Style Inspiration: The Feeds, Accounts, and Pages Inspiring Me Now

I may not be blogging much lately, but I do still browse the interwebs. So I thought I'd share a couple of my favorites here. They inspire me in one way or another, so maybe they'll inspire you.

The newest addition to my twitter feed, the Victoria and Albert Museum. Seriously. How could one not want to dream about the exhibits and installations in this legendary museum? From the currently en vogue David Bowie exhibit to collars from 1600 (#1)...amazing inspiration.

Long a favorite, The Museum at FIT's facebook page (and Pinterest boards, for that matter) always manages to post an amazing Dress of the Day just when I need to see something beautiful and creative, like the Engineer top they posted on April 10th (#2).

True, H and I are currently in the middle of some major condo upgrades (painting, kitchen remodel, sorting and sorting and sorting, see #OperationPrettyHouse on twitter and Instagram), but even if I weren't, Dwell, the ridiculously covetable design mag, shares enviable furniture, concepts, and spaces on its Pinterest boards. I'm especially drawn to warm, clean designs like the Chair, Lovö. Designed by Axel Einar Hjorth for NK, Sweden 1930s in #3.

For a peek into the world of emergent fashion, I love following Young British Designers on Instagram and Pinterest. I'm regularly "liking" and repinning their posts. Just one of the reasons I'm addicted is the shoe designs - like #4, Joanne Stoker's Ankle Strap Wedge.

On the food front, there are lots. I've been trying to keep them aimed at #healthyme, but that's not always possible. One of my newest obsessions, though, is right up that alley. I'm inspired by the inventiveness of recipes and striking shots of simple, raw food from Emiliy von Euw of This Rawsome Vegan Life (on Pinterest, especially). #5 above is the shot that drew me in to her site, from this post (and yes, they're crazy good - and easy).

Where's your current inspiration? Online? IRL?

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.

Style Dilemma: You Can Pick Your Own Shoes

Carebear writes:

ok so if this is bad timing given everything that is going on - you can disregard this until later. but i thought it might be a nice distraction for you. here is my dress for rachel's wedding (ours is in light pink but website doesn't really show the color well)

now, we have to get silver shoes of our chosing which i am having trouble with because all silver dressy shoes are high and i can't do much of a heel so here are my choices thus far [at right]

notice the price difference (20 vs 60) - haven't tried on the cheaper ones (tried the brand but not that exact style - might not be comfortable) - the more expensive ones are SUPER comfy. do they go with the dress ok? and what could I wear them with going forward? they just aren't the typical shoe that I would buy for this so i'm trying to figure out if they are worth it (ie since I have to buy a silver shoe, i want one that i could use again if i need it).

Carebear followed up

with one last shoe choice note...

no rush as the wedding isn't until may 31st so I have time. note - my most favorite shoes that i've ever worn are unlisted and look similar to these [bottom right] this would be my dream shoe in silver but i've searched all over and can't find it (esp like the fact that they don't buckle around the ankle - not a big fan of that AND are super comfy and can be worn with anything).

Dear Carebear:

Thanks for the distraction.* It's welcome.

Now to your dilemma. At least you get to pick your own shoes.

This is an easy one. If your budget can handle it, go for the Etienne Aigner pair. Period.

Somehow, along the way to our perceptions of elegance, we decided that Evening Shoes Must Be Strappy. While pretty painted toes in sparkly heels certainly are festive, appropriate, and can be wonderfully elegant, they're not the only answer. It's a dance to pair with a dress as solid as the one you're wearing, and strappy certainly would work with the dress, but pick the unexpected pair. A couple of reasons:

1) Your tootsies won't look like everyone else's

2) The wedge heel and peep toe are more sophisticated than the strappy heel - just think "junior prom," and you'll get what I'm talking about

3) With the peep toe, you still have an excuse get your toes done

4) Aigner shoes, in my experience, are very well made and last

5) You will wear them forever and ever and with everything**

Don't get me wrong, you certainly can wear the others - they would be a perfectly respectable choice. But that's just it. Who wants to just be respectable?

*My Mom-Mom isn't suffering any more.

**See the next post for post-wedding styling suggestions.

Style Dilemma Solved: Brown Pumps and Black Wedges

When BabySis called in a full-fledged Shoe Panic last week, we came up with two soloutions to her bridal shower and bachelorette party dilemmas.

First, the bachelorette party. What shoes to wear with a white tank and denim mini to make it officially Not Hoochy. She picked the black Amanda wedge sandals recommended to BlueSuit Girl for her Cairo trip.

Secondly, BabySis did go for the brown pumps to pair with her pale silver shorts. Though the pic at right doesn't show them, she wrote, "brown, in this case, was a bold neutral. can't find an exact picture of the shoe - but it's [a classic pump] shape with little cut outs - kind of shoe take on eyelet."

The Ones That Got Away

I lied. One more post before I go. Completely forgot about my new wedge obsession. Made the practical choice, but I have to tell you, these Kenzie wedges were some of the most comfortable, wearable shoes I've put on. And what a gorgeous, interesting heel. Go Macy's, for including them in your inventory! (Except that you can't buy them online. I found them at Montgomery Mall.)


The only pic I can find was on zappos.com (love that site). Unfortunately, the red & blue plaid version, which I tried, isn't here. Put cherry red in for blue is on the wedge at left, change the focal color of the plaid to red (but keep that same blue tone), loose the green, and you're golden.



Sigh.

The Tall Girls

Baby B did some midday shopping the other day. She came back in the afternoon, package laden. Shoe Fly was having a sale. A big one.

One pair of Two Lips slingback wedges and (brand she can't remember) wedge mid-calf boots, she reigned victorious. We discussed our earlier trepidation around wedges. I, for one, am not a huge fan unless they're "shapely" wedges. (I wax unpoetically on Bettye Muller's in "I've Found a Wedge I Can Love.")

So she waltzes in this morning. First thing I notice: Her lovely gray top. A little bit ballerina, a little bit blousey, and a lot like the one I'm wearing this morning in indigo. Kindred spirits, clearly.

Next thing I notice: her camel wedges. They. Look. Fabulous. Love the pairing of grey with camel (and jeans). Her first comment: "I brought my other shoes, just in case." Her second comment: "I can't believe I'm wearing heels this high."

Baby B's tall. At least as tall as I am, if not taller.* I learned a long time ago that wearing heels as a Tall Woman is absolutely a lovely thing, not a tabu thing (despite what Ladies of a Certain Age tell me). But these are tall, she said. Look! she says, showing me the heel. (In the picture at left, her jeans are hiked up so you can see the shapely heel.)

And indeed they are. They're a solid 4 inches. Literally, solid. The good thing is that with a wedge, they're more stable and confidence inspiring. But they're still tall.

How tall are they, you ask?

They're so tall, that when Baby B put them on this morning and walked into her bathroom to get a look at herself, she saw her outfit. Which looked great. But she wasn't sure how it looked with her head and face.

They weren't visible in the mirror. She had to duck to get that view.

*We're not really that tall...somewhere in the vicinity of 5'9". But it does translate to a good solid Model Height when wearing heels. Tyra we're not, but I'll take it.