Everything in the Neiman Marcus shoe section is out of my budget, but window shopping is free! Heels by Diego Dolicini ($2395, available now at Neiman Marcus).
Shoes Worthy of Carrie Bradshaw
fashion
Zero to Snooks in 10 Seconds or Less
There’s something borderline Snookie about these Giuseppe Zanotti shoes (available now at Neiman Marcus stores).
Still, I like ’em.
They’d be perfect for ye olde peep-toe pedicure trick!
An Open Letter to Santa Claus
Dear Santa,
I’ve been a very good girl this year. Perhaps you’d like to reward me for my kind deeds by leaving a pair of Jimmy Choo Glitter Platform Pumps (size 37.5) underneath the tree? Just sayin’…
Your biggest fan,
Karen
P.S. They’re available now at Neiman Marcus.
Crazy Sexy Cool Shoes
I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to even stand in these Alexander McQueen shoes (available now at Neiman Marcus). I still like ’em, though. 🙂
Cat Ladies, I’ve Found You the Purr-fect Pair of Pumps!
Check the claws on the side. MEOW!
Charlotte Olympia Ninivah pumps, $985 (!), available now at Neiman Marcus stores.
The Wacoal 854191 Strapless Push-Up Bra: The Best Damn Strapless Bra I’ve Ever Worn
What do you get when you combine the words “phenomenal” and “strapless bra” in the same sentence? Well, besides a good laugh? Because that was always the case until I found the subject of this afternoon’s post.
I don’t know how you feel about ’em, but strapless bras for me have always been exercises in misery. Oh, the many times I’ve ducked into bathrooms to hoist up a strapless bra that has somehow worked its way around my belly button…
But lo, magic exists! Just when I began to believe I’d never find a good strapless bra, like it would forever be my personal chupacabra, I discovered the Wacoal 854191 Strapless Push-Up Bra, also known as “the most phenomenal strapless bra I’ve ever worn.”
I’ve Fallen for the Fergie Fallen Boot
Why, cruel world!? Why is it so much easier to gain the weight than it is to lose it?
Last month, as part of my latest quest to get healthier, I resorted to good old-fashioned bribery (whatever works, right?). I told myself that I could get a new pair of boots if I exercised at least 24 days during the month…
And I did it! 🙂
So, last weekend I stopped by the new Novato DSW to select my prize, and I walked away with this snazzy suede olive pair of, quite possibly, the greatest boots I’ve ever owned.
Oh, and here’s the kicker: they’re made by Fergie! — as in Fergilicious, her body stays vicious; she be up in the gym working on her fitness. Yes, THAT Fergie.
Okay, well, something tells me she probably didn’t make them herself, but I bet she had something to do with the design…
It’s actually kind of funny because I walked past these Fallen Wedge boots by Fergie ($139.95) a few times before finally reaching down to pick them up. “Fergie makes shoes?” I wondered. “I dunno if I’m ready for that…” I mean, I love her music and have run many, many miles listening to her songs, but the Fergie-footwear connection seemed like a stretch.
Clothing Ideas for a Fall or Winter Trip to the Tropics
Hawaii, Christmas 2009
Lucky MBB reader Rachael is taking a potentially BIG tropical trip this January, and she’s shopping for packing ideas.
“My boyfriend and I are taking a trip to Hawaii the first week of January, and I’m at a loss for what to bring. I am possibly the palest person and still have scars from a bad sunburn in the Bahamas when I was a teenager, and I do not want that to happen again.
I also think that on this trip my boyfriend will propose because he’s terrible at keeping secrets and has slipped more than once. I need to know what will take me from hiking to the beach and an engagement but keep it all easy to travel.”
— Rachael
Hey Rachael,
Congrats on your upcoming trip (and hopefully proposal)! 🙂 Sounds like the makings of a marvelous month.
Whenever I travel to someplace tropical, I try to pack as many multitasking products and pieces of clothing as possible. Clothing-wise, for a one-week trip, that means a few lightweight, versatile dresses in stretchy fabrics that resist wrinkling, because I can easily dress them up or down.
When I head to the beach, I’ll slip a dress over my bikini, step into a pair of flip-flops, put on a wide-brimmed hat (great for extra sun protection to complement SPF), and drop a sarong or a wide, lightweight cotton scarf into my beach bag, just in case I end up in direct sunlight for a while and want some extra coverage for my shoulders.
I like Coolibar’s Silk Infinity Scarf ($39). Made from hand-dyed twisted silk, it’s lightweight, hardly takes up any space in a bag or luggage, and provides excellent UV protection. One caveat, though: it’s dry clean only.
How about a hat? Clockwise from the black hat on the lower left: Coolibar Shapeable Poolside Sun Hat ($45); Collection XIIX Bold Stripe Floppy Paper Straw Hat ($25); Kinda Shady Straw Sun Hat ($14); August Hat Bead Trim Paper Straw Kettle Hat ($19)
For nice dinners or nights out on the town, I’ll jazz up a dress with a bold necklace, bracelet or earrings and put on a pair of strappy sandals (dressier than flip-flops). I’ll also add a button-down sweater and/or another scarf if it gets chilly at night.
Which reminds me — I love bringing scarves when I travel, even to the tropics. They’re easy, affordable ways to switch up an outfit, and if they’re wide enough, you can even wear them as a wrap on a cool night.
As for hiking, dresses can still work, believe it or not. I’ve done it before. Granted, not on hard-core hikes, but for easy trails.
If you don’t mind looking a little silly in a dress and hiking boots, a dress should do you just fine. For more strenuous activities, though, don’t forget to pack a pair of shorts and a t-shirt in your beach bag or backpack (TIP: If you’re trying to make every cubic inch of packing space count, keep in mind that you can usually find super cheap t-shirts for sale at many tropical tourist destinations, including Hawaii).
With autumn here, this might be a good time to grab some great outgoing summer stuff on sale. Here’s a few ideas I found online…
Nordstrom dresses on sale from the left: BP. Double Scoop Tank Dress ($12); Stem Pleat Front Dress ($20) and Remain Knit Dress ($25)
Lulu.com dresses from the left: Alternative Apparel Racer Tank Grey Dress ($40) and Sidewalk Bistro Striped Dress ($38)
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