Weekend Style: The Best Kind of Exhaustion

As I put together the pictures from this weekend, I got tired just remembering. But it was the best kind of weekend. H and I had a solid date night, we had lots and lots of family time, and Mama got some alone time and some girlfriend time.

Now I need a nap.

1. Friday night, I used that sparkly liquid liner in one of my last birchbox deliveries. It was KISS/Motley Crue, after all. 2. KISS. 3. Ready for a Saturday morning swim.

1. The artist at work in her studio. 2. Mama time = new makeup, including 2 new Bobbi Brown red lipsticks. 3. Neon pink patent Sperry heels I tried to convince my girlfriend to buy at Loehmann's because they weren't in my size.

1. My girlfriend and I guffawed over The Most Absurd Label Ever. 2. Gold sequins (and the wrong undergarments). 3. Soft ballerina sparkle (that I wore to the show later that night with a New Red Jacket).

1. Gap 1969 ankle zipper legging jeans in tomato. Size 6. 2. A fantastic show, and humongous pride (Sheila was one of my dearest friends. She was the best. By far.) 3. Sunday morning.

1. Peach and blueberry picking at our favorite Virginia outpost, Hartland Orchard. 2. Stopping to smell the petunias in Middleburg, VA. 3. New skinny finds, old favorites that fit again, and a couple of pair I'm really hoping a good tailor can save.

Style Dilemma: The Perfect Nude Flat

“Perfect” is a funny thing.

So is twitter.

When Liz of So Much to Smile About tweeted her frustration yesterday, a couple of us sprang to her resuce.

[flurry of sympathetic tweets lamenting the cost of what should be a simple shoe + agreement that heels are the way to go. i voiced my opinion on it years ago, agreeing with the effortlessly chic Catherine Malandrino. then ate my words.]

In the end, Alison of Chain Strap Purse and I accepted the challenge. Alison posted this morning with her rainbow-inspired response to Liz’ “need” for nude ballet flats that won’t break the bank, tacitly daring Liz to wear more color.

So here’s my take on solving the style dilemma. Liz didn’t say so, but I’m guessing she’s looking for a “commuting shoe.” She did, after all, buy a pair of Converse instead. (My kinda girl!)

My choices range from practical to pretty. Admittedly, some of them, in their gorgeous suedeness, are not the best choices for stomping the DC pavement in the unpredictable spring and summer weather. I don’t know about Liz, but if I wear suede, it pretty much guarantees it’ll rain.

There’s also all sorts of “nude.” As Kate and I discussed when searching for the perfect nude pump, nude is in the eye of the beholder.

Lastly, I went first to some “old lady” sites known for their comfort. As TrainerJen and I were discussing just this morning, ballet flats can be as bad for your feet as stilettos. Though I’ve had luck finding modern, on-trend shoes at Aerosoles that are also kind to my tootsies, their flats selection was a bust for this dilemma. But Naturalizer, the brand I used to sell to my old ladies at the hometown shoe store where I worked in high school, had a couple of great choices. Oh, and cork? How deliciously now and classic all at the same time.

But most importantly? All 9 options? Under $100.

And Liz? Do share what you pick! We want to know!

First Row: Franco Sarto Astrid Pink Nappa, Sperry Top-Sider Kendall Blush Suede, Naturalizer Alex Grey Ivory Leather

Second Row: Isola Britt Natual Cork, Naturlizer Pola Portrait Leather, Isola Britt Anaconda Deco

Third Row: Calvin Klein Priya Dune, Anne Klein Bloom Pearl Linen, Chinese Laundry Gisenna 3 Blush

Looking for your own perfect shoe? Allie over at Wardrobe Oxygen answered a reader question about a perfect black pump, and shared how she uses the interwebs to find the perfect shoe in a busy life.