Flat
Free Feet: Essentials for Spring and Summer
By the time mid-April rolls around, it is a given that all of us who live in the tundra Boston are responding to the impatience our feet have been feeling, their containment in dress boots, snow boots and closed toed pumps a perfect allegory of our own containment indoors and our mutual desire (that of feet and owners) to break free and run around outside.
I know that when, in March, come hell or high water (or snow and sleet, as it were), I take out my flip flops and wear them, outside, regardless of the appropriateness of such a decision. My tootsies, I can assure you, are grateful. Like Mel Gibson on the scaffold suffering for his beliefs at the hands of the henchmen of Edward the Longshanks, “Freeeeeeddoooommmmm” expresses the relief experienced both by the hottie warrior as he is released from his suffering and my toes as they curl with delight around fresh green blades of grass on my lawn. I will make a confession to you right now: I go barefoot for a significant part of the summer. But when I’m not in my own back yard and have to wear shoes, I like showing off my toes and keeping them out of hot leather.
Therefore, I want to introduce you to one of my spring and summer necessities. Enter J. Crew flip flops.
Heavenly, much? I’ve been replenishing my pairs of these (3-4 in different colors, usually) for four years. Note: I actually don’t have to replace them, they tend not to wear down even after three months of continual wear, I just like doing so. They are blissfully basic, and come in a multitude of gorgeous colors, so they are the perfect companion to any outfit: summer sun dresses, jeans, shorts, bathing suits, and skirts. They have colors to match all your spring and summer staples. They don’t have the unsightly foam platform or hemp-style thong that many pretentious flip flops unfortunately possess, or heaven forbid, endorsement for some sort of beverage on the sole, yet they are pleasantly affordable, so you can purchase a bunch in several different colors to mix and match with different attire.
Happy Spring! And remember, they do a lot for you, so let those feet breathe!
Posted by alyssa on Sunday, April 12th, 2009 | Flat, Sandals | No Comments
“If only?” Only if.
Often, while browsing around, looking at shoes, as we all know I am want to do, I see a design or pattern which I find, frankly, bizarre or unsightly. Whilst gazing at the computer screen, tilt headed like a puzzled Golden Retriever who seems bewildered by human actions, I too wonder what on earth some designers who I have observed to be otherwise sane and rational could possibly be thinking. If only I could get into the minds of these certain designers and put to them the questions racing through my brain. Instead, I present you with a short list of shoes which make my “I would only wear that if…” list.
Sorry Marc Jacobs
I would only wear those if I were playing Guitar Hero in my rec room. Alone.
Excuse you, Jimmy Choo
Only if I were on Rock of Love, heaven forbid, would I don such a creep toe. Or if my family and I didn’t have our own cheese grater at home and I thought I could put the heel to work on a block of Romano.
Yes, Indeed, UGG Australia!
I would LOVE to wear these boots. They would be perfect for my costume only if my feet were playing the part of “The Bedsheets” in a play entitled “The Unnecessarily Rustic Country Inn.”
Burberry, Burberry, Burberry
I’d only don this pair if I didn’t believe in taking any style license whatsoever and insisted that the design of my footwear had to match the design of my underwear. FYI, by those standards, the correct re-nomer of a Flip Flop is “thong”, not “G-string.”
Tory Burch, I admire some of your more adventurous creations but this:
is something I would subject my feet to only if I were playing the part of the Lumberjack in the village people (is there even a lumberjack in the Village People?)
So there you have them. What I consider five terribly botched attemps by five designers to create something fasionable. I should mention, however, that such transgressions are comitted by many more designers every single day. Do I perchance envision a more careful scrutiny by these couturieurs before they unleash more designs like these in the future, post this very blog post? If only.
Posted by alyssa on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 | Boots, Flat, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Uncategorized | No Comments
It’s a flop: the PVC platform wedge
As signs of spring continue to shine their way through New England, it won’t be long before flip flops, the ubiquitous and seasonal casual shoe, arrive back on the scene. And with that, flip flops’ arch nemesis: the PVC platform wedge.
With heights that rival resin heels that are often seen at the most notorious of, ahem, gentlemen’s clubs and embellishments that are apt to appear on a dog collar, the PVC wedge retracts the effortless “slide in, slide out” methodology of the flip flop. And did I mention that foam wedges look ridiculous on 100% of the female population?
I encourage Sole Envie blog readers to visit the Alley, home of nightclub locales The Estate, Liquor Store and pathway to hell. On any given evening April through October, there’s a good chance that 5 out of every 10 women you pass will be traipsing and tripping about in such footwear that better serves as a stepstool than accompaniment to getting on down on the dance floor. The other 5 out of 10 women will stare in horror as these women barrel into them, knockoff Coach hobos and raspberry vodkas flying. Five inches of manmade material intended to wash one’s car with doesn’t offer much stability.
The solution to this footwear faux pas is so simple, any woman can do it:
- Be fabulous
- Wear shoes of your liking that won’t give you blisters, bunions and other unsightly podiatric ailments
- If the temptation of sky-high stilettos has you hooked, pack a pair of plain old flip flops in your purse for quick relief in the ladies’ room
- Repeat as necessary
-Karyn Polewaczyk
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Monday, March 30th, 2009 | Flat, Platforms, Sandals, Tips, Uncategorized, Wedges | No Comments
The ES.S.ence of Ugly: Jack Sparrow Inspired Footwear?
Ahoy, maties! And welcome aboard the U.S.S. Heinous. There is a trend I have seen popping up in several places (I’ll admit it’s mostly in internet searches on shoe-only sites which I forget to curtail to avoid lower end selections), including my college campus. I’d like to take the opportunity to offer some reflections on the subject, if “ye scallywags” will permit me.
It is called the fold over boot, and while pirate culture has made it’s way into our society recently due to the Pirates of the Caribbean films which have become extremely popular, I would like to explain to those whose responsibility it is to design clothing and footwear that there exists a difference between costume designer and clothing designer. Clothing is what we wear when we are intending to go outside in public and do not want to face public ridicule and embarrassment. Costumes are for people who are either acting or playing pretend. Since a New England college campus is neither the set of Master and Commander nor a Renaissance Faire, the grade is F for those of you I’ve seen sporting this re-imagining of a nautical antique. Pulled up over dark jeans, they invite the eye to drift upward in expectation of the accompanying Justacorps , the only truly appropriate matching attire for such a set of footwear. And these boots are for women! All right, all right, you may be saying, but that certainly cannot be the worst faux pas in knee high footwear category. Certainly, that assumption is correct. Enter THIS:
whatever this is. It’s an Airwalk, as I feel uncomfortable putting this photograph out into the world without naming the fiend who birthed this hideous progeny into the public sphere, claiming unsavvy victims left and right on whichever shelves it is unwisely placed. If you can imagine, I have seen an individual wearing a similar shoe with even more strappy embellishments, danging around like paper streamers between the knee and ankle of the shoe in a design irrelevant to anyone not dressed as a toilet paper mummy for Halloween. I am not exactly certain about what it is that irks me so terribly about this shoe.
I am certainly not biased against round toed flat boots, I suppose I’m offended by the lack of design that seems to go into these contraptions. Yes, contraptions. I am through referring to these abominations as shoes. They are either copies of what we’ve seen in popular culture, or simply themselves seemingly thoughtlessly thrown together. Creative license is extremely important but a designer must always ask themselves and their teams that one fundamental question: Is this ugly?
Here, the answer is most certainly yes. Fortunately, there is plenty of diversity for shoppers out there, and in the near future customization will allow us to escape the dominant reign of those who insist on designing unsightly things for our consumption and let us create footwear that we actually like in lieu of having to invest in a pair of boots that might not meet all of our aesthetic desires and needs.
Posted by alyssa on Monday, March 16th, 2009 | Boots, Flat | No Comments
Time to buy? Not so fast, fashionistas
Put down those Christian Louboutins and slowly back away. The fashion police, on full recession alert, are here to offer proverbial smack down to any fashionista who dares to defy the rules of sale shoe shopping.
First things first: everything is on sale right now. Televisions, cars, Botox and shoes are just a handful of consumer products that retailers and specialty stores are anxious to push onto wallet weary customers. A properly fitting, well-made shoe is worth its weight in gold (or leather, or suede, or crushed velvet), almost regardless of the price. If marked down, $200 zebra-print Jimmy Choo strappy sandals with crystal heel embellishments really strike your fancy, by all means – go for them! But if you foresee those sandals getting more action in their box than the dance floor, think twice before dropping hard-earned cash on a name. Staples, such as wear-with-everything pumps in neutral brown and black, are worth buying at full price. The return-on-investment of a shoe that truly speaks to you and your style is multiplied with each wear.
Second: we’re mid-season. To get the best deal on winter-friendly gear, wait until June or July, where venerable steals will abound. Likewise, spring and summer sandals, flip flops and peep-toe pumps will beckon from the sale rack come October and November. Planning ahead, the same way a gourmet chef would stock up for her kitchen, can pay off. Visualize, visualize, visualize, and ignore the snow falling outside when you’re trying on the perfect gladiator lace up flat at 75% off.
Last: re-evaluate what you already have. Spend a weekend afternoon reworking various wardrobe/shoe/accessory combinations – mix and match pieces you wouldn’t dream of possibly pairing. You might find a new best friend for those hardly worn slouchy suede boots in a camel blazer; or, consider consigning the lime kitten heels that just don’t do it for you anymore. With days of excess in our past, sometimes a good housecleaning is just what the doctor ordered.
-Karyn Polewaczyk
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 | Boots, Flat, Gladiators, Peep Toes, Sandals, Tips | No Comments
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
The five F’s of shoe shopping.
When shopping for shoes, there are a plethora of minute decisions a girl makes well before slipping her tootsies into a sole. Consider the following the five F’s - a handful of factors that go into almost every decision I make on a shoe - before your next purchase.
1. Find.
Are you perusing for the perfect pair of camel riding boots (I know I am) with time to spare, or do you have 15 minutes to score some strappy slingbacks for something festive? Time, the luxury with no price tag, can direct where to browse - and where to avoid. Keep mental notes of consistent lines; Aldo, for example, can always be counted on for sparkly and well-heeled party shoes at a reasonable price, and Bloomingdale’s has great after-season sales on the normally pricey Frye line. (Don’t forget to check out your local consignment shop for especially sweet deals on gently worn shoes - I’ve been pleasantly surprised more often than not.)
2. Function.
Clogs may be work well for the weekend, but can they deliver at the office? How often will you really wear lace up gladiator stilettos, aside from that one night with that one dress and those gold hoop earrings that complement them so well? If you’ve got specific shoes for specific tasks, great; some of us (yours truly included) try to get the most bang for our buck. This is, of course, where price starts to come into play. Try to envision a variety of places, people and purposes you can wear your prospective new purchase(s). I buy to keep, rarely choosing seasonal styles that come and go like the wind. And if you’re determined to spend a month’s rent on something outrageous and impractical - all the power to you.
3. Fit.
How well does your shoe fit? Form goes well beyond the scope of heel height. Without sufficient space for your feet to breathe, every pinched nerve, squished toe and misaligned arch will feel that much worse. I recently learned how going a half size up - despite being a coveted 7 for almost ten years - made all the difference.
4. Fabric.
Being high maintenance is not just about more drama for your mama. How far are you willing to go to keep a pair of say, sandals, around for five weeks, five months or five years? Shoes made of satin, while lovely, can make their way to an early grave with an undetected spill of red wine. Quality leather should be polished and moisturized on a regular basis to avoid looking like a South Beach octogenarian. Scuffs, soles, and the tiny rubber pieces that mold to the bottom of even the pointiest stilettos - these all eventually need TLC, even more so if you’re a city slicker constantly on the go. On the plus side, your favorite pair of shoes will remain that way for years to come.
5. Fun.
Bring on the leopard print! And the patent leather in sherbert shades of yellow, pink and orange. Experiment with new styles, colors, designers and heel height. Mix and matching can give even the most lifeless of wardrobes extra oomph. Veering off the straight and narrow can change your look - and, dare I say - change your life.
Above all, be true to yourself - and be confident with each step that you take!
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 | Boots, Flat, Pumps, Sandals, Tips, Uncategorized | 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
Shoe-fficiency.
As I sit massaging blisters that dot the pads of my heels, battle wounds from maneuvering through a Monday in 3-inch St. John calfskin d’Orsays, I wonder if I’ll ever turn into one of those women who bravely marches through the subway sporting sneakers and socks over their pantyhose and under their Calvin Klein suits. I’m reminded of a particular episode of Sex and the City when Miranda, shortly after she moved to the dreaded side of the Brooklyn Bridge (or, Brooklyn) from her beloved Manhattan, complained to Carrie about how sore her feet were after walking a far distance from the subway. Carrie, clearly on the right side of the bridge, asked why Miranda didn’t wear sneakers and carry her shoes like everyone else, to which Miranda replied - and I quote - “Stop. You can take me out of Manhattan, but you can’t take me out of my shoes.”
What is it about our egos that refuses to embrace practicality - L.L. Bean duck boots when it’s cold and wet; Reebok hightops when you’ve got to get somewhere quickly - and instead embrace the idealism of making our way through the day in 3-inch heels with the occasional Band-Aid poking out the back to shield us from abused Achilles tendons? The ancient Greeks had a word for “tragic pride”: hubris. Then again, they typically got around in gladiator flats, and while theirs may have helped build the Parthenon, my modern day version are bejeweled and meant for pairing with twill shorts and a venti soy latte from Starbucks. The truth of the matter is, we affiliate lots with our shoes: our wardrobes; our moods; our plans for the day or evening, and heck - I’ve even gone with a flat over a stiletto depending on how long my bangs are. Shoes can be icing on the cake (us!), and whether that confection comes in leather, pleather, suede or satin, it truly can help a girl put her best foot forward.
Besides, being practical is for your 30s.
Posted by Karyn Polewaczyk on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 | Boots, Flat, Sandals | 1 Comment
