Styling Shoes and Sexy Stilettos

Shoes can make or break an outfit. They are the accessory that pulls everything together and separates the stylish fashion elite from the amateur fashionista.  One can wear the most elegant dress or have the most put together office look, but throw on the wrong pair of shoes and she might as well be wearing last season's rags.

But having the perfect footwear isn't just about what it does for the outfit; it's about what it does for the wearer.  Nothing makes me feel more sexy and confident than a great pair of shoes. I appreciate the confidence I channel whenever I'm wearing heels.  I try to go for heeled boots or booties as opposed to a stiletto shoe because they are easier to walk in; and nothing breaks confidence more than face-planting on Chicago's city streets.

My favorite heeled shoes are my Tommy Hilfiger Rayelle Two Tone Booties  in dark green with a brown leather wrap.  I lead a lot of different lifestyles, and as a college student who can't afford tons of pieces, I need items that fit well in a number of situations. These booties are versatile enough to wear for both a casual or formal outing.  They look great styled with a pair of dark skinny jeans and a simple blouse as I head to class, as well as with tights and a little black dress for a formal work function.

My wardrobe consists of a lot of neutral tones, so I like using the dark green boot as a way to add subtle color into my outfit.  I like the dullness of the green because it blends nicely with the rest of my pieces.  It makes enough of a statement to show my styling abilities, but not too much to that it draws unwanted attention. 

Winter’s here early, time to dust off your faux fur

With winter in full effect in the cold city of Chicago it’s time to pull out my favorite piece from the back of my closet, my fur! Don’t worry, it’s not real, even though I’m not exactly against real furs. If I had the money I’d probably have one.

Furs are just so luxurious. They make you look like you have money or that you’re important and that’s what I strive to be. I feel like Anna Wintour or someone of her stature when I walk the downtown streets of Chicago in it (not that Anna Wintour would be walking anywhere, but you get the point). What’s that saying? “If you want the part, you got to the look the part”, something along the lines.

Along with many things in my closet, I picked this jet black fur from my favorite store, Akira, just last winter. Originally around $150 I snagged the statement piece for only $40 at the end of the season.

The fur is by a brand by the name of six crisp days and features a black faux leather panel strip in the front with gold zipper detailing. It goes with just about anything and that’s why I love it so much. The shaggy coat looks fashionable but it’s warm at the same. I wish it was the soft kind of fur but nethertheless it’s still my favorite. The coat has a loose box like fit so you still have room to breath. Who said you have to be bundled up like an eskimo to be warm?

The Everlasting Piece

Out of everything in my closet, from shirts, to jeans, to dresses, there is one piece that I go to for everything. My leather jacket. For two years now, I’ve used this jacket like it was my best friend.  With it being one of the more expensive pieces in my wardrobe, I never regret spending the money on buying it. When I put it on, I feel complete. I’m confident and it is like no one can stop me.

The real dark charcoal gray leather matches with everything I wear. It has a simple collar and zippers as the accents. They are on the sleeves and pockets. Although the outside had stitching going vertical on the sleeves and the coat itself, the inside it what really sold me.

There is also square stitching across the shoulders, almost making it look like there it shoulder pads. The bottom of the jacket also has a pattern stitch to give it a more fitted look.

The lining of the jacket is all a floral pattern. Which gives the jacket that delicate feeling of it.  The outside looks like the motorcycle jacket, that has been around for decades, but the inside makes it different, makes it for the a woman. It’s personalized to me. I am the type of person that wears floral patterns and grays. This jacket suits me perfectly, it describes me as a person, and it my comfort blanket that I go to for everything. It will forever be that piece of clothing that I can wear for years and it will never go out of style.

Some good shoes

    November, 2011, Friday afternoon. I bought them for two dollars, or a dollar a shoe. I was roaming around the Salvation Army on Grand and Milwaukee, looking for a blazer for a “fancy” dinner party that weekend, when they caught my friend Tom’s eye. He tried to squeeze his long ass feet in them, but they wouldn’t give. He tossed them my way. As every dumb 19 year old, I couldn’t give a damn about any shoe other than a Nike hi-top, but for two dollars, why the hell not. They were faded around the soles, but were nowhere close to falling apart.

    March 2012, a Thursday night. I wore blue jeans and a buttoned down shirt. I didn't want to wear sneakers, because while I was casually dressed, I wasn’t a casual. It was misting out, so I wasn’t about to break in my brand new Adidas’. So for the first time in my life, I wore dress shoes when I wasn’t explicitly asked to. Before heading off to a party, I stopped in my friend’s dorm room for a few beers. His roommate was a fashion major. He asked me what kind of shoes I was wearing. I took off one, looked at the sole, and told him Alan Edmonds. He nodded. He’d been looking for a pair like mine for years. I didn’t tell him how much I spent on each shoe until later that night, and he lightly punched me out of jealousy. I still don’t think he’s found his perfect pair.

    October 2013, the Friday night before Halloween. I’ve broken in the Alan Edmonds, through snow in wool socks, without socks and cuffed pants through humidity. It was a costume party a week early, I wasn’t aware, but I fit in as a twee professor. A lady came up to me, herself in knee socks and ankle boots with the zipper on the side. She was fascinated by my shoes, enough to come over to me. We talked the whole night. I was convinced these shoes were magical.

    November 2014, Sunday night, typing how I feel about these Allen Edmonds. I have other items of clothing. My dad’s 1968 graduation present Beatles jacket, made in Holland, when they used to make clothing in Holland, and when they used to call the country Holland. My green Levi’s skinny jeans, worn so much there’s a hole on each side. But I’ll never find shoes so respected, at a better cost, than the thrift store Allen Edmonds.

It’s Time for American Made

After only one month, the leather strap of my Shinola watch has begun to darken, which reminds me of my love and passion for the American-made timepiece.

The smell of fresh wood still remains on the box that encased my favorite watch. The box is proudly engraved with “Shinola Detroit,” so no one wrongly assumes that this is just another brand that manufactures outside the United States. As the box suggests, Shinola manufactures all of its watches in what was once the booming automobile manufacturing city of America. 

Though Detroit has deteriorated to its skeletal remains, according to Shinola’s website, “We’re starting with the reinvigoration of a storied American brand, and a storied American city. Because we believe in the beauty of industry. The glory of manufacturing.” 

Within the wooden box is a steel label, which reads, “Built by Stefan Mihoc,” who I learn from Shinola’s website is from Troy, MI and has worked for Shinola for three years.

As I wear my watch, I feel as though my purchase is contributing to the rise of the Motor City and success of the people within its walls. 

Before I purchased the watch, I spent 30 minutes of the sales associates time trying on countless Shinola watches. Shinola had me at ‘Made in America,’ but choosing just one watch was growing more and more difficult. I was in the market for a time piece that would join me through my lifetime, so I decided on The Runwell. Its tan leather strap stitched with cream thread was made at Chicago’s Horween Leather Company in Bucktown and blends well with my skin tone. Plus, the white face that's enclosed by a steel case compliments most of the items in my closet. 

Since the day I purchased the Shinola watch in early October, I haven’t gone a day without wearing it. 

My Go-To LBD

“One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.” Karl Lagerfeld once said. Everyone has a staple clothing item in his or her closet that are considered “go-to’s”. Whether it is your favorite tweed blazer, laced black wedge heels, high-waisted jeans, or in this case the ultimate little black dress.

No matter the occasion, formal or casual, my staple item of clothing is a narrow-waist a-line black dress. Perfect to dress-down with a quarter length sleeve bomber jacket or dress-up and accessories with colorful jewelry, shoes, and makeup.  Something every woman holds near and dear to her ankle-strap heels that say I can be simultaneously sexy and serious.  

With the rise of LBD’s in the late twenties stemming from women entering the workforce, this created the fusion of ‘serious’ feminine attire. This uniform for strong independent women became the models for the LBD.  No matter your lifestyle, taste, or preference this go-to black dress will be a timeless fashion piece in the wardrobe for future women. 

Prior to this, you would only see women wear black during a time of mourning; Coco Chanel is credited for spearheading this staple on the 1926 cover of American Vogue. Perhaps one of the most infamous LBD’s that seemingly became it’s own character was Audrey Hepburn’s in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s designed by Givenchy.  Based on this alone, you can see why it’s maintained its place in fashion for decades. 

Mine on the other hand, would be a more modern take on a formal LBD with the influence of the item du jour skater baby-doll dress incorporation of a flaring skirt. Having bought from European-based online store Motel Rocks last year with practically all of my tax return money, you can easily see how this is a staple item in my closet.  Made of 100% Viscose, this drop neck, 3/4 sleeve, zip closure, high-low hem dress all enhanced by a strategically placed mid-section inset to emphasize the curves; a beautiful matrimony for the girl-on-the-go’s LBD.   

Blazin'

A piece that can go with jeans, heels, tennis shoes or leggings. It's the blazer. I love my blazers and I recently stepped out of my all black persona and purchased a navy blue one. Yes, it's not a pop of color,per se, and it's pretty close to black.

Moving on...I love wearing blazers because they are very versatile. I can dress down and look like I still care. The best ones are long enough to cover your bum when you're wearing leggings. I find that the softer, looser blazers are more versatile than the blazers that you typically would wear with a suit.

Another positive is blazers comes in all different colors so you can pair an yellow one with a black and white stripped dress in the summer. Or a red blazer with a white top and black jeans and heels. You can get so many looks with them because they're a layering piece.

Personally, I wear blazers with almost every outfit.  It makes me look more put together. I even wear them with tennis shoes, if I am dressing down. I'll wear a white men's n-neck tee, leggings, tennis shoes and a blazer. A look I, jokingly, call my Kris Jenner look.



I honestly think a blazer fits everyone of all shapes and sizes and can be appropriate in any situation.