Ever since I caught a glimpse of the Dries Van Notes S/S 08 sandals on the end of the denim-covered legs of Judy Aldridge… I’ve been kind of obsessed. I love the bright colors, the straps, and the casual cool of the designer slingback which, of course, I can’t even dream of affording. (Also, good luck finding them for sale somewhere – Lord knows I’ve tried!)

While strappy shoes generally intimidate me (images of blisters, rubbed-raw skin, and after-shoe-removal indentations haunt me still…), I definitely enjoy the funky class that embellished or loud sandals bring to the party. You can toss them below an otherwise “ehh…” dress, or just like Judy does with jeans of any state, worn casually with some serious visual interest at the feet.

My criteria (you should probably get use to this Miss-Elle’s-Dad influenced method of shopping – breaking it down to the basics!):

• Colorful somehow. Whether it’s straps, the sole, the overall color… Whatever. Just has to be colorful.
• Embellishments will do. A jeweled T-strap, just at the toe, shells, rocks, people – it’s all good stuff.
• No taller than 3.5″! I want to wear these all over town.
• Sandal shape is preferable, as these will be the official “summer ‘09″ sandals.
• I’m not particularly partial when it comes to the type of heel involved. Wedges are fine, stacked heels are fine… Just no stilettos.
• The shoes must have some type of heel anchoring mechanism (i.e. not mules). If I’m going to be walking in these, I can have and shoe-loss episodes… I need to be strapped in!

After searching for a while, I noticed exactly how hard it is to find a classic, embellished/funky shoe that’s not based in a neutral color like black, brown or silver/gold metallic.

So let’s see what we did find!

Nine West Moochy Sandal
$78.95 $55.14

The Good: Color options forever, very strappy, very… blue.
The Bad: Lack of rockin’ embellishment… Though the knots are nice. Also, the slingback strap looks awfully thin… Thin like razor-wire. *cringe*

Restricted Khiara Heel Sandal
$64.95 $54.14

The Good: LOVE the orange/brown combo, really sturdy-looking heel, I dig the saltwater sandal style
The Bad: Well, there’s literally no embellishment here… And cork heels are kind of tacky, in my opinion. I’m also a little iffy on the patent leather. I already have one pair of orange patent leather shoes, and I’m not sure if I need two…

Nine West Doverly Sandal
$79.95

The Good: I don’t have yellow shoes, and this lemony yellow is GORGEOUS! The straps are really visually interesting, and the heel is structural, yet cool.
The Bad: I’m not really down with the champagne-colored satin sheen alongside the bright yellow. It makes it all look just a little country club.

Apepazza Andorra Wedge Sandal
$128.95 $59

The Good: Definite embellishment! Loving the ins and outs of the straps, and the heel looks cozy.
The Bad: I’m not a huge purple person. Literally and figuratively. I’m not sure that purple shoe + wedge heel would look anything other than “struggling fashionable geriatric”.

London Underground Happy Mediator Sandal
$98.95 $54.42

The Good: Love. The. Color. Love the stacked heel and I’ve been wanting peep-toe, slingback booties forever.
The Bad: These are peep-toe, slingback booties. Why did I include these again?

FRYE Dolly Woven Sandal
$198 $93.88

The Good: In a previous life, my name was Dolly. Also, these have a REALLY similar shape to the Dries pair I love, and the metallic isn’t horrifying.
The Bad: Wooden soles send a tiny shiver up my spine.

Kenneth Cole Reaction Know Best T-Strap Sandal
$79.95 $69.90

The Good: Same cute saltwater sandal style as the Khiara heels above. Really into the embellishment on these, and the straps are adorable. 3″ heel? Nice!
The Bad: Purple. =(

So? Which is the victor? I vote: The Kenneth Coles (last) or the Frye “Dolly” sandals. I can get down with purple if they’re in an adorable shape like those. The Kenneth Cole sandals are just perfect – no ifs and or buts about it!

Which would you choose? Are you into the idea of “loud sandals”?

Technorati Tags: dries van noten, heeled sandals, loud sandals, summer shoes

Have you heard of the brand, Quail? I’ve been hearing about them more and more recently… It started as a mention in a magazine, then a mention in a press release, finally ending up with the internet slowly exploding with Quail(s).

Whenever this happens, I like to try to find out what the brand is all about, and why they’re suddenly hogging spotlight, little by little. Naturally, Google scared the crap out of me when I did a search for more information by sending me to The Dictionary of Sexual Terms (huh, whew knew “quail” was… so… multifaceted as a word?), but eventually I found some information.

Quail was started by an L.A. girl named Michelle Nguyen Williams, who takes inspiration from her homegirls, which I totally love. In all honesty, her lines are not… exactly… “budget”; however, when they hit the sale rack, they fall nicely into my price range, anyway (which is definitely less than $100… Although right now, my budget is hovering around “less than $2″).

Her pieces are swingy, girlish, and a little sexy-playful, if you ask me. Some of the silhouettes bring old Chloé designs to mind, while others seem to have a unique flare, all their own.

Additionally, though, I really wish that designers would stop using the phrase “wearable classics with a modern twist”. I feel like I’ve read that 500 times from 500 different designers – come up with something new, folks! There are lots of adjectives at your disposal.

Quail Georgia Racer in Emerald
$143 $72

Quail Crepe Pant in Black
$195 $98

Quail Willit Short in Black
$145

(Of course I love those shorts – they’re the most expensive yet!)

Quail Dee Leggings in Black
$88 $44

I’m vehemently against the “leggings as pants” movement, as well as the “denim leggings” idea… But for some reason, I’m not disgusted by these…

Quail “Let Them Eat Cake” Tee
$56 $46

Quail P&P Tank
$115 $35

You must take 8 seconds to go to the site and check out the back of this top – extended straps WHAT?!

Quail Ten Skirt
$114 $87

High waist? Check. Structure? Check. Two neutral color options? Check. POCKETS?! CHECK!! New favorite skirt, for sure.

So? What do you think of the breaching-the-radar style from Quail? Love it? Hate it? Seen it before?

Let me know in the comments!

xoxoxo.

Technorati Tags: classics, la designers, los angeles, michelle nguyen williams, quail

I’m unsure how to describe the subject of my current lusting… It’s really half pump, half wedge… But it shouldn’t be classified as either, individually. It’s really a hedge or a wheel… Or maybe a whedgle, but it only works if you say it correctly. Here is a helpful video:

I fell in love with these obviously for their design, but also because I love the support that wedges give, but miss the “cli-CLACK, cli-CLACK, cli-CLACK” that straight heels make.

Also, the super curvaceousness of these new-style pumps give off a sneaky, deliciously sinister vibe, which I really adore. They’re an unexpected surprise, which is sufficiently lacking in today’s fashion, if you ask me.

$22.99	$22.99
$9.99	$9.99

Do you see? Do you see how sexy and mischievous that heel is? It’s not a wedge, but it’s not a heel… Brilliant!  I am completely in love with all four pairs. Admittedly, these are obviously quite inexpensive and, thusly, buyer beware if you’re looking for quality. I believe anything can be fixed with an insole, though, so I’m feeling pretty tempted at the moment.

However, if you’re a little more cautious about your shoe purchases (which I’m pretty sure most of you are – Bravo!), here are some more (and by more, I mean more) options from reputable brands, sure to keep your little feets nice and cozy.

Carlos by Carlos Santana Rescue

$98.95 $47.98

Cindy Says Felix Slingback $149.95 $67.17	Miz Mooz Zora Pump $106.95 $49.50
Shoes for Lovely People Stacey Q $144 $65	Boutique 58 Miranda $114 $51
Naughty Monkey Nookie Wedge $94.95 $45

Enough options? I encourage everyone to check out the side view of the shoes if you like them… It’s a tantalizing experience.

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: heels, shoes, wedges

Something hit me while I was perusing some of my favorite blogs the other day and contemplative my “personal style”. A lot of times, I’ll find myself holding back style-wise because of the reactions I’ll get from people. While some may dress “outrageously” to get reactions… I don’t really want any. I like to wear what I like to wear, and I don’t particularly like it when people look at me, or check out what I’m wearing. It’s weird, I know.

So, I was thinking… What item would I really love to wear, if it weren’t for those pesky reactions (which shouldn’t matter, anyway)? Red skinny jeans. I’ve always thought that they were super versatile, super chic, and – despite the loudness – quite sophisticated.

The hesitancy stops here. I’m going to do my best to not worry about other people’s glances and just do it. Naturally, the first thing on my list are those delicious jeans.

Sidenote: In case you’re confused by the column-action going on below, I’m trying to do a better job of incorporating “plus sized” garments into my posts about style. Being a borderline plus-sized girl, I catch myself wishing for more even coverage in the land of fashion blogs. “Be the change you want to see…”, right?

The two perfect pairs of red skinny jeans are below:

RVCA Dem Pants in Marco Red $52

Tripp Red Skinny-Leg Twill Pant $48

I love the sateen-ish feel of the RVCA pants, and the Tripp twill pants are so vibrant!

Here’s how I’d wear ‘em on the weekends:

Nice, breezy, comfortable, and clean. Just how I like my… weekends?

This is how I’d wear them to work (heck yes I would!):

I love highlighting the blinding hue of the pants for work… It’s fun to keep it professional everywhere else, but have a blazing streak of rebellion at the same time.

How would you dress these puppies up for a Girl’s Night Out?

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: bright, pants, red skinny jeans

As someone who has always been a bit put off by the idea of rescinding into a past decade (namely anything after 1960), I have to say, the Seattle grunge-raised girl inside of me is actually getting a twinge of excitement regarding the return of the 1990’s.

Growing up, the biggest temptation I had did not involve my age-appropriate candy, mixtapes, or coloring utensils… But my older sister’s closet. As the older sister, she was the pinnacle of style, attitude and cool. The days when she’d purge her closet to make a Value Village donation were the best days of my life, and when I inherited the maroon, v-neck sweater that she wore so well, I probably wore it every to every-other day, religiously.

However, when I wasn’t actively trying to access her closet (likely after a few too many “MOM! She’s trying to get into my ROOM AGAIN!”s), I listened to my other idols on the radio: Courtney Love, Shirley Manson of Garbage, Gwen Stefani in her rockin’ No Doubt Days, and the ever-dreamy Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

I coveted the idea of combat boots (ask my mom! She finally caved when I was 15), frilly dresses and fishnets, deep red lipstick and leather jackets, layered eyeliner and porcelin skin – I wanted to be a 1990’s super girl.

So now that we’re seeing the return of all things pre-millenium, I have to say… I’m attracted. So attracted, in fact, that my collection of grunge-era duds is already starting to grow (currently wearing ditsy print top and biker jacket!). If you’re afraid of looking “so last century”, however, there is hope in the idea of combining the modern and the old.

First, let’s take a gander at what we’re dealing with. AKA, here are some screenshots of my favorite 90’s quintessential movies:

Firstly, and most applicably, Reality Bites (1994) starring a once-again anxious and confused Winona Ryder, vividly in-your-face Janeane Garofalo, sexy-but-bad-for-you Ethan Hawke and some random appearances by Ben Stiller and Renee Zellwegger. This film exemplifies the idea that hair is not a priority… Unless, of course, your hair doesn’t look like it’s not a priority, in which case, it absolutely is. Frilly dresses, crochet tops and slouchy bottoms are all over this flick.

Next up is lesser-known, but closer-to-my-heart Singles (1992) which was filmed in my hometown of Seattle. Brigette Fonda, Matt Dillon, Jeremy Piven and Kyra Sedgewick all star in this secret film about – you guessed it! – being single. Now, this is the 90’s at its best – lots of leather, lots of black, lots of sheer dark tights, and hats. The special Soundgarden appearance is nice, too…. Oh, Chris Cornell…

Next up, one of my alltime favorite movies, Empire Records (1995). Liv Tyler, Ethan Embry (swoon!), Renee Zellweger (again!), and Rory Cochrane (double swoon!) star in this record store-based film about kids finding out who they really are. Aww. This is one of my favorite fashion films… Ever. Also, Gwar makes an appearance. WHAT COULD BE BETTER? Lest we not forget the super 90’s gothy girl, Robin Tunney, who didn’t even get listed as a “star” of the film on the website I was just looking at. Pish posh, she owns this movie!

OH REXY! You’re so sexy!

So, basically, as a girl in the 90’s, the goal was to look sugary sweet, but also like you could willingly (and easily) kick an ass or two at the drop of a hat. High heels were a priority for the “upper class”, likely, along with big shoulders and clenching and remaining styles from the 80’s, but as for the youth of the 90’s – it’s all grunge and mess – but a lovely mess it is.

Stay tuned for some awesome 90’s posts!

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: 1990s, fashion, movies

After the ColorPlay: Orange and Black and White post last week, I got a lot of responses similar to this:

“OMG ORANGE?! So bright and so scary, scary!”

Well, not exactly like that, but the fear was definitely apparent. So I thought a nice companion to that post would be a “How the hell do you expect me to wear it?” post for ColorPlay. I’ve divided it up into three groups: Hesitant, Comfortable and Ambitious. It’ll make sense, don’t worry.

HESITANT

Orange?! It’s so.. BRIGHT! And… people will stare! This is an outfit for an orange virgin, or someone who’s new to bright, attention-attracting colors.

• Simply Vera Vera Wang Classic Tote – $109 $65.40
• GAP Gray Boot Cut Jeans – $59.50 $44.99
• Charlotte Russe Flower Crochet Top – $19.99
• Steve Madden “CATELINA” – $69.95
• Max Studio Solid Wool Stretch Blazer – $268 $88

This getup screams weekend. It’s cute enough to go grab a fancy lunch in, but comfortable enough to walk around in all day. Plus, how do you say no to an orange bag like that?

COMFORTABLE

You’re comfortable with the idea of a bright hue… And orange is one of the best. You don’t need to overdo it, but you definitely want your color preference known.

Joie Silk ‘Elle’ Blouse – $178 $79.99
BCBGirls ‘Morena’ Pumps – $98 $58
Ruche White Drawstring Bag – $39.99
NY&Co 7th Ave. Slim-Leg Cropped Pants – $34.95 $29.95

Nice and simple. Top + pants + shoes + bag. I can’t wait to find my own personal spring uniform, but if I had all the components – this would be it.

AMBITIOUS

You’re always up for a crazy new idea when it comes to fashion. Orange? Child’s play… You’ll deck out in the color and make it look like just another day of amazing…

Triton by Tufi Duek ‘Iris’ Dress – $265 $79.99
Charlotte Russe Patent Gladiator Platforms – $26.99
Octogon Onyx Necklace (Set) from Metrostyle – $59.99 (w/ earrings and bracelet, also)

Night out on the town – be warned! This is a bold, brazen, beautiful and b’orange getup that’ll feel like home to any bright color aficionado.

How do you wear YOUR orange?

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: how-to, orange

Have you seen little Jane of Sea of Shoes donning a big, floppy-brimmed hat lately? Well, she has and it’s… kind of cute, I think. I’m still processing it.

And the title? I don’t know what the exact name of the hat is, but it looks Hamptons-y.

Anyway, if you like it, you can get one for $15 from $15DollarStore.com (surprising, eh?)!

It’s not the fancy American Apparel brand for $40, but for reference, here’s what that looks like:

Hmm!

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: 15 dollars, floppy hat

Photo by RedupReda

I thought ColorPlay should start having some photo inspiration… Color is one of the fiercest points of photographs; the absence of it, the over-saturation, the sepia tones, the combinations… They all play an emotional part in photographs, so why shouldn’t they affect our emotional output as well?

We’re inching, stretching, aching, dreaming… of spring. The best way to do it, in my opinion, is to embody spring – not in a creepy existential way, but y’know… Encourage the sun to come out and play by wearing some of its [scientifically proven] favorite colors.

Orange is definitely a contender for the season’s favorite – its warm tones in combonation with its vibrant output make it the epitome of summer embodied.

ModCloth understands what I mean. They’ve got tons of dresses in all kinds of great sunny colors, but their selection of orange- and white-based dresses is quite impressive.

Color By Number Dress
$69.99

Looooove the colors and the cut of this dress. It’s loud, but it could be tempered.

Once Upon a Forest Dress in Red
$69.99

Hedy Lamarr Dress
$49.99

It looks a bit “Little House on the Prarie”, but it all depends on what goes (or doesn’t go…) underneath.

If you’re looking for a little more versatility (which an orange, black and white dress – admittedly – may not give you…), skirts are a perfect way to allow you to wear a simple ribbed tank, but still bring some flare to your outfit.

Triton by Tufi Duek ‘Alma’ Skirt
$170 67.99

ModCloth Henna Skirt
$34.99

Or, if you only need a POP of orange to brighten your day, shoes and bags are an awesome way to go. (Orange goes with more colors than you think… Just consider it an excited version of brown!)

Kenneth Cole REACTION Cedar City Fisherman Wedge
$78.95

Luichiny Women’s Soren Sandal
$98.95 $54.42

Both sandals because, duh, summer doesn’t respond to orange galoshes.

Madison Kristin Multi Handle Bag
$60 $48

Sunny May’s Reversible Bob Clutch
$55 $44

Or, if you just want something bright to throw over a pair of jeans and sandals, these tops are sure to be your sunny weather friends.

Old Navy Crochet-Trim Babydoll
$14.50 $10

Chico’s Uroya Necklace
$28 $21

Reason why this qualifies as a shirt (DO NOT WEAR ALONE.): Put necklace over aforementioned ribbed tank or basic tee. Go on about your business. (i.e. the addition of the necklace is such a statement, it essentially transforms your entire outfit.)

AB Studio Floral Banded Top
$40 $24

Art All Night Top
$39.99

Taffy Pull Tunic
$39.99

Okay, so that last one has some green-ish color in it, but it’s cute, and I edit – so it stays!

Be honest, are you afraid of orange? Do you already wear it? What’s your orange story?

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: black, color play, color scheme, orange, white

Ohhh, the B&B Awful Title department is celebrating this one with bottles of champagne and caviar.

If you haven’t heard, little Miss Fergie (aka Stacey Ferguson de la Black Eyed Peas) has launched a line of footwear with Brown Shoe. She previously had a “budget” line of handbags via Kipling… But I haven’t seen too many people running around with Fergie bags, so maybe it was a lost cause and footwear seemed more of a sure thing. Maybe.

I will say, though, that I’m pleased to see The Dutchess’ shoes seem to be under $100, overall… But then again, so is Jessica Simpson’s line, and the quality of those babies… well, they leave something to be desired, let’s just say that. I’ve only tried on a couple pairs, though, so i’m open to being proven wrong. Her handbags, though, blow in my opinion. But my feelings are still hurt. I just hope that Fergie can up the quality past her country-singin’ counterpart.

Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m bringing the snarkiness full-force here, but truthfully – I love me some McFergs. After a quick scroll-through over at Endless (where her collection is being sold), I have to say… I’m pleased. But looking a little closer… Hmm.

Here are some examples:

Fergie Jonas Sandal
$79.95

Yeah, okay. This shoe isn’t ugly, but it’s like a clusterf*** of every trend that’s occuring in nature right now. (Overstatement, I know.) It’s got the cage trend, the exposed zipper trend, the BLACKBLACKBLACK trend (though it does come in fuchsia and “natural”), the snakeskin trend, and the semi-bootie trend – all in one shoe. That’s a lot of trend. Also, if I’m going to wear 4″ heels with no platform at the toe, they better be well made, and I’m not convinced that a synthetic upper and a pile of faux snakeskin will do the trick…

Fergie Milly Pump
$89.95

These shoes are obviously not the most unique shape I’ve ever seen… But I really enjoy the metallic snakeskin leather. Yes, this special shoe was selected to be made with leather, as opposed to their hypertrend counterpart. The heel, again, is 4″, which would work will for about 25 minutes of not-standing and not-walking, but overall a blister waiting to happen. A cool thing about this particular shoe is the asymmetrical cut of the vamp (see: toe-ish area). It also comes in a purple (which is cute), gold metallic or matte black shoe.

Fergie Maxim Sandal
$99.95

Okay. Really, now. These are the third pair of 4″ freaking heels in this stupid collection. Now I’m just frustrated. I get that’s she’s celebrity status and sex appeal radiates from her pores, but… Do all the shoes in this flipping line need to be 4″? And… How many pairs of strappy-ish sandals do you need to have? (There are at least two other styles of strappy sandal with gigantic heels on Endless ) These come in “Grape Soda” and gold, also. Bah!

Fergie Hava Sandal
$89.95

…

We’re done here.

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: celebrity, fergie, shoes

Maybe it’s the nasty state of the economy, or just my 14 year old inside voice screaming “gothy subculture!”, but lately I’ve been really attracted to all things anachronistic (victorian/edwardian), architectural, and glamorous – with a little touch of “spooky”. Many people who view this inspiration board may be surprised that it’s not a total blackout – there are peachy-pinks, red, and even white in the mix. Just because it’s “dark glamour” doesn’t mean “only black”! It’s a feeling or idea, don’t take it too literally.

Ann Demeulemeester S/S 09 Anything with a lace overlay Rose McGowan Givenchy S/S 09 Old elaborate chandeliers Ms. Dita Von Teese Pale skin with advised-against dark, striking makeup Peachy tulle The most perfect boots I can never wear (damn you, calves!) The Crinoline Contest! (Some of) Alexander Wang S/S 09 Tim Burton Tim Burton’s stunning wife/actress, Helena Bonham Carter The music of Rasputina, Jill Tracy, and Sarah Slean

What’s inspiring you lately?

xoxo.

Technorati Tags: dark, fashion, glamour, goth, inspiration