Archive for December, 2008
He has a point!
I recently came across this video clip of On the Street, and feel inclined to share it with my fellow fashionistas.
“Don’t be depressed by the stock market,” says New York Times commentator Bill Cunningham. “You just jump right in and do something imaginative yourself.” His voice, endearing, convinces us like a pat on the head for good behavior that everything will be okay - if the shoe fits.
What do you think? Can a patent platform wedge distract us from shaky geopolitical news that flames off the front page of the newspaper? Will fabulously feathered stilettos (check them out at 1:25) fly us away from the ups and downs of the Dow Jones Industrial Average? Are those boots made for walking, or kicking ass at your next job interview?
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 | Boots, Celebrity, Uncategorized | No Comments
Weathering the storm.
Photo: Tourism Saskatchewan
- When it rains in Boston, it pours Wellies.
Wellies, formally known as Wellingtons, are rubber boots worn by hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts to protect themselves from the sticks, stones, and other muddy debris that one can be faced with in nature. However, dodging puddles amidst chauffeured town cars in the great outdoors of Beacon Hill hardly requires more than a little bit of resolve and creative thinking.
One solution that has fared well for me in my 20-some odd years is weatherproofing my leather shoes against the elements, including the heaviest of New England rainstorms. Kiwi’s Camp Dry Water
Kiwi's Camp Dry Water Repellent
Repellent (spray or aerosol) has worked consistently well on my leather and suede boots, loafers and pumps, and can be purchased at your local hardware store for under $8. Check out Kiwi Shoe Products for more information on Kiwi products.
Ladies, reject ridicule and salvage your souls - Wellies look out of place on anyone over the age of 5 or not involved in the task of hunting a duck or classifying oak trees and can turn your rump into what my friend describes as the “Canadian Royal Mountie” look. Protect your feet by protecting your footwear - and don’t forget a toasty pair of socks if you’re so inclined.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 | Boots | No Comments
Calling all Shoe Lovers!
Do you love peep toes, ballet flats, wedges, and all things shoes? Do you eat, sleep, breathe and dream about shoes? Do you find yourself at work all set to start on the huge project that your boss wants today, only to find yourself browsing for shoes instead? Then you may be interested in blogging about shoes! And we’ve got the perfect gig for you! Sole Envie is now looking for resident shoe bloggers.
We can’t pay you, but the exposure and visibility you’ll get as a writer and style expert will be shoe-tastic! This is a great opportunity for you to showcase your writing skills on the web and of course brag about your shoe knowledge.
If you’re interested, send us a note (info@soleenvie.com) with a sample blog post about a favorite pair of shoes, a shoe-buying experience, a shoe-related article, or anything to do with shoes!
Posted by ShoeGuru on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 | Boots, Celebrity, Flat, Gladiators, Peep Toes, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Uncategorized, Wedges | No Comments
Dearly Departed.
A few months ago, I hit the jackpot at Poor Little Rich Girl in Davis Square, when I blindly stumbled across a pair of Kate Spade patent leather loafers for $48. The flats, which looked like warm caramel that sits atop a decadent sundae in both color and viscosity, came detailed with crushed velvet bows near their gently rounded toes, and - best of all - were obviously never worn. I gripped those shoes with all of the life I had in my right hand (my left hand, arm and shoulder were occupied with months of neglected dry clean I had finally rescued from the shop next door) and carefully navigated my way to the register, knowing full well that if someone else were to discover the hidden gems in my paw, a brawl wound ensue.
Upon safely returning to my apartment (I had my eyes peeled for thieving fashionistas the entire half mile walk home, my purchase clutched fervently under my right arm), I tossed the dry cleaning aside and threw open my closet, determined to match my new soled friends with whatever trouser, skirt and denim I could get my hands on. The problem was, I couldn’t. My beloved wool crepe suiting pants, purchased both on a sale and a whim from Theory two winters ago, dragged along the carpet, demanding heels for their extra long hem. Pencil skirts I easily paired with knee high boots looked dowdy - and dare I say frumpy? - when my feet were wrapped in that low-heeled patent leather. Even jeans, the quintessential piece of any wardrobe that works from morning to night, from boardroom (if your company allows it) to neighborhood bar, looked somewhat silly and elementary with the dainty bows I had just one hour previously fallen in love with. Hell, I didn’t even have a purse to go with the damn things.
Much like Cinderella’s stepsisters were insistent on making the glass slipper fit their ogre-like feet, I was determined to make these shoes work in any way, shape or form I could. And so, one Sunday morning on my way to brunch, I teamed a maroon satin blouse, beige sweater vest and navy sateen cigarette pant with the loafers, ignoring the BCBG pebbled leather pumps that begged for showing, and giving little regard to the fact that the shoes, which felt oh-so-comfortable in store, sort of, well, hurt. Two hours and three blisters later, I’d had enough of both the Western omelette that sat in front of me and the aching pups that whined below me. I cab-ed home, kicked my feet free of their Kate Spade enclaves, and called it a morning.
I let those loafers marinate and provoke on my shoe rack for a few weeks before coming to terms with the fact that I’d never wear them again. Instead of pitying myself for wasting money on frivolty, I repackaged my forlorn footwear and marched myself down to Second Time Around, where I re-consigned them in the hopes that I’ll not only profit back at least some of my loss, but that another fashionista - perhaps with a smaller and slender set of feet - will herself delight in the buried treasure that await a new owner within my beloved boutique on Newbury Street.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Monday, December 1st, 2008 | Flat, Uncategorized | No Comments
