Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

While we're on the subject of Sex and the City, this reminds me of one of my favorite episodes.  Holler if you know it offhand!

Shoe Time!

Hello, lover!

I got these shoes at Zigi in New York.  Well, I'm saying 'these shoes', but there's only one in the picture.  You can safely assume he has a counterpart.  They are oxford style shoes, which are apparently big for fall.

This brings me to a point, which I'll get more into later - everything old is new again.  Isn't it crazy how fashion cycles like the seasons?  Oxford shoes are popular, flare jeans seem to have gone out of style, again, and skinny jeans are the thing now, like they were around a decade or so ago?  It makes me think I should never give anything away.  It'll just come back in style and have that extra 'vintage' glow.

I am also looking for a version of this baby in black & white.  Please advise if you know where I can find this future friend.

The Highlight of the Nordstrom Sale

Shout Out to a Classic Pair of Shoes

 

The Steve Madden Slides (or whatever the formal name for them is).

I've owned them.  So have many.  In fact, I've had several pair over the past couple years.  

They fall into some unique island/bubble/category of shoes.  They are comfortable.  Casual.  Yet dressy ENOUGH that they can be worn to work, or around town, but they offer the flexibility of the flip-flop.  They are the mullet of shoes.  Business on top, party in the sole.  Or something like that.   And much like the mullet, they have enough loyalists that they'll never go away for good.  

Who else has owned these?  Who else loves these?  Bueller?

Something Funny I Noticed....

...the negative critiques of the book 'Undateable'.

Ok, LOL.

Now, granted, my personal take on it was that it was a fun read.  I don't think it was meant to be taken super-seriously, however, it was an honest review of things men do that turn off women.  Most of these things were completely within men's control - things they say or wear, etc.  The advice wasn't something to the extent of 'get plastic surgery', so I kind of think some of the more sensitive men out there should chill out.

However, quite a few of the men raised the point that what if men made a list of 311 things women do that guarantee men won't be proposing  (or asking for a second date, or some variation).

I am curious, partially for amusement sake, partially for educational purposes (on what goes on inside a man's head) what might be on this list.  I imagine there are some reasonable frustrations (took a call during the date, didn't offer to pay for herself) and various others (wore shoes or carried a purse that cost half a month's rent).

Let me just say - I do the latter.  I like my shoes and purses.  I do not plan on changing that.  I do not expect the man in my life to fund said habit, so I don't see the problem.  If a man has that big of a problem with it, he needs to either a) get over it or b) move on to another chica who is more willing to let the man in her life dictate her every move - I am not giving up my shoe/purse choice for someone else.  However, I do realize that men might be thinking the same thing about their jorts/orthopedic style shoes.  Hmm.

A Few Words on Skechers Shape-Ups

If you are wearing these shoes, please do not expect to be taken seriously or respected by anyone.  In fact, be grateful if you can walk down the street in these and don't get shoved into to locker somewhere.

Let's cut to the chase - these shoes make wearing crocs seem dignified and brilliant.  I don't know why, exactly. Partially, it's how they look.  Maybe it's a little in the name - in wearing these, one is advertising to the world that he or she needs to 'shape up'.  Which is normally fine.  There are plenty of running/exercise shoes out there that one can wear without receiving a second glance, and there's no shame in mentioning one's trying to cut out an extra ten pounds.  But something about these is ridiculously mockable.

That, and I question if they actually WORK.  Are these in some way better than your typical walking shoes?  If so, how come no one thought of them before.  That, and even if so, why not just buy regular walking shoes in the first place?

This reminds me of when Skechers released 'roller skates' about 6 years ago.  I remember contemplating buying them, but when I tried them on, I could hardly even skate around the store in them.  They were super cute, but they didn't work, and for that reason, I imagine, they were very short-lived.  Did anyone out there buy the Skechers roller skates?  Will shape-ups disappear as quickly?  Listen, I love Skechers as much as the next gal, but they are not utilitarian shoes by any means.

Your thoughts?

I Own These....

The fact is, sometimes it's really hard to walk in a single woman's shoes. That's why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.  - Carrie Bradshaw, Season 6, 'A Woman's Right to Shoes'

(I have come so far since the Ladybug shoes (featured on April 5, 2010).)

Greek-Style Gladiator Sandals

So, what does everyone think of these Greek 'gladiator-style' sandals?  They have become extremely popular for the summer, it seems.  My feelings toward them are similar to my initial feelings toward blue nail polish (I am now in the market for a second bottle).

Will I come around on these?  Should I?  My readers thoughts?

Undateable, Part 2

So I finished the book.  Freakin' hilarious.

Some common offenses men make that I found in the book:
--Zubaz
--Orthopedic-style shoes (EW!  And the worst part is, I see them CONSTANTLY)
--Corporate Swag (a.k.a. a fleece with, say, "MetLife" emblazoned on it)
--Wrong shoe/sock combinations (and I honestly feel this could be a book in and of itself)
--Tighty whiteys
--Jorts  (WHY?)
--T-shirts with various offensive sayings
--Zubaz (deserve a second mention)
--Bad dancing

I have seen many of the above clothing offenses.  In fact, a good amount of men I know have committed at least one clothing-related offense.  I have a lot of thoughts on this.  For instance, many men I know have committed some of these clothing offenses.  I do agree that black socks with sandals are a crime against humanity.   However, I do believe there are decent men underneath this.  At the end of the book, in fact, there was talk about how one of the authors' subjects transformed himself into someone completely dateable.

Now, I have some friends who have 'trained' some men.  I have a couple friends who have 'redressed' their men.  I have always been curious how one does this.  I have never done this.  I do realize that most men count on the women in their lives to help them with fashion decisions.  However, on the other hand,  I personally would not like it if I started dating a guy and, a couple dates in, he randomly 'suggested' I make some tweaks to my wardrobe.  I like to take some fashion risks - so if men think about or notice these things, I might be doing the man's equivalent of 'undateable' acts, and frankly, I don't give a damn.

I am also curious - I can imagine men have a list of 'undateable' qualities in women - some generally harmless qualities.  I can definitely see men getting put off by things like women not offering to pay on a date - but what are the more superficial qualities that drive men nuts?  Bad highlights?  A certain style makeup?  Do men care enough?  What are these qualities?  Do men get offended when women try to change how they dress, or are they happy to have advice?

There was so much great material in this book.  There's more to discuss.

A Pair of Shoes I Owned Back in High School....

I remember the day I got these and how excited I was.  I loved them.  So practical.  I am pretty sure they still fit.  I think I'll wear them to the office later this week.  They make a statement.

Proof this Blog is Really Struggling for Material....

Some after pictures of the shoe....

Best of Chicago

So, once in a while I like to give some of my favorite small businesses in Chicago a shoutout. Today - Gus's Shoe Repair on Clark in Lincoln Park.

This man is a shoe doctor. Or perhaps a shoe artist. Either way.

Anyhow. He has a very small shop and is relatively inexpensive (I really don't know the market for shoe repair). However, what I do know is that it's considerably cheaper ($10) to get a pair of shoes re-heeled than it is to get a brand new pair of black pumps. I don't believe this guy advertises or even has his own website, but, per his yelp page, he seems to do ok on word of mouth.

Anyway - this is one of the best little shops of Chicago. Many women's magazines (such as Cosmo), claim that once a shoe's heel's spike is exposed and it looks like the shoe above, it is unsalvageable. Gus will tell you otherwise. (Cue for a friend of mine to comment that Cosmo can't be trusted.)

Please take very careful note of the above shoe's appearance because an after picture will, indeed, be posted.

Vacay

Sorry to my loyal readers - this blog has been on Christmas vacation.   I do appreciate that on Christmas day, this blog still got views (by someone other than my mother).   Well, I hope all my blog-viewers had a nice Christmas.   How was mine, you ask?  Spectacular!

Hello, lover....

Filters....

Ok, as I see it, there are some things women should only talk about with other women and men should only talk about with other men.   For example, I, as a woman, discuss issues such as shoe sales, nailpolish, and menstrual cramps only with other women (for the most part - aside from the fact that I just mentioned it here in this public blog).  

However, lately, most men I have met HAVE NOT used said filters.  I realize men discuss both bodily functions and their sexual interests at times, however, I think I can speak for a good amount of women when I say we don't want to hear about it!!  Know your audience!

Maybe it's just me.  Maybe it's a certain level of comfort that implies certain conversation can come into play - it can't.  We women are no less offended by this than you are offended by certain topics of discussion women bring up.  It's that old simple rule that you can't talk about everything with everyone - there's times you gotta filter things.  

All I know is that the next time I receive TMI from a guy, I'm going to begin discussing the pros and cons of various tampon brands.  And I, unfortunately, have a feeling that will be very soon.