Shoe Update & Shopportunity

Remember these?

I ordered them a while back and I got 'em and I'll tell ya -- that was 27 well-spent dollars. These are great little shoes, even for very not-expensive shoes. These are not leather (which is what one has to expect when original retail is only 40 bucks) but it's a really good faux-leather. You have to look pretty closely to tell, way more closely than anyone is ever going to look at your shoes. (And if the faux-leather aspect of the shoe bothers you, I suggest you do some cognitive re-framing and think of them as "vegan.") The gold is just right -- it's not too shiny and not too yellow. I've worn them several times already -- I am more than going to get my money's worth out of these babies even if they fall to pieces at the end of the summer, but they honestly are pretty good shoes for the price point. They rub me a teensy bit on the insides of my ankles where the gathering is, but I fixed that with the application of a couple of pieces of Nexcare First Aid Tape (the best stuff -- just stick it on the rubby place and voila! no more rubby!) and all is well. Had I spent $300 for the shoes, I would be cheesed at having to do any doctoring. Having spent $30, I'm totally okay with it.

Sadly, the gold version of this sandal seems to have sold out, but they do have black ones left, so if you're interested, hit and check 'em out. They have Free Overnight Shipping and they're also having further markdowns on summer sandals, so it's worth a cruise through the site. Here are some more little flat gold sandals that I also like. (The pictures may not be gold, but they are all available in gold.) Click photos for links.

So now that my gold sandal mission has been accomplished, I'm on to wanting a pair of flat red sandals.

I can't get over how intrigued by these I am. I dunno why, they are just working for me.

These are also really good -- the straps look so delicate.

Not sure I want to commit to an ankle strap -- they do slow down the on & off process. But these are awfully cute.

What do you guys think? I am now accepting applications for flat red sandals, so if you run across any you think are great, be sure to let me know!

Shop the Closet!

Need shoes? That's great, 'cause I'm selling some more.



GORGEOUS pale pink Ted Baker sandals. Worn once. Ostensibly a size 9, in reality a 9.5 or 10. $60. Go here for details.





Beautiful, classic, NEVER-WORN ivory Pollini sandals, size 39.5. Fantastic shoes. 70 bucks. Check them out here.

One of the most perfect party dresses I have ever bought:


Gorgeous red David Meister that I promise will get you noticed -- I got soooooo many compliments on this dress. $60. Details are here.


Another beautiful dress -- teal chiffon & velvet Maria Bianca Nero, size M. Never worn. Lovely, lovely dress. $65. Details here.

Longing for Summer

Hostess dress. Patio dress. Maxi dress. Whatever you wanna call 'em, they're out there this summer -- long floaty summer dresses that reach to the ankle. How do we feel about them? Well, I'm leaning in favor of, but I have a few caveats in order to make them work for me.

Very importantly, they can't be slinky. No shiny 1970's knits or shimmery silks or glitzy buckles & baubles. Then it starts to get evening-ish, and that removes the fun of the thing. The idea behind this should be you, in your light-as-air floaty dress, your tanned shoulders gleaming (because they're coated in sunscreen!!!) as you circulate through a low-key crowd of people on your deck or patio, margarita in hand and peaceful smile on your lips as the party segues from late afternoon to evening. You begin to light the citronella candles and watch the setting sun paint the sky the colors of your dress, while your guests admire your effortless hospitality and relaxed glamor. These dresses need to be eeeeeeeasy -- throw them on & go. They are not worth it if they require fitzing and futzing and -- worst of all -- restrictive Support Mechanisms. No smoothers should be required.

And a note to my petite sisters, who are no doubt looking askance at all these long, looooong garments and thinking, well, here is yet another trend that will pass me by. Au contraire. With a few provisos, you too can be long and swanny in your floaty dress. Long is okay, provided it's really long -- commit to covering your ankles. It's that in-between the knee and ankle, neither-long-nor-short thing that makes you look dumpy. But if the line of the dress continues all the way to the floor, it just makes... one long line. Which is good. It should not be too voluminous, however. You are petite, remember, and you don't want to drown in fabric. Lastly, remember scale when it comes to print -- nothing too large that will overwhelm you. Small prints are better, solid colors are always good.

(As usual click photos or hypertext for links.)

Like this:

Alice + Olivia Belted One Shoulder Dress

I really like this and the thing that's strange is that I don't think I would like it nearly as much as a knee-length dress. Go figure. But I love the stripes going in different directions. These are stripes that would definitely not overwhelm a petite woman, and the dress would be easy to hem, being without a flounce around the bottom.

This one has a flounce, but it's deep enough that you could hem it up and still make it work.

Cotton voile, light as air, and oh-so-pretty.

The usual fabulous jersey from the usual fabulous DVF. My goodness, this label is prolific -- how many designers do you think she has on staff???

MyboyfriendAlexanderMcQueen for his McQ label. I have the skirt version of this and I absolutely adore it -- there are buttons tucked on the underside of the thing so you can futz around with the hem -- make it all longer or all shorter or asymmetrical. It's a beautiful soft cotton fabric with a teeeeeny-tiny gold thread through the plaid -- you have to look pretty closely to see it, but it makes for a great pairing with gold sandals. I really love this dress and I really want it, but A) wrong size and B) NO BUY!!!

What could be easier than a long version of your favorite polo shirt? And what a pretty green. I think this would be especially fun and unexpectedly glam with a great big pair of chunky earrings.

This is just too pretty not to show you...

Ditto...

HIGH TWIST RAYON SPANDEX MAXI DRESS

On sale for 50% off and a beautiful color -- I'm a big fan of aubergine. Great dress for a petite.

Corey Lynn Calter Kyle Hostess Dress

Love this for the black & white graphic pattern, which would allow for the wearing of brightly colored shoes, many of which are available this summer. I also really love the back

although I understand that this cut makes it a little difficult for those who aren't tiny up top like I am. But hey -- one of the few perks of being small-busted is that you can wear dresses like this & go without a bra, so let me enjoy it!

Mara Hoffman Printed Cami Dress

This is absolutely beautiful -- I adore this print. Probably on a non-model-sized person this would be a longer dress. These shoes, however, are wrongwrongkillmenowwrong -- stick with a strappy flat sandal.


Hey, speaking of which...

What to wear with one of these floor-length wonders? Something, as I said, flat & strappy. This is the perfect opportunity to grab yourself a pair of the "gladiator sandals" that are EVERYWHERE this summer.

These are great -- calling to mind huge sweaty men fighting to the bloody death in the Coliseum in only the vaguest of ways. (Because you really don't want to look like Russell Crowe, now do you?) Gold, my favorite neutral, and these bad boys are only $65. (The fact that they're listed as "Rachel Zoe's pick" on the site does give me pause, as it should you whenever you see that, but I'm going to get over that and give these a hearty thumbs-up.)

Another metallic, which also comes in gold. These don't have anything between the toes, which makes me like them even more. Ever since I was a child, I have hated shoes that had things between the toes. Consequently, I have never succumbed to the Great FlipFlop Apostasy (wherein those rubber poolside/beach/locker room shoes morphed into "acceptable" footwear and took over the entire world).

When is a thong sandal not a flipflop? When it is a cool, sexy, metallic flat that brings to mind Scheherezade dancing in her veils, that's when. What a sexy shoe.

Fantastic color. Also in a black and white snake print (which I love) and pewter metallic.

These are em-baubled, but in a very good way. Luxe-looking without being flashy.

A great basic in several colors, including this reptile print. The wonderful thing about this sandal (and this style of sandal in general) is its dead usefulness. Great with long dresses, great with short dresses, great with jeans or linen slacks, great even with a nice pair of shorts.

(It occurs to me -- too late as usual -- that probably I should have picked up a pair of these before the No Buy started. Dangit, I never think...)

Substantial yet delicate at the same time. I just love these.

This is a little underwhleming in brown, but is also available in a really great pink, sunny yellow, and kelly green. Go have a look.

Shown in black here, but also available in a beautiful bright blue. Crazy about this shoe.

Beautiful simplicity in metallic pink. What more could you ask for?

So how do you feel? Could you be tempted by the long? Or will you give it short shrift? (Oh, please forgive me, but it was there and I had to use it.) Tell me what you think!!!