Birthday Boots

Boots are becoming somewhat of a birthday tradition, well, as a gift to myself that is. It's the third year running that boots have been one of my favorite gifts. Granted, last year they were gifted by the sweet MRN, who had been hearing me hint about wellies for several years. Alas, they were the wrong size, and I had changed my mind about the color (pink) and wanted purple. Plus, I decided to upgrade them to a fancy neoprene-lined riding version... which meant more $$ (or ££ if you're being really technical). So, in some ways, it was still a present I bought for myself.

This year was no different-- and with knee-high boots getting even fancier with the trend of wearing them over skinny jeans, I had lots of styles to choose from. But when I saw these from Bertie, how could I resist? I mean, all those wonderful buttons (and we all know my affinity for buttons). Thankfully, they're only decorative, and there are zips on the sides. Yes, yes-- purely decorative and not at all functional (unless you count style as functional... which, come to think of it, I do). But lovely all the same. As per usual, clothing is now being planned around these babies. Yes, the exciting life that I have.

On a related note, what a beautiful sunshine-y day my birthday was!

My how you've grown

When I went to college, I had these:

LL Bean Duck Boots

Now, there are these:

Steve Madden Mallard Boots

I still prefer the original ducks. What about you?

Fall Shoe-a-palooza

little bit of thor?

butterflies

modern oxford

we know how much i love buttons

herringbone

love me a wedge rainboot

peacock swoop

argyle laces? awww-yeah

you had me at wooden wedge

All available at anthropologie (as if you had any doubt).

You can never have enough shoes...

...right? Don't tell the girl who refinished a china cabinet for her shoes if you think otherwise. Of course I'll have to rearrange to accommodate my latest treasure: my first acquisition of a pair of Chie Miharas. *Sigh.* Of course, they're waaay too expensive for my wallet, but these beauties I found on eBay-- in my size (39.5!! impossible to find!! It was fate!!-- so said the self-justifying devil on my shoulder), for £75- almost 1/4 of the retail price. Soft, supple leather, a sweet scallop detail on the toe, retro with a disco twist... how could I possibly resist?? Not to mention (well, I did mention in my previous Chie post), they're super comfortable given the brand's affinity for comfort without sacrificing style. You can bet I'll be trolling eBay for more deals... and maybe a second china cabinet... (kidding... just kidding).

Whoopi's Shoes

Whoopi Goldberg is a cool chick. She seems to be so mellow, laid back and very confident and super smart. Oh, and has a wicked sense of humor, of course. What a great combination of attributes. And what makes her a SUPER cool chick? Her love of-- yes, people-- shoes. She says she loves shoes that are "interesting to her." Ahhhh-- I think we're soul sisters.

Check out her dressing room with a wall of shoes in the the behind the scenes video from "The View" (don't worry-- it's only Whoopi, so you don't actually have to watch The View).

Irregular Choice

Melissa (she's wearing these below)

Irregular Choice

Can't get enough...

... of Chie Mihara. This globetrotter was born to Japanese parents in Brazil where she was raised and started designing shoes when she was a student at FIT in NYC (in her apartment in Queens, no less). Now married to a Spaniard and living and designing in Spain (and we all know the best shoes come from Spain), her magnificent shoes are available at high-end retailers all over the world. They're not cheap, but despite the height on many them, they are designed for comfort. She studied foot anatomy and common foot problems at an orthopedic shoe store where she first worked as a designer and her shoes are built to the shape of a woman's foot for ultimate comfort. Here are some of my favorites from the Fall 2011 collection. I'm kind of obsessing over the open toe + tights combination (which I usually hate). Ah, Spanish shoes how I love you.

Shoe Love

I know I have an unhealthy attraction to shoes, but sometimes there are just a pair that makes my heart skip a beat. Admittedly, since getting married (and having to curb more frivolous spending for practicalities like fixing walls and pipes and things), I've reined in my shoe purchases (oh-- and lack of space, of course). But upon seeing these, I couldn't help but suck in my breath and think, "I NEED." Okay, okay-- I know it's completely irrational to NEED shoes. So I quickly altered that statement in my head to "I WANT." They're called posh wellies. And posh they are, those lovely shiny wellies with a lovely grosgrain ribbon accoutrement. And upon showing them to my very kind and completely indulgent MRN, his only response was, "Those are so you." (See? Very indulgent.) Never mind that I already own a pair of perfectly sufficient wellies (okay-- and I love them; they're purple). And I certainly don't need TWO pairs of wellies... I mean it rains constantly here, but I don't wear wellies that much (although MRN does tease me because I do wear them almost every time it rains... Did I mention they're purple??) But even so, I think I may dream about these... yet another test of my resolve, it seems!

**UPDATE** (A mere two hours after posting)
The more I look at these, the more I think that I DO need them. Doesn't the green one look like Christmas? I know, it's a sickness...

Gladys get a makeover

So, we all know my English home's gots some storage is-sues. I've been sucking it up and making do; I hate clutter and having things on display, so I've become somewhat of an expert at maximizing storage (and shoving things where they can't be seen).

My biggest challenge to date has been shoe storage. One day when I'm fabulously wealthy, I'll have one of those MTV cribs closets that are bigger than the average bedroom and has a whole wall of little cubbies to display—err, store shoes. But until then, I'm forced to get creative in my limited space.

Enter Gladys.

Gladys is a china cabinet I bought on eBay for £20 (that about $32). I don't know anything about her origin or age, but the seller was able to tell me that she came from an estate sale of the belongings of a woman named Gladys. Of course the name stuck. It's a classic-- like every good grandmother name (Matilda, Frances, Mildred...). It was, as they say, kismet. Small enough to not take up too much space; stylish enough to be on display; and big enough to house, oh, at least 15 -18 pairs of shoes.

Alas, while Gladys had great bones, the old girl was a bit of a wreck. Cracked and peeling, various layers and shades of stain, she was in need of an overhaul. After trolling the internet for inspiration, I decided that I would bite the bullet and apply a coat (or four) of glossy black paint-- 1) because I fell in love with all the makeovers I found online; 2) because she was a bit old fashioned for my taste and I felt like she deserved some sprucing up; 3) because I loved her curves, which reminded me of a piano; and 4) because I couldn't bear the time commitment of sanding, re-sanding and then more sanding it would take before I could apply stain (umm—so much for that; it required multiple rounds of sanding which, coupled with the dismal weather and not being able to do anything outside made this project drag on for about 4 months). Oh, and 5) because I had an idea that I could use the awesome Orla Kiely wallpaper I bought a few years ago for another project but never used.

So, below is Gladys' journey from great to even more awesome (if I do say so myself). The wallpaper worked terrifically as a way to brighten up the dark interior and serve as a backdrop for my art-- err, shoes (and in fact, it’s a bit of a shame that the shoes cover it up). And the black gloss paint? LOVE. It really does make her look like a piano. Alas, my clodhoppers mean that only the high-high heels fit on the shelves straight on, but I've managed to get 18 pairs in there, so not too bad. I plead the 5th on how many pairs I have in total.

Meet the original Gladys.

Shoes, Glorious Shoes...

Some pretty shoes to go with my Fall faves... oh to live in world with unlimited closet space (and, errr, money...).

Wingspan Heels from Poetic License (love, love, love Poetic License...); Gust of Wind PumpsRensselaer T-Straps; Lavandula Heels. from Plenty by Tracey Reese;

Coveting

Even though I am on a self-imposed shoe ban, boots are a must-have English year-round item. You see, it's cold and rainy ALL THE TIME, so investment in boots is justifiable. I'm still waiting on my Wellie's, which enough hints to MRN might bag them this birthday... but in the meantime, I'm coveting these babies from Anthropologie. I mean, what could be more perfect? Leather with ruffles? Sure, not so versatile, as I couldn't really use them for work... but lots, and lots of leisure. Plus, no heel, so I could actually walk around in them. I love all things Anthropologie. They opened their first European store in London last November, and I've made frequent trips. It's massive, but they don't have the same great sale rack as my beloved State Street store in Chi-town, and buying retail is not as satisfying (or wallet-friendly). Of course, I do indulge in small items (hats, headbands, socks) but mostly save for impromptu US trips (while the GBP has taken a massive hit in this downturned economy, it's still a bit better than the USD). The new Fall catalogue just came out and I'm drooling over all the wool skirts, cardigans and checkered tights. I think a trip to Anthro will be in order for this month's trip to Chicago!

Shoe Love

Since moving to England I've been REALLY good about shoes... as in, I've only bought one pair (for my birthday present to myself... because you should always get a birthday present for yourself; after all, who knows you better?), and they were out of sheer necessity-- I replaced a pair of boots that were killing my feet for a splurge; but they are good for both work and play (and more importantly, my feet). But generally speaking, I've resisted my shoe urges primarily due to lack of space (and compulsion to curb superfluous spending in general). But no storage for shoes has been my greatest irk (alright, alright-- a bit melodramatic, but hey, what's life without a little superficial melodrama).

However, this week saw the end to my self-imposed shoe famine. I've been coveting a pair of Poetic License shoes since last fall, but managed to resist until this week when I saw they had gone on sale. And what's better than buying shoes than buying shoes on sale?! While it's a London company, I actually discovered PL at Nordstrom in Chicago. I fell in love with their quirky, flirty, retro-inspired designs, in fun colors and styles. My favorite in my "collection" are a pair of red, mid-heel patent leather with brown side stitching, a brown wooden heel and little peep holes on the face with a leather tassle bow for a little bit of fun. They're perfect for adding a little character to boring business suits. (And as an aside, their packaging is brilliant... and I'm nothing if not a sucker for good design. Yes-- the "box" is indeed also a bag. Clever.)

But these may soon be knocked out by my new purchase... again, practical because they can be used for work and play (well, perhaps a stretch for the office, but I do like to spice up my work wardrobe with fun shoes...). The ballerina "toe shoe" front, rich suede and stain bow accenting a keyhole opening on the face is stylish but practical for colder climates. And the platform heel is entirely foot friendly-- because while I do love shoes, I am not a "pain for fashion" type girl. They must be comfortable-- and walkable. Meaning, I can walk at least a mile in them without killing myself (and seeing as I'm naturally clumsy, these type of heels are much more "maikib-friendly").

You can find PL in the US at the following retailers: Nordstrom, Piperlime, and if you're in Chicago, at Lori's on Armitage. I'm sure a google search will reveal a lot more retailers, but these are my favorite for interesting shoes.

Ahhh... shoe love....