Stayin’ true to spring and summer shoe seasons in our past, we do have some shoes that say, “funk.” And this JC “Gemini” says “oh yeah, funk”. We love this lace-up bootie that sits atop a leather-wrapped wedge platform. The matching leather trim tops off the natural canvas upper shoe half and adds a lil’ detail. The lace-up top makes for a snug fit, with an open heel and peep-toe that adds a summer look and feel. And its best detail: $116! Summer just got better and a bit hotter.
It really is time to start putting away the shades of grey and drabby black clothing and shoes right about now. Spring/Summer if anything is time to branch out with color, to make a statement with a splash. So we made sure to have JC’s “Child” wedge in stock for this purpose if for no other reason (there are other reasons. . .). The great thing about a multi-colored sandal: it goes with everything. And we mean with everything. Denim, browns, whites, yellows, and any other fun colored dress you’re thinking of wanting to pair sandals with. The wedge is a comfortably one, despite it’s 5″ wedge height appearance. We’re fond of the cut-outs in the ankle strap as well as across the toes, just right amount of a cute, but not too cute touch. Plus, JC’s asking price is only $125, making the sandal color splash choice all that much easier.
Last year, TOMS did something daring, and a bit surprising: they made heels, or rather, wedges. But it was a smart move on their part, we think. Naturally, the company had to take their shoe company in some new direction, slip-on shoes just aren’t going to cut it forever. So seeing the spot for change and opportunity, they tested out the new shoe, the wedge. And last Spring, we couldn’t keep them in stock. Still the same kind of “TOMS comfort” and still the same story, where you buy one, you’re giving one, the wedge was everything girls wanted to grab onto next. So back by popular demand, we have this year the wedge in black, grey, and Kenya Stripe (pictured below). Still a reasonable price for TOMS, $72, the wedge is still considered a relatively new level for TOMS. We love ‘em, and so do the customers. Do you need anymore testimony than that?
We always try to keep things sunny and cheerful in the shoe store, even on the rainiest or coldest days of the year. But as days start to warm up, we have a lil’ help on our side. And this season, we even have a sandal that can do it for you. Jeffrey Campbell’s “Sunny” ($154) wooden platform is here to help make everything brighter for spring and summer. It has adorable tri-colored leather straps (green, yellow, orange) knotted at the top and an ankle strap to keep you stepping strong. With a 4 1/2″ heel and 2″ platform–this is a serious wedge, but don’t be scared! Embrace it instead, and walk taller and perhaps with a sunny glow around you when wearing these sandals.
We don’t care that the weather is already creeping into the 50s and settlin’ in at that range. We just don’t. And one way we choose to defy the weather is to still offer up cute shoes, others might consider for summer temperatures. Just because it’s peep-toe DOES NOT mean it stays in the back of your closet until May. So for those of you that do know how to rock a wedge and peep-toe this time of year, JC has the Miramar with tons of nice rich leather straps to keep a girl happy, plus some height! For $175, the wedge includes suede, leather, and wood, and brown tones for Fall that just go with any outfit to fit the season. Keep on keepin’ on with peep-toes!
Take from the infamous desert boot, that gum soles are IN. F-Troupe, a new brand for us this season, is taking it to heart, and has placed it on their cross-wedge shoe too for women. We’re loving this sleek modern look of a wedge that will go nicely with tights we think for the upcoming season. Add some British flair to your shoe closet this season by dipping into F-Troupe’s styles. Whether you want a hard boot or a soft wedge, F-Troupe covers it (and with a gum sole!).
Want to go a lil’ military this season, but not quite all the way? Add some edge to your look with the hidden wedge and with 80%20‘s “Adair” boot. It’s tough but not too tough we think. The distressed look keeps coming back time and time again on shoes, and the Adair does it nice. The Adair is structured and is all around easier to handle with the wedge. So it’s really not that hard of a dare to take on, except maybe the price. . . $204. If you can dare to spend the bones, then you’ll be wearing the Adair, daring everyone else to copy you.
With so many styles and so many designers out there these days, shoes can tend to lose their pizazz early on in the season. And while we can try and get excited about every new shoe we see, it’s tough, honestly to get excited about another oxford or another clog. But, that’s why we love carrying the 80%20 brand, they never deliver “boring” but instead give us some juicy shoe eye candy season after season. This season, the juicy flava flav shoe we have on our shelf is the “Nory.” It’s a lil’ bit of everything: a lil’ dark ( in nature), a lil’ goth perhaps, a lil’ English with hints of Dr. Martens edginess, it’s a lil’ shine, it’s a lil’ leather, it’s a lil’ height, it’s a lil’ bite, BUT a whole lotta SPUNK. And you have to love spunk. We all need some spunk when seasons start to get cold and when days can seem longer than the longest day. For $172, you can buy spunk this season and pass along the entire spunky story of the Nory.
Toggle buttons are simply divine. Nothing like toggle buttons on a great cape or even wool coat, so we were tickled to find them this season on boots! 80%20 decided to take the toggle button put it with some ultra soft suede leather (in cocoa or jet black colors) and make a lil’ bootie–the “Eliotte.” The signature hidden wedge is still there (even if it’s hidden), and we’re just glad that the brand has branched out to winter shoes, so we can enjoy the wedge all year round. We can still remember the days when there was just a few spring/summer styles to start the brand off–my how the years fly by! Don’t let this year fly by and end without picking up one of the colors for $140. We’re already envisioning these with some crocheted tights and cute plaid skirts, but if you have any other outfit pairing ideas–tell us!
How about a coffee break? Why not take one with the coffee colored ALL BLACK “Classy” wedge dress shoe? No milk or sugar needed for this coffee colored shoe, it’s simple and classic AND classy, hence the name, we think. All leather and made in Europe, ALL BLACK keeps it real as far as shoe makers go. A wedge dress shoe makes for more comfort yet still is dressy enough to wear it to an interview, out on the weekends, or even for a dressy casual outfit. And for $136, the dressy AND classy wedge in coffee (and in black on our shelf too) is the real coffee break you need this week.
