Style Dilemma: Travel Shoes and Bag

BlueSuitGirl pleads for help:

I need HELP in a big way!!!!!! I need comfortable shoes-- for strutting the streets of Cairo, that aren't too ugly and I would love it if they could be a just a tad bit stylish. I've found some really comfortable, cute flip flops, but I want something a little nicer than that. I know I am asking for a lot....and I have searched everywhere. Oh yeah, I'm leaving in a week too, so I can't depend on ordering online. Any suggestions??? How did your Grasshoppers work out for your Greece trip?

And while we are on the subject, I also need a cute bag. I don't want a purse per say...but I was thinking something along the lines ov "courrier" style, but not huge and not "sporty"....I would love for it to be a multi-purpose bag while I'm over there.

Any way you can help me out of this bind????????

Love ya......
BlueSuitGirl

BlueSuitGirl:

I promise a more detailed response later, but since the subject line of your email read "HEEEEEEEEEEEELP!," I wanted to get your plea up and see what the Infintessimal Readership could offer.

I.R.? What can we do to help BlueSuitGirl travel the pyramids in comfortable style?

As promised, here's the update...sorry for the delay...know you're under the gun!

On the shoes, a couple of significant travel points from my recent Greece trip and other travel:

If it's not heavenly comfortable in the store, do. not. buy. it. (The pair of shoes, that is.) This is not the time (when you're going to be traipsing around sandy pyramids and the streets of foreign cities) to be risking with an "I'm sure they'll stretch" thought.

Leather. While my Grasshoppers were a brilliant idea, canvas doesn't stretch. Leather will breathe and give almost from the beginning, two key things when you're roaming. And on a similar note, the less synthetic material, the better - for the same breathing purpose.

Mules, flip-flops, and slides are a no-no for comfortable travel. They're fine if you're hitting a beachside bar (which I'm sure you will), but not for walking. Your feet and calves will not be happy with the fact that you've had to grip the shoe all day long to make sure it stays on.

Kenneth Cole - When we first went to Romania 5 years ago, I needed something that was comfy and dressy - not an easy order. Fortunately, K.C.'s Reaction line, and many of his other styles, are built for just that, with softest leather, flexible rubber soles and cushioning. If you're comfortable walking in heels, go for the Elasta Girl (love that superhero name), top right. If heels aren't good for you all day, go metallic flat with the Run Away, at right. Run Away's rubber sole is a plus for travel, too.

Gigi Favela - If you're really looking for something pretty and dressy you can put on at night, but still be comfortable if you have to dash for a cab, and are willing to fork over a little more dough, try the Nina (at right) in navy faux ostrich. It has a little breathing space, and all of G.F.'s shoes are designed with extra cushioning in the ball of the shoe. Never mind that navy is a brilliant "neutral" choice in my book.

Isaac Mizrahi for Target - At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, price wise, you have another option. First, the Amanda (bottom right) sports a wedge, which is a solid choice for walking. True, this one is a sandal, but if the straps are soft enough, and you're looking for an evening option, this might just be the way to go. And if you mess them up en route, or your luggage gets lost, you're not out a bazillion dollars.

In my experience, there are a couple of lines to avoid: Steve Madden and Nine West. True, they tend to have the good styles for less money, but I keep finding their leathers too stiff for comfort.

And...if all else fails, use that bag you're going to be wearing to take along a favorite pair of comfy shoes to switch later in the day - it's a great way to combat the hot, sweaty feet issue.

Answers to your bag question coming soon...let us know what you come up with and how they work out.

Report from Greece: Boots, Knickers, and ANTM

Let's start with this. The view from our hotel room in Chania, ancient port, best known as a Venetian port. It was absolutely lovely, quiet, and perfect for leaving the balcony door open while napping in the afternoon (one of my favorite travel passtimes).

The view from our room at the Best Western in Chania

(where they have the bestest breakfast in the whole world)

But this was the middle of our trip. Fashion, as I said before, in Chania was tourist-centric, though there were lots and lots of little artisan jewlers with sweet and sassy pieces. My only treat to myself: a huge mother-of-pearl (knuckle-to-knuckle) cocktail ring.

Athens had more to its style. Big slouchy boots and equestrian boots were everywhere. Made me want to rush out and buy a pair that I didn't pick up in the States. I tried, but alas, none fit right. Given the weather (I really had to laugh at how bundled up they were), the Greek women were in tights, boots, and skirts or dresses, or in knickers. That's right. Knickers. Maybe I missed the trend stateside, but it's one that works well in transition - from season to season and from day to night. Worked especially well for young, hip mommas.

Athenian family out for a stroll in the shadow of the Acropolis
(note the equestrian boots and knickers; love the bright jacket)

More boots and knickers in the shadow of the Acropolis
(my very own MIL and one of my now multitudes of Grecian cousins, who always seems to be infuriatingly perfectly attired, despite having two children and a full-time job)

I tried desperately not to look like the American tourist, but I'm not sure it worked. I can usually successfully pass for a Northern European (which is sometimes an advantage, sometimes not, depending on the country). But I felt like I had a big stamp "American" on my forhead. Worse, "American Tourist." And so I was. There's no mistaking that I was a tourist. Thank goodness I was - there are really so many gorgeous things to see, like the Acropolis (where the Parthenon is) and Sounio. Most of it is just stunning, and who the heck cares if you're a tourist; if you weren't, you wouldn't see it.

Playing model (I pay attention to Jay's instructions on ANTM) on the cliffs of Sounio, upon which rests an ancient temple to Poseidon. The site's most famous visitor? Lord Byron, who somehow made his mark (literally) all over Greece. Practically every ancient site we saw had a Byron story. Kinda the George Washington (Washington ate here, Washington slept here) of Greece, oddly enough.

The best part of all? Family. I now have about 1000 Greek cousins (picture the scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding where Gus introduces his whole family to the new wasp-y in-laws: "Nick, Nikos, Nicki..."). Better yet? Some of them live on Crete. That would be a Greek island. I have cousins who live in the Greek islands. How exotic do I sound (to a tried-and-true wasp, that is)? Even better yet? Some of them have a garden in which lemons, oranges, and avocadoes (didn't know they grew on trees - they do - I'd just never thought about it) grow. And a basement in which they make their own wine and rachiu,* a sliwowitz/grappa/palinca/weinbrandt-like liquor that'll knock you on your rear faster than you can say "opa!"

Basement with winecasks, one of the cousins, and H. (Note the ubiquitous layered T, tank, and tummy sleeve over jeans.)

As my MIL advised me ahead of time, the shoes were to die for, with colors, styles, and materials galore (lots of great patterned fabrics for spring and summer), but alas, I found nothing that fit that wowed me (even when in Europe, I have a strict "if I don't love it, and it doesn't feel really good, I don't buy it" policy). So I stuck with my star flats and Grasshoppers

The Grasshoppers (topped with the Citizens) rest in front of the National Archeological Museum.

*Probably totally butchering the spelling. Since Greek is in Greek letters, and the translation I get of it is really Romanian, that's the best I can do.

Packing for Greece...if I ever get to it.

Let's just say that I'm thankful I've traveled a lot. Packing happens for me in about 30 seconds. 60 if it's winter and I'm trying to stuff things into a bag.

Everyone has different packing styles. Take, for example, me and my mother-in-law. My style? I just told you. List in head for a week (or not), then pack on the fly. Invariably I end up with a few too many tops, but worse things could happen. MiL? She's been packed for a month. I kid you not. MiL's a very planned and "get it done now, so I can play later" kinda gal (dinner's often cooked by the time I get up in the morning). It's served her well. So she started packing in the spare room about a month ago. She'll be packed, then think twice, pull something out, replace it, see a weather report, change it again...

So when I left this morning, already mildly stressed about trying to get further with the aforementioned thesis-type project thingy and transition my projects to coworkers for the next two weeks, I really wasn't even considering packing. It'll happen. Someday. Our plane departs tomorrow dinnertime, so I figure I'll get it done at some point. No worries. Jae and Erwin tomorrow morning are much more important (I'll feel good, even if I have nothing to wear) than getting my crap in a bag.


[12 hours after I started this post...continued...]


But I did find 10 minutes before a meeting and again after my brain conked out on work & school to make a list of the things I think I should pack. I'll spare you all of the vitamins and face products, but here's the pre-packing clothing list.


2 Old Navy tanks (one in True Blue, one in a berry color that doesn't seem to be on the website)
orange sparkly Indian-inspired Chrome Hearts tank
INC sheer blue T
4 summery, flowy tunic-y blouses lent me by a marvelous GreekGoddess friend who just gave birth to her first daughter
an iie
blue Motherhood Maternity dress
linen Old Navy halter dress (for some reason not on the website - wish it were - it's so non "M")
a standby cami
tummy sleeves (one black, one nude)
underwear (of course)
socks (in case my feet get cold at night)
trouser socks (eew, I know, but just in case it gets cold over there - it's possible)
tights (see above comment, but without the "eew")
Old Navy rollover waist khakis (Babsie D, you were right, right, right - don't knock 'em til you try 'em - and I never want to wear anything else ever again - but also can't find these online)
Citizen standby jeans
an old standby printed Ann Taylor skirt - just in case
favorite brown merino v-neck sweater
favorite black cowl neck sweater (again, just in case it's cold)
a black cotton motorcycle jacket (Gap, 300 seasons ago, but it's still one of my favorites)
red cotton raincoat
teal silk pashmina-like shawl - perfect for the plane!


Shoes are a little extensive...but here goes
Mia stars flats - like slippers - with stars! (for some reason, 3 of the last 4 pairs of shoes I've bought have been Brasilian-born - something to look into there)
my orange flats
standby black heels (just in case)
gold strappy sandals
my favorite bought-in-Miama with BlueSuitGirl ankle wrap sandals
my new Grasshoppers
slippers (oddly enough, also with stars)


And, of course, accessories...but I haven' t decided on those yet.


MiL says that the shoe shopping in Greece is to-die-for - lots of little boutiques. I promise a full report - and I'll tell you if I actually packed any of what I listed, let alone whether or not I wore it.


See you on April 11th! I'll let you know how visiting the relatives in Athens and Chania, Crete, was!

I've Turned Into My Grandmothers. And Proud of It.

On a hunt to find shoes for Greece trip (Wednesday).


DSW in Bethesda.


Flats galore. Tons of them. Tons cute, great colors, but none fit right or felt like I could walk a million miles in them.


So I headed to the wedges.


I've been ambivalent about them, but figured a) they'd be stable to walk in, and 2) if I found a pair with enough visual interest in the heel, I'd be happy.


So next to the Rocket Dog 5-inchers, I see a pair of sand colored, old skool espadrilles.* Peep toe. Cute. Then I notice the box.


Grasshoppers.


When I was a shoe salesgirl in high school, I used to sell them to all the old ladies at the nursing home. My grandmothers both lived in them (and I'm sure Mom-Mom still has a few pair in her closet).


So I put them aside, and wandered on. Couldn't get over the Old Ladiness. But man, were they comfortable.


Wander, wander, wander. About 10 pairs of flats later, H finds me. MiL has struck out on her shoe search. So I take him over to see the Grasshoppers. He wrinkles his nose. She declares their Elegance. That nearly clinches it (and not to buy them).


But I keep them on, and they really are totally cute. Pushing the envelope, I'm calling it.


In the meantime, H still hasn't stopped making fun of me. Or rather, only enough to rag on me for not working on my thesis instead of posting. Yeah. Well, a girl's gotta have a break, right?


*Online stores only seem to have the black linen ones. Mine are more stone-colored.