Study of Shoes and Stilettos

Hi.

If you’re visiting from What I Wore (huge thanks to Jessica for the shout-out) you may notice that I haven’t blogged in quite a while. At least, not about shoes and clothes. I’m finishing up my last semester at University and time is at a premium. I have managed to regularly update my other site, heidikins.com, and I’d love to see you over there!

xox

Black patent leather t-strap sandals with 4-inch platform heel, by Steve Madden. These are ridiculously comfortable and I wear them often when I am on my feet all day. In fact, I have converted several of my sisters and sisters-in-law to these shoes. (And if they were still available I’d totally link you up so you could convert as well. I’m a giver like that.)

Thrifted graphic-print wrap-dress. I love the 3/4 sleeves and the surplice top. I think I need to figure out another way to style it besides black and white, yes? I see scarves and cardigans and bright tights in this dress’s future!

The Details

Black and white wrap dress: thrifted
Black tank: Express
Black patent leather strappy sandals: Steve Madden
Black octopus necklace: Hot Topic (love!!)
Black rose ring: International Rose Test Garden, Portland, OR

Gold metallic leather espadrilles with leather rose at the toe, Charles by Charles David. These wedges have a 4-inch heel, but with the little platform at the toe they don’t feel nearly that high. I can wear these shoes all day, and even run in them, thanks to the ankle strap and my ridiculously honed running-in-heels skill. (wink)

This is the first pair of shoes I purchased that cost more than $100 dollars (I believe they were about $110 when I bought them years ago). You may think that is exorbitant, but keep in mind, I have worn these almost constantly for seven summers and they still look fabulous. I discovered that metallic is a neutral and that a fantastic pair of heels go with every possible outfit.

I finally got on the gingham shirt bandwagon, just as the summer is unwinding. I have a list of eight or nine different ways to wear this shirt, and I can’t wait to get started! The orange, silk skirt is 6 or 7 years old but I still absolutely adore the color, the cut, and the shape. Yay for buying clothes that last forever!

Apparently I was in the mood for all sorts of fun jewelry today. I love the white and gold leaf ring, I just think it’s so pretty. I bought the watch for an end-of-term present to myself last spring, and the crazy octopus ring just couldn’t be left for someone else to scoop up. Is it ridiculous? Yes. Do I love it? Of course!

The Details
Blue gingham button-up: J. Crew (final sale!)
Navy cardigan: H&M
Orange silk skirt: Banana Republic
Leather belt: thrifted
Gold espadrilles: Charles by Charles David via Nordstrom
Gold multi-chain necklace: Claire’s
White and gold-plated leaf ring: Eternal Sparkles via Amazon
Pony watch: ASOS
Octopus ring: Heirloom Charms via Amazon

This may be a little bit hard to believe, but up until last week I completely forgot about these fantastic shoes. I bought them at the end of last summer on the clearance sales, tucked them away for warmer weather. Warmer weather came and the shoes never made an appearance. It wasn’t until I was rearranging my shoe room (yes, I have a shoe room) that I found them, fell in-love all over again, and brought them downstairs to make an outfit.

This light blue linen dress was a Nordstrom Rack find and I think the coral-pink and orange compliment it quite nicely.

The Details

Light blue linen dress: Nordstrom Rack
Charles by Charles David wedges: via Piperlime
White layered tank: Down East Outfitters
Leather belt: thrifted
Orange leather tote: Down East Outfitters
Dangly coral earrings: Macy’s
Gold and cream cuff: via Piperlime
Coral cocktail ring: Ann Taylor Loft

Ruby & Bloom black patent leather espadrille wedges with strappy-straps at the toe and ankle. (Yes, strappy-straps is a technical term. Look it up.) My roommate found a pair of fantastic black patent leather summery wedges months ago that look  classy with every possible outfit. I have been on the search ever since and as soon as I saw these at Nordstrom Rack on super clearance and almost walked out wearing them. Admittedly, I’ve worn them as often as I can squeeze them in the last few weeks.

I found this wool skirt at the thrift store about a month ago and I love the pleating/seaming in the front. It’s probably more of a fall piece, but I couldn’t wait for cooler temperatures. Besides, I need a cardigan in my extra-air conditioned office anyway.

The Details

Pink tweed A-line skirt: thrifted
Beige ruffle T: Gap
Black cardigan: Banana Republic
Wide black belt: Down East Outfitters
Shoes: Judy & Bloom via Nordstrom Rack
Silver “Love” necklace: Forever 21
Silver bracelet: Tiffany
Black leather purse: J.M.R.

Nine West orange snakeskin pumps with mini platform and stacked heel. I know it’s not technically fall yet, and we still have temperatures over 90 degrees. But I have been slowly devouring the new style magazines for fall and decided to see what I could pull from my closet.

Leopard print is a neutral, right? Whatever, I don’t care, it’s fabulous and I love it.

The Details

Chocolate brown pencil skirt: Ross/TJ Maxx (this is a closet staple, I’ve found)
Creamy tank: B.P., Nordstrom
Forest green v-neck T with shirred sleeves: Gap
Leopard print belt: Gap
Shoes: Orange snakeskin pumps by Nine West
Asymmetrical gold bauble necklace: Hive and Honey via Piperlime
Gold bracelets: Hive and Honey via Piperlime
Leaf ring: Claire’s

Gabrielle Rocha gray suede stiletto pumps, pointy toe, skinny heel, perfectly shaped. Yes, I love them. (Does this shock anyone? No? Good.

I found this cobalt blue dress at a thrift store for $5 dollars a few weeks ago. I can’t get enough of it. The color, the cut, the sleeves–seriously, take a look at the sleeves. They are fourteen different kinds of fabulous. Although, several times a day I find myself raising my arms over my head so the sleeves get away from my elbows, think Mickey Mouse in Fantasia.

In addition to thrifting the dress, I also thrifted the belt and the necklace. I’m a thrifting machine today!

The Details

Cobalt blue dress: thrifted
Gray belt: thrifted
Gray suede heels: Gabrielle Rocha
Turquoise pendant necklace: thrifted, Ray’s Ragtime, Portland
Turquoise ring: Trading Post, West Glacier NP
Turquoise bracelet: Chinatown, San Francisco
Silver bracelet: Tiffany
Sunglasses: Chinatown, Toronto

Nine West navy blue patent leather Mary Janes. I found these lovelies at Nordstrom Rack and fell in-love immediately. I love patent leather, I love Mary Janes, and the fact that these were BLUE instead of the expected black…sold!

I have wanted to hem this skirt since I bought it, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Today was the first time I tried belting it and on my 40 minute lunch break I received three separate compliments. Perhaps belting is the way to go instead of hemming? Thoughts?

I do not own anything this minty green color, but when I saw the snakeskin belt for $1.00 at a thrift store I couldn’t not take it home (this is a recurring problem with me, I’ve found). When I saw the minty-green J. Crew bracelets on sale I had to have them (see it again? The shopping problem?).

The Details

Navy v-neck T: Ann Taylor
Magenta cardigan: B.P. by Nordstrom
Gray full skirt: Ross/TJ Maxx find
Navy blue patent leather Mary Janes: Nine West
Minty green snakeskin belt: thrifted
Pink necklaces (2 worn, one looped twice, one knotted): no idea…
Minty green & silver bangles: J. Crew, Bohme, Tiffany
Light blue glass ring: Ann Taylor Loft
Dangly disc earrings: Street vendor, Mazatlan, Mexico

**This post is part of Kayla‘s 21 Day Challenge, Layer Accessories. Check out the rest of the participants in the Flickr group here.

Aqua, pink and yellow print floral wedge with criss-cross straps and 4-inch platform wedge heel, by B.P. from Nordstrom. I’d like to say it’s rare I fall in-love with a pair of shoes at first sight, but in fact, it happens fairly often. And then I have to take those shoes home with me. And then my life is happier. (See above.)

I realize it is the middle of the summer and many places are still suffering under blazing temperatures. My city is no exception, but my office is another story. I usually need a scarf, cardigan, and then crank up the space heater under my desk.

The Details

Stripey T-Shirt: H&M
Pink Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Stretchy jegging-ish jeans: Gap (Super sale! $12!)
Turquoise Belt: Thrifted
Printed floral wedges: B.P. Nordstrom
Turquoise pendant: Thrifted, Portland
Ring: Claire’s
Sunglasses: Chinatown, Toronto

**This post is part of Kayla‘s 21 Day Challenge. Day 5: Belt it. Check out the rest of the participants in the Flickr group here.

Colin Stuart for Victoria’s Secret sandal–did you know VS has some really fantastic shoes? I fell in-love with these retro-print strappy wedges as soon as I saw them, and while I don’t wear them a ton (how often do you pair orange, purple, and yellow?) I still absolutely adore them.

Looking at this, I wonder if I should have worn a yellow shirt instead of white, but it’s too late to change that now. I love the bright orange belt. And the shoes. I still can’t get over the shoes.

Close up of the colors, I love the deep violet and orange together, and admittedly, the scarf was kind of a last minute addition. But hey, my office is freezing most of the time, so why not wear a scarf in August?

The Details

White puff-sleeve T: Gap (you can’t see this all that well, but the sleeves have tulle netting over them, which I adore.)
Lavender Scarf: Chinatown, San Francisco
Navy blue cotton skirt: Banana Republic
Orange belt: H&M
Retro-print shoes: Colin Stuart for Victoria’s Secret
Silver bracelet: Tiffany

**This post is part of Kayla‘s 21 Day Challenge. Day 4: Color block. Check out the rest of the participants in the Flickr group here.