posted by Jo Frances on December 27, 2012 10:04 pm
Oooh boy, do I agree with this recommendation! Tall boots never fail. You can wear them with a slim maxi skirt, or tuck jeans or leggings into them---they don't just make a look, they ARE the look.
Which means that I have to be really picky about the boots I buy. Everyone notices the boots you're wearing, so the heels can't be too high, or too low; they can't be too pointy or rounded, and you can't have too many buckles or straps on them because instead of just wearing "boots", you're wearing those-pointy-boots-with-all-those-buckles. And everyone in the office remembers you wore them last Tuesday. Anyway, I guess the word I'm looking for is...neutral. If your budget and closet allows, you can go crazy with low, high and over the knee boots. But for closet basics, I'd get just two: a black one and a cognac or caramel colored pair with a two inch heel.
posted by Jo Frances on October 29, 2012 3:43 pm
It's that time of year, and boot weather is here...
posted by Jo Frances on October 21, 2012 8:26 am
It's time to start thinking about the holidays...as in what am I going to wear, and what shoes will go with it?
Black has always been a stand-by, but unless you're wearing a black dress, it can look...old. Meanwhile, conventional (fashion) wisdom says that matching your shoes to your purse to your dress is a huge fashion don't. But adding color to your outfit through shoes is a big fashion do---think contrast or colors in the same color family.
For tips on pairing, look at pictures of actresses at the Oscars or the Golden Globes. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions. (Most of the shoes come in other colors, including neutrals, so if you find a style you like, click through for other options.)
posted by Jo Frances on September 4, 2012 11:59 pm
From the Lucky magazine article, "10 Wardrobe Staples you didn't know you needed": smoking slippers instead of ballet flats.
If you're like me and consider ballet flats more or less the perfect shoe, changing to smoking slippers may seem like a fashion step backward. But! These shoes look really good with cuffed or boyfriend-style jeans; better even than ballet flats. I think the fact that this style covers more of the top part of your foot, makes it more flattering for styles where your focus just naturally goes towards the shoes.
posted by Jo Frances on August 16, 2012 8:33 am
I'm a big fan of the Duchess of Cambridge. Not because of the fairy tale aspects of her life (ok, maybe a little) but because she makes the clothes available to the rest of us look so good! Here are the black raffia wedges she wore throughout the summer, and more recently, to Olympics events.
L.K. Bennett 'Maddox' Wedge Pump
posted by Jo Frances on July 2, 2012 11:35 am
The cliche of womens need to own lots of shoes has some basis in practicality too. We need shoes that we can walk in, work in AND look good in. Which, as any woman can tell you, is often a contradiction. There's also the combining of trends and seasonality. We end up losing half our shoe wardrobe when we switch out boots and loafers for sandals and flip flops.
So when I find a pair of shoes that can serve a variety of functions, I feel as if I've just found an 80% off coupon at my favorite store. This shoe from Sperry combines the functionality of a flat with the summer/preppy style of an espadrille. It comes in a variety of colors shown here, and best of all is under $50!
posted by Jo Frances on May 28, 2012 9:31 am
Most of us still remember the old rule of matching our shoes to our purses. (Which may explain the enduring popularity of black purses...) These days, however, coordinating an outfit by pairing similar styles, seasons and textures is the norm. Color is still important, but the goal is to choose colors that are complimentary instead of exact.
posted by Jo Frances on May 8, 2012 8:40 pm
Not too tall, not too casual and not too bare, these shoes are just right for summer.
