Downsizing

Downsizing

For the majority of people, downsizing is a dreadful word. It means that there is a change that is about to happen, and at some point, make you uncomfortable. I have decided to downsize. My downsizing is voluntary and much needed…….. I am getting rid of some of my shoes. Now if you know me, you know I love shoes. Heck, everything I talk about here is about shoes.  However, my focus is no longer on quantity. Currently, I have close to 150 pairs of shoes. That number has gone up and down as I have moved a few times in the past 5 years.

 Recently, I made a purchase that has inspired the downsize. It was a pair of All Stars. Or Chuck Taylors. Whatever you want to call them. I got laughed at for calling them All Stars. Whatevs. I digress. 

My Chucks, they’re classic. All white, red stripe. So simple and clean. By far one of my favorite pairs of shoes to throw on this summer. They got me thinking how easy and simple a good pair of shoes are. Well,….here was my exact though process…

Wow I love these shoes

Damn I have a lot of shoes, and who would have thought I have worn these 3 days in a row.

Well you do have to put APB’s on shoes in your closet E

I have too many shoes

I only want 50 pairs of shoes

10 flats, 10 sneakers/sneaker wedges, 30 pairs of heels

Do I own 10 pairs of flats?

Wait, what about sandals? I have a few pairs of those, are those flats?

I’ll work out the numbers later, but 50 sounds good, maybe 60 and flat sandals get their own category

Oh, I should blog about this.

So there it is. The shoes that it all.  So this weekend, I will be downsizing. I’ll let you know what the final verdicts are, which shoes made the cut and why, and rearranging them for the upcoming season change. 

Leopard as a Neutral

If you know me, you know that I have mad love for leopard print. I can't get enough of the print. (although, I do know when to say when)

I saw this on Pinterest the other day,

and it got me thinking....this print has become so popular among designers and fashionistas everywhere, it IS a neutral.

 

Typically, a neutral is a color such as black, white, nude, or grey. There are no rules when it comes to wearing a neutral shoe. They are the basics when choosing a shoe.

 

In the past, leopard was worn with all solid colors, or it was outfitted (http://shoes-with-a-view.blogspot.com/2012/08/outfitters.html). Now, it is worn as a base color right along with black. (dare I say Leopard is the new black?!?!)

 

 

Here is how I would wear a Leopard shoe. I wore this to work last week. Even though I wore a lot of solid colors, I broke it up with the striped V-neck shirt.

 

(I look way to excited in this picture hahaha)

Shoes: Paper Fox for Shoedazzle

Blazer: Vince Camuto-Dillards

Pants: MNG- JC Penny

Tee: Merona-Target

Belt: Windsor

 



What is Fall without a cute Bootie!?

It is officially Fall!

 ::cues leaves falling, lights pumpkin candle::

If you live in Florida like myself, then it still feels a little like the summer still. But not to worry! That weather is changing, and so should your wardrobe. Besides my Cognac peep toe pump and  my Royal blue barely there sandals, my fall arsenal also includes a fly pair of booties.

A bootie is a boot, just a little less. Typically booties stop at the ankle, or go just right above the ankle. Booties come in all shapes and styles. They can be peep top ( like pictured below), round toe, strappy, laser cut, classic pointed toe, or the latest trend of bootie, laced up.

Booties are  fall must have. The weather is still not cool enough for a full boot, but just enough where your foot could use more coverage.

Pictured: Black Leather Laser Cut Bootie

Vince Camuto

Purchased at Dillards



Pictured: Jeweled Lace up Bootie

Steve Madden

 

 

Pictured: Amantra

Shoedazzle.com

These are a fave of mine from 2 Fall seasons ago. Oldies but goodies.

 

 

 

Another Fall Fave!

Apt 9 Suede lace-up, peep toe bootie

Nine West

 

 

SO if you haven't already, get some bootie this fall!

 

#Shoeswithaview on Instagram and Twitter so I can see your booties!

 



Who doesn't like a little Cognac in the Fall?

Cognac happens to be one of Pantones fall 2014 colors, but it is all around a staple fall color.

When you think of Cognac, you think dark, rich, and smooth. The same things goes for me when I think of a shoe of the same color. I seek this shade every year, without fail, for a fall staple.

Cognac also serves as a fall nude shoe, or even a nude shoe for those of us with darker skin.

With Cognac, you can't go wrong. There are no rules when choosing a style of shoe. I have a certain respect for the seasons, so I would look for a leather look, or something with a suede texture, as I did in the picture above.

Happy Shopping
::sips real Cognac::

Shoes: Chinese Laundry
Skirt: Pantone Misted yellow...Thrifted
Top: Nordstrom Rack

Goodbye Summer...

...Hello Fall. Well, almost. You still have a few weeks of summer left, but the dog days are behind us. It is time to gear up that closet for your fall transition wear. Time to put away those gladiators and  jeweled sandals, and bring out the barely there's 2.0.


The 2.0 model is just a better, more seasonally-appropriate version of the barely there for the fall/winter months.


The barey there sandal ruled the summer. This shoe was everywhere and on everyone. Everyones favorite female celebrity has been seen this summer in a pair of these....and 9 times out of 10 it was nude.
They have been around for years, but for some reason in 2014, they decided to make their comeback....and thank goodness. There is nothing like a single-sole shoe....but I digress. This shoe will remain a staple in my fall closet, however, there are some things to look for when switching it up for the season.

1.Opt for a bold color. This summer, the nude barely there sandal ran the world. I went with everything, yet you barely noticed its sexiness. This fall, go for a bold color. I have picked one of Pantone's fall 2014 colors for mine; Royal Blue.

::See here for Panton's fall colors, it will make a lot more of what I'm going to be saying going forward:: http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr/?season=fall&year=2014&from=hpfeatures

2.Thicker straps. Think about it, it is the fall. The weather is cooler, cover that foot up. (just a tad)
The thicker strap is more fall appropriate to wear with your fall sweaters, your favorite flannel, or cardigans.

3.Texture. cooler weather equates to texture. Look for a suede, velvet, or leather look for your barely there.

 

This shoe is a Royal Blue Suede Barely there sandal. Purchased from Shoedazzle.com

All That Glitters

...should be worn NOW!

I would like to start by first saying that the premier of the movie Sparkle was my inspiration for this next fall favorite.  I haven’t actually seen the movie;  My thought process stopped when I heard the name of the film. Sparkle, ohhh. Glitter. Glitter shoes. I’m going to incorporate glitter shoes into my fall wardrobe. Yes. Go me.
Yes, that was my thought process. 
Normally, I reserve rockin’ my glitter shoes for the holidays, December to be exact, but why not incorporate that sparkle earlier than usual. Glitter shoes are pretty much a necessity for every woman; you should have at least one pair of shoes in your possession. Again, because I’m OOC, I have a few.
Glitter shoes give you chance to bring your inner Glam out for no reason.  Now, wearing a glitter shoe isn’t that difficult when trying to incorporate it into your everyday wear. All Glitter is are tiny pieces of different metals like aluminum and iron painted metallic to be reflective. The fact that it is reflective works to your advantage, use the different colors your glitter shoe reflects and match it up. A multicolor Glitter shoe is by far the best to play with when it comes to incorporating into your wardrobe and can be worn with so much.

This Louboutin can be worn with Indigos, Reds, emerald green, black...the list goes on...
 The most common color for glitter shoes are gold. Treat the gold like your nude shoe when trying to place it with a particular outfit. Remember, nude comes in different shades, so choose according to the color gold in your glitter.

          These Stella McCartney's are giving me everything I need right now in a glitter shoe.

These are my go-to for glitter shoes. I'll be quick to throw these on with some dark denim.

This season will be a good one to find booties in Glitter as well. 
Have a bold, Jewel tone glitter shoe? Match it just like you would your normal jewel tone shoe.

 

Black

 

Pewter/Silver

This is also a good way to get more use out of that shoe you wore to your best friends wedding (see above) I wore these in Cynthia's wedding :) but I also wore them to work with some black cigarette leg pants and a blazer.

 

 I mean….the term glitter is slang for superficial Glamour. Get Glam girl and show them what you got! Glitter shoes command attention. Wear a pair to work one day and see the reactions and comments you get. (if you are doing it right, that is). The key with wearing it right is to keep everything else in your outfit neutral. Not color wise, but be careful with certain patterns and textures with glitter shoes. The glitter is already adding texture and a different color element to the outfit.
I will advise to please, please, PLEASE choose your glitter shoe carefully, because of the sparkle, it’s not hard to look a hot, tacky mess. Glitter and Glitter don’t mix. so just because your shirt has glitter on it, doesn’t mean this is the opportunity to wear your glitter shoes. No, put them down. You are not in elementary school.

Oh, I know there was a movie called Glitter, but because I love Mariah Carey, I try not to think of that movie.
With all that being said, Go sparkle baby

@beauty84brains
@ShoesWithAView

Sneaker Wedges

Sneaker Wedges
Isabel Morant started it. Now, Giuseppe Zanotti is doing it. Marc Jacobs is doing it. Jeffery Campbell is doing it. Steve Madden is doing it. Hell, even Nike is doing it. What is it that all of these well-known designers (and plenty of others not as well known) are doing you ask? They are all producing 2012’s biggest shoe trend; the Sneaker wedge.
Isabel Morant was dubbed the Queen of casual cool by Lucky Magazine, and one look of the “willow” and you will see why.

                                                Beyonce in an all black pair of Willow's
                                                          In the "Love on Top" Video

The wedge heel keeps your outfit casual, with just the right amount of cool to keep you looking fab. ::I swear Morant snuck into my dreams, mind freaked me, and created a pair of shoes that I have always dreamed about, and birthed the uber-trendy Willow.
Now, I’m not big on trends and Trendy shoes. If you look at the shoes I own, they are pretty much your basic styles. That is because good style never goes out of fashion.  I NEVER owned Melissas, I never owned any of the “sneaker heels” (y’all remember from around 2002 ish), and I don’t own a pair of, nor do I plan on making a purchase, of the Heel-less heels (although those are pretty dope). The fact of the matter is that they are all too trendy for me. If that’s your thing, like I always say “Do you Boo”. If you know me, I’m not a sneakers kind of chick. I own a single pair, and I work out in them. Sad. The story changed when I saw the sneaker Wedges. God literally answered my prayers with this one.
Now….these are not to be confused with the Nike and Jordan heels that spam your facebook walls,…. not only do those not exist…they are hideous.

The REAL Nike Heels-Dunks-Sky Hi Floral

*These were supposed to be my first pair, but they have been on backorder for over a month @ Nordy's. (Nordstrom)

 First of all, a sneaker and a “stiletto” heel do not mix. The point is to have a sneaker that still looks like a sneaker, with a more feminine edge to it. (Sneaker + Feminine Edge = Sneaker Wedge)A wedge is a perfect fit for the sneaker. Sneakers are meant for comfort and easy walking, and wedges, our gateway heel, give the wearer more balance by evenly distributing your weight when walking. They come in all sorts of styles and fabrics, so even though they are a trendy shoe, you can still fit it into your personal style. Typically, the heel is a 3’’ wedge, so you aren’t really high up. The sneaker wedge comes either with a hidden wedge,

                                                   
                                                       Hidden wedge in Suede
 or a visible wedge,

                                                   Visible wedge in Leather

... all to your preference (I prefer the wedge to be hidden; it gives the appearance of a more unified shoe and a more sneaker-like look. This shoe has received  lot of mixed reviews. They range from being absolutely fabulous and innovative, to being pointless, to downright ugly. I sincerely believe of all of the trends out there, this is the one that the masses can pull off. No matter what your shoe size (Vanessa), or your height, or your comfort level with high heels. This trend has it all.

Well Isabel Morant, ….I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your creation ::round of applause::  However, the $755 price tag is another story. I can’t fade it, and because I stay in my lane, I purchased the Steve Madden Hamlit for $90 (after a 30% online discount)….So I guess I still technically own one pair of sneakers….::shrugs:: Oh well…

The picture really doesn't do it for these shoes. They are pretty Bad Ass. Just saying.
@Beauty84Brains
@ShowsWithAView