Spit and Polish

Before:

After:
It's just like getting a new pair of boots--without a nightmare at the mall.

Frumpy Footware

See these amazing Oscar de la Renta boots?
My footwear isn't like that.


Of all the folks doing wardrobe therapy, of all the folks who will ever do WT, I think it's safe to say I have the most boring collection of shoes and boots in the universe.


1. Pile

Stalwart Staples: (3/3)
-- 1 pair of runners (cross trainers).
-- 1 pair of low-heeled black winter boots.
-- 1 pair of sandals. (I wear these as my "slippers" in winter because they are super heavy duty sandals. I bought them in the "sports" section of Canadian Tire. They're essentially Velcro straps integrated with a rubber tire. They're meant for people when they go canoeing and camping and such, not for ladies who lunch.)

Velveteen Rabbits (5/3)
There were a few surprises here. I'd forgotten I still had these shoes.

--1 pair of moccasins with a solid sole (necessary for my foot problems). The lining is coming out.

--1 pair of backless red suede clogs.(The original crocs). Very comfortable (when my feet feel OK) but the suede is badly damaged. I'm going to see if I can restore them.

--2 pairs of runners (cross trainers). I examined the wear on the treads very closely before I tossed them and indeed you can see the progression of first the right foot and then the left slowly falling down at the heel and to the inside of my foot.

----A pair of burgundy(!) trouser shoes in a style I can't even describe. They also have a bit of a heel (but it is solid to the shoe) and they are quite comfortable. But they are badly scuffed at the toe.


Same Time Next Year (1/0?)
--1 pair of yellow-beige heels (well, not to Wende as they are less than 2 inches) that I have always hated but always wear when I need a heel. They have a squared off pointy toe and a square opening to the foot.

Sentimental Favourites (1/0?)
The patent leather heels I bought 25 years ago. If they fit, I'd wear them. I got "classic" absolutely right when I spent a month's worth of groceries on them way back then.

And that's it.

Gaps:
--a decent, comfortable basic shoe to wear with pants and dresses when I can wear something other than my runners. I may go windows(tm) shopping for these.

--a pair of dressy shoes.

--a sandal for summer that doesn't look like I'm going to launch a boat in them.

Priority:
The basic shoe to be worn with pants or dresses. We are actually going out to a "Christmas play" this coming Friday and I'd like a new pair of shoes to wear with my dress. It's kind of silly, as most of us usually keep our winter boots on, but I hate doing that, as my feet get really hot after an hour or so. So, I'll look and see if I can find anything that will 1) take an insole for proper support and 2) satisfy my craving for a "nice" pair of shoes that will make me feel like a lady. I want them to be both "dressy" and suitable for pants.

These would obviously be dressy and make me feel like a lady:


Yes! Betsey Johnson saddle shoes. I know just the kind of dress I'd put with them too. But, I'd never wear it! And I have the strongest urge to go play with my daughter's Barbies, now!

More Palatable Arm Candy

The Budget Fashionista (see post below) recommends that you "outline with expensive and colour in with cheap." She makes an interesting point:

For example, if you're carrying a $1,000 Christian Dior bag, it doesn't matter if you're wearing a jogging suit from K-Mart--people will assume you're wealthy because of the bag.

Perhaps.
Maybe I'll just think she spent waaaay too much money on a bag--or I'd assume it's fake.
Whatever.

In the spirit of "outlining" with expensive, I offer you these tote bags (remember I said I wanted one?) as my own personal selections from bluefly. (I looked at 784 tote bags. These I liked. Can you guess which one is my favourite? The prices quoted are from their site. By the by, these are sale prices. )

As I perused, I was bemused: when did handbags become luggage?

Update: I finally went through and checked out some of the comments. Yay! Practical suggestions--and I finally went and looked at those links from Zooza. You know what? I would actually rather try and make my own tote bag. I don't want to broadcast "expensive and classy," I'd much rather broadcast "crafty and classy." Thanks for the bump back to reality!

Arm Candy?

(I went looking on the web for nice purses and couldn't find any. To me, these are ugly. There's too much detail, too much contrast, too much hardware. I like my purses quiet and well-behaved. That doesn't seem to be the trend in purses at the moment. Images from http://www.pursepage.com/)

I'm not even going to get them out.

I have three.

Stalwart Staple: (1)

One over the shoulder bag in black. Could be leather, but I doubt it. I got it after Christmas, (sssh, at a department store), on sale. I like shoulder bags as I must have my hands free--if not for a child, then for my ever present coffee mug. It's OK. It "goes" with my running shoes. When I wear it, I wear it--it is most unfashionably across my chest. Those sloping shoulders are a nuisance.

Same Time, Next Year: (2)

One brightly coloured, probably plastic beach bag bought in a flash of anticipation of packing it to go to the park (beaches being few and far between in these parts). We did that for a while. Actually though, I prefer a backpack for this--and loading up the kids with stuff in their own backpacks. "I am not your valet" is an oft heard expression around here.

One small shiny patent black leather shoulder bag bought back when I purchased my black leather patent shoes (which do not and shall not ever fit me again). I don't think I have ever used it. The only occasions I seemed to have for it were all in summer when carrying a black bag, no matter how shiny, just seemed wrong. I've had it (and the shoes) for probably 20+ years. They were my first "grown-up" wardrobe investment pieces.

Needs:

Not a purse, so much as a good sturdy bag to schlep books back and forth to the library. I use really strong plastic bags--but they do wear out and I'm not that fond of the "bag lady" look. As Mella so diplomatically said,

"nothing wrong with anyone who is, but I'm not one, and I don't want my accessories to be dishonest."

The library actually sells a fabric bag, but I've resisted purchasing it as it would be nice to also have a bag for purchases at Home despot and other places that use plastic bags. And I don't like being branded--not even by the library.

I don't suppose you've come across a pattern for such a thing, Zooza? I'd have to have super industrial strength handles on the thing.

And that, as they say, is that.

Now what?