A Little Goes a Loooong Way

At the end of my style rope, barely bothering to match clothes and not having touched a makeup brush to my face in weeks, I stopped at our local nail shop to clean up my toes.

At least one part of me would be presentable.

The Bean in tow, and the stroller full of groceries, we looked at magazines for about 10 minutes before a chair opened up. She hopped right into my lap, and as the aesthetician popped my tired feet into the pool of bubbling water, The Bean wanted to do it, too.

When the chair next to me was free, the aesthetician offered it to The Bean. She sat right down, arranged her Meow Meow and Man next to her, and settled in. She then sat primly and patiently while the sweet lady taking care of mama's feet put the tissue between her toes, then painted bright pink, gold sparkles, and a clear coat on her teensy little toes. Then her fingers.

She sat still, reading a magazine, 'til they all dried. Like she'd been doing it for years. Clearly a diva in the making.

In the meantime, I'd let her pick mama's toe color whilst waiting for our chairs. She picked a lovely bright red, perfect for my skin tone. Seriously, this child has a future in the business (though I haven't yet convinced her that the big blush brush is for her face, and not for cleaning the bathroom).

And I've been happily toddling through the week since, pretty red toes shown off in whichever peeptoes and flip flops I can find. They make me feel just that much more put together, and almost inspire me to put together a complete outfit. So I used them as a springboard this morning for donning a pretty blue dress and bright shoes.

Once I do my face (after work - just can't bear makeup in this heat, even inside) for my night out at the September Issue showing downtown, I'll feel downright dressed.

Will Forgo the Bad Pun for Butter

Seriously, these shoes are gorgeously amazing - and, oh, btw, ridiculously comfortable. And I'm in love.

Any line that names a color "Car Patent" is alright by this car-lovin' gal.

I so wish that Nancy Geist and Lee Riech had their Butter site up and running, and that I could find a pic of the gorgous peep toe pump that screams sleek luxury car. Part of their fall line, it's a classically styled pump with a little bit of "quilting" at the heel and around the toe box. It's a deep deep brown - almost black - with the barest hint of coppery flecks - just like you'd find on a metallic car paint. It'd make a perfect "new neutral" and go with Everything.

And I'm in love.

I should've put myself down on the list for a pre-order at simplysoles.com's preview and Meet the Designer (Lee and her lovely assistant took the train down from NYC) event Wednesday, but I'm just trying to be frugal.

But I do have that "if I think about it for days in a row, I need to buy it" policy, so...

Divine Inspiration - Pink Patent Pumps

I had a dream.

Two nights ago, I dreamt of pink patent leather pumps.

They were perfect.

Babygirl pink, medium heel, round toe, a hint of a wooden edge on the sole.

Demure, but not boring.

Where they came from, I don't know, and how they got in my head, I have no idea. But needless to say, when a girl dreams (at least this one) of shoes, she works very hard to find them. It's along the same lines as the pair of red patent leather pumps I went back to "visit" three times before I finally bought them. My own personal rule? If you think about them constantly for 3 or more days, and you can afford them, they need to be bought.

So using what might just be a new favorite tool (I'm sure I'm the last on this bandwagon), like.com, I'm scouring the web for these pearly babies. I'm convinced they exist. If not, I might just pick up the phone and call my new favorite shoe designer (if you haven't checked out her in-house, personally designed, named after her own Bean line, lillybee, do it NOW), Kassie of simplysoles, and suggest them. I don't even need credit for the idea. I just want the shoes.

So here's the run down, and how they aren't really what I saw in my dreams.

Demonia - around $40, and cute. Color's close, and the stitching and bow are a nice touch, but, well, demure they're not.

Bettye Muller. Not $40. Softer color, lower heel, but the price, the peep toe, and the heel aren't quite right. (Though I thought maybe Bettye Muller would be the place to find my dream shoe, with the modern retro feel.)

Bandolino. Online, about $30. By far the most reasonable. And definitely the most demure, with the Mary Jane detail. But, well, they're red. And the MJ is juuuuust too demure.

Juicy Couture. Also not $40. But the toe is right, and they're simple. Fun color, too, but clearly not the right pair.

Another Demonia pair, reasonably priced, and more demure than the first pair. Like the spectator detail, but the color and the MJ strap aren't right. Nor is the height. Stripper going to church?

J Crew. The closest, by far, in the sense of my dream shoe. The bow is just a-DOR-able, but still very wearable. They were on like.com in a darker pink than I dreamt, but apparently everyone else in the world thinks they're wearable, too. Completely sold out in every color.

So Kassie? I'll be calling soon!

Style Poll: Signs of Spring

As MotorCityGirl commented, "It's (finally) spring out here! I'm starting to see full cotton skirts peeking out from under long spring coats."

Depending on where you are in the world (Carmen Sandiego), your springtime hints have been blooming for a while, or are juuuuust starting to peek out from under the wool.

The budding blossoms, apart from making me look like a hangover gone bad and forcing me to go sans eye makeup for two days in a row, inspire me just a little to dig through my closet for a little bit of pastel prettiness. I've never been one to shy away from peep toes or bare legs in cooler temps, so the newly painted tootsies have been baring all lately.

So tell us...What's your springtime inspriration? What are you chomping at the bit to pull out of the closet? If you're dying to wear the springiest of spring dresses, share, and we'll figure out how you can don it even with threatening snowshowers (sorry, Middle America, guess Punxatawney Phil was right).

Finding Mojo - Thwarted!

As I emerge from the anti-style world of not being able to wash and dry my hair, pick out my clothes without a little diva hanging on my leg, and take more than 2 seconds to "do my face,"* I'm trying to push the envelope. Granted, my closet isn't in the best of shape right now, but it's a little better than it was, so as I get ready each morning, I'm trying, trying, trying to not do the Washington Frump. Don't always succeed, but I try.


My memory's not long enough to go all the way back to Monday, but yesterday I managed to update my LBD a la the 500 style mags proclaiming "redo your closet with no money" (so nice of them to be cost conscious in these difficult economic times. gimme a break): black wool knit shift with a black ribbed turtleneck...and my beloved Daslu boots.** I was a very happy camper.


Today's another day of Very Important Meetings (ok, not so, but everyone generally tries to dress as if they are), and I was all excited. I decided yesterday I'd do some take on what I consider the Real J's*** signature look: a buttoned up suit paired with a fun printed T. I've yet to attempt it, but figured my newfound love of a Metallica Death Magnetic concert T would work perfectly.


So I tried it with black pants and a tweed jacket. Eh. Alright, but not finished enough. Jacket is a little too bulky. Next attempt: grey pinstripe pantssuit.


Perfect.


All proud, I meander over to the bathroom to show off to H.


"Whaddaya think?"


"Great, but too much." He thought it would be just too much for my colonels to bear, so he convinced me to tone it down.


"Friday," he consoled.


So off came my tribute to Lars and James, and on went the (alright not so, but still) staid teal sweater. I did throw on my mommy's gift of topaz earrings with my grandmother's topaz ring and her 70s-style medallion to make myself feel better. And my new(er) peep-toes help too (a little hardware goes a long way for this girl).


Friday, here we come.


*We were a little cramped in our lovely home, and The Bean was sleeping in our bedroom, so I couldn't get ready until she was up. Ditto for the shower/blowdry thing.


**I have some retired colonels who love my boots, and they're in town this week, so, well, flaunt what ya got, I say.


***Yup, she's still out there, allbeit far away...she's rockin' Addis Ababa style right now.

Style Dilemma: It's That Time Again

Time to buy new black pumps.





Depending on which style tomes you read, the black pump is a staple. Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, for example, reinforces the idea of wearing monochromatic shoes and stockings to elongate the figure: "It's always a good idea to wear beige shoes, the same shade as your stockings, with a very pale dress." She's right, absolutely, except that, as the Infintessimal Readership well knows, I'm only a proponent of "stockings" if they're actually tights, worn in the colder weather. Her concept holds, true, though, even with bare legs.



On the subject of black shoes, though, she supports the patent leather choice, as they "harmonize with the colour of every outfit." Amen, Madam Dariaux. She's silent on matte black shoes.


With that in mind, and my own style principles in hand, I'm off in search of a black pump to replace my reliable kitten-heeled Katarras (which I've had reheeled about 3 times, already - enough is enough). The requirements:

• Black
• Mid-height heel (so I can wear to drive without having to keep other shoes in the car)
• No pinching, rubbing, or other types of hurtfulness
• Preferably under $100
• Well-made - leather, reliable brand
• Versatile, but absolutely not boring, staid, or otherwise "old ladyish"

I started my search on zappos.com. Great selection, and if I see something I love but don't know, I can track it down in a store, try it on, and then order it online if the price is better. Their return policy is fabulous, and ridiculously easy, so no worries on the fit/return front.

I haven't yet gotten H's opinion - which is valuable. But I'm opening up to the Infintessimal Readership. Here are my choices so far. Tell me what you think, especially if you've worn or tried a pair.









Nine West Nuncio - hooray for black patent, and the pointed toe is good with trousers or skirts













Sofft Gabriela - black patent, flirty 40s platform, and Sofft is reputed to be amazingly comfortable












Bronx Shoes Flore - another 40s throwback, interesting cutouts - but I don't know the brand at all

Nine West Bradeton - more black patent, pretty peep toe

Shop in Style: Braving the Cyber Monday Crowds

If you can handle the slow download times (all reports are saying that this season is going to be a bumper one for retail) today, and your boss can spare you for a few minutes, here are two sales worth checking out...one local and one national




The Purse Store - grab that lust-after item - it's now an extra 20% off items already reduced - today only. Use code CYBER07. I'm considering these Bettye Muller peep toes (her stuff is just oh, so modern retro - an absolute favorite designer of mine!) to fill my "black pump" hole. Don't forget their denim collection, too!









Banana Republic - stock up on staples and "holiday styles" (read: cuddly wool) for 30% off and free shipping when you spend $150 - code "SHIPFREE"). I've been eyeing this sweet little coat - color and panache (but not to wear with a red turtleneck - geez, I expect better of the Banana stylists than matchy-matchy!).