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

Pirates

Disclaimer: I apologize now, this is more of a rant/PSA. Oh, and there are no photos of shoes. I still feel you should read this so you don't fall into this category.

                                                              ::Stands on soapbox::


Pirate: (n)  a chick that wears her high heels when the screws are exposed; or when the tap(s) are missing

Think about it….when you think of a pirate, you think eye patches, tattered black and white striped shirts, walking off planks, and peg legs. Now think about the sound a pirate makes when he walks…when you hear a pirate walk, you hear the tap of their peg leg as they walk, right? Now the pirate can’t help it, he lost his leg to a shark when he had to walk the plank, but you my friend, have a choice. But you still chose to wear that shoe knowing good and darn well that your screws were exposed and you would be echoing down the halls at work and about to bust your ass because when that metal screw hits that slick tile, it’s gonna be game over. Shame.

The key word here is wears. That means you purposely looked at that shoe knowing good and damn well you are missing a tap, and still decided to wear it. I understand that sometimes you get lazy leg, and your heel scrapes against the concrete and it causes damage to the taps of your heels. It may even expose your high heel….You are excused. This is for the chick that knows her tap is missing and still chooses to wear that pair of shoes. It’s not that serious boo. I have at least 3 pairs right now that I need to have the taps replaced. I wanted to wear a pair to work yesterday as a matter of fact, but I didn’t. I have respect for myself.
For one, walking on your bare high heel without the tap ruins your heel. It wears the heel down to the point of no return, and if you wanted to replace the tap, you can’t because the actual shoe or the structure of the heel is uneven and ruined.
Second, it’s not sexy. High heels are sexy, the sound your making with your exposed high heel, isn’t.
A lot of designers are beginning to include an extra set of taps in the box, particularly when ordering online. If your box doesn’t include an additional pair of taps, there are several websites that you can purchase them from, for a very low price. One I’ve used is newheeltips.com. They carry various sizes and shapes and tip colors. You can get a 3-pack of tips for $6.99. If you have a pair of shoes that you want to wear soon and don’t want to wait for the taps to come in the mail, look for a local shoe repair store. It’s a good idea to have one anyways. These shops offer tap repair or replacement anywhere from $6-$8 a pair and you get your shoe back very fast.
Hell, buy another pair of shoes( if you can do that).

Friends don’t let friends be pirates.

                                                            ::end rant, steps off soapbox::
@beauty84brains
@ShoesWithAView

My Top 5 Fall Must Have Shoes

With Fall right around the corner, ::queue the angelic voices:: I have already begun to make rearrangements in my closet from summer to fall pieces, cataloging my wardrobe, and making sure I have my must haves for the fall.
So how do you know what shoes make the cut for a must have? Everyone will be different dependent on your personal style and comfort level when it comes to heels vs. flats, colors, and styles of shoes.  I have compiled my list of my must have shoes for the fall that will be a great winter transition based on my style and what I like to wear, but also taking in consideration the seasonal temperature, textures, and colors.
Fall is full of rich, earthy colors. Greens, browns, burnt Orange, mustard yellows, wood colors, raspberry, and of course your classic Black and Tan. The right shade of these colors, the right materials and textures, style of the shoe can take you into the next season effortlessly, so choose wisely.
First, I would like to recommend you take inventory of what is in your closet; be it mental or organizational w/ apps like My Fashion Closet. This will help remind you of what articles of clothing you have in your closet, and what you have the most color of.
Second, shop your closet for your fall must haves. Chances are you won’t have to purchase anything because you had these items in your closet all along. If you don’t have a particular item, and are willing and able to purchase it, take note somewhere as a reminder of what to get so you’re not aimlessly shopping and trying to remember what it is you went out for.
Third, go forth, and conquer! You are now officially ready for the fall!!!
 
 My Top Fall Picks
1:  A suede or leather open-toe sandal: Particularly one with a thicker strap across the toes. Reason being, it is the fall and it’s going to be time to close up and hide those feet (but still taking care of them), the thicker strap can give an illusion of a close toe or a peep toe. The thicker strap also pairs well with your favorite opaque tights. Being that I am OOC (out of control), I got a leather pair and a suede pair for the fall. ::Kanye Shrug::

2: A Printed Flat: let’s face it; we all need a cute pair of flats. I think this fall, patterns are way in, so punch up your fall fave with your favorite print. When choosing my print of choice, it was a no-brainer: ANIMAL PRINT!! Fall is football season, and my team is the Jacksonville Jaguars (I’m all In), so I will be wearing my shoes for the home team, pairing them with a jewel toned skinny jean, or with a cute simple black dress.

3: Tall, Flat boots: here I am with the flats again, but for the fall, a tall, flat boot is a must have. The fall comes with many activities; Fall festivals, county fairs, and football games. For the sake of not breaking my neck or ruining a pair of high heels in animal poo, opt for a tall flat boot.

4: Black patent leather peep toes: Very specific description for a must-have and it doesn’t give much room for variation, but a definite must have (for me). Try and opt for a wooden or faux-wooden heel for a more fun, fall friendly look. The wooden heel brings an earthier feel to the shoe, therefore making it more fall appropriate. These are actually a great summer-fall shoe because of the wood. And since I shopped my closet first, when that first day of winter hits, I have a solid black shoe, to replace this must have.

5: Suede and Jewel Tone: Jewel tones rule the fall!! Colors such as mustard, royal blue, kelly green, grape, and raspberry. Pick your favorite color and rock it with errythang! For a more transitional look, opt for a closed round toe pump.

And my wildcard for the fall (come on, you didn’t really expect me to just stick to 5 did you?)

                                                             TIMBERLANDS!
Join me in my Timberland in 2012 campaign for the boot of the fall and let’s bring them back!!
Click here to see the campaign stragety---> http://shoes-with-a-view.blogspot.com/2012/08/my-campaign-for-2012s-fave-boot-is.html


@Beauty84Brains
@ShoesWithAView

My Campaign for 2012's Fave Boot is...

TIMBERLANDS!!

Join my campaign! Timbs in 2012!

In the spirit of election time, I am heading my own campaign, and my vote is for Timberlands in 2012!!

Let’s bring them Back!!! Well they never left, but we are far from the Manolo Blanik/Steve Madden Days when everyone was rocking the Timberlands (circa 2002) w/ a heel, or rockin’ them OG style in the classic boot. (I still have my pair from college, they were my go-to during fall finals week)…and if you live in the North, they never went anywhere, but this is for my Floridians and southerners.
So you say, “E, I’m not a lumberjack, what do I wear my Timbs with?”
                                                                                                                      I got you….
Pair them with your skinnys and a cute hooded sweater, or with your fave flannel. Want to rep your fave football team? (go Jags) throw on your team shirt and your jeans and rock them. And since this is for my southerns/Floridians (because let’s face it, we are NOT southern) you can still rock them with your shorts and a flowy top while you anticipate the fall. Or with a cute sweater dress. Accessorize them with your fave beanie, and pull out the boot socks!!!

In celebration of fall and to kick off this campaign, I’m ordering a new pair of boots. Knee-high timbs. You can go on their website and customize your own pair. These are mine, I’m just waiting for September 22, 2012 to make it official, so you will know it’s real (first day of fall if you’re wondering). I opted for a similar color to the ones I already own because that is just my preference when it comes to these boots, but do you boos.

Why you may ask am I voting for the Timberland boot in 2012?
1. Because, I said so!! (I kid…..kind of)
2. These are the most super cool boot ever.
3. They will last you until the end of time. They are made of high-quality and durable leather, I’ve had my pair since…ehhh…2003 (the boots above are almost 10 years old!!!)
4. They will never go out of style. Timberlands are right up there with classic black pumps....So says me...
@Beauty84Brains
@ShoesWithAView

Lets get NAKED!

 OK OK OK, Nude....Get your mind out the gutter; you know where here to talk about shoes. In this case, nude shoes.

I feel like the nude shoe gets forgotten sometimes. Nude can be kind of bland, and they have the tendency to blend with your skin ….blah. So you may ask yourself….“What’s the point of wearing a nude shoe? You might as well go barefoot”. Well for the sake of not being mistaken for barefoot  Britney (Spears)… and actually going barefoot, a good pair (or 3) of nude shoes are a wardrobe must have.
Nude is an all-encompassing color. Nude shoes are meant to match your skin tone when chosen properly. That means nude can go from a light cream, to blush pink, greyish, to a brown.  All based on the undertones in your skin, but make sure you keep that in mind when you shop for a nude shoe. Not to say that because of your complexion, nude contrasting to skin looks great if you pick the right shoe. Part of that is the material the nude shoe is made of. Personally, I’m partial to patent leather, leather coming in second. When looking to purchase a nude shoe, nude isn’t the color that you can just plug in a search engine and purchase online. (I mean,…technically, you can, it’s just  not recommended…unless you have already tried the shoe on, but you know what I mean). 

                                                      Blush Pink Nude Shoe-Aldo

                                                        Grey-ish Nude shoe-Aldo

                                                              Brown/tan Nude shoe-Aldo

*Side Note...Aldo always has a great nude shoe...

                                                          Light Cream Nude-BCBG



Nude shoes create the illusion of longer legs (“yes!”  Screams the 5”4’ me) and in turn slims your silhouette out.  And to answer the question as to what is the point of a nude shoe, because it goes with EVERYTHING! A nude shoe is more versatile than a black shoe (opinion turned fact). A nude shoe can really pull a look together, especially one of the colorful kind. Think of that wildly patterned dress or skirt that you bought and have nothing to wear and can’t decide on a color to wear with the busy pattern. Throw on a nude shoe and BAM. Perfect.  Nude can instantly class up you basic neutrals like black, navy, and white. Another personal favorite with nude? Coral!  I wore a coral ruffle-front dress with a patent leather nude shoe below. Punch up and bold, solid color and add a nude shoe and see what happens. (You can thank me later)


                                     A different approach to going nude? Try an Andreia Chaves shoe.

                                                                       The Invisible shoe
The Brazilian-Born designer has a line of “smart” shoes, as I like to call them. She uses math her “Invisible Shoe” Line of shoes takes mathematics and art, and turns them into shoes. (If You don’t know who Andreia Chaves is, Google her immediately, her  concept for shoes is amazing and she is a brilliant mathematician, my inner geek loves her for all the right reasons ….shoes+math=happy me)  This shoe takes nude to a whole other level! Ok so this shoe is a BIT adventurous and Pricey. The custom made shoe will run you about  $2795.95, but damnit if that isn’t an amazing shoe! (That I will admire online)

                                                      Different ways to wear Nude shoes

To tone down your colors

With a bold color like Coral :)

Even with Black and white


enjoy!

@Beauty84Brains
@ShoesWithAView

Black* Shoes

*...and by shoes I mean heels except when I really mean shoes


*You will always own and have a need for a black pair of shoes.
*If you don’t own any other color shoe in your wardrobe, you own a black pair of shoes.
*If you’re not really into shoes and just own 3 pairs, one of them is a black pair of shoes.
*If you have an interview and need something to wear with your skirt suit, you will look for a black pair of shoes.
*If you decide at the last minute that you’re going out with your friends, and at the last minute you find something to wear, it’s probably going to require a black pair of shoes.
*If you have a funeral to go to (My condolences),  you will need a black pair of shoes.
*That little black (freakum’) dress you have been itchin’ to wear because your man pissed you off and you just need a night out with your girlfriends, you’re going to need a black pair of shoes.
*If you’re going on a covert mission with your homie cause they told you their significant other was creepin’, and they need someone riding shotgun while you do a few drive-bys, you guys are going to dress in all black, and you will need a black pair of shoes.
*If you’re going on a blind date and you want to wear some nice jeans and a blazer, nothing too flashy just yet, to keep things low-key, you’re going to put on your black pair of shoes.
*On your first day of work, you know the one you interviewed for a few lines up, you’re going to wear those same pair of black shoes. 

*You need some sexy heels for your Halloween costume cause your gonna be a sexy cop/witch/bumblebee/Cleopatra/RuPaul, you're going to need a black pair of shoes.
*Your first pair of high heels, they were a black pair of shoes.
*The pair of shoes your roommate/friend/sister wants to borrow to wear to her 3rd grade best friend’s wedding, they will be a black pair of shoes.
*The first time you took pole dancing class, you wore a black pair of shoes. (I know I did)
*Your grandma only wears one pair of shoes nowadays, (OK, maybe great grandma with the times we’re in) they may or may not have Velcro, but I bet they are a black pair of shoes. <---in this instance, they really are a black pair of shoes

*5 in every 13 people are wearing a pair of black shoes right now.

That’s my spiel on black shoes.

                                                     ...and now, some black shoes...
@Beauty84Brains
@ShoesWithAView

Outfitters

“Girl, I have to find shoes for this outfit”


….is NOT how you should shop for shoes. One should never shop “outfits” ::being fashionable is a process, something you build by purchasing  key staples and pieces and adding to them:: but you if you happen to purchase just an outfit for whatever reason, make sure the shoe isn’t exclusive to the outfit, here are some tips to pull you out of that mentality and show you new ways to think about a “one hitter quitter”.  This Blog is for you, the “outfitter”.

True Story: I’m talking to a friend at work who loves high heels, but I can tell she is still new to the game (an ex  habitual “Gateway Shoe” abuser) She made a comment that she has a lot of cute shoes that she has only worn once or twice because she only has that one outfit for that shoe. She then sent me an email about a shoe sale at Macy's, and sent a picture of the shoe she purchased. When I saw her later at lunch, she, again, said “now I have to find an outfit for these”.

“Outfitters”, now this is a fairly simple color scheme to match up different outfits with, so I won’t use this shoe in my example. I'll show you something more complex in color so that you get the idea of what to look for. The shoe I’m going to use is the Steve Madden Raimi.

This shoe is a Multicolored fabric with an open toe and an adjustable strap around the ankle (did anyone else think of the Ying-Yang twins when they read “strap around the ankle”?......No, ….Oh)
<-----I bet you did now ;)  The most stand-out color in the multicolor fabric is raspberry, so that is the obvious choice, in the case of the “outfitter”, when looking for a top (In real life, the “outfitter” would have bought the shirt first, and then purchased the shoes). Other stand out (but not so obvious) colors in this shoe are Indigo, white, green, and Yellow. A few tips to consider before you shop your closet for additional outfits: Shoes with primary colors in them are always your friend, so don’t forget them when shopping your closet for alternative outfits to wear with your shoes. The primary colors in the form of solid pants and /or tops pair easily. Another tip, don’t be afraid to mix patterns with patterns. A pattern doesn’t mean you are limited to wearing a solid color shoe. Find a pattern with similar colors and match them up with your shoe. You will want to make sure you have a solid somewhere in that mix for a balance. Black and white goes great with patterns as well! (you really can’t go wrong with black and white).  Also think of ways to bring your shoe to another season. The Raimi is an open toe sandal, but because of the texture and the deep, rich colors in the Raimi, you can carry it into the fall.  I was also able to incorporate this shoe into a dress for work. Here are a few ways to get more wear out of a shoe you once thought “only go with this outfit”.
                                                            
                                                            The Obvious first Choice
Top: H&M
Bottoms: Joe's Jeans
Clutch: Goodwill

                                                                 Primary/Solid Colors
On Top:
Top: Express
Bottoms: Target
Clutch: Steve Madden

On Bottom:
Top: Express
Bottoms: Nordstrom Rack
Scarf: Mom

                                                                           Patterns
On Top
Top: Target
Bottoms: Goodwill
Belt: Forever 21

On Bottom
Top: express
Bottoms: Forever 21
Belt: Forever 21
*Same for black and white Below

                                                               
                                                                   Black and white
                                 All solid black and all solid white work fab with this shoe as well

                                                                     Fall Transition
Top: Express
Bottoms: Vera- By Vera Wang

                                                                      Work Flow
Dress: Dillard's (I think)
Belt: Forever 21