How many snake print shoes does a girl need?

Please understand that this is a rhetorical question. I don't really want an answer. I have a thing for snake, I'm sure I'll add more snake print pieces to my bulging shoe closet. 

What is it about snake print? The varied colors, naturally. The texture that makes them seem high end even if they're not.  Maybe the exotic nature of snake is a draw.  It's like cocaine to me, I can't seem to get enough and when I have some I want more.

It all started with this pair of Prada pumps.  New in the box for a fantastic price on eBay.  I've worn them at least 100 times, probably more.  They are beige, ivory, grey and black all in one and go with almost everything.  I dropped them off at cobbler today for new soles, that's how much I wear them.

Then I came across these babies on eBay, again new in the box for an amazing price.  From Prada's baby sister Miu Miu, they are perfect for fall.  The snake is different, the pattern more compact. A hypnotizing blend of greens and greys that will make my neutral outfits more interesting.

 

Not happy to confine myself to heels, I also obsessed about flats in a real snake, not just a print. I stalked them for sale for months and months (and blogged about them), finally nabbing the last pair in my size that could be found on earth after receiving a 20% off sale code for 3.1 Phillip Lim.  The crazy pointed toe, the casual loafer style, the gorgeous tones, all reeled me in.

 

 

I know you won't be surprised that I am interested in yet another pair, these gorgeous mustard and black beauties by No. 21.  Once again, unworn and in the box.  The heels are a modest 2.25". 

 



Want to take bets on whether I buy them?

 



An ode to the cropped flare jean

I don't wear jeans often. My office does not have casual Fridays. We may have the rare dress down day connected to the success of the Arizona Wildcats, that's once or twice a year. I live in the desert where at least six or seven months it's far too hot for long pants and certainly for denim.  There are some lovely chilly days in the winter when I wear jeans. I look forward to those opportunities all year long.  Just any old pair of jeans will not do.

I've been searching for the perfect jean for me.  I like a mid rise.  The tummy no longer allows for a low rise pant.  I like a slim cut.  No retro 70s wide leg for me, I lived through that the first time.  I need jeans that will work with flats or heels.  I've spent hours on the internet clicking on image after image until I thought I finally found the pair of my dreams.

Behold the MIH Brighton jean.

Lovely!  A mid rise slim with a little kick flare. Ticks all the boxes.  Except one.  Sold out in my size.  And back to the drawing board I go.

What do you do when you strike out completely and descend into despair?  (Okay, that's a bit melodramatic but these are jeans we're talking about here.)  You reach out for help, that's what you do.  Having seen the gorgeous Tabitha of Bourbon and Pearls in the very style I was lusting after, I emailed her.  She shared the information, the pair that made her stems so gorgeous were J Brand Gigi jeans.  The bad news was the style was several years old and no longer sold.  Undeterred I turned to eBay and there they were.  As worn by many celebrities including Elle McPherson, one of my style icons, they are the perfect combination of rise, rinse and flare. January Jones wears them all the time.

They're fabulous with heels, Audrey Hepburn-esque with flats.  The dark wash is dressy enough to be worn with a black blazer and pumps, and they can go casual with flats and a tee.  I'm giddy waiting for their arrival. 

Some decisions aren't black and white

Yesterday I expressed my angst about choosing between the Miu Miu and the Prada flats.  Still undecided, by the way.  As I googled images of both and shopped various websites, I came across these beautiful Prada pumps.

White with black trim. Sigh.  How gorgeous?  A totally white shoe, not for me.  But add that thick band of black and you have a whole new ball game.

I already have oodles of black pumps.  Still, the reverse shoe also caught my eye.

Not exactly the opposite, this one is black with silver trim.  The silver elevates the basic black pump making it office ready and evening appropriate.

I'm not done yet, what about a different kind of black and white color block?

This pair my be my favorite.  The heel is my preferred height, 80mm, as opposed to the higher heel of the two pairs above.  I'm smitten with the cap toe.  I've got dozens of things in my closet that would coordinate with these and like the flats from yesterday's post, they're shoes that can be worn next year and the year after.

Now I just need to decide. 

This or that?

I posted these Miu Miu flats a while back.  Love the color block, the pointy toe, the slight bit of heel.

 

 

 

Then I came across these Prada flats.  The obvious similarities are the two tone, the pointy toe, that little heel. 

Such a dilemma!  The Miu Miu are slightly more casual, with the loafer or slipper styling.  The Prada are pretty and feminine, the Miu Miu a bit more borrowed from the boys.  Either works really well with cropped pants, jeans, sleek dresses. 

Which brings up a question.  What's the difference between Miu Miu and Prada anyway?  Aren't they all the same designer? 

But I digress.  What am I going to do about the flats question?  Prada or Miu Miu?  Miu Miu or Prada?  Both gorgeous, both very wearable and classic enough to last for years.  I don't need nor can I afford both.  I have to choose!! 

Another lip color review

I wasn't kidding in that earlier post. I love lip colors. I have literally dozens and dozens in my bathroom cabinet.  I am a sucker for packaging and marketing. If I see something fabulous in a store, I buy it.  When someone recommends a lippie, I buy it.  I watch for new products, I consume magazine articles about lip colors.  This explains the dozens and dozens I mentioned above.

Naturally, when one of my favorite bloggers recommended a new lip color, I tried it.  It was an epic fail.  Beautiful color and beautiful packaging that looked and felt good for about 1/2 hour, after which it became an odd combination of tacky and dry, wore unevenly, looked patchy and messy all at the same time.  But the color, oh the color! It was summer in a tube.  The perfect orangey-coral with golden flecks.  Here it is, but don't buy it.

Revlon It Girl Ultimate Suede Lipstick. Bad, bad, bad.

Still, the perfect color in that tube haunted me.  There had to be something similarly bright and pretty!  Something that wouldn't make me look like a failed science experiment.

Stumbling through Walgreen's the other day, looking for a new flat iron, I passed an end cap.  There it was.  My perfect summer lippie.  Revlon Super Lustrous Shine Lipstick in Lovers Coral.  It's almost the identical color to it's messy cousin, without the gold flecks.  It goes on very sheer, and the color is buildable by adding more coats.  It's very moisturizing with smooth and even application. 

 

 

This is a product I can get behind and recommend.  In fact, I've already picked it up in more colors.

Obsession: All Saints Reptile Quad Jacket

This jacket has been floating around in my cerebellum since it landed on the All Saints website a few months ago.  It's perfect for me and the climate I live in.  Light leather that is easy to care for - the website says regular dry clean (not the super expensive specialty leather dry clean) - and easy to wear.  Perforated panels with solid sleeves, and the sleeves are short.  What better garment for spring and fall in the desert?  With a long sleeved turtleneck or tee, it transitions easily to winter.  Given that I work in an office building chilled to arctic levels, it would even work in the summer.

In my wardrobe this baby would be extremely versatile, the obvious use being weekend casual.  The streamlined shape and classic cut means it would also work well over a sheath dress, or as a topper to a pencil skirt and silk tee.  Alas, the bank account does not allow even such a well reasoned purchase.  Starting out at $785.00, it was recently marked down 20% to $628.00.  Still too rich for my blood. 

 

If memory serves, All Saints had a code for 4th of July last year, even though they are a UK based company.  Cross your fingers they do the same next week and I can grab this little gem at a discount.



Sunday Musings - Altuzarra printed pencil skirt

I'm trying not to do any aspirational shopping.  I have pledged to stop buying things that fit the life that I don't lead.  That doesn't stop me from window shopping. 

This hit the Net A Porter sale.  The perfect summer skirt, a beautiful ikat print silk with a charming tie front and sequin trim on the front and pockets.  Can't you picture yourself going to lunch in this lovely skirt and a black silk cami, or out to a dinner with something in filmy chiffon on top?  At the current sale price, that's approximately $450 per wear.  Back to real life.

Altuzarra

 



The black pump

Every girl should have a pair of black pumps.  I'm not sure every girl needs nine pairs of black pumps, my current total.  That doesn't count black booties, black flats or black sandals.  The black pump is a wardrobe work horse.  Depending on the style, they can go to the office with pencil skirts, out at night with body con dresses, and out running errands with boyfriend jeans.  They are the wear with almost everything shoe.

Despite having the aforementioned nine pairs, I find myself drawn to yet another.  Behold the Vince Claire choked pump.  Matte leather upper - not suede or patent - with a sexy d'orsay side, a very walkable heel, and my favorite toe style.

A little more foot coverage, great with pants or skirts.  Am I talking myself into buying them?  Oh yes.  Available at Nordstrom, Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and if you fancy the front in hair-on calf, the variation is available at Nordstrom.

The one that got away

We all have something in our shopping careers that has eluded us. Or worse yet, we had it for all too brief a time and made the ill fated decision to return it and regretted it ever since.  It might have been a one of a kind or vintage item that we passed on and when we returned to the shop, it was gone.  Whatever that garment, pair of shoes or accessory was, it has seemingly been swept from the face of the earth and cannot be found anywhere.

My Exhibit A, the Yves Saint Laurent Charlotte pump.  Classic shape, soft leather, charming wood block heel.  From many seasons ago, they are no longer available from any retailer.  The usual resellers like Bonanza and eBay see a pair from time to time.  After much stalking I found a pair in my size, never worn with the original box.  And I forgot to bid.  FORGOT TO BID.  Since then I have never found them again in my size, let alone in such pristine condition.

You rarely regret what you do buy.  You regret what you didn't buy.

The pointy toe flat

Judging by the reaction I get from some of my friends, this is an acquired taste.  What is it about them that keeps drawing me in? 

It started with these, the Jenni Kayne d'orsay flat.

I wear them constantly so needless to say my eye turned to similar pairs. The spring brought these Phillip Lim snakeskin flats, which would be mine if only they'd go on sale in my size. 

The other day I open an email from one of my favorite retailers and there is another must-have pair, available for pre order.  Behold the Miu Miu two tone flat.

 

Do you die?  I think this is a need, not a want.

 

Oh yes, they will be mine.  

We always want what we do not have

Do you ever get obsessed with an article of clothing?  As in, you discover it exists and set about finding it so you can have it yourself, only to find out it's sold out everywhere in your size?  That's when you become officially obsessed.  You stalk links, you call stores in other states, you enlist the aid of your friends.  You might even, ahem, wake up earlier than normal to check the website of a retailer you know updates stock in the wee hours. 

Okay, maybe we're only talking about me here.   

Behold the latest object of my obsession, the Tibi Elsa skirt.  Perfect for summer, no?  It's a knit, it won't wrinkle. Stretchy, yet still made with a zipper and waistband for good fit.  Tapered in, and long enough for tall people and/or those of us who like to wear heels.  With a white blouse for work, with a white tee for weekend, this skirt could do double and triple duty and more than justify the $250.00 price tag.

At first I thought it was a Net-A-Porter exclusive (where it is, of course, sold out).  Tibi doesn't carry it!  Then found it on the site of a tiny e-tailer though not in my size.  I'm usually the same size as the Net-A-Porter model who wore a 2.  The e-tailer had a 4.  I ordered and am anxiously awaiting the package.  Will it be euphoria or crushing disappointment? 

Truthfully, striped pencil skirts are everywhere this spring and if Elsa doesn't work out I'm sure I can find another.  Apparently I always want what I cannot find.