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.

Booze Clues: Fun Facts about Italian Wine for Ferragosto

The Italian holiday Ferragosto celebrates the harvest season and summer in general. Though introduced by the emperor Augustus in 18 BC, it also coincides with the Catholic feast of Assumption of Mary, so for many it has religious significance as well as cultural. Since it occurs in mid-August (seeing a pattern with that root word yet?), which is the summer vacation period in Italy, celebrations can last from one day to a couple of weeks. The festivities begin on August 15th. In Italy, there will be picnics, fireworks, religious observances and– most importantly for this crowd– the sharing of delicious food and great wine.

If you're in the New York area, you can also join the celebration at iTrulli, where there will be a special Ferragosto-inspired lunch menu designed to feature foods traditionally enjoyed and shared during the festivities. Think panzerotti, octupus, caprese salad, meatballs, etc. Plus, the Marzovilla Family, makers of Barone Fini Wines, are partnering with the restaurant to offer a curated selection of wines to pair with your meal. As an extension of good will, 100% of the proceeds from each glass of Barone Fini purchased will directly benefit the Food Bank for New York City.

We attended a preview of the lunch last week, and it was DELICIOUS! While there, in addition to learning about the celebration of Ferragosto, we also learned quite a bit about north Italian wines, especially those from Barone Fini. The family behind the brand has been making wine since 1497 and has become an authority on the process of creating exceptional Pinot Grigio and Merlot. Our editor couldn't help but swoon as a fellow Leo and 15th-generation family member Giovanni Bonmartini-Fini guided attendees through the tasting. Of course, the experience inspired a few #TIPsyTuesday posts. If you didn't catch them on our Instagram, Facebook or twitter, here they are:



Looks like we all need to pay a little attention to labels. Granted, there are some amazing Pinot Grigio wines from various places, but we'd like to think the best of the best would come from its home country.

Be mindful when you're wine shopping. Many times, the higher the classification, the higher the price (because the assumption is that the wine is better). However, often, there are I.G.T. wines with quality levels at or above those of D.O.C. wines, especially in certain grape varietals.

*Bonus Fact: Because part of northern Italy was once actually part of Austria, white wines from that region, especially in the Alto Adige area, will have flavors similar to German or Austrian wines.

Now that you've gotten a little primer on Italian wines, do you feel more comfortable in the wine shop? Do you have questions we can pass on to Giovanni?