Gucci Brehat Ballet Flats

Say hello to the latest addition to my shoe collection.  She is called the Gucci Brehat ballet flat.  Here’s what I love about my Brehat.   She’s comfortable, has a very slight 1/4 inch heel to support my arches, is easy to pair with most of my casual outfits, and although there is a slight Gucci signature striping on the heel and GG logos on the fabric, they aren’t screaming Gucci to anyone that glances at the shoes.  The final point is key, I prefer not to be a walking advertisement to any company.  The best part about my Gucci Brehat flats? They were on sale at 60% off at Nordies which brought my purchase down to a little under $150.   The sole negative for me is that the upper material is fabric which means these shoes may get dirty and be difficult to clean.  The silver color should mask some of the dirt and I intend to take them to the cobbler to see if there is any special sealant/protection I should apply beforehand.

Gucci white GG coated ‘Brehat’ ballerina flats are $300 at BlueFly.com

Flirty Caovilla crushes at YOOX

I don’t buy shoes because they are in fashion or stylish, per se.  I simply like them – and if I think I will still like them seasons and years from now, I may be willing to spend higher prices for that – as I perceive it – value.  But, if I can find that same shoe a little bit later at a discount, that is like a double-win.

As a result, I love YOOX. You can find fabulous after-season shoes at some great discounts.  As I slowly shape up my budget, I will definitely be visiting YOOX with more regularity.  As it is, my YOOX dreambox(wishlist) is almost always full.

So, here are a handful of Renee Caovilla sandals that I have been eying over at YOOX but have not yet decided whether to add to my YOOX dreambox.

Rene Caovilla Women’s beaded ankle-wrap sandals $590 $355

I like these almost as much as the floral versions shown here. But, the price on these beaded sandals is accessible, if not exactly cheap; giving them more than a slight edge over the $835 floral version…and doesn’t that base price rising from $590 to $835 show us just how much prices have changed over just  a couple of years?

Renee Caovilla pailette platform slides $550 $385

These are cute, but I’m a little leary of slides. I’m occasionally clutsy on my feet, so I generally like to have a slingback or ankle-strap to protect me from my occasionally betraying ankles. Plus, my pants inevitably get caught between my heel & the top of the  slide.  Annoying.  But, if you want a different way to indulge current trends while clog styles are still extra-hot on the fashion scene, these are refreshingly different. And, once the current fad for clogs die down, they’ll still be an adorable pop of color.

Rene Caovilla platform demi-wedge sandals $570 $342.

Okay, here’s one of those YOOX downsides. I love how different these sandas are while still being crazy-cute and sweetly-sexy. But there are currently no pairs in my size. These are a possible dreambox entry anyway, just to remind me to keep an after-market eye-out for these.

Rene Caovilla crystal sandals $590 $395

Ah, bling – always a great place to start on shoes. Yet again, my size is not available. If you are a size 10 or 12, though, these are just waiting for  a loving new home.

Rene Caovilla strappy mandala sandal $590 $395

What do you think? I’m definitely loving the first pair the most out of all of these, but all of them have at least a little bit of  my attention.

EBI Korean Support Shoes

I’m working in LA, and have had a chance to eat some really terrific Korean food in Garden Grove, a very Korean suburb, while I’m at it. If you’re ever there, check out Morangak, where the barbecued meat and vegetables were fresh and delicious. Here are a couple photos to entice you.

In every major city I visit, but particularly in LA, Korean food and products, as well as Korean spas, have long been my salvation from expensive mainstream products.

Why do some Korean women have such amazing skin? It’s not magic. It’s because they eat tons of antioxidant-loaded greens, kimchi and tea (green, barley, plum, persimmon, etc.), obsess over their creams, zealously protect with hats, ugly visors, staying inside and sunglasses, and spend lots of time at the Korean spa having facials and scrubs done. And any woman can follow that formula. I have used the Korean lotions and cleansers from Amore and Laneige for years, and they are much cheaper than Shiseido, with the same end results.

I’ve written about traditional Korean shoes and girly Korean shoes in Korea before. But lately I’ve been wondering about whether I can get Korean shoes here in LA. So far, all I’ve come across are a few pairs of excellent support shoes for cheaper prices at Home Mart in LA, but tomorrow I’m going to Koreatown again to check out a few shops, so if I find anything good for the ladies lacking foot problems, I’ll report back soon.

In the meantime, I highly recommend these support shoes. My mum tried them on and said they were very comfortable. Made for standing for long periods or walking, they are shaped to roll as you walk and have a high arch support for those who are sadly flat-footed (yours truly will probably be wearing them by age 35 while all my beautiful shoes sit in the closet).

You can check your sizes for Ebi shoes by calling Home Mart at (213) 908-0807. They are located at 808 S. Western.

Christian Louboutin’s Winter 2010-2011 Line

There is nothing worse than the official Christian Louboutin web site.  All you see are these awful green eyes and floating shoes.  You are supposed to click on this little photo to pull the shoe up.   Terrible.

 I used to be all about Christian Louboutin shoes, maybe I am getting old, contrary, or just grouchy, but I didn’t see anything lustilicious. Lots of spikes, lots of studs, lots of metalics, lots of ultra high platforms, lots of over the top.  Whatever.

Here is a glimpse of some of the shoes released last week.

These shoes do appeal to someone because there are about 200 counterfeit websites. Christian Louboutin released an update to the list of counterfeit sites a couple of weeks ago.

So, are any of these lustilicious for you?  Maybe if I look at them long enough, I will change my mind.

Sandals to Wear with Vintage Summer Dresses

Recently I have become obsessed with buying vintage, or vintage inspired, dresses. All of my free time seems to be consumed by trolling thrift stores, boutiques, and online shopping sites. Now that I have a healthy collection of vintage dresses, I need sandals that complement the vintage aesthetic I’m working. Rising to this challenge, I’ve selected some of my favorite summertime sandals.

As a fan of Kork-Ease shoes (I already own a pair of their Ava sandals – and they are so comfortable!), I’ve been thinking about buying a pair with a cork wedge.

Kork-Ease Myrna II Wedge in red (also available in black, white, green, and yellow) for $129 at Zappos

Since I’m a devotee of comfortable shoes, I love Dansko’s. They have a great selection of sandals with a heel, and heels do look great with summer dresses.

Dansko Sissy Sandal in brown (also available in black, white, red, and green) for $109.95 at The Walking Company

If you’re working a 70′s vibe with a vintage dress, clogs are a must have shoe.

Swedish Hasbeens Braided High Clog in white (also available in brown, red, and blue) for $199 at Endless

During and after college I lived in Spain, and during my time there I fell in love with Campers. I still turn to Campers for a European mix of style and comfort.

Camper Laura Wedge Sandal in black/white (also available in all black, all white, brown, and blue) on sale for $142.45 (regularly $149.99) at Endless

I am always drawn to perfectly flat shoes. These sandals by Proenza Schouler are a great reinterpretation of the gladiator sandal trend (something I never got into).

Proenza Schoular Lace-Up Cutout Sandals on sale for $415.99 (regularly $595) at Saks