Steve Madden -P-Suzii

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, these beauties that grace my feet today, I affectionately refer to as my 'Stand Up & Get Noticed Shoes'.  Every girl needs a head-turning-attention-grabbing-traffic-stopping pair of lust worthy heels that elevate your style, and these definitely fit the bill!

When looking for a pair of 'Stand Up & Get Noticed Shoes', my tips for you are simple:

Find a pair of shoes that you can walk in!  There is nothing un-sexier than a fabulous pair of heels on a person who is struggling to walk in them.  If you need to practice your strut, then do so, in increasingly higher heels, in the privacy of your own home.  Practice walking up and down stairs, on hard and soft surfaces, so that when you head out, you will have mastered your heels, not the other way around.

Get something fun and/or unique!  Everyone has boring, sensible shoes, so why not go for something that is different, calling attention to your gams or that late-season pedi?  These combo peep-toe-maryjane-platform-stilettos instantly turn up the Wow factor. and scream, 'Look at me!'


Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 357: Monday November 4th 2013
Designer: Steve Madden
Name: P-Suzii
Color: Black
Style: Platform Maryjane Peep-Toe Slingback Pump
Heel: 6 inches (15.24 cm)
Platform: 1.5 inches (3.81 cm)
Material: Synthetic Patent Upper

To see how I styled these beautiful Maryjane Slingbacks 

and for my 1 Shirt Dress 5 Ways, follow the link below to:

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

Naughty Monkey -Hitched, Black

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, it is no secret that I love a sexy shoe; shoes with a personality, seem to have a voice of their own and enable an outfit to speak volumes without saying a word, and these beauties are no exception!

What I affectionately refer to as my 'Rocker' sandals, I like to balance with feminine pieces like a skirt (below) or a ruffled blouse to create an overall look which is bold-sweet-sleek chic!

 

 

Baci a tutti!

 

Stella Notte

 

Day 343:  Sunday July 28th 2013

Designer: Naughty Monkey
Name: Hitched
Color: Black
Style: Cuffed-Platform Sandal
Heel Height: 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Platform: 0.5 inches (1.25 cm)
Shaft: 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Material: Suede Upper with back zip and stud-buckle detail on cuff.

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)

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

Steve Madden -Showie

Ciao a tutti!

Confession time, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics...I'm glad it's cool.  Now let me explain, it's been an unseasonably cold winter with the occasional bursts of spring (remember that week of mid-70's in January...then again in February?); which left me wishing for a quick summer warm up, but it came too fast, and 60 degree days were replaced by mid-80's, and I found myself vastly unprepared...I haven't quite made it in for my spring kick-off pedicure, so the feet are looking...well...rough, after a pretty active boot season!

But with the weather cooling just as quickly as it warmed up, I have the chance to break out the last few remnants of an almost gone winter season, and another favorite transition pair of footwear, booties!

In one word, booties are Chic!  A shorter version of their taller counterpart, booties are sexy and playful, daring and dressy.  They are the ideal winter staple if, like me, you have trouble with the shaft of traditional boots; whether too tight or too loose or if they just can't seem to keep their shape, a bootie eliminates the headache, giving you a sleek, pulled together look. 

My Advice:  Find a statement pair like these.  A daring heel, an internal platform, zipper detail, or a bold color; if you can't perfect your look with a boot, then find the perfect bootie!

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 328:  Wednesday April 24th 2013
Designer: Steve Madden
Name: Showie
Style: Platform Ankle Bootie
Heel: 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Platform: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Material: Luxe suede upper with zipper detailing

Pleaser -Milan (2015)

Ciao a tutti!

My fellow Shoe-A-Holics, my brief hiatus and much need rest has given me time to think; the approaching spring and the changing weather (although it's sunny in the picture, the weather has been running a consistent 10-15 degrees below normal), winter needs one last hurrah, and these boots scream it out loud!

These boots from Pleaser, I affectionately call my W.O.W Boots! 

The first W stands for the Way they look.  These boots are eye-catching from both near and far: a high-gloss finish, straps & buckles, a pointy-toe, and all perched on a stiletto heel, is the equivalent to 'mouth-watering' for the eyes!

The O stands for Oh my God (OMG)!  Being complimented on my footwear is nothing new, but when I have an equal number of men complimenting me as I do women, there is something that has to be said about the beauties I am wearing, and it's OMG!

The final W stands for Where did you get those boots?  The single most asked question when I wear these boots.  You know you've not only met your style mark, but exceeded it when others want to add a pair of your beautiful shoes to their own collection.

Have you wowed anyone lately?  If not, isn't it about time?

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 318:  Sunday March 10th 2013
Designer:  Pleaser
Name: Milan (2015)
Color: Black
Style: Buckle Embellished Stiletto Boots
Heel: 4.5 inches (11.43 cm)
Shaft: 13.5 inches (34.29 cm)
Material: Synthetic Upper with strap and buckle detail along shaft.

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)

Crushing on my boots?  You can find them here, at Amazon.com!

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)

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!

 

 

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!

 

 

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

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

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.

Naughty Monkey -Play Date, Brown

Ciao a tutti!

Okay, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics...have you ever had a day when you have the right shoes, but the outfit just doesn't come together?  Well, I had myself one of those days...rushing out to grab dinner and drinks with friends, I tried on three pops-of-color (purple, green and orange) with my basic jeans and neutral brown, and then I realized...

 

With a fabulous pair of shoes like these, no one is going to be looking at anything but the shoes! Nice! 

Baci a tutti!

Stella Notte

Day 275: Monday November 5th 2012
Designer: Naughty Monkey
Name: Play Date
Color: Brown
Style: Hooded-Cuffed Sandal
Heel: 5 inches (12.7 cm)
Platform: 1 inch (2.54 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with ankle hood, stud and metal detail on vamp

 

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

 

 

Here are some more shots of my color changes! 

Pleaser -Legend (8899), Black

Happy Hallowe'en, my fellow Shoe-A-Holics!

This little minx is hoping you have the purr-fect night of Tricks and Treats!

Baci a tutti!

Stella formerly known as 'Bad Kitty' but currently 'Puss-n-Boots' Notte

Wednesday October 31st 2012
Designer: Pleaser USA
Name: Legend 8899
Color: Black
Style: OTK Boot
Heel: 4 inches (10.16 cm)
Shaft: 27 inches (68.58 cm)
Material: Leather Upper with corset lacing

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 Brown!