Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, December 19, 2010
It's Not Too Early -- Or Too Cold -- To Shop Spring Shoes
Even if you’re sipping hot cocoa in your fair isle sweater contemplating how on earth you’ll ever shovel your car out of its snow bank, that’s no reason you can’t get a jump start on spring shoe shopping. Actually, we can’t think of a better reason to start shopping for spring shoes! Here’s a quick spring shoe shopping primer.
First, look for new takes on shoe traditions: platforms are making a comeback, but this season they’re going flat. Voila: meet the flatform (sometimes referred to as a “rocking horse shoe”). Old-school Oxfords and brogues are getting prettier with printed twists: we still get misty eyed thinking of the printed Bass saddle shoes from Rachel Antonoff's spring 2011 show and Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent’s cloth Sage ballet flats.
Satiny pumps and kitten heels are a sure sign that “Mad Men” isn’t going anywhere. And clogs are going to have another major moment, but this spring it’s all about lighter fabrics like canvas or linen with on-trend details like peep-toes. And your spring shoe color forecast? Juicy citrus colors -- think tangerine and mango -- or ethereal, desert- and sky-inspired shades like putty, taupe, beige, or pale grey.
Ready to dip a toe into the warm waters of spring shoe shopping? Here are our three of our favorite online shoe boutiques and three stand-out spring shoes we love.
Endless.com: It’s called Endless for a reason. Amazon.com’s almost unlimited collection of shoes and accessories is unbelievably easy to navigate, so you can shop by size, color, brand -- from Dolce Vita and Loeffler Randall to Steve Madden to Thakoon -- price -- from $20 to well over $500 -- and even heel height! Why we love it: free overnight shipping on all new shoes and a 365-day return policy... for free! Favorite spring shoe pick: Kelsi Dagger orange suede bootie, $78.95. Pair with: grey skinny jeans and a crisp, white button-down.
LuLus.com: An always-affordable online-only on-trend clothing and accessory boutique that stocks Steve Madden, Jeffrey Campbell and runway-inspired brands. You'll be hard-pressed to find anything over $100. Why we love it: the constant rotation of irresistible sales, an expertly edited vintage collection, free shipping over $75. Favorite spring shoe pick: Jeffrey Campbell Virgo-Fab Natural raffia flat wedge booties, $106. Pair with: a citrus-colored romper or a navy shirtdress.
ModCloth.com: If Urban Outfitters went indie, ModCloth.com would be the result. The Pittsburgh-based online-only boutique born of out of owner Susan Kroger’s dorm room stocks expertly edited, whimsical indie brands like Seychelles, Irregular Choice, Shellys of London and 80%20 that always make us feel like we’re shopping with our most fun friend. Why we love it: Helpful what-to-wear-it-with tips, a blog that always inspires, and your order ships like a care package with a little surprise inside! Favorite spring shoe pick: Grey peep-toe wedges, $49.99. Pair with: charcoal-colored blousy tee, black flouncy skirt, and an army jacket.
Related:
+ These three pairs of shoes will transform your entire look!
+ Ladylike menswear flats.
+ Our favorite tights-and-shoes pairings.
First, look for new takes on shoe traditions: platforms are making a comeback, but this season they’re going flat. Voila: meet the flatform (sometimes referred to as a “rocking horse shoe”). Old-school Oxfords and brogues are getting prettier with printed twists: we still get misty eyed thinking of the printed Bass saddle shoes from Rachel Antonoff's spring 2011 show and Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent’s cloth Sage ballet flats.
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| Bass Heart Rachel Antonoff collaboration shoes at Rachel Antonoff's spring 2011 show |
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| Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent |
Satiny pumps and kitten heels are a sure sign that “Mad Men” isn’t going anywhere. And clogs are going to have another major moment, but this spring it’s all about lighter fabrics like canvas or linen with on-trend details like peep-toes. And your spring shoe color forecast? Juicy citrus colors -- think tangerine and mango -- or ethereal, desert- and sky-inspired shades like putty, taupe, beige, or pale grey.
 |
| Rachel Comey Spring/Summer 2011 |
 |
| Marni Canvas Wedge Slingback Clogs |
 | ||
| Steve Madden |
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| Japanese street style rocking horse shoes |
Ready to dip a toe into the warm waters of spring shoe shopping? Here are our three of our favorite online shoe boutiques and three stand-out spring shoes we love.
Endless.com: It’s called Endless for a reason. Amazon.com’s almost unlimited collection of shoes and accessories is unbelievably easy to navigate, so you can shop by size, color, brand -- from Dolce Vita and Loeffler Randall to Steve Madden to Thakoon -- price -- from $20 to well over $500 -- and even heel height! Why we love it: free overnight shipping on all new shoes and a 365-day return policy... for free! Favorite spring shoe pick: Kelsi Dagger orange suede bootie, $78.95. Pair with: grey skinny jeans and a crisp, white button-down.
LuLus.com: An always-affordable online-only on-trend clothing and accessory boutique that stocks Steve Madden, Jeffrey Campbell and runway-inspired brands. You'll be hard-pressed to find anything over $100. Why we love it: the constant rotation of irresistible sales, an expertly edited vintage collection, free shipping over $75. Favorite spring shoe pick: Jeffrey Campbell Virgo-Fab Natural raffia flat wedge booties, $106. Pair with: a citrus-colored romper or a navy shirtdress.
ModCloth.com: If Urban Outfitters went indie, ModCloth.com would be the result. The Pittsburgh-based online-only boutique born of out of owner Susan Kroger’s dorm room stocks expertly edited, whimsical indie brands like Seychelles, Irregular Choice, Shellys of London and 80%20 that always make us feel like we’re shopping with our most fun friend. Why we love it: Helpful what-to-wear-it-with tips, a blog that always inspires, and your order ships like a care package with a little surprise inside! Favorite spring shoe pick: Grey peep-toe wedges, $49.99. Pair with: charcoal-colored blousy tee, black flouncy skirt, and an army jacket.
Related:
+ These three pairs of shoes will transform your entire look!
+ Ladylike menswear flats.
+ Our favorite tights-and-shoes pairings.
Shop This: Babel Fair
Since it opened in New York City's Nolita in 2009, international boutique Babel Fair has become the go-to downtown shopping destination for street style picks from the around the world. Owner Erica Kiang combined her wanderlust and her always-on-point trendspotting prowess and pooled her stylish souvenirs, setting up shop in a small space that feels like an intercontinental bazaar moved into a Lower East Side art gallery.
Slouchy printed blouses from Brazil share racks with electric orange Argentinian gym bags, alongside German Black Forest figurines and Japanese robot erasers. And now Babel Fair finally made its ultimate international move: to an online store. Which means we’re faced with the daunting decision of whether to buy that great charcoal grey two-piece coat by Danish brand Gestuz or those impossibly cool Korean Washborn boyfriend jeans from the comfort of our desk at work.
Related:
+ The Lucky store directory.
+ Our favorite super-affordable indie shop!
+ Talk shop.
Found: The Perfect Warm Winter Coat At The Perfect Price!
We confess that until recently, the name Lands’ End usually conjured grandpa-goes-fly-fishing-in-his-waders Norman Rockwell visions in our mind's eye. But that was before we realized that their Luxe Down Jacket -- which comes in subdued hues like arctic grey and a chilly thyme -- is a sleek, chic take on the puffy coat that never ventures into Michelin Man mode.
The belted, shaped waist flatters any figure -- imagine that: a winter coat that keeps you warm but still shows off your waist. The double breasting is a stylish take on sportier outerwear, and the on-trend faux-fur lined hood and 600-fill power down is warm enough to withstand bone-chilling temperatures of up to -15°. Which is exactly when those fleece-lined pockets really start to come in handy. And at $129.50, you can so justify a pair of Portolano cashmere gloves to complete the look.
Related:
+ Our favorite winter coats.
+ Our fashion assistant pulls together the perfect cozy-chic winter outfit.
+ 35 warm winter pieces under $100.
+ Lucky Alpha Shopper Hilary discovers Lands' End's Canvas 1963 line.
+ 13 weatherproof winter moisturizers.
Look We Love: Forest Green
We can hardly think of a color more underrepresented yet more universally flattering than forest green. Redheads look positively ravishing in it, raven-haired sorts and darker complexions look even more glamorous, and it ups your pretty-preppy quotient in a big way.
Like kelly green’s more exotic cousin, forest green adds an element of sophisticated, moody mystery to any outfit. (Think Julianne Moore -- the reigning queen of green -- in that green Yves Saint Laurent dress at the 2003 Academy Awards.) We wouldn't build an entire wardrobe out of forest green, but we’d certainly build an entire outfit around any of these forest green pieces:
+ Gap grosgrain-trim dress: $59.50. Wear it with: a black velvet blazer, grey textured tights, black boots.
+ Vanessa Bruno suede tassel bag: $800. Wear it with: a white tee, skinny jeans, statement scarf, classic trench, grey wedges.
+ Jack Rogers whipstitch leather flats: $198. Wear it with: black ponte knit leggings, fitted grey cashmere sweater, preppy brown leather bag.
+ Green and black paperbag skirt: $30. Wear it with: a black turtleneck, black booties.
+ Rachel Comey Bernard clog boot: $439. Wear it with: Skinny navy cargos and a camel-colored cowlneck sweater.
Related:
+ The jade green nail polishes we never want to take off.
+ 6 flattering new ways to wear color this winter.
+ Shop our favorite preppy pieces.
Like kelly green’s more exotic cousin, forest green adds an element of sophisticated, moody mystery to any outfit. (Think Julianne Moore -- the reigning queen of green -- in that green Yves Saint Laurent dress at the 2003 Academy Awards.) We wouldn't build an entire wardrobe out of forest green, but we’d certainly build an entire outfit around any of these forest green pieces:
+ Gap grosgrain-trim dress: $59.50. Wear it with: a black velvet blazer, grey textured tights, black boots.
+ Vanessa Bruno suede tassel bag: $800. Wear it with: a white tee, skinny jeans, statement scarf, classic trench, grey wedges.
+ Jack Rogers whipstitch leather flats: $198. Wear it with: black ponte knit leggings, fitted grey cashmere sweater, preppy brown leather bag.
+ Green and black paperbag skirt: $30. Wear it with: a black turtleneck, black booties.
+ Rachel Comey Bernard clog boot: $439. Wear it with: Skinny navy cargos and a camel-colored cowlneck sweater.
Related:
+ The jade green nail polishes we never want to take off.
+ 6 flattering new ways to wear color this winter.
+ Shop our favorite preppy pieces.
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