Chevron Shoes

Well, since I appear to be on a roll with shoes lately, I wanted to share my fabulous new chevron pumps:

Ermahgerd! Aren't they gorgeous?! These are Carra by Ivanka Trump. Now, I'm typically not a pointy-toed-shoe kind of gal, but I'm a sucker for chevron and I think that a pointy toe compliments the pattern perfectly. Also, unlike most stiletto heels, these have a definitive square shape, giving them a very modern, updated look in comparison to similar shoe styles.

Carra is an elegant, sophisticated pump that can easily transition from day-to-evening. I can see myself wearing these with a pantsuit or pencil skirt, but have been perfectly fine wearing them with jeans while walking around Target shopping for dish washer detergent. (true story)

A slightly out-of-focus shoe selfie.

The toe box is surprisingly roomy for a pointy toe and, without fail, I'm spoiled by the sumptuously plush insoles, a fine characteristic of the Ivanka Trump shoe brand, which make me feel like I'm floating despite the 4" stiletto heel. (remember these?) I hate to say it, but, with regard to comfort, Ivanka Trump definitely has a leg-up on Christian Louboutin. These heels were made for walkin'! IMHO, the look and feel of the insoles of my Louboutins are actually far inferior in quality to any of the Ivanka Trump pumps that I own. It is slightly disconcerting that I can purchase at least half a dozen Ivanka Trumps for the cost of one Christian Louboutin. Oh, the price we pay for that sexy flash of red lacquer as we exit a room…

Anyhoo, hope everyone is enjoying a fine Saturday! Thanks for reading, until next time! ;)

Hugs,
Cat

My Glass Slipper

Marilyn Monroe once said:

Give a girl the right SHOES, and she can conquer the world.

Literally speaking, this may sound a  little silly. However, I believe the fabulous Ms. Monroe was alluding to attitude and state of mind. The right shoes, or in my case (being terribly petite and all), the right stilettos, can give me a boost of confidence.

Therefore you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found these under the Christmas tree this year, graciously gifted by my dear mister:

Ah, the quintessential nude pump! And by monsieur Louboutin, no less. I figured if I was going to covet an all-occasion shoe, one that would be worn often, why not a pair with glamorous, red soles? Also, since the design and coloring are elegant, but low-key, I thought that opting for a patent finish for high-gloss shine would make them a little more outstanding.

This model is the Simple 100, and are reasonably comfortable for the brand. So far, I've only worn them with skinny jeans and leggings, but I imagine they'd look quite pretty paired with a skater skirt or dress. I also own a gorgeous, lacy pair which were purchased when I had walked down the aisle. But those are as "un-walkable" as they're lovely. I'll be wearing that particular pair for "sitting-only" occasions, lol.

Well, off to conquer the world!

Hugs,
Cat

Sweet, minty pumps by Ivanka Trump.

So, I recently found my dream pump.

I'm generally not a big fan of "celebrity" brands, but I've been shopping for a sensible, yet attractive close-toed heel in a patent finish. I sorted pumps by rating on Zappos and found that the Janie pump was very popular with the customers. Yes, this shoe is very attractive, but the deal was sealed when I noticed that they 1.) came in a dreamy, shimmery shade of mint patent 2.) were marked down to $69 from $99.

They are so, so gorgeous in person and, as an added bonus, they're among some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. The interior is lined in buttery leather and the footbed is generously cushioned. It's as if I'm walking on clouds! No break-in period necessary. I feel like I could run for miles in these!

I can feel a shoe addiction coming on! The Janies are available in a variety of wearable colors. I'm also exploring other styles by Ivanka Trump as well as the aesthetics, workmanship, and quality are on point, especially for the reasonable price. I know what I'd love under the tree this year for Christmas!

Hugs,
Cat

JustFab? Somebody stop me!

Oh Em Gee!  Through a MyGlam email, I discovered JustFab, a shoe and accessory subscription site founded by Kimora Lee Simmons, similar to ShoeDazzle by Kim Kardashian.  My choice of a breathtaking pair of shoes for just $39.99 a month?  I pay about double or more for pretty shoes...I was sold!  But wait, it gets better...they're having a BOGO sale.  Unbelievably gorgeous shoes for under $20 a pair?  Please...somebody stop me! (seriously though, it was about to get out of control)  I ended up choosing 6 pairs, whittled it down to 4, then decided to take 3 and let my sister choose the 4th for herself.  These are the ones I went with:

Obviously, I have a yen for pale, creamy, nude-tone shoes at the moment with very, very high heels and open toes.  The first one is called Rose, a patent nude platform pump with a uniquely sculpted, rose-like accent.

They're actually quite comfortable for such a high heel!  Unfortunately, they seem to run a half-size too large, but I love them so much that I'm willing to wear an insert so that they fit a little better. ( I wear a size 6, btw, and the 5.5 were long sold out by the time I found out about the sale.)

Next is Oksana:

What a perfectly girlie shoe!  The suede-like material is the prettiest shade of pink and the white,  lace-like trim and bow accents exude such fresh femininity!  Alas...I don't think I'll be keeping these.  As lovely as they are, the arch is much too extreme for me and the back of the left shoe cuts sharply into my ankle if I take so much as 3 steps.  Such a shame, but even I wouldn't put up with that kind of torture for the sake of beauty!  Like Rose, they also seem to run a touch bigger than the indicated size.

Finally, we have Winona:

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!  I think these are my favorite!  They're a platform wedge made from a buttery, nude, suede-like fabric.  I absolutely adore the ruffled strap that can either be worn mary jane style or pushed back as an accent! (which is my look of choice)  My favorite feature, in addition to stunning good looks, is that Winona is incredibly comfortable...I feel like I could walk miles in these!  The fit is also spot-on, as if they were made just for my feet!

All in all, I'd say that I'm fairly pleased with the quality of the products.  Each pair was packaged very carefully in sleek black boxes and were brand, spanking new.  I didn't notice any obvious defects in any of the shoes I received.  I really feel like I got more than I paid for!  Another thing I really like about JustFab is the variety and selection of shoes and accessories that are available, as well as how easy the site is to navigate.  Also, free shipping and returns?  Doesn't really get better than that!  If there was one thing they could improve, I'd suggest that they include a size 5 in their shoe selections.  One of my sisters has tiny feet and has a difficult time finding pretty shoes her size.  If that was an option, she would probably shop non-stop! (which may not be a good thing, lol)

If you're curious as to which shoe my other sister picked, she went with an elegant Valentino look-alike called Jennifer:

Hope some of you enjoyed reading my review!  I'm curious to know if any of you have tried JustFab and, if so, how was your experience?  Happy Saturday and have a good night!

Hugs,
Cat

Wistful Dreamscapes

As I live my life, I go through (relatively) the same motions...day in, day out.  I go to work, I go to school, I make jewelry, I blog, etc.  Sometimes, it seems, I almost forget who I am and, suddenly, everything seems so mechanical that I'm left wondering if there is more to life than the monotony of my day to day actions.  It is in those moments that I find myself reaching for the things that inspire me, that remind me that, yes, somewhere out there, there is magic to be found.  It is in reaching for these inspirations that inspired me to (with the help of my dear friend and very talented photographer, Mr. Noel Holmes) create my latest shoot, which I'll not call a style or fashion shoot, for it's a whole creature of its own which I'll leave undefined. :)

For this, I turned to two artists that I greatly admire: French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.  I had two works in mind when I wanted to do this shoot:

Luncheon of the Boating Party

Howl's Moving Castle: adapted by artist Melanie Vergult

Howl's Moving Castle

You can kind of see it, right? :D  Anyways, I have no desire to bore you any further with words, I'll just share my sentiments with you via images from the shoot.  Hope you like!

Outfit Details:

• Boater Hat and Sun Dress: Forever 21
• Victorian Bow Necklace: Lovelina
• Ankle Socks: Urban Outfitters
• Mary Janes: MUDD

Spring Shoesies!

I was at the mall helping my mom shop for an outfit to wear to an event when I came across these:

Aren't they darling?  They're linen and cotton floral print platform cork slingbacks by Rampage called Grayson.  I thought they would be perfect for ringing in spring.  The rain has finally given way and it's been all sunshine today.  I imagine these would go so well with dresses, skirts, shorts, crops, etc.  They were also on sale for only $34 and y'all know I can't resist a good bargain! :D  Can't wait to turn heads in these...love 'em!  Happy Sunday everyone!

Hugs,
Cat

Floral Flats from H&M

I was out yesterday helping a friend update his wardrobe.  It's soooooooooo hard not to want to shop when you're shopping with someone else.  When we walked into H&M, I spotted the most ADORABLE floral flats.  I hugged them and did a little spin.  My friend insisted on purchasing them for me as a thank you gift for my styling help.  Thanks Noel, you made my day! :)