Shoe Love: Smoking Slippers

I draw with charcoal in my free time (if ever I have it) so I wanted to find a way to incorporate my drawings into the blog. Welcome to the new Shoe Love column featuring my favorite types of shoes illustrated by me! I received a Wacom Bamboo tablet for Christmas and now I can draw directly into Photoshop. This little piece of technology is incredibly addicting to use and I encourage you to get one and start playing immediately. 

The smoking loafer is classic American East coast prep. They are not just for smoking, as you might imagine. Wear them with trousers, denim, and skirts, in winter or summer, uptown and downtown. They come in velvet, linen, canvas, leather, and even silk. You can go high end, low end and everywhere in between. Wear them with a sweatshirt and jeans on the weekend or with a suit to the office (not just the commute!). The smoking slipper is my current go-to in the crazy warm winter weather we've been having. Tell me, do you wear smoking slippers? Would you?

Wardrobe: Buenos Aires, Argentina

sweater dress, handbag, flats, scarf, sunglasses, perfume, lipstick (in Bahama)

For a trip to Buenos Aires, I recommend keeping things simple and relaxed. It's a cosmopolitan city but its not fussy - more Paris than New York. You can get away with bright colors, too, though most people wear black. I love this sweater dress and scarf combo for shopping, going to an exhibition, or simply sipping wine. Add a slip to keep the sweater comfortable, warm, and modest. I like this one from Spanx.

Unfortunately, this city is known for some pretty crafty pick pockets so its important to wear a cross-body bag that zips closed. It would also not be wise to wear any jewelry, especially gold and diamonds, as you will be targeted for a (possibly armed) robbery. That sounds scary, but it is important to be aware of these things when traveling, no matter how unpleasant. It should not stop you from exploring! Being aware of potential threats can help you have a safer, more enjoyable adventure. So instead of jewelry, accessorize with a pretty fragrance, bright lip, and your favorite pair of sunglasses.

Shoe Love: Leopard slippers

Hello from the road to Philadelphia! I know, I literally just got back from California, but I just can't help myself. I've got to see the world. This weekend I'm off to a wedding! Other people's weddings area always better than your own. Trust me. The booze is free and the cake and dancing so much better. ;)

So on to Shoe Love, because that's why you're here right? I found these darlings at Target last weekend for 20 bucks. I've been wanting a pair of manly yet feminine slippers for like a year, leopard preferred. You know how much I love leopard and I had to have these. You can't say 'no' at Target. Since when did I become such a bargain shopper?

Also, I tagged this as girl's weekend because when else is it absolutely appropriate to wear these?

Shoe Love: Vintage inspiration

You must be so curious about those shoes from Wednesday's wardrobe post, eh? Well here they are! I was shopping with Gman at Anthropologie about a month ago and we both spotted these at the same time. The pattern matched my granny's vintage bag perfectly, so I had to have them. I usually don't like matching peices but something came over me and the heels had to come home.

They are a brand out of California called Re-Mix. They remake the classic shoe styles from the early-mid 20th century. These are 40's inspired and super comfortable. I can wear them all day {and all night} without the balls of my feet getting sore. I even wore them out for New Year's Eve! I have my eyes on these and these {in green} now too. So many choices!

What I Wore: Dublin {and Glendalough}

This is what I wore in Dublin, and one of Gman's favorite pictures of me {"in my element" as he likes to say}. It's pretty typical of my travel and cold weather attire. I wore those mocs until the bottoms fell out. And now they are in line to be taken to the cobbler so I can wear them again. Same case with that bag. I wore it every single day for almost 4 years and the handle finally gave out a few months ago. What can I say, I'm a creature of habit. If I like something I really stick with it.

In this picture, I'm reading an Irish fashion magazine. I like to try and pick up a local magazine on each of my travels. Its like a snapshot of a places' priorities and style. I like to gawk at the fashion and laugh about the local gossip. Sometimes you will see the same topics covered in American news and it's fun to compare the journalistic styles and opinions. Later when I'm home, I keep the magazines {which double as side tables} and look through them from time to time to remind me of my travels.

PS - I'm wearing a soccer {futbol/football} scarf around my neck. There was a big match that day, had to fit in and root for the home team!

Weekend Recap: The In-Laws

Over the weekend, Gman's family came to visit. By family I don't just mean mom and dad. His mom, dad, sister, her fiance, aunt, uncle, and cousins were all in town. I haven't spent too much time with his extended family so I wasn't sure what to expect.

It turns out his family is pretty laid back. We spent the weekend going from museum to museum and having long lunches. Saturday went to the Warhol exhibit at the National Gallery of Art and went on a night tour of the monuments. The night tour was three hours! In a trolley, our tour guide pointed out most of the federal buildings and notable monuments. We stopped at the Lincoln Memorial and a few of us went to see the Korean Memorial instead. It was one I hadn't paid much attention to in the past. But at night it was striking. As we approached the 7ft tall statues, arranged in a wedge as if on patrol, we made eye contact with one of the soldiers. The harrowing look in his eyes was almost frightening.

Overall, I enjoyed getting to know each member of my new family and it was fun to watch Gman interact with them. Spending three days as a tourist was exhausting though and now I'm wishing I had another day off to recover!

What did you do this weekend? What do you do when family comes to visit?

Wardrobe: Seattle and the Dr. Marten

Dr. Martens, Bag, Necklace, Cords, Boyfriend Shirt

I couldn't resist putting a look together using Dr. Martens. When I was in high school went on my first trip to NYC. I fell in love with a pair in a shop in SOHO. I wanted them so badly buy my mom said she wouldn't pay for such a trendy shoe (I think she thought they were ugly...). My 14 year old heart was broken and I've never forgotten them.

Not only did I see these rocked all over Seattle but also on a few men in pictures from New York Fashion Week. I like the way they keep a casual look edgy. I can imagine wearing this to run errands, hanging out in coffee shops, going to a gallery opening or while listening to some live music out with friends.

Moccasins

As you may have guessed by now, I'm a shoe junkie. It's not just for their aesthetic value but also because they are my best travel companion (don't tell my suitcase and handbag... or my husband). I think of my shoes like my travel bags, invest in goodies and they will repay you in reliability, comfort and style (and compliments!). Imagine walking around a beautiful city and all you can think about is the blister rubbing raw on your heel. As one that learned the hard way, I know that when my feet are uncomfortable, I'm whiny. And my traveling companions find me unpleasant. Not to mention I can not enjoy the destination I spend so much money, time, and energy on trying to see. Here is my advise for having happy, stylish feet on your travels:

 

1. Don't break in your new shoes on your vacation. I would say this is a given but I would be ignoring all the times I and people I know have attempted to do this. It seems tempting to buy new shoes for that upcoming trip to Paris. However, I've wasted hours trying to find another new pair of shoes to replace the ones I'm wearing so my feet will stop hurting and then I'm caught in a never ending circle of aching feet and wasted time and money. But Jamie you love shoe shopping, you say. Shopping for pleasure or discovering an unexpected  treat while you are exploring are completely different situations than being on a mission to find flipflops in a city you are unfamiliar with. You will likely not find them.

2. Sightseeing is not a race. There isn't a prize for the first one to finish. You should pace yourself. Since I live in a city, in my daily life I generally do a lot of walking, so when I vacation in another city my body does not go into shock after walking for several hours at a time. I know how long I can go before I need a coffee, bathroom, or sitting break. If you live in the suburbs and don't walk that much, then take your time on vacation. You'll end up exhausted, sore and burnt out on the first night if you try to have a marathon day. So if I'm tired or my feet hurt, I'll spontaneously slip into a bar or cafe and use it as an excuse to try some local fair and do some people watching.

3. Switch it up. Bring more than one pair of shoes with you. Your feet are less likely to tire and get sore if you go between a few pairs. Depending on the length of my trip, I'll bring anywhere from 2 - 4 pairs of shoes.

4. Don't settle for "walking shoes". This one might seem counterintuative but I hate wearing tennis shoes or any shoe designated as a "walking shoe". (side note: for everyone outside of the South: the term 'tennis shoes' is used to describe an athletic shoe aka sneakers; not shoes made for tennis. I did not know there was a difference until I left the South. See what travel does for you? Anyways, I digress). Tennis shoes don't look great with my non-sporty style and I don't like wearing socks. So my go to travel shoes of choice are my Minnitonka Moccasins. I have several pairs and love them all. I wear them on my walking commute. I've worn them to Paris, Dublin, Boston, Florida and even on an outdoorsy trip. Their slightly preppy, slightly old school style makes them very versitile. I wear them with dresses, pants, shorts, day or night, hot or cold. I'm obssessed with my Moccasins.

But I don't have a one track mind, I also love my Madewell Brogues and my Marc by Marc Jacobs ballet flats (both pictured above).

Do you have any favorite travel shoes?