Shoeless in Seattle

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<p align="center"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/barefoot-shoeless-bride-wedding-dress.JPG" /></p>
Okay, so the shoe situation is not entirely as the title of this post might indicate. However, this Seattle bride is currently wedding ceremony and reception dress shoeless, which you can imagine is a big deal for me.

You see, dear readers, I am getting married at the end of August. Though I have browsed through TONS of shoes on a daily basis, this little shoeblogger has been unsuccessful in finding the perfect pair of shoes for her wedding. My criteria is as follows:
<ol>
<li>Must be 4-5 inches tall: My fiance absolutely towers over me and just once, I'd like to be able to see his eyes straight on. Plus, at 4 inches, I don't need to tailor my reception dress. I figure it'll go into paying for those perfect pair of pumps.</li>
<li>Platform shoes: To offset the fact that I will have difficulty walking in 4 inch+ shoes, I need platforms.</li>
<li>Thicker heels preferred for easier walking</li>
<li>Color: Gold, Champagne, Nude. I would prefer to be able to wear it to other occasions and any of these colors would might my ivory colored wedding dress</li>
<li>Material: Flexible but should not be satin as it'll probably stain</li>
<li>Style: Peep toe or round covered toe. Thin and strappy is so pretty, but I'm afraid it'll dig into me plus I have a strange adversion to showing off my pinky toe.</li>
<li>Budget: $300 or less; Few things make me as happy as finding a deal on designer shoes so bonus points to anyone can</li>
<li>Size: 6.5 or 7 depending on the fit</li>
</ol>
In short, I am not that picky, right?

In dire times such as these, the help of your most trusted circle of friends and shoe experts must be enlisted. Our <a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/about-us/">sharp shoebloggers</a> have been on the prowl for me. Some of my options include:

<strong>Wedding Shoe Contestant #1:</strong> <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod52780018&amp;parentId=cat175 20731&amp;masterId=cat7230758&amp;index=57&amp;cmC at=cat000000cat980731cat6000734cat11000734cat72307 58cat17520731" target="_blank">Michael Kors Disco Shoe</a> is available at NM for $298 + there is an additional 20% off. These would be wonderful shoes except they are not in my size and the straps might cut into me (criteria #6).
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/products/mn/NMX0758_mn.jpg" height="270" width="216" /></p>
<strong>Wedding Shoe Contestant #2: </strong><a href="http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/27427" target="_blank">MBMJ Peeptoe</a> which is available at Net-a-porter for $251. I can definitely see myself wearing these shoes for work so they will wear well on an assortment of occasions but I do fear these shoes might be too informal for my wedding. Fortunately, they are not in my size so I don't have the option anyways.
<p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://cache.net-a-porter.com/images/products/27427/27427_in_l.jpg" height="345" width="230" /></p>
<strong>Wedding Shoe Contestant #3 and #4:</strong> These <a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-2321118-10273706?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zappos.com%2Fn%2Fred irect.cgi%3Fq%3Dvz345446641z2&amp;cjsku=1070" target="_blank">Claudio Merrazi shoes</a> did not fit a number of my criteria (material is satin, price, etc) but style <a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-2321118-10475705?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fdp%2FB 000XB9L9M%3Ftag%3Dendlesscj-20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creativeASIN%3DB000XB9L9M&am p;cjsku=B000XB9L9M" target="_blank">CM309</a> (priced at $688) and <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2321118-10475705?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.endless.com%2Fdp%2FB 000XB4AHK%3Ftag%3Dendlesscj-20%26linkCode%3Dasn%26creativeASIN%3DB000XB4AHK&am p;cjsku=B000XB4AHK" target="_blank">CM317 </a>(priced at $629) are too scrumptious to ignore. For the bride who is not afraid to take chances (i.e. not me) these would certainly be memorable shoes.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/wedding-dress-shoes.JPG"></a>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/wedding-dress-shoes.JPG"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/wedding-dress-shoes.JPG" /></a></p>
<strong>Wedding Shoe Contestant #5:</strong> Via Spiga Lulu at <a href="http://linksynergy.overstock.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=139179 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2072&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww.overstock.com%2FClothing%2FVia-Spiga-Lulu-Womens-Ankle-Strap-Heels%2F3238521%2Fproduct.html%3F" target="_blank">Overstock for a sale price of $80</a> or at <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=21855. 1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=324&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A %252F%252Fshop.nordstrom.com%252FS%252F2969030%252 F0%257E2376778%257E2372808%257E2372949%257E2372953 %253Fmediumthumbnail%253DY%2526origin%253Dcategory %2526searchtype%253D%2526pbo%253D2372953%2526P%253 D1&amp;RD_PARM2=http%253A%252F%252Fshop.nordstrom. com%252FS%252F2969030%252F0%257E2376778%257E237280 8%257E2372949%257E2372953%253Fmediumthumbnail%253D Y%2526origin%253Dcategory%2526searchtype%253D%2526 pbo%253D2372953%2526P%253D1" target="_blank">Nordies for the non sale price of $198.</a>

Now, I've actually picked up this shoe (I love the detail on the heel) just in case I can't find any better alternatives but I'm still holding out for a shoe that really speaks to me.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/via-spiga-ankle-strap-wedding-shoe.jpg"></a>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/via-spiga-ankle-strap-wedding-shoe.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/via-spiga-ankle-strap-wedding-shoe.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/via-spiga-heel.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/via-spiga-heel.jpg" height="227" width="189" /></a></p>
<strong>Wedding Shoe Contestant #6: </strong>This is my second pair of backup shoes (yes, I have two backups!). They are called the BCBG Nadette, which I bought at a final sale price for a little over $100. The best picture I could find were these <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2321118-10273706?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zappos.com%2Fn%2Fred irect.cgi%3Fq%3Dvz341240906z2%26zcj%3D1&amp;cjsku= 7369160125649" target="_blank">Nadettes in snakeskin</a> but rest assured that the shoes I picked up are in nude color with matching heels.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/bcbg-nadette.jpg"></a>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/bcbg-nadette.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/bcbg-nadette.jpg" height="259" width="345" /></a></p>
<strong>Wedding Shoe Contestant #7:</strong> <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=149173 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2226&amp;RD_PARM1=http%25 3A%252F%252Fwww.smartbargains.com%252Fgo.sb%253Fpa gename%253Dprod%2526sp%253DAll%252BProducts%25252f %25252f%25252f%25252fUserSearch%25253dmishka%25253 b%25253b%25257c%25257c%25257c%25257c%25257c%25252f %25252f%25252f%25252f%2526dk%253Dmishka%2526deptid %253D1094%2526catid%253D288%2526prodid%253D1311488 266%2526t%253DSearch...prod.4" target="_blank">Badgley Mischka Piera on sale at SmartBargains for $199</a> (select sizes but not mine) or <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2321118-10273706?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zappos.com%2Fn%2Fred irect.cgi%3Fq%3Dvz341221396z2%26zcj%3D1&amp;cjsku= 740297899" target="_blank">Zappos for $409</a>.

Now I know these are satin and might stain if they got wet, but my heart simply went aflutter when Galligator sent me the link to shoes. They are beautiful, classy, and timeless. In short, they might just be perfect if a size 7 were to appear on SmartBargains at its current selling price. Perhaps the wedding gods will smile upon me on my special day. I am certainly keeping my eye out for the shoes and the link has already been bookmarked.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/badgley-mischka-wedding-shoe.jpg"></a>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/badgley-mischka-wedding-shoe.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/badgley-mischka-wedding-shoe.jpg" /></a></p>
So shoe readers, what do you think of my options? Wish me luck and happy wedding shoe hunting!