Is it time to post about shoes again?

I just took these back yesterday (Macy's online had the best price, better than Zappo's, and *returning* things to the Macy's-that-was-Marshall-Field's doesn't violate my still-in-place boycott). I wanted them to work, badly, but they were too narrow across the ball of the foot, and the last thing you want in a low-cut shoe is overflow. Also, I don't like peep-toes where you only see one toe; it feels too "my talon, let me show you it," to me.

Other than that they were lovely. (And they come in this gorgeous blue, too.)

I'm still completely obsessed with these loafers, to the point of buying the gold-colored ones online in the hopes of dying or painting them black. Also, I'm toying with the idea of having a pair custom-made, although I'm holding back because it's 1) insanely expensive and 2) probably a guarantee that I'll lose my fascination for them immediately upon receiving said very expensive, custom-made pair. (That's what happened to my desire for pepperoncini once I bought the Giant Bottle of them from Costco.)

But summer is coming and perhaps I can distract myself from The Quest for Loafers by trying something like this:



I think they'd be really cute with (wait for it ...) shirtdresses. What do you think?

There's also these flats, and also these, too ...

Of course, it's still entirely possible we could get more snow here in Chicago. I have plenty of time to think about sandals and summer shoes ... what shoes are you thinking about for summer?

Comments

[Julie The Vintage Goddess]

Oh, I really like those flats with the buckle on the toe box...and those red Enzo sandals make me think of summer.

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for a pair of brown shoes to go with all the pink and brown I plan to sew this summer. I'm tempted to just buy another pair of Mary Jane Danskos, only brown (like these: http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/8196570.html) since I love my black pair so much. Anymore, I need shoes with a little more support than strappy flats. Alas. I've gotten rid of half my collection of heels in the past year. *sob*--Lydia

[Mossback Meadow]

Still in the snow here in Ohio as well, but I just ordered a pair of monogrammed Stephen Bonanno sandals.

[Anna]

Ooh, ohhh, can't resist the challenge and the distraction of ogling summer shoes with two inches of slushy wet heavy snow on the ground. I just found these, which I love: http://www.revolveclothing.com/DisplayProduct.jsp?product=JOIE-WZ29&c=Sandals&s=C&d=Shoes (Although I love them less for $245!)These are pretty... styley, but black and whitey also.http://www.resoul.com/Shoes/Womens/Argila.htmlAnd the always-needed, simple, black, sandal...http://www.resoul.com/Shoes/Womens/Esska.htmlSigh. This is all purely theoretical. I can't afford any of these. My friend has a perfect pair of black Vialis sandals from Barcelona that I'd pay anything for, but of course, they're not available in the U.S. anymore, if they ever were.

[Heather Outside Boston]

Ooh, pretty shoes. Disappointing about the first ones with that lovely almost-feathers toe detail, and a perfect heel. But I also really like the buckle flats -- that low ankle strap looks like it will be much more flattering than some. I just wish they came in more colors.

[edot]

Erin! Really! It's always time to post more about shoes. I like the buckle-vamped ankle strap flats, but then again round-toed ballet flats were not made with my calves in mind, no matter how simple and cute.I wrote a bit on my present state of searching for some warm weather shoes, but I still haven't quite found what I'm lookin' for. I can say, however, that: Nicole's are actually pretty comfy, even for four-inch heels; Camper's are running about a size small; and Mariana by Golc is a decent way to get some vintage wedgies up in your wardrobe at a lower price point (and better quality) that Re-Mix Vintage. Shoebuy-dot-com has some on sale, in case there's interest (nayy).

[JuliaR]

After 12 feet of snow this winter (in Ottawa), anything that doesn't lace up with yards of laces, or go up to my knees, or have salt stains on it. Anything that I can just put on my bare feet and leave the house. Ahh, Summer - a ways away, I fear.

[danielle]

The first pair is totally adorable. It is a pity they didn't fit properly, but with size 11 feet, I kind of know what that's like lol.Check out my fashion-on-a-budget blog at http://fatalfashionattraction.blogspot.com/

[sixties sewer]

I want the buckle ones in red to go with the silk fabric I just bought on Pattern Review weekend. It is off white with....cherries!! all over it. Love it.

[belphebe]

Beautiful shoes. Sadly, I can't wear many of the "pretty" shoes out there because my feet are too wide. So, I go for practical shoes that provide good arch support instead.Even though the weather is not quite warm enough yet (in Vancouver, BC) to start wearing sandals, today I'm wearing my Chaco Z/2 (black) sandals:http://chacousa.com/Portal.aspx?CN=0C47C7D98048&MN=0E776DA03D8FAs the weather gets better, I'll probably start wearing my Chaco Switch flips again (color: Parfait):http://chacousa.com/Portal.aspx?CN=22067864C246&MN=77A43BFDE9D6Yes, I know people have strong opinions about flip-flops, but these ones are comfortable and look good with dresses.I would like to find dressier sandals, but for now, comfort is more important than looks for me.

[La BellaDonna]

The Enzo flats with the ankle straps for me, please, in black, gold snake, and silver snake. In my dreams, paid for with my imaginary money. And while we're imagining, I'll take them in red, pink, and green, too. And polka dots. And leopard.Or, you know, I'll wear my boots. Which I already own. *sigh*I'm having a Manolo Moment; I'm cutting up a pair of gloves to patch a pair of shoes. So my summer shoe buying is limited to the Imaginary Wardrobe, for now.

[Thoughts on Life and Millinery.]

With my tender feet, I am rejoicing in Croc wedges and sandals for summer wear.By the by, the Croc sandals come in brown with a pink foot bed. Perfect for the pink/brown wardrobe girls!

[Eirlys]

These caught my eye yesterday: http://www.joulesclothing.com/product/Womens%5FFootwear/E_PAVLOVA.htmBut this is for my fantasy life, not my real, carrying-the-shopping home one.

[PhantomMinuet]

It's always time to post about shoes. :-) The flats with the buckles are absolutely darling.

[Rachel]

Wow Erin, way to break my heart by showing those gorgeous shoes (in blue, too!) and then say they don't work. Thanks a lot.These are lovely, I think:http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/29162545/c/72.html and I kind of love the oxblood color, too.

[Joni]

Do I incur the eternal wrath of Dress-a-Day if I admit I plan on wearing Old Navy flipflops from about April through October? At two-fifty a pair, I can afford one in each color to match all the dresses I'm optimistically sewing for summer. I never pay more than about ten dollars for a pair of shoes, anyway...

[scarabee]

A month ago I moved from California (not quite summer but warmer than Chicago!) to New Zealand, which even in the middle of summer is not exactly warm (for me; in perspective, my hometown in Australia has just come through a heat wave of 14 days over 35C). So in effect I have missed most of summer and *all* of the lead up to summer, with its happy shoe-buying, dress-making ways. That said, I don't do sandals anyway, so most of my shoes cross seasons.I have my eye on a pair of ballet flats with a slight heel (for want of a better way to describe them), probably in red because my red shoes didn't make the cut for moving. The one advantage of my situation is the end of season sale. :)

[Theresa]

I like the pair with the buckle over the tow. I have flintstone feet and nothing "open" works with me.There is always foot spillage...and on peeptoes...my toes don't peep, not so much as a peek!

[DivaJean]

I absolutely love the Enzo flats. I have a pair of similar shoes from 2 years ago that are on life support since I wore them so much last year. What I would really want is a pair in red- but not too shiny- and more bluey red than orangey red. I have been transitioning my color wardrobe into more denimy blues with red accents.

[Anonymous]

The only part of my body that I always feel good about is my legs. My DNA just does not permit me to store any fat there, so they are always slender & shapely. And for some reason, the big, boxy, man-like quality that characterizes every other part of my frame (head, shoulders, ribcage) disappears in my legs: I have very shapely, slender knees and what they used to call a "well-turned" ankle.But I cannot wear ankle-straps, because, even as nice as my legs are, ankle-straps have a tendency to visually stumpify my leg and thicken my ankle. I know that this site is all about wearing what feels good, not what LOOKS good, and I like that a lot. I like the concept of freeing oneself from the law that "Thou Must Always Strive To Look As Slender As Possible." I like the idea of wearing a skirt with lots of wonderful silky layers to it just because it feels good, even if it makes me look thicker than another style would.Still, most women eschew styles that thicken them. So I've always wondered, why is the ankle-strap style so popular among all these women? Nobody would buy a style of dress that visually thickened their hips -- yet everyone loves the ankle-straps. Are they really THAT comfortable? --Negative Nancy

[Karen]

I recently bought these at Macy's because they were on a rediculous sale and they are equally as comfortable as my tennis shoes, aside from the high heel posture thing. I *think* they can pretty much go with anything, but I'm still not sure about some dresses.http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/30084346/c/2529.htmlThese would be calling out to me if they were prettier colors:http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/23617762/c/87254.htmland these would be wonderful in a manageable heel...http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/36785515/c/9634.htmlit's spring in CA, but I wore the above shoes yesterday and my feet were cold all morning in my office. so I'm still looking ahead too!

[karooble]

I've always loved these shoes; I've just ordered my second pair:http://www.zappos.com/n/p/p/7256818/c/325.htmlThey look a lot sportier on the website than they do in person. In person, once on the foot, they just look like sweet leather Mary-Janes -- not to mention that they're ridiculously comfortable and make your foot look TINY. They go great with just-above-knee-length full skirts, too. Another for the brown-and-pink girls! :)

[Pencils]

All these cute shoes that don't go to size 11! It's not fair. Hmph. For the spring, I'm hoping to wear a pair of adorable copper-colored slingback ballet flats from Delman, bought at a serious discount from Bluefly. I say, "hope" though, because I'm pregnant and my legs and feet are already swelling if I'm not wearing sneakers and socks. I'm going to try to wear the Delmans with nude support hose. (Yeah, that's going to look awful.) It's going to be a long, swollen summer. And I have a fab trip to Jamaica coming up in May! I think I'll get some fabulous, very open sandals, and just not look down.

[Lisa Simeone]

Gals, gals, be careful! I know many of these shoes are lovely, but take it from me: you're going to wreck your feet. I know, I know, you don't want to hear it. You're only in your 20s (some of you), but by the time you're in your 30s -- or 40s if you're really, really lucky -- your feet will be kaput from all these no-arch-support, no-forefoot-padding shoes.Everyone thinks flats are automatically better, but many of the shoes referenced in the comments section are TOO flat. They have no arch support, thus encouraging plantar fasciitis; and just looking at the thin soles makes me wince. Your feet may as well be slapping the pavement naked. And flip-flops?? Excruciating pain waiting to happen.Ah, but when did young whippersnappers ever listen to their elders . . . ? : > )P.S. Even in my healthy-foot days, I never could get away with those lovely high ankle-strapped shoes; they chopped off my leg visually and made me look stumpy, particularly in the summer when one's feet swell. Hats off to anyone who can wear them!

[Sugardale]

I have tailor's bunions (and actually need surgery) so the only shoes I can fit in, and dare to wear for a single night of light walking a week, and not be wincing in pain (and can afford to buy) are from: tukshoes.com. Also, muffys.com has a lot of cool saddle shoes (in various widths, which is good for me)Other than that it's PF Flyers for me http://www.zappos.com/n/br/b/832/PF%20Flyers.html (which can be cute with some skirts. I like to wear my red center-lo's with a mini skirt, argyle knee-highs, a white button up shirt, and my Harry Potter Gryffindor pin (pretty nerdy, I know).