stilettoed

Wooden Shoes Help in Celebrating Family and Tradition

2008-12-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Shoe Friends,

I meant to write this post a couple weeks ago, closer to St. Nicholas' Eve (December 5). You see, I come from a Dutch family; I'm actually 100 percent Dutch. St. Nicholas' Eve and the days leading up to it are special days.

For the week of days leading up to St. Nicholas' Eve, we would place our shoes - yes, that's right, our shoes - next to our chimney. Similar to the cookies and milk left for Santa Claus, we would leave a carrot or a sugar cube for St. Nicholas' horse. But we also sang songs up our chimney, hoping to entice St. Nicholas to come to our house. The next morning, we would race downstairs and find our shoes filled with tiny presents - maybe some chocolate kisses or a small toy. Something simple. Then came St. Nicholas' Eve, December 5.

On St. Nicholas' Eve, my brothers and sister and I would find just about everything we could to put in our shoes - carrots, sugar cubes, a banana. This was the big night. We would sing our hearts out up the chimney and then wait. And wait and wait and wait. And, no matter how many years we had participated in St. Nicholas' Eve, we always jumped out of our socks when Sinterklaas' assistant (aka one of our parents) banged on the front door. We would race to the front door, fling it open and with wide smiles invite in the assistant and hurriedly divvy up the huge bag of presents that had been delivered. It was the best night of the year.

I tell you this because I love the story and the history behind the tradition. The laying out of shoes, the giving of simple gifts, the singing of songs up the chimney, the genuineness of children, the anticipation of St. Nicholas' Eve, the connectedness of family. If you are looking for a new tradition, perhaps the St. Nicholas' tradition is one to look into. It is yours as much as it is mine; everyone can enjoy it. And I can guarantee you that the stories you'll discover will be stories you'll share over and over again for years to come.

Wishing you and all those you hold dear a very blessed holiday season.

kaelyn kelley

Steve Madden Legion Boot - A Study in Chic Comfort

2008-12-15T22:05:00.000-08:00

Before you readers search through my archives thinking that I've posted about this boot before, let me tell you that yes, I have. The Steve Madden Legion boot is, perhaps, my favorite boot this season. And for good reason. Let's check out the features.

Toebox: The toe is simple, rounded but with a hint of a point. Notice the stitching creates a "T" of sorts on the vamp. This stitching provides a bit of flair on the simple toe. Neither the stitching nor the toe draws attention; that is not the intent of either one.

Heel: The heel is sturdy but feminine. It is not a stiletto, so walking for extended periods of time will not cause any discomfort in your arches. It is the same color as the rest of the boot, wrapped in leather, and, like the toe, does not draw attention. At a moderate 3", the heel adds just the right height for any night out.

Shaft: The stitching that we talked about continues up one-third of the shaft, creating a half-circle pattern over the back of the boot. It completes the stitching and creates a delicate look leading into the sturdy heel. The shaft itself is in line with the slouch trend and tops off with a classy collar and a brass buckle around the back of the boot. From arch to top of the shaft measures approximately 12".

Overall lines: The lines blend together seamlessly - a perfect mix of delicacy and roughness. A-

Color options: The Legion boot comes in black, grey and cognac. I own the cognac and consider it a staple of my wardrobe but am considering adding the grey as well. Grey is clearly one of the colors of the season, and owning two pairs of this boot is a viable option.

Material options: All colors of the Legion boot come in leather.

Wearability/Comfortability: Your feet will feel the same after eight hours of wearing the Legion boots as they did when you put the boots on. The boot is designed with great arch support, and although the heel is 3", it is sturdy - not a stiletto - and provides much more stability for time spent on your feet. The aesthetics of this boot are appealing, but the wearability and comfortability are one of its greatest features. A

Affordability: At $119.90, the Legion boot is an affordable and chic option to boost any footwear collection. It is available at several brick-and-mortar retailers, including Nordstrom, and at several online retailers, including Endless.com.

Whether you are searching for a boot to class up a pair of skinny jeans or to add flair to the fall dress that you already have for next season, pick up a pair of these Legion boots. The design is great, the comfortability will have you offering rave reviews to passers-by on the street and in the store, and the price point is one that we can all smile about. So in this season of giving, give something to yourself -a pair of Steve Madden Legion boots. Ciao!

stilettoed - What's Next?

2008-12-10T21:49:00.000-08:00

During my month away from stilettoed I spent some time reflecting on where I'd like to take this blog. As it is so often said, the world is my oyster. What I kept cycling back to was how much I enjoyed reading and writing critical shoe reviews. I would never put myself in the same league as the high end fashion bloggers or the fashion designers; I do, after all, spend my days dealing with food not fashion.

So here's the deal - my stilettoed post will now be almost entirely critical shoe reviews (CSRs henceforth). There may the occasional casual post tossed in for good measure. No critical review would be such without some criteria by which I measure. Here are the criteria I will be reviewing:

-Toebox: what style? does it work with the rest of the shoe? should it have been something else?

-Heel: what weight? color complementary with the rest of the shoe?

-Shaft: (specific to boots) height? slouch vs. straight? the extras - buckles, fringe, ties, ETC?

-Overall lines: includes toe to heel, grade assigned A-F

-Color options (and which one is my fav)

-Material options (and which one is my fav)

-Wearability/Comfortability: grade assigned A-F

-Affordability: This one is a bit tricky. I want to review shoes that won't break the bank. The most expensive pair that I currently own is a $380 pair of FRYE boots that I adore. But I generally hover in the $100-$150 range, and if I can find a good bargain I'm the first in line. So don't expect to find CSRs for a pair of Christian Louboutin $900 shoes, even though they're beautiful and I might be drooling over them. That might be the little spice I throw in for good measure, but I won't tell you that you should go out and buy them.

So that's it. stilettoed is now open for business and ready to tackle some serious reviews. Now I'm off to find my first pair! Ciao!

A Note of Explanation

2008-11-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

Dear Shoe Lover Friends,

I wanted to let you know that I am taking a bit of a blogging break to handle some personal things. I do intend to be back on soon, but I am anticipating December as my return. I hope you understand the need for some time away. I look forward to returning and providing some insight (and perhaps humor) about our favorite accessory.

Cheers,
kaelyn kelley

Shopping - My Coping Mechanism

2008-10-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

I am sorry for the delay in posting, friends. I am back from a business trip to Pennsylvania and settling into life again. I came home to a box of four pairs of Bandolinos, ordered on the HUGE blowout sale that I advertised in my previous post. You can expect to see detailed posts about each pair in the coming weeks.

Today I bought another two pairs. You see, I had an awful day. Not to be ominous or anything, but if that 'bad things happen in threes' bit is true, I'm just holding my breath for #3. Anyway, I won't include all of the details in this post. The point is that I bought another two pairs of shoes. Why? Because shopping is my coping mechanism. It's true. When I'm upset, I head for the stores. I hope that the number of shoes I own isn't a complete testament to the number of times I've been upset, but I do know that on several occasions, I've engaged in retail therapy.

I just had quite the encounter with my neighbor, so maybe that's #3. Frankly, I'm hoping so because I'd count that as pretty minor overall. Otherwise, I'm going to be hitting up the stores again. Ciao!

Bandolino Blowout on 6pm.com

2008-10-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Heads up, shoe lovers! 6pm.com cut up to 75% off on 763 styles of Bandolino shoes for women. Prices start at $13.23, and no pair costs more than $29.95. Orders over $100 receive free shipping; otherwise, shipping adds $6.95. Sale ends October 20. Ciao!

http://www.6pm.com/

Simon? No - Cindy Says.

2008-10-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Here comes Cleopatra. Or Gladiator. Or just an entirely odd, albeit eye-catching, shoe. The Cindy Says sandal comes in pewter, a matte black and a shiny gold.

Clearly the pewter is the best choice. The gold is over the top; the black is boring. A fellow shoe lover compared the black to a flip flop with an ankle brace built in. I'd hypothesize that the knob for the toes would hurt, and the wrap around the calf will most likely get hot during the summer, the months in which you would wear this funky sandal. Overall, a very interesting shoe that would draw some looks and start some conversations but probably is better to look at than actually wear. If you are interested in this Egyptian sandal, you can find it online at Amazon.com for $106. Ciao!

That Naughty Monkey...

2008-10-10T16:25:00.001-07:00

For all the flak that Gov. Sarah Palin takes, she does have some style. I do so solemnly swear to not turn this post into a political blog and will focus solely on the Alaskan governor's choice of footwear. If any of you have been anywhere near the Internet recently (and that's a novel idea really), you've probably seen plenty of discussion about Palin's shoes.

Palin has brought a fresh breeze to Naughty Monkey, a fabulous brand of shoes that you should check out if you haven't already. I remember seeing Palin's shoes (Naughty Monkey Double Dare Pumps) the first time she debuted them. I thought, "Wow, great shoes. I bet those are from some high-end designer." Now, understand, folks, Naughty Monkey makes great shoes, but they're clearly within most people's price range. These red pumps of Palin's list from $82-$89 on Amazon.com/Shoes and $89.95 on Endless.com. That is, of course, if you can find them in stock; since the chic governor stepped out in these pumps, they've flown off the physical and virtual shelves.

And why not? Look at them! Start at the toe - a beautiful peep-toe, a slight platform all with a delicious big buckle across the top. Fabulous, classy. Look at the stitching, too. My favorite is the line that runs along the shoe and ends in a tiny silver button toward the heel. Now look at the design on the leather! Do you notice the swirly lines through the color? Stunning, but simple. The tapered heel will provide support and be a perfect ending punctuation to an outfit. They'll look great whether you're wearing slacks or a skirt. This is a steal, ladies!

The Double Dare comes in Red/Gold, Black/Black, Cream/Cream and Tan/Black. While the other colors are certainly wearable and will add some flare, the red pumps with the gold buckle and gold swirl design is eye-catching. So I dare you. In fact, I double dare you - put politics aside and get a pair of these oh-so-fabulous pumps. And if nothing else, check out Naughty Monkey - they truly are a wonderful designer. You won't be disappointed. Ciao!

Forget Plain Black

2008-10-08T21:28:00.000-07:00

So I went to a wedding in Chicago last weekend and saw some stunning shoes. You would expect that the most stunning shoes would have been the bride's (hers were cute) or the
bridesmaids' (also cute), but the best pair I saw belonged to the groom. I usually blog about women's shoes - our stilettoes, our boots, our flats - but these shoes were too great to pass up.

I saw them the moment I walked in. I am so used to seeing men wearing plain black shoes, so when I saw these, clearly not plain black, I was pleasantly surprised. I also gave my approval to my friend readily - of her choice of fiance and his choice in shoes! Ciao!

Lessons from FDR

2008-10-01T17:42:00.000-07:00

Before he took office for the first time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt uttered those now-famous words, "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" in his inaugural address. FDR, of course, went on to guide our country through the Great Depression and World War II. He is the only president to serve more than two terms in office and was and continues to be widely revered.

His statement, though, "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" is worth dissecting. I do not mean to belittle FDR in any regard, nor make his statement any less worthy of note, yet I see its relevance in our choice of footwear today. Yes, I do, and I say that while maintaining the utmost respect for this beloved president.

I own quite a few books about shoes, and one asks this question: What type of shoe are you afraid of? I am afraid of flats. If I were to assess my closet, I'd find pair after pair of stilettoes and high heels. Flats are a scarcity. I am not drawn to flats while shopping; that's just me. But what am I fearing? The shoe, or the stigma that goes along with flats? Perhaps, as FDR said those many years ago, I am not fearing the shoe, nor the stigma, but the fear itself. It might be a stretch, I realize, but I acknowledge the possibility that I am actually afraid of the fear that I associate with wearing flats. And that is probably something I should work to get rid of because flats can be great additions to a shoe family, and I am missing out on some great shoes because of my fear.

So I now pose the question to you. What type of shoe are you afraid of? Ciao!

Soled.

2008-09-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-09-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

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!

Let Yourself Slouch

2008-08-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Remember hearing your parents or your teachers saying, "Sit up, don't slouch!"? Well 'tis the season for slouching. Slouch boots, that is. You've probably seen these beautiful creations in stores everywhere. The slouch boot is the perfect mix of comfort and style; slip on a pair, and you can relax while looking chic. I happened across my slouch boots at the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale, and absolutely love them. They also didn't break the bank! If you're looking for a great slouch boot, at a great price point, check out Steve Madden's Legion boot.

This beauty comes in leather or suede and is available at Nordstrom, Endless.com and other brick-and-mortar and online shops. Ciao!

Launching stilettoed

2008-08-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

And so it begins. While this is my first official blog post on stilettoed, it is, by no means, my first discussion of my fetish - shoes. I am a self-admitted shoeaholic, rarely passing up the opportunity to dialogue about kitten heels, boots, sandals and, of course, stilettoes.

What I intend to do with stilettoed is create a space for you to gain information about our favorite pieces of footwear - what the season's trends are, who's wearing what, places to shop, and reviews on great (and perhaps not-so-great) shoes. Comments are welcome and encouraged!

So welcome to stilettoed. I hope you enjoy your stay. Ciao!