A long-standing item on my wishlist has been a pair of tall brown boots. I hadn't worked out the details in my mind yet (style, material, price, etc), so I was open to all possibilities. I figured I'll know once I saw the one.

A leather pair in a medium brown color from Zara's recent winter collection caught my eye upon its release, but I held off due to the $200 price tag. When it was marked down to $140 at the last sale, I jumped at the chance to try. I had high hopes, but sadly, there was too much material around the ankles, causing unsightly bunching and sagging. The search continues... at a rather slow and leisurely pace, I'll admit.

While browsing Gilt a few months later, I came across a pair of suede over the knee boots from Prada and fell in love. Then quickly lost the googly eyes when I saw the $1000 price tag and the words final sale. As I looked for more info, that nagging feeling of familiarity wouldn't go away. I was finally able to pinpoint the source to having seen Anh wear both the Prada and Miu Miu versions beautifully -- the only difference in style between the two (that I could tell) was the heel height (1" for Prada, 2" for Miu Miu). I'd like to thank fate for allowing me to snatch up the last remaining Miu Miu pair at NM for 55% off ($540). It just so happened to be in a gorgeous dark chocolate brown color in a size 37.
I typically wear 36-36.5 (the latter mainly for pointy toe shoes because I have normal-to-wide feet), so I had reservations if going up another half-to-full size would work. I kept expectations low, way low, this time around. Sz 37 fit me fine in the toebox (couldn't feel noticeable roominess), but did experience wiggle room at the ankles (would be a problem with pumps, but not an issue since my heels won't be slipping out of boots). When worn, I didn't feel like the ankle area looked roomy -- no obvious sagging, just normal creasing. Most of all, I loved how the boots contoured to my calves without being skin-tight. I worried about needing to constantly tug at the boots to keep them from sagging, but nope, no need for that at all. Deal sealed. I do think a half size up (36.5) would've been perfect, but don't have regrets about the 37.

The suede leather is amazingly soft and supple to the touch -- lightweight but not too thin. The inside is lined with smooth, black leather and provides contrast against the brown suede when the top portion is folded down. I personally prefer the over the knee look myself, so don't plan on wearing the boots cuffed.

When not worn, I keep the boots upright by placing cardboard tubes inside (came with purchase), otherwise the shaft topples over. I probably should look into some sort of suede-protectant spray, but have so far just been wearing the boots out during nice weather days.

I remember when I first saw the pointy toe and compared them to witch shoes because the front looked extra elongated. But when photographed (see above photo), the boots look rather proportioned. Aesthetics aside, I figured there was a good chance I'd be tripping over my own two feet. So far, so good and only slight scuffing at the toe. I love the boots so much the first time I wore them out that I promptly wore them again the next day and the day after that. I had no problems with comfort when standing and walking for hours on the ~2" blocked heel.

On a final note, LOL @ me for balking at $200 Zara boots, but bought the Miu Miu pair at $540 without blinking an eye. What a brainwashed sucker I am when it comes to the "name." Sigh. I'm working on it :)

As my birthday came and went this year, I'm finally getting around to accepting that I've entered a new decade of my life. I jokingly compared it to the stages of grief, but of course on a much smaller scale. As silly as it sounds, my closet has helped play a role. I've begun to look at certain items I own a different way. Whoa, I must be maturing if I think bright blue tights are juvenile now. Nevertheless, I gave it one last hurrah before adding it to the donation bin.

I was in no hurry to refill the bright blue accessory hole in my wardrobe. However, seeing Phiphi and Kelly in two of my favorite outfits of theirs ever, each complete with blue suede shoes, I knew I've found the blue item for my slowly maturing self.

Like Jean, we both eyed the J.Crew Everly pumps. While the shoes worked wonderfully for her, they unfortunately were much too uncomfortable on my wider feet. What I ended up keeping are these Sole Society Desirae almond toe pumps in twilight blue (sold here). I typically wear 6-6.5 in shoes and took these in a size 6. I'd compare the fit to Nine West and Zara shoes. It's probably best to size down if you have narrow feet.

The blue suede color is brighter in real life than on the website. The first photo below is a pretty accurate representation of the color. The shoes are comfortable right out of the box and didn't require a break-in period (no blisters). I can't attest to the comfort level when it comes to walking/standing for hours. But for work purposes when I'm mostly sitting behind a desk, these shoes look and feel great.

Lots of sales on this Memorial Day weekend. From the outlets:

1) J.Crew Factory - 50% off everything in store, 40% off everything online.

Patterned oxford button-down shirt in dusty twilight vines, size XXS (sold here) - TTS. I had high hopes for this shirt after first seeing it online. In person, the print looked "old" and I suspect it's because the thick cotton material. I wish J.Crew had used a thinner cotton fabric that doesn't have the "washed" look, ie the printed voile popover's. Passed.

Stripe racerback cami in navy/white, size 00 (sold out online/should still be in stores) - TTS. I really liked the wide stripes and the racerback feature. The lightweight polyester material seems wrinkle-prone but is machine-washable. Took home with me.

I heart J.Crew's poppy print from last year and was so happy to see them bring it back for Factory items. Among the accessories I saw with this print is the scarf [below] which looks very similar to the one I wear quite often (outfits here, here). The colors on the Factory version seems darker and the base is more greige as opposed to the white on mine (sold here). I also saw an umbrella with this poppy print, with the tag price listed at $19.50 (I believe).

Depending on who you talk to, the popular Valentino Rockstud pumps are either a work of art or downright ugly. I'm of the former train of thought, whereas every male I've encountered have strongly voiced their opinion for the latter.

I've been lusting after these shoes for about two years. About a year in, I seriously considered going the route that Elle took and buying knockoffs, to the point where I badgered her for detailed seller info. In the end, I opted to pass due to uncertainty over sizing. The cost was a fraction of the real pair, but that wasn't enough to sway me. Then came a period of time where my obsession waned, even after seeing Jean wear hers so beautifully.

The shoes that I wear most often slip on and off my feet easily. I don't like to spend extra time dealing with laces and buckles. There's been enough instances where my boss stops by to drag me into a meeting and I'm sitting at my desk cross-legged in bare feet. By the time I finish putting on my shoes, the meeting has already started.

Despite my aversion to high-maintenance footwear, I absolutely adore Elle, Katherine, and Wendy's YSL suede Mary Jane pumps. The 5" heel is too high for me personally, but I love the suede material, taupe color, and Mary Jane style.

I picked up these LOFT Pamela Scalloped Mary Jane pumps in nude, size 6 (sold here) during one of their recent 30% off promos. The shoes have been out for awhile, so sizes are now limited:
- nude, black are still at full price for $89.50 now $53.70 with code ENJOY40
- royal blue is on sale for $39.99 $31.99 until 3/25 until 10am EST now $47.99 with code ENJOY40
It doesn't hurt to check periodically for popbacks because that's how I found my size and color.

The shoes remind me of the iconic Manolo Blahnik Mary Jane pumps, with the elongated pointy-toe and strap placement across the middle part of the foot. While the Manolo's have a classic look, I really like the trendy scalloped detailing along the edges of LOFT's. It makes a feminine shoe even girlier, if that's possible.

The shoes are TTS in length and on the narrow side in width (my feet are normal-to-wide). On me, the toe box feels a bit tight and the heel a bit loose. If the shoes were regular pumps, my feet would be slipping out as I walk, but the buckled straps prevent that from happening.

Are there 4" heels that are truly comfortable? I've yet to find any. Considering the heel height, these are fairly comfortable, more so than my Miu Miu pumps but not as comfortable as my Ann Taylor booties. The shoes didn't require a breaking-in period and so I spent the day blister-free. I do have to be more careful about denim transfer, especially at the top of the heel. Even though I cuffed my jeans, I noticed some blue dye rubbed off.

*** Update as of 6/19:
Tory Burch Junction riding boots looks very similar to my Nadine boots  ***

After an unsuccessful attempt at finding a pair of riding boots last year, I couldn't wait to get an early start this year... even though summer's still in full swing. My criteria hasn't changed much with time, as I'm still looking for a pair that is black, preferably leather, flat/low heel, buckle detailing, and with a tall and slim shaft.

I've never paid much attention to Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale in the past, so I hadn't realized that the sale is for next season's styles. Apparently I've been living under a rock all these years (!!) I was excited to see a few pairs of boots on the list, but was enamored with only one, the Tory Burch Nadine riding boot in black, size 6.5 (sold here), which bears a striking resemblance to last year's H&M boots that I coveted but couldn't find.

I was eyeing two pairs of sandals during Shopbop's 20% off Friends & Family sale last week. I took too long hemming and hawing, so by the time I was ready to buy, my sizes were sold out. Luckily LOFT's 40% off Friends & Family sale occurred a day later because I found dupes for both pairs. Thank you, shoe Gods!

Sam Edelman Gigi sandals [left] vs. LOFT Vaughn sandals in white snakeskin print, size 6 [right]:
I like how the Gigis have the signature (I think?) Sam Edelman cushioned padding. They certainly helped with comfort in my one prior experience with the brand. The LOFT pair doesn't have the same padding, but otherwise looks the same as the Gigis.

I found these sandals to run true to size. The footbed isn't the most comfortable, but that's to be expected without padding. I would compare the the type of material used (thickness, flexibility, etc) and level of comfort similar to J.Crew capri sandals (which I used to own) and Old Navy Faux-Leather Capri sandals (currently own).

The buckle closure was my biggest issue with these sandals. There's an elastic portion right next to the buckle, so every time I pulled, trying to undo the closure, the elastic part stretched but the buckle wouldn't budge. Am I just a n00b with chubby fingers? I can already see myself struggling with the closure every morning, so sadly, this pair will be going back to LOFT.

Sam Edelman Sophie sandals [left] vs. LOFT Frances color pop wedges in safari tan, size 6 [right]:
I wanted a pair of sandals with two thicker straps across the front and a thick/wide wooden heel. Though neither fit the heel requirement, I felt the lower heel (~2") was a good compromise and didn't look too clunky. I also liked the nude color of the top strap -- doesn't cut off your legs. I can see these wedges being dressed up with skirts and worn casually with jeans.

I took my usual size 6 in these wedges and felt they run a bit long in length and on the narrow side in width. My foot wasn't hanging off the side edges, but my toes do look a bit squished (pic below). The roominess in front didn't feel as significant as it looks in photos -- though I do wonder if the extra space will bother me over time. Sizing down probably wouldn't work because of the narrow width. The ankle strap could be slightly more snug (top strap isn't adjustable), but so far, no almost-twisting-the-ankles while briskly walking around at home.
The best feature is the back zipper. I struggled with the buckle closure of the Vaughn sandals, so it was a relief that I didn't have to fiddle with the strap on this pair. If I had to nitpick, the zipper doesn't glide as smoothly as I'd like, but using one hand to pull the material taut before unzipping helped.

I wore the wedges around the house and barely noticed I had shoes on. They're comfortable and it helped that the material is lightweight. I can possibly see a need to break in the ankle straps as they might cause blisters. But for now, I'm leaning towards keeping this pair because I love the colors and style. Please help me decide -- should I keep or return these wedges?

I heart J.Crew and their preppy items. They can do no wrong. The J.Crew Tillary Tote in canvas stripe (sold here) is the perfect example. Not long after Elle's review, five six of us came out of the closet, all saying we got bit by the bag bug. It's a wonderful circle of enablers we've got here, lol.

What drew me to the bag were the colors. All the regular-sized bags I own are solidly neutrals. White, gray, black, brown, I've got it all covered. I found the Tillary tote to contain the perfect mix of bold red that isn't overwhelming for someone who apparently is scared of an all-colored bag. The colors against the canvas texture makes it great for casual work environments and weekend use, both of which I plan on taking advantage of.
I won't go into details about the bag (see Elle's thorough review), but wanted to offer opinions on two issues that gave me pause: size and weight. The size was an initial concern of mine after seeing it on Vicky, but then I remembered I'm bigger than her. For anyone smaller than me, wear the bag like you own it; don't let it wear you. Elle warned me of the heavy weight, which Gigi measured at 2.8 lbs. I didn't have a scale handy, but my RM MAM felt heavier than 3 lbs, so I figured if I can handle that, I should be ok. I'll admit that I don't reach for my RM as often as I used to, because my Bal City is so much lighter.

In the end, I decided the bag was worth risking at final sale. It's much too pretty to pass up at $70. To my surprise, the size and weight weren't issues at all when I received the bag (time to start setting my expectations low from now on?) To sum it up, I simply adore it. Using a crude method of measurement by holding a bag in each hand, I would say the Tillary is a tad lighter in weight than my RM. Personally I think the bag looks best hand-held at the sides, but it also fits ok over-the-shoulder and at the crook of my arm. I already know I'll be reaching for this bag often, without a care to matching my outfit.
I also ordered the J.Crew Viv stripe flats in navy ivory, size 6 (sold here) because the bow and stripes combination had me at first sight. I love how proportioned the width of the bow looks with the pointed toe.

I ordered these in my usual size but found them to run at least 1/2 size small. My past experiences with J.Crew flats have always been true to size, but I should have expected sizing differences due to the pointed toe.

The flats are made of canvas material, similar (if not the same) as the Tillary tote. I can see them requiring a lot of upkeep as the white canvas would dirty easily. Due to the material used, the flats are quite stiff when worn and would need time to be broken in. I love the look, but these flats are definitely for fair weather use only. I'll be returning this pair because they're too small for me, but will be reconsidering if they make it to sale season.

I've been toying with the idea of boat shoes for awhile, for those days when ballet flats feel too dressy but flip flops are too casual. In terms of style, they certainly appeal to my preppy and tomboy sides. I've mainly heard positives on the comfort level, with varying experiences on the breaking-in period. So the hunt begins...

I first visited my local DSW and tried on a pair of Sperry Intrepid in my usual size 6. I found them to run true to size and width for my normal-to-wide feet. They were as comfortable as many had mentioned (hard to tell if they will need to be broken in until I wear them for an extended period of time). The shoe vamp was low and short, so combine that with my narrow heel, my foot was flip-flopping out as I walked. Tightening the laces helped but that means I won't be able to lazily slip my foot in and out with the laces tied.

While I was mulling over the pair I tried on, I suddenly had an ah ha! moment. Why not give the kids' version a try to save some money? I ended up ordering another style in kids, the Sperry Top-Sider Bluefish in size 4 wide US Big Kid (sold here) in two colors: linen/spring plaid (below left) and linen/oat (below right).

The kids' Bluefish came in two widths, regular and wide. I chose the kids' wide based on reviews and they are indeed comparable to the normal width in women's. If you have narrow feet, I'd recommend giving the regular width in kids' a shot.

I wish I had also ordered the Intrepid along with the Bluefish for side-by-side comparisons. Basing solely on memory and feel, the kids' Bluefish did not flip-flop on my feet like the women's Intrepid did, so I'd venture to guess that 1) the shoe vamp on the kids' Bluefish is higher than the women's Intrepid or 2) the women's Intrepid has been stretched out from numerous wears in store. It's entirely possible that the kids' Bluefish will stretch out with time, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. Now I just have to decide which color to keep. Would you vote for oat or spring plaid?

Last month I wore an outfit inspired by this Pinterest image. Her entire outfit caught my eye, but her shoes were what stood out. Pointed-toe with a covered platform?! Yes please. I window shopped around to see what's currently available, with just the style in mind. Normally I would start off my searches with tried-and-true brands that I know sizing and comfort levels for before branching out, but there really aren't any that I'm loyal to for shoes.

Finding pointed-toe platform shoes was easy, but most have an exposed platform look that I didn't want. I then saw these Miu Miu Leather Pointed Toe Pumps in black, size 36 (patent leather with a lower heel). Ding ding ding! It was love at first sight. My feet are normal-to-wide and I found my usual size to be a perfect fit. My heel is a bit narrow, so I'll probably eventually add heel grips to prevent slippage.

The pumps are 110mm in height, just slightly shorter than my Ann Taylor booties. I expected them to be more comfortable than the ATs given the thicker heel, but I was wrong. Possibly because I've already broken in the ATs? Perhaps due to the curved heel? I feel like I have to lift my foot higher when I walk. I must be one of those people who have gotten away with shuffling my feet before. Whatever the reason, they're going to take some practice to be comfortable. For now, baby steps. Literally.

See Vicky wearing these pumps in taupe.

Black suede booties have been on my wants list for awhile now (yes, apparently brown ones aren't enough). I first saw Adrienne Vittadini Adam booties on Cher and Jean well after it had long sold out. I've been keeping my eyes on similar silhouettes this season and stumbled upon these MICHAEL Michael Kors Adena booties, but the retail price and extreme front dip gave me pause.

Weeks later, I just happened to see the Adam pop up on a flash sale site and couldn't believe my luck. Shortly after receiving my package, I saw Annie's review on the Adena and loved it on her. The front dip I wasn't sure about looked much better on a foot in real life than by itself in stock photos. Not wanting any regrets, I decided it would be best to have both pairs in my hands for a better comparison (before the return window for the Adam closed). Surprisingly I had a hard time locating an Adena in my size, so by the time I found one, all thoughts of paying retail price went out the window. It's funny when low supply vs high demand forced me to rethink my willingness-to-pay-scale ("ehh I don't want to pay that" vs "alright I give in")

I'm glad I had a chance to compare both at the same time because I would've been kicking myself with the "what if?" game otherwise. I took my usual size 6 in both pairs but neither were a perfect fit. The Adam were a bit tight in the toebox initially, but now I think my foot has shrunk with the cooler temperatures, because fit isn't an issue anymore. The Adena was loose in the ankles and would probably need a heel grip to potentially solve that problem.

Thank you to everyone on Twitter who helped me make a decision within such a short time-frame. All your opinions were much appreciated ♥ And now... the ones I kept were the Adam (which are hardly noticeable in this outfit. Hopefully a future outfit will showcase them better).

A pair of riding boots is at the top of my wishlist this season. I already own brown flat boots, so black riding boots was the color of choice. I was ecstatic to see a pair from H&M months ago, but never actually saw it in stores. Now that it's gone from their online site, I can only assume stores no longer have it in stock.

I then saw these Ann Taylor Betty Leather Trimmed Riding Boots in black, size 6 (sold here) on Vicky (who scored last season's version for $30!!!) and absolutely loved it on her. While googling for more info, I was happy to see that Ann Taylor decided to bring it back this season... albeit at a whopping $298. Luckily they had a huge sale last weekend and I bought a pair for $125. It's no $30, but it's a price I'm willing to pay for leather boots if it works out.

Like all other Ann Taylor footwear that I own (perfect patent pumps and covered platform booties), I took my usual size 6 for these boots, which turned out to be a perfect fit. The foot bed doesn't feel as comfortable as the perfect pumps, nor do they conform to my feet like the pumps do. I hope this is due to my not wearing socks when trying it on for the first time.

Other details to note: The buckle detailing (which I love) is adjustable, but I don't think it shrinks the circumference much. The inside zipper allows for easy access when putting on and taking off the boots. The material is a little on the shiny side, which I think will show wear and tear over time.

I measured the height of the boots to be almost 16", which includes the heel (~1"). The circumference is a little over ~14". For reference, from Ann Taylor's site: 15" shaft circumference, measured from a size 8. With each half size up or down, circumference increases or decreases by about 1/4".

I really do like these boots overall, but I'm wondering if it looks too short on me, especially from the side view. With these type of boots, would another 1-2" in height look better? Please help me decide whether to keep or return :)

Through Suddenlee, I was able to get my hands on this pair of Zara court shoe with snakeskin toe, size 36. They are a great alternative to this gorgeous Alejandro Ingelmo snake pump (sold here) which I fell in love with but knew I could never handle the heel height. The Zara pair did not have the straight heel, but it's walkable at a little over 3" in height. I took my regular size in these shoes and they are a perfect fit. I love the pointy toe without being too Halloween witch-like.

The pumps are surprisingly comfortable, with plenty of padding from the heel to the toe. Unlike some of the flats I own, these didn't require a break-in period. There is some toe cleavage (which I like, but others may not care for) but not as much as the Ann Taylor perfect patent pumps. The only negative is the $90 price tag. I didn't want to take a chance with it selling out before the next semi-annual sale, so I caved.

Two snake print items in a month and a half? I do believe I'm slowly getting over my phobia ;)

*My tripod (and sunglasses) weren't around, so thank you to my patient boyfriend for taking these photos!

My quest for neutral ballet flats started when I spotted these Valentino flats at Saks about 6 months ago. The retail price of $495 was much more than I'm willing to spend, so I spent weeks staring at its prettiness while trying to find another that makes my heart skip a beat.

I bought these Delman Mona ballerina flats in oat crinkled patent, size 6 (currently sold here) because they retail for $195.00 and I paid $55. I can't say no to a great sale. Reviews for this pair said most people sized up, but since it was on sale, I was stuck choosing between either 6 (my normal size) or 7.5. I was hoping to be one of the minority where it fit true to size, but unfortunately size 6 was too tight on me. There was toe pinching and now I have an inkling of how sardines feel in a can, lol. Another 0.5-1 size up would be much more comfortable. From the few steps that I did take, there seemed to be a good amount of cushioning and padding, so with the correct size I can see this pair being comfortable. After all, Delman are supposed to be known for their flats.

After returning the Delmans, I then went and bought the Gap the city flat in camel, size 7 (currently sold here) over the holidays. These are actually a great look for less alternative to Lanvin ballet flats. The scrunched up shape (bottom right) looked odd when I first saw them, but don't be scared because they're quite comfortable on. What made me decide to return this pair was the color -- a few shades too dark for my skin tone, and I needed more structure in the toe box -- the leather practically molds to the feet and didn't make mine look flattering.

On the third try, I thought I had found success with this pair of Forever 21 Scrunch Flats with Bow in taupe, size 7 (currently sold here). Size 6 was too tight and size 7 is a tad loose. If only these flats came in half sizes, then 6.5 would have been perfect. After trying on the previous two pairs, I've come to the conclusion that my feet look better in flats with some sort of adornment on the toe box. I think it draws attention away from my wide feet. I decided to keep this pair, but the happiness didn't last long, as I lost one of the bows soon after :(

When the Valentinos finally went on sale at Saks, my size sold out almost immediately. I kicked myself (literally, by accident) for not being on top of daily shoe stalking, because now here I am back to square one. When browsing for other similar options (like this Miu Miu pair which is oh-so-pretty), I came across the same exact Valentinos for half off at Foot Candy! It must've been fate, first to lose a bow on the F21 pair at the same time sales are going on. So here it is, my Valentino Bow Ballerina Flats in blush, size 36.5 (currently sold here).

I did my research prior to purchasing and went half a size up. The flats are definitely more on the narrow side, so my regular size 6 would have been too small. Size 7 would have left too much room in the toe box, so 6.5 is about as good as it gets. It still is narrow, but I think over time the leather will stretch and mold to my feet. I like how the leather is super soft and buttery. After wearing it for a few days now, to my dismay there is a breaking-in period. Unlike my patenet Miu Mius where the back would rub against my feet causing blisters, this elastic back on this pair would push my feet forward a bit (but no blisters!). Now looking back at pictures, I shouldn't be surprised because out of the box the flats curved like a "U." Do you have experience with curved flats? Do they flatten out over time?

I recently bought these Ann Taylor Perfect Patent Pump in black, size 6 (currently sold here). Thank you Jean @ Extra Petite and Cari @ Sisters Sincere for the suggestion! I'm now the proud owner of non-witchy black pumps.

Right out of the box, I was impressed with how shiny these pumps looked. I could see my own reflection! These pumps looked and felt more expensive than they actually were. I'd recommend them as a great Christian Louboutin Simple pumps look for less with their almond-toe and straight heel.

Many reviews suggested ordering a half-size smaller than your usual size, but I stuck with my normal US size 6 (never in my life have I ever worn size 5.5 shoes!) The fit was perfect, so I conclude that I must have normal-to-wide feet. The footpad had plenty of padding and is as comfortable as 3" heels can be. After paying around $100 for these pumps, I felt gypped for all my other shoes at this price point, lol. For the quality and comfort-level, I could see myself buying other pairs... that is, if I ever switch to a job that requires dressing up :)

Today's outfit is inspired by Kim Kardashian -- the girl simply never looks bad. I can't get enough of wearing this dress as a top ;) I've paired it with practically every skirt in my possession and not once have I worn it out as a dress lol. I love the color combo of Kim's outfit, but alas I had to make do with what I have. Hey, at least her top kinda matches my tights!

*Kim Kardashian image courtesy of The Look 4 Less