4am Shoe Crawl: Winter Boots

... so usually when I can't sleep and there isn't anything else to keep me entertained ( books finished, bad tv, sleeping husband ), I go virtual shoe shopping.

Only this time, I really did need to shop because winter is here and I need a new pair of boots. Let's not split hairs on the word "need", ok?

Chooka Rain Boot
$65.99 at Endless.Com

I was looking for something like this -->

I really like Chooka. Never had any issue with size or comfort and while I needed something functional I also wanted something with a little bit of style.

Since snow is always a factor here, I knew that these wouldn't be the warmest of the warm but the plan was to buy a size bigger so I could wear thicker socks.

It's worked before so I had no issue and was justhisclose to ordering them when that well heeled devil on my shoulder whispered click the next button!

And as much as I pleaded with myself NOT to click the next button.. telling myself that nothing good EVER comes from clicking the next button.

I did.

I clicked it.

DSquared2 Panzer Boots
$1092.00 at Endless.Com

And found these all purpose weather creations.

Ok.. so the caffeine is getting to me but really, for a stiletto whore like me you can't ask for anything more in a winter boot.

Water proof, right?
Ringed eyelets, right?
Nubby sole to prevent slipping, right?
Bright red shoelaces in case of an emergency, right?

Ok..

So the red shoe laces are stretching it a bit.. but considering that I had a pair of stiletto Timberlands ( Hello Jenny From The Block! ) .. did you really think I wouldn't fall completely in love with them?

But I knew that wearing them in a coffin after my husband killed me because of the price tag wouldn't do them justice so reluctantly, I continued my search.
These look warm, don't they?

Rock & Republic Darcey
$395.00 at Endless.Com

These look warm, don't they? Sure they do.

But you know me.. can't resist anything with buckles, studs and a heel skinnier then a french fry. And really, how much snow does anyone really think I'm going to be walking in anyway?

Isn't that one of the perks of having step sons?

Hand them a shovel and tell them to make a path from the door to the car?

And if I can't drive what the hell would I be doing with shoes on anyway?

But then I thought that suppose I was driving and the car broke down and I had to walk somewhere that wasn't shoveled by step sons?

This is why I need to lay off the caffeine and go to bed earlier! Do you really think I'm kidding?? LOL!!

Dolce Vita Josh Shearling
$89.50 at Endless.Com

I settled on these.

For a variety of reasons:

1. They have buckles
2. They have a nobby sole
3. They have a thicker stacked heel for more stability
4. They are lined with warm stuff
5. They were only $89.50 with free shipping
6. My youngest step son is named Josh so it was like karma or something!!

Now I can go to sleep.

But I won't be able to because I'll be anticipating that box being delivered..

Damn, it's worse then Christmas!!

Meet The Masters: Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen: Spring 2010 Collection

You've seen these shoes, right?

If you can't place just hunt down Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video. I'll wait.

Ahhhhhh!!! Now you remember them, right?

And I bet you're thinking the same thing I thought when I first saw them:

GOD! I WISH I HAD A PAIR.. OR TWO!!!

Well, ok.. that probably isn't what your first thought was but either way, they made an impression.

To me.. these are more works of art then shoes but I'd wear them. Even if only to tip around the house when no one was home.

Anyway .. I always do a little snarky eye roll when a designer branches out into shoes. It's one thing to have a passion for creating spectacular shoes (ie: Manolo Blahnik) but another to just do it as an off shoot to your fashion and accessories line (ie: Michael Kors).

I didn't mind so much with McQueen because he was just so uber-creative that I had the feeling if  he didn't branch out he would have exploded in a poof of Scottish plaid and glitter.

Growing up amid humble beginnings, McQueen made fashion his life at the age of 16. He apprenticed with many different tailors, honing the skills that would make him famous. At 21 he moved to Milan and worked along side Romeo Gigli ( no relation to any characters in the Jennifer Lopez movie ) and went on to earn a masters degree from Central St. Martin's College. Pretty impressive, indeed.

His first collection was a mix of his apprenticeships grabbed the fashion world's attention and made his mark as an up and coming force to be recognized.

McQueen was the ultimate fashion bad boy with frequent outburst and attitude .. who else could call Hubert de Givenchy irrelevant? .. but his show dripped in theatrics and his self titled label was blazing trails. He won numerous awards and was still respected by the fashion world. So much so that after his Givenchy line failed, he was given a second chance.

Gucci bought a controlling interest in his line in 2000, giving him greater controlling license. He continued to win awards and his clothes worn by some of the celebrity world's greatest fashionistas.

Sadly, McQueen died in February 2010.

McQueen "Faithful" peep toe boot
$1150.00

While McQueen's flair for the dramatic is legend, he did design a more ready to wear-ish line for normal wear.

If you consider dropping a paycheck normal. 

I did once *sigh* .. long before kids and their insatiable need to eat.

Anyway..

There's no doubt that even his causal and evening wear are works of art .. and for those of us who can't afford his price tag anymore, you know when you see a facsimile in places like DSW or Zappos or Endless where the inspiration comes from.

Gladiators?

For the LIFE of me.. I can’t figure this trend out.

Unless you’re Russell Crowe and wearing a leather strapped Roman kilt.. I can’t see ANY reason why you’d want to put these things on your feet and wear them out in public.

Tweet Lace from GoJane.Com. Priced around 25 bucks

Unless maybe you’re a post-apocolyptic punk rocker… or into the whole alternate lifestyle, I’m just not getting it.

Are you suppose to wear them with jeans? Shorts? Skirts?

Am I just too old and set in my ways to see their value?

Mind you.. I never thought twice about buying a pair of shoes because someone else would think they’re ugly.

I just don’t see the appeal in this type of shoe.

Wanted Tickles at Endless.Com for around 35usd

I will say this though..

There are some types of shoes that don’t look like much on display but have a completely different appeal once they’re being worn.

There are some young girls that I’ve seen wearing Gladiators and they looked cute.

Of course, they were all around 15 with mile high legs no wider then a pencil so maybe that’s what it takes.

So is it me?

How do you feel about Gladiators?

Trend or soon to be staple?

But yknow.. yknow.. stick a heel on these suckers and you won’t be able to hold me back. Check these out from Bebe..

BeBe Gladiatore 189.00

Now.. THAT’s what I’m talking about!!

If I had this pair in front of me, I’d be cradling them like a baby and oooh and aaahh over them.

Maybe even drooling a little but I’d be sure to not get any on the leather!!

These 5″ heels have a half inch platform and while I’m not a fan of platforms in general, I think I’d be able to live with this one.

Anniversary is in 7 days..

Guess what I’m asking for!!

The Ultimate "Surviving Pointy Toe Shoes" Tip

RoSa Cross Strap Sandal around 132.00 Euro

I absolutely LOVE me some pointy toed shoes.

EXTREME pointy toes!!

They can be pretty painful to wear, especially if you’re like me and don’t have the narrowest of feet.

Hell..

I think their painful for ANY women, narrow feet or not.

Unless of course, your into the whole Chinese Foot Binding thing then personally, I think you have bigger worries.

At any rate.. Pointy Toe shoes are really fashionably diverse. You can kick them with a dress.. slacks.. OR jeans.

Personally, I like wearing mine casually. Usually in an earth tone with jeans.

Thankfully, my husband is tall enough for me not to surpass his height even wearing 4″ heels.

My first husband was short.. so we kind of looked ridiculous but he had a major shoe fetish so if there was one GOOD thing to say about him it’s that he indulged my passion. But that’s about it.

For some reason, shoe trends have moved more towards either a rounded toe or a squared toe. I don’t like either, personally. Give me drama.. give me a statement.. give me damn extreme pointy toe shoes!!

Here are two personal pairs that I wear all the time:

Personal Collection:  by Enzo Angiolini

These are a pair of my Enzo Angiolini’s. They have a tan suede front and a chocolate brown ankle strap that criss-crosses across the front of my foot and secures through a ring and holds with a simple peg.

I’ve had these shoes for about.. um.. six years? Seven maybe? and they are my ABSOLUTE favorite.

Their sole is really flexible and honestly, there were days when I had them on for 8 or 9 hours straight and it felt like I was wearing nothing.

Definitely the GO-TO shoe!

I think I paid around 80.00 for them then at Macy’s.

Personal Collection: by Miss Me

The picture of the black pair really doesn’t do them justice. By any means.

These are black suede ankle straps with a silver buckle on the toe and a silver medal here by Miss Me.

I think I picked them up for something ridiculous like 15.00 at BareFeet.

NOTE: BareFeet is a great place to get shoes. Not only are they on the inexpensive end but when it’s time to update their stock, they’re sales are RIDICULOUS!!

These pair also have a really flexible sole but the heel is about half the width of the Enzo’s.

Still faboosh, though! I call them my Shiver Your Timbers heels!!

Anyway.. I think I kept you in suspense long enough.

The secret is really very simple. Buy them either a half size or full size bigger then what you normally wear. This seats the balls of your feet differently and allows ample room for the piggies.

Fear Has No Place In Your Shoe Closet...

Manolo Blahnik 2008 Collection

How many times have you been in department store.. or at the mall.. and saw a gorgeous pair of heels?

You may have been seduced by the style of the shoe or fell into it’s pool of color and texture but one look at the long, thin heel made you gently put them back and sigh.

” .. I could never walk in them” you say to the girlfriend you’re with. “I’d fall and break my neck”

Sound familiar??

Now.. if I was the girlfriend you were shopping with I’d shove those heels back in your hands and say OH YES YOU CAN and OH NO YOU WON’T!!

Because believe me.. if I can do it.. so can you!

The first time I wore a pair of heels :: Candie’s circa 1979 with a brown mock clog front and ankle strap :: was at my 8th grade graduation and I think my mother was just so damn happy that her tomboy daughter would even consider wearing heels that she had a momentary lapse of parental judgement.

I started out that night walking like a freakin’ Frankenstein-ian truck driver and ended it gliding around like I was born with them on my feet.

What changed in those few hours is my determination .. and as long as you are determined, you’ve won half the battle.

So here are a few tips to help you join the ranks of the Stiletto Army:

Christian Louboutin *sigh*

Before dropping a paycheck on a bad ass pair of heels, try picking up a pair that only costs a couple of Jacksons first. Many of today’s discount shoe places are a great resource for beginners.

Always try them on before you buy them. Walk up and down the aisles a few times to get the feel of how they fit your foot. Don’t worry about what the sales people thing. Who cares.. they’re not going anywhere until their shift ends and I’m sure they could use the entertainment!

But remember.. walking on carpet is a lot different then walking on concrete or asphalt.

Look for a sole that is flexible. THIS IS KEY! The more the shoe bends.. the more comfortable and natural your stride will be.

If you are a newbie, then I suggest you find a shoe with a thicker heel. A thicker heel is going to give you more stability. Remember, just the added height is going to freak you out a bit and make you a little wobbly.

Most of all.. you need to practice. Where them around the house.. up and down the steps.. that kind of thing. You’re going to need to develop calf muscles and your foot will be in a position it’s not used to. If necessary, walk around on tip toes just to get your feet, legs and back used to being in that position.

Luckily for the balls of your feet, there are tons of different pads and gel pads and foam pads that adhere to the bottom of your to give your feet an added cushion and prevent your foot from sliding.

Pretty soon.. you’ll have the confidence and ability to wear stilettos like nobody’s business.

Just don’t tell them your secret!