I love a good wedge, but my affection for ballet flats is no secret.
Help a terribly indecisive girl out. Which style is your favorite?
[photo cred to AMY STONE // COFFEE TALK]
Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
For the Love of Leopard
On any given day, I walk at least 44 blocks to and from work. It's actually a fantastic commute—I just stroll down First Ave, under the 59th St Bridge, and cut over to Third. I think it's very good for my temper that I don't try to squeeze into a rush-hour 6 train, but the havoc that my walk wreaks on my feet? Not so much. Pumps are out of the question, and I'll only wear wedges when I'm desperate. (I keep a pair of each under my desk). (Obviously).
[photo cred to Atlantic Pacific blog, top, and here]
on deadlines and stuff
so my life has never really changed after three weeks of completing our design exhibit...
all these time, i thought i would be basking under the sun at this very moment/ or spending the holiday with my favorite niece, Bunny! but as it turned out, more work has been piled on my table :/
which means i'm still staying up late til morning, and starting my day in the afternoons... x.x (which also means, more photobooth-whoring for now LOL)
but if everything goes well, this (above) is going to be my first actual-paid project *crossing fingers sooo tightly* and during these past few days, all i've been doing was layout-ing its floor plan, mood board, perspective, etc. and the time allotted to complete everything is completely unbelievable! this... and other minor projects i've been also cooking right now, which i would be posting soon :)
sometimes i get sooo overwhelmed i wish i could just go out and completely waste my day! *evil thoughts*
sometimes i get sooo overwhelmed i wish i could just go out and completely waste my day! *evil thoughts*
anyway, thank God i found you!
my new solemate :)
you bring me UP five and half inches higher each day :)
xoxo
Protecting Shoe Designs
If you're applying surface ornamentation to a shoe, (imagery like this, that is considered separable from the footwear) your best protection is probably copyright law because it's automatic and because you can stop others from reproducing the image on anything, not just shoes. You should register the work if you're concerned about it being ripped off because copyright registration provides some advantages in a lawsuit. You can register all your designs as a group but if one of your designs is more popular than the others, you should probably register it separately. You can find help online, and if you need more assistance, check out our book, The Craft Artists' Legal Guide.
Protecting the shoe's design. If you want to stop the specific use of your image in connection with shoes, (or for some reason you want to protect the design of the shoe itself -- the shape, proportions and "sculptural" elements), you might consider filing a design patent. Design patents protect shape, design and ornamentation for useful objects. Companies with large design patent portfolios, such as Nike, successfully use design patents to stop others from making similar shoe designs. We discussed the differences between copyright and design patents in a recent post. The big difference is that design patents are more expensive and take longer to acquire.
PS Good news for those who can't find what they want at Zappos: design your own shoes.
The French Converse
I was exceptionally loyal to my beat-up, classic red Keds until last weekend, when they managed to bore a hole through my ankle. It was a highly unpleasant experience, and ever since I dedicated my column in Prep Talk to the merits of a cool, laid-back pair of kicks, I've been gazing lovingly at this pair of Bensimon vintage sneakers (available here):
[photo cred here]
Spring Kicks
I just want to scoop up an armful of the new ballet flats from J. Crew and run. I'm already indecisive, and now I have to choose between snakeskin, Liberty florals, jacquard, studs, and tweed? Neon orange toe caps? Really, snakeskin?! I'm a sucker for snakeskin anything. LE SIGH.
By the Seashore
As inspired by all things nautical:
1. I actually don't own a striped bateau top as of yet (I know, I'm so ashamed of myself) but I am beyond head over heels for this one by Cardigan New York, which was featured in a photo shoot on A Cup of Jo. It looks so gorgeous (and French!) with the red lipstick.
2. I adore the detail on these anchor earrings from Catbird. I rarely wear earrings and when I do, they're usually studs, but this pair is just so pretty and the fossil ivory, unexpected and quirky.
3. I already bought/have worn/won't stop wearing the black and beige pair of Marais flats, and now I'm hankering after the blue. A straight guy complimented them. A straight and very attractive guy. If that's not a good reason to buy a new pair of shoes, I don't know what is.
[photo cred to Our Edge via We Heart It]
Hints of Yellow
I spent my weekend making fresh kale chips, checking my credit score, and reading a play by Jean Anouilh in French. I'm also getting into cooking really luxurious breakfasts (they are the most important meal of the day, after all), so I spent an awful lot of time chopping onions and mushrooms for my luxurious little omelets. I also made the most delicious bacon sandwich on Saturday, which I topped with tomatoes, red onions, and two slices of Meunster.
Then again, I also watched three hours-worth of The Office reruns while eating handful after handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips (I was too lazy to bake them into cookies) — just in case you were wondering what sort of girl I'd become. So tell me, how was your weekend? Did you watch the Superbowl? (Did you know that there's also a Puppy Bowl? My best friend and I were dying over this).
P.S. If you'd like to see me waxing poetic (awkwardly) and prancing about in my new Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent wedges, I did a short video here for Northwestern's fashion blog. I pop up at 0:35, frozen by stage fright and only smiling at the very end. Thus goes my dream of doing stand-up comedy alongside Aziz Ansari.
[photo cred, clockwise, to 1, 2, 3, 4]
Delicate Neutrals
But seriously, these shoes! They look like they were made by fairies. I'm also one of those people who thinks that peep-toe booties are the most useless things ever, so this is an especially big personal breakthrough. All I want to do is wear these with dark skinny jeans or a frothy pale skirt, a white silk tee (I'm obsessed with these, although the white is now sold out), and no coat. Not even a light jacket. Maybe, maybe, a cardigan, but only for looks.
By the way, is anyone else as excited as I am about Matchbook magazine? They even have a editor's wish list for bookworms and it's calling for me. I can't wait to curl up with it and a steamy mug of green tea tomorrow morning.
[photo cred, clockwise, to 1 via Musings in Femininity, 2 and 3 via Patterson Maker]
Monday Morning
I apologize for the sparse updates - my commute to NYC is hellish and I sleep during most of it. I absolutely love my internship at Allure, though; I learn something new every day and particularly enjoy having a security pass for the Condé Nast headquarters in Times Square.
Typically, I'm not partial to anything that matches perfectly. I like when there's a working relationship between two pieces - they complement one another, but manage to avoid looking like a set. These broke my rule. Wouldn't they look awesome with a short black dress for a night out? I love that black patent perfectly grounds the python print and puts a spin on two great classics. On the other hand, I would wear these with a flowing white dress:
The bright, spunky hues are perfect for the summer, and the embellishment is beautiful. They somehow manage to back away ever so carefully from gaudy (as I usually tend to find gemstones to be) and towards elegant. The best part is that I'd want to wear the pieces together instead of separating them and trying to find some way to incorporate each one on its own.
I bought a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti peep toes. They're lilac and have enormous platforms, so there's a good chance I'm going to topple over while wearing them. Unfortunately, they were only available through a Ruelala sample sale, so I can't seem to find a photo of them. During my hunt, though, I stumbled across this sweet duo:
Typically, I'm not partial to anything that matches perfectly. I like when there's a working relationship between two pieces - they complement one another, but manage to avoid looking like a set. These broke my rule. Wouldn't they look awesome with a short black dress for a night out? I love that black patent perfectly grounds the python print and puts a spin on two great classics. On the other hand, I would wear these with a flowing white dress:
The bright, spunky hues are perfect for the summer, and the embellishment is beautiful. They somehow manage to back away ever so carefully from gaudy (as I usually tend to find gemstones to be) and towards elegant. The best part is that I'd want to wear the pieces together instead of separating them and trying to find some way to incorporate each one on its own.Actually, the real best part is that they're available here, where many of the Summer 2010 styles are marked down. And with that, my dears, we start off our week!
Wedge Extravaganza
Weak spot: wedges. Wedged boots, wedged sandals, wedged anything. I can wear them to class without feeling too dressed up or out for the night without worrying that I'll end up barefoot on the walk home. I don't have the longest legs in the world, so these provide length without sacrificing comfort. A nude-hued style is by far the most flattering, as it visually extends the leg line. I happen to be a sucker for cute ankle straps as well: my two favorite picks from the list below are the Charles David "Dizzy" and Pour La Victoire "Tarissa"; if I could afford the See by Chloe wedges, they would be cradled in my arms right now. I prefer spare details and the occasional bold pop of color (couldn't you just see the red with worn, rolled up jeans and a slouchy striped tee?). It's just sheer convenience that these are considered "trendy" right now. I'd like to rename them "never leave my feet ever I love you I promise I'll get pedicures we'll be together forever."
(from top to bottom)
(from top to bottom)
Charles David Dizzy Espadrilles, Zappos, $135
Pour La Victoire Tarissa Strappy Platform Wedges, Bloomingdales, $290
See by Chloe Ankle-Wrap Wedge Sandals, Saks Fifth Avenue, $335
See by Chloe Ankle-Wrap Wedge Sandals, Saks Fifth Avenue, $335
The Case for Lanvin
I have an inherent weakness for any ballet flats that make my size 9.5 feet seem dainty. But when these magical shoes ring in at a tear-inducing $530, you'd better know what you're paying for and why. I worked for about two months before I was able to save enough cash to afford the tax on these shoes. Nevertheless, keep in mind that if you calculate the value of price per wear, they cost me about $0.20/day.
A huge perk is the exclusivity. I first saw the Lanvin ballet flats in Elle magazine about two years ago, in the issue where Naomi Watts is on the cover. They were green, they were worn, they were perfect. Unfortunately, by the time I could afford them, Barneys (the only retailer on this side of the Atlantic that carries the flats. Big misstep there, Saks) had sold out of everything but the patent leather pairs. I refuse to pay more than $10 for patent leather - regular leather wears better than patent, looks more expensive, and lasts far longer. I was lucky that Barneys had just received a limited-quantity shipment of white leather flats with metallic silver edging. I tried them on. Housewives of New York gasped as my feet suddenly became a size 7. Factor in the assurance that no one west of Broadway would make it to Barneys in time to snag a pair, and I was sold. Rather, the shoes were sold. To me.
It's been two years and I have my eye on another pair. Why? Because it isn't until you buy them and open the rich, sky blue box that you figure out that they're handmade in Italy by craftsmen out of the finest calfskin available. Not one craftsman, but two! And they devote two weeks to your two shoes, that fit snugly and perfectly on your two feet. It's a sickness, sure, but the best sickness ever. The calfskin is soft, supple, and durable, though it does require care. I don't eat veal so I consider this a proper tradeoff.
I'll admit that this isn't the shoe's best angle, so try to find them up close and personal and tell me you don't fall deeply in love. I've decided, upon my family's recent decision to go to France for the fourth year in a row (we really enjoy escargot), that I'm going to waltz into the Lanvin flagship in Paris and choose from a much wider array than what Barneys offers. I also want to find Alber Elbaz, give him a hug, and make him my best friend forever. Conveniently, I have a good three weeks before this dream comes to fruition, so hopefully I'll work enough to compensate for the dollars (decreasing) weakness against the euro.
A huge perk is the exclusivity. I first saw the Lanvin ballet flats in Elle magazine about two years ago, in the issue where Naomi Watts is on the cover. They were green, they were worn, they were perfect. Unfortunately, by the time I could afford them, Barneys (the only retailer on this side of the Atlantic that carries the flats. Big misstep there, Saks) had sold out of everything but the patent leather pairs. I refuse to pay more than $10 for patent leather - regular leather wears better than patent, looks more expensive, and lasts far longer. I was lucky that Barneys had just received a limited-quantity shipment of white leather flats with metallic silver edging. I tried them on. Housewives of New York gasped as my feet suddenly became a size 7. Factor in the assurance that no one west of Broadway would make it to Barneys in time to snag a pair, and I was sold. Rather, the shoes were sold. To me.
It's been two years and I have my eye on another pair. Why? Because it isn't until you buy them and open the rich, sky blue box that you figure out that they're handmade in Italy by craftsmen out of the finest calfskin available. Not one craftsman, but two! And they devote two weeks to your two shoes, that fit snugly and perfectly on your two feet. It's a sickness, sure, but the best sickness ever. The calfskin is soft, supple, and durable, though it does require care. I don't eat veal so I consider this a proper tradeoff.
I'll admit that this isn't the shoe's best angle, so try to find them up close and personal and tell me you don't fall deeply in love. I've decided, upon my family's recent decision to go to France for the fourth year in a row (we really enjoy escargot), that I'm going to waltz into the Lanvin flagship in Paris and choose from a much wider array than what Barneys offers. I also want to find Alber Elbaz, give him a hug, and make him my best friend forever. Conveniently, I have a good three weeks before this dream comes to fruition, so hopefully I'll work enough to compensate for the dollars (decreasing) weakness against the euro.
HAUNTING me!
i have too many heels already (most of which i don't even wear!) but i'm still dying to get my hands on these (even if my current collection almost look like the same - i mean the glads & ties :)
i have too much black, so maybe its time for white! ($250 from Stella Luna). yummy issit? tried them on yesterday... wished i had the audacity to run off and never return them! haha
so how many times must one visit disneyland?
i looked like Mickey's long-lost sister with the cheeky face, black coat, and red tights! Disneyland HK is soo small, yet i want to come back over and over again! :)
the weather was weird in Hongkong when i arrived - it was COLD! my friends informed me to bring scarves/wintery stuffs on the last minute (when its supposed to be Spring), and i didn't had time to prepare for my outfits since i just arrived from Caramoan Islands, hours before the flight! i guess God's telling me NOT to travel on December anymore, since i said to myself that i want to 'dress up' for winter. funny thing is, my friends had been wearing thin clothing weeks before my arrival.... and it got WARMER again once i left for Macau.
maybe someone's really out there fulfilling my wish... (?)
(coat: zara. top: zara. shorts: bazaar. tights: h&m. boots: zara. sunnies: h&m. bag: LV damier nf)
the weather was weird in Hongkong when i arrived - it was COLD! my friends informed me to bring scarves/wintery stuffs on the last minute (when its supposed to be Spring), and i didn't had time to prepare for my outfits since i just arrived from Caramoan Islands, hours before the flight! i guess God's telling me NOT to travel on December anymore, since i said to myself that i want to 'dress up' for winter. funny thing is, my friends had been wearing thin clothing weeks before my arrival.... and it got WARMER again once i left for Macau.
maybe someone's really out there fulfilling my wish... (?)
(coat: zara. top: zara. shorts: bazaar. tights: h&m. boots: zara. sunnies: h&m. bag: LV damier nf)Girls Only! :)
just a peek of my slashed leggings...
and Rabbit, my sister's white snauchzer.
watched 2 movies last week:
and maybe its because #2 didn't gave me any inspirations, nor the slightest envy for her wardrobe. STC was sooo much better!
and... i'm going to Hongkong & Macau (again) next month! :) and i expect to be DEAD literally, cos i'll be coming straight from my Caramoan (Survivor French location) trip . damnit. Boracay is also on its way... and i still want to go to Bali, Indonesia & Singapore this year!! booo.
gone are the days when my parents give me $$$$ pocket money... now i don't have to ask why i'm dead broke and not reaching x3 savings! and its recession!!!
and Rabbit, my sister's white snauchzer.
watched 2 movies last week:
- He's Just Not That Into You
- Confessions of a Shopaholic
and maybe its because #2 didn't gave me any inspirations, nor the slightest envy for her wardrobe. STC was sooo much better!
and... i'm going to Hongkong & Macau (again) next month! :) and i expect to be DEAD literally, cos i'll be coming straight from my Caramoan (Survivor French location) trip . damnit. Boracay is also on its way... and i still want to go to Bali, Indonesia & Singapore this year!! booo.
gone are the days when my parents give me $$$$ pocket money... now i don't have to ask why i'm dead broke and not reaching x3 savings! and its recession!!!
gearing up
i can smell the waves, even with the coldness of february.
summer's almost here, well for me, it's only a month away!
and we need to gear up for our week-long, & kick-ass wakeboarding,
whale shark watching, and island hopping adventure!
whale shark watching, and island hopping adventure!
speaking of which, aren't these panties punk-ass cool?
while i'm currently taking yoga classes to prepare myself,
and keep me away from the internet for a while.
and keep me away from the internet for a while.
at least now you know where i've been! :)
japanese schoolgirl
moshi! moshi! (^.^)
(f21 badged cardi. random tank. h&m skirt. zara ankle boots.)
just spent Saturday night in Antipolo...casino roadtrip baby!
seventeen forever
after hibernating for almost 2-weeks somewhere, i'm finally back in the city :) Fort is absolutely my fave destination, when i'm out with my friends...
dress/top: mango. skirt: rockwell urban bazaar. shoes: juan. fringed bag: h&m.
and just so u didn't noticed, i have stick straight hair! :) i actually asked my hairdresser to iron it for a while cos my curls are killing me! had thought of keeping them this way, but my hair's too damaged... so yeah, its going back to curls once i wash them. pft.
dress/top: mango. skirt: rockwell urban bazaar. shoes: juan. fringed bag: h&m. and just so u didn't noticed, i have stick straight hair! :) i actually asked my hairdresser to iron it for a while cos my curls are killing me! had thought of keeping them this way, but my hair's too damaged... so yeah, its going back to curls once i wash them. pft.
also been playing with black's, studs and golds lately (finally! right?) cos MOST of the clothes in my closet are yeah, those 3 words. the dress/top whatever is actually a gift from my friends eons ago - but never wore it, not even once, cos i find it too SHORT (unless i don't care about people seeing my underwear! >:) so thank God for the skirt! and i've been looking for something like this forever! but since i'm such a lazy-ass shopper, and oh, was also on a shopping ban some months ago, i just got them last Christmas from the bazaar in Rockwell. the fabric is also perfect... its a bit thick and wool-y, so the pleats drops pretty nicely by itself :)
... it has also been chilly in the Phils. lately, so i've been using my knit trench coats as much as i could! :) and that SELDOM happens!
loving: seventeen forever by metrostation
loving: seventeen forever by metrostation
knots
one of the drawbacks of prolonged vacation is LAZINESS and crazy body clock schedules... yesterday, i slept around 4am, then 6am... and so on. ugh! i feel like i don't sleep anymore! :( and i always feel sluggish/hungry... bah.
top: h&m. tights: topshop. cardi: from hongkong. shoes: cln
on the brighter note, i am LOVING these shoes i got from CLN, before i left Manila for the holidays.
and i think its the 2nd non-black shoe i ever purchased this season :)
top: h&m. tights: topshop. cardi: from hongkong. shoes: cln
so last Monday i went out in what-my-cousin-call a "harajuku" outfit. i'm not sure why, but i guess its the white tights...?? or the layering?? cause i've never seen anyone wore white tights here, and neither had she, hence...
anyway, the dress is from one of our malls in Manila (Landmark) and is $4 ONLY!! it was sooo cheap that i got the other color as well! :) BUT the original fitting & length sucks, so i payed another $5 for alteration etc. (in my new, secret tailor :), waited for almost 2 weeks (i had 6 of my clothes altered!), and i'm totally inlove with them now!
and what's funny is, i NEVER did thought of wearing them for dinner (or something special), as i only imagined myself - flocking the beach/ spending some lazy, out-of-town holidays - with these. but since the weather suddenly became a lil' chilly (really really weird!) i tried layering, and stuffs... and hey! i think it looked okay for a Christmas dinner! :)
and just as i thought that i'd be able to go out without any of those (yeah, so so lame) logo handbags, i changed my h&m studded ones for these gucci on the last minute! (btw, i already sold the studded bag on ebay).
dress: landmark. tights: h&m. shoes: zara. layered vest: online. bag: gucci joy. pearls: sm. sorry for the clutter in my room!
dress: landmark. tights: h&m. shoes: zara. layered vest: online. bag: gucci joy. pearls: sm. sorry for the clutter in my room!
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