Wicked Whimsy

Posts Tagged ‘shoes’

Vintage shoes are wonderful. You can get a unique shoe that not everyone else will have, usually for a fraction of the price that you’d pay today for shoes of similar quality. However, there are some things you need to watch out for when buying vintage shoes. These include:

• All leather construction. This means the shoes were higher quality to begin with and it generally makes them easier to repair.
• Remember that shoes can be stretched in width, but not in length. If they’re a little narrow, that can probably be fixed. If they’re too short – put ‘em back, ladies!
• Make sure the heel hasn’t been worn down to the metal spike inside. And this is an extra note even for new shoes: don’t walk on them if they’ve born worn down that far! That damages the shoe. Just go in and get your heels re-covered. (I think they’re called heel taps, but I felt stupid saying “get taps put on your heels”.)
• Examine the stitching and the buckles/holes on straps. Loose stitching can be easily fixed, but stretched out or torn holes can’t, really. A missing buckle might be hard to fix too, especially if the strap is an odd size or the buckle a specially made one.
• Look around the seams – the glue might have caused discoloration that’s hard to disguise. I know this from personal experience!
• Look for actual scratches or gouges in the leather – they can’t be disguised as easily as scuffs.
• If the shoe has any suede, examine it carefully – suede is generally more delicate and harder to repair than leather.

That about does it! Because of the varying sizing with older shoes, and the issues noted above (which can be easily disguised by unethical online sellers), I definitely recommend keeping your vintage shoe shopping to in-person. Every once in a while, though, something so awesome comes up that it can’t be passed on – and I get that! So just shop with caution! And goooood luck!

JUMP Brash Booties

I’ve been lusting after these since I saw them on Zoetica. The cut of the boot is super flattering to shorties like me, who don’t want the unfortunate tree-trunk-leg effect, and I know JUMP shoes are well made and comfortable. By the time they went on deep clearance (I think $40?) at the end of last season, my size was gone, but now they’re back – albeit for the original price. Maybe this time I’ll be a little faster and get them on end of season clearance!

Wedges & especially wedge boots seem to be everywhere this season; here’s two of my favorites:

Flashing Lights by Irregular Choice

These ankle boots, for lack of a better term, are gorgeous. I love the stud detailing & the huge heel. I’m not sure if I’d actually buy and wear them, if for no other reason than they seem to be only available through the IC site. Overseas shipping charges + unkind conversion rate = shoes to dream about, but not actually own! Surprisingly, this blogger says they’re comfortable. I had my doubts as I’ve not had very good luck in that area with Irregular Choice shoes in the past, but maybe they’re worth a try-on?

Jeffrey Campbell 99

The JC 99 is much more likely to actually come into my possession (if the stars ever align so that it’s in stock at the same time that I’m NOT broke!). The wedge is much more ankle-friendly at 3.5″ inches with a 1″ platform, and the price is a lot more wallet-friendly at $99. I’ve signed up at Solestruck to be emailed when they’re back in stock in my size – let’s all cross our fingers that’s at an opportune time for me!

With the onset of fall (although it’s beginning to look like fall will never hit Austin!), I always start looking at and lusting over boots. I’m not sure what it is in particular about boots, but they bring out the worst of my shoe fascination. Or the  best of it, if you want to talk about snagging things at a deep discount after obsessively watching them for weeks on end. What’s a girl to do? Obviously, show off all of my current boots wishlist to you, in hopes that you share my love and I feel less like a freak. And then we can all obsess together! Mua ha ha. The totally healthy way to handle things.

Cri de Coeur Jessica

Cri de Coeur shoes are high quality, handmade, and comfortable (aside from being vegan!). I love wrap-around strap details like this pair of booties has – but why are they velvet? Could there be a less practical material to make boots out of, really?! Sigh. With how much I hear it rains in Austin during winter, I’m not sure I can justify picking up a pair. I’ll probably go with their Estelle pump for the same wraparound detail, but in a more practical faux patent. If you live in a drier clime, check out Cow Jones Industrials (cutest store name EVAR) or Endless for a better sale price.

Apepazza Bologna

And Apepazza. You couldn’t come up with a more appealing name for this boot? What made you think of bologna?! Anyways, these boots aren’t cheap, but Apepazza is supposed to be good as far as comfort goes, and I love that they come in gray (plus have the same sort of wrap-around detail as the above booties).

Gee Wawa Larue

These booties are quite possibly the cutest thing ever. Mid-range heel? Check. Cut outs? Check. Beautiful gray shade? Check. Ribbon lacing? Check. Back zip? Check. (That’s another weird detail that always catches my eye.) I’ve never heard of the brand though, so I’m hesitant to spend that much money on a pair of their shoes. This will be a pair that will be obsessively watched with hopes of it going on end-of-season clearance.

Corso Como Gianna

And these. I’m saving for them as we speak/type/read. I actually want the far more practical black leather but they’re styled/shot very unflatteringly in those photos, I have a strong feeling they’ll look much better in person. I was looking for a go-to boot, something I could put on with almost anything and it would look great, that would still be comfortable enough to walk in for several hours. These are it. The heel is walkable (and hello, it’s Corso Como, which means comfy!), the bow adds the perfect touch of feminine elegance, and the drop above the bow elongates the leg . Or I could just say: WANT.

Budget Buys

The boots above too rich for your wallet at the moment? Here’s some super cute pairs that won’t break the bank:

Mossimo Velika

I’ve been looking for a pair of bootie-esque lace up shoes for months. The other day in Borders, I spotted a girl wearing these absolutely adorable shoes. She told me she got them at Target, and voila! Shoes found. They’re all man made materials (don’t look it, though!), but are comfortable and stable, judging from the reviews on the website and my quick walk up and down a few aisles in them. At that price, I’ll be picking one up now and then picking one up when they go on clearance for when the first pair wears out!

Bakers - Buttons

I love these boots. No, the peep toe won’t be practical for all of winter, but aren’t they cute? They’re like a sassy modern take on witchy Victorian boots. The reviews on the site say they’re comfortable, and at $60 (marked down from $90) you can afford to buy some great insoles (Superfeet, ahoy!) even if they aren’t.

Hot Kiss Shai

Last but not least, Shai by Hot Kiss rings in at $50, down from $60. Love the metal detailing.

If you’re looking for something in between, I have you covered too! DSW is not very blogger friendly, so I can’t embed pictures, but the SM Zesst is a super cute slouchy suede bootie that comes in several colors (black, brown, and taupe) and is marked down to $80 from $140. There’s also the Zigi Soho Valance ruffle boot, also in suede. It comes in black, brown, and a rich royal purple – just in case you’re looking for that perfect color accent! It’s $100, which isn’t too bad, especially considering it’s knee high and real suede.

There you have it! All of the boots that have been on my mind over the last few weeks. I feel much better after sharing. So, tell me dear reader, what boots (or shoes) have you been lusting over lately?

Over the past few weeks, Fluevog has been posting their new shoes for fall on the website, and they’ve outdone themselves yet again!

Fluevog Kona

They debuted all kinds of gorgeous boots…the Fluevog Kona, above, is a deliciously wearable mid-calf boot, with saucy back laces and heel detailing. They also come in a gorgeous wine shade.

Fluevog Libby Smith

The Libby Smith boots have spat-style detailing with contrasing faux-buttons, and also come in all black with red buttons, and a very steampunk olive/gray version with blue buttons. Also new in the Bellevue family is the Mattie Silks boot, a knee high boot with buckle detailing.

Fluevog Silverlake

And then there’s the Silverlake. Oh my. I don’t even need to explain this, do I? Let’s all just drool at our screens in unison for a few minutes.

Right. Onward then.

Fluevog Mitte

The heels on these lovelies are a whopping (for me, anyways!) five and a half inches. However, there’s a 1.5″ platform up front which should even things out a bit – I’d love to try these on, to see how they fit if nothing else.

Fluevog Sumatra

The Sumatras not only have a dashing two-tone look, they make me think of a 50′s glamour gal gone rogue. Very Bettie Page. I love the miniature laces, the pointed toe, the textured leather…insert dreamy sigh here.

Pearl Hart

Pearl Hart offers another great addition to the Bellevue family, with a twist on the classic mary jane shape. And it also comes in wine with black accents, or olive with gray accents.

Fluevog Vibe

And the newest addition to the Body Parts family, the Vibe. I think I would have to see these in person (in shoeson?) to reach a final verdict on them; I would either absolutely love them or absolutely not. I do have to agree with Jaka that a version with a black heel would be fab! The Body Parts pump has that color scheme available, so maybe there’s hope?

I love so many of them, it’s hard to pick which one or two pairs I might buy! Lots of olive and burgundy/wine, which are great autumn shades (although they don’t fit into my wardrobe palette particuarly well).

What do you think of the new ‘Vogs?

Right now, Heels.com is running a promotion for $20 off any order of $50 or more. I’m abstaining from shoes for a while* because, well, the rest of my wardrobe is getting mad at me for not paying attention to it, but I thought I’d pass the good news on to you and show you some of my favorites from the site:

Betseyville Olivet $94.99 $74.99 with code

I love these! They’re sort of like the Fluevog Haights, but with more of a rocker-girl edge.

Dollhouse Rembrandt $76.99 $69.99 on sale $49.99 with code

Nothing like classic wingtip detailing with a pop of color.

Charles by Charles David Gazelle $154.99 $139.99 with code

And these…these are just awesome. Cage-esque without being over the top, and as always, I’m a sucker for metal detailing.

The code to use to get the $20 off is happy20 and it’s valid until the twenty-third. Happy shopping!

*I’m keeping the definition of a while loose because I honestly don’t know how long I can go without buying shoes. Probably like, a month. Maybe two. I’ll let you know how long it lasts, ha!

So, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that every time I discover a new brand or find a shoe I like, I should immediately search for it on Amazon. Frequently the better price will be somewhere else, but just as frequently, Amazon has a rock-bottom price. Another tip: It’s definitely worth watching the item for a few weeks to see how the price fluctuates; generally they get marked down for a week or two, go back up (but not to full price – just $10-30 higher than the original sale price) for a week, and then prices plummet. Something like that is what’s apparently happened with the Fluevog shoes at Amazon…check these prices out! (disclaimer: affiliate links ahead!)

John Fluevog Parker $244.95 $36.74 in black

John Fluevog Erika $234.95 $107.01 (or $75.18 in Cappuchino/Ivory, or $112.29 in Cobalt/Cappuchino)

I hear spectator flats are supposed to be big for fall, now your chance to pick some up!

John Fluevog Helen $258.95 $38.84

John Fluevog Audrey $248.95 $79.66

And the pièce de résistance…

John Fluevog Body Part $358.95 $114.86

There are, of course, others as well; click this link for all of them. If I were you, I’d check out your favorite shoe brands too; I noticed some Irregular Choice shoes for super low prices too. AND, on several shoes, there’s a promotion going where if the purchase is over $80, $20 is automatically taken off. Happy shopping!

I thought I would share the news, for those of you that aren’t following Savvy Circle on Twitter and/or may have missed the announcement yesterday that the promo code SALE can be used until the end of this month on already on sale items at Shoes.Com for an additional 20% off! Pretty neat, no? Here’s what caught my eye:

Dr. Scholl's Kitten - originally $71, $39.76 after code

I LOVE these. I’m worried they might look a little cheap in person (faux-patent is always tricky) – but…free returns, right? Dr. Scholl’s has some surprisingly cute stuff; I would have thought most of their designs would be ugly and clunky, for some reason. There are definitely some misses (the Dance looks like the unholy spawn of Crocs and 70′s clogs, amirite?) but there are other cute shoes too; I really like the Diefy. Plus – you know it has to be comfy, look at the maker!

Seychelles Bad Mama Jama - originally $91.99, $59.19 after code

This one is for Elle and her recent “whedgle” obsession!

Naughty Monkey Space Invaders - originally $96.99, $69.59 after code

I keep hearing raves about how comfortable Naughty Monkey is, I’ve been dying to pick up a pair! Also on sale in black.

Naughty Monkey Walk the Talk - originally $91.99, $59.19 after code

Great pop of color for summer, and I love the hardware accents!

VIA SPIGA Petra - originally $217, $87.68 after code

One word: Fierce. And check out the savings – about $130 off!

Also, remember the $3 graphic tee sale Old Navy had several weeks ago? Apparently this weekend is a similar sale, only with $2 tank tops. I’ll be searching out my local Old Navy! Who says updating your wardrobe for summer should be expensive, hmm?!

Update: I also just got an email from DSW with the code “SUMMERLUV” for $10 off a $49+ purchase; valid until the 22nd!

I am not so hot right now, as Alicia and I went to take a few photos, in which I was wearing my new shoes shown below. As it turns out, jumping around in near-four-inch heels is NOT a good idea – I took a nasty tumble and my ankle started swelling almost immediately. Urgh. So now it is propped up with ice on top of it. Anyways…

Sorry for the up-the-nose shot! New Corso Como mary janes, Target leggings, vintage ’60s dress! I wouldn’t have normally been wearing the leggings – but my maternal grandpa was at my sister’s high school graduation (the occasion for being all gussied up!). I would not do this for anyone else in the world probably, but my if I don’t cover my hair and tattoos around him, my poor grandma hears it for ages. She doesn’t care about them  but he is a wee little bit more stodgy and conservative! I was wearing a wig – took a picture of it on for kicks and giggles but the picture turned out terrible, so no posting of it. I felt like I was going undercover on a top secret mission! Their fiftieth anniversary was yesterday and we were out there for it; I meant to take some pictures of the pretty landscape (and the place where their barn used to be, until the storm a few weeks ago), but alas, all I got was this picture of my sister, Scooter (her dog – the blue beagle), and George (my mom’s new Cavalier Spaniel puppy, who is the CUTEST. THING. EVER.).

Am I right?!

Speaking of vintage…I am pretty excited about a soon to come feature of Decline Designs! I’ve been not so much talking about it, because I am superstitious and afraid of jinxing it, ha. But, when we get to Austin, I’m hoping to be mostly self-employed – selling vintage + my handmade items on the weekends; either getting a part time job or working freelance as a seamstress during the week. I’ve been stocking up for a few weeks and the vintage dress above was in one of the lots I bought. The vintage stuff will also be online, of course. I’m not trying to compete with anyone else, selling off-line will be my focus – but I’m really excited about it! I’m also going to make a concentrated effort to find cute vintage clothes in the larger sizes – I’m a size 8 or 10 and I have a HELL of a time finding things in my size so I can’t imagine how someone who is a true plus-size chick who wants to find cute vintage clothes feels! So; watch for that. I think I will probably just be listing them on the website itself; I don’t know if Artfire lets its members do vintage, but I’ll probably double-check.

I have some great (or, I think they’re great, I hope you’ll think so too!) posts lined up for this week, I’m not sure how much I’ll be posting next week – next Sunday is the day we’re doing the drive down to Austin, and hopefully we’ll be able to get the internet set up ASAP but I’m not 100% for sure. At any rate, I hope you all had a fabulous weekend and have a good Memorial Day!

DIY’d tank, vintage ring and necklace, Elie Tahari skirt, Fluevog shoes (told you they look cuter on!)

Yup, I need to paint my toenails! They’re really comfy too, as far as the height goes – the leather around the toes needs stretched out a bit.

I’m excited about this week – have a lot of great stuff for the Marvelous Monday post tomorrow and I’m gearing up for the start of a new series Stay tuned!!