As promised, here's a post on shoes, of which I have a whole closet of and then some.
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| A peek inside my shoe closet. |
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| Some of my most-worn shoes standing attention by the front door. |
I remember I used to have a very hard time finding shoes that fit but nowadays, it really isn't an issue at all. I'm not sure if that's because brands have made size 5 more readily available or because I'm much more experienced now. I do believe that shoes are the most important accessory and that they really make an outfit. I should really take my own advice because I've been wearing my flats to death and have a hard time getting rid of them even though they're so beat up because they're so comfortable. I also shy away from wearing heels because of an injury from snowboarding a few years ago, which I really need to get over. Though my ankle is completely fine now (I couldn't wear heels for almost two years and was so afraid it'd be a permanent situation for me because heels are so vital for someone my height), I still have a subconscious fear and try to be very cautious. I own many, many pairs of boots, heels, flats, and sandals so I'll just do a quick overview on which brands fit the best on me, while also featuring a few snapshots of each category. I think it's really important to note that though a brand offers size 5, only certain ones actually fit me. Some fit me well, while others run big and so I think it's really subjective whether a brand runs true to size or not. For your reference, I fit size 5 in Aldo, BCBG (on the most part), Charles David, Christian Louboutin, Coach, Cole Haan, Enzo Angiolini, Gap, I.N.C., J.Crew, Kenneth Cole, Madewell, Payless, Salvatore Ferragamo (in patent leather), Sam Edelman, Steve Madden (flats only), Stuart Weitzman (flats), and Tory Burch, while brands such as Gianvito Rossi, Jessica Simpson, Jimmy Choo, and Nine West run big on me. However, it's important to note that though I may list a brand as one that fits, it really also depends on the shoes. I've had a lot of instances where one style fits but another doesn't for the same brand and sometimes even when it's the same exact style so it's really important to try them on to see. I was enamored with the
Jimmy Choo 'Lance Leather Sandals' and
Gianvito Rossi Leather pumps that Wendy's Lookbook featured and so I splurged on them but was disappointed (and honestly, relieved), that they were a bit too big on me. I really did love how the
Jimmy Choo Lance Leather Sandals looked on me though so am keeping an eye out for a similar style that fits well on me.
So let's start with my favorite type of shoes - heels! I decided to take the leap and purchase the
Christian Louboutin Simple Pump in Black Patent 100mm last year and I have to say I love them so much and believe they are worth it because of how comfortable they really are. I also love how BCBG and Enzo Angiolini heels have been staples for me as affordable yet reliable and comfortable options. I've found that as I get older, comfort is my top priority.
I probably own just as many pairs of flats, if not more. In this category, I really like Kenneth Cole's flats. My favorite is a pair of theirs call
'Slip On By' but it's important to note that I purchased another pair in Black but the quality and fit just isn't the same. I've also stocked up on Steve Madden, J.Crew, and Madewell's flats in different colors as you can see below (which I haven't even really worn yet). Cole Haan also makes comfortable flats but I find they're also just sitting in my closet untouched, probably due to the heaviness and coverage of the shoe on me, which seems more appropriate for when I'm a bit older.
Next, up are sandals. I have the least amount of shoes in this category because I tend to rely mostly on flip flops in the summertime.
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| Left to right: Banana Republic 'Marcia' Knot Flat Sandals, discount store, Dolce Vita girls, from Hong Kong, Old Navy kids |
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| Left to right: Charles by Charles David, from Hong Kong, from Japan, Kenneth Cole 'Draw Straws' |
Last but not least, boots! I have many in this category that I really like. I rely on my
BCBGirls Petler Boots and a nice pair of Black boots that I purchased while in Hong Kong the most throughout the fall and winter. I wear these the most because they're comfortable with a low heel height. I also purchased a pair of
North Face Alana Boots after the snowstorm that hit
a couple years ago and have only actually worn them once since buying them
but am very happy with the purchase. I was looking for a boot that would
protect against the elements yet still look streamlined and not shorten
my frame and I think these do a good job. For frigid days when it's not wet out, I like to wear my
Tory Burch Jaden Strap Boots,
which keep my feet nice and toasty. I find it is a nice alternative to
Uggs, which I stay away from because I feel they appear to shorten my
legs. Here they are below with some other flat/low heeled boots:
On days I don't do too much walking, I love wearing boots with heels. My favorite purchase this year is a pair of Kenneth Cole wedge boots from an outlet trip this year. My favorite purchase last year when visiting Chicago is a pair of
MICHAEL Michael Kors 'York Suede Knee Boots' that I wore a lot last year. Black with gold hardware is one of my favorite combinations and it instantly dresses up my outfits while keeping me warm and comfortable. Speaking of black and gold, I'm wearing a
Bisou Bisou Zip-Front Motorcycle Jacket here in most of these photos, which is
actually A's Christmas present for me and it fits surprisingly well at the shoulders (I
only had to get the sleeves shortened). :)
I refused to wear booties for a while because I feel longer boots elongate my legs more but gave in to them because they're great for brisk but not too chilly weather when it's too warm to wear long boots and too cold to wear flats.
For rainy days, I own three pairs of rain boots and four pairs of rain flats (I really have to stop buying any more.) I have to say I really do like the brand Melissa's rain flats. I've gotten many compliments on mine and recommend them because they fit so well and are comfortable and cute but my favorite pair are my Salvatore Ferragamo ones, which can really dress up my outfit even on dreary wet days.
On a side note, if you don't have the original shoe boxes for your shoes and are looking to organize them, I highly recommend purchasing some clear stackable boxes like
these, which are especially helpful since they're see-through. I stuck large photos of all my shoes on my shoe boxes and am using these clear boxes for my shoes that don't have a home and they're great for quickly pulling out the pair you need.
Organizing my stuff always makes me feel so much better afterwards. I'll definitely need to do some spring cleaning on my clothes when the time comes. As you can tell, I took most of these photos for this post in a day so it was quite a workout. :)
Leaving you with the fortune cookie quote, "A new environment makes all the difference in the world."
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