esquina

What.  I'm sorry, are you the boots I didn't even know I needed but now I can think of nothing else?  Yeah, I thought so.  A true hybrid, these little ankle booties are part western, part victorian lace-up, part moto, part dessert, part dainty and part bad-ass.  I think I'm in love.

The Esquina booties from Freebird by Steven.  Have I been under a rock that I'd never heard of this Freebird line before?  Some really good stuff here.  Oh, and these come in distressed bleach-splattered black too...

unexpected florals

File these shoes under Will Never Be Mine.  First, because they're for men.  Second, because they're from Dolce & Gabbana and cost 700 euros.  No matter though, I can just admire this work of art from afar.  Yes, those flowers are actually cross-stitched directly onto the suede brogue.  No appliques or trompe l'oeil here.

More eye candy...

see through

glasses - booth & bruce / lipstick - maybelline / shirt - zara (old) / tank - h&m (old)  / bralette - gap / pants - gap / boots - dv

Sort of been living in this simple uniform of a sheer tank and cropped pants with an army shirt over the top for the cooler mornings (yes, autumn is coming!).   I don't usually do sheer, but this feels somehow safe in spite of the translucency.  It's a question of balance I think.  As usual in my outfit posts, a lot of these items are from years gone by and no longer available, but here are the details for the ones that are and some alternatives for the ones that aren't...

one, two, buckle my shoe

Some might call me boot obsessed, but that's ok, I can deal with that.  Meet my newest addition to the family.  I had mixed feelings about being suckered into such blatent knock-off-land, but then I realized that these holey shoes and boots have simply become a new part of the global sartorial vocabulary.  Yes, Balenciaga, you did them first.  But you did such a good job that everyone wanted a piece of it, and now we all (kind of) can.  I'm beyond excited about the pair that I snagged. I think they're perfectly balanced: just the right amount of tough and streamlined with the perfect little lift at the heel.

More on my holey boots...

vince

It was about a year ago that I posted those surreal sweaterscapes I'm so partial to and extolled the virtues of Vince knitwear.  Season after season they manage to just keep churning out high quality knits in totally covetable designs.  (And they last!  All of my Vince sweaters look impeccable even after years of constant use.)  But as much as I loved them, I was kind of convinced that was all they did and never paid much attention to the rest of their goods.  Until now.  So many good things on hand, like pony hair sneakers and oversized military coats:

And also t-shirts, leather jackets, silk shirts, and yes, of course, knits...

still summer

I'm on sort of a spending diet lately, saving up for some big expenses on the horizon, but of course that doesn't stop me from fantasy shopping.  Problem is, all my fantasy shopping leans towards fall: layered sweaters and button-down shirts, long pants, lace-up shoes...  You'd think that since this is just hypothetical shopping we're talking about, it wouldn't matter, but it conditions me to crave certain things, and then to be disappointed when I can't actually wear them.  So today I felt the need to remind myself of something pretty important: It's still summer.  You'd think I'd have no trouble remembering, since it hasn't dipped below the 90s here in over a month, but I still find myself looking wistfully at my favorite long sleeve garments thinking that maybe a light breeze will necessitate an extra layer sometime soon.  Not gonna happen.  And really, that's not a bad thing, you just have to embrace it for all that it is.

So just as a reminder, some fabulous summery things to covet...

cut it out

mk and rumi in balenciaga

Remember these?  That was over two years ago, and those damn Balenciaga cutouts still look so good to me.  Time passes though, and since then everyone else has been getting in on the game too.  I, for one, am pretty happy about it.  I know it's a little early to be looking at anything other than flip flops in this heat, but I am already starting to yearn for days when I can wear actual shoes.  But maybe they need to be shoes with holes in them, for built-in ventilation.

minimarket oxfords

So many good options out there right now, so many styles to choose from...

greenwich vintage co.

Beautiful, modern, quirky, traditional, handcrafted, and totally customizable, all at the same time.  These are the shoes birthed by master cobbler Tamas “Zen” Pomazi under the label Greenwich Vintage Co, based in Waconia Minnesota.  You can order a pair built-to-order with their seemingly endless menu of options (mid-sole color, sole color, sole shape, fabric inserts...), or send them an old pair of quality shoes or boots of your own and have them revamped however you wish.

More awesome shoe re-design... 

alpargatas

Before leaving Spain I picked up a pair of espadrilles at my neighborhood alpargatería.  That's where they make espadrilles and other woven items like baskets for your donkey or fishing nets.  In downtown Madrid.  I love that this is still going on in the heart of the city.  And I love that folks will line up for hours (literally) when spring hits, waiting their turn to get their shoes for the summer.  And most of all, I love these alpargatas.

Details...

colors & textures

image sources available on pinterest

Every once in a while I like to share some of my recent pins, in case you're not following me yet over on pinterest.  Pinterest is one online addiction that I think is truly good for me.  In the midst of even my most hectic days, it slows me down, refills my creativity, floods my senses with colors, textures, tastes, and travels, all from the comfort of my laptop.  Are you addicted? Are we following each other yet?

(ps - if you're on other social media platforms as well, so am I! Twitter here, and facebook here.  Just saying.)

l'f unisex

Sturdy, comfortable, slightly ironic and extremely joyous oxfords for both him and her (read: me) in a rainbow of delectable colors.  No laces.  No tongues.  Vibram soles.  Truly unisex, italian-made shoes from designers Licia Florio and Francio Ferrari of  L'F Unisex.   I'm totally sold.

And how great do they look in action? Love how the tonguelessness (it's word. trust me.) gives an extra peek of sock or skin.  Just think of the possibilities!

And so many more color combinations...

unsneaky sneaks

Yeah, those are my feet, in the funnest, most outrageous sneakers I've ever seen.

What was I thinking...?

black bootie

Yes my friends, this is for real.  I alluded to it before, and it's been a long time in the works, but The Great Black Boot Experiment of 2012 is finally finished, and the results are in.  I researched hundreds (pretty sure I'm not exaggerating here) of black ankle boots, narrowed it down to 8 candidates, and after careful scientific analysis, have made my decision.

I'm sure you're dying to know all the gory details...

dear santa

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Sometimes shopping for others leads to certain, ahem, distractions.  So in the process of putting together my gift guides and getting my christmas shopping done, I've come up with a little wishlist for myself.  These are the things, great and small, that would make me extremely happy to find under the proverbial tree this year.  Hope Santa reads my blog. 

The details...

everly

Jeffrey Campbell has gone and done it again.  I never did get those Balenciaga-esque Rocoe cutout boots and to be honest I'm glad; they're looking pretty clunky to me now.  This slick streamlined Everyly cutout boot, on the other hand, is looking just right. 

Available for pre-order now at Acrimony.

hasbeens frenzy

Here's my confession: Even though I'm a very good (read: compulsive) shopper and researcher, I crack under pressure.  I'm the kind of gal who finds something absolutely perfect,  searches online to see if I can find a better and/or cheaper version, and then goes back to visit it in the store three times to see if I still feel the love.  I do not like to be rushed.  So sites like Gilt and MyHabit really really stress me out.  Even more so when they have something I really really want.

Case in point: these Swedish Hasbeens lace-up boots I've been coveting for literally years now.  Crazy ridiculously surreally reduced at MyHabit.  But, do I want them in black or do I want them in nude?  And while we're at it, it seems like the higher heeled version is also deeply discounted, maybe I want those instead?

Cue panic.  Cue frenzied googling.  Cue paralysis.  Cue my shopping nightmare, where the clock is ticking down like an episode of 24 and everything you want is on the line but if you make the wrong decision the world will explode.  Or something like that.  (More likely all you out there who are not afflicted will go and snatch up the last pairs before I actually decide.)

So?  What's a girl to do?  What would you do?  Any of you out there own these lace-up boots?  Which heel height did you go with?  Are they comfortable?  Advice please!  And quick!

ps - these cute clog loafers are also on sale, in case this wasn't already difficult enough.

counting sheep

I am smitten with this cozy sheep sweater from Oysho.  I'm not usually a fan of cutesie animal prints, but this one got me.  Also love the boyish boxy shape, I think it would be perfect for layering over a button-down (with a pop of color on the lips)

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A few more greys from what is easily one of my favorite spanish fast-fashion labels...

sukita

I swear I am not here to bore you with yet another post on the wedge sneaker.  Isabel Marant started what I'm sure we all thought was going to be a fleeting trend, and it has stuck.  In the weirdest way.  I contemplated it for a minute, but quickly discovered (after trying a pair of the originals as well as a pair by Marc Jacobs) that these are best left to lanky teenage model types.  And despite the fact that they are now everywhere, and available in all price ranges, I have resisted.   Have not even felt the least bit tempted.  Until now.  Yohji Yamamoto has created a version in the Y-3 Sukita that I am almost sure I need.

Check it out:

leather and lace

While everyone else seems to be putting studs on their oxfords (not that I'm against it, I'm actually loving these, these and these), Valentino went a little softer for something that is totally unexpected.  A little tongue-in-cheek, these laser-cut patent leather lace applique brogues play on the feminine/masculine duality in the most charming way.  If I had the money to spare I would put these in my everyday rotation for sure.

woven

I've talked about black sneakers here before, and it seems such a simple thing you'd thing I'd have taken care of that basic need by now.  Alas, I have not.  And while I still have my eye on those classic New Balance 501s, I'm obviously still a little ambivalent.  What can I say, I have a wandering eye.  And it has wandered to these soon-to-be-released Nike Free Inneva Woven kicks.  Very very cool.

all images from slamxhype

Do you do sneakers?  Other than Converse, I mean.  Which ones are your favorites to wear outside the gym?