Snow in New York? It's an illusion!

Life is full of illusions. Like, for example, today I looked out of the window and saw that all the streets around were covered with some white stuff and it couldn't be cocain - there was just too much of it. A few cars parked nearby also had something resembling snow on them.
Yeessss!!!
Trully excited, I jumped up and down, happy that the weather forecast people finally delivered on their promise (it's been a while!), worked their magic and voila - the long-awaited 2 inches of snow are finally there!
Imagine my disappointment, when my dog and I got out of the house, fully equipped to start a search for Amundsen's expedition and the white snow-like stuff turned out to be just that thing they use on the streets to make them less slippery. The snow-covered cars (that snow was real, by the way) all had Connecticut/Pennsylvania plates. Damn it! Still no snow for New York.
But be as it may, I refuse to switch from my Icelandic mood and just out of defiance (and maybe as a hint to the snow delivery department) my shoe of the week is this lovely thing called Mukluk

Another Mukluk

And yet another one. All found at Amazon (and they have much more there!).

Extreme weather conditions

The extreme weather conditions they predicted for last night (heavy snowstorms, up to 2 inches of snow) never materialized. I thought that when I wake up this morning, everything around me would look like this.
But it's just cold and dreary. And where is that snow, by the way?! Our dog was especially disappointed.

On a brighter note, just found these at Gilt (http://www.gilt.com/) and couldn't resist. It's a new company called Dav, they are based in California and they make very cute rainwear.

When they arrive, I might start shopping for a matching umbrella (and hopefully, that'll be the only thing I will need to go with those boots).

Strappy sandals

Another trend that promises to be very popular this upcoming season - again - are strappy sandals. No, not the- two- tiny- straps- and- a- buckle fragile thing that we saw everywhere about two years ago but a serious construction made of everything from perforated leather to glittery suede to the watersnake featured in one the the Harry Porters.
As incredible as it may sound, out of the two closets of shoes that I own (and have to protect from the constant attacts of our pets) there isn't a single pair of strappy sandals. None. Zero. Nada. The reason, though, is very simple: up to very recently, I haven't really cared much for them. To me, they always seemed just way too bulky and not elegant at all. But looking at what is being offered for the upcoming season I see a new direction for my collection to grow. And considering the notorious lack of space in Manhattan apartments, we might have to invade the adjasent unit to store it all (but it's very hush-hush!)

Dolce and Gabbana, Ayers platform sandlas (watersnake)

Christian Louboutin Fernando

Christian Louboutin Stratatata glitter platform sandals

Jimmy Choo Zero Mirror platform sandals

Halston (actually, these are from last season, but who cares - they are sooo cool!)

Gladiator sandals: giving it a try

About the gladiator sandals: I wonder how would it feel to actually own them, say, just one pair for starters? Since I don't - yet - have any experience with this type of footwear (and that is very unusual) I would probably go with something more or less clearcut in design and neutral in terms of color. Nope, as of now I'm not ready to pull off something like Oscar de la Renta's elastic strap sandals (found at http://www.saks.com/)

but I'm definitely game for a simpler shoe like, for example, this on by Michael Kors.

As for the rest of the outfit, I would pair the sandals with a simple shirt-style dress or a tunic and a medium- to large leather hobo bag.

The dress is by Joie (http://www.cusp.com/) and the bag is by Michael Kors (http://www.michaelkors.com/).

Gladiator sandals: they're still there!

It seems that the gladiator theme, started a few seasons ago is not going into oblivion but instead is in full flourish. Gladiator sandals are very popular among many designers this upcoming season; in fact, it would probably be easier to say who chose to disregard them completely than who came up with a few pairs - again. In terms of material used, patent leather is still holding ground and all kinds of exotic stuff is becoming increasingly popular. As for the heel, it's just as wild - anything from 0 to 5'' (the last one is probably for gladiators in drag who quit the service and are now taking dance lessons).

Sigerson Morrison

Giuseppe Zanotti

Giuseppe Zanottti








Miu Miu

Outta this world

If Luke the Skywalker were a woman he would probably be wearing these.

Phi, leather reflective-heel sandals or as described at http://www.theoutnet.com/ high-voltage heels. And these shoes are definitely a no-joke: the heel is solid metal and is approximately 5.5'' high. And don't forget the 1.2''  platform, black wood-effect nonetheless! A word of caution, though: if you're planning to go outside on a rainy day with even a slight chance of a thunderstorm, please, wear something else - can't take chances on that lightning, you know!
But I have to admit - I like them.They are certainly funky but they got personality and they are very unique and stylish.  However, Phi, being a relatively new label opened just in 2003 is now closing down. For good. Oh, well...

The power of red (shoes)

A few days ago, I was reading  this blog  and one of the articles there really got me thinking. The author quotes Mimi Pond who in her book Shoes Never Lie states that out of the vast universe of footwear, red shoes are the ones with magical power. Yes, that's right, magical power that turns the red shoes wearer into this super-sexy, super-seductive and what's more super-mysterious femme fatale that leaves men around her profoundly struck as she walks proudly by. In red shoes. It doesn't say what happens when she takes'em off and who turns into a pumpkin but that's not the point here. The point is: is it really so? Is this magical power real (yes, I'm aware of the oxymoron) or is it just an illusion, a popular belief, a (urban) fairy tale that has been going around for years and years and by now has gained its fair share of supporters?
Well, if all my years as a devoted shoesaholic count for anything then my answer would be hell, yeah! Sitting in front of my computer with a glass of wine and a goofy smile on my face, numerous shoe boxes that has been arriving since the first signs of pre-, Christmas and post-Christmas sales scattered around, I remembered quite a few stories when red shoes had acted as a pass to places my friends and I couldn't've got otherwise, an endless source of compliments and all in all, a great self-confidence booster on a rainy day. Come to think of it, they do make you feel different, walk different and even kick up your mysteriousness level a few notches up (the last part was further confirmed by my friends who agreed to participate in a quick poll at 2am on a Saturday night).
So that said, red shoes are indeed magical. And even if it's just an illusion,  it's a damn good one.

Valentino

Chloe

Jimmy Choo Quiet

Christian Louboutin Altadama

Miu Miu