The best of both worlds?!

I've returned! Camping was splendid, although Dominique and I DID have to share a pair of flip-flops (again, the blue ones, those things are indestructible) because the pair that she brought broke about 3 hours into the trip. Oops... I really should have got a photo...

Anyways, it's been SO hot out lately that I'm quite reluctant to revisit the whole wearing-closed-toes-in-summer idea, at least until we get a breeze or two.

So, for all your shoe-anistas out there who LOVE a little heel in your life, but hate the idea of sweating in your pumps all day, I bring you the solution:

Heeled flip-flops.

Again, these are a Payless purchase, and they're actually about 5 years old (shhhh, we'll call them vintage), but they're pretty freakin' cute. The little sequins give them some sparkle, and the bright pink makes them really cute with a super casual outfit. Nothing quite like a splash of colour on your tootsies to bring life to neutral shorts and tops.


Do me a huge favour though and ignore the dirty feet, the unshaven legs and the flaking toenail polish, please. Remember that I've been camping for 4 days.

Who says you can't wear closed-toes in the summer?

Ok, so it's summer. That we all know.

I've been pretty much living in my flippy-floppies all summer (you know the ones... they're bluueee) but today I opted to go a little classier.

I'm going camping tomorrow with my partner in crime Miss Dominique, and we all know that you can't wear classy heels at the lake. At the VERY most, you can get away with wearing wedges... but even then... it's CAMPING, you crazy shoe-anistas!

Anyways, these are Payless Shoes. They were cheap, I won't lie. I bought them when I was just starting doing officework and I still believed in work-appropriate clothing (very much a thing of the past, I'm in shorts and a t-shirt right now, but believe me, I'm still smashing).

I used to hate Payless Shoes with a fiery burning passion because I thought they were cheaply made, and therefore:
a) uncomfortable; and
b) going to fall apart at any moment.

Payless was my store of choice when I was in high school and it was incredibly important to purchase 18 pairs of shoes for less than 100$ cause I was working in a grocery store for minimum wage and a shopaholic.

Anyways, I love these. they're pseudo-spectators with the suede and patent patches, and they're actually comfy and durable as all hell. Enjoy!

PS Like I said, I'm going camping, so I won't be posting for a few days for sure... Have a grand weekend!

The return of the flat!

Gooooooddddd mooorrrrnnnniiinnnggggg!!!

Ok. So, today, I want to tell you about my obsession with crazy sandals. I've shown you my gold ankle wrap flip-flops, but these lil babies were a very excellent purchase made in the FABULOUS city of New York!

We (Mum and I) found them at this store Laila Rowe (if you REALLY like these, and want a pair, they're on sale for 15.00$US) that was a few different places in the ol' NYC, and we kept stumbling upon them in our travels around the city (which was opportune because we couldn't figure out where the first one was that we found, and we really wanted to go back).

I think that they're quite clever because they have ankle straps, but also zippers down the back of the ankle, so you can just unzip and jump out. I always find it frustrating having to contort my body into odd pretzel shapes so that I can see the buckles placed strategically just out of my normal range of sight.

Anyways! I am absolutely LOVING the crazy flat sandals that have been coming out this season. There are studs and anklestraps and pseudo-sandal-boot-hybrids (like the ones my mum bought on our San Fran trip) all over the place and I think they're fantastic. It's nice to see something other than your typical strappy heel (not that I don't love a good strappy heel, they just get tired after awhile) or mangy flip-flop. Plus, there's a shift with these towards a less delicate look. The studs and beadwork are all very strong looks, sometimes hinting at tribal or military, and this allows them to pull together and step up a casual look.

For example, I've worn these sandals with a pair of short-shorts and my (men's) I <3 NY shirt, and really felt as though the shoes pulled the outfit together and made it an outfit, rather than looking like I just pulled the first two clean items of clothing off my floor and threw them on (which is very possibly what actually happened).

I would almost equate this trend to all the gorgeous flat boots we've been seeing for Fall/Winter the last few years. Flats are coming back, baby, and the boardwalk is the perfect place for them.

Stepping it up a notch...

So, I thought, since the sun was a-shining, I would step things up a notch (actually, writing this is really giving me a reason to wear more interesting shoes everyday... Now, if only I could bring myself to believe that getting up 15 minutes early so I can do my makeup in the morning is a worthy endeavour...)
Anyways, back to the task at hand. These lil babies are Steve Madden, they're leathah, and they have this cool faux wrap thing going on the toe. I've also had them since high school. In fact, I'm pretty sure I walked out of a Value Village in Victoria wearing them. Oops...

They're actually one of my favourite pairs of shoes, but I always end up wearing them on days when I have to do things you don't really want to be doing in heels. For example, these shoes have climbed a ladder today. They also went to the bank, but I like running errands in a pair of nice heels!

I'd said previously that I decided to wear these guys today cause the sun is shining. I don't know about YOU, but I LOVE to wear crazy bright coloured shoes with a dress of a contrasting (but still complimentary) colour, shake my hair out and run out the door. I think that being coated in bright colours (but please don't wear more than 2 or 3 bright hues, we're not trying to look like a skittles storm here) is one of the best ways to do summer. Extra points for a white sunhat.

Ugly flip-flops

Ok, so remember in my post-pedi rant, I was talking about how every girl should have a pair of flip-flops? Well, these are my current pair:
As you can see, my beautiful pedi is LOOONNGGG gone, and I've been to the beach a few times this summer... Well, and Vegas. Lots of tanning going on (I promise, this is the last year that I laze about in the sun, walking that fine line between gloriously golden and, as we've lovingly dubbed the shade of pink our good friend Seanie turns in the sun, cotton candy pink. Well, until I change my mind next year.).

Anyways, these BEAUTS (I actually think they're some of the ugliest shoes I own...) came into my life the morning after a pool party we went to out at a friend's place in Cloverdale. Of course, being the ridiculous glamazon that I am, heels were worn (you'll see them soon, I promise). Yes, yes, I wore heels to a pool party, don't judge, just be jealous. Continuing on! The next morning, my DARLING friend Miss Annie and I went out to Metrotown to do a little shopping, and I decided that flipflops were in order! So, we went to a dollar store (of all places to buy shoes, I knowwww!!) and these guys were stuck in a shelf somewhere obscure (I think they were with the birthday crowns and Disney princess plates. It doesn't make sense to me either) and when I scooped them up and put them on my feet, they were just my size! 30 seconds after I had de-tagged them and stowed my heels, we walked around the corner to see a HUGE wall of flipflops just like them, but these ones are lucky. I think.

Well, that was a frightfully convoluted story, but here's the scoop on my flippy-floppies. They're made out of the same material as Crocs (ew, I hate Crocs) so, they're SUPER comfy. In fact, they're the BEST shoes to slip into after a LONG night of dancing (read: drinking) cause they also have killer arch support and massage your poor lil tootsies while you walk. I'm the kinda girl who dances to the point that she can't walk the next morning, and these guys have saved me. Often.

And, for 2$, how can you lose? ;)

Fresh Beginnings...

Ok, my darlings, my dears! The shoes are off!!! (Never thought I'd say that with such glee...)

Anyways, here's our fresh beginning. We'll start again. A little different rules (how about NO rules, whaddayathink?) and a little more fun ;) More stories, maybe? We'll see. More shoes? Well, that's a given :D! Talk soon!!!

To continue...

Ok, so moving on! I think that a total staple in EVERY girl's shoe-drobe is a pair of super accessible flip-flops, cause otherwise you end up with these on your feet:



And, I don't know about you girls, but these things ALWAYS break on me, and always in the most inopportune places (this time in Fred Meyer, where we had parked pretty much across the country >:[ and I had to walk barefoot across the parking lot, pretty much ruining my perfectly pedi-ed foot!). Anyways, keep a pair in the car, toss em in your purse (we're all carrying huge bags this season, don't think they won't fit), something! Then, spontaneous pedicures won't leave you stranded on asphalt with one shitty foam slipper.

Fan suggestions are always welcome! These beauties are my friend, Jeffrey,'s golf shoes. The green pieces are all faux ostrich they have red stripes down the back. Cudos to youdos, Jeffrey, for being a stylish bitch on the golf green! ;)

These guys I bought from Sears about 3 summers ago, at the end of season, and thought to myself, "These will be next summer's shoe," before gazing off into the visions of summers to come and throwing them, in their box, onto the shoe shelf. They didn't see light again for 3 years... But this year is theirs to shine!!! Come out my friends!

Ok, so I didn't REALLY document much in the way of footwear while I was in New York, mostly because I bought almost every delicious pair I came into contact with ;) So, you're going to have to wait until I wear them. Well, here's a preview of what's to come!! These guys are actually much more purple than they show up, and with a black mini and a pair of witchy tights, they are just the statement maker every girl needs!

These guys, on the other hand, came to New York in my suitcase. Here, they're finally getting a rest after a CRAZY day of walking all over the freakin' city! These are my Sam Edelstein fringe boots, and I ADORE them. After working a super trying Christmas season at a lingerie/sportswear/cocktail dress store, they were my Christmas present to myself. 100$ at Winners, can't go wrong ;) Plus you can wear them up or scruuunch them down, and they're fabulous both ways :D!

Almost ready for our fresh-start? Here it comes!!

Long time, no shoes.

Ok, ok I know, it's been nearly 2 months since I posted. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

But, let me explain!!! I went to San Fransisco. And it was amazing. And there were lots of shoes to see (I'll show you!!). But, when I got back, I was having issues posting, and it was a mess.

And then all this time passed.... And I was still taking photos. Sometimes.

Anyways, I'm going to catch you up, and then we can have a clean slate! A fresh start. A gosh-darned NEW BEGINNING! What do you say? Good ;)

SO! San Fran:

**Special Thanks** to my mummy for modelling ;)

Super cute little microsuede wedges we saw in Bellingham before we flew out :)

It might be a little sick how obsessed I am with these crazy sandal-boots. Way too awesome!!

And all the ankle-sandals blow my mind. I got a few pairs you'll have to wait for me to wear :D!

This is one of the shoe displays at Barney's (Where we went and pretending to be heiresses, we know how to live it ;)

A particularly dreamy pair of peep-toed boots at Barney's. I was afraid to look at the tag cause I knew I would start rationalizing. :S!

Then my mummy tried these on. Omg. Chrome snakeskin PERFECTION. And only 800$ ;)


I HAD to jump in on the action, and slipped on some delicious Givenchy before I nearly melted to the floor. ("But, oh, Katy, wouldn't they just be PERFECT for that event we have to go to?" "Oh, yes, Mummy, absolutely DIVINE!")

And then we walked into Armani. And my heart stopped. Sorry, Givenchy, but these shoes are my soul-mates (no pun intended :P)

I had a really hard time taking them off ;) But then... wouldn't you??

Ok, I'm going to continue in another post. See you in a sec :D!