Jet Set Bohemian: A Great Consignment Store on California’s Central Coast

I have a long list of shoes I dream of finding significantly discounted during an incredible sale. The list includes Frye’s Campus boots, Chanel’s quilted ballet flats, and almost anything by Loeffler Randall.

Recently, I’ve found myself at Jet Set Bohemian (8049 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA, 831-685-3156) anytime I’m on the Central Coast. Aptos is conveniently located just south of Santa Cruz and north of Monterey on California Highway 1. A few months ago I saw a perfect pair of Campus boots there for $80; it was not meant to be since the size was a 9 and I wear a 7.5. Then on a recent trip, I spotted these beautiful, and apparently never worn, Loeffler Randall shoes. The price marked was $35 (what a deal!), but when I went to buy the shoes the price was reduced to $26 since the item had not sold in 30 days! How I love a good consignment store!

Here are my new favorite shoes!

And here’s the recent shoe selection at Jet Set Bohemian. Excluding boots, nothing was marked over $50, and all the shoes were in nice to new condition.

CUSP Sale: Department Store Boutiques

Generally speaking, I do not care for department stores. They are too big, and, quite frankly, just too much in every respect. Yes, you can peruse an incredible selection and find some great deals, but it always takes me hours. It’s like I walk into a department store and remerge hours later completely overwhelmed. This is why I love boutiques! I can cover the entire store in a much more timely manner. But the downside is that the selection and markdowns are not always comparable to a department store.

CUSP, Neiman Marcus’s equivalent of Barney’s Co-Op, is my new favorite boutique department store! I bought a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag online a few months ago and was impressed with the website’s selection and prices. Yesterday I was walking down the street in Georgetown during my visit to Washington D.C. and spotted a brick and mortar CUSP (3030 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007)! I was so excited!

The store’s selection was amazing! I loved everything! I was there for about 45 minutes and felt like I covered the place. The staff, especially in the shoe department, was very helpful! The salesman informed me that if you request a sale item as “final sale” you save an additional 15%! This deal does not appear to be available online.

I bought these adorable Sam Edelman ballet flats in wine (they are also available in gray) on sale for $44. 

Sam Edelman Bow-Front Ballerina at CUSP for $44 (regularly $99)

Loeffler Randall colorblock pumps at CUSP for $191 (regularly $425)

Mid-Heel Options

When people ask me my age, I often give a smart mouth response.  ”My mind thinks I am 25, but my knees think I am 85.”  My old knees are a result of bad running mechanics, high heels and a really, really stupid mountain bike accident.   

My mind LOVES the five inch double platforms we have seen these past few seasons, however my knees are another matter.  Lately, they have been choosing how high my heels will be.  When you wear heels above 3 inches, it puts ALOT of stress on your knees.  So if you are wearing 4 1/2 inch heels everyday give me a call, I know a great orthopedic surgeon. 

Shomore told us about Andre Leon Talley’s opinion about the absurd heights our designers are taking their heels.   Gioia Diliberto agrees. ”It is nearly impossible to find a pretty, feminine shoe with a normally high heel, say three and a half inches.”  [Huffington Post] 

I can relate.  I decided to see just what I could find with a heel 3.5 inches or less.  Let’s see what I found.

Taryn Rose Canela  is a neat shoe with a cute ornament on the toe. The heel’s width offers stability.  The foot bed had a high tech paddding.   Taryn Rose shoes have been kind to me because she is an orthopedic surgeon turned shoe designer.  She feels my pain.

 Chrisian Louboutin offers more than hidden platforms with 6 inch heels.  I am seriously considering purchasing these heels.

Christian Louboutin New Decoltissimo 85  $565 at Net-a-Porter.

  I really like these next shoes.  They are not gladiators (too tired), not too odd looking, but different enough to be interesting.  There is a red and grey combination that is attractive.

  Loeffler Randall Geneivieve $332 at Shopbop.com 

Another interesting design that isn’t the same frilly, girly flower sandal we see everywhere. 

Eilene Shieldsfor Zero + Maria Cornejo Tia

Initially, I found nearly all shoes with less than 3.5 inch heels were either variations on the pump or a slide.  I looked a little harder and found some designers who had some unusual designs that met my 3.5 criteria.  Eilene Shields and Loeffler Randall had quite a few unusual designs.  Cole Haan has several feet friendly designs. 

If two fashion editors are talking about insane high shoes, then others are too.  I am willing to bet the designers will be offering more shoes in the mid-heel range soon.

Spring 2009 Shoes Trends: A Rainbow of Color

While economic events have been a bit dreary over the past six months or so, it’s nice to see that we won’t have to worry about being stuck with spring shoe options that are either conservative or gloomy.  

So, what am I seeing at online retailers as well as in every brick-and-mortar store with a shoe section?

Color.

What kind of color? From Payless to Macy’s to Saks, just about every primary, prism-based color is on tempting display.

So, if you like bold colors, then this is the season for you.

Here are some (mostly) high-end highlights.

Red:

Christian Louboutin ‘Madame Claude’ D’orsay Pumps $795 at Saks.com

Valentino ‘Mena’ Day Wear Pumps $695 at Saks.com

BCBGMaxazria Patent and Rafia* Sandals $250 at Saks.com

Orange:

Dior ‘Klimt’ T-strap Sandal $570 at Saks.com

Miu Miu patent leather wedges $570 at Net-a-porter

Yellow:

Christian Louboutin Platform pumps $736 at Saks.com

Brian Atwood ‘Riva’ patent sandals $725 at Net-a-porter

Green:

Roberto Cavalli satin basketweave sandals $915 at Net-a-porter

Brian Atwood Suede Sandals $710 at Saks.com

Blue:

Christian Louboutin ‘New Simple’ pumps $675 at Saks.com

Oscar de la Renta V-Pieced open-toe platform pumps $755 at Saks.com 

Loeffler Randal ‘Graphic’ wood platform sandal $575 at Saks.com

Violet:

Miu Miu ‘Sandali’ cork* sandals $585 at Saks.com

Miu Miu suede pumps $495 at Saks.com

Costume National slingback flats $560 at Saks.com

What if you want to play with the whole rainbow instead of just choosing by the individual color?  Well, multi-hued styles are available too. Heck, many of us are just starting to experience 2009′s first rainy, spring-time weather; it’s as good a reason as any to bring your own rainbow to the party.

Nine West ‘Mudpie’ bamboo*-wrapped slide $88.95 at Endless.com

T.U.K Rainbow Heart Strap Heel $60.50 at Zappos.com

Jimmy Choo Open-Toe Sandals $825 at Saks.com

Brian Atwood ‘Margie’ rainbow sandals $565 at Saks.com

Sergio Rossi patchwork knee-high boots $1500 at Net-a-porter

Here’s to a colorful and optimistic spring.

* See, you really can’t get away from cork & rafia this year. 

Gimme Shoes or Gimme Death

Ok, so my title is a bit over the top, but I’d rather perish than live an existence without shoe shopping. I may have cut down on my clothes shopping, but shoe shopping is a bare essential! I’ll be wearing a potato sack in Great Depression 2.0, but my shoes will gleam like a brand new shiny silver nickel, even if I have to cover Keds with aluminum foil or spray paint them silver!

In San Francisco, Gimme Shoes is one of my new favorite stores. They just have fantastic taste, rejecting vulgarity in favor of classic, classy styles. The lovely designer Louisa Parris told me she got some of her runway shoes for the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion event from Gimme, and after several visits, I can see why. I stopped by the Gimme in Hayes Valley and saw this irresistible Belle by Sigerson Morrison origami flat and Repetto boot.

They are having a winter sale online where you can find the delicious likes of Loeffler Randall, Dries Van Noten, Chie Mihara, 3.1 Philip Lim and Yohji Yamamoto. Check it out here.