My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, every girl needs a pair of going out shoes (or several), and if you're like me, with a Shoe Arsenal filled with every conceivable style of black pump there is, then a beautiful alternative is one in a metallic hue.
Silver, gold, pewter or bronze, all considered to be a 'neutral color', you can't go wrong with a pair of stems in any of these shades. Just remember to keep your metallics (shoes and accessories) in the same color family to keep your look polished!
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Day 353: Monday September 23rd 2013
Designer: Unlisted by Kenneth Cole
Name: Ritzy Night
Color: Light Silver
Style: Slide Sandal Pump
Heel: 3.5 inches (8.89 cm)
Material: Satin Upper with rhinestone decorative buckles on vamp and ankle
To see how I styled these beautiful Slides, follow the link below to:
My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, being vertically challenged, I look for new ways to 'appear' taller, and here is one of my favorite style tips: Wear High Heels with Shorts! High Heels + Shorts = A lot of Leg
But you can't just wear any heel in order to maximize the length of your gams. Anything with an ankle strap will disrupt the continuous flow from the hem of your shorts to your toes, and actually make you look shorter. Look for a slide (remember, mules are their closed-toe cousins) with a wedge, which provides a great deal of stability when you walk.
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Day 351: Wednesday September 11th 2013
Designer: Lumiani
Name: Ava
Color: Black
Style: Demi-Wedge Slide
Heel: 4.5 inches (11.43 cm)
Platform: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Material: Suede Upper with suede lined foot bed and leather sole. Suede wrapped wedge and platform
To see how I styled these beautiful Slides, follow the link below to:
All right, all you beautiful Shoe-A-Holics...where are your lovely stems taking you today? To the mall? Out to lunch? Maybe even a little sightseeing? Well you can do it all, and look stylish as you do so, keeping one thing in mind...the right shoe!
More often than not, shoes are bought for comfort or style, but rarely both; one doesn't have to be sacrificed for the other when you are out and about, or in at the office. One of my favorite types of shoe are slides. From the slippers I wear around the house, to these leather and suede beauties (pictured above and below), slides have an easy nature about them, and with the right pair you can add a glam factor to your outfit.
For a dressier, stylish pair of slides, look for ones with intricate detailing, like this woven upper, or ones with a tapered heel; comfort comes with a platform to take some edge off wearing a high heel, and in the quality of fabric, like a leather upper or a cushioned, suede-lined foot bed.
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Day 334: Wednesday May 15th 2013
Designer: Lumiani
Name: Arielle
Color: Cuoio
Style: Demi-Wedge Slide
Heel: 4.5 inches (11.43 cm)
Platform: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with leather lined footbed and sole. Suede wrapped wedge and platform
To see how I styled these beautiful Slides, follow the link below to:
While in Italy, one of my favorite pastimes was il mercato -the market. It always fascinated me that you could buy clothes at the same place you buy your groceries (sort of like Target or Wal-Mart), only bigger, fresher and much...much nosier; eager to make a sale, vendor would yell across many stalls to a relative or a friend who may have what you need, and usually the other vendor would have that something, be it piece of silver jewelry, a hot pink cashmere sweater or carrots picked from the field that morning. But one of the things that I didn't like was unless you were going to the market in a large city, it was advisable you didn't wear heels because of the gravel, pavement in disrepair or farmland you might encounter.
Although the markets in the states are nothing like those in Italy, I can still manage to get fresh produce from local growers at the farmer's market; and where I live, the market is located in one of the city's largest parks, so heels are always a go!
These kitten-heeled-single-soled shoes are another of my favorite transition footwear from winter to spring. On trend with heel height, metallic color and pointy toe, they keep my toes from getting cold, yet provide ample room to breathe as the day warms up.
Day 326: Sunday April 14th 2013
Designer: Flirt
Style: Embellished single-soled mule
Heel: 2 inches (5.08 cm)
Material: Fabric upper with beads and sequins decorating vamp
To see how I styled these beautiful mules, follow the link below to:
The first time I shoe-cased these beauties (here on my trip to Naples), I never really mentioned anything about the shoes; disappointed with all things Napoletano, I neglected how fabulous a pair of mules can be.
The mule, a style of shoe which dates back to the 16th century, is a french word used to describe a shoe of varying heights which is backless and closed-toed. Once a popular indoor shoe in the 18th century, by the early 20th century, this style of shoe became associated exclusively with prostitutes. In the 1950's, fashion icon, Marilyn Monroe re-popularized the mule, which has made a resurgence in the world of fashion in subsequent decades, but it wasn't until the 1990's when the mule (or more specifically, the mule's little sister, the open-toed slide) became a staple in woman's footwear.*
I love the versatility of the mule, the easiness of the style, the flirty ankle aspect of it (in warm weather, see pictures below) and the fact I never have to worry about cramped toes, especially in a closed-toed shoe!
How I Styled It?
I am not a fan of the color red (not by any stretch of the imagination), but the jeans were the first choice when I pulled out this Chenille sweater (a gift years ago), because of the fair isle print at the edge and sleeves. In fact, the entire outfit I pulled from the colors in the sweater: the long sleeve grey t-shirt from Old Navy), my scarf and bag from an Italian market, and the patterned socks (a gift). The tan-twill cargo vest, I found on clearance at Old Navy. The tuxedo jeans are Soho, from DKNY Jeans.
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Friday January 4th 2013
Designer: Type Z
Name: Sabot
Color: Camel
Style: Cowboy Mule
Heel: 2.75 inches (7 cm)
Material: Leather upper and lining with contrast stitching detail and leather sole
Shoe-A-Holics, as I continue to be spoiled with this extraordinarily warm weather (82F/28C), I shall continue to blog about the remaining plethora of sandals in my Shoe Arsenal (okay, so there may not be that many sandals left to wear, but I still have quite a few that I didn't get to this summer); and hands down, these are one of my favorites!
WARNING: These wedges are not for the novice shoe collector! At a staggering 5.5-inches, if you are not what I consider to be a Professional wedge-wearer (those of you that can manage a 4 to 4.5-inch wedge), then you made have to proceed with caution when slipping into these slides.
DISCLAIMER: These shoes will provide you with the illusion of height. For all Professional wedge-wearers throw caution to the wind! Go forth and strut your stuff in these wonderful wedges!
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Day 289: Wednesday December 12th 2012
Designer: Steve Madden 4 the Cool People
Name: Cortlynn
Color: Brown
Style: Platform Wedge Slide
Heel: 5.5 inches (13.97 cm)
Platform: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with buckle detail. Raffia wrapped wedge and platform
Crushing on these beauties as much as I am? You can find them here at 6pm.com!
I love sky-high wedges paired with a maxi dress! Why? Floor-sweeping maxi's are a dressing staple, used to create an incredible amount of height (even though it's only an illusion) in those of us who are vertically challenged. But the problem with the floor-sweeping maxis is that they sweep the floor! I have never been one for a dirty look, which I have seen on many a women who love the style, but have not mastered the look. That's where these 5.5-inches of wedge come in; not only giving me height, but enabling me to pull off this amazing look! The dress is from Blue Asphalt (several years ago), the belt I borrowed from a dress by Donna Morgan and the wooden bangles I bought at a couple of markets in Sicily. 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.
Tucked away in the deepest recesses of my Shoe Arsenal, these beauties, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics, I bought and had been saving for a special occasion -a trip to Paris. Affectionately dubbed my 'Paris' shoes, I came across these lovely slides a couple of months before I was scheduled to move to Italy; I took it as a sign -at long last, my trip to Pairs was an inevitability, and it was.
Growing up in a bilingual country, I was exposed to French at an early age. The vast majority of French teachers I had in elementary and middle schools were native French speakers, and how they spoke about Paris, I romanced my journey there a multitude of times. And in the autumn of 2008, I journeyed to the City of Light...just not in these shoes!
Figuring that Paris would be deserted in the colder months, we spent Thanksgiving weekend (four days towards the latter part of November) there. Boy, was I wrong! Paris was inundated with tourists; from lines to get into La Louvre to crowding into the elevator to ascend Le Tour Eiffel, people were everywhere, and English was all we heard!
So needless to say, I didn't get to wear my black leotard with a red neckerchief tied accordingly, and sit, legs crossed just so, all at the base of the tower with my easel; paint brush in one hand and diamond encrusted cigarette holder in the other with a bottle of chardonnay atop a wrought iron table and a full glass of wine as I gaze upon my re-creation of the Arc di Triomphe while my pet poodle, Fifi, barks, thus complimenting my work...(yes, it's quite imaginative, but it was a 30 year fantasy!), however, I did get to wear my beret...and practice my French...and wander the streets of one of the most breathtaking cities in the world...sometimes the simplest fantasies are the best ones!
I enlarged the photo to see the details on the wedge, and why I instantly fell in love with these shoes.
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Day 265: Tuesday October 16th 2012
Designer: Nine West
Name: Gainey
Color: Light Purple Snake (Lilyrose)
Style: Wedge Slide Sandal
Heel: 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Material: Snake-skin embossed leather upper with crossed straps and rhinestone hardware at vamp; fabric wrapped wedge.
Opa, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics! Can you guess where my shoes took me today? The Savannah Greek Festival!
Started 61 years ago as a food festival, this family oriented event has evolved into an annual cultural celebration of Greek history, tradition and faith; feeling quite homesick for my own Mediterranean island (Sicily), the local Greek Fest was precisely what I needed!
Unbeknownst to me, Savannah has a rich Greek heritage steeped in , Savannah is a destination for many southern Mediterraneans because of its temperate climate in the winter, warm summers and relative proximity to the Atlantic ocean and beaches!
During the three day festival, visitors from far and near experience authentic homemade Hellenic foods and desserts prepared by parishioners of St Paul's Greek Orthodox Church. After hearing rave reviews on radio and television, my first stop was the food!
Greek salad with dressing
Combo Plate: Clockwise from top left:
Meatballs, roll, spanakopita, pastitsio and dolmandes
And lunch would not be complete without Spirits!
Is it me, or does that look like a naked pregnant woman
on the second bottle from the left?
While we dined, we got to enjoy the sounds of traditional Greek music from two talented musicians!
And as is customary in the Med, a meal would be complete without coffee...
And sweets!
Kataife
Finikia
Pecan Queens
(L) upper: Chocolate-Walnut Triangles, (L) lower: Koulourakia,
Baklava on the right
I'm not sure how to pronounce this word, or even what they are, but the line for these delectables was so long, we never got to sample them!
The festival is so popular, that they had a drive thru to accommodate those who wanted to eat,
but couldn't spare the time to stay!
The Greek Grocery Store (Bakaliko) offered many items which cannot be found locally.
The shopaholic in me had to make a stop at the Agora (the market) inside with clothing and books...
And outside, with all the things I miss most from the markets in Italy: bags...
Scarves...
And jewelry!
J by K jewlery designer, Kathy Guerry's tent caught my attention first. Accustomed to scouring the local Sicilian markets while living in Sicily, I invariably ended up buying jewelry (rings mostly), which, when I wear years later, commemorate my experience in a particular place or festival. Kathy's beautiful necklaces, rings and scarves are all hand crafted by this amazing artisan with such an attention to detail making each piece a unique work of art! You can contact her at kbguerry@yahoo.com or by phone 857-389-9156
Here are more of her beautiful designs!
Feeling great after my afternoon in Greece, I am saddened to know that I have to wait another year before the festival returns...but it is well worth the wait!
Baci a tutti!
Stella Notte
Day 264: Sunday October 14th 2012
Designer: Steve Madden
Name: Daynty
Color: Black
Style: Platform Pump Slide Peep-Toe Clog
Heel: 5 inches (12.7 cm), Platform: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with stud details along mid-sole
How I styled it: So now that I'm feeling good about this weight loss (and that I have finally started fitting into some of my clothes), This olive shirt dress is one I have wanted to wear for over a year (yes, I do buy clothes to diet into). I belted this Convington dress from Sears, with an olive macrame belt with wooden beads and loop from Old Navy. My leather hobo purse I got from the market in Pisa. Just a side note, this is the last pair of these Steve Madden Dayntys I own...although I am regretting not having gotten them in the red suede! SN
Baci a tutti!
