Green with Envy

Back in the 1976 (aka before Katie was born), Kermit learned that being green can be pretty fabulous; it's beautiful.


You know what Kermit? I think green is what I want to be too. Especially if I can be green with 100mm Valentino patent pointy pumps.

If worried about blending in, I'd set the green against a bright and light color like Nicholas Kirkwood did with these ankle strap pumps.

Manolo Blahnik makes it very easy to want to be green in a low heeled Mary Jane Pump.  I know sometimes being green is harder in a high heel, so here we have easier green.

And while not Kermit's particular shade of green, Prada, B Brian Atwood and Semilla (shown left to right) all have great options in very vibrant colors.

But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean
Or important like a mountain
Or tall like a tree
~Kermit the Frog 

You will experience déjà vu

You will experience déjà vu.

HA! When I was around 7 or so I remember an evening of watching The Karate Kid on VHS with my two best friends and chewing Bazooka Joe gum. The title and first line of this post were my fortune. At 7 it was possibly the funniest thing I've ever read and I still remember it and giggle to this day.

Onwards to the déjà vu.

In the Spring/Summer 2008 Prada collection these heels with the sculpted floral heel were hugely popular.

I love the heel, but I must admit, the rest of the shoe, meh.  I don't particularly like that style of open toe shoe.  I don't typically mind a peep toe (though I'll admit I hate the constant pressure of having a perfect pedicure and I have been known on occasion to fake it by only keeping the piggy that went to the market and the piggy that stayed home perfectly done) but open toes just feel incomplete.  I'm weird.

Fast forward to 2012 and Valentino has a flower heel.

Oh, irony, you fickle mistress.  I love this shoe (a nude point toe pump?  yes please!), but the rose heel is hideous.  If only I could get the original prada heel on the nude pump I'd be in heaven.  But alas, it is not meant to be for me.

We owe it to that old '57 Chevrolet

So, when I heard that Prada was coming out with Car Shoes in 2012, I originally thought, "But Prada already bought the controlling shares of Car Shoe a few years ago didn't they?"

Oh Katie, you ignorant slut.  Don't be so literal, Prada fashioned shoes that LOOK like cars (and *I'm* the literal one?).

The inspiration:

The end result:

Yeah, and I'm totally the literal one.

As much as I love a good gimmick and an artistic shoe, I'm not so sure I like these.  In theory they're fabulous, in practice they're a little, well obnoxious.  That said, I do quite love the retro car prints used in the Prada ready to wear collection.

Unlike in W magazine, I would style it without the chipmunk, but Carey Mulligan makes it work.

Happy Thanksgiving

Howdy, Pilgrim.  Do you and your elastic waist pants need a little help getting into the Thanksgiving Spirit?  Never fear, Katie Likes Shoes is here.

So is Prada.

Pilgrim Buckle Pump (left) and Patent Leather Loafer Pumps (right)

As is Roger Vivier.

Sky Blue Suede Buckle Pump (left) and Hot Pink Leather Buckle Platforms (right)

And Tod's is here too.

Black Leather Buckle Detail Peep Toe (left) and Jodie Toffee Leather Buckle Pump (right)

Well, Santa has arrived on 34th Street, so this pilgrim better mosey along now.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. then chances are you’ve seen a pair of genuine Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz. And if you’re anything like me, boy were you disappointed.

Originally the costume designer, Gilbert Adrian, created the pair with bugle beads. While the beads looked more like rubies they were simply too heavy. The beads were replaced with the sequins you see above. The red leather, jeweled bows were added after, the bows feature the original bugle beads that were to be used on the entire shoe as well as red glass jewels. The sequins were added to white silk shoes from the Innes Shoe Company which were dyed red.

Let’s get honest though. Those shoes leave MUCH to be desired, so today, I humbly offer some new ideas to MGM to outfit each character’s feet.

We start of course with the Ruby Red Slippers. Honestly, it’s hard to find decent red glittery shoes that don’t go along with rather adult looking Dorothy costumes (wth?). But I do think these Sully platforms from Enzo Angiolini fit the bill.

I love the sparkle and shimmer of these heels and were I the Wicked Witch of the West, I’d be pretty pissed if some narcissistic trollop stole them from my barely dead sister. I mean really, how gauche!

Speaking of the Wicked Witch of the West, I don’t really see her wearing something so glamourous as Ruby Red Slippers, no, she probably just didn’t want some stranger making off with her sister’s beloved shoes while her body is still warm. I am sure her Yellow Castle was covered in flying monkey poop and I’d imagine she wouldn’t want to get her sisters lovely shoes all shitty. I see her wearing these practical, yet fabulous, Libby Smith Boots from John Fluevog.

I still wouldn’t want to get monkey poop on them, but I’m sure it’s easier to remove said poop from these shoes than it would be from glittery sparkle shoes.

Glinda, the Good Witch, much like the late Wicked Witch of the East would probably also have sparkly shoes, but in a more virginal color. She was such a nosy do-gooder. Giving away shoes that didn’t belong to her because some girl with a fishy back story lands her house on a Witch terrorizing a race of people that has a guild for lollipops. Haven’t they heard of the food pyramid? They need more variety. Where’s the Kale Chip Guild?

Oh yes, Glinda would be utterly charming giving away shoes that don’t belong to her while wearing these Christian Louboutin Helmour 100mm pumps.

On her journey to Oz Dorothy meets the Scarecrow who decides to join her adventure in order to ask the great and powerful wizard to give him the gift of a brain. If he had a brain he would know that what he should REALLY ask for are these raffia pumps from Dolce & Gabbana.

All the chic Scarecrows are wearing D&G this season.

While on their way they meet the Tinman who desperately wants a heart. Personally I think the Tinman would be the best to dress, all metallic and industrial much like these Ruthie Davis Robot Platform Sandals.

Sexy, no? Though, if he had a heart, it’d be broken if these shoes don’t come in his size (mine would be too).

The last hanger-on they meet while traveling to Oz is the Cowardly Lion. He’d probably be terrified of these Prada Mohawk pumps, but too damn bad, I’m dressing him and he’ll wear these and like them.

RAWR! The mohawk looks so much like a lion’s mane does it not?

Oh, and what would The Wizard of Oz be without Dorothy’s little dog too?

We’re not in Kansas any more Toto. I wonder how many Toto’s it took to make these Prada Faux Fur Tall Boots? Wait, that’s Cruella deVille not the Wicked Witch of the West, wrong movie franchise.

So there we have it. Shoes I would happily visit in the Smithsonian.

Menswear Inspired Heels

I am always reluctant to call menswear inspired styling a trend.  I feel it’s timeless and never really out of style.  This fall menswear inspired clothing is still going strong.  We already saw that Florsheim by Duckie Brown has a women’s line of oxfords and brogues coming out this autumn and, of course, heeled loafers are still au courant.

When I was a sophomore in high school I bought my first two pairs of heels.  They were for Mock Trial (what, it surprises you I was nerd?) so I could dress appropriately while in court.  Both were cheap pairs from Payless (pre-designer collaboration days) but they lasted a surprisingly long time.  They were both the “Highlights” store brand, a pair of black t-straps and a pair of brown loafers with a chunky high heel (90s).  

I loved those loafers.  They made me feel powerful and womanly.  The great thing about the menswear inspired heels is that they often have a much thicker heel.  This is great if you’re just starting out in heels like I was back when I was 15. 

These Prada Cherry Patent Leather Buckle Pumps are not new this season, but I have had them bookmarked in Firefox  for well over a year, so it’s time they get some blog love.

They also come in more muted colors but I’m partial to the pink myself.

Another brightly colored pair come from Anthropologie this season.

And those Swedish Hasbeens you’ve been wearing all summer?  Meet their autumn cousin.

But for those that require a slightly less colorful option, do not fret.  You are covered.

1. Vera Wang Lavender Talli Loafer Pump

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Loafer Pump

3. Diane von Furstenberg Rhiannon Heel

4. Tod's Leather Loafer Pump

5. L'Autre Chose Smoke Suede Platform Pump

6. Fendi Taupe Leather Tassel Loafer Pump

Happy loafing!

Colorblocking for the Lazy

Remember earlier this season when we were all so excited for summer styles, easy breezy dressing, and finally breaking out some color after a winter of grays, beiges, greiges, and black?  Yeah, well I dunno about the rest of you, but by mid July I start getting bored of summer.  It's freaking hot out and I don't want to put a whole lot of effort into dressing (or anything else really).

 

So what is one to do when you want to be on trend but the effort of putting clothes together is too much?  Turn to your shoes to make the statement!

Clockwise from top left: Marni Geometric Paneled Leather Sandals, Pour la Victoire Cypris Colorblocked Booties, Fendi Turquoise Faille Colorblocked Sandals, and Balenciaga Red Patent and Suede Elastic Detail Platforms.

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Prada Cobalt Canvas Platform Jute and Rubber Mary Jane Wedges, Tabitha Simmons Suede Platform Wedges, Sergio Rossi Colorblocked Wedge Leather Sandal.

Easy as pie.  A very colorful pie. 

Katie’s Going for Baroque

We’re gonna need to set the mood for this. We’ll need some Handel right away. There we are, a little bit of Water Music is lovely, no?

Now, how about a beautiful fountain completed in 1762?

Fontana di Trevi in the Trevi Rione, Rome.

Perfect, I think we’re ready now.

Let’s start off nice and slow with a gorgeous ornate bib necklace from Proenza Schouler’s 2011 Fall Runway.

Perhaps next we should try a little Prada Minimal Baroque Sunglasses that are all the rage this Summer.

Though, personally, if you’re going for Baroque like I am today, I prefer the Moo Piyasombatkul sunglasses embellished with ornamental porcelain.

There’s no holding back now. Not when Chanel has embellished a flat sandal so beautifully.

Not one to be left out, Rodarte x Nicholas Kirkwood offers an amazingly ornate wedge.

But of course, the undisputed must-have designer for all things Baroque, Alexander McQueen. Last fall,

and this Spring/Summer.

Anyone else have the sudden urge to visit the Cornaro Chapel at the Santa Maria della Vittoria Church in Rome?