What to wear with those colorful new shoes?

The August 2012 issue of InStyle Magazine posted this reader question: "What do I wear with my colorful new shoes?"

I LOVE colorful. I will throw colors together and not think twice. I always get from friends or other people, "How did you think to put that together" or " I wouldn't have thought to put that together" or, "I like those shoes, but I wouldn't know what to wear with them". For me, I'm random, that's how I think to put colors together...I don't have any other explanation, that's just how I roll. But, I thought I'd share this article (or my rendition of the article) by shopping my closet and using my colorful shoes as examples. Hopefully it inspires you to make a colorful purchase, or get more wear out of those colorful shoes that you purchased and didn't think you had anything else to wear with them. (See "Outfitters" coming soon) Don't be afraid to experiment with color!!!!!

1. When wearing a pattern, like the skirt below, my first thought was to pair an Indigo shoe with the skirt. It is a dominant color in the skirt, and it is somewhat of a "neutral" color (blue). My second thought was to pair this skirt with a nude shoe to tone down the colorful-ness of the skirt. But I have this great, bold Pink shoe, an unlikely contender for color, and paired it with the skirt. Its easy to pick a blue or a nude, but sometimes going for the more challenging color brings a whole new perspective to the skirt. The shoe is a a canvas, hot pink shoe with a gold plated bottom near the toe on the platform. The shoe was purchased on shoedazzle.com.

    
2. Monochromatic ::Definition-having one color, having tones of one color:: for my example, i chose a pair of tights, but of you don't have tights of a similar hue of your colorful shoe, a skinny jean can give you a similar effect. Monochromatic pairings can elongate your legs (great for me being 5'4") and unify your look when matched with a neutral top half. My shoe is a Purple suede Jessica Simpson shoe and a similar shade of purple tights from Target.

3. Coordinating accessories with neutrals: Yes, your shoes are accessories!! When pulling a look together, think of them that way. Pairing your shoes with, lets say a bag, can revamp a simple, everyday outfit. I paired a simple black dress with a Red ankle boot and matched them with a yellow bag, a primary color pairing. The boot was purchased from Bare Feet Shoes (In VA).

4. Bold colors and Denim: Pretty self explanatory. Any of these shoes can be paired with Denim, take advantage of that! This is a green shoedazzle.com wedge that was a past #shoeswithaview and featured in my "Wedges" blog (look to the right if you missed it!)

5. Black and White: This is overall the easiest way to incorporate your bold shoe into your wardrobe. You can mix black and white like I did in my example, or go all black, or all white. Pairing your bold with a black and white showcases the shoe. My indigo shoe is a Blue suede shoe from Nine West.

6. Additional pop of color: Just because I like to incorporate color into everything I wear. This is what I wore today at work, and How i incorporated 2 different concepts, pairing primary colors (skirt and shoes) and incorporating colors into black and white. Again, these are the same Nine West Blue suede shoes above.

Take Care

....of your feet

Picture this:

Saturday afternoon. You are walking the mall/town center doing some light shopping before you meet your friends for lunch. Out of the corner of your eye, you catch those new Gianni Bini Tiara T-Strap sandals that you have been stalking.

 You sashay over to the chick wearing them to check them out on someone’s foot, and compliment her on a great choice of shoe.  (Although you would consider them an evening shoe, but whatev) Your chit-chatting with Katrina* (wait for it…) about shoes then you look down to check the shoe out on her foot….and what you see looks like the aftermath of Katrina. Boo’s toenail polish was chipped up (and only on 2 toe nails had polish on them), she had overgrown cuticles, she needed lotion, and her heels were as dry and cracked as the Mojave Desert. 
You bid Katrina adieu and continue with shopping, silently judging as you walk away. (Don’t act like you don’t do it). Bad feet can really change an outlook on a shoe. If you are going to spend $89.99 on a shoe like Katrina did, your feet damn sure better be kept. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t matter how much you spend on your shoe, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent and give you a picture of how bad her feet looked by relating them to a category 3 hurricane

There are 2 ways to take care of your feet.  Katrina, you have options boo.

The most common and most relaxing way is to get a pedicure. If your feet looked like Katrina’s (Dry, cracked heels, overgrown cuticles) this is the best way to go, at least initially. Nail salons are EVERYWHERE, but it does take time to find a quality one, so you your research and ask a friend!! There are advantages and disadvantages to going to a Nail salon for a pedicure.
                                                                   

                                                                     * Advantages:
• Special treatments for really bad feet-Callus Treatment, Paraffin Treatment, Various exfoliating treatments.
• Foot Massages (and Back Massages if they have good pedicure stations)
• Time to relax and feel pampered and a great way to occupy your day with friends or your significant other
• Manicurists are licensed professionals, they know how to properly file, scrape, massage, and polish and give you that professional look. When you go to a professional, if something happened like a nail chip, they will gladly (most of the time) fix and repair it for you. 
                                                                  *Disadvantages:
• They can be costly. A basic pedicure can start anywhere from $15-$25 and can go as high as $60 at certain salons
• Time consuming-it is nice to get away and relax, but part of the battle (unless you make an appointment) is waiting your turn.
I would recommend a pedicure every 2 weeks to once a month if you go this route.
Another way to take care of your feet is to do it at home. There are several products and utensils you can buy at like Target, Wal Mart (shudders), Ulta, or any local drug store. 
                                                                      *Advantages:
• $$- Your saving money ( who doesn’t like that) in the long run
• You stock up on essentials like nail polishes and nail files
• If you stub your toe and chip your nail, you will have the tools and the color to do a quick fix
                                                                      *Disadvantages:
• Finding the time to do it (While your watching tv is a good time )
• Higher risk of mauling your cuticles by doing them yourself, especially if you do them on dry cuticles

                                   To tackle your at-home regimen, you will need a few things:
• Footbath--The most expensive part for the at-home routine.  (the one pictured is from Conair @ Target for $19.99)

• Nail polish- Every woman should own nail polish. My 2 Fave brands of nail polish are OPI and Ulta Brand nail poishes, but you can get nail polish anywhere at a price range of $.99-$10 a bottle. Don’t forget a top coat!!
• Nail files, buffers, and nail clippers-again, these are staples every woman (or man) should own, but if you don’t, your local drugstore can hook you up.
• Foot exfoliator-One like this is what I own, I got mine at target for $5.99, but they, too, range from $1-$25. Exfoliators can be double sided with the buffer on one side and a metal grater on the other, a Pumice rock, or a machine like the Ped-Egg  (when purchasing an exfoliator, make sure you team a metal exfoliator with something like a pumice rock to smooth out your feel and close up the cuts the grater may cause. Not smoothing may cause even more dryness)

• Cotton balls
• Cuticle remover $3.99-$18.99<---for the ones that look like clippers
• Foot Cream – "Shea it isn't so" from Bath and Body Works (BBW has a great foot care line FYI) Lotion works just as well

Initial startup for the at home route is roughly $35-$50, but these materials will last you a long time. So you save in the long run.

My personal foot care regimen is a mix of both. I like to go out and get a pedicure every now and then because it is relaxing and a good way to get in an inexpensive foot massage (something I will speak about later). But I also make sure I maintain my feet at home. I don’t own a Footbath, but I exfoliate at least 3x a week in the shower and I make sure it’s the last thing I do in the shower, that way my feet are good and soft from the water.  After exfoliating, I push back and manicure my cuticles, and buff my toenails.  Finally, file & shape, basecoat, nail polish, and topcoat. Really, I mock what the manicurist do when I get them done professionally.  At night, I will heavily moisturize my feet with Shea butter or a foot cream, and wear a terry-cloth bootie. You can wear socks, but cotton tends to dry and a lighter cotton blend like terry cloth keeps moisture in.

**DISCLAIMER**
:: Checks Calendar::  It is the end of July , Almost August. Before we know it, Fall will be here (BEST season ever) and Boot season will be here. It will be time to put away (some) of our open toes and sling backs and flip flops. DON’T YOU DARE THINK YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT FOOT CARE IN THE FALL/WINTER MONTHS!!! (yes, I am yelling at you) This is a year-round thing. Especially in the winter months when you are cuddled up next to your significant other, He/She is not going to appreciate being cut by your dry heels or your hangnail.

::Pretty Feet::

Wedges: The Gateway Heel

Have you ever heard of the term “Gateway Drug”? The “gateway drug” theory is that the use of the less deleterious (serious) drug puts you at risk for using more dangerous and hard drugs. Well think of a Wedge is the “Gateway Heel”. The wedge is for the beginner high-heel wearer that doesn’t know where to begin on her (or his) journey into the land of high heels. The high heel novice may not think they will ever be able to wear a stiletto, (OMG it’s so HIGH…. How can anyone walk in those?.... ::and my fave:: , only strippers wear heels like this/that (and this and uh…), but they know they will like/want the fun and versatility that a high heel can bring into their life and their wardrobe. (If that doesn’t sound like a “Gateway”….)
….and for them, the wedge was born.
                                        So let’s take a quick crash course in definitions:
Wedge (n)  a raised shoe heel with the heel and sole forming a solid block; thick at one end, and tapering to a thin edge at the other
Espadrille (n)  ::es*pa*drill::  a shoe or sandal with a fabric upper and a flexible sole typically made of rope or material manipulated to look like rope
                                                           
                                                            …I told you it was quick


Wedges (we will refer to them collectively for now, and show examples later of each) provide an allover support for your body, evenly distributing your weight while you walk. So in a sense, it’s like you’re walking flat…just 3-6 inches in the air! Your less likely to trip wearing a wedge, so for a beginner, this is definitely the best option. They give you a confidence of walking in high heels, so that when you do take your next shopping trip into DSW, you can try on and buy those Giuseppe Zanotti Color Block Pumps you have been ogling

 (baby steps, baby steps)
                                                                                                  I promise there are wedges in this blog...


Other benefits of wedges:
1. Easy to walk over grates in <-----my city girls can truly feel me on this one
2. You don’t worry as much about walking in a mud or water puddle
3. It’s better for your health-Heels throw off your hips, wedges disperse the blow ::briefly considers this statement, will continue to wear high heels::
4. Wedges don’t hurt as much when you step on someone’s foot


Below are some pictures of a few wedges that I own, as well as today’s #shoeswithaview

                                              Wedges, and Espadrilles, and Corks, oh MY!!!



                                                                           Wedges

                                                                        


                                                                      Espadrille

                                                                       Cork Wedge

                                                             Todays #shoeswithaview

Splurge Vs. Steal

Splurge Vs. Steal …..And staying in your lane

To quote Madonna (and trust me I’ds rather not) but “We are living in a material world” . Lets face it….Television and the internet have a great influence on how we live our lives. And what are we all looking at? What our favorite Celebrity or “Celebrity” wore on Real Housewives of                 (fill in the blank)/Keeping up with the Kardashians/Single Ladies/NBA finals (guys too). The difference between “them” and “us”……$$$$$$$$$$.

You can find “Designer Inspired” shoes (and clothing, but were not here for that) if you just take the time and look. And yes I know, A Christian Louboutin (or "Red Bottoms" as they are more commonly known in the hip-hop culture) is not the same as a Jessica Simpson, but I’m all about staying in your (financial) lane. You can look good at a cost that is comfortable to your lifestyle. Not saying that every once in a while if you save up, you can’t step outside of your normal shopping habits, and treat yourself (Christmas 2012.....Hello Chrissy Lou), but make sure it is something that won’t have you eating Ramen (and not by choice) and water daily for the next 3 months to recover. I also believe that you shouldn’t be making high-end purchases (gifts are different) if your lifestyle doesn’t match the shoe. For example:: Your wearing Manolo Blahnik’s but you drive a 1994 Honda Civic and have no furniture in your House (probably apartment). These just don’t add up. You can still look great though! You can still look like your favorite Celebrity or “celebrity” and be able to live your life, in your financial lane.

                                                                       DISCLAIMER
::And for the love of all things Holy, please don’t go painting the BOTTOMS of your shoes RED, you will be silently judged by the Michael’s associate (any anyone who knows better) when you come to their line w/ Red Acrylic paint, paintbrushes, painters tape, and clear acrylic sealer….yes I just told your secret::

….but I digress, here are a few examples of a Splurge Vs. Steal …The steals are all mine
                                                                                                           ::I stays in my  lane::

Round 1:
Christian Louboutin Vs. Jessica Simpson-These are both Nude, Patent leather, round-toe pumps. Both in a beautiful Nude color.
The Louboutin**SPLURGE** (On the Top) Retails at $625 from Bergdorf Goodman. The Jessica Simpson**STEAL** (On the Bottom) Retails at 79.99 from Macys.

Round 2:
Jimm Choo Scalloped lace pump Vs. Steve Madden Laser-cut lace pump. Both shoes are round-toe, peep-toe pumps. In beautiful, black lace. The rear of the portion of the Choo shoe is backed by a nude color leather, and the front portion is just lace, so your skin tone can shine through. The Steve Madden shoe has a lace-overlay, on top of a nude pump. This particular model  has a lace bow in the rear of the shoe.
The Jimmy Choo**SPLURGE** (On the Top and Center) Retails $995 from Bergdorf’s . The Steve Madden**STEAL**(On the Bottom) Retails $89.99 from Dillards. (Although this particular pair was found at TJ Maxx for $32.99 #BOOM)

Round 3:
Prada Leather Lace-Up pump Vs.  Just Fab Lace-Up Pump.  Both shoes are a Tan, round toe, lace up pump. They are both 5 ¼ inches, have hidden platforms in the front, and share that “naughty school girl” look. The Prada**SPLURGE**(On the Top) Retails $790 from Bergdorf’s. The Just Fab shoe (On the Bottom) Retails $39.99 S&H included in the price from Justfab.com.

**OK, so those Prada's are SMASHING my Just Fab find, but i'm just trying to prove a point...**

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Bonus Round::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

                                                             Today's #shoeswithaview Pick
                                                 

                                                   Manolo Blahnik (Splurge) Vs. BCBG (Steal)

....So, whats the point? The point is, you dont have to break your budget to look like the Fly Chick you are. There are similar versions of my shoes that are even more of a steal. You can even go a little more Mid-end if you like with Vince Camuto, MICHAEL by Michael Kors, or Antonio Melani. But of course, if you got it, then do the Louboutins, Choo's and Blahnik's <-----I'm trying to get on that level.... I could go all day (and I will from time to time to show Designer Vs. Designer Inspired looks) but I think I got my point across today. Checkmate.

Follow me on Twitter: @ShoesWithAView and @Beauty84Brains and SHOW MW YOUR SHOES!! #shoeswithaview

For the Love of Animal Print

....it wasn't supposed to be its OWN blog (oops), but I'm still learning how to use navigate and work this blog. So for the sake of keeping everything cohesive, I'm just gonna add the link for the last blog and continue on this one! Thanks for reading and comments!!!!

http://amarantareview.blogspot.com/

It's Finally Here! All Things shoes!

           SHOES WITH A VIEW

...and it has begun

If you know me, and if you don't...."you 'gone learn today" ::Kevin Hart voice::...., you know I like love am OBSESSED with shoes. Not so much an Obsession really, but shoes are my "thing". They can make and break any outfit, make you feel sexy and confident (and in my case, tall), and they can tell a LOT about a person.

This all started one day looking out a Panoramic window at work (ex-employer). I was on break, and I went to relax and kick my feet up. I was wearing Flip-Flops that day.(The fact that a flip flop started this is amazing to me...you will see why). Then something magical happened, I took a picture and "Wa La Magic", I posted it to Instagram!!! (OK, so it wasn't magical). Being that I have a lot of shoes (understatement) and I like love shoes, I decided to take pictures of my shoes and post them for the world to see.

My first #shoewithaview and the "Magical" location

TAMPA B***H

<------sneak glimpse at another pair of shoes

These chairs were the bomb.com

If you want to take a look at some of the other shoes I've posted, check me out on Instagram @Beauty84Brains #shoeswithaview. I have shoe pictures on my IG that I didn't hashtag (#), because the fabulous idea didn't come until later. As a matter of fact, that is where I got the Idea to even Blog all of this (Shout out to @lydongirly-Lorian-for being the first person to put the thought in my mind, and @nenitav02-Vanessa- for offering to be my CFO when I finally kicked this thing off)

So, I hope you all enjoy, there will be all kinds of things to come ( not just looking at my feet) like Taking care of your feet in general, a (toe) Polish of the week, and how to pick out amazing shoes in general!






                   ***disclaimer....I am NOT a stylist, I just simply like shoes and fashion***