Shopping Fast BROKEN!

Need Supply's 30-percent-off-sale sale was too good to pass up. And so, it seems, were these:

80%20 "Heide" wedge booties, $35 with code "extra30." I hemmed, I hawed, and then I decided to stop pussying around and hit "buy."

Something's gotta sustain me while I'm on this crazy no-caffeine, no-booze monthlong crazy train. (Seriously!)

The 3 Best Shoes I Bought This Year

This was a pretty good year for the economy, for iPad owners, and for me, because I bought some puhretty sweet shoes. Here are three of the best pairs of shoes I purchased this year. (In case you were wondering.)

1.) Ce Ce Chin Sloan Black Lace Pump

The kind people at Shoeaficionado.com, which is like Gilt Groupe but strictly for shoes, sent me a gift certificate for a free pair, and I got these Ce Ce Chin -- she's the designer behind 80%20 -- black lace overlay pumps with a beaded heel inspired by vintage perfume bottles.

Here's a better image of the heel's detail:

I wear them with black skinny jeans or my black Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress.

2.)  Matiko Leila Studded Loafers

($119.50, Matiko, Solestruck.com)

I got these Matiko studded loafers back in July at Solestruck, which has a really excellent collection of boutique brands at affordable prices. They're obviously um, "inspired" by Christian Louboutins. I love them, but within just a few months, some of the studs fell off, and by this point the heels are starting to get small holes in them, though mainly because I guess I walk like somewhat of a total freak. They're deep within the winter of their lives, but for $100, they were well worth it. 

 

3.) Haus Of Price Seashell Booties

($245, Haus Of Price, StantonJames.com)

Yes, indeed I did spend over $100 on black booties covered in seashells. I got these Haus Of Price handmade booties from StantonJames, which I WISH had a location in New York, by the way, and they are absolutely my everything. When I unboxed them, it was like unboxing a thrill, and not even my husband's "were those an arts and crafts project made by residents of a nursing home" inquest was enough to dissuade my instant love. They're SUPER comfortable, and my only complaint is that some of the shells got crushed, but that's the price you pay for wearing shoes covered in real shells. It's a risk worth taking. Anyway, my Haus Of Price booties mean the world to me, they are my everything. Essentially, they're the bootie version of my favorite Toni Braxton song.

Shoe Aficionado: That's Me!

It should really be aficionada, but whatevs. Shoe Aficionado is one of those flash-sale shopping sites, and it's all about my favorite piece of clothing. (Must. stop. shopping!) Right now they've got 80%20 and Ce Ce Chin as the featured brands, and coming up is Steven by Steve Madden. Of course, because I am a lover of their hidden wedges, I snagged these:





80%20 Joannie ankle boot in olive green, $44. Totally gonna rock these all fall long.

I'M BACK, BITCHES!

As Mac says, WHAT'S UP, BITCHES? I'm back! My apologies for the lag, which I'm sure was soul-crushing, but I was off getting MARRIED!!!! Meanwhile, Catherine was VERY BUSY carrying my train (jk -- I didn't have a train -- SO FUSSY!). Anyway, let's get the BAWL ROLLIN' again, shall we?

($135, 80%20, Moxsie.com)

I am VERY MUCH INTO these leather/ cork/ peeptoe/ perforated/ tassled wedges. It's SO many ingredients in ONE shoe. It's like a shoe casserole.

SUPER Cute Blue Wedges At ModCloth!

($99, 80%20, Modcloth.com)

No reason. Just super cute 80%20 cork wedges the color of rain from my favey faves, Modcloth. Also, have you NOTICED how effin' cute their website is lately? I don't even work for them, I have no vested interest in them. Just pointing out/ applauding cuteness as I see it!

I Think I Want Cork Wedge Shoes!

($98, 80%20, Urban Outfitters)

I do. I do want a pair of super '70s cork wedges. Sue me!

80%20 Wedges: Walk At Your Own Risk!

($67, 80%20, Tobi.com)

Orange is one of my favey-fave colors, and this 80%20 pair in "nectar" work in theory, though in practice, I probably not even walk a foot or two without totally falling and eating it. If you can manage, more power to you. Plus, they're on saley-sale!

Boot Binge: Modern Vintage, 80/20 & Ayla

It's a Monday evening boot binge, everybunnies! Three brands for you -- 80%20, Modern Vintage, and the amazing Ayla!

($450, Modern Vintage, Piperlime)

It's probably for the best that these don't come in my size. I LOVE the screw detailing! Are screws the new pyramid studs??? Also, i still DREAM of these Modern Vintage heels.

($230, 80%20, Karmaloop)

Kind of like how the more I look at my cat, the more completely perfect he becomes, the more I look at 80%20's Justine boots, the more awe-inspiring they are. One-inch heel, crinkled black leather with tan panels in an Art Deco-y design. AND a wide opening at the calf!?!? I gots the vapors! Oh, and apparently promo code FREE25 gets you free shipping, and that ain't nothin'! And again too also, the Justine boots come in Smoke too:

($199, Ayla, Shoe-Store.net)

LASTLY but MOST importantly, you simply MUST get your legs on some Ayla boots. I own the Tokyo style seen above -- the photo does NOT do them justice -- and they're phenomworthy. They're custom made to fit YOUR size, which means no cramming/ stuffing/ shoving/ shoehorning your normal-woman-sized legs into boots the width of pencils. Seriously, Mary-Kate recently had to return a pair of boots because they were too slim and SHE HERSELF IS SLIM! I don't get it. Now I'm not such a big girl, but I do got me some soccer player calves (minus the soccer and the playing), and too often I've practically busted a YKK trying to get some tall boots zipped up. Not so with these radicational Ayla boots:

You just send in your measurements and you get a ridiculously lush, luxe pair of leather boots TO FIT YOUR OWN PERSONAL SITUATION, for under $200! AND they come with spare instep liners to pad them out (I ordered a 9, even though I'm an 8 -- they fit perfectly.) Anyway the Tokyo style, pictured above, come up to just a few inches below my knee, and they ACTUALLY zip up with skinny jeans. Not lying. And again, not lying -- THEY'RE under $200. If you're not so into the criss-cross straps (too Mad Max for you?), check out the Milano -- they remind me of Coach or Cole Haan riding boots:

($189, Ayla, Shoe-Store.net)

Oh, and Shoe-Store.net has free shipping. It's like they're practically BUYING THEM FOR YOU! (And no, I don't work for Shoe-Store OR Ayla. I'm just THAT in hearts with these boots, which are totally comfy by the way.)

($189, Ayla, Shoe-Store.net)

I can't even deal with how gorgeous the Manhattan boots are! It's like they WALKED out of the early '70s!

($134, Ayla, Shoe-Store.net)

Um, hi. These are like Frye at like one-third of the price. Now THAT'S what I call recession busting!

These Boots Are Made for Bloggin'

Oh, hi! I've been laying low lately, did anyone notice? I'm yawning back into the binge zone because I need to know: WHICH BOOTS TO BUY?? So many, many, many lovelies. Help me decide, won't you?

I've been dying for a pair of off-white boots since Aiken was a boy. These might be the Ones! Seychelles "Dirty Laundry" boots, $179.95. They also come in tan and black. Which brings me to my next hmmmm:

BCBGirls "Petler" boots, $178.95 with an instant $25 off = $153.95. A reader tipped me to these as a nice alternative to Loeffler Randall (aka $750) boots. These look mighty fine to me.

Steve Madden also has some tempting boots this season, and after getting so much mileage out of the pair of his I got last year, I'd gladly sign up for another pair. Such as these "Intyce" boots, $199.95. Comes in black too...which to buy?? I might have to boycott, however, based on the ridiculous spelling. Seriously, there's no call for that.

Then we have this funky number: the 80%20 "Jackie" hidden-wedge boot, $188. Don't know why, but I'm just drawn to these.

And obviously, these Frye "Sam" boots, $398, are just f'ing awesome. Someone buy for me? Perhaps with the thousand bucks I was just overhearing we should all be stuffing under our mattresses for when the world ends? Just a thought.

Boat Shoes: Good & Bad

($45, Converse, Karmaloop)

So cute, so cheap!

($70, 80%20, Karmaloop)

So... never gonna happen.

+ More Fashionbinge boat shoe love here and a little here.

Promo Code: 20% Active Endeavors

Get 20% off everything at ActiveEndeavors.com
Promo Code: SPRING20
Expires: March 23rd, so git on it.

And girl, you KNOW I just bought those 80%20 blue loafers I blogged about earlier this week:

Originally $48, but they came to $38 with the discount.

Oh, AND ActiveEndeavors does free UPS shipping! YAY!

A Few Fun, Affordable Spring Picks

For a minute there, I was like, maybe that post title could be a palindrome. Then I was like... fuck it. It's late. So here are the cute and affordable items, in descending order of cost:

(Apprx $132 USD, Topshop.com)

From the new Kate Moss Topshop collection. Now, honestly, I wasn't blown away by her initial offering. But I love this. I'd love it even more if it didn't have the little ruffle at the waist, but we know ruffles are quite in. Even if they're definitely not universally flattering. Still, I love the embroidered detail and the simple colors.

($48, 80%20, ActiveEndeavors.com)

I wouldn't wear all of 80%20 designer Ce Ce Chin's shoes, but I love the ideas and inspiration behind them. And I am totes enamored of these robin's egg blue punk loafers -- also available in "grape" (hee!) and green.

($39.50, Delias)

Boy shorts aren't always the MOST flattering, but I love the classic tie-neck '40s/'50s look here.

($29.50, Old Navy)

Two cute new suits from Old Navy. They both hit stores April 1. The golden metallic one is a BIT American Apparel (in the bad way), except that it isn't cut below one's crotch. It also HAS a crotch, so that's good. Anyway, metallic definitely has its place on the beach (though it may be its only place I think it's okay in non-accessories form), so I endorse this suit, but the brown one is even better.

($10, Malina, ManicTrout.com)

Never mind that the site's name sounds like a tedious jam band (which is redundant.) These vintage lucite earrings are really sweet, and they're actually tiny -- just a quarter-inch. Tee!