Shoe and Bag Eye Candy

W.I.N. (Want it Now!) - Embroidered Heels

Lately I've been falling in love with embroidered heels. They are ornate and decadent. They go perfectly with a simple cocktail dress or they can be the hidden gem under long dark-denim jeans and a casual top. I love how detailed embroidered shoes are but because of the details, they tend to be very pricey. If I were to ever own one, the pair would be the star of my shoe collection.

Mary Norton Desire : $148.50
Gold on black is so classic. This pair is GORGEOUS!



Dior Paraiso Embroidered Slingback $750.00
Raffia is an unusual embroidery choice, but this sandal is anything but ordinary.

Plenty by Tracy Reese for Keds : $80.00
Tracy Reese brings sophistication to the sneaker brand Keds with a stunning embroidered wedge. If only they got rid of the Keds label on the side.

Alexander McQueen Embroidered Ankle Strap Shoes : $420.00
I bet these would go amazing with a Balmain blazer.

Sergio Rossi : $385.25
If shoes could kill, I would be knocked dead with one of these. Champagne colored leather, elaborate floral embroidery, and a sprinkling of crystal equal one luxurious shoe.

Sergio Rossi : $280.00
I saw these on Gilt Final Sale for $78.00 and wanted one badly, but they were in someone's cart for the longest time until it finally sold out. The design reminds me of organic art nouveau prints, but these much better because I can wear them on my feet.

Jessica Bennett Havana Embroidered Pump : $49.94
A.k.a. - Sergio Rossi Knockoffs



Christian Louboutin Pink 'Let's Go' D'orsay Pumps : $1,223.99
These are one pair of Louboutins that won't go unnoticed. Girly and decadent, these are definitely in my top 10 Louboutin list.

Price Check Please! - Kenneth Cole Weekend Sale

It's very hard to restrain myself from spending money when my hobby is finding deals. I would love to do some serious shopping on the Kenneth Cole Online shop because there's an additional 30% off select sale items this weekend. So 65% off plus another 30% on some clearance items equal a great deal.

Grey Penny Loafer Pump: $215.00 $34.97

Gold Textured Ring: $35.00 $13.99

"Blind Date": $160.00 $48.98

100% Wool Sweater Dress: $158.00 $27.98

Flap Down Handbag: $288.00 $69.99


How cute is this?

Key Chain Boot: $25.00 $6.98

Since the sale's from Friday 12:00 AM- just an hour ago, head over there ASAP before everything good is gone!

A Little Indulgent

Sometimes its good to treat yourself, especially when it doesn't cost too much. Nothing too expensive to make you feel guilty but a little something to perk you up. I scoured the web for things that are unnecessary but totally worth it. In the mist of all that studying, staying up all night, and barely feeding myself because I feel so nauseous, I think I deserve something special.

Smith's Rosebud Salve: $5.59
I'm a firm believer in lip balm over lipstick or lipgloss. The Rosebud Salve is highly hydrating and a little glossy, just what my lips need in the winter. It also smells wonderful. Since keeping my lips hydrated is something I tend forget about (because my lips don't get cracked often), I suppose lip-anything is indulgent.

Vanilla Bake Cupcakes: $3.25
These cupcakes from the Vanilla Bake Shop are beautiful and delicious too. They are the perfect 'carrot' to get me motivated about studying. A cupcake for each hour spent bent over textbooks? With flavors like Chocolate Raspberry, Toasted Dark Chocolate Coconut, and the new Blackberry Passion Fruit, it's hard to have just one.


Report Dharma Scuff: $ 5.01
I have dreams of wearing these as indoor slippers. I can be the shah of the apartment and play out a Persian fantasy. Comfortable and sparkly, I'll have no problems keeping these on my feet as I lounge around the apartment. I might even debut them outdoors and hope they don't get too scuffed.


Pomegranate Soap: $5.75
I love the taste and smell of pomegranate. It's a bit difficult to eat; you have to open up its hard shell and carefully pluck the juicy seeds. However once you extract the edibles and bite into the seeds, the juice just bursts out. The flavor is sweet but tart, which I love. And I've never had a bad pomegranate so there isn't the disappointment of biting into something too sour (as sometimes happens with berries). I'm curious how pomegranates translate to soap. I normally don't use bar soap anymore, instead opting for the easier to dispense liquid soap. However, the soap looks so lush and delicious that I might indulge in bar soap once in a while. And maybe indulge in a bubble bath too. Me, a hot tub of water, a loofah, and pomegranate suds sound like heaven.

Ebay's Boot Podium

Ebay is so much fun to browse because people sell some weird stuff. I was just innocently skimming the women's boots section and stumbled upon some very metallic shoes, in podium metal colors.


Gold

Giuseppe Zanotti Gold Boots
They're gold digger shoes!! I admit I do kind of like these but
only paired with something simple and monotone.

Silver
Vintage Pixie Granny Boots
These look like they came from the Super Trooper getup in Mama Mia. A sad remnant of the by gone days of disco.

Bronze
Paprika Bronze with Fur Boots
I really don't know what's worse, the bronze or the fur, but together they top my 'awful' chart.


Lesson: If you need a little WTF?! in your shoe collection, just look on Ebay.

A Look At Prada Bags and Shoes

When it comes to bags and shoes, no one sets the trend quite like Miuccia Prada. As soon as the runway is over, underground manufacturers are trying to knock off the bags. Lets be honest, women love their Pradas. Next to the LV monogram, the triangle Prada plaque is the ultimate status symbol a woman can carry around her arm.

This year's collection was ... different. Much more severe- deep v cuts, lux materials, but fewer bells and whistles and strangely utilitarian.

Bags

The bag collection was more conservative. I can see a lot of working ladies carrying around the tote next fall. It didn't really show a new 'it' bag. Instead it focused on more classic shapes but in luxury materials- in this case, croc, velvet and fur. Not bad but not terribly interesting. I wasn't struck with intense window-shopping lust like I was for the SS08 Faerie collection.

Shoes

I can't say I'm a big fan of the shoes. In fact, I think they are rather hideous. The 1st pump is okay but only redeemed by the animal skin print. It looks a cross between 'school marm' and mountain climbing shoes. The ones that were all black looked even more so. At least no models fell or had to take off their heels. On the opposite end of austerity, there were pumps that looked like armored birds of paradise.

What do you think? Any resemblance?


And then there were these... which I dub 'leather wellies.' They are not fitted around the calves and worn with thick wool sock and a strap tied around the leg?? I'm confused Miuccia.


She also had uber tall versions of the 'leather wellie' which was strapped to the belt. Again, more question marks. Maybe Miuccia expects next fall to be very rainy because these boots certainly won't let water in. I'm going to restate my opening opinion that the collection was 'bizarrely utilitarian.'

20 Fabulous Flats for under $20

For everyday wear, I love buying cheap flats. They are comfortable, cute, and disposable. Once you've worn them down, you can throw them away without guilt because they only cost you 20 bucks. I'm currently running around campus in a pair of silver bow tie flats from Ann Taylor Loft, that I got before Christmas for less than $10. The sides are getting scratched up and the upper is getting dangerously thin. Fortunately, I'm not too sad to see them go because then I can buy a new pair of cheap shoes. Charlotte Russe, Endless.com, and Target have great wallet-friendly options.



Dolce Vita Triple Buckle, Painterly Floral,
Knotted, Sequins and Bow Tie,
Circle Buckles, Fun Floral, Plaid Buckle,
Jeweled Sandals, Paint Splattered,
Woven Patent Leather




Leather Ballerina，Lace Skimmer,
Geometric Print, Croco Print,
Ruched, Fuchsia Moccasins,
Canvas Loafers, Gold Trim Back Bow,
Sparkly Knot, Jewel and Ribbon Bow

Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte Shoes

As amazing as the Rodarte Fall 2009 clothes were, my true love goes to Nicholas Kirkwood's thigh-tall, slouchy, bondaged boots that graced the catwalk. Just look at its magnificence- the buttery leather, the straps bound up like ballerina point shoes, the studs, and the killer heel.

Of course this is a shoe lover's fantasy shoe, but how much does it cost in reality? Probably more than my first month's paycheck of my first (future) real job out of college. The backup plan?


Zucca Slouch Heeled Boots + Yards of black ribbon

Just wrap yards and yards of black ribbon around these slouchy knee high books and you can get the same effect. And you would have the option of wearing them normally. At $648.00, the Zucca boots are looking more and more like a bargain!

Le Pommier Shoes

The Asian part of me is drawn to cute things, and nothing's cuter than cartoon rabbits and bears. When said rabbits and bears are on shoes, it's a match made in　heaven． When I stumbled upon Le Pommier by Ameber (also known as No Concept but Good Sense) shoes, I let out a girly squeal and cooed over the little cartoon animals stitched onto flats. The left and right shoe are a little different from each other but that's what makes these shoes so charming. I am determined to get a pair but they seem to only be available in parts of Asia. Supposedly, the brand is Japanese but I can't locate a website or even a department store that sells them. I know there's a store in Singapore and Shanghai. Maybe next time I’m visiting relatives in China, I might make a side trip to Shanghai　for a shopping spree.

Image Source:Flickr, Welcome to Your Destiny, http://eatshopbemerry.livejournal.com, Food. Fashion. Ferrets.

Christmas Wish List

Tights


Even though colored opaque tights were a fad from last winter, I can't help but to be drawn to them. They add a burst of color under a simple dress. I only started loving tights in the last year- but they have all been black. The dusty blue tights from StockinGirl look divine, and I would be delighted to own a pair.

I would also love to have a pair of absolutely lux tights in a muted grey. These Wolford tights are ideal! Comfortable, durable, and so classy. Can't say they come cheap though.



Shoes

I swore to myself that when I get married, I would wear Peter Fox. He has one of the best collections of wedding shoes. So when I saw this pair on sale for $60 (orig. $255) with the last two in my size, I was so tempted to buy them. Then I reasoned that I probably won't need wedding shoes for at least five more years and they'll just sit in the back of my closet. Maybe if someone else buys them, I won't feel so guilty.

Badgley Mischka is a label that is both coquettish and lady-like. There's an elegance to the design but little frills like pleats and beading are youthful and flirty. This shoe exudes those qualities which makes it special in any shoe closet. It's a perfect holiday party shoe. It's flat and comfortable so you can mingle for hours. The bronze beading is stunning and sure to receive compliments. To get them for under $100 at SmartBargains.com is a steal!

The thing I love most about winter is wearing boots. I can very comfortably add 3 inches to my height. Banana Republic's Charlie ankle boots are just gorgeous. I would love to trample on snow with these except for fear of getting them dirty.




Gloves

These turguoise leather gloves by Carolina Amato are simply gorgeous and classic. $26 is pretty affordable but I hope the quality is good. They are pretty, but it'll be for naught if they don't keep my fingers toasty.