Shoe Preview: 4 Favorites from Furla Spring '15

Bring on the Bling! 

(I said 'bling.' So what? It rhymed. I don't care that the word 'bling' isn't even a thing anymore. Anyway...) I remember the delight I felt when I was a little girl, and I was left alone to play with my Grandmommy's costume jewelry. The sparkle of those baubles used to ignite my imagination. I felt a bit of the same spark when I saw the jeweled shoes in Furla's Spring 2015 shoe collection. I immediately envisioned the maxi and mid skirts I could wear with the shoes. One pair will work with a safari look, while another is the perfect complement to... well... almost anything! 

Got a wedding to attend in spring 2015? If it's a daytime wedding, this shoe will look adorable with gingham or florals. Going to brunch? Yup, this shoe works with jeans. Dinner and a show? This shoe and a tea-length full skirt are the way to go. The intense tangerine color, paired with citrine and clear stones make this pump festive and fresh. The almond toe keeps it from looking solely formal. 

If day-to-night is your need, this brown sandal will do the trick. The chunkier heel gives it an easygoing look, but the tonal jewels dress it up. It's basically a strong contender for the go-to position in your closet.

The golden hue of this skimmer, coupled with the dazzling jeweled accent may give one the feeling of walking on sunshine. The fact that it's also the same color as the ubiquitous smiley face adds its happy factor. With jeans or ankle pants, for work or weekend, this flat is as versatile as it is glamorous. 

This take on the slide trend is the epitome of the understated elegance mentioned in Furla's collection notes. Calf-hair straps and chunky jewel accents make these a great partner for flowing maxi skirts and dresses.

Shoe Preview: 5 Faves from Carolinna Espinosa Spring '15

#ShoeFact: Carolinna Espinosa uses memory foam cushioning in each shoe. This is apparently a major component in the brand's quest to create "the perfect shoe that is eye-catching, comfortable and sophistacated all at once."  For Spring/ Summer 2015, the creative directors found inspiration in a variety of places, especially fashion's current obsession with flowers and luxe embellishments. The result is a refreshing collection of feminine styles with dynamic accents. I recently visited the showroom for a preview, and these styles made my want list:

The line of pearls down the heel of this "Arabia" pump makes it look professional without looking too practical (because I have an aversion to most practical shoes, but I realize the importance of owning a classic pump).

A cute skimmer is another must— especially if you live, work or play in a city like New York. The jeweled pearl accent on this flat reminds me of a vintage brooch. I'd love these with some camo or leopard print skinnies for a little edge.

I'm a huge fan of snakeskin shoes. And florals. This "Celie" sandal combines the two and adds an architectural bridge detail at the heel. The metallic slilver and monochromatic color palette make it incredibly versatile too.

Another take on monochrome, this "Sandra" pointed flat has a subtle zipper accent. I don't usually like zipper embellishments, but this one manages not to look cheesy.

I said it on IG, and I'll say it again... my allergies prevent me from really enjoying flowers in real life. However, I do appreciate them on a shoe, especially in bright, pretty colors. I'm also big on baubles, so the jewels on this "pepper" sandal drive it right up my alley.

These and the rest of the styles in the collection will be available in February 2015 at price points between $195 and $275. Stay tuned for drink pairings! Do you have a favorite among these? Let us know in the comments!

Runway Recap: Our 5 Favorite #SS15 Shoes from #LFW

London Fashion Week is a wrap for this season, and the excitement has moved on to Milan. The shoes presented on the RTW runways indicate that Spring 2015 will be have London's style set choosing between dainty, chunky and sporty. And then there were the wild ones... those were our favorites. One of these seasons, someone from Shoes N Booze will get to the shows across the Atlantic, but this time, we had to live vicariously through our social media feeds.

Sophia Webster

Image via Instagram/ @metrogypsie

Sophia Webster shoes are our spirit animal. No matter the season, she delights with bright colors, whimsical touches and an ultra-feminine aesthetic. Her SS15 collection, "Jungle is Massive" took a cue from all things untamed— and somehow added a cute factor. We're in absolute awe!

Nicholas Kirkwood for Roksanda

Image via Instagram/ @Imgcube

Roksanda Ilincic chose brooklyn-based sculptor, Julia Dault's work as her muse for Spring '15. (Every season, she draws inspiration from the work of an artist, so at the end of this show, she informed her audience before anyone had the chance to ask who it was.) Bold colors and geometric details characterized both the clothes and the shoes, which were a collaboration with Nicholas Kirkwood (a Shoes N Booze fave). We fell in love with the slightly curved heels and contrasting brights on these sandals.


House of Holland

Image via Instagram/ @house_of_holland

During the 70s, rock groupies were influencers in their own right, and Henry Holland paid homage to them with is Spring 2015 collection. The pieces on his runway evoked words like gogo-glam and flower power. This sandal sums up both concepts in one step with its petal-like back, iridescent trim and tasseled ties.

Toga

Image via fellow blogger,  chriSTYLEball

"I create for a complex woman who can only live in chaos"— Toga's designer, Yasuko Furuta. Uh yea, that pretty much sums up the Shoes N Booze crew. No wonder we loved the shoes from her Spring 2015 ready-to-wear collection so much. These architectural sandals with their PLV inserts, multi-level wedge heels and color blocking are just the right amount of crazy.


Rupert Sanderson for Antonio Berardi 

Image via Instagram/ @bitsnbits

Antonion Berardi found inspiration for Spring '15 in the film The Flowers of War.  This translated into dresses, etc. in prints that referenced the refracted light of stained glass windows in a church. The shoes, a collaboration with Rupert Sanderson, were a literal interpretation— at least this pair was, with it's metallic straps and floral appliques. We think they're beautiful.

What about you? Did you have any favorites from London Fashion Week that we didn't mention? If they make it to production, maybe we can pair them with a cocktail once the season gets here.

Runway Recap: Our 5 Favorite #SS15 shoes from #NYFW

New York Fashion Week has come to an end, and Spring/ Summer 2015 has a head-spinning variety of styles in store. There were so many shows and so many shoes (as always). We're simultaneously catching our breath from all the amzing pieces and trying to keep up with the coverage of London Fashion Week, but we managed to find our top #NYFW picks. 

Christian Siriano

Image via instagram/ @csiriano

The Project Runway alum said in his notes that he drew inspiration for this collection from the multidimensional glass sculptures of Australian sculptor Sergio Redegalli. We think these shoes are the stuff of fairy tales, especially the silver iridescent pair at the top center and the white mules with the mint green perspex heels. 

J. Crew

Image via twitter/ @thewallgroup

Inspirations for the apparel at the J. Crew Spring 2015 RTW presentation ran the gamut from sports to stars to South American textiles, resulting in a collection that that epitomized elevated cool. The shoes were gorgeous. This iridescent sandal, with its dainty heel and slender straps, took our breath away. We're coveting the entire collection, though.

Monique Lhuillier

Image via tumblr/ @allegoryofvanity

A favorite among the red carpet crowd, Monique Lhuillier, recalled a recent trip to Harbour Island in the Bahamas for her Spring 2105 collection. She was moved by the blush and lilac tones, and she was inspired by the reflective, rippling water. Consequently, most of her had an element of sparkle or shimmer (and then there were those effervescent pink dresses). The shoes shined as well. This clear-heeled gold sandal is on our must-get list.  

Marissa Webb

Image via Instagram/ @ivykirzhner

According to her instagram, Marissa Webb's shoes didn't arrive in time for her presentation. As a result, Ivy Kirzhner's (already-available-online yay!) footwear marched down the runway with her collection— a mash-up of tough, sweet and easy that will likely gain traction with the street style set. This particular pair— studded gladiator sandal with cutouts, lots of hardware and a dash of cowgirl inspiration— reminded us of Xena, one of our favorite on-screen tough chicks.

Kate Spade New York

Image via Insgagram/ @secondcitystyle

An ode to the outdoors, Kate Spade's Spring 2015 collection was a sartorial invitation to "Escape the Ordinary." (Ya know, the cubicle, the constant staring at screens, the concrete jungle...) Leisure-in-spirit clothing was complemented by quirky accessories and easy, wear-all-day shoes. This lace-up sandal, with its block heel and dotted cutout pattern, has us fantasizing about dining alfresco on a sunny afternoon.

We bet you had your own favorites from the New York shows... We'd love to know what they were (so that maybe we can pair them with great cocktails once the season arrives).