Archive for February, 2009
The Perfect Black Ballet Flat: My Personal Holy Grail des Chaussures
I have long considered the perfect black ballet flat to be a staple in any shoe collection. Like an effectively designed calendar book or the ideal phone with all of the capabilities one needs, it is the type of accessory one can always fall back on. I can count on them looking great with anything from a lovely cut of dark flared Banana Republic jeans (another staple of mine) to a bright kelly green knee length day dress. However, this wonderful little necessity is rarely done justice when considering the attempts of some designers to offer their own interpretation of this timeless classic.
I will admit that when attempting to find the perfect black ballet flat, I am insatiable. The princess and the pea (or maybe, the princess and the ped). I manage to find a grievance with almost every single black shoe I come across in browsing either the internet or in boutiques or in department stores. Often a design will be completely adorable, if only it weren’t for that terrible, gigantic gold bulbous ornament affixed to the upper toe, the similarly placed giant bit big enough to fit one of the tiny little ponies I care for, the bow made of cheap fraying material that will untie and unravel after only a few months of wear, the unfortunate buckle [often paired with an open toe (?) ], the terribly thin soles (have you ever tried walking down Bolyston barefoot? Such is the experience in even one of my more expensive renderings of this black shoe edition when not faced with enough padding where we need it most) or the shudder worthy wide elastic band placed directly across the top of the shoe in some futuristic interpretation of a mary jane which would only be appreciated on the Starship Enterprise. Sometimes the elastic is even in the waist of the shoe, making the whole thing look like a crumpled, shiny little showercap pour les pieds.
My Pefect Black Ballet Flats - The Landon by Coach (photo: Coach.com)
And so, due to wear upon the pair that slated said insatiability for a while, I have been on the hunt for the perfect flat yet again. My search has lead me not to Jerusalem as it lead King Arthur but to Coach, my own personal style haven from which all of my handbags hail. The shoe I found there was perfect. Round toe, lovely delicate little fray-resistant bow, an ever so slight square heel and yes! enough support and padding to make walking in Boston a pleasure. Unfortunately, the retail store was out of this lovely little shoe in my size, and I feared myself devoid of it forever. I saw plenty of other shoes in the meantime, but I held out. I knew I shouldn’t spend money on another shoe I didn’t really like, or a nice looking shoe that might be of terrible quality, thus forcing me to buy another pair even sooner than I would have had to if I had found something I really liked. And then, there they were. At Lord and Taylor at the Pru, there they sat, the same shoes I had seen in the retail store, waiting to be swept up into my arms and squirreled away until the warmer weather arrives. When that will be is a topic for another blog altogether. I happily left Boston with my new purchase in hand, glad that I hadn’t bought a different pair just so I would have something to wear.
So what then, is my point? That I love black flats? Well, yes, I do. But the point is that you should hold out. Whether it’s in a partner or a job or yes, even in shoes, you should hold out for what it is you are really looking for. Whatever it is, it is out there. Spending more money on a shoe that will last longer and which actually fits your style and needs in a shoe is, in the end, far more lucrative in these tough economic times then blowing your cash on something that merely subdues your thirst for the perfect shoe instead of actually satisfying it.
Posted by alyssa on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 | Flat, Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments
Festive feet
According to Wikipedia, Mardi Gras is “the most famous Carnival celebration in the world.” Parades, parties and celebrations of all sorts consume the world up until Fat Tuesday, the culmination and climax of Mardi Gras season, and ends on Ash Wednesday, known in religious circles as the beginning of the Lenten season. With exuberance and a host of sins playing central to Mardi Gras themes, costumes are decadent, provocative and richly hued in shades of gold, purple and green. Likewise, shoes are over-the-top, with platform heels, strappy stilettos and spiky pumps taking center stage.
Don’t let churn of the 9-5 get your spirits down this Fat Tuesday. Instead, why not slip into fantasy and envision your feet fancy with these luxurious party shoes?
Manolo Blahnik Jeweled Open-toe Slide (photo: Neiman Marcus)
Wearing Manolo Blahniks is, after all, a party for your toes.
Perhaps a jester’s costume, classic Mardi Gras attire, doesn’t match your briefcase. No worries – Valentino has you covered with their Cabaret t-strap sandal:
Cabaret T-Strap Sandal by Valentino (photo: Neiman Marcus)
Also pairs well with the beads your coworkers will inevitably toss over your cubicle in an effort to replicate New Orleans in the office.
Green, the color which symbolizes faith in the triumvirate palette of this Carnival, makes a statement with these Lanvin slingback sandals:
Metallic Woven Slingback Sandal by Lanvin (photo: Barneys New York)
With a $995 price tag that rivals your weekly paycheck, your boss will applaud you for being so financially savvy.
From Bourbon Street to Newbury Street, festive fashionistas everywhere will have something to celebrate!
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 | Celebrity, Peep Toes, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments
From the runway to the sidewalk – Spring 2009’s hottest trends!
I can hear my winter-worn feet protest with each step into wool blend tights and later, down feather-lined snowboots. “We’ve had enough!” they shout, a calloused right toe particularly angry. “Give us strappy sandals, platform espadrilles and flip flops!” they cry, “Or in the very least, a damned pedicure!”
It could also be delirium that’s speaking to me, as this winter and its merciless snow, ice and wind storms have provoked a case of cabin fever not seen since the blizzard of ’77. I’m sick of looking at those aforementioned snowboots, with chunks of road salt wedged between the treads and stained along the nylon. I wash socks on a biweekly basis. And as far as that pedicure goes: well, let’s just say that my nail beds have seen better days.
Truth be told, there’s a light – proverbial and actual – at the end of this doldrom tunnel. With subscriptions to Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar flooding my mailbox on a monthly basis, I’ve found the cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder in their glossy pages, with displays of Spring 2009 shoe trends scattered about like the flowers that are waiting to bud beneath our venerable tundra.
Jimmy Choo neon green sandals (photo: Net-a-Porter.com)
Brights
Shoes of varying style and height were featured in patent popsicle shades of cherry red, luscious orange and my personal favorite, a warm, lemony yellow, all of which pair especially well with neutral khaki and muted grey. The same shades were also featured in canvas (think back to those espadrilles) and satin.
Robert Clergerie Diane Gladiators (photo: Zappos.com)
Gladiators
Who can resist channeling her inner Cleopatra by rocking a pair of gladiator-style sandals? Flat gladiators pair well with cotton poplin mini dresses and high-waisted shorts, while the trendier heeled variety look especially sultry with sateen pencil skirts.
Details, details, details
Sergio Rossi zip back sandals (Photo: Net-a-porter.com)
Buckles and laces and zippers, oh my! Spring shoes are giving hardware stores a run for their money, with metal embellishments lighting the way on otherwise ordinary footwear. Keep things simple with existing accessories – a plain colored clutch, stud earrings and a bangle or two on the wrist – to balance the bling.
Making the cut
Prada cut out booties (photo: Saks.com)
While I’m not a huge fan, ankle booties with peep toes and other asymmetrical cuts scored big on the runways. I normally pass on trendier pieces, but can envision that such a shoe will work well from spring into summer and even early fall.
Until the thermometer rises, however, I’ll keep my tootsies covered - and my spirits high.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Saturday, February 21st, 2009 | Gladiators, Peep Toes, Platforms, Tips | No Comments
“Because When I’m With Him, I am…Thinking of Shoes”
Actually, I’m lucky enough to be in a relationship with someone who can hold my attention even better than the perfect heel. But watching Katy Perry’s new video for “Thinking of You” found me positively salivating. Not only am I a sucker for anything that even subtly echoes the 1940s or 1950s, but when Katy, convincingly portraying despair, marched down the stairs of the adorable little farmhouse her video’s storyline found her inhabiting, I found myself breathless. Like a Loch Ness obsessed cryptozoologist attempting to attain the perfect photographic evidence for what he is certain is the citing of the century, I was pathetically pausing the fated YouTube video that spawned my obsession in an attempt to catch the perfect screencap of the perfect heels. Who is the genius who revealed himself as master of my pedi-fantasies? After some extensive googling, and the fear that these were simply a pair of vintage heels that, while beautiful, were the labor of love of some designer long deceased leaving only very rare gems of his genius buried in consignment shops all over the United States. I envisioned myself in horror tying a (Coach) scarf containing all my necessities onto the end of a (Restoration Hardware) stick and making my way around the country like a vagabond, trolling antique clothing shops in vain. Thankfully, that was not to be my fate.
Enter Giambattista Valli, designer of Katy Perry’s “Thinking of You” shoes. And a similar pair of said shoes (Exhibit A). Alas, the actual pair that she was wearing in the video are currently out of stock. They slipped through my fingers. But what does that leave us with? Exactly. Inspiration. His platforms are incredibly unique, and he manages to marry adorably large platforms and heels with extreme femininity. And let us not overlook the fact that the man does bows and ankle straps like none other. We will soon have the unique opportunity to customize our own shoes. While sometimes we may fear that the perfect shoe has eluded us, a powerful tool will soon be at our hands which will enable us to create something which will perhaps be infinitely more perfect.
Photo: Style.com (Fall 2008 RTW Collection)
Photo: Style.com (Fall 2008 RTW Collection)
As the first lines of Katy’s track say…”Comparisons are easily done, once you’ve had a taste of perfection.”
Posted by alyssa on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 | Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Uncategorized | No Comments
Valentine’s Day footwear for every relationship status!
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, we at Sole Envie have one question in mind: what to wear (on our feet, of course)?
Single or spoken for ladies, fear not: Beyoncé isn’t the only one who has your back. We at Sole Envie have you covered, whether your plans are for you plus one via romantic rendezvous downtown in the city, or you plus a book, comfortably cozy in your favorite pajamas.
If a night of aphrodisiacs, Champagne and strawberries with your man is in your cards, a pair of shoes that slip off easily strappy sandals or slingbacks alike – should be the first things you put on. Need we say more?
Charlotte York said it right: “I’ve been dating since I was fifteen years old. I’m exhausted. Where is he?!” For those who’ve give up, for those who are Hallmark-immune, or for those who just want to enjoy a quiet night in while the rest of coupledom whoops it up, a pair of bunny slippers (the furrier, the better) complements the chicest of loungewear. The perfect date? A steaming mug of hot chocolate. With marshmallows, of course.
If your dates include a gaggle of girlfriends, several bottles of wine and a bit of booty shaking, put on your fiercest pumps – and be prepared to break some hearts.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 | Pumps, Uncategorized | No Comments
Underneath it all.
With winter taking its toll on our tired feet, a spa pedicure sure does sound nice. But with the economy taking a toll on our wallets, spending upwards of $60 on perfectly painted toes doesn’t seem so smart. Fear not, recessionistas: a self-pedicure costs little more than an arsenal of supplies, practice - and about an hour of your time. Here’s a “how to,” designed for even the most pampered city slicker, and written by a domestically challenged yet cunningly creative babe on a budget.
After removing polish (any generic acetone remover is fine), I usually start with a scrub for both feet and calves. St. Ive’s apricot scrub, touted as a drugstore wonder weapon, is cheap (a tube costs about $4 and lasts for 6 months) and just grainy enough to get the job done. I use a pumice stone (Mr. Pumice is the best – check your local beauty supply store for a bar, which costs about $5) on any rough patches or calluses, and after rinsing, moisturize well with a heavy cream (anything you use on your hands will do just fine, or if you want something heavy duty, I highly recommend Lush’s Lemony Butter – it’s on the pricier side, but you only need a dab to do the trick. The acidic acid from the heavy dose of citrus will slough any remaining roughness right off). Next, it’s time to work those cuticles - and I’m not talking about Kanye West’s workout plan. Use a wooden cuticle stick (under $5 for a package of 20 at Sephora) to gently push back the excess skin around your nail bed; then, moisture the nail bed with cuticle oil (I prefer Burt’s Bees Repair Care serum, which I also use on my face at night) or olive oil. Lightly buff the tops of the beds with a buffing block (about $1 at Sephora, or just use the fine side of an emery board) with the oil still intact. This is a trick I learned from a manicurist in Boston, who explained that doing so will moisturize the nail bed and help to prevent any cracking or dryness. At this point, you can either clip or file your nails to your desired shape. As a runner, I’ve learned that keeping toenails on the shorter side prevents painful ingrowns from occurring.
Using a dab of rubbing alcohol, wipe off any excess oil or residue that remains on your nails. Doing so will ensure that your base coat will bond completely to the nail bed, which allows for a longer lasting pedicure. I prefer Creative Nail Design’s Sticky ($8 at most high end nail salons) as a base coat. As the name implies, Sticky adheres to both the nail bed and base layer of polish with the tenacity of a bridezilla at a sample sale. It costs a bit more than some base coats, but having a pedicure last an extra week or two is totally worth it. Now the tricky part: the base layer. There are some new, marker-like polishes on the market which I’ve yet to test, but have found that OPI and Essie brushes are easiest to use, with Chanel closely (and expensively) behind. I like OPI’s bolds (Lincoln Park After Dark and Cajun Shrimp are two of my favorite shades), and Essie’s sheers (Ballerina and Futures French are gorgeous), so depending on my mood, will most often pick one from these lines. Like Sticky, both brands cost more than a drugstore polish, but chip less, and are made with higher quality pigments so the color won’t bleed upon removal. Two coats will do just fine – make sure to allow ample time for drying between coats – and finish with a topcoat. OPI’s Chip Skip is a fail-proof formula and dries quickly.
You’re done – almost. Check for mishaps: little dabs of polish that have somehow creeped beyond their allotted borders. (I’ve found swipes of red on my ankles days after a self pedicure – when I say check, I mean really check. The view is different when you’re not sitting in a comfy massaging chair.) Dip a Q-tip or cuticle stick covered in a cotton pad into a small dish of polish remover and dab at any excess polish, careful to not smudge your handiwork. If you’ve got time, let your nails completely dry, and then come back to this step a few hours later.
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a beautiful pair of feet. Wiggle your toes with ecstasy – delight in your newfound thriftiness! And if you’re still not convinced, or, if you just want to treat yourself, check out Princess Nails (Medford, 781-395-2261) or Raini Nails (Andover, 978-623-8048) for reasonably priced-yet-remarkable service.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Monday, February 2nd, 2009 | Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments
