Tag Archives: sandals

S&C patriotism

If money were no object, the 4th of July holiday weekend footwear may look a little something like this:

For the picnic, or the baseball game (the Nationals have a double-header on Saturday, you know), let’s don these adorable Kate Spade sandals. That bow, the grosgrain fabric, the basketweave heel — nothing could say casual American holiday better.

For the night out, how about this classic Burberry espadrille paired with a flowy black sundress? Love the combination of red patent leather, espadrille midsol, and the check pattern.

For the wide-leg white linen pants (or the white linen anything), how about these striking Diane Von Furstenberg wedges? Yes, the height, the bold color, the multi-pattern wedge heel would contrast beautifully with white.

And what to drink this Independence Day? Well, we’ll have to get back to you on that, but these Black and Blue Mojitos and this Campari Cup are strong contenders (particularly given the amount of fresh mint we have growing over at chez S&C).

Happy fireworks, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, Declaration of Independence reading, patriotic song singing, parade going, blue-and-white sprinkled, sparkler waving holiday!

posted by Ms. S&C

Summer Fun with S&C

With the end of summer in sight, I’m feeling more than a little motivated to make the most of these last hot days of August. That means spending as much spare time as possible poolside, indulging in sunset cocktails, planning picnics with friends and fun, warm-weather weekend trips.

How does this translate to the world of Shoes & Cocktails? I can’t think of a better way to get more fun out of summer than with Todd Thrasher’s Bomb Pops, a youthful treat with an adult twist. These fruity, layered popsicles pack tequila, vodka and rum into each pop. I forecast these being the perfect weekend sweet treat!

(Exciting Side Note: Miss Mojito will take her first-ever trip to Restaurant Eve’s Tasting Room this weekend to taste Mr. Thrasher’s cocktails and Chef Cathal Armstrong’s cuisine in person! Rarely have I been this excited for a meal.)

On the shoe front, I’m feeling seriously tempted to indulge in some most excellent summer sandal clearance, and Piperlime is just the place to do it. I’ve been eyeing these seriously chunky, slightly ridiculous and delightfully curvaceous Naughty Monkey sandals for ages now. And at almost 50 percent off, they’re starting to creep into my price range. Plus, they might translate well into the early days of fall.

Long live summer!

Miss Mojito wants to know: In what end-of-summer indulgences are you partaking?

Posted by Miss Mojito.

Summer look

Ms. S&C plans to keep it simple this summer. More than anything, she just wants to be comfortable. It is far too hot for anything else. Far too hot.

As for her wardrobe, Ms. S&C has in heavy rotation a Mossimo maxi dress she picked up at Target last year (it’s green and very similar to this one). She also still truly loves these studded sandals she found over at Zappos.

Flowing dresses and flat sandals help keep her comfortable. So do drinks with ice.

When she finds a concept she likes, she happy to stick with it. Here are a few other items that will bring her comfort during the blazing months of summer. First, there’s a long knit dress from Garnet Hill. This maxi-style dress is made of super soft cotton, so it is — yes — super comfortable. Style is not sacrificed for comfort, however. The twisted shoulder straps give the dress an unique detail, and the fitted bodice and v-neck front (and back) flatter any body type. Plus, what great colors and prints!

Ms. S&C’s favorite summer look: soft, flowing dresses paired
with comfortable sandals

Paired with the dress are metallic sandals from Piperlime. Big selling points: the silver flats have a little extra padding for extra comfort, love the woven detail, and they are ridiculously inexpensive. To finish off her look, the lovely dangly earrings are from Anthropologie (and are the same ones she picked out for her “Style in the City” party outfit).

Ms. S&C wants to know: What will keep you cool and comfortable this summer? Share your wardrobe and drink ideas below.

Happy Summer! (If only it weren’t so damn hot.)

posted by Ms. S&C

Summer Shoe Report Back

After scouring the Internet and a few fave shopping spots for the perfect pair of comfy summer flats, Miss Mojito opted for not one but three options. Apparently, I was on the hunt for neutrals: all of the latest additions to my shoe family are in shades of beige, brown, tan and bronze.

For super casual summer nights, I’ll look no further than this duel-tone pair of Nine West sandals (far left). I love the mixture of dark and light brown with the silver hardware, and they’re wonderfully comfy.

My second pick was a bit less successful on the comfort scale. I love the look of these Urban Outfitters gladiator sandals (center), but the back strap rubs the ankle in a most unfortunate manner. Band-aids are clearly in order to make these cute shoes tolerable.

And finally, we have the work-appropriate, metallic peep toe flats by Bandolino (right). I’m a huge fan of the coppery crackled finish. Since it’s hard to find a pair of flats with a sole that’s thick enough for true comfort, I snatched up this pair in a flash.

I can’t seem to put my cursor on close approximations of the Nine West and Bandolino pairs, but I found mine at DSW.

Now all I need is a fresh pedicure and I’m good to go! Happy summer shoe shopping to all!

Posted by Miss Mojito.

Outfit planning

Ms. S&C is co-hosting an event (everyone’s invited!) this Friday, and she’s pretty excited about it. The weather forecast looks good! It’s a holiday weekend! All her best girlfriends will be in town! Yes, her excitement can hardly be contained.

Since the event is all about celebrating style (and drinking champagne cocktails), she found this to be a pretty damn good reason to do some major outfit planning (and shopping). Here’s a preview of what Ms. S&C will be wearing to the “Style in the City” party: Shoshanna one-shoulder ruffle dress (actually purchased at local Alexandria boutique Periwinkle), Anthropologie printed clutch and fleurs-de-lys earrings, and Pierre Dumas trendy cage sandals. She likes the feminine (yet, kinda sexy) ruffle on the dress combined with the edginess of  the strappy metallic sandal. She’s also in love with this “ultramarine” shade of blue.

Today, she took care of the mani and pedi. But now, she needs help with hair and make-up? Suggestions?

SITC outfitFashion Trends & Styles - Polyvore

Sneak peak of Ms. S&C’s “Style in the City” party outfit.

posted by Ms. S&C

These Shoes Are Made for Walkin’

Now that days are hot and nights are warm, Miss Mojito has found more opportunities to make walking her preferred method of transportation. And with a long summer walk comes a need for some summer shoes that value fashion as much as comfort.

Miss Mojito is contemplating an investment in one of the following styles.

I love the tiny wedge on this gladiator-style sandal, and the neutral color will take me through many summer outfits.

This metallic open-toe pair by Seychelles is just dreamy.

My final pick is just a bit higher on the drama factor – and on the height factor. But I do believe that the wedge will make this pair suitable for walking.

How’s a girl to choose from these wedge-a-rific choices?

Posted by Miss Mojito.

Hello, navy. Hello, spring.

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!

posted by Ms. S&C

Heating up

Summer has arrived. Temperatures are rising.The Fourth of July holiday is upon us. Fireworks. Beach vacations. Backyard barbeques. What shoes do you turn to for your warm weather wardrobe? Whether your footwear of choice  is a sexy strappy sandal, an exotic espadrille, a casually chic thong, or a bold printed peep-toe, you can find them all in one rich color — red. Yes, things really are heating up.

FRYE-t-strapbella-vita-espafranco-sarto-sandal

bandolino-wedgeBCBG-sandalsam-edelman-sandal

corso-cosmo-sandalcarlos-peep-toenine-west-thong

Now, what to cool you off during these hot summer months? Check out The New York Times for suggestions on drinks and ingredients that are “Refreshing by Definition.” The S&C team also want to remind you of a few of our personal faves:

  • Frozen Sangria — Miss Mojito fixed this fun, fruity, frozen blend for daytime imbibing at the beach.
  • Berry Caipirinha — Ms. S&C made this bright and fruity cocktail with blackberries, but think of what you can do with fresh, ripe raspberries and peaches?
  • Basil Gimlet — Miss M muddled mint’s distant cousin in a gimlet, and after trying them herself, Ms. S&C concurs that aromatic basil is a great ingredient for summertime drinks.
  • Watermelon Lemonade — One of Ms. S&C’s favorites last summer, so hang tight for those plentiful watermelons to come.

S&C wants to know: What shoes are heating up your closet this summer? And, what are you drinking to cool off?

posted by Ms. S&C

So much and so little

Ms. S&C has so much to share, but so little time to share it. Stay tuned for the S&C Guide to Key West (which will be heavily focused on the “C” side of S&C), sloe gin fizzes, agave margaritas, and sandals. We definitely need to discuss summer sandals. I want about 100 different pairs.

In the meantime, here are a couple of updates about my beloved topics:yellowbox-sandals

Shoes – For my Key West vacay, I picked up a pair of studded, brown thongs from Zappos. I think they’re cool, in biker-chic kinda way. And, after wearing them all over the southernmost part of the U.S., I’m still a big fan.

Cocktails – I tweeted about Ms. S&C and Miss Mojito’s visit to PX, but wanted to share a few more details. It’s no secret that I have an affection for speakeasy-style bars. Yes, due in part to the glamour and secrecy around them, but the main reason is the cocktails. These establishments serve the most innovative drinks around, and PX is no exception. Before getting to the cocktails, here are a few housekeeping-type notes:

  1. Make a reservation – you’ll likely not get in otherwise. And, a party of three is an ideal number in my opinion (Miss M’s big sis, LC, joined us). PX thankfully doesn’t overwhelm you with cocktail selections, but you’ll want to try e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Take two others and you’ll make significant dent in the menu.
  2. Sit at the bar if possible – you really should watch the bartenders at work.
  3. Be patient – the cocktails are referred to as “liquid art,” and they do take time.
  4. Ask questions – there will be ingredients that you’ve never heard of, and it is okay to ask.

PX

Here’s a sampling of the cocktails we tried:

Smoker’s Delight
Tobacco honey syrup, honeycomb, and Basil Hayden’s bourbon served in a martini glass.
S&C’s take: Very little smokey or tobacco-y flavor, which may have been the right thing to do, but I would have liked a little more. It also makes me want more bourbon in my life.

Big Ken’s Palomita
Don Julio Blanco tequila, Cointreau, sage tincture, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit soda served over ice with a salted rim.
S&C’s take: Good and very salty dog-ish.

Boris Karloff
House-made elderflower liqueur, Plymouth gin, kaffir lime, and eggwhite served in a martini glass.
S&C’s take: A lovely and elegant cocktail. Second favorite of the night.

Most Aggressive Fish in the Ocean
Cucumber, yuzu, mint, Cruzan rum, Hendrick’s gin, and eggwhite served in a martini glass.
S&C’s take: Interesting and good, but don’t have this and the Boris Karloff back-to-back (too much eggwhite-frothiness pour moi).

Champagne Cocktail
Cherry bitters, cherries, sugar, and Gruet.
S&C’s take: Sounds simple, but there was fire involved in the preparation. And, it was the favorite drink of the night.

posted by Ms. S&C

Spring forward

Spring is only a few weeks away. Is your closet ready? Ms. S&C is looking forward to the arrival of warmer weather, and here are a few trends she can’t pass up.

First up is the denim-rolled-above-the-ankles-look.  I’m as surprised as anyone that I like this look. It certainly does not mean I’m a fan of the slouchy tapered ankle trouser. These harem pants can’t possibly look good on anyone with hips, so no thanks. But, the baggy boyfriend cut or the skinny jean rolled above the ankle — I like how this style can work for many body types, and show off your impressive footwear.

jcrew-rolled-denim-picralph-lauren-skylarAnd by impressive footwear, I mean something like these wooden heels from Ralph Lauren. Miss M referred to this style as the “extreme strappy sandal” in her inaugural post. I love the woven leather detail and the platform. They could definitely be my statement shoe of the season.

Another footwear trend that is exploding — neutral-colored pumps. Nude is the new black, people. And when colors like stone, dust, blush and sand come in patent, even better. These conical heels, slingbacks and peep-toes pretty much sum it up.

jill-stuart-melanyjcrew-slingbacks1bettye-muller

Shoes & Cocktails wants to know: What are your “must haves” and “can’t stands” for the spring season? Share your thoughts below.

posted by Ms. S&C