Why Head-to-Toe Can Be a No-No

Hi, fashionistas!

It's Samantha here, bringing you my first full blog post! I've been supervising things behind the scenes all along, so I'm excited to be writing my first complete post, and I'm thrilled to have this blog also posted over at Slow Southern Style. I'm most excited, though, to be writing about how much fun it can be to mix and match colors in your wardrobe. 

The inspiration behind this post comes from my every day experience in the store. So often women come into the store agonizing over finding the perfectly colored  brown/silver/green/pink/whatever shoe/handbag/jewelry/whatever to match a specific outfit. A head-to-toe one-color look is usually not nearly as fun or interesting as a dynamic look that has variety, but is still cohesive. Plus, it is almost impossible to find the exact same color in every accessory you want to wear. You will end up looking like you tried to match, but failed (like Judy in the photo below, bless her heart).

Judy in head-to-toe yellow, photo courtesy of tomosaito.com

For easy mixing and matching of colors, remember these tips:

• Metallics complement anything. They are the easiest way to avoid feeling like your accessories need to match exactly.
• Silver looks especially great with blues and greens.
• Mix rich jewel toned fabrics with gray accessories, or vice versa.
•  Pair solid colored pieces with solid colored pieces in complementary colors. (Mrs. Obama is a fan of this...more on her soon!)
• Look closely at your patterned pieces. You can accessorize with any color in the pattern, and usually any color that complements any color in the pattern.

Our very own First Lady, Mrs. Michelle Obama is a mix-and-match expert. Let's take a look at some of my favorite Mrs. O looks:

Courtesy of mymodernmet.com

On the cover of O Magazine, looking darling in her red dress and yellow cardigan. How cute would this outfit be with some royal blue shoes? A primary color love affair!

Courtesy of putmoneyinyouridaho.blogspot.com

 On the Today Show, Mrs. O sported and black and white polka dot dress with a coral belt and yellow shoes. Most people would have let the belt or shoes be the only pop  of color, and I love that she wore them BOTH. It takes the outfit from good to great.

Courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

 And how could we forget Mrs. O's inauguration outfit? She looks stunning in her yellow dress and the teal shoes are the icing on the cake.

Another combination that women fear is wearing black and brown together. Black and brown complement one another, and wearing them together is easier than you think. To ease yourself into this, find pieces that contain both colors, whether it is a patterned top with black and brown, or an accessory with both colors, like the black and brown boots below. The best part about them is you don't have to buy a black pair and a brown pair! Who doesn't love saving a little money?

Nicole Dreamer-Women's Cowboy Boots

Lane Cowboy Boots Margaret

You don't have to have a piece that contains both colors to wear black and brown together, though. Just last week I wore a pair of brown boots with jeans, a black and white sweater, and a tan cardigan. I know I looked chic and sleek...don't be afraid, ladies! You'll look so good!

One last thing I want to point out is the versatility of a good dress shoe in a pewter-y color, like the Nina Faviola here on the right. Now, Nina calls the color "Malinda", which I'm pretty sure is code for "life saver". The shoe has an almost iridescent quality, and when you hold it up to ANY other color, it reflects bits of it and just kind of melts into the perfect complement. Seriously, you will be able to wear this with your cocktail and evening dresses of every color from black and brown to pink and blue and anything in between. Every woman should have a shoe in this color in her closet. It's the perfect go-to.



(By the way, I know the monochromatic look has made its way to the runways as of late. I support this chic trend, but this post is simply letting you know that it is not a necessity! If you want to pursue the monochromatic look, keep the fabrics rich and mix and match different materials. Have fun with it, but avoid the Nicki-Minaj-head-to-toe-leopard look!)

Courtesy of stylebistro.com

So, ladies, how about we give it a try? There's no need to get yourself all worked up when you can't find something to perfectly match your dress/bag/shoes when you can look so much more fierce without matching!

Happy Shopping! xo

On-Trend Thursday: Smoo-oooth Transition.

Well, it's been an odd week weather-wise in our NOLA.  One day it's a balmy 76 degrees, perfect for our new resort wear we've been dying to sport since we bought it, well, last week.  Today's low is a crisp 32; what's a girl to do?  Keep both summer and winter footwear wardrobes on hand?
Well, I've never been a fan of wardrobe clutter myself - stifles the outfit-making creativity, I always say - and I'm here to tell you that there are many wonderfully simplistic solutions at hand to tide you over until things get consistently sweltering.
So let's talk about transitional pieces; the footwear that every lady should have on-hand so that she can handle weird weather situations with pure grace.  These pieces that beautifully “toe” the line (get it?  Feet First joke!) are a must, especially for us New Orleanians.  Not only are they more useful, but you get way more bang for your buck since you get to sport them all year round.  Wear them for the perfect days now, the sweltering days later, and all the freakishly cold days in between.

1. Smoking Slippers, Moccasins, and Ballet Flats 

Mens'-style smoking slippers were definitely a fashionista favorite for fall, and I’ve seen these babies all over the runways for spring as well.  They’re super easy to wear:  think of them as the new ballet flat.  Sport them with shorts, dresses (add opaque tights for chillier days), or cuffed skinny pants and you're pretty much just adorable.

Moccasins are a more casual take on these; they're perfectly preppy with shorts, yet pleasingly quirky with dresses.

And, of course, you can just rock what you've been rockin' for years and don a pair of ballet flats with pretty darn near anything you so choose.

L to R, Jenni Kayne Resort 2012, style.com; J. Crew S/S 2012, style.com; Kate Moss, lovelyish.com; Sam Edelman Crystal-Encrusted Adena Smoking Slipper (also available in gunmetal); loafer/slipper collage, fashionologie.com; Sam Edelman Holland Flat; street style shot, fashionbff.com; Nicole "Goody" Moccasin (also available in red and zebra print); street style shot, hollywoodholland.com; Nicole "Heart" Smoking Slipper (also available in black); Leandra Mendine geeks out in smoking slippers, themanrepeller.com.

       2. Ankle (and cowboy!) boots       

Trust me on this one:  boots are just as usable in festival season as they are in the colder months (er, days).   Think of every single adorable girl you’ve ever seen at Jazzfest (or, if you’re a fashion blog reader, Coachella) with her sundress or cutoffs and cowboy boots.  The trick for pulling them off post-March is to pair them with silhouettes that are decidedly not wintery.  Pick boots in breathable leathers and/or opt for something that hits at the ankle and you’ll get more than your money’s worth.

Coachella style shot, refinery29.com; Chocolat Blu Dasha Oxford; street style shot, mrnewton.net; Coachella style shot, refinery29.com; Olivia Palermo, mrnewton.net; Lane Lucky Pocket Change Cowboy Boot; 10Crosby Derek Lam Resort 2012, style.com; Nicole "Dreamer" Short Cowboy Boot; Coachella style shot, refinery29.com.

3. Pumps

A classic pump is a staple for every woman’s closet, and this is one of the main reasons:  it is absolutely, completely, and perfectly seasonless.  The perfect pump is also the most usable piece in a woman's wardrobe, as well as the most flattering (low vamp + extra height = a leg-lengthening WIN.)  This season, we’re seeing less of the sky-high super platforms and more classic, pared-down, ladylike constructions. 

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's; Corso Como "Macon" Kitten Heel Pump; Sesto Meucci Suede Pump; style shot, mrnewton.net; street style shot, mrnewton.net; Corso Como "Delicious" Pump; J. Crew S/S 2012, style.com; Stella McCartney Resort 2012, style.com; Jenni Kayne S/S 2012, style.com.

         So there you have it, fashionistas!  Leave us some commentary and let us know your favorite way to work your wardrobe during our bipolar weather patterns.  Let's do it all with effortlessness and, above all, confidence, our best accessory! 

Love and Fashion, 

Keke

On-Trend Tuesdays: Red-dy for the Holidays?

On-Trend Tuesdays...better on Wednesdays!

The holidays are upon us, Fashionistas.  Oozing out of every corner!  The parties, the decorating, the gift-giving, the cooking, the schlepping . . . it’s enough to take it out of you completely.  The first thing that often goes out the window is taking care of yourself and, fashionistas, that’s never, ever a good thing to do.

And it’s possibly the most treacherous time of the year to do so.  When the pressure is on to be spangly, sparkly, and bright for all of your occasions, sometimes it’s easier to “cheat” by throwing on any shiny nonsense that you can find instead of thoughtfully pulling together a look that is both festive and tasteful (possible, I swear!).

So instead of “cheating” with sequins, how about taking one of the easiest, most classic and chic colors and making it your own in a new and fresh way?

It’s the color of Rudolph’s nose and cheery cheeks; Diana Vreeland’s tone of choice and Poppy King’s obsession; it’s the tone that universally symbolizes passion, fire, and elegance.  The French associate it with Versailles, China with good luck, India with happiness, and New Orleanians with our Lighted Districts of the same name. 

Diana Vreeland in her home, guestofaguest.com

 The color red, my friends, is whatever statement you want it to be (but never an understatement).  It’s classic but ferociously femme, and designers, tastemakers, and the fashionably inclined have never, ever been more obsessed.

As far as I’m concerned this season, there are two ways to do red and to do it right.  The first is the opulent approach:  think (again) Versailles or bordello influences, done up with metallic gold or rich embroidery and texture, perhaps with a decadent and slightly rebellious attitude.  Sport a rich red dress with metallic heels and loads of jewelry, perhaps, or pair red pumps with a brocade number.  Think Alexander McQueen, rock and roll, and luxurious textures.

L to R, clockwise:  Lady Gaga in Alexander McQueen for Vanity Fair, September 2011; Corso Como Delicious Pumps, Elizabeth Cole necklace; BAG; Nina Pumps at Feet First Stores; Jessica Stam in Spanish Vogue; Marc Jacobs FW 2011, style.com; Sam Edelman Roza Pumps, Jeff Koons' installation in Versailles (my inspiration!); Mary Kate Olsen at the Met Ball 2010, via popsugar.com; Zac Posen FW 2011 via style.com.

The other, very current way to do red is wearing it boldly in a more pared-down, tailored silhouette, like a red pair of pants or a well-tailored red suit or dress.  You can pair red tonally with fuschia or burgundy (very chic, as we started to see this summer and continue to see in the fall collections) or, if you’re feeling super daring, head-to-toe.  You can pair red shorts with tights and a t-shirt, or a red jacket with a nude dress; it’s really up to you.  Just – and I plead with you, knowing that most of you know full well not to do this – avoid red/green combos due to the obvious connotations.  I know it’s Christmas, we all know it’s Christmas, and I’d rather you wear a shirt saying “IT’S CHRISTMAS” than to advertise it through your color pairings (or intarsia sweater, or through any kind of accessory requiring batteries while we're on the subject). 

Amy Adams in Marie Claire, August 2011; Sondra Roberts Rose Clutch; street style photo via keepthebeat.mango.com; High Fashion Handbags Cross Body Purse; Vogue 1955; Sunglasses, 16.99 at both Feet First locations; Diane Von Furstenburg FW 2011, style.com; Diane Kruger in YSL, popsugar.com; street style photo via mrnewton.com; ILI Red Leather Wallet

I revel in the feeling that comes with wearing red:  it’s festive, it’s tasteful, it’s flattering, and it works all year long.  Enjoy your Christmas festivities – maybe have a matching red cocktail for me? – and we will talk soon about what to wear for New Year’s!

Love and Fashion,

Keke

Fa-La-La-La-Fashion: gifts for the holidays!

Happy Holidays, My Fellow Fashionistas!

Moni here, fulfilling your fashion fix from an undisclosed, non-NOLA locale! 

I can't help but long for my beloved Who Dat Nation while in the midst of a thick, digestive haze of entirely too much turkey and stuffing (or dressing, depending on who you ask!) and worrying about what gifts to get for the fam. 

The clock is ticking!

In hopes of avoiding the last-minute madness, I've been doing some gift brainstorming that I'd love to share with you! Perhaps it'll help you to cross some key items off of your own list!   

I want to make an effort to shop locally and what better source of inspiration than Feet First? I hope this breakdown encourages you to do the same this holiday season!

King of the Castle.

My dad isn't much of a tie-wearer these days, but I think  he'd have a hard time turning down  the
 Rebirth Silk Tie by Nola Couture.

The MBT Mahuta Men's Shoe has the top-notch foot support

worthy of my real-life super-hero.

Mommy Dearest.

RJ Graziano Gold Jeweled Bangles would please the pickiest woman I know

who also so happens to have a serious taste for flair!

Speaking of flair, my mom would fall head over heels for the
Atalla Women's Leather Leopard Shoulder Bag!

Sister-Sister.

The Caliente Company Women's Bow Hairclip is a perfect, super-sweet match for my little sister!

I know the Betseyville Small Cosmetic Bag also would be a guaranteed hit!

Me, Myself, & I.  

I couldn't possibly make a Holiday Gifts List without including at least couple of my own, right? ;)

I also couldn't decide on just one item from the
Escape From Paris Jewelry Collection!
Feel free to check it out and see why for yourself!

Oh, (Santa) Baby!

The Lodis Gold Snake-Print Leather Convertible Clutch is drool-worthy,

to say the very least.

Voilà!

I've laid my groundwork, and now it's your turn!  We'd love to help you find the perfect gifts for your friends and family right here at Feet First, so come on down and see us!  With locations both Uptown and in the French Quarter in addition to our online store, we're pretty hard to resist!

Image from Fashionndstyle.com

In the mean time, Happy Holidays, and as always, Happy Shopping! xo

On-Trend Tuesdays: The Mix Masters

photo via refinery29.com

Mixing prints is scary.  I relinquish!  It’s daunting, challenging, and difficult to wrap one’s mind around.  The very thought of any of our beautiful, dainty, southern matriarchs’ responses to such an outlandish idea is enough to make a girl cringe.  But, then, you think of the subsequent rebelliousness of the look; how appealing such a nuanced, minor thumbing of the nose might be to the traditional establishment.  Ah, then you see a mixed-print dress sashaying its way down a runway, or yet another fresh-faced girl mixing it up and you think I want to be THAT girl.  Then the enemy of all confidence (Self Doubt) sets in:  I could never do that.  But, my fashionistas, I am here to give you an invitation, a license!  You are that cool, that confident, that modern.  All you need is a little know-how.

L to R, clockwise:  The adorable Susie Bubble, photo via elle.com; Olu'Kai Printed Ponyhair oxfords, 124.99 at Feet First on Magazine Street; Background image via theglamourai.com (mixed plaids!); editorial via fashionista.com; All Black Sequined Flats; Rachel Comey FW 2011, style.com; Street style shot, elle.com.

Mixing your prints not only belies a certain devil-may-care irreverence, it also implies a mastery of fashion altogether.  Having an instinctual understanding of pairing prints does not come naturally to many of us; to most it’s a learned comprehension that can begin in the most easy of ways.  As they say, practice makes perfect:  soon, you’ll be pairing prints with all the confidence and ease of a Mr. Newton girl.  Please also remember, if something just feels right, you have carte blanche to ignore absolutely everything.  Let’s begin.

Inspiration:  a Kelly Wearstler interior.  Photo via theglamourai.com

1. Start off Slow!
If you're super apprehensive, start with matching a scarf to a patterned shirt, or a leopard shoe with a striped dress.  If you begin with a clashing accessory, you'll feel way more comfortable putting on a patterned piece to offset it.  Also, staying within the same color family could help:  a navy+white polka dot skirt with a teal, navy, and taupe floral, for example.  Pick pieces that aren't "clowny" or costumey and it will be difficult to look anything but chic.

2. Basic vs. Nouveau Prints

To start off easy, take two “basic” or classic patterns and pair them together.  Basic prints are prints that are cultural establishments that we’ve seen a million times, like leopard print or florals, that stay within a somewhat limited color palette.  The first rule of mixing is that, if you are new to this, don’t even try to mix two of the same kind of print, i.e. two different kinds of nautical stripes.  But do take one and mix with the other:  leopard with ikat, or floral with a stripe.  When you get more comfortable, you can begin to pair the classic prints with more avant-garde ones if you’re so inclined.   The only thing I make myself remember is that it is rare to find a girl wearing more than two prints who actually pulls it off.  Unless you're wearing Dries Van Noten today (I wish!) start with two.  Only two!

Left to right:  J. Crew FW 2011 x 2, Rachel Roy FW 2011 (all three style.com); Whiting and Davis Leopard Mesh Bag, NOLA Couture Orange cashmere blend scarf with crab print, 74.99 at Feet First on Royal Street; Nicole Host Leopard Pump

3. Don’t Try Too Hard

Two different prints that happen to be the same type of print, in the same scale, and in a similar color palette will read like this:  you are the kind of lady who had way too much time on her hands to painstakingly search for the exact same print in two different pieces, and found something so similar that maybe? she thought the world would not notice that they were just a little bit different.  In a word:  crazy.  So not fresh or modern!

4. K.I.S.S.

When you are making such a – fab! – statement, keep your other pieces simple.  Black, nude, gray, white, and taupe accoutrements are best.  When you are new to mixing, you might want to steer clear of otherwise eye-catching, yet competing elements like metallics or statement jewelry.  Remember, you want to look chic, fresh and maybe just a little edgy.  I repeat:  not crazy!

5. Tailoring.  Is.  Everything.

The number one easiest way to become overwhelmed by a look:  an ill-fitting garment.  Ensure that the fit of everything is picture-perfect and you’ll look like a song.

The Master of Mixing, Dries Van Noten.  FW 2011.   All images via style.com

Want my cheat sheet?  Here are some of my favorite pairings of all time.

-leopard and nautical stripes

-leopard and ikat or tribal print

-stripes and florals (especially in warmer weather)

-Plaid on Plaid (yeah!)

-Any two black and white graphic prints. 

Pairing prints like a pro is an ability that comes with time.  It might take a couple of tries in your wardrobe to find the perfect pairing, but if you give it a go I am sure you will find an ensemble that jives juuust right.  Go with your instincts and you’ll see for yourself that confidence really is your very best accessory.  Who knows, once you conquer the world of prints, maybe you’ll garner just a little bit more of it…?

Love and fashion,

Keke

P.S.  Post any printastic (or other!) fashion conundrums in our Comments section and I’ll be happy to reply.  Happy styling!

On-Trend Tuesdays Special Edition: Just The Basics

The time has come to talk, not necessarily about trends themselves, but how to wear them.  And how to wear them well!  Done shabbily or without intention, trends do not and will never read as refined or even stylish.  I was originally concerned about having the title “Trend” in my column for Feet First, mostly because I abhor the connotation of the word “trendy”.   When you hear the word “trendy”, a certain breed of mall-rat roadkill dressing comes to mind.  Just like no one wants to be the girl who has on the same dress as the girl next to her at the dinner party, no girl wants to be the one wearing all the trends at the cost of looking like she really Tried Too Hard.  No one wants the outfit to wear her.  And no one wants to look like she just threw on whatever was marketed to her without any thought.  These deviances from fashion refinement are oft the result of someone ignoring the little details of a look and leaving loose ends untied.  The result is a sloppy mishmash of statements that overpower the wearer, instead of illuminating her beauty and – hopefully - expressing a little of who she is as a person.   A wise fashion editor once said that style is about intention; I might amend that by claiming that style is a learned balance of intention and effortlessness.

The ultimate balance of intention and effortlessness:  Jackie O.  Photo via lovesthat.wordpress.com

 

The On-Trend Girl is modern and never “trendy”.  The way to be the former and not the latter?  Intention.

The correct and most premeditated foundation for any look is beyond essential.  I always speak to women – whether they want to hear it or not! – that the absolute first step to dressing well is to get a proper bra fitting.  You can’t have a waist if you’re hiding it!  Second, tailoring is absolutely everything.  The world’s best dressers did not buy their clothes that way, I can assure you.  Third, you should know the perfect tips and tricks for getting your look picture-perfect:  no visible panty lines, unintentionally visible bras, undone hems, stains, wrinkles, gaps, or accidental peep shows should ever be allowed!

  I recently read an article about esteemed pre-Zoe celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch and got an (editorial) peek into his styling kit.  It’s anything but glamorous!  A veritable toolbox of pads, girdles, pins, string, and sticky things, it looks more like an assortment of tackle than something resulting in the famously elegant head-to-toe look that Bloch turns out every time.  Fashion aids are not the most fun to buy when you buy them, but the result is so flawless that, once you start using them, you’ll never, ever go back.

Phillip Bloch and Joy Bryant, photo via fashionbombdaily.com

One of the most common ways that my aspirations as a stylist and my day-to-day at Feet First intersect is not exactly in the way you would expect it.  At this point, clearly I should be able to make a shoe-ensemble pairing in my sleep (sometimes, I actually do).  What many gals in NOLA don’t quite realize, however, is that while Feet First might have gorgeous shoes at the forefront of the business, it’s actually one of the best places in the city to amass the best and most tried-and-true assortment of fashion aids available to the general public.  Here’s my list of the top ten to make your On-Trend dressing never, ever deviate into the realm of the “trendy” and to keep your look flawless, stylish, and –yes- 100% intentional.

1. Comfortable Thongs!

Hanky Panky Thongs!  Available in a plethora of colors and in low rise as well, 18.99 each at Feet First.
5 pack at feetfirststores.com

      

Visible Panty Lines are never cute.  Another thing that is never cute?  A wedgie!  Behold the savior of saviors, the Hanky Panky thong.  This is the thong for women who don’t wear thongs.  Available in an assortment of delicious colors, the thong comes in low-rise and regular.  If you’re wearing a little something that’s a little more clingy, Commando thongs do the trick every time.

2. A Bra Fitting

Go to high-end Bra Boutique.  Request a professional bra fitting.  Go with the professional’s suggestion.  Never, ever, blindly buy a bra again.  It’s impossible to have a waist when the “girls” are just – frankly – lower than they should be.  A few tips that it may not fit:  if the girls come out the bottom when you raise your hands (even if it’s just a little bit!), or if the band in between does not rest directly on your chest, or if the largest part of the girls comes any lower than the midpoint between your shoulder and elbow.

3. A pair of Spanx (or two, or three)

Spanx Super Higher Power, 38.99 at Feet First Stores, in stores only

If starlets wear them, you can, too:  maybe not for every day, but at the very least for special occasions.  Nothing nips, tucks, and smooths like a pair of spanx.  Can’t do without it.  A side note:  Spanx makes the best tights I've ever worn in my life.  And if you don't want the "control" every day, just go up a size!

4. Nu Bra (for under a C Cup) or a backless corset (again, professionally fitted, for over a C Cup).

NuBra, 35.99, feetfirststores.com

Unless it perfectly compliments the outfit, the bra stays hidden:  end of story.  When in doubt, hide the bra.  See #6 for additional help with this.

5. Foot Petals

Foot Petals Killer Kushions, 14.99, available at feetfirststores.com

Hobbling around in sexy stilettos that are about an hour past the time of expiration does not read for an overall effortless look.  Pad those suckers up with these to avoid in-shoe slippage and to provide extra padding to greatly extend your in-heel time.  Which, clearly, you should, since that extra height just makes everyone look awesome.  And when all else fails, pull out a pair of leather “foldie flats” (AKA Ballasox) from Corso Como.

6. Fashion Tape

Hollywood Fashion Tape, 9.99.  feetfirststores.com

I have no words for the brilliance of fashion tape.  I buy it in bulk! Undone hems, gapping blouses, wiggly strapless dresses, unflattering draping, visible zippers, unintentional peep shows:  this stuff fixes it all.

7. Miss Oops!  Sponge and Hollywood Stain Remover

Miss Oops Rescue Sponge, 11.99.  feetfirststores.com

Rips, holes, and shredding = appropriate punk.  But even the most hardcore hipster should not be caught dead with a stain on their outfit.    

  

8. A Good Tailor

One of the easiest ways to wreck a silhouette is by not tailoring your clothes properly.  Find one, get one, put one on speed dial.  No one’s going to notice how tiny your waist looks if the length is awkward!

9. A Garment Steamer

No.  Wrinkles.  Ever.  Nothing is more distracting!  Irons can crease the intended lines of, say, a gathered waist, but a good steamer will relax and press your clothes to ready-to-wear perfection.

10. A Drying Rack:  99% of your clothes should never see the inside of your dryer.  This includes jeans, t-shirts, any and everything labeled dry clean only (obvi!), dresses, cotton, silk, everything.  Extreme heat distorts the fit of a garment, sometimes permanently, and the harsh texture of a dryer will damage the fabric.  Protect your investments!  When you can’t dry clean, wash in cold, hang to dry.  And never, ever wash anything with a label that says you shouldn’t.

           

So there’s a little styling 101, gratis from yours truly.  Next week, we’ll go back into full-on Trend mode with mixing prints (yes!) with taste.  Now that you know how to wear your look with refinement, I can’t wait to show you how to add in a little quirk!

“Getting it all together” is yet another sign of absolute confidence, which is always not only your best accessory, but your very best asset as well.

Love and fashion,

Keke

The Case of the Flattering Flat

From Samantha, a tall girl:

Am I going to be taller than him if I wear these?

Sam Edelman Lyla Women's Leopard Platform Ankle Strap Heel

If you're tall, you've asked yourself this question countless times while getting dressed for a date. Some women don't seem to mind being taller than their male counterparts, but for others (like me!) it can feel awkward and uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong, I love to wear a pair of heels or wedges and don't mind towering over the general public, but give me a date who is suddenly shorter than me when I slip on my pumps, and I'm like an awkward, baby giraffe, not wanting to stand at my full height.

From Moni, a tall girl (and tomboy at heart):

Is it possible to be a fashionista in flats?

I am not a heel, pump, or stiletto fanatic; not because I'm afraid of towering over people (I get a big kick out of it, actually) but because it's just not in my genetic makeup to enjoy heels. I'm 5'10".  My first boyfriend was (maybe) 5'6".  I played sports for several years, and I barely knew what a skirt was in middle school, much less the splendor that awaited me in my 20s; learning the magic of finding a flirty, more openly feminine style that was all my own and finally leaving the over-sized, college basketball tee's, wide leg jeans, and sneakers behind (can you tell I was a tomboy in the 90's?).   I was the girl who scoffed at other girls who cared so much about their physical appearance while secretly adoring movies like Clueless.   That's right.  I wanted to wear mini skirts and thigh highs too, but it just wasn't in me.

Even when I'm in a hyper-femme mood, a 2-3" wedge heel, mary jane or t-strap heel, and booties appeal more to me than a razor thin 4-inch pump.  The formers provide a little lift with support sans ankle or knee agitation if worn for an extended period of time, while the latter looks like a nightmare wrapped in the guise of patent leather or beautiful fabric. 

--

Samantha and I know we're not the only ones with these shoe-qualms, which brings us to the focal point of this post:  If you want dressy, comfortable flats (for that hot, average-height date or when you're just not in the mood for pumps) Feet First Stores is your source of inspiration!

If you follow that cleverly-inserted link, it'll take you directly to our entire selection of flats, but just for good measure, I wanted to plug in a few personal picks:

The Nina Jaxine Women's Dress Flat in Zebra

Why I adore it:  I'm usually not a big fan of animal prints, but when these babies arrived in the store, I had to try them on!  I looked into the nearest mirror and beheld a flat that's not just cute or comfortable but really stylish AND comfortable.  I could go to a wedding or another formal occasion in these and not feel at all underdressed - miracles do happen!

The Libby Edelman Kendra Women's Bow Flat Shoe in Snake

Why I adore it:  Big sashes and bows, lace, silk, and jeweled ornaments always make me think of one person: Marie Antoinette.  Although she reached an untimely end, at least she went out in style ;) You can add an extra hint of could-I-get-any-girlier? while rocking a flat, comfortable shoe!

The Chocolat Blu Nancy Women's Dress Flat

Why I adore it:  What can I say?  I'm a sucker for new spins on classics, and the Nancy by Chocolat Blu fits the bill. With its diagonal, elastic strap detail, rounded toe-point, and patent leather upper, it's like the ballet flat all-grown-up!

Haven't gotten your fill yet?  Feast your eyes on all the fabulous dress flats Feet First Stores has in stock, and grab a pair of your own today!

Happy Shopping! xo