Leopard for Less

I'm going to admit right here and now that I truly believe that if you're wearing an understated outfit, leopard shoes are kind've fabulous. But you don't have to pay a lot of money to look like you have a little New Jersey mob daughter in you (call me crazy, but I associate that image more closely with the word "leopard" than I do a large cat dragging an antelope into a tree-- the second look, you wouldn't want to go for anyway).

Case in point.

pedro garcia at net-a-porter.com: $425

merona at target.com: $24.99

In my humble opinion, the Target flats are cuter, since I'm not a fan of flats with straps. The Pedro Garcias' straps don't give a faux-Mary Jane as you'd expect them too-- maybe they'd work if the straps were more toward the toe. In either case, whether you agree with me or not, the leopard-print flats from Target look very similar-- after all, leopard patterns really don't vary that much from one garment to another-- to their high-end cousins and are about four-hundred dollars cheaper. And, I mean, if you were really that motivated, you could take the cheaper shoes to your nearest shoe repair shop and see about getting a strap attached for a reasonable fee.

Clark University Pride

I don't really have anything to say about these. All you need to know is that they exist, and I think that's amazing enough in and of itself. Also, Clark University needs to get a million cases of these and serve them in the dining hall.

appease your oral fixation here

The First Step to Recovery is Admitting You're Wrong.

(this actually costs money at american apparel)

You're wrong.

Go Green!

Unoriginal title aside, I think it's time I take a moment to address today's environmental issues in my own dorky little way. Of course, I was inspired to write this post upon browsing Fred Flare at ridiculous hours of the morning instead of sleeping like normal diurnal creatures. I'm not going to make this a long spiel about saving the whales-- I'm particularly fond of narwhals, if you must know-- and preserving the rain forests-- I'm particularly fond of the movie "Fern Gully," if you must know that as well. Instead, I'm just going to make this a brief post containing a wee suggestion for your next Starbucks run.

fredflare.com: $22

I thought this cup was absolutely darling. Yes, I said it. This cup is darling. It looks just like any other paper container that's doled out to the public at coffee shops, but in reality, this cup is made of porcelain and silicone. What does that mean for you? A little more space in the trash can and one more dish to scrub. What does that mean for the earth? A little more space in our overflowing landfills. Hey, every little bit counts.

Letters to J.Crew

Dear J.Crew,
I really like you. I think about you all the time when you're not here. Sometimes I go to your site and just imagine what it would be like if I could afford everything you have. I would be preppy as hell, and it would rule. But yesterday, J, I was looking at your offerings for the menfolk after seeing an amazing sweatervest, and I have to say that I suddenly got the feeling you've changed. Maybe not changed as much as taken your signature prep-tastic style to new levels.



Ugly levels. I was really surprised that you would be seen leaving the house in paisley or insane patchwork pants. I'm too angry with you to talk about the madras slacks right now. Listen to me, J.Crew: it's okay to wear crazy patterned pajama bottoms. But these? These are not for sleeping. I had hope that they were, but I'm pretty certain that you don't sleep in a collared shirt, a belt, a tie, or any combination of the three. You're a yuppie. I get it. I hated the madras shorts, but they meant a lot to you, and I let it go. You are a yuppie and you like to charge $158 and $98 (respectively) for really horrible-looking things because you can. You like to say "Haha, peasants! You have to spend your money on practical clothing that doesn't look like quasi-nautical throw-up." But it isn't right. You are better-looking than this. I loved you. I trusted you to be reliably country club chic. You have failed me. I don't know if I'm going to get over this.

xoxoxo,
Vanessa

P.S. The shoes in the first outfit look like those crappy slippers that everyone's dad seems to have had since the day he was born. Not cool.

I Refuze to Has Cheezburger

icanhascheezburger.com

Fashion for Dummies*

I really didn't know.

creaturesofcomfort.com: $115

*photo courtesy of Covino.

Rubber-Necking the Spectators

The spectator is the geek of the shoe world. Spectators go back to their boxes and play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time until 2 AM, whilst taking breaks to watch a little PBS and do some derivatives for fun. Spectator shoes only know the lyrics to Snoop Dogg's "Drop it Like it's Hot" because of the Kirby remix. Spectators dressed up as Beowulf for Halloween. Further more, they always wished that Stilletos would date them, but she was a bitch.

Spectators are like the ugly duckling that has grown into a Hell of a woman's shoe.

rafe new york: $240 (piperlime.com)

marc fisher: $79 (macys.com)

bcbgirls: $110 (macys.com)

Every dork has his day.

Where My Childhood Went to Die

Apparently to JCrew.



jcrew: $198

Remind you of anyone?

A few new designs recently hit Express stores that I love. They've come out with several floral silk dress and skirt designs, as well as clutches to match (though I certainly don't advocate carrying the clutch while wearing the corresponding dress). What initially struck me about these new items is how reminiscent they are of the Prada resort collection. The new takes on high fashion are expensive for some-- in the typical Express style that always breaks my already broke heart-- but certainly more affordable than the originals.

I'm just waiting for the clutches to go on sale. I think they'd be a fabulous edition to almost any spring or summer outfit. Pop of color, indeed.

Dresses: $128
Skirts: $88
Bags: $49.50