Spring Eye Candy at Saks Part 2: Metallics

In my last post I rounded up my favorite spring shoes from a recent trip to Saks Fifth Avenue! While shopping I noticed a trend that I am ready to endorse: metallics! There is just something undeniably chic and weather-appropriate about metallics complemented by a glowing tan (preferably fake for people who care about their health!). I am partial to gold shoes, but subtler metallics are also catching my eye. Without further ado, here are my favorite metallic shoes courtesy of Saks!

These Jimmy Choo Wedges are everything I want in a sandal – gold and a low wedge heel!

Jimmy Choo Crisscross Wedges for $595 at Saks (limited sizes remain online; better luck in person!).

I was recently shopping with a friend and we both agreed that we wish we lived an Oscar de la Renta kind of life! These gold heels courtesy of Mr. de la Renta are a bit subtler in tone, but pack a punch in style and height.

Oscar de la Renta Textured Leather Sandals for $575 at Saks.

Gladiators still seem to be everywhere, so why not a metallic gladiator!

Dolce Vita Strappy Flat Sandals for $195 at Saks (also available in white).

I have an inexplicable love for Juicy Couture, so I couldn’t resist loving these sandals.

Juicy Couture Charly Ankle-Wrap Sandals for $225 at Saks (also available in black).

And finally, the cutest metallic flats ever! I love how Jimmy Choo updated and embellished the basic flat!

Jimmy Choo Metallic Suede Ballet Flats for $415 at Saks (currently on pre-order).

Confessions of a Manolo Sample Shopper

I am just going to admit right here that I woke up at 7:30 this morning NOT FOR YOGA, NOT FOR RUNNING (I’d never do that) but so that I could spend nearly an hour at a Manolo Blahnik sample sale.

The prices were very similar to these below.

And I emerged victorious, with all body parts and various appendages still intact. I feel like I fought in the trenches.

I am also going to admit that I can get down like Isla Fisher at a sample sale, because that’s what sample sales are about when the stock is of such a wide variety (I mean I saw some of the most hideous puffy weird flowery things I’ve seen in a long time next to gorgeous metallic things of beauty).

I took about 50 pairs of shoes into the corner and hoarded them until I had tried them on. Yes, that’s right, I hogged Manolos. I’m not afraid to admit it. Every other woman in the room was pretty much doing the same thing.

At one point, a somewhat frightening looking woman trying to stuff her giant feet into tiny netted shoes looked over at me suspiciously from her dragon’s hoard and said, You stealin’ your shoes from me? Are you takin’ from my pile???

Oy vey. Not one to take that sort of comment lying down (I doubt this woman and I share a single shred of common taste), I snappily replied, My arm doesn’t reach twelve feet, but even so, I wouldn’t want any of your shoes.

And that, ladies, is how women at a New York sample sale say Good Morning  to one another. It’s like a tipping of the hat. I myself couldn’t believe I’d said that, but then, I am a New Yorker, and she WAS steppin!

I didn’t get photos of the sleepy-eyed women in action, but I will post photos of my two beautiful pairs of shoes later when I get home to my uploader. But for now, what I want to know, ladies, is:

What are your Sample Sale Techniques? I go with a buddy if I can who will work with me like a team, and I hoard, and I take photos of myself wearing the items before I buy them. Other than that, I’m not really sure what other techniques to use even after years of doing it. Suggestions from you pro sample salers? It was vicious in there today!

Arche’s Spring Additions

On a recent trip to Arche, many spring delights were to be found. These shoes, with their saturated jewel tones and soft suede, really stand out in a sea of dark, stiff leather shoes in Midtown. Arche has really stepped up its design in the past couple of years. They very quickly change their designs, so it’s hard to find the exact designs online, but these shoes were all recently in stores. You can also find similar designs here.

Finding a balance with Irregular Choice

I have heard that Irregular Choice shoes can be very comfortable. But, I have never felt the urge to test whether this is true based on many of the past designs made by the brand.

After all, it’s with good cause that the extremely funky styles offered by Irregular Choice have more than once made their appearance in ‘Ugly shoe’ blog posts across  the interwebs.  Originality is a fantastic quality, particularly in shoe-land where runway copies run rampant most seasons. But,  there is such a thing as too much going on – and Irregular Choice often seems to let its exuberance and excitement take a front seat to good taste.

With any artistic endeavor – from painting to sculpture to wearable fashion and shoes – it helps if we understand that editing is key. Know when to stop and time to put down the pen, paintbrush, or fabric swatch.

Edit, edit, edit.

Finally, I am finding shoes from Irregular Choice that are benefiting from this basic concept. Someone, somewhere in the Irregular Choice hierarchy is learning how to edit;  the ‘less is more’ theory of design.

Have they lost their originality and funkiness?

No.

Have they perhaps mellowed to become to become accessible to a wider audience?

Well, ‘mellowed’ isn’t the right word.  But, there are currently a number of funky-yet-modern styles being offered by Irregular Choice; styles which, thankfully, lack any of the crafters-gone-wild excesses of past styles offered from this brand.

Let’s take a quick peek so that you can decide for yourselves.

Irregular Choice ‘Spit Spot’  boot $340.95 at Endless.com

I love these. They are still funky, but wearable for seasons to come. I know that I would make excuses to wear them.

Okay, less commentary, I promised you more shoes:

Irregular Choice ‘Aslan’ $295 at Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice  ‘Women’s Wicked’ side-laced boot $194.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Atomic Apple’ $190.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Brooklyn Beauty’ $149.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Pap Papps’ $130.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Flick Flack’ $103.96 at Endless.com & Spat Attack $146 at Irregular Choice

(Two more personal  faves; my obsession with mixing stripes and polka dots is evident here.)

Irregular Choice ‘Crystillina’ $125 at Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice ‘Shimmmmy’ $120.95 at Endless.com

Oh, and for those of you who liked Irregular Choice’s over-the-top tendencies of seasons past?  Never fear,  a trip to the Irregular Choice website still has the plenty of the funkiest styles for the more daring shoenistas:

I’ll admit, most of these last styles are too much for my taste. Although the embroidered bootie is quite a thing and I’d be tempted to get the kitty boots just for wearing at Halloween each year.

Related forum discussion thread located here.

Elizabeth and James at Bergdorf 5F

One of my favorite places lately is 5F at Bergdorf. The fifth floor is hip, fun and much more relaxed than the rest of Bergdorf. Grab a glass of champagne at the bar, take a tour, and then come back to the cafe for a salad before heading on with the rest of your jaunt.

On 5F, I really liked the selection of Elizabeth and James shoes. You can see some of them below.

The snake-embossed zip sandal for $365 combines several trends, including neutral coloring, snake prints and what I like to call post-gladiator styling.

The snake-embossed crisscross sandal is gorgeous!

The sequined-ankle sandal for $235 is well-designed, simple and elegant for a flat sandal.

Love the wedges they’ve been doing. The lace-up canvas wedge for $350 struck my fancy right away, as soon as I walked into the space.

The Swoon woven wedge booties for $425 are another favorite.

Wedge sandals will rule this summer, according to every lookbook, including one at Bergdorf that showed a model clad in supertight “cargo pants” (a strangely recycled trend) and wedge sandals. Get yours early!