For adventurous shoe queens

Sifting through web sites in a random search for shoe boutiques with a little something different to offer, I ran across a site called The Shoe Bar. The store, which is based in Atlanta, carried a number of styles that I would love to have in my closet.

Even the name of the boutique is fun. Of course, "bars" are in -- chocolate bars, shoe bars, etc.

Granted, there were several somewhat, let's say, slutty numbers. However, there were several others that have left me daydreaming.

And, The Shoe Bar has a few pair of very unique boots on sale. I'm sure I'll be kicking myself this fall over the fact that I can't push myself to snag the deal. But when the temp hits 80 in April, buying winter threads isn't the first thing one favors doing.

This gray pair is on sale for $215. Difficult to pass up, but...

Colors, Contrasts and Spring

Over the past couple years, I've realized how pairing colors, textures and patterns that aren't usually paired adds an element of adventure and even edgy sophistication to what I'm wearing.

And I'm still learning to make more interesting combinations.

And it's interesting how I think actually pulling off certain combinations is tied strongly to one's attitude and confidence (or at least feigned confidence!).

As to color, I've been enjoying exploring for new combinations -- and have found a big dose of inspiration at the the Pantone website. The site itself is a great bit of eye candy, and was fun poking around.

They've produced, in pdf format, two beautifully designed reports that showcase spring and fall colors with accompanying commentary by designers like Zac Posen.

Even the names they've given their colors were sumptuous: violet infused hollyhock, diaphanous silver peony, gleaming green sheen, ...

If you are looking for color inspiration for spring -- or even fall, this is a great site.

A great blog I ran across after finding the Pantone reports is the high fashion Fashion Trendsetter, which has postings on Pantone as well as other industry color reports.

Wash Post "Trend Spotter" names spring trends for budget conscious shoppers

The Trend Spotter page in the Sunday Source section of the Washington Post fields questions from readers each week. This week, one of the letters was from a woman on "a J Crew and Banana Republic" budget who was looking for tips on must have wardrobe purchases for spring. These were the answers, along with commentary from me regarding where I am with the list:

1. A swingy knee-length dress. "Wear if for day with a cardigan, chunk jewelry and flat sandals. Wear it for evening with a pretty wrap and strappy heels," wrote The Post.
Check.

2. A cropped jacket "that can be paired with slacks or a full skirt at work, or jeans on the weekend."
Umm... no check, though I did try some this weekend.

3. Skinny pants. "The skinny jeans' more sophisticated sibling."
Umm... no check.

4. Metallic sandals.
Triple check.

5. Anything from the Proenza Schouler for Target collection.
No check. Gotta be careful about Target purchases. Design can be great, but quality a bit sketchy.


You'll also find an article in the Post online regarding shopping for runway fashions for spring on a budget. It's their version of The Look for Less. I enjoyed the piece. You'll see a lot of familiar names like H&M, Nine West and Gap (which is continuing on a downhill slide).

The online Fashion and Beauty section of The Post also has a fun article on yellow's strong appearance in spring fashions this year. Shoes, a watch and a lovely bag, all in yellow, were pictured with the article. The bag, from Anthropologie was adorable.

Finding FarylRobin

I love shoes that possess a quality that sets them apart from those you see on the majority of people. The only common thread among all of my shoes is they have this not easily defined quality. Which is why I get so excited when I discover a line of which I had previously been unaware. The latest find: FarylRobin.

I don't know how I didn't notice them before -- they've actually been featured in a mainstream fashion mags, from WWD to Allure. (I must be a skimmer?!?!)

The first time I ran across them, and they caught my eye, was in Chicago a couple weeks ago. The designers are successfully marrying quirkiness, originality, youth, style AND comfort. Due to baby boomer women who aren't willing to retire the sexy shoes, more and more mainstream designers are doing the same.

I've sadly not reached the stage in life where comfort supersedes fashion; FarylRobin caught my eye purely on aesthetic appeal. So, I'm actually about to purchase (YIKES!) my first, truly first, pair of "comfort pumps" (the silver metallics with the turquoise trim) -- but only because I think they are irresistible!

I'm torn between the metallic pumps, though, and the metallic flats which come in two colors -- silver and eye-popping purple.

I need to do a quick inventory of where I am with summer shoes before placing my order. All three of these can be found on onlineshoes. Other styles are available online at kitson, FreePeople, Nordstrom, DJPremium and, of course, Zappos.

Throwing a pair of FarylRobins into an outfit is a great way to distract people from the fact that my top came from J Crew. (No offense to J Crew, which has plenty of pieces that I really like -- but I wearing J Crew head to toe? Think Delta Delta Delta.)

Excursion

Today's excursion was a success. I came home with three pairs of pants, one pair of jeans, two belts and a pair of shoes. And I didn't quite spend $200. No one, truly, would ever know. I detest cheap, ill-fitting clothes. At the same time, I am thoroughly pleased when I find a great deal -- and assemble an outfit that is stylish, but also has an edge, or some kind of splash that makes it mine.

My first stop was the Limited. (Why this chain STILL doesn't have a commerce website is puzzling). It (along with it's sister shop Express) are my secrets for great fitting pants at an unbelievable price... just make sure to have them dry cleaned to keep them crisp.

Today, I snagged a pair of navy pants that will look adorable with a green v-neck sweater I picked up at J Crew this week.

The cut I always go for is the "Drew fit." They are super slimming and always look tailored. (In fact, I find the fit to be very similar to that of Theory.)

Also from the Limited:
-- a pair of off-white, wide leg, very soft cotton trousers. While the fabric is quite soft, it still has structure. They look adorable with the Miss Sixty shoes I purchased at Bloomingdale's. I'm so pleased about finding these, and I picked them up after passing them up on the sale rack at least five times.

-- a pair of casual, off-white cotton cargo pants (similar to the one's I've posted a photo of here). The April issue of In Style featured similar cargo pants pairing them both with casual sandals as well as dressier strappy shoes. I'm thinking I'll be wearing them often this summer -- and am already imagining them with outfits other than the basic casual fitted T and flat sandals.

-- a pair of jeans that look as good on as high-end designer labels. They were on an amazing sale. The regular price is close to $70, which would have been lovely. I got them for just over $20. This line of jeans is relatively new for the Limited; it represents their attempt to attract buyers of high-end labels like Citizens of Humanity. (At least that's what one fashion writer from the Dallas Morning News claimed last year...)

-- two belts: one red, and somewhat skinny; the other camel-colored and about an inch-and-a-half wide. The red belt I picked up thinking of the Miss Sixty shoes. Speaking of shoes...

The pair I found today were at DSW, where you can find labels ranging from Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors to Diesel and Kenzie. It was a quirky pair of Kenzie slingbacks that I picked out today. They are rose-tinted gold and actually sparkle. I think I'll wear them Monday with the new dark wash Limited jeans I bought today.

Prepping for spring

Yes, it's still quite chilly out, but with spring having officially arrived, I'm suddenly inspired to shed the wool sweaters and boots for strappy summer heels, more skirts and well, I don't know what exactly... just yet.

In spite of the drizzle outside, I'm in the mood to do some exploring. I'm about to brave the dreadful weather to see what I find.

In the past couple weeks, I've picked up a couple pairs of shoes (by Miss Sixty and Vince Camuto)-- both of which I'm feeling quite pleased with. The first I bought while in Chicago on business a couple weeks ago. I had time for a quick trip to Bloomingdales. I bought this pair of Miss Sixty wedges (They are actually available on Zappos as well). I have to say, the look much better on than they do in this picture. The red accents just pop. The section on the sole (under the toes) is actually patent leather.
I also bought a pair of red patent leather Vince Camuto (the style: "Ruffe") slingbacks. I found them first on Nordstrom's website, but they had sold out of my size, so I checked Zappos, which also had sold out of 8s.

Finally, I Googled them and found them on a website I had not previously visited called onlineshoes. This site had a narrow but quite nice selection of brands. And, the shoes cost a bit less here.

So, that's where I am with shoes. Clothes on the other hand... I have picked up a few things this week from J Crew.

Yesterday, as a treat for getting past an agency presentation that I had been nervously anticipating, I made a quick lunchtime shopping trip.

J Crew's sale rack was calling. I found a lightweight, very airy peasant style dress that I'm looking forward to wearing this summer. It's actually available online, which isn't always the case with sale items in particular.

I also picked up a softly pleated chambray skirt. Earlier in the week, I purchased a tuxedo front, button up top and a green v neck sweater.

The tuxedo front top looks great, cuffs pleated, with a gold cuff bracelet, gold necklace, a denim pencil skirt and these Sam Edelman shoes I already have in my closet.

The tan suede and leather Sam Edelmans with a croc pattern are a great pair of "neutral" shoes, but they KILL the feat. I bought them at a great little shoe store in Baltimore called Matava. Matava has a couple locations in the Baltimore area, and one in Annapolis.
I loved them so much, I bought a second similarly structured pair in red suede. While the red suede pair are definitely eye-catching, I've definitely worn the tan suede pair the most. They've been my winter neutrals.

They are actually available at less than half the price I paid for them in October. And the pic really doesn't do them justice!

Bottom line: they look lovely, but lovely comes at the price of comfort.

But back to today. And impending spring. I'm looking forward to some great finds...