What’s New At Shoe Smitten Boutique?

Posted August 27, 2008 by Anna

Here’s a quick update on the latest additions and news from Shoe Smitten Boutique.

New Products:

Check out the new Heel Shields from Achilles Shield.  Now you can leave your heels on while you drive and not worry about ruining them!  A new pair of expensive, high-heel designer shoes inspired the creation of the The Heel Shield. On the first wearing a pair of yellow designer shoes were ruined while driving to a special function.  Even dyeing the shoes couldn’t cover up the scuff mark.

The Heel Shield provides the perfect barrier protecting your footwear from scuffing and staining. The uncovered Heel Shield won’t become wet like car mats, towels or other items left on the floor of the car. And, since the covered Heel Shields are covered in vinyl, the shoe will still stay dry beautifully.

The Heel Shield eliminates the need for changing shoes – just slide The Shield on prior to driving and remove The Heel Shield at the destination.  Some drivers drive barefoot to protect their shoes. Driving barefoot will protect the outside of the shoe, however, it will cause damage to the inside of the shoe. The Heel Shield eliminates the need to drive barefoot.

The Heel Shield keeps the shoes of drivers clean and scuff free. The Shield slides comfortably on to the back of your shoe, preventing scuffing and staining and slips easily off. The Shield was designed to protect ladies heels and cowboy boots, men’s dress shoes and cowboy boots, sandals, sling-backs and athletic shoes.

New Eye Kandy Hand Painted Glasses!

The first glass, the Butterfly glass, was created specifically for my best friend, Marlena.  Still, this glass is perfect for any social butterfly out there!

Then there’s the “Fashionista” Mug W/Drink Recipe, created with the fashion-obsessed in mind.  Sophisticated and hip, you know what you’re talking about when it comes to fashion.  Sip your coffee or tea while you browse the latest designer sales online.

Find these great new products along with many others at Shoe Smitten Boutique!

Perfect Pair: Passionate Purple Blooms on Steve Madden ‘Chavela’ Pump and Forzieri’s Ring

Posted August 26, 2008 by Anna

Steve Madden Women's Chavela Pump

Well guess what?  I found not a bag, but a piece of jewelry to complement a pretty pair of shoes!  Don’t you think this Steve Madden Women’s Chavela Pump ($89.95) goes perfectly with this hand made purple rose sterling silver ring ($98) made by Forzieri?  Beauty is always in bloom and shining bright with this duo.  The vibrant and lustrous satin upper of the pump will make any ensemble pop, and by adding the flower detail, the pretty peep toe, and multi-strap ankle wrap, this look is unbelievably unstoppable.  Keep the rest of your outfit simple so as to let the accessories do the talking.


Do You Think I’m A Hot Blogger?

Posted August 25, 2008 by Anna

Do you like me and think I deserve to be voted a Hot Female Blogger?  Then keep on reading and see how you can help - it will only take a few seconds!  As I write this post, I only have 7 votes, so every bit of support will help!  The contest ends 8/31/08.  Thank you so much!

What I Need You To Do: Just click this link: http://hotbloggercalendar.com/vote-hottest-female/and vote for me (ShoeSmitten)!  You’ll have to scroll down just a bit to find my name.

What I Get if I Win: a trip to NYC in September to participate in the Hot Blogger Calendar photo shoot!!! And I TOTALLY want to win! :)

Need more info before voting for me?  Visit my “About Me” page and read more/see a pic of me.

Word of the Week AND Fall Fashion Trend: The Moccasin

Posted August 25, 2008 by Anna

A moccasin is a shoe in which the bottom is a single piece of leather, stitched around a last. The vamp is usually attached by whip stitching to the bottom of the shoe so it encloses the foot. Also known as Tru-Moc construction.

While I’m not personally a fan of the moccasin, this shoe style is one of the shoe trends this fall.  Moccasins look best when paired with a pair of wide-legged pants (also in this fall) for a hipster look.  If you dig them, you can find them in many colors and at low prices.  The Fashion Archives found some bright, affordable moccasins available at Target.

Will you be sporting moccasins this fall?  Or are they a fall fashion faux pas?

Weekend Must-Reads: 8/24/08

Posted August 24, 2008 by Anna

  1. Shoe Minx shows how Serena Williams goes for gold on and off the tennis court.
  2. Running With Heels introduces designer Anyi Lu, who makes beautiful and comfortable shoes!
  3. Shoe Blog provides some picks of fall trends for the budget conscious from Payless Shoesource.
  4. Shoes & Booze combines Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti stilettos with Zen cocktails for a fun Friday.
  5. AMC Blog writes an interesting article about Mad Men Fashion: Forgive Me, Father, For I Have Shopped.
  6. The Fashion Police discuss NooShooz, the shoes that zip off so you can replace the uppers and have virtually a new shoe!
  7. Styles For The Stay At Home Mom finds fashion for nerds.  Fun!  ;)
  8. Budget Chic boasts about the fabulous NIne West blue “Luminous” Pumps she bought from Ross For Less for get this - $16!!!
  9. The Coveted shows off some pretty Flea Market shoes she’s found in the last few weeks.
  10. You Look Fab says that the peep-toe bootie (one of my FAVORITE current shoe trends) goes mainstream.

Fearless Friday: Steven by Steve Madden ‘Bijoux’ Sandal

Posted August 22, 2008 by Anna

BIJOUX PEWTER LEATHER

Dance away the winter blues in these sassy fringed open toe BIJOUX PEWTER LEATHER SANDALS!  The heel is 3.5 inches tall and the shoe has a suede upper.  Show off your shoe style and take part in the popular trend this fall with this smart use of fringe.

Interview With Taryn Rose on Shoe Trends This Fall

Posted August 20, 2008 by Anna

I already wrote about Taryn Rose’s Verde Footwear, and now Shoes.com released an exclusive interview with Taryn Rose on tips and trends for shoes this fall.  Take a look!

About Taryn Rose:

Orthopedic surgeon and shoe designer Taryn Rose founded Taryn Rose International, a luxury line of shoes, in 1998. Using beautiful materials and stylish designs, her shoe line made a huge statement in the industry - that shoes could look good and also be good for your feet. Over the years, Taryn Rose footwear has continued to combine fashion, comfort and luxury with both their men’s and women’s shoes. In 2006, she add the Taryn by Taryn Rose line - a little more fun and funky that the original collection.

What trends do you see emerging in shoes this fall?

There’s a dominatrix look that is happening this fall as well as very streamlined covered up booties. I love shoe booties with dark tights for fall since I don’t need to worry about my calves looking fat. So why don’t I just wear pants? Well then I need to worry about my butt looking fat. Besides I love to wear a dress.

What five shoe styles should everyone have in her closet?

A simple black pump, a ballerina flat (I love it in metallic or black patent), a low wedge with an ankle strap for walking, a stiletto for special occasions, a high heel Mary Jane. If you don’t work in a conservative field then you can switch the pump for something that is appropriate for your lifestyle. I have 175 pairs of shoes so I’m probably not the right person to ask about five pairs of shoes.

What trendy style of shoe do you think will carry over a few seasons and is worth splurging on?

The Mary Jane is great whether its trendy or not since it gives extra support. I also like gladiator sandals which are really hot this summer but I think it still has legs for next season. Gladiators for me is a great way to wear flats with an attitude. I’ve always loved peep toes and started designing peep toes long before they were trendy. The shoe bootie is also good to wear into Fall.

Any other tips for accessorizing that you’d like to share?

I don’t like the full matchy matchy look since it looks dated. What is fresher is to use one accessory as a pop or a standout element. Right now I like a bright shoe with a neutral bag or vice versa. Playing with textures and shine is another way to wear a lot of the same color without looking like an Easter parade. For example I wore a green matte satin Oscar De La Renta cocktail dress with a green and gold beaded Fendi bag and simple soft gold shoes. Because I am short I tend to like to wear soft gold or nude shoes to elongate my legs.

-From About.com, photo courtesy of Taryn Rose

Weekly Shoe Sales Roundup (early)

Posted August 20, 2008 by Anna

*There are some GREAT online shoe sales this week, and I just couldn’t wait until Friday to share them with you!  Stock up for this fall with these savings!

*My favorite sale: $5 off $30 or more at Shoebuy.com when you pay with Google Checkout. Expires 9/9/08 4pm PDT.

*Super sale on last season’s styles at DesignerShoes.com. Up to 70% off!

*And of course, there are always shoes on sale at shoes.com.



Heels.com - Free 2nd Day Shipping

Perfect Pair: Dr. Q Fraser Tote & Mouse Flats

Posted August 19, 2008 by Anna

Womens Vamp Mouse Flat


Today I did things differently for this perfect pair - I started with the bag!   I love this Marc by Marc Jacobs - Dr. Q Fraser tote ($562).  I must be on some sort of doctor bag kick, because lately I’ve been thinking I really need one.  Anyways, this bag goes perfectly with this pair of Womens Vamp Mouse Flats ($249.99) - and yes, I would actually wear them - they are adorable!  Of course, this is coming from an avid animal lover…

What do you think of this pairing?  Is there a pair of shoes that would go even better with this bag (or vice-versa)?

Word of the Week: French Heels

Posted August 18, 2008 by Anna

French Heels are women’s shoes with a curved, medium-high heel. Also known as Curved Heels, Pompadour Heels or Louis Heels, these are highly-stylized high heeled shoes.

The Origin of French Heels
Originally, shoes sporting higher heels were introduced in order to allow ladies to walk high enough off the ground so that their skirts remained out of the mud. However, Catherine de Medici, from the rich and famous Italian family, brought a fashion of high heels to France in 1533. But it was more than 100 years after Catherine de Medici first introduced high heels as a fashion statement that French heels were developed. And they were developed to help a man get over his Napoleon complex (of course, this was before there was a Napoleon).

King Louis XIV (1638-1715) was a rather short man. In order to achieve a height he considered respectable, he wore special high heels. His shoes were made of leather dyed red and hand painted with scenes from his triumphs on the battlefield. The heels themselves were constructed of cork and also covered with red leather. Due to the king, sometimes French heels are also referred to as Louis heels. They are five inches tall and curved so that they came down from the back of the heel, inward toward the shoe, and then outward away from the shoe for a serpentine look.

Modern French Heels

Today rather than cork, many French heels are made from plastic. The upper is made of plastic, leather or fabric, while the sole is made of a hard plastic material, although some soles are now being made of more supportive and springy materials that provide better cushioning. Additionally, not all French heels are as high as Louis’s.  Some of them maintain the curved heel shape, but on a shorter scale.

French heels can make a great fashion statement in any circle. And they are more practical for professional and everyday use than their straighter and higher cousins in the world of high heels.

source: Zappos Fashion Blog

Check out previous Words of the Week, and read the shoe glossary for more footwear lingo!