Soled.

Every once in a while, I find a shoe that just intrigues me. It might have unique lines, a flashy color, or in the case of Irregular Choice shoes, an eye-catching sole. Can't you picture it - you're walking down the street, strutting your stuff, and the gent behind you happens to catch a glimpse of these little cuties. Smile.

I do actually like the shoe itself, too. The T-strap is at an interesting angle, and the brown and pink combo is cute. It also comes in the classic black and white. With a bit of a wedge heel, they should be a bit higher on the comfort scale - perfect for a night out or a day in the office.

Great price point, too. This Hermia Wedge li'l doll is on sale right now at Amazon.com Shoes for a mere $38.48! What a bargain, shoe-lovers. Ciao!

Hello PUMA

Autumn usually means the arrival of boots, boots and more boots. It's my favorite season for footwear. But this autumn brings the arrival of a different animal (pun intended) - PUMA shoes to http://www.endless.com/.

I tend to favor the sleek stilettoes or knee-high boots, but every once in a while the comfort of PUMAs can be a welcome change. These cute PUMAs (featured on the endless.com homepage) might have to be adopted into my shoe family: http://www.endless.com/PUMA-Womens-Sabadella-SL-Sneaker/dp/B001B580E6

And, with the free overnight shipping that endless.com has to offer, it's super easy to buy and try. Check 'em out! Ciao!

Golly Gee Galoshes

I live in Seattle, the mecca of coffee and tech companies. We also, as you may have heard, get our fair share of rainy days. (This may explain the success of so many coffee companies in the Emerald City.) Footwear is oftentimes a challenge in Seattle. Not only do we have rainy days, we also live on a city on a hill - a big hill. Combine the two, and it can put one into a precarious position. I do not kid around when I say that my fear is losing my footing and literally tumbling head over heels (no pun intended) down the hills of downtown Seattle.

Solution? Many women purchase galoshes (or rain boots) for the rainy season. What I noticed when I moved here, though, is that some women wear galoshes as if they were actual shoes - all day long! I find this intriguing as I always change into my stilettoes upon entering the office, but no matter. To each her own.

Galoshes are a way of life here in Seattle (and probably in other rainy cities). They preserve our shoe beauties and keep us from tumbling down hills. And they're cheap - $20 at your local Costco or SAM's Club, and you're good to go. Plus, they can suit your personality. Mine are black with white polka dots and a pink interior. I don't quite know what that says about my personality, but it was a better choice than the pastel pink with white horses... Ciao!

I Favor Reds and Burgundys...

No, I'm not talking about wine (although I do prefer reds). I'm talking about my undeniable preference toward red and burgundy shoes. Or, if you will, red-wine-colored shoes. My eye is automatically drawn to these beauties on the racks, and when I peruse my closet on any given morning, I reach for the reds, burgundys and red-wines more often than not.

So a few days ago, I branched out. I found a beautiful pair of Oxford-style menswear heels (you probably know the type) in a wonderfully-rich red-wine color. Oooh, they were fabulous, and I began imagining them on my feet and in my closet, proudly situated next to my boots, my slingbacks, my open-toes... you get the picture. Only problem was that they didn't have them in my size! Instead, they had a patent black leather/charcoal gray tweed model. Turns out that these were also a great color choice - and one that I didn't already have overpowering my closet.

I bought them. And fellow shoe lover, they are beautiful, classy and eye-catching. I surprised myself; I really did. Sometimes change and surprise are good, especially when the result is such a great pair of high-heeled friends! Ciao!

Night of dancing ahead? Beware the high heels!

So you've got a night out on the town planned. You know you'll be bustin' out the moves on the dance floor, so what shoes do you wear? You peruse your closet - pass over the flipflops (too casual), skip the boots (too warm unless you're going line dancing). What about those new T-strap Steve Maddens with the spiky heel? They're adorable, I'll give you that. But they're also brand new.

Word to the wise, my fellow shoe lovers: brand new shoes and dancing can be pain for the feet. You'll look cute (don't get me wrong), but your feet may well be screaming by the end of the night.

So if you want to wear those T-straps, I'd suggest breaking them in before the dance party. New shoes and dancing aren't the best of friends. You'll have a better time if you're not fighting back the tears of pain and instead laughing through the tears of joy. Yeah, okay, that was cheesy. Ciao!

Shoes 101: Investing & Your Portfolio

If you're anything like me, you've probably bought a pair of $30 shoes or $40 boots only to find that some months, maybe a year, later, they are declining in condition. If this has happened on multiple occasions (as it has for me), the math quickly adds up to some big numbers. And what do I have to show for it? Nothing!

Now, I am a big supporter of deals if you're buying quality. Don't get me wrong, okay? But here's what I am suggesting: buy quality shoes. Invest in shoes that will last longer than those $30 or $40 ones you bought, then tossed.

That's why I bought these FRYE boots.

FRYE boots have been around since 1863 and were worn by Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. Of course, those boots looked more masculine than mine! The point is that FRYE knows boots and knows quality. They have stood the test of time. So sure, I spent some well-earned cash on these boots, but I know that they will last. I've invested.

Take stock today. Are you investing wisely, or could you stand to make some adjustments to your portfolio? Ciao!