, but as an added convenience, each buckle has a hook which can be used to open and close the shoe.  Brilliant!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Designer: Hush Puppies
Name: Limon
Color: Black
Style: T-Strap Gladiator Flat Sandal
Heel: 0.25 inches (0.64 cm)
Material: Suede Upper with dual adjustable buckles

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

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

MIA -Zeus, Pewter

Ciao a tutti!

Confession time, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics...as I near the farthest corners of my Shoe Arsenal and survey the 30 or so remaining pairs of shoes (and some boots), I have come to the realization that I have worn very few of my dressier shoes over these last few years.

So, while I come up with ways to best style the beauties I have yet to wear, I shall continue to wear some of my favorites and pass along some shoe advice or tips that you, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics will find useful.

A must for any Shoe Arsenal is a metallic sandal.  Bronze, gold or pewter, like these, are considered a style essential because metallics are the new neutral.  Capable of styling with any and everything, a metallic sandal is an indispensable piece of footwear you'll be sure to wear season after season.

 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Designer: MIA
Name: Zeus
Color: Pewter
Style: Flat Gladiator Thong Sandal
Material: Leather Upper with side buckle detailing

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

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

Merona -Aimee

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, I love shoes!  And sometimes, my love for shoes turns into an obsession, and all I can see is acquiring the next pair.  Which, on occasion can be a good thing, but rarely is not; case in point, these Sketcher-look-alikes. 

When I bought these, I had already purchased my Step-Up Maryjanes in Brown, Grey and Black; loving the fit and feel of a well made shoe, led me to a pair which was beautiful to gaze upon, but very painful to wear.  So my advice to you, all ye lovers of footwear is: Stick with established brands!

Long gone are the days where you can find a well made pair of shoes from a discount retailer, and often, buying shoes from shoe stores which carry a variety of brands, won't usually guarantee a better quality shoe either.  If you can find a great pair of shoes, and better still, those great shoes at a great price, get them or even a couple of pairs.  People joke about suffering for fashion, but damaging your feet are hardly worth that price!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 330: Wednesday May 1st 2013
Designer: Merona from Target
Name: Aimee
Color: Bronze
Style: Sporty Maryjane
Heel: Flat
Material: Leather and mesh upper with zig-zag straps crossing vamp

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)

Fitzwell -Blakely, White

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, I have a bitter-sweet relationship with white shoes, they are white, but that is not the color they always remain!  For as long as I can remember, I have always had a white pair of shoes.  The first pair of pumps I ever owned were white, and come to think of it, the second pair were as well, and before long they looked like they were zebra striped shoes with all the scuff marks they ended up with with the regular course of wear.  During high school, I wore a white pair of leather moccasins so much that by the end of the school year, I needed to coat them daily with white leather shoe polish in order for them to still look white.  And although I have bought white sandals over the years, I've ended up donating most of them (here) even before I had the chance to wear them...including the sandals I bought for my wedding then decided to go barefoot instead!

There is something about a white pair of shoes that I love; perhaps it is the clean appearance, which always makes it look like a new shoe regardless how many times it has been worn (provided they are clean, that is), or maybe it's because until recently, white has been traditionally reserved for the months between Easter and Labor Day, and when seen, they evoke thoughts of warmer days.  It could be that fact that not everyone wears white shoes: Brides, girls during their first communion, little girls in their Sunday dresses and pre-walking infants top the list of white shoe wearers, and even then, they are only worn once or for a short amount of time .  But one thing is true, white shoes are a deliberate shoe; one doesn't slip them on haphazardly only to realize later that they wore the wrong color shoe.  They are shoe which is selected, with forethought of the occasion they'll be worn and what exactly will be done while wearing them, and while most people think of a pair of shoes to go with an outfit, white shoes are probably the only shoes one needs an outfit to go with.


Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 306: Sunday January 27th 2012
Designer: Fitzwell
Name: Blakely
Color: White
Style: Slip-On Flat
Material: Patent Leather Upper with oversized metal buckle at vamp

Crushing on these beauties as much as I am?
You can find them here, at 6pm.com!
My recommendation? Order 1/2 size larger!

 

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

How I Styled It?

Styling pop color jeans has become quite easy. I've come to find that if you want the color to stand out, you pair them with a neutral color, but if you want to tone them down, you pair them with more color!  I still believe in the old adage, that white goes with everything but with the caveat: provided you wear white.  This fabulous navy and white polka dot crepe blouse I found on sale at Old Navy, while the bottoms are DKNY Jeans.  The jacket is from Express (years ago), and the suede bag is from Carpisa Italia.  SN

Natural Soul by Naturalizer -Kassandra, Black

Buongiorno, amici!

With such an auspicious time in our nation’s history, the second inauguration of President Obama, the occasion certainly gives one cause to reflect; looking back we see how far we have come, and looking forward, how far we have yet to go.   As the President looked out among the throngs who braved the cold to witness an event that has occurred only one other time in history, he simultaneously looked back into the past; down the National Mall at the monuments erected to the Americans who left an indelible impression on the nation as they wrote the course of history while they lived: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and the most recent addition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..  The last seemed most befitting, especially on the day designated to honor the incredible life of the late Dr. King.

And if you are one of those who have had the privilege to see this monument, you stand before it in awe and you’re inspired; awe, because you see the metaphorical image before you –Dr. King emerging from the stone that was the struggle, Dr. King standing up against tyranny and oppression, and Dr. King standing at the doorway ready to take that next step into unknown territory, ever mindful of what would inevitably occur, yet bound by a cause greater than the man himself; and one can’t help but feel inspired, for it was the standing up by this great man which led others to stand by his cause, it was standing his ground which ended standing in lines of inequality, and for a man who didn’t stand a chance, in a divided nation which stood still and often found it easier to stand aside than to stand up, his life stands as a testament.

What do you stand for?  Are you at a standstill?   Do you stand on the sidelines or stand out in a crowd?  Will you take a stand or quietly stand down?  Is today the day you stand up and be counted, stand and deliver or remain a bystander?  In this day of stand-offs, when it is far to easy to stand for nothing, it would stand to reason that we as a nation have forgotten what it means to stand on one’s own two feet, and have forgotten how to stand by someone or stand up for someone, preferring to stand someone up; standing back out of fear of standing fast or standing firm. Dr. King’s words stand the test of time and we understand impact he has made.  We stand on the cusp of humanity’s greatest moments, and today as you put on your shoes and stand, I ask you, what do you stand for?

Stella Notte

Day 304: Tuesday January 22nd 2013
Designer: Natural Soul by Naturalizer
Name: Kassandra
Color: Black
Style: Slip-On Flats
Heel: 1.25 inches (3.18 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with contrast Moccasin stitching detail at toe and woven leather on vamp

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

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

Fitzwell -Blakely, Navy

Ciao a tutti!

As you know, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics, I love heels!  I would wear them every day and every night if given the chance, but as I quickly approach a milestone birthday (this seems to be the year for milestones), I think back on some beauty advice I received some years ago from my friend Lisa.  She came to visit me for a weekend, and as/was  is customary for us, we went shopping.  We shopped for everything, shoes, clothes, accessories and surprisingly enough, beauty supplies.  Lisa bought day serums, night lotions, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, you name it had she had bought it and/or had tried it; I asked her why on Earth would she buy all that stuff, considering she had flawless skin, to which she replied, "Why do you think I have such flawless skin?"

Which got me thinking about my own beauty needs and everything else on my body that needed preventative maintenance before signs of age or wear-and-tear started to develop, which led me to my feet; I walked along beaches, strode over cobblestone walkways, marched on concrete, climbed mountains (well, only one), run through fields, stayed up all night dancing, forged snow drifts, jumped in puddles, and all in shoes which have not been kind to my feet.  So in this year of milestones, as I look back on what has transpired and then look forward to things yet to come, I'm going to (at least try to) be better to my feet...and infuse some flats into my Shoe Arsenal, because I haven't necessarily been good to them in the past, but I want to be able to use them in years to come.

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 299:  Tuesday January 8th 2013
Designer: Fitzwell
Name: Blakely
Color: Navy
Style: Slip-On Flat
Material: Leather Upper with oversized metal buckle at vamp

Crushing on these beauties as much as I am?
You can find them here, at 6pm.com!
My recommendation? Order 1/2 size larger!

 

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

 

How I Styled It?

The style inspiration today comes form Tommy Hilfiger again, but this time, I decided to do my own mixing-n-matching within two separate styles I had seen; the first was a blue shirt with white polka dots worn under a yellow cardigan.  I didn't have the cardigan, but I did have a yellow v-neck sweater.  In another image, the same polka dot shirt was paired with orange jeans.  I combined the two looks, and voila, it worked!  The denim jacket I bought from Chadwick's of Boston (years ago), I added to tone down the yellow of the sweater.  SN  

Flashback Friday! MIA -LaCrosse, Tan

Ciao a tutti!

Shoe-A-Holics, the weather is cold (still), and I must dress accordingly; another fantastic cold weather accessory (you will remember in my post on Kiva's by Privo, I wore tights) and undoubtedly one of my favorites, are Over-the-Knee (OTK) boots!

Over-the-knee boots play double duty: functionally, they add a layer of warmth to your lower extremities, while fashionably, they visually extend your legs (even if they are flats), causing any viewer to follow the long, sleek lines of the boot upwards. Ingenious, isn't it?  Do you have yours?

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Designer: MIA Limited Edition
Name: Lacrosse
Color: Tan
Style: Over-the-Knee Boot
Heel: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)
Shaft: 23 inches (58.42 cm)
Material: Luxe Leather Upper with lacing detail behind knee

Crushing on these boots?  I found a few pairs here at Amazon.com!

Beautiful in any color;

click here to see these beauties in Grey or here to see them in Natural!

 

 

How I Styled It?

The word for today's outfit is sleek!  One thing I love about the look of these boots (although I occasionally wear them folded down, almost like pirate boots, I more often than not wear them up), is how they manage to elevate any article of clothing I wear with them; from tights to jeans (as I am wearing today from Old Navy), these boots have transformed everyday into out-of sight!  Continuing with the polished look of the boots and jeans, I donned a basic black turtleneck with this satin scarf.  Crazy, yes, but when I saw it in a magazine, I thought it was chic, this ordinarily spring staple of mine, and especially when paired with this wool cape from a few seasons ago at Stradivarius (a Spanish clothing company in Italy) and the studded, elbow-length gloves are also from a few seasons ago at Camaieu (a French clothing company also in Italy).  My clutch from the GAP I added for the way the tan in the bag matched the boots, yet the red in the bag added a burst of color! SN

Privo by Clark's -Kiva, Purple

Ciao a tutti e Augurissimi!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, Seasons's Greetings!  I hope that Babbo Natale, Père Noël, Kris Kringle, St. Nicolas, Santa Claus or any other jolly individual who shares good will and brings cheer to your part of the world was generous to you yesterday (or is at least in the coming week or so); but for those us who may have ended up on that proverbial 'naughty list' and woke up to coal (or some other undesirable object) in our stockings yestermorn, hark and fear not! 

For many of you who are: 'Across the Pond', 'Down Under', inhabitants of the 'Great White North' (that is the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada respectively for those of you who do not live in those parts of the world), members or former members of the British Empire and/or Commonwealth...Happy Boxing Day (what is essentially known as a shopping holiday)!  And for my American readers, not to worry on this Feast of Stephen; while it may not be the biggest shopping day of the year, bargains still abound, (even for the naughtiest of us).  So slip into your comfortable shoes, (make that your most comfortable shoes) and venture forth; because in power-shopping, there is no room for weary feet and no time to stop for tired tootsies!

Auguri!  Buon Natale a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 294:  Wednesday December 26th 2012
Designer: Privo by Clark's
Name: Kiva
Color: Purple
Style: T-Strap Flat
Heel: 0.75 inches (2 cm)
Material: Perforated Nubuck Suede Upper with leather trim; T-Strap vamp and decorative studs

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

 and here to see them the second go 'round!

 

How I Styled It?

Just because it's cold, one shouldn't have sacrifice style for warmth!  Cold weather dictates warm accessories, and with the frigid weather here (I consider anything below 65 degrees to be cold), I can extend the life of my warm weather clothes like this corduroy mini I bought from Old Navy a few years ago, with these fabulous tights I got from a market in Sicily.  Shopping Tip: When you find something that works, get several!  I bought these tights and several others in various colors (click here to see the grey tights I paired with brown clogs) for 1-2 Euros a piece (that is $1.50 - $3.00), like the wool scarf I'm also wearing.  The Coffee Shop military jacket I got at Target, while the bronze tote was a gift.  Buon Shopping!  SN

Sunday Show Stopper Alert! Mossimo -Vianca

Attention, Shoe-A-Holics!

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

 

 

Let me introduce you to the newest neutral...anything with a leopard print!  It is amazing how this  seasonal favorite has become a wardrobe staple, pairing well with everything from rich jewel tones to bright pops of color!  Whether you get this print in a power pump or a laid back flat, it will be your new go to shoe!

Baci a tutti!


Stella Notte

Day 290: Sunday December 16th 2012
Designer: Mossimo at Target
Name:  Vianca
Color: Leopard
Style: Smoking Slipper/Tuxedo Flat
Heel: 0.625 inches (1.59 cm)
Material: Sueded Upper

Crushing on these beauties as much as I am?  Click here to get them from Target!

How I Styled It?

I've been waiting some time to showcase these beauties; styling them proved to be a little difficult for me...at least at first! I finally found a pair of oxblood color pants from NY & Company, but them I really wasn't sure how to match them.  I went to my fabric color wheel from Academichic.com and followed their Two-Thirds Rule:  

The eye gravitates toward color combinations that make up two-thirds of a triad -a triad is comprised of three hues equidistant from each other on the color wheel. If you were to draw and equilateral triangle in the middle of the color wheel, the points would touch a triad of colors such as red-yellow-blue or orange-green-purple. Triads can be tricky to wear simultaneously, but picking just two colors from a triad often results in a terrific, eye-catching palette. I chose red and yellow, but like the Complementary color match (I discussed here), I went with the darker more subdued color complement (oxblood instead of red and the mustard instead of yellow) to create a more sophisticated pairing.  The long sleeved t-shirt, I got while still living overseas, and the cropped wool coat is from Anne Klein (a few seasons ago).  The scarf I  bought at an accessory story in Italy called Carina, and the clutch is from the GAP.  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