Inspiration of the Week: Shoes to Wear If You Don’t Wear High Heels

My inspiration this week is a person, rather than an item. One of my blog readers wrote in to ask me what shoes I’d pick for non-high heel wearers. So, what do you do if you’re a fun, fashionable female, but either out of preference or necessity, you can’t wear the current crop of sky scraping heels? Well, it’s simple really, you pick some of the gorgeous kitten heeled or flat versions of the same trends I talked about here. But to be a little more helpful and get into specifics, I’ve made some inspiring picks of shoes I love that have little or no heel.

1. Ballet Flats. First, make friends with ballet flats. They are easy to slip on and off, comfortable and come in so many colors and patterns; they should be able to satisfy your every fashion whim. It’s funny, sometimes I have a harder time finding flats that don’t rub my feet in strange places than I do finding comfortable heels. The good news is that if you’ve ever had the same problem, they also make socks that will be low profile enough to slip into any shoe. For ballet flats, I recommend something like these. Some of my favorite ballet flats (all available at www.nordstrom.com) are shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Loafers. Usually a little more serious-minded than the ballet flat, a loafer can really make an outfit work ready. A loafer sometimes says, “I take what I’m doing seriously.” However, there is a new breed of loafers out there that are definitely party-appropriate. I love those glittery ones by Aldo shown below. And, while there are many high heeled styles out there, there are a ton of really cute low heeled and flat versions as well. The shoes shown are from www.ninewest.com, www.stevemadden.com and www.aldoshoes.com
   
   
   
   
   
3. Oxfords. Menswear inspired, but sleeker and more feminine than the ones the boys wear, these shoes you throw on with a smart pair of trousers or tailored shorts. Just remember that if you go masculine on the bottom, to balance it out with a more feminine silhouette on the top. We are trying to be inspired by men, not turn into one. If you do want a little height but aren’t used to wearing heels, start out with a chunkier heel, like shown on both of the Naturalizer oxfords below (available at www.macys.com). A wider heel is easier and more comfortable to walk in than your typical stiletto.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Wedges. Easier to wear than a conventional heel but still offering some height, the wedge is a nice alternative for the woman who wants height, but needs support. Wedges come in all levels of elevation, so just choose the one that is comfortable for you. All the pairs shown below are available at www.nordstrom.com
   
   
   
   
   
5. Kitten Heels. I define a kitten heel as any heel under 1”. They are usually easy on the feet. The little heel gives you both a little height and a sexy feminine punch without all the tottering around taller heels can sometimes cause. Keep in mind, though, that the short heel base does sometimes require a little practice. So if you haven’t worked this height before, take a couple turns around your living room before road testing them. I found all these at www.amazon.com.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Boots. Boots come in all heel heights and in every possible pattern and style. There are boots with studs for your bad ass days, boots with glitter for your glamour days and boots with smooth, buttery leather for your posh days. Heel height won’t limit you at all in this category. If you have a large calf and have trouble with boots that come up to knee height or above, look into some of the beautiful boots they carry at www.torrid.com. The selection below is from www.nordstrom.com and shows you just some of the variety you’ll find. I sort of wish I hadn’t found those Nordic inspired ones because they are calling my name.
   
   
   
   
   

So, don’t let heel height be an excuse. There are cute shoe selections at every elevation. I know you’ll find the right ones for you. Hope this helps you in your search.

Have some shoe finds you’d like to share? Want help with shoes for a specific occasion? Feel free to comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Also, I’m always looking for new topics and guest bloggers.

Future blog topics include:

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own

• How to Get Down in Black and Brown

• The Bra : On the Frontlines of Fashion

• Colored Jeans, A Rainbow of Possibilities

• Trends To Buy Right Now

• Seven Ways to Save While Shopping

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

To Buy Or Not To Buy? That is the Question.

Going shopping can sometimes be a little like participating in a triathlon; you have to swim through a sea of people and products, pedal your way around shoddy merchandise and rude people, and if you’re not careful, you end up running up a huge credit card bill. So it’s important to have a game plan and a budget firmly in mind BEFORE you step foot in your favorite store.  Know what you can afford to spend and stick to it. I often look at the price tag before looking too closely at the item I’m considering trying on. There is no point in falling in love with a blouse if you can’t actually find room for it in the budget.

Once you have a game plan and price point in mind, it’s time to step inside the store. It’s good to know what kind of shopping mission you are on. If you have something specific in mind, try your best to stick to only the part of the store that has the item that fits your needs. If this is a browsing for pleasure trip or a trend reconnaissance mission, you’ll probably be covering more of the area. If this is retail therapy, be particularly careful. Remember that while new shoes cure the blues, it will only be temporary if you get back to your office or house and realize you’ll be eating Top Ramen for the next three months to pay for them. This also means do NOT walk into stores you know are out of your price range. Window shopping is one thing. Dreaming is wonderful. Sadomasochistically rubbing your own face in things you aren’t at a place to buy just yet is another.

Okay, we know what we can spend and we know why we are there. Now, the hard part. In the throes of retail mania, it’s sometimes hard to keep our heads what with all the baubles and sparkle and shiny new things. So once you find something you love, there are some questions to keep in mind before you pull the trigger and make the purchase.

1. Is this a want or need purchase? And if it’s a need purchase, does it satisfy all the requirements of the need?
2. Does this fit my budget parameters?
3. How versatile will this item be with the rest of my wardrobe?
4. Is this a wardrobe basic or a special occasion piece?
5. How often will I have an occasion to wear this?
6. Does the quality of the merchandise match the price?
7. Is this a classic piece or a trend?
8. Am I just buying this to buy something or do I really love it?
9. Am I buying this because of the brand name or because I really like the style?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but they will pull your head into the purchase process, instead of just your heart. Obviously if this is need, it’s much easier to decide to buy. Also, most of us are willing to spend more on the special occasion pieces, but often I think it’s the wardrobe basics that really deserve the splurge prices. After all, these are the items we wear every day, week after week, so they need to last.

And there is nothing wrong with buying a trendy piece; I do it all the time. It’s fun to look current and on top of things, but I do try to envision how I would wear the same piece once the trend passes. Also, if you already own several things that encompass the same trend and your budget is tight, maybe it’s not the right purchase right then. Your money would probably be better spent on items you don’t already own. If I know I’m going to be shopping ahead of time, then I try to take a wardrobe inventory. This way I have in the back of my mind what I already own and I don’t duplicate it. This is especially important if you are a fashionista and have an extensive wardrobe already.

Another thing to keep in mind is that with the advent of the internet and eBay, nothing is really gone forever. It’s hard to leave special pieces in the store, but unless it’s particularly unique, you’ll find it again. You’ll be twice as pleased with your purchase if you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pay your other bills to get it.

Now with all that said, every now and then you find that one thing that makes your heart pitter patter and your pulse race and you can’t imagine leaving the store without it. So sometimes you have to throw the rules out and just go with your heart. But only if it really makes your heart speed up and even then, only if it actually fits you. That pair of amazing leather pants that is going to fit just perfect in 20 lbs. does not fit you right now, therefore it is NOT the right purchase. I know we all tell ourselves that it will inspire us to lose the weight, but we can use a photo of the item to inspire us just as easily and more affordably than the actual item. Imagine how good it will feel to purchase those pants and then go home and put them right on when they actually fit. Same with shoes, I have a hard time with this one. But a dynamite pair of pumps that requires me to stick in two insoles to keep on or is so tight, I can only stand to wear them for 15 minute increments is not really a dream shoe, is it?

Another trap we all fall into is the “but it’s such a good deal, I really can’t pass it up” situation. If you can’t afford it, it’s not a good deal. If you don’t actually have a single use for it and the only attractive thing about it is the price, it is not a good deal. If it does not match one other thing in your wardrobe, it is not a good deal. If you have to buy another $150 worth of clothes you weren’t already buying to get the discount, it is not a good deal. You get my drift. Just because you have a coupon does not mean you need to use it. It’s not saving you money if you weren’t planning to buy it in the first place.

And just because everyone is wearing it does not mean you have to, too. If you genuinely don’t like a trend or it does not flatter your body type, there is no need to try it on. Same with brands…so everyone is swooning over Juicy Couture track suits, but you just found the same exact style at Macy’s by another brand for a fraction of the cost? Do you really need the Juicy version? And vice versa: if you will only be satisfied with the couture version, then don’t buy the other one to “tide you over”. Wait until you can get the one you REALLY want.

Remember in the end, these are just things. While looking good helps us to feel good, it isn’t the most important thing in life. So be happy. A smile is always your best accessory.

Have something to add? Trying to decide whether to buy something and want my input? Feel free to comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Also, I’m always looking for new topics and guest bloggers.

Future blog topics include:

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own

• How to Get Down in Black and Brown

• The Bra : On the Frontlines of Fashion

• Colored Jeans, A Rainbow of Possibilities

• Shoes to Wear If You Don’t Wear High Heels (Reader suggested!)

• The Trends To Wear Right Now

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Inspiration of the Week: Three Ways to Wear It

I saw this little cropped, crocheted top at Express and literally skidded to a stop. Available in black and ecru, it’s delicate, feminine and oh, so versatile. I couldn’t wait to style it for you this week. On the Express website they show it (pictured above) with a peachy colored skinny jean and sparkly sequined tank layered underneath it. I think almost any color of jean would work. I’d particularly be excited to try it with hunter green or kelly green. But I wondered if you could do a more glam going-out-with-the-girls outfit and also a casual picnic-with-your honey ensemble. I decided to try to do both for you, my loyal, blog readers, so you can see three ways to work the same top.

Night Out With the Girls

For going out for drinks with your girlfriends, you want to look polished, glam and pulled together. A pop of color and gold sparkle add just the right touch of fun and flirtatiousness. Add a camel-colored or leopard print trench coat to the items I’ve selected below and you are both warm and perfectly pulled together for a night on the town.

Picnic in the Park with Your Honey

For a picnic with your honey, you want to be cute, but casual. Switch out a few of the more blingy things from above, add a tank and jeans, and you are ready for some relaxed romance. He won’t know what hit him. Complete the look below with a cute cropped jean jacket or just let him keep you warm.

And lest any of my more bodacious beauties think I forgot you, you can also pull off the above looks with a more figure skimming, less-cropped version of the top. This one at Etsy (or one like it) I think would be really cute. If you aren’t a fan of showing off that much arm, there is no reason you couldn’t layer it with a long sleeved shirt.

Here’s me, modeling the top the way I wore it to work today. It’s casual Friday so I kept the look relaxed yet pulled together. Since I’m so pale, I went with a bright under layer to keep the ecru color from washing me out.

So there you have it: three ways to the wear the same top (Four actually, if you count the way I wore it today). Remember every item in your closet has a myriad of possibilities just waiting to be discovered. I often get asked if I ever wear the same thing twice. The answer? I never wear the same thing in exactly the same way twice. You’ll get quadruple the mileage from your wardrobe if you adopt the same philosophy.

Have another way you’d like me to style the top? Think I missed the mark? Have something you want to share to inspire me for my next “Inspiration of the Week” feature? Feel free to comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Also, I’m always looking for new topics and guest bloggers.

Future blog topics include:

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own

• How to Get Down in Black and Brown

• The Bra : On the Frontlines of Fashion

• Colored Jeans, A Rainbow of Possibilities

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

It's a Croc: The Ugg Effect or Why What You Wear Matters

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today,

when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language."

- Miuccia Prada

This is probably going to tick some people off. I realize that. So let me preface it by saying I have no problem with Crocs or Uggs. With the right outfit, the latter at least can be quite cute. And I hands down give kudos to the geniuses that figured out how to sell updated gardening shoes for $50 and glorified slippers for $150 or more. Brilliant marketing all around was done by both companies. Both brands have also branched out quite a bit from their original designs into some seriously sleek and fashionable alternatives (Uggs have sequins!). But for the sake of this discussion, I’m talking about the original basic models. And again, it’s not the shoes themselves I take exception to -- it’s what has happened since then. It’s the slobbification that’s going on. When did it become de rigueur to wear sweats in public?

To clarify, it’s not just any sweats I’m seeing – they’re the rattiest, baggiest, most figure-stifling sweats on the planet. Twice I’ve seen people in PAJAMA bottoms and slippers. In one instance, it was honest to goodness pink bunny slippers at the airport. I realize airline regulations have become stricter, and airplane travel is not very comfortable at the best of times, but you’re still in public!  One of my best plane trips ever involved a sexy, French-Canadian aeronautical engineer. I doubt he would have chatted me up if I had been sporting animal slippers. Because I had on heels and nice jeans, he slipped me his number. I had a boyfriend, but it was still a fun interlude to pass the time.

To use a cliché, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” If you are out and about looking like a slob in your ratty sweats, baggy shirt, and slippers, or yes, Uggs, the fashion statement you are making is, “I don’t give a single crap about how I look.” Which in turn often gives people the impression that you don’t care about anything else, either. You don’t want that to be what people take away from meeting you. This is especially true if these people can affect your future. Let me just list some of the people I have run into while out and about at a place as busy as Target in Daly City, CA.

1. Freelance clients
2. Potential business contacts
3. Ex-boyfriends
4. Cute guys (pre-fiancé, of course)
5. Friends I haven’t seen in forever
6. Business acquaintances
7. Work colleagues
8. Former bosses

That’s just off the top of my head. I guarantee you that if I had been dressed as casually as I see far too many people dressing these days, I would not have gotten some of the leads I’ve received while doing mundane tasks like shopping at the supermarket. You never know whom you will run into. So it pays to be presentable. Literally.

And ladies, I have a rule: Always make sure that if you run into an ex-paramour, you look so good that he/she wonders for at least a second why they ever left you. You don’t have to want them back in your life, you just have to make them remember why they wanted you in theirs in the first place.

As another example, the day I met my fiancé we were at softball practice. He was wearing a newsboy cap and I thought it was a cute alternative to a baseball cap. It made him stand out. I later found out that he just didn’t own a baseball cap at the time, but the impression was already made. You know what he noticed about me? He liked how good my butt looked in my yoga pants. He probably couldn’t tell yoga pants from leggings from skinny jeans, but he noticed and he remembered. (The bit about his newsboy cap was in our wedding announcement. We left the part about my heiny out.) So while we stayed together because of all the stuff you can’t see on the surface, we got together initially because of those first impressions. I guarantee you there might have been a different outcome had I worn my shapeless sweats.

I’m not asking you to be uncomfortable…just presentable. Yoga pants, leggings and un-ripped jeans are all nice, comfortable alternatives to sweats. Plus, they are far more neat and clean and professional-looking. Yoga pants give off a sporty vibe, while leggings and jeans can give off a neat, put-together impression.

As recently as the 1950s, it was common for women to go out in white gloves and skirts.  We don’t need to go all the way back to that extreme to look respectable, though. This current day devotion to comfort at all times has spawned such horrifying products as the Forever Lazy Lounge Wear, Pajama Jeans and the Snuggie. The Forever Lazy has a “drop seat” so you don’t have to take it off to do your business. No item which features a butt-flap will ever be considered fashionable. Please, I beg of you, don’t wear any of these things in public.

I understand that if you have a sick kid or aren’t feeling well and have to dash out for Sudafed or Advil, maybe you really can’t muster any more effort than sweats or pajamas. You get a pass in that case. Other than that, though, it takes almost NO more effort to slip on jeans than it does sweats.

I made it a point of getting rid of most of my less than attractive leisurewear not long ago. It’s just as easy to throw on cute Lucky Brand embroidered pants and matching hoodie as it ever was to throw on gray threadbare sweats two sizes too big. I saved out one oversized sweatshirt for those sick days. My cute relaxation gear is twice as likely to stoke the fire of my honey’s ardor as those sweats ever were. It’s good to keep the romance and the spark well-kindled. Plus, I guarantee if you make a small effort to look better…you will feel better too. No one feels peppy and energized when they are all slobbed-out.

Another bonus: we may not like to admit it, but you get better service when you look nice. The bartender serves you faster, the girl in the shoe department notices you sooner, the bagger at the grocery store offers to carry your groceries to the car, and the nice Texan in the airport helps you lift your carry-on into the overhead bin. None of that is a life necessity, but it sure is nice to be afforded the common courtesies, and you’re far more likely to if you look presentable. You can rave at the injustice of it all, but it does not make it any less true.

So that’s my two cents. I didn’t start a blog to be one of those people that rants at things all the time. I won’t make a habit of it. But this “trend” was really starting to chap my hide. So please, just because your feet are cozy and comfortable in your Uggs doesn’t mean the REST of your outfit has to be ugh, too.

Here’s to being comfortable and fashionable in 2012.

Don’t like what I have to say? Have a different take on this? Have a fashion pet peeve you’d like to share? Feel free to comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com. Also, I’m always looking for new topics and guest bloggers.

Future blog topics include:

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

The Seven Shoe Trends I’m Wearing RIGHT Now

I love shoes. No, I mean…. I REALLY love shoes. My mom likes to tell the story of how she knew my shoe-lust was first going to be trouble for her: I was maybe 10 years old and we were in Nordstrom. Mom was quite taken with a pair of gorgeous, butter-soft leather, leopard print ballet flats. While admiring them on her feet, she heard a small voice from below say, “Oooh, I’d like a pair of those too!” And thus, it began. I still have those pretty little flats. They are a size 4 ½ and too tight now, but still as beautiful as ever.

Shoes are wearable pieces of art, so I find it somewhat surprising that it has taken me this long to write a blog about them; it’s high time I rectified that situation.

So without further a-shoe…. I mean, ado… I present to you my seven favorite shoe trends that I’m wearing right now:

 

1.  Studded, spiked, and seriously fierce. I don’t have any tattoos, so this is my foray into a little bad-girl rebellion. I like how such a hard, tough object can be combined with such a delicate and feminine silhouette like a heel. There is something about putting on a shoe with spikes that makes you feel like you could literally kick ass and take names. Every girl deserves a pair of heels that makes her feel invincible. My spiked, studded ones are what does it for me.  Here’s a pair (by Guess) from my collection:
   
   
   
   
   
2. Color-blocked and sky high. I did an entire blog on color-blocking and mentioned that the easiest way to dip a toe in (pun intended) is to buy a pair of color-blocked heels. They add just the right punch of color to an all black ensemble or finish off a khaki jumpsuit or solid colored dress. The key to wearing shoes with this much color is to let them be the focus. Your outfit shouldn’t compete with the shoes in this instance. All my favorite color-blocked heels (shown below) seem to be by Jessica Simpson. Even if she can’t figure out why there is no chicken in Chicken of the Sea tuna, the woman does know her shoes.
   
   
   
   From L to R: Jessica Simpson, Jessica­ Simpson, ShoeDazzle, Steve Madden
   
   
3. Leopard print. It should be noted that in my world, leopard print is ALWAYS in fashion. I can’t help myself. Maybe it’s the call of the wild, maybe it’s the graphical nature of the print, or maybe it’s the slightly naughty vibe it gives off. Whatever the case, I can’t get enough. I have heels with hints of leopard, heels that are completely leopard, furry leopard boots, smooth leather boots and am jonsing for the bedroom flats shown in the bottom photo below. I like the slightly “Hugh Hefner in a smoking jacket” vibe they have.
   
   
   
   
   
   From L to R: Steve Madden, Steve Madden, Steve Madden,unknown, Steve Madden, Victoria’s Secret
   
   The Hugh Heftneresque Steve Madden Madee Flat available at www.stevemadden.com
   
4. Ssssnake print. Along the same animal print lines as leopard, but with a slinkier vibe, snake print shoes are not new, but the cut of this current breed is sleeker and more modern. The fashion powers that be are also showing snake skin in a variety of not-found-in-nature colors. This pair by Fendi shows the trend quite nicely.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Faux-fur embellished. These boots are made for walking…and I love every second of it. I feel all chic and warm and après ski when I have a pair of fur embellished boots on. The pair on the left (from Victoria’s Secret) below was a lovely Christmas gift from my fiancé. The others shown are actually not fur-embellished boots at all, but my regular boots shown with some boot toppers from Claire’s. At $20 a pair, it’s a much more affordable alternative to buying an entirely new set of boots, and no one was the wiser when I wore mine. I promise I won’t tell if you won’t! They come in tan, black and leopard.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Lace. Lace is having a major moment.  Whether it’s a pair of knee high lace boots or delicate lace heels, they add a bit of sex to your wardrobe. No matter how you look at it, lace is sexy, saucy, and all together hot. One of my favorite pairs (from Chinese Laundry) from my collection is shown below. I know several men that consider black lace their Achilles’ heel, so wear with caution ladies….or maybe not. ‘Wink’
   
   
   
   
7. Embellished and glittery and all together glam. Whether it’s rhinestones up the heel, dripping with feathers, or all over glitter, there is just something sassy about shoes that sparkle. All that glitters is NOT gold, but it sure is pretty. The great thing about shoes this shiny is that they glitz up any outfit. They can even change your staid office suit into serious flirt-at-the-club wear. Plus, don’t we all like to feel like we just slipped on Cinderella’s slipper ever once in a while? I know I do.
   
   
   From L to R: Enzo Angiolini, Steve Madden, Steve Madden, Steve Madden

So those are the trends I’m rocking right now. And to give you an indication of the depth of my shoe love, this list started out with five trends and I just couldn’t keep to that number. And while I’m a fan of sky high style, I know not everyone is -- all these trends are available in flats and various heel heights, so don’t be intimidated. Also, it should be noted this list was all about fashion trends, so while I love me a good pair of Chuck Taylor Converse, this wasn’t that sort of list. I didn’t include any of my old standbys. I’ll save that for another time.

Speaking of, other topics coming up include:

• To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question

• It’s a Croc, The Ugg Effect

• How to Dress Appropriately for Any Occasion

• The Five Shoe Staples Every Girl Should Own

If you think I missed any important trends or just have some you want to add to this list, please leave a comment below. Want more information on how to wear any of the above styles or have any fashion questions? Drop me an email at princessheatha@hotmail.com.

Now and always,

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H

Inspiration of the Week

Every week I see some fashion that inspires me to create an outfit around it.  Rather than just keep it to myself, I thought I’d start a weekly post about it. I’ll show you my inspiration and then how I’d style it. Sound like fun?

It was easy to decide which item to style first, since I saw these boots today and absolutely fell in love with them (plus I just did a blog on shoes trends). I’m pretty sure Betsey Johnson wakes up some days and says, “What does Heatha want to wear today?” Okay, maybe not, but if sure feels like it when I see items like this:

Completely drool-worthy, don’t you think?

And as I am wont to do, I immediately started designing an outfit around them. I think boots with a flared top call for some more streamlined bottoms like a skinny jean or legging. And these boots definitely need a leather jacket. Add a cute top (perhaps with a pop of color if you are feeling a little sassy), a long gold chain necklace, pretty feather earrings, and a killer hand bag, and you are good to go.

The fun thing about these boots and so much of the fashion I’m loving right now is the pairing of tough and girly. These biker-chic boots with the peep of leopard are the perfect example.

My style picks are below:

Want to know where to purchase these items?

The leather jackets are all from www.nordstrom.com, the skinny jeans and tops are from www.express.com, jewelry from www.claires.com, and the Guess handbag is from www.zappos.com.

So check back weekly for what’s inspiring me and hopefully it will inspire you too.

Want to tell me how you’d style these boots? Have an inspiration to share and want me to style it? Or just have something to say? Comment below or email me at princessheathab@gmail.com.

Be Fierce. Be Fashionable. Be Yourself.

XOXO

H