MY VERSION OF CROCS

MY VERSION OF CROCS

When I saw these slithering beauties I knew I had to have them!  I had no idea what I would wear with them, but felt confident I could figure it out.  They just mesmerized me like a snake does to its prey before it stirkes.  I tried them on and the way they wrapped themselves around my foot, across the toes and bridge then up and around the ankle, buckle them into place; ahhh, that feels good.  Walking around the store in them they look alluring and feel amazing.  They keep saying "let's just glide right out the door and keep going".  However I know I must pay for them first, so I slip them off and put them back in their box, while closing the lid I assure them it won't be long before they're free.

At home I decide to name these "Gustave" after the largest man-eating crocodile, because I think these will get more compliments from men than women.  I know, you're thinking "what?"  Women who love shoes know what I'm saying, there are just some shoes men will notice and compliment you on, and I think this is one of those pairs of shoes. I can't really decide if they look more like faux snakeskin or alligator/crocodile, since I don't own any of the real deal, that's okay because I think Gustave suits them well.

Anyway, when I get them home I immediately take them to my closet and start matching them with all my clothes and decide they go with everything in my closet except pink or red (the exception being red toe-nail polish).  I've since worn them with navy blue work trousers and this silky green/black/blue paisley patterend angel sleeved top with navy blue trim.  I have also paired Gustave with my skinny black pencil skirt and sage green button down shirt for work.  When I want them to be the center of the outfit I will wear them with either all black or all grey then add in green jewelry and an interesting green handbag.  I really love wearing them with jeans and a v-neck sweater or tee-shrit becuase they're unexpected peeking out from underneath the jeans.

Today I wore them with black jeans, lime green tank top underneath a black v-neck sweater; they were definitely the center of the outfit.  I headed out the door to the salon to have my hair done (this sassy short blonde hair doesn't come naturally anymore!).  My "hair-day" is all about me; I want to feel good, look good and have a fabulous time!  I love relaxing and enjoying all the gossip; especially when you don't know the person and you get to hear about their husband/boyfriend, neighbor or someone at work.  I'm a little jealous of my daughter (she's my hairdresser, in case I hadn't mentioned it) who gets to spend her days being creative with hair and enjoying all the different people.  When I hear bits-and-pieces she fills me in on what I've missed and if she won't then I know Daniel will (he's a big gossip and I've known him for 20 years)!

While sitting with my head in the shampoo bowl and toner on my scalp (toner tones down the yellow or brassiness in blondes - see Bre, mommy listens), I overhear these ladies talking about a party they were at and are commenting on how tacky one of the guests new girlfriends was because she wore Keds to a dinner party.  They go on to discuss her age and how one of them thought he brought his daughter until he nuzzled her neck.  At this moment Bre comes over to rinse out my hair and I'm thinking; I couldn't agree more about the tackiness of her shoe choice for that particular occasion and I let my mind wander as I think of what I would have worn to that outdoor dinner party.  Darn, my soothing scalp massage is over, back to reality, as I sit up I glance over at the two gossipers' and notice one of them is wearing a pair of those rubber Crocs!  I nearly gasp out loud.  I apologize but unless you have a medical condition that requires you to wear them, you're pregnant, you're a little kid, you're gardening or standing all day behind a hot stove (i.e.: Mario Batali) do NOT wear them out in public!  To begin with they have the unfortunate name; Crocs and my guess would be it's because they look as nice as the wide round flat snout of a crocodile!  Oh, doesn't that just say "wear me, I'm pretty?"

Let me ask you this; if a woman's shoes/clothing are an expression of how she feels and what she wants to project to the world, what are those Crocs saying?  To me they said; I'm bored, lazy, have no sense of style and don't care how I look to myself or others. Yikes!

As I walk back to Bre's chair I can hear Gustave growling and I see him peering arrongantly from under my jeans and I think "I know, how dare they name those shoes after you!"  I sit down in Bre's chair and say to her "These are my version of Crocs."  She laughs and says, as only a daughter can, "Everyone knows how you feel about Crocs and flip-flops Mother."  Oh, yeah don't get me started on flip-flops......

Now I ask you ladies - Crocs or Crrrrrocs?                                                   

RUBY SLIPPERS

Ruby Slippers

As I'm trying to walk past the shoe store, I hear someone (or something) singing; "Ding-dong the witch is dead! Which old witch? The wicked witch! Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead." There goes my resolve, I have to go in now!

I spot the singing shoes right away and name them Ruby (of course). I immediately decide if they have these in size 7 they're MINE!

Ruby is not for the demure, she is stylish and confident with her pointy-toe, shiny red skinny 4" heel, faux red croc, gold embellishments and buckle - a modernized version of Dorothy's Ruby Slippers. Judy would have loved these; I can see her wearing them with a pill-box hat, black and white Chanel suit and carrying a large red patent leather purse.

As I try them on; Ruby is taunting me, "You want me, but are you wicked enough to take me home?" I walk around and admire them in every mirror and decide I am fearless enought to add her to the sisterhood of stilettos in my ever growing collection. After all, every woman should have at least one pair of red stilettos, shouldn't she? Although these will be my third!

I can instantly see them peeking out from a pair of tailored black trousers paired with one of my favorite button-down shirts, it's also red with gold pin-stripes and flashy rhinestone cufflinks, kind of "rat-pack" era look. This will be a good look for work or a dinner out, professional and feminine, it's always a plus when I can wear them to work and out afterwards. Ooh, I can also see wearing Ruby with my long black walking shorts (they stop just at the knee) and a ruffled red satin top, probably to a family function or lunch and a movie. Ruby would even be great paired with jeans and a plain tee-shirt when I'm feeling blah; she would definitely lift my spirits. I MUST take the Ruby Slippers home!

I purchase Ruby and as I'm walking through the mall I'm humming, "We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz." I really want to put my new ruby red shoes on and start doing that skipping/dance Dorothy does as she starts down the yellow brick road, maybe all the little Munchkins will materialize swirling around me and start singing along. However I know if I do this, the men in the white coats will surely be called to come get me, so I refrain.

When I arrive home I situate her among her sisters and I can tell Ruby has the attitude to go anywhere she wants, no yellow brick road needed, she'll create her own pathway, making a bold statement as she goes. I know whatever adventures Ruby and I take together I will be able to glance down and marvel at her sophisticated feminine style and bold ruby color and smile knowing I can dance all night in the Emerald City in them or alternatively just go home, since "there's no place like home."

SAUCY SECRETARY STILETTOS

To begin with I have a stiletto habit I call my fetish, certain ones call to me in the shoe store; I walk around listening and slowly perusing the displays. I like touching them and feeling the fabric; whether suede, leather, satin or patent-leather, I don't discriminate. I am more discriminating when it comes to the heel; the look of the 3 inch or taller is what usually catches my eye and they must be skinny heels, chunky heels are for rainy weather. Now don't get me wrong I do like the chunkier heels and wedge type shoe too and own quite a few pairs of those styles, however my heart and passion belong to my STILETTOS!

All the beautiful colors and shades, it's like a candy store for women; blue, red, pink, green, yellow, grey, purple, orange and of course black. Then there's the patterns; pin-stripes, polka-dots, geometric and plaid, no favoritism here either. Which one(s) are calling to me today? I always get a picture of what outfit I will build around the shoes (usually the shoes tell me); would they go with:
Jeans? Indigo blue, black, stone-washed, boot-cut, skinny or trouser style? Paired with a tee-shirt, button-down, something frilly, a bit flirty or down-right sexy?
A dress perhaps, if so, what type of dress; a favorite little black dress, summer dress or one for work?
Possibly a skirt; A-line and teasingly girly or pencil and tight, bare legged or with nylons or tights (yes, there's a difference). I even have to consider all of my work pants; their color, style and length too.

THERE THEY ARE; the ones that have called my name today, I dub thee Saucy Secretary Stilettos. Because as soon as I spot them I can immediately see them with the outfit described below and know I will look and feel like a 1960's vixen style secretary.

I will wear them with a black or grey tight pencil skirt and wide belt, white or black button-down short sleeved shirt and of course chunky jewelry and bright killer red lipstick! If it's sunny out (in Southern California that's most of the time) I will add my big black Dolce & Gabbana or big white Coach sunglasses. I can see it clearly; the shoes paint the picture for me.

As soon as I have them home I try my Saucy Secretary stilettos on with the outfit they told me to wear them with (like I said the stilettos talk to me), I feel leaner, taller and more sleek and at 5'4" that's saying something.

My next work day I get dressed in the above mentioned outfit and as I'm walking out the door I notice my stance and walk are more deliberate, I'm ready for business and whatever else might come my way.

On my way to my sales office I stop at Starbucks for a latte, I walk in with the confidence of a woman who feels good and knows she looks good too. I sense the admiring eyes of the men as I stand in line; I also catch the approving glances of the women around me. It's such a powerful feeling knowing men and women alike are appreciating the positive vibes radiating from me and my "SS" stilettos. As I'm taking in this delightful experience and ordering my latte, the gentleman in line behind me interrupts my order and asks if he may pay for mine (now that reeeeeally feels good!). I smile and politely say "Thank you". "I've noticed you in here several times." he says. I remove my sunglasses, "I do believe I've seen you here too, usually sitting with a group of others, over there." I say, pointing towards the grouping of chairs in the corner. "Associates from work." He replies. He pays for our drinks and while waiting for them to be made, we make polite small talk and flirt just a little.

I can tell he is younger than me by about ten years; he is tall, has an athletic build, a great smile and big brown eyes. When they call my drink, he retrieves it and hands it to me and says, "I hope to see you in here again; by the way my name is Roger." "Nice to have met you Roger, I hope to see you again too and thank you for the latte." I say as I head out the door. I can feel him watching me as I walk to my car.

See you never know what can happen with the right pair of stilletos and attitude!

Just the Beginning.....

(A small sampling of my collection!)

Hello fellow stiletto lovers!

I've started this blog because of my passion for stilettos, I (as most of you, I'm sure) have an extensive shoe collection and 90% of my collection are of the stiletto variety. My daughters understand; as do my girlfriends, men however, seem to think my slight obsession is "silly", though I have yet to hear any of them complain about how they look!

I will be blogging stories about my stilettos, the adventures they've been on or are about to embark on. I may also tell you what I'm wearing with them and how they make me feel!

Here are some interesting facts I've found about the stiletto......

The very first sightings of a stiletto (thin high heels) were around the late 1800's in numerous fetish drawings. Makes a girl think - how has something that was so sinful a little over a 100 years ago become acceptable every day wear?

The word "stiletto" is Italian which came from the Latin "stilus" which means: "a stake; a pointed instrument, its narrow shape, ending in a rigid pointed end, allowing it to penetrate deeply". Makes perfect sense to me, my stiletto collection definitely looks like pointed instruments ready to penetrate whatever gets in their way, including a man's heart!

Stiletto heels are associated with the image of the femme fatale. They are considered to be a seductive item of a woman's attire. Here's all I have to say about that - DUH!

I honestly feel stilettos are the every-day shoe! You can use them to dress up your jeans and tee-shirt or a pair of long walking shorts or Capri's. You can make a cute summer dress a little saucier! Don't get me started on work attire! Stilettos make the line of the leg look longer (which at 5', 4-1/2" makes me look much taller) and the derriere more perky in a pair of tailored work pants.

Except for working out or an outdoor party (stilettos are definitely not good on grass - imagine sinking backwards into someone's lawn), I'm in my stilettos!

Until next time.....