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...

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:

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?

running around

So, I recently started jogging and I'm pretty excited about it.  I'd tried it before, years ago, and failed miserably, always feeling like I was on death's door after just 15 minutes.  But the other day, I don't know what came over me, I just got up and went for a jog.  And I absolutely loved it.  I survived a good 30 minutes, which seemed miraculous to me, and since then have even lengthened my route.  Honestly, I didn't even know there was that much green in downtown Madrid!  I mean, yes, we have the Retiro, but I'd never really explored the area around the Templo de Debod and the Parque del Oeste.  It's absolutely gorgeous over there, and so close to home!  Again, as you can tell, I'm really giddy about this whole new world that's opening up to me.  And of course, the shopping that goes along with it.  Because clearly I need to buy some new shoes.

I think I'm going to go to a specialized running store here in Madrid and have my feet checked out and have them do a gait analysis, which is funny to me because as a total beginner I think, I don't even have a gait yet!  But of course I do, we all do.  And I definitely want to be as kind to my body as possible on this adventure.  So, for all you runners out there, serious and casual alike, how did you choose your shoes?  Which ones do you wear?  How much do you run?  How long have you been doing it?  Any tips you want to share?

images from geodistance and zappos

sneakers

I have two pairs of sneakers right now.  My munich and my chuckies.  I love them both so very much.

But recently I've been thinking maybe it's time for a new pair.  A different shape maybe, a different air.

Some options after the jump...

maggie i think i've got something to say to you

I ordered these Frye Maggies and am currently wearing them around the house.  Do I keep them?  Do I not?  I am indecision personified.  So I'm taking a poll.

If you've been following me at all the past month or so you know I've been obsessed with finding a nude oxford (see here).  These happen to be the most perfect shade ever, (yeah, I'm that pale), like the slightly peachy crayola crayon of me.  I also love that it has a higher heel than most oxfords; this boot heel is the most comfortable and flattering, in my opinion.  As far as I can tell from walking around in circles in my living room, these shoes are very comfortable.  My mama, however, thinks the upturned toe is hideous, and the proportions are all off.  She is my best shopping partner and I get confused when we don't agree.  I'm not seeing clearly anymore, so I ask you, dear readers, what do you think?  Cool bootie nude oxfords with a twist or badly made ugly disproportionate grandma shoes?

oxford mania continues

I warned you there might be more...

moma at gravity pope

These guys don't come in the nude I was originally searching for, but sometimes when shopping with a mission you run into things that you didn't know you wanted.  Until you ran into them.  And then you're stuck obsessing.  About yet another thing...

objects in mirror at gravity pope

Take these woven oxfords for example; I never even knew such a thing existed, let alone that I had to have them.  And now I know both these facts to be true.  More superfluous but super tempting oxfords after the jump...

bone toned

churchs burwood at gravity pope

I have a new mission in life: find the perfect off-white oxfords.  They have to be substantial, have at least the teeniest bit of heel, and be some shade of pale (bone, taupe, rosy, nude, any of these will do).  And they have to be comfortable.   It's a tall order, I know, but lucky for me there's lots of options out there.  Here's my current list of contenders, with the high-end ones here, and the more affordable options after the jump.  First, the wingtips:

Fratelli Rosetti, DSquared2 at zappos

A few two-toned options:

 Gravati, DSquared2 at zappos

Something simpler:

to&co at gravity pope

and some options under $200 (and a few under$100) after the jump...

a care package

The other day I got a care package!  I almost never get any mail at all, literally.  I could go weeks without opening my mailbox and I would only have flyers from Pizza Hut and the chinese place up the street, so a package from my loving mama in Wisconsin was above and beyond what I could hope for.  I was giddy like a little girl.  Inside I found my much sought after mesh Chuckies, gifted to me last christmas by my step-cousin-in-law (complicated family tree) and then sadly left behind in the packing madness that always defines january for me.  I actually fell in love with these shoes here in Madrid last summer, but of course I couldn't buy them because they cost 70 euros, which is over $100.  A hundred dollars!  That is insane.  At zappos they're $40.  So anyway, I had to wait, but it was well worth it.  They're plastic mesh, but all those little holes make them super breathable, and I love the lacelessness of them too.  And now they are finally mine!

Also in my package was a new T by Alexander Wang tank top.  I bought one this winter and fell madly in love with it, so when my mama saw it in this beautiful heathered blue deeply discounted at the outnet, she snapped it up for me. 

Seriously, what could be better?  Now if the sun would just come back out so I could wear the stuff...

hooray for zappos

See by Chloe clogs

No, I promise, this is not another post about clogs.  (Though I can't promise there won't be another one at some point).  This is about a great zappos moment I recently had.  I bought a pair of boots back in december and then decided I wanted to return them (hooray for the zappos return policy!), but then life got hectic and things got put off, and so they only just got shipped back a few weeks ago.  Then last week I looked into it and UPS was posting delivery completed, but there was no sign of my refund.  So I sent zappos a friendly email asking what steps I need to take to get my money back, assuming it'd involve UPS tracking codes and multiple emails and faxes and who knows what other headaches.  Two days later I got an email saying So sorry for the inconvenience, sometimes things get misplaced in the warehouse, we have refunded your credit card and here's $15 off your next purchase.  I was flabbergasted!  Talk about customer service!  So of course I headed straight to their website to see how I could put my coupon to good use.  Somehow I ended up in the couture section, and got distracted for ridiculous amounts of time looking at shoes I will never actually buy.  This is what I found.

From top to bottom, left to right: Michael Kors, Robert Clergerie, Elizabeth and James, KORS Michael Kors, L.A.M.B.,  DSquared2

You may have noticed that most of these wedges are insanely high.  Well yes, they are, and no, I don't actually wear anything that high.  Give me a break!  I walk everywhere, every day, and most days I have to get where I'm going over cobblestone streets.  Cobblestones + towering high wedges = either death or a nervous ostrich walk, neither of which I have the time for.  But I still can admire these for the works of art they are.  Don't you love the details we're getting on the backs of the heels?