Trend Talk: Fresh Takes on Transitional Floral Footwear

Petals for your Mettle

Anyone else feel like spring's just not that into us this year, and winter has decided we'll be together forever? Granted, we've had some beautiful days, but they've often been followed by rain, low temperatures and in some places hail or snow. Meanwhile, we're all tired pretty tired of our winter boots. What's a gal to do when Mother Nature can't seem to decide on a season? Opt for fun, versatile floral footwear, of course.

We know, floral motifs for spring aren't exactly a sartorial revolution. Nonetheless, flowers are still a refreshing sight at this point, and this year they're bold, exaggerated and often layered over other prints, like snake and stripes. Here are a few pairs we suggest to take you through the rest of the wacky-weather season.

Loafers

We love the versatility of a good loafer, and this "Loraine" flat by Sam Edelman features this year's must-have horse-bit accent. (inspired by Gucci? We think so.) Add a snake-print upper covered in cartoonish florals, and you've got a work-to-weekend shoe that looks as great with a pencil skirt as it does with cut-offs and a cool tee. Available at Shopbop.

Easy Flats

These misty days of spring can make shoe selection tough- there's not enough moisture for a rain boot, but you also don't want your leather or canvas shoes to get damp. That's why we love this Melissa "Ultragirl 3db" flat. A simple style in lightweight PVC, it's perfect for the office, errands or even for wearing to an event and then slipping on your heels before making your grand entrance. It's basically the polished, grown-up version of the jelly shoes we wore as children. Available (along with a huge selection of other plastic shoes we love) at shopmelissa.com.

Sneakers

Call it a carryover habit from childhood, but we tend to refresh our sneaker collection in spring. This pair from Keds X Rifle Paper Co. gives us all the feels a a pretty bouquet with none of the allergy symptoms. Tie these on, and it'll be tough not to skip down the street, even on cloudy days. Available here.

Heels

Not every flower girl's job is limited to dropping petals at weddings. Some of us are adults who have to actually work in an office. While you may not want a full bouquet on your desk, you can wear one on your feet and still look sophisticated. This JADE pump from Betsey Johnson works for both the office AND after-work drinks. That checks just about all the boxes, no? Get it here.

Rain Booties

When April's showers are more of a downpour, but it feels too warm out for a tall boot, rubber ankle booties are a must. We love the combination of nautical navy stripes and feminine pastel florals on this chelsea boot from London Fog. Available here.

Celebrity Shoe Spotting: Hailee Steinfield in Zvelle

Point-Perfect

Perfect Pitch 3 star, Hailee Steinfield was recently spotted on the red carpet at 106.1 KISS FM's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 in a pair of seriously sexy lace-up booties with pointed toes a 4-inch stiletto heels. We're not usually fans of black suede shoes in the Shoes N Booze office because of how quickly they fade. However, these Mei booties by Zvelle are triple-dyed to ensure deep, long-life color. They also  have a zipper on the inner ankle, so you don't have to worry about risking your manicure in the name of shoe love, and a gold zipper pull adds a luxe touch. 

You can snag a pair for yourself in black or eggplant here for $525. If you'd prefer to keep things a little more low-key, they also come in a mid-heel for $515. And if you like the style but want to keep a little more cash reserved for the folks on your "nice" list, here are a few less expensive ways to get the look:

Wondering what to drink when you rock your new lace-up booties for a night out?

Try a Black and Gold Martini (from our friends at The Spruce). It's got a seductive edge, but it's also pretty sweet with plenty of kick. That's basically the vibe of those boots, right? Whether you're pre-gaming before girls' night out or planning on ordering at the bar, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Blavod Vodka
• 1 ounce chilled Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps

Method:

1. Pour the Blavod into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4. Top with Goldschlager.

If you want to learn how to make your own black vodka, Colleen Graham of The Spruce has a suggestion here.

Sale Scoop: Where to Buy Designer Shoes Under $500

Booties to Kick Your Year Into High Gear

It's a new year (Hey #sweet16!), we've made our resolutions, decided on our mantras, made our vision boards, planned our weekly menus and sworn off frivolous spending. (For the sake of transparency: the Shoes N Booze squad did NOT do all of that. We did commit to more consistency, and we hope you'll hold us accountable.) Anyway, back to the frivolous spending thing... there are certain sales that make refraining pretty impossible. Besides, a pair of kick-@$$ designer heels in a timeless silhouette at a fraction of the original price is really more of an investment, right? Well, here are a few places to score a good deal:

Amazon

Giuseppe Zanotti's stiletto-heel, pointed toe patent booties are a great bet because they're incredibly versatile. Whether with jeans and a tee, a polished skirt and skirt or an edgy mini dress. Since the silhouette is sleek, you'll be able to wear them over and over without that "ugh, those shoes... again?" feeling. And they're down to $394 from $895 at Amazon.com.

Forzieri

You really can't go wrong with block heel ankle booties this season (and beyond...)- especially when they have gold insets at the heel and are from See by Chloe. They've got enough cool girl cred for for an indie show, and (we're guessing) the block heel lets you dance the night away at the after party. And if you end up making a walk of shame victory strut the next morning, they're not an easy telltale sign. Wait... new years resolutions... right, no more "after the party it's the hotel lobby." Got it. They're down to $212 from $425 at Forzieri.com. #treatyoself

Moda Operandi

Work. Weekend. Between. Beyond. With a block heel, pointed toe and a textural combination of brown leather and gray suede, Laurence Dacade's Isola Ankle boot seems to have it all. We don't suggest going out to dive bars or clubs in these because (well) gray suede, but they're probably a front runner for brunches and other outings where you want to look polished but not contrived. They're $256, down from $945. Get them while you still can.

Farfetch.com

At a glance this shoe almost looks like a patent slingback pump over a white sock, but it's really Maison Margiela's slick black and white ankle boot. Year after year, monochrome is discussed as if it's a trend, but please know this colorway is a style mainstay. Trust us, you'll constantly find new ways to wear this bootie. Available in limited sizes for $313.50 (down from $1045) at Shopbop.com. (More sizes available for a few more bucks more at farfetch.com)

Kirna Zabete

On the fence about the fringe trend? It's time you join the fray because this free-spirited accent isn't going anywhere for a while. An easy entry is a classic pointed-toe bootie with western-inspired pull tabs and fringe at the ankle. This "Paris" bootie by Saint Laurent is a luxe take, and you can get it for $498 (down from $995) at Kirna Zabete.

Have you seen any great designer shoes on sale your fellow readers should know about? Have any of the styles above made it to your want list? Have a style on your mind you'd like our "Shoe Sleuth" to find? Let us know in the comments!

Shoes N Booze Event Alert: New York Shop Crawl

 

I’m cohosting a thrift and vintage shop craw this Saturday in New York with two other amazing bloggers, Kitty Bradshaw and SheSoMajor. It’s Shoes N Booze’s first official event, so I’m extremely excited! We’ll be hitting the Angel Street Thrift Shop, Couture du Jour, Housing Works Chelsea, the Film Biz and Recycling Prop Shop, Salvation Army and Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market. Hoping to see you there! Click the flyer for more information and to RSVP.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Hell's Kitchen Flea Market,Salvation Army,Couture du Jour NY,Housing Works Chelsea,Shoes,Shopping Event,New York,Shop Crawl,thrifting,Kitty Bradshaw,SheSoMajor

Blogger Labels: Hell's Kitchen Flea Market,Salvation Army,Couture du Jour NY,Housing Works Chelsea,Shoes,Shopping Event,New York,Shop Crawl,thrifting,Kitty Bradshaw,SheSoMajor

Don't Mess With Me Monday: Naughty Monkey

Going Ape

Mondays have a way of bringing out the crazy in all of us. Still, you manage to maintain some semblance of sanity. Let the loon in you show in shoes that are bananas (B-A-N-A-N-A-S). Blogger extraordinaire, Kitty Bradshaw, (who's seen her fair share of manic Mondays) submitted this pair of Naughty Monkey "Parade" sandals (available at Sissy in NY or via Amazon.com for $79.00). With their 4 inch polished cork-looking heel, side cut-outs and cheery yellow hue, they're definitely fun. However, the contrasting criss-cross straps add a little serious touch. Like you, though, they're super versatile and more neutral than they may seem. They'll go great with this season's military and safari inspired looks.

Toast the day's end with a "Bonbon of the Vanities" cocktail. According to the Intoxicologist, it combines Russian Standard Vodka, banana liqueur, peach liqueur, orange juice and grenadine. It'll be a tropically sweet way to cap off your crazy day. However, keep in mind that it's better to douse your sorrows than drown them. Too many may result in things going from tough to terrible. 

*P.S. If you have a pair of shoes for which you'd like a drink pairing, send an image and description. I'll be happy to hook you up.

Yours Shoely,

Me

-Cocktail Image Credit: The Intoxicologist Blog-

Much Ado About Shoes: Kerry Rhodes' Jimmy Choo Fundraiser

Football Players, Footwear, Finery... Oh My!

A member of the S&B team recently attended a VIP event at the Jimmy Choo store in New Jersey's Mall at Short Hills. Hosted by NY Jets safety, Kerry Rhodes (Pictured left) and Miss USA, Kristen Dalton, the holiday shopping soiree was held to benefit the Kerry Rhodes Foundation. Attendees gnoshed on passed hors 'doeuvres (Chilean Sea Bass Mini Cakes, anyone?) and sipped "Rhodes Sunrises" (Ciroc, Nuvo and pineapple), while shopping to benefit a great cause. Power 105.1's DJ Kut kept shoppers' spirits high with great music and comical commentary. Oh... and let's not forget the dessert. There were passed tarts and chunks (not slices) of a beautifully decorated celebratory cake.

The highlight for us was, of course, Jimmy Choo's resort 2010 line. New takes on gladiator looks, metallic accents, fringes, animal prints and updates on Fall 2009's ubiquitous caged trend abounded... as did the sexy factor.

Dream Come Shoe: Brian Atwood Sample Sale NY

Happy Hour for Heel Hoarders

If you're reading this, you probably shoe shop for sport, so, on June 10th strap on your favorite strutters and head to 20 West 36th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, 6th Floor, NYC. It's open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, but you'll probably want to get there early because we imagine there will be a line. Also, feel free to comment with your finds!