Shoesday Tuesday – Girls Just Wanna Be Strong

In today’s Shoesday Tuesday – I’m going to talk about something I’ve touched on once before (see here.) And that is the idea that feminine or girly things are inherently weak, shallow, or unimportant.

It’s often thought that misogynistic view points or comments come solely from the male population – but this isn’t true. We females are just as mean to our own kind (and ourselves) – and sometimes more so! I read an article on Jezebel yesterday that was defending the show Sex and the City. It started off on a light easy going level purely stating that the show was better and more important than most give it credit for. But then a whole new, and more enlightening, conversation began – why are we, as women, afraid to admit that we like things that are seen as feminine?

Women were commenting on this article left and right saying that they often feel ashamed about their “womanly” interests – that they are made to feel as if they are silly, vapid, and unimportant. Only things that identify as scholarly, manly, and/or virtuous are of importance – oh and you also like to take care of yourself and you are interested in using fashion as an art form through which to express yourself and elevate your confidence level? That’s just shallow, girly crap – shove it to the back. Labeled unimportant.

Wrong.

I even see myself slipping into this mindset from time to time. I will see a certain piece of clothing in a store and think – “That’s too girly for me” – and while sometimes it is just a matter of the article not being my particular taste, there are other occasions where I feel like looking ultra feminine will categorize me as dumb, vapid, and self involved.

This is just not the case. We shouldn’t be attributing these negative stigmas to things like pink, lace, ruffles, or bows. We are women. And that difference is what makes us strong. Embrace it.

Get it: (left to right, top to bottom) Vivienne Westwood Tan Rain Sling Backs w/ Bow – $145 vanmildert.com, White Lace Bow Back Wedge – $48 storenvy.com, Satin Pink Mule – $325 simplysoles.com, Pink Rhinestone Ballet Flat – $83 zappos.com, White Bow Peep Toe Sling Back – $350 katespade.com, Lucite Heel Pink Platforms – $435 luisaviaroma.com, Cream Ballerina Bow Flat – $39 wallisfashion.com

<33Mal

Shoesday Tuesday – Zara Shoe Sale Gems

We are all in luck. Zara is having an amazing shoe sale. I know I have ranted multiple times about my love for all things Zara shoes but now they are at prices that are basically half off. Please join in the celebration below and then head over to Zara.com.

Get it: (left to right, row by row)  Gold Studded White Sandals – $19.99, originally $49.90, Green and Black Pointed Pumps – $49.90, originally $89.90, Gold Cross Over Heeled Sandals – $49.99, originally $89.90, Red Leopard T-Strap Sandals – $39.99, originally $69.90, Black and White Multi Stripe Wedge – $39.99, originally $79.90, Black and White Sling Backs – $49.99, originally $79.90

Shoesday Tuesday – Need a Little Motivation, Inspiration

I’ve been feeling like I’m stuck in a bit of a rut lately and am in need of something new to inspire me. Cue shoes. (Or any fashion/art really, but let’s stick to the theme.)

Get it: (left to right, top to bottom) Neon Ombre Pump – $710 cricket-fashion.com, Yellow and White Chunky Sandal – $62 randawebsite.com, Black and White Striped Oxford – $95 americanapparel.com, White and Black Double Strap Peep Toe – $50 solesociety.com, CheckerBoard Bootie – $990 barnes.com, Purple Wave Cut Out Sandal – $975 couture.zappos.com, Blue Ankle Strap Peep Toe Bootie – $475 youngbritishdesigners.com, Lucite Platform Pink Patent Sandal – $609 luisaviaroma.com, Blue and Metallic Ankle Strap Sandal – $109 shopbop.com

<33Mal

Shoesday Tuesday – Patriotic Thursday

Everything you need for July 4th – feet related, anyway.

Get it: (top left heading clockwise) White and Blue Striped Pumps: $770 colette.fr, Thin Stripe Mules – $123 joie.com, Blue Ankle Strap Sandal – $50 zara.com, Red and White Striped Loafer – $272 mytheresa.com, Red and White Dotted Ballet Flat – $50 heels.com, Patent Leather Blue Bow Flat – $68 couture.zappos.com, White Ankle Strap Sandal – $109 macys.com, Red Wedge Sandal – $115 heels.com

<33Mal

Shoesday Tuesday – Rainy Day Wishes

It’s set to rain all this week here in NYC.

Unfortunately for us – we all have to walk in it. And unfortunately for me – I own no rain shoes. I typically throw on something patent leather (most likely of the 4 inch heel variety) and call it a day. But – someday – I’d like to invest in one of these beauties by Melissa.

Get it: (Top to Bottom) Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Tan and Pink Pumps – $150 allsole.com, Two Tone Wedge – $110 vanmildert.com, Red Sling Backs – $92 vanmildert.com, Grey Closed Toe Ankle Straps – $65 yoox.com, Leopard Loafers – $61 nonnon.co.uk

Shoesday Tuesday – Walk in My Shoes

As I’ve stated too many times to count – I wear heels often. Not always, but often.

I also live in NYC. Some people see this as a disconnect – I do not. While I may have on flats today, yesterday I wore 4 inch heels from 8 am to 2 am. And last week a coworker asked me if I changed into heels when I got to work – astonished to find that I do not.

Wearing heels can be practical. You just have to wear the right heels. So let me help you out, sister. Here are some tips.

Choose a chunky heel. Not only does this make walking over subway grates easier – but it helps you balance. See some options below:

Get it: (left to right, top to bottom) Navy and Yellow Chunky Pump – $60 solesociety.com, Metallic and Lucite Chunkly Heel – $120 nastygal.com, Two Tone Toe Cap Pump – $200 jcrew.com, Cross Strap Two Tone Sandal – $80 clubcouture.cc, Metallic Pink Sandal – $81 asos.com, Floral Platform Sandal – $65 zappos.com

Choose quality brands. And by quality I don’t mean thousand dollar Louboutins. I mean affordable, well made shoes. See the below options all for under $100 by some of my favorite, comfortable brands.

Get it: (left to right, top to bottom) Navy Patent Slingback by Nine West – $70 lordandtaylor.com, Black Pointed Ankle Strap by Nine West – $85 piperlime.gap.com, Patent Leather Coral Wedge by Naturalizer – $60 dillards.com, Neutral and Blue Sandal by Naturalizer – $63 shopruche.com, Yellow Ankle Strap Pump by Rocket Dog – $50 macys.com, Striped Peep Toe by Rocket Dog – $64 zalando.co.uk, Black Ankle Strap Wedge by Seychelles – $95 farfetch.com, Brown T-Strap Heeled Sandal by Seychelles – $70 dsw.com

Keep your feet locked in with lace up heels. The more the shoe surrounds your foot – the more stability and control you will have. Trust me. See the beauties below.

Get it: (top to bottom, right to left)  Two Tone Oxfords – $272 simplysoles.com, Cut Out Lace Up Ankle Bootie – $136 asos.com, Black Lace Up Sandal – $129 zara.com, Ankle Laced Stiletto – $88 express.com, Two Tone Suede Oxford Cut Outs – $60 solesociety.com

And finally, throw on a platform. Putting a platform at the front of your shoe lessens the actual height your heel is off the ground, keeping your instep less severe. They also happen to be “in” at the moment so you’ll have no trouble finding them.

Take it from me though – give your feet a break from time to time. All too often do I wear shoes a bit past my limit and definitely pay for it – in my knees. If you are wearing heels to work and then out at night – try switching pairs. It’ll give your feet (and knees and back) a break.

Enjoy!

<33Mal

Shoesday Tuesday – Hunting

Someone please find me these Isabel Toledo for Payless shoes from 2011. I borrowed them from a friend once when my shoes literally broke in half mid-step, and have been obsessed since. They are the perfect height, adorable, and so comfortable. Ebay only has them in a size 6 and I’m dying at the reality that my feet are 3 whole sizes bigger than that.

I will not give up.

Shoesday Tuesday – Throw Back Thursday

Back from vacation and finally re-adjusting to the real world on a Thursday – I figured I would kill two birds with one stone: make up for missing Shoesday Tuesday and jump on the #ThrowBackThursday bandwagon the only way I know how – via shoes.

My obsession with clothes and accessories started early. My mom often tells people that I loved to wear bowls on my head as hats – maybe I was trying to get the look for less from the start. I’ve been walking in some form of a heeled shoe pretty much all of my life. And throughout my childhood and adolescence – I can remember three standout pairs of shoes that graced my feet time and time again.

In elementary school, it was the Patent Leather Mary Jane. The heels made noise in the halls as I walked (which I loved) and they were shiny! Bonus. A bit of a teacher’s pet – when I left my 4th grade class to pick up my teacher’s mail – kids running in the halls in front of me would immediately stop – thinking an adult was following them. What a great trick I had learned.

In junior high – I remember a very specific outfit consisting of a red leopard pencil skirt, black short sleeved sweater, and Wooden Heeled Platform Mules. They must have been at least 3 inches in height. I sprinted down hallways with ease, towering over boys, instructing them to put my miniature best lady friends down and “away from that garbage can.”

My high school was anything but small. Comprised of “old” and “new” sections of the building, the third floor sections didn’t even connect! Having 4 minutes between my classes did not hinder me – or change my shoe choice. I suppose it was practice for NYC. One of my favorite pairs of completely impractical shoes were baby blue Patent Leather Peep Toe Sling Back Stilettos – that I scored at a discount store for ten dollars.

So what would these Throwbacks look like if I wore them now? Let’s shop the internet.

Mary Janes.

Get it (from the top, headed clockwise): Black Rounded Toe Mary Jane – $30 target.com, Teal Buckled Mary Jane – $59 zappos.com, Gray and Yellow Marc Jacobs Mary Jane – $625 net-a-porter.com, Studded Two Tone Mary Jane – $310 theoutnet.com

Wooden Heel Mules.

Get it (top, right, left): Studded Mule – $162 shoescribe.com, Studded Slingback – $115 yoox.com, Clean Platform Mule – $440 theoutnet.com

Patent Peep Toe Sling Backs.

Get it (top to bottom, left to right): Red Slingback – $625 profilefashion.com, Black Bow Sling Back – $98 lordandtaylor.com, Striped Multi Color Sling Back T-Strap – $293 net-a-porter.com, Robin’s Egg Blue Sling Back – $404 giuseppezanottidesign.com

<33Mal

Shoesday Tuesday – The Art of Packing

As of tomorrow – I am on vacation from work. And I can’t wait!

Thursday morning, I am hopping on a plane with my lovely boyfriend and heading to Tennessee for a week. This means that tonight – I will pack. Which really means – “Let’s play a game called how many pairs of shoes can Mallorie fit in her carry-on sized luggage?”

I have high hopes. I’ve always been great at stuffing lots of things into little purses.

If the internet was my closet – here are the shoes I would bring. I’ll worry about reality later tonight.

Get it: (upper left, headed clockwise) Chunky Ankle Strap Platforms to wear with my new brocade shorts – $60 solesociety.com, Stripe Oxfords to wear with my high waisted white shorts – $95 americanapparel.net, Gold Peep Toes for the rehearsal dinner – $290 coast-stores.com, Sensible Black Peep Toes for the wedding reception – $57 shopruche.com, Neon and Animal Ankle Strap Pumps for my new high waisted wide leg slacks – $60 solesociety.com, and Neutral Bow Sandals for a day at the vineyard – $33 pret-a-beaute.com

 See you next Tuesday for a Southern themed Shoesday Tuesday!

<33Mal

Shoesday Tuesday – In Defense of Heels

I wear heels a lot.

I suppose that makes me look “fancy” – whatever that means.

People like to point this out to me – a lot.

Sometimes it’s just a genuine compliment but more often than not it is some combination of shock and confusion as to why I am so “fancy.”

We – as an American culture – get away with barely putting any effort in how we present ourselves. (Maybe sans NYC and probably LA..and no that does not make us vain – although some people here are.) People wear pajamas outside the house, leggings as pants, and yoga pants to work. So yes – compared to that – I suppose I am “fancy,” but if that’s the scale we’re looking at – I will gladly sit on the “fancy” side of it.

If someone catches me in a dress and heels – forget it – consider their minds’ blown. Which is ridiculous. But let’s go back to the heels portion of the equation. Obviously – since you are reading this blog – you know I love shoes. I love buying shoes, looking at shoes, and wearing shoes. Some of those shoes are heels – well, most of them are. I decided to do a little background research as to why women wear heels. However – I should really call that topic “why people think women wear heels” because I was not impressed with what I found.

A number of articles come up on this subject when you type it into Google – some written by men, some by women – and then there’s also a smattering of random people who posed this question to message boards.

The overwhelming consensus from these sources – is that women wear heels because they think they make them look more appealing to the opposite sex (of course – no mention of women possibly wanting to look appealing to the same sex.) And while heels may make you look more attractive – and there were actually studies done to prove so – I think that has very little to do with why the majority of women decide to put them on their feet on a daily basis.

There were some slight glimmers of hope. Lea Goldman – the features editor for Marie Claire says that she’s “utterly convinced that high heels can empower women.. they help women look and feel confident and self-assured.” This is a sentiment I can get on board with. However – she then goes into how women should wear heels to work so they are physically eye to eye with men (because how could a man take you seriously if you are shorter than him? Am I right?).  She then goes even further in the wrong direction by saying you shouldn’t wear heels that are too high because that just looks “tawdry” and “makes your colleagues feel uncomfortable.” I gotta stop you right there, girl.

Enough of what silly online articles say – I want to actually know why women wear heels. So – I asked my ladies – and I got a myriad of responses – only one of which was “to look sexy.” Most of what I heard ran along the lines of – to go with my outfit (or vice versa – considering my best friend and I often choose outfits based around our shoes). I was also told – to create an overall good proportion within an outfit, to be taller, to stand out, to go out, and because they look pretty (they as in the shoes themselves, not the wearer.)

When it comes down to it – women want to feel good about themselves and their bodies. They want to feel in control (possibly larger than life) and heels help them do that. I know for sure that when I wake up sleepy or grumpy in the morning – if I throw on a pair of amazing shoes I instantaneously feel better. So if that makes me “fancy” – so be it – I feel good, the end.

As for my shoes today? They happen to be 5″ high (and only cost me $25). That means I’m a fancy 6’2 lady right now – and that’s just how I like it.

 

<33Mal