Pretty shoes!

God help me, I couldn't resist. I know, I know, totally impractical, and really only wearable with a fabulous dress to some fancy to-do, right? But they have given me the biggest and most long-lasting smile I've had in a long time, which is saying a lot right now. I adore them, but it'll be agony waiting to wear them til nicer weather comes along!

BTW, now that I'm officially home for the entire month of March, I'll be back to blogging again. I've let it slide a bit with all the drama and stress at work, but I should have a little free time between job searching stints on my hands to post some stuff here and there. So I'm sending a sincere thanks to all my readers for sticking with me, and just being there during this tough time. Thanks.

I got my fix with some cheap (but pretty) shoes

Reverie has been lacking the usual fashion reports that I'm so fond of, and I suppose that's because I've had a moratorium on buying ANYTHING that's not essential (yes, even shoes must fall under that category). But I was able to visit DSW this weekend without breaking the bank and buying 10 pairs of shoes. They were having a clearance sale going on, and let me tell you, there were TONS of shoes on sale! It was hard to narrow it down, but I gritted my teeth and selected only a few pairs. I had intended to only buy ONE pair, but with the deal I got, I figured I could swing one extra pair. But I think this will be it for a while again.

Anyhow, I got these cute little brown satin heels (with a velvet bow!) for less than $12. Yes, $12! Original price $39.89 (per the sticker on the box, not the web site). They're absolutely adorable when worn. I wouldn't have bought them at full price, or even half off. But 70% off? Sure!



And I got these beauties for less than $18. Original price $59.94.



I have a thing about green shoes. I have very few pairs, and it just makes me want to buy more green shoes so that the color is equally represented in my closet. Yes, I know, weird, but I have my shoes arranged by color. Anyhow, if you go out and look for nice green shoes, you'll realize they're hard to find. You'll have an easier time finding blue, or yellow, or purple shoes for some reason. So when I find a pretty pair of green shoes, I usually snap on them. And look! These have shiny buckles on them! And they have peep toes! And they're suede! And super comfy! I can't wait for nicer, warmer, drier weather to come so I can wear my pretty shoes again!

Okay, excitement over. Back to reality, which is all about snow and ice and cold and salt and mud right now :(

Oh DSW, how I miss thee

Dearest, beloved, desirable DSW,

Please stop taunting me with your enticing emails, intoxicating commercials, and captivating fliers! You know I cannot peruse your aisles at the moment, due to my impending layoff and subsequent residency in a cardboard box. So why do you seduce me so? Your sweet siren song of leather and buckles and suede and canvas will only lead me into temptation, a fate that is bittersweet, full of both instant gratification and worrisome depreciation of funds. The click of your heels, the rustle of your fabric, the zzzling! of your zippers...such sweet music to my ears!

But alas, I must hold my chin up high, avert my lustful gaze, and turn my back on you. Please don't take it personally. I really do adore your wares, and mean no harm in my sudden aloofness. It is best for us both if we take some time to see other people, don't you agree? I will always hold dear the fabulous times we had, all the laughs and dancing and strutting to and fro. These cherished memories will fill my dreams at night, and in the morning a lingering mist of a fading yet still vivid fantasy shall swirl about in my mind, making me drunk from the frivolity of it all.

For now, however, we must remain apart, as if we ceased to be. So long, DSW, until we meet again...


Yours quite faithfully,

A Lover of All Things Shoes

Pretty pencil skirt and slick black boots for an icy Thursday

Ann Taylor Loft wool pencil skirt with velvet trim (from thrift store), Nine West "Exotic" boots bought on clearance at DSW


Closeup of the skirt and velvet trim/bow detail (slip's showing!) and boots, plus the sweater knit tights that I never wear but really should, because they're so pretty (bought them from Target a few years ago)

(Boy, I should really invest some time in some new and different camera angles and outfit shots.)

Excellent shopping karma!

(MIA "Midnight" Stretch 3-way boots in black velvet and mushroom)

I don't know what was in the air this weekend, but I scored some major deals. I saved hundreds of dollars and found one-of-a-kind items in just the right sizes. Since I'm not rolling in cash like everyone else, every penny saved is a bonus to me (and Pete, of course). But I'm still pinching myself over the bargains I got!

It started out at Goodwill, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to shop for skirts. I found about 10 skirts, some in my much-sought-out color of brown, and all dirt cheap (about $3.50-$7 each). And the brands I found were incredible: Banana Republic, The Gap, Old Navy, Ann Taylor Loft, Michael Kors. The sizes were all over the board again, but if it fit, I took it. I also found two jumpers, one from Talbots (not my type of store, but the jumper is cute) and one from Isaac Mizrahi (not sure if it was a Target item). I was pleased as punch, and the lady ringing me up was super nice. I'm so glad I got a frequent-shopper card. I only wish the shoe selection was better, but that's what DSW is for, which is where I went next.



(Banana Republic chocolate brown suede skirt, similar to the one I got at Goodwill—but mine's prettier {I think} without that pocket detailing)

At DSW, I immediately strolled through the clearance aisles as I always do, and I was instantly lucky. I found two pairs (yes, TWO!) of MIA scrunch boots, one in black velvet and one in mushroom velvet. I had seen these online at Endless.com, and had wondered how they'd fit and look on a girl like me. They are a bit pricey though, and I couldn't justify ordering them. Well, let me tell you I was ecstatic to find them at DSW at almost half off, and they fit wonderfully! They are adjustable and make my legs look long and lean, which is no small feat on my rather thick gams. I also found a pair of half-off Nine West boots (called "Exotic") that have liquid black material that hug my legs. And yes, they all go to my knee (or beyond in the MIA boots' case) and fit me just fine. I admit the MIA boots have elastic that grip my legs a bit too much, but since I'm still running and working out, I hope to ease that tension in the months to come. I was able to use a $5 off coupon AND a 15% off coupon, so I got all three for almost nothing!



(Nine West "Exotic" boot—but mine is a shiny material, not fabric and shiny like shown here)

My next stop was Marshall's. I often go there for good deals on blouses, sweaters, and the like, but rarely shoes. I find that the shoe department is all crazy messy every time I go there, and I can never find my size in anything I like, which isn't much. But the shopping gods were still smiling down upon me, and I found some fabulous Chilis knee-high flat boots in a gorgeous "rum" leather at a heavily discounted price. I could not believe my luck, and snatched the pair of size 8s as if they'd disappear as soon as I tried to buy them. I didn't see too much else, although all the clearance shoes were an additional 25% off, so I kept that department in the back of my mind.



(My Chilis boots in rum leather look similar to these boots, but are a warmer brown and have laces up the front—I can't find a pic of them anywhere online.)

Then I wandered over to the coat section, since I've been searching for a nice, warm winter coat since last winter. In particular, I wanted to find a black wool-blend coat that had a bit of a funky or retro vibe to it. I have also always wanted a houndstooth coat, but never found quite the right cut, or style, or weight of coat to please me (I'm picky about stuff like that). I hadn't had much luck at all the stores I had been to before, and wasn't expecting things to be any different this time. But lo and behold I wandered down an aisle and found a Calvin Klein houndstooth coat peeking out from among the grays, reds, and blacks of the other coats. I pulled it out and was instantly smitten by the slightly vintage look, complete with a large collar, slightly A-line shape, and big buttons. And as I pulled it on over my sweater, I knew it was instant love. It fit me perfectly (despite being a size 4, whatever that means) and was nice and toasty to boot. I browsed the other aisles but didn't find anything that came even close to this coat's vibe. And so off I went with my boots and coat, heading to Target to do some grocery shopping. While there I did find a pair of gold dangly earrings for $1.48, which was my steal there.



(A similar coat to my Calvin Klein houndstooth coat—mine has a bigger collar and a larger pattern)

Later on, after I was back home modeling my Chilis boots in the Shoe Library and contemplating running around the house in them, I decided to go back for a black pair because I loved the rum pair so much. When I was back at Marshall's and selecting my black pair, I noticed some gorgeous gray suede Steve Madden boots. I was skeptical because of my difficulty finding tall boots that fit. But as I pulled on a pair of size 8s, I was quite pleased to see that they easily fit over my rather healthy calves. And the most amazing thing was they were an additional 25% off the already super-low clearance price. My head was spinning with all the savings and deals I was getting, and I decided to call it a day after that. Even though I found so much at such dirt cheap prices, I figured I'd give my wallet a rest until the next pay period.



(Black boot similar to the Chilis boot from Marshall's; Steven by Steve Madden "Insayne" boot, which I have in gray suede, not black leather—much prettier in gray suede!)

Anyhow, the shopping gods rarely smile on me for more than a mere moment, so to have such a good run of luck was most awesome, and I'm very pleased with my purchases (and savings!). Hope you had such good luck if you were out and about doing some (dirt cheap) fashion shopping for yourself!

Winter white delight

I just snagged these CL by Chinese Laundry boots from DSW's online shop yesterday. They were having a promotion for rewards members where you can get an extra 500 bonus points for any online purchase. Plus, Premier members (like me) get free overnight shipping. Bonus! So of course I couldn't resist. And although it may seem as if I am constantly buying shoes (well, I am), I almost always get them at a discount, or on clearance, or whatever. So it's all good.

I'm experiencing a bit of a setback health-wise today, so I'm really under the weather and grumpy. The lymph nodes are screaming quite loudly. But hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things in the next few days. Yeah, I keep saying that, don't I? Fingers crossed!

Be sure to check out my post about winter white at ShoeLove!

(P.S. I haven't forgotten to post about Goodwill, I just have to take the photos, for which I've had zero energy to do so far...)

Booties and boots and pumps, oh my!

First of all, a very warm and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have left your get well wishes for me. I'm very touched, and I must say I have missed visiting and conversing with you all. I am feeling slightly better, and I have some down time, so I thought I'd write a post. I'm trying to get back to my regular schedule of daily blogging (including reading other people's blogs), but I'm still not quite 100% (or even 70%), but I'm better. I do really miss working out and being active, but I must take it easy to get over this stupid cold. But anyway, thanks again, I really appreciate it.

Anyhow, I had really wanted to share my spoils with you from this weekend, but couldn't due to illness. So I'll start with the footwear. Yes, shoes! Are you surprised? Then you don't know me very well, ha ha.

Back to the shoes...First, my niece Isabelle and I headed to Target on Friday night to get some groceries and such. When we were almost done with the food shopping, she asked me if I was not going to walk through the shoe aisle. I laughed and said, "Seriously, Iz, do you think I would not look at all the beautiful shoes while I'm here? Ha!" Once in the shoe department, we had fun trying on various shoes and doing little shoe parades for each other in the aisles. Then I rounded the corner and saw these funky Sigerson Morrison for Target booties on the clearance rack, the last pair in my size, and just begging for me to try them on.



So I did, and it was instant love. And they were marked down quite a bit, so I figured I'd take them home with me, introduce them to the others, you know...make them part of my collection.

Then I had a salon appointment at Ulta in Naperville on Saturday (for a long overdue haircut), which was conveniently located next to DSW. So of course I had to stop by. Isabelle was again in tow, and she marveled at all the beautiful shoes on display as we roamed the aisles. I was on a mission, and I could focus on nothing else.

I was on the prowl for the perfect high shaft boot, which, alas, I did not find. Not that there wen't tons of kickin' boots to choose from. Oh, no no no. The problem was I couldn't fit my chunky calves into the shafts of 99% of the boots. This doesn't just seem to be my problem, however. I've heard from numerous women—even small, petite, skinny women—how they have difficulty fitting into most boots, and they tend to be on the snug side (if they're able to zip them up at all). This was my problem, and it was very discouraging. And while I'm trying to shake off those 20 pounds, which will help (I've already lost a few), I will never be one of those women whose boots are gaping and slouching all the time.

So I had run the gamut of boots and nothing was fitting right. I had just about called it a day when I remembered to check out the clearance shoes, which I normally do first. I scanned the shelves and wasn't finding too much. Then I reached the end of the last aisle and looked down, and lo and behold, there was a pair of CL by Laundry black boots!



I couldn't believe it. The papers were still stuffed inside them, so I wasn't quite sure why they were on clearance. I looked them over and they seemed okay, but I figured they wouldn't fit. But I couldn't resist trying. So I tugged them on, pulled up the zipper, and...they fit. They fit! Yes, they were rather snug, but again, I'm getting in shape and losing weight, so that should get better in the next several weeks and months (still in time to wear during winter/early spring). Isabelle happily approved of my selection, and I practically hugged them to me like a baby, in case someone tried to snatch my treasure away from me.

That was such a find, I was glowing for the rest of the afternoon. I also snagged this wallet.



Which was a welcome relief, since mine has been falling apart for the last year or so now. The only problem is it wants to pop open all the time (too many cards, not enough cash). But I figure I can stick some slim magnets inside the metal bars so that there is extra holding power when the wallet closes. That'll be my project this weekend.

Then Izzy and I were off to the mall to search for that ever-elusive black A-line skirt. We went from store to store but didn't have much luck finding anything. So after an hour or so of fruitless searching, I spied a Payless store right outside the JCPenney store entrance, and we bee lined right for the size 8 aisle. And of course the first thing my eyes landed on were these lovely orange wool Lela Rose for Payless D'Orsay pumps, complete with bows.



I have seen them every time I go to Payless, but never bought them, thinking they don't match with too much and that I can't justify buying them. But has that ever stopped me? Of course not. And they actually do go with quite a few colors: brown, tan, cream, white, even black (although that starts to look very Halloween-ish to me). And they were finally on sale, so I couldn't pass them up.

After that purchase, we decided to call it a day. Aunt Chris had spent enough money on herself, and we were tired. So we headed home to look at fashion blogs and eat ice cream (well, Izzy did, anyhow). After a soothing cup of chamomile tea, we called it a night.

Next up: My spoils from a jaunt at Goodwill!

Structured clutches

I love a good clutch, especially if it has ladylike details like snap closures, satin linings, and a pretty and sparkly outside. Take these clutches from DSW, for instance. Several times I've been in that store looking for my latest and greatest pair of shoes, only to be lured to the accessories end caps where all these lovelies sit, gleaming and perfect in their appearance. They beg to be lifted off the table, touched by delicate fingertips, opened and closed, bounced weightily in the hands and checked for suitability. I've had a hard time walking away from them in the past, but I feel the siren call loud and clear, especially with today being the day after payday. And Lord knows I love a good patent croc in candy colors...

Swirls of pink and green and white for Friday

These are my Diesel shoes that I bought last year on eBay. I have a gray pair that I got at DSW that I love. Then I happened to see these online, but they were almost out of stock at most stores. So I found them on eBay for a fraction of the cost, brand new, in the box. I think the official color is called Watermelon. They are a perfect Friday shoe for someone who was dragging physically and sleep deprived and crabby (yes, that was me today). Now that I'm home I'm wide awake and happier, but I think I'm on the verge of crashing here soon. I gotta get up early for work, and besides, the Dog Whisperer is on tv and he's calling my name...Shh! Shh! No, wait, that's his sound for bad dogs...

Gotta work tomorrow, but I hope to post pix of the resale shop excursion I'm going on after work with Georgia (and possibly Jen), and some pix from my new Olympus. So many pix to take, so little time...

Have a great weekend if I don't talk to you before Monday!

Sleek Guess mini-lettos for Monday

Yesterday I wore these shiny Guess mini-lettos from DSW. Mini-lettos, you ask? Of course! They give the sleek and powerful impression that normal stilettos do, yet the heel is petite and delicate. This interesting mix gives allows the shoes to give a strong yet comfortable feel (and look) on the foot. I like 'em, and so does Georgia—she owns a pair too! I got them on clearance last year, so they're long gone and I have no links to give, but I figured I'd share anyhow.

Wild about these mules

I picked up these Me Too safari-flavored cuties at DSW yesterday—on clearance, of course. The zebra look isn't too overdone, but is more of an accent. And they are very comfy, with rubber flexible soles and a nice little heel. I love the delicate bows and squared-off toes, too. Practical? Of course not. Darling? Definitely!

Someone needs to keep me out of that store...

Wednesday's shoes...and Thursday's?

Shiny black patent leather mary janes from Steve Madden.



And Thursday? Perhaps...these?



These are from DSW. But I'm skeptical as to whether they're actually Guess shoes. I looked on the Guess website and they're not listed (the "Carrie" model is the most similar shoe). And the DSW website doesn't even feature the Guess brand. Huh? I have always suspected something off about the branding of the shoes that are sold at DSW. I've gone home to look up shoes I've bought, and I have been unable to find any record of them under the brand name they're sold under. Or they'll be by a completely different designer.

I'm very suspicious of these "Guess" shoes, but oh my, they are pretty (and surprisingly comfy), so I won't hold it against them.