Category Archives: shoes

Hello, navy. Hello, spring.

Posted on March 22, 2010 by | 1 comment

In 1911, an avid outdoorsman named Leon Leonwood (L.L.) Bean returned from a hunting trip with cold, damp feet and a revolutionary idea. He enlisted a local cobbler to stitch supple leather uppers to waterproof rubber boots, creating a comfortable, functional boot for exploring the Maine woods. This ingenious invention – the Maine Hunting Shoe – changed outdoor footwear forever and, a year later, began one of the most successful family-run businesses in the country. (excerpt from L.L.Bean history)

What L.L.Bean began in 1912, has defined New England style for nearly a century. Now, after almost 100 years, a new collection has been introduced: L.L.Bean Signature. The collection celebrates the same New England style, but with a new fit that is more tailored and contemporary.

The oft-reluctant-to-admit prepster in me is happy. I’m happy about the clean, classic designs. I’m happy about the return of navy. And, I’m happy about the prices. Below are a few of my spring wardrobe favorites.

The classic chambray shirt dress can be accented with a skinny leather belt and the stacked platform for a refined modern look (that’s also work appropriate). Or, it can be paired with the madras plaid scarf and strappy leather sandal for casual weekend comfort.

Hello, navy! Hello, spring!

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Transforming Hardware

Posted on March 11, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Every season of Project Runway features at least one episode that is vaguely reminiscent of a fashion school homework assignment. These challenges typically present the contestants with unconventional materials – flowers, maybe, or garbage bags – and task the designers with transforming those materials into something fashion-forward. Last Thursday’s episode was no different. Let loose in a hardware store for half an hour, the designers went to work turning metal, rope and plastic into sometimes-chic outfits. Here are the highlights.

  • I love that, in addition to an outfit, the designers are tasked with creating a companion, stand-out accessory. My favorite was Maya’s fun, chic and totally current key necklace.
  • The unconventional material challenge inevitably produces results that look futuristic or techno (see Mila’s armor-style get-up or Seth Aaron’s futuristic dress), so it’s always nice to see a softer side – and that’s what Anthony pulled out. Unfortunately, the judges were looking for more edge than Anthony had to offer.
  • Emilio created a bikini. A string bikini. Made of washers and hot pink string. Michael Kors’ label of “cheesy” was too kind.
  • But even a taste-free string bikini was a greater success than Jesse’s Hershey’s-kiss-inspired, dirty-vacuum-bag reminiscent silver dress.

Two thumbs up to Jay’s winner of an outfit. It might not be my favorite pick style-wise, but he truly transformed his hardware materials into a pair of slim and sleek striped pants and a bold, graphic top.

For my shoe pick, I might integrate that same stripe pattern from the pants into the footwear. The horizontal straps on these Stella McCartney pumps are certainly stripe-reminiscent, and the toe is actually a super sleek midnight blue.

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A Quick Peek at What’s Ahead

Posted on March 3, 2010 by | Leave a comment

As soon as the calendar turns to March, Miss Mojito gets a bad case of spring fever. And it’s a good a reason as any to turn our minds away from snow, wind and rain for a few moments to take a look at what the coming months will hold for us, shoe- and cocktail-wise.

Piperlime.com is pinpointing neutrals, cut-outs, wedges and platforms as key trends for spring. So what could be better than a shoe that embraces all four trends in one sleek shoe?! Here are a couple of pairs that fit the bill.

This pair by Emma Pink rings in at a moderately reasonable $98. I love the peep-toe design.

This pair by Hive and Honey, in a similar price range and style, boats a cool, ashy gray hue and a fun geometric design.

Endless.com is predicting that the woven look will feature prominently in the spring 2010 forecast, and I’d be willing to get on board with that trend with this cool metallic number by Michael Antonio. The weathered golden shade and the perky toe make for a very unique shoe. The gold pair goes for $74.95, but other colors are available at a discount.

What cocktails shall we enjoy whilst traipsing about in our neutral/wedge/cut-out/platform/woven shoes? I’m thinking something bright and bubbly, since a return to warm weather is most certainly a cause for celebration. This Strawberry Smash, which I found over at at sdnn.com, sounds like it’s full of notes of spring and originality. I, for one, can’t wait to partake!

Strawberry Smash
Makes 1 cocktail

  • 3 ripe strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 6 leaves of mint
  • 1 ounce white rum
  • 1 ounce all-natural sour mix (see note)
  • 2 ounces prosecco

Add the strawberries and mint to a glass. Smash the strawberries and herbs gently with a muddler until the berries are a pulp and the herbs smell strong. Add the rum or gin if using and sour mix to the glass and give it a stir. Fill 3/4 full with ice. Top off with the prosecco. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Note: To create my all natural sour mix, mix 1 cup lemon and or lime juice with 1 cup sugar in a medium non-reactive saucepan. Heat over a low-medium flame, stirring to dissolve the sugar. When cool, pour syrup into a sterile glass bottle and refrigerate. Keeps for up to 2 weeks.

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PR’s fashion for the family

Posted on February 24, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Last week’s episode of Project Runway wasn’t billed as a “mommy and me” matching clothing challenge, but nevertheless the designers were asked to create a fashionable children’s look as well as an adult companion piece.

It wasn’t much of a surprise that Seth Aaron, who has a daughter close to the age of the child models, won (after all, he made a matching handbag for the little one’s outfit). It also wasn’t a shocker that Janeane was sent home (she’s been on shaky ground for weeks now, and Tim Gunn warned her that she was  rockin’ too much Halloween in her look).

Seth Aaron’s winning little girl and big girl
outfits on Project Runway.

Tory Burch was guest judge, so it’s only appropriate to pair shoes from her line with the winning outfit. Her back-zip sandals, with leather straps and a prominent back zip, have an edgy style that are a perfect match for Seth Aaron’s grown-up mod look (and his apparent love of infusing hardware in his designs).

For the little girl’s look, Michael Kors’ ballerina mary janes with the oversized rhinestone could be a good fit for a proper young lady, but I can’t resist pairing pink converse sneakers with the houndstooth hoodie (and especially after last week’s S&C for baby post).

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Shoes for a Cover Shoot: PR Recap

Posted on February 18, 2010 by | Leave a comment

The Season 7 cast of Project Runway really seems to be bringing their a-games to the catwalk. And the judges are seeing that they live up to their potential with some truly excellent challenges. This week? Design a cover look for Hedi Klum herself to sport on the April issue of Marie Claire. Here are the highs-and-lows of last week’s episode to gear us up for this evening’s showing:

The contestants receive some guidance from the Marie Claire editor on how to create a cover look: focus on intricate details in the neckline; favor solids over prints; and don’t be afraid of color.

Some of my favorite looks didn’t even make it to the runway. Jay Nicolas’ floaty gown is super chic and original.

I’m surprisingly obsessed with Jonathan’s playful romper look. It certainly stands out from the other designs.

The loser of the night is no surprise: shorts, a shapeless
tank and a vest do not a PR winner make. I love the second-runner-up, though. Ben’s butterfly-inspired colorblock dress is fresh and bright, and I’m a big fan of the shape.

Anthony is the winner for his asymmetrical and brilliant blue cocktail dress. It’s totally fun and modern, but the shoes are a snooze-fest. Even though the focus of the cover will be on the dress, that’s no excuse to ignore footwear! My choice would be something a bit more colorful, like these purple Vince Camuto shoes over at Piperlime.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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S&C for baby

Posted on February 17, 2010 by | 2 comments

Ms. S&C has a dear co-worker/friend who recently delivered what-looks-to-be (because I haven’t met him yet!) a precious baby boy. I recall when shopping for a baby gift, I struggled a bit. I wanted something that matched his mom’s impeccable style. From the day we met, I knew we would be fast friends — we were wearing the same Nine West paisley peep-toe pumps! She’s been a constant fashion inspiration since.

I finally settled on Converse All Star’s — because even little ones could use a pair of Chuck Taylor’s. I found them over at Nordstrom at a reasonable price (not sure why baby shoes tend to be so pricey).

Shoes for baby, because even little ones need their own Chucks.

Before the little guy arrived, our office hosted a baby shower and Ms. S&C happily served on the punch-making committee. I found this work-and-pregnant-lady-friendly recipe at Allrecipes.com. It’s called chilled Christmas punch, but it can be enjoyed year-round. New S&C name is:

Spiced Mocktail Punch
(serves a dozen or more)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 (46 ounce) can pineapple juice, chilled

• 4 cups cranberry-apple juice, chilled

• 1 liter ginger ale, chilled

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring the water, sugar and cinnamon to a boil; stir until sugar is dissolved. Chill (preferably overnight). Just before serving, combine the syrup mixture, juices and ginger ale in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Serve over ice, or use an ice block to chill.

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Dear Valentine

Posted on February 12, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Dear Valentine,

Of course there isn’t anything I want more than you (and, to not to wear snow boots for awhile). But, if you’re in need of gift-giving ideas for the woman you love on Valentine’s Day, here are a few  suggestions.

The Kate Spade Gillian shoe is about the prettiest shoe I’ve come across in a long time. The ribbon detail and big bow at the top of a striking satin platform — they are so, so lovely. And, if you’re feeling extra generous, I’m pretty much in love with this flower clutch also. The bursting silk and chiffon petal blossoms are delicate, but would last a lot longer than real flowers. No need for chocolates and roses, I kinda have a V-day shoe-handbag-combo theme going on.

Lots of love,
Ms. S&C

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An Outfit Fit for a Potato

Posted on January 28, 2010 by | Leave a comment

It seems like the folks at Project Runway should have come up with the theme of episode 2 ages ago. The challenge: turn a potato sack into a dress suitable for their models to wear to an upscale “industry event.” And boy, did the designers live up to the task! The vast majority of the bunch showed fabulous mixes of innovation and taste on last week’s runway.

Miss Mojito has a confession to make. When I was just a tiny mojito, dreaming of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I spent several months convinced that I was destined to be a fashion designer. I’d sketch out designs of intricate, multi-layered dresses. Inevitably, one of those layers was always burlap. A particular favorite design when I was nine years old was a three-layer gown: a floor-length, satin, 0ne-shouldered dress, layered under a knee-length burlap dress layered under a burgundy velvet mini-dress. It might sound like a confusing nightmare now, but to my nine-year-old mind it was fashion heaven.

Needless to say I was delighted to see burlap make its way into the equation for this Project Runway episode. And I was pretty floored by the results! Here are some highlights and lowlights.

  • Several designers dyed their burlap with fantastic results. This is a technique we don’t get to see too often on PR, so it was fun to see the results.
  • I was surprised at how burlap can be at once fluid and structured. The runner-up winner, Amy, showcased an impressive mix of both, in an outfit that played up the organic side of the fabric. I love the burned look of the hemline.
  • The episodes are always more satisfying to me when there’s an actual client to please, not just the judges. A client with demands and preferences adds a small touch of reality to the challenges.
  • Lauren Hutton is a sophisticated treat of a judge. What an icon!

Designer Jay Nicolas is the winner, and you could have seen it coming from a mile away. While his design isn’t necessarily innovative in terms of color or silhouette, it’s a supremely chic creation that looks much more expensive than it actually is.

For a shoe pairing, I’d play up the mini-nature of the dress with a pair of sky-high heels. And since this design is a safe black, it might be fun to play with some color in the shoes.

These electric yellow suede platform pumps by Elizabeth and James (a brand of the Olsen twin fame) would be my first choice.

But, $350 not being in the mojito shoe budget, a vibrant blue in a more reasonable price range would be an excellent alternative. I like these Steve Madden’s with floral detail.

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A Little Leggy

Posted on January 22, 2010 by | 3 comments

Miss Mojito would be lost without a wide and varied collection of tights and leggings to get her through the winter months. Some tights are perfect for work and some are better suited for fun; some leggings pair well with heels and some are perfect for boots. And believe me, it’s taken loads of trial and error to identify my personal faves.

Basic Black: I’ve been circulating two pairs of my Asset brand black opaque footed tights for over two seasons now without so much as a snag or tear. These are the frugal girl’s version of Spanx, available at Target for $14. They’re heavy weight, totally opaque and do a great job at smoothing and shaping.

For footless leggings, I’m partial to a pair from Express. They’re a great length and weight.

Fun with Colors: For on-trend, jewel-toned tights, Hue is my go-to brand. They’re available at a few local stores here in Richmond (Need Supply is where I buy mine), and also online. I love the way the vibrant colors pop against a great pair of shoes, like this turquoise-purple combination I tried out.

Shades of Ombre: Sister Mojito and I both flipped when we spotted this pair of ombre shaded tights. They start as black at the waist band and fade to a pale gray at the toe. Perfect when you want to insert a bit of drama in your leg-wear!

80s Flashback: I bought my black velvet stirrup leggings from American Apparel with a very specific purpose in mind. I was looking for a warm, heavy weight legging—something a bit sturdier than footless cotton spandex leggings—that would tuck smoothly into ankle and mid-calf boots. The stirrup seemed to be the perfect option, and somehow American Apparel convinced me that a velvet finish was the way to go. I’ve had tons of fun pairing these leggings with black lace-up boots and floaty dresses.

In Search of Some Texture: I love textured tights paired with an above-the-knee skirt and suede boots. The combo of different shades and textures can be so striking. My favorite mixes include a loden green, textured diamond tight partnered with a slouchy, beige suede wedge boot, and a pair of charcoal, chevron patterned tights with some pointy-toed, rust-toned boots.

Time for Bed: Due to a drafty old apartment, I often rely on my polartec fleece leggings to keep me warm at night. I highly recommend investing in a pair! My version came from JCrew in the mid-90s, but a quick tour of Google should point you in the right direction.

Miss Mojito wants to know: What role do tights and leggings play in your cold-weather wardrobe? And PS – if anyone has recommendations on how to take photos of your own feet without contorting your body most uncomfortably, Miss Mojito is all ears!

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Project Runway is back home

Posted on January 20, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Season seven of Project Runway has begun, and the show is back in New York, where it belongs. That concrete jungle where dreams are made of. The place where there’s nothing you can’t do. The streets will make you feel brand new. Big lights will inspire you. Let’s hear it for New York (and Jay-Z and Alicia Keys).

Project Runway is back, and so is the S&C recap and shoe pairing series.

Project Runway’s first episode takes the designers to Central Park where they choose fabrics for a creation that expresses them as a designer. This challenge means that they have the freedom to make whatever they want. Everyone should nail this, unless they can’t really sew (that means you, Christiane).

Things to mention, but not spend a lot of time on — new this season is a gimmicky digital sketch book (guess there’s a new sponsor). Guest judge for this round is Nicole Richie (though she’s more L.A. than New York). Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are still in classic form, describing Jesus’ so-called glamorous gown, “a crocodile trunk that exploded on an evening gown,” and something that “looks like a Hershey chocolate bar.” God love ’em.

Emilo wins the first challenge with a fine, flirty, full-skirted dress with lots of texture. It was my personal favorite, but I think Seth Aaron‘s youthful punk dress, and Ping‘s wacky layered look do a better job of representing them as designers.

For the shoe pairing, I really like the style Emilo chose for his dress. They’re a bit of a surprise. The cut-out bootie sandal adds another textured element, and the greenish color is a refreshing choice. I found a pair of cut-out slingbacks, from Lanvin over at Barney’s. The wooden platform sandal matches the fun flirtiness of the dress, and the bright green color is perfect for warmer weather. They could be yours for a jaw-dropping $1,005.00. That’s Paris luxury for you.

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