Updated: The Beginning of the End

[No, I don't have time to blog. No, I don't have time to post. But I'm taking 5 minutes out of what will be an incredibly long day (last two have logged 13 and 14 hours respectively) to share. So pbbbbbbt! proposals!]

There are certain joys in life. One of mine is getting an out-of-the-blue email from Dariaux, with whom I probably share some blood somewhere. We're oddly similar - same likes, same outlook on life - it's eerie at times. Made my day when I saw her email pop in my inbox.

To: DC Celine
Subject: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

You are one of the few people I can share this with . . . just bought my first pair of Christian Louboutin shoes :-)

To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: DC Celine

Ahhhhh. Best part of that email? "First". Which ones?

To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

Pigalle 100 patent leather pumps.  Amazing.  Want more.

To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: DC Celine

Sigh. Don't tell me that.

To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

they had an adorable pair of fishnet/suede kitten heels but not in my size.  Oh, they let me try on a $5500 pair of crocodile shoes - gorgeous!

To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: DC Celine

where did you buy?

To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: you'd understand
From: Dariaux

At the Christian Louboutin shop in the Palazzo in Vegas. 


Updated 25 August 2011, after I sent a long-intended email with a snapshot of my new Oscar de la Renta sandals...


To: Dariaux
Subject: Oscar
From: DC Celine


The have red insoles rather than red soles, but still. 

Amazing.



To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: Dariaux



very nice :-)   

I love these shoes. I want more.  Did I mention that they are perfectly balanced??



To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: DC Celine


No, you didn't. Stop. Now I'll want some, and I'll have to weigh the cost of my shoes against my children's education or something. 

I love mine, too. I just don't want to wear them anywhere they might be harmed. First wearing I nicked the heel. Pooh.



To: DC Celine
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: Dariaux



I can't help it.  They are awesome.  Absolutely NO breaking in time.   I want more.  Grrr.   
I know the feeling.  I wouldn't wear my CLs outside for the first few days b/c I didn't want to ruin the sole . . . but that just got crazy, so I'm wearing them all the time now :-)



To: Dariaux
Subject: RE: Oscar
From: DC Celine



exactly. they were made to be worn. 

i just need a driver.

Style Dilemma Solved: Black Pumps Are In the Closet

...and begging to be worn tomorrow. Now. If only I had the rest of the wardrobe.

Seriously, waaaaaay back in March, I announced My Search for Black Pumps. And yes, I've been going that long without them. I limped along in my old Nine West Katarras for a while, but for a few months now, I've been wearing everything but. Unfortunately, my feet are starting to get old, too, so I've resorted to flats, and have now worn out my black patent ballet slippers.

So after the first zappos.com attempt - lovely shoes, but none of them fit quiiiiiite right (totally bummed about the gorgeous Sofft pair) - I kept putting "buy shoes" on my to-do list, but never got to it. I finally forced myself the other day, and today the results of my purchase arrived. I am the proud owner of two new pair of shoes.

Perlina Paris - advertised as "luxury comfort," but made in CNINA (yes, that's really what the label reads), I was skeptical, but the reviews were fantastic, and the style retro, so I jumped - and boy, am I glad I did. They really are cushy, with nice soft leather uppers, and the details are just right - solid 40s heel, peep toe pseudo-d'orsay (the sexiest shoe style ever). They also have an innovative elastic band inside the heel to keep from slipping.

Clark's Lakeville - uh-huh. Clark's. Seriously. Never known for their style, the English walking shoe company now makes sweet little flats with their signature comfort and support. Can't wait to wear them. Slippers, slippers, I tell ya. And they're made in Brazil, which just supports my theory that Brasilian shoes fit my foot - all the more reason to hit Hu's Shoes ASAP (they just got in the new Chie Miharas).

Practicality, Schmacticality

(Important caveat: I apparently have no more energy left. Not sure why, but I crashed like the losing tractor in Footloose. So if some or none of this makes any sense, I'm sorry. I'll fix it later.)

Thank you to those who helped with The Great Black Shoe Search of 2008. The update? I bought the Sofft Gabriella and the Bronx Shoes Flore. The Sofft fit perfectly, and are true to their name - they were gorgeous and comfortable, but there was that teensy little place on the inside of your foot where the edge of the shoe rubbed. And the Flore was just too small, and not worth trying a different size.

So I took advantage of the zappos.com return policy, printed out my return label stuff, taped the box back up and shipped them right off...ahem...I mean, have them waiting in the trunk of my car to drop at the next UPS store I see.

In the meantime, I've browsed zappos.com again, but nothing struck me as perfect. So with the gorgeous weather we've been having, I thought, Shopping! It's rare I have time at lunch to shop, and the Clarendon area just doesn't have much in the way of stylish stores (the late All About Jane, Free People, and South Moon Under being exceptions).

And then there's the local shoe haven, Shoefly. Hurrah for Shoefly. At least I hoped. Even after working in the area for 2 years, I hadn't stopped by - until today. Baby B and I scorned the sidewalk lunch crowds and spent our lunch "hour" inside, trying on shoes.

Ladies, get thee to Shoefly.

Great selection, good prices, good sales, and cute accessories.

As I said to Baby B, there was practically no shoe in the store I wouldn't have at least tried on. Seriously.

I tried on 2 pairs of "black" peep toe wedges. Quotation marks meaning that one pair was actually deep, deep metallic green. The other had what I'd describe as a black-to-clear ombre wedge (can't find them online - sorry!). Neither was a perfect fit, so I thought I'd check zappos instead (the VERY helpful salesperson called the DC store, too, but to no avail).

And then I resorted...tough decision...to try on the pair that caught my eye when I walked in the store.

Sooooo not what I was out to purchase.

But I did. And I'll wear them to death.