January 27, 2009

I love shoes.  I mean…I LOVE shoes!  Have you ever heard a woman say out loud that she DOESN'T like shoes?  Not me.  Maybe some of us are more manic fanatic about shoes than other people are, but shoes are universally loved in my opinion.  You can try on shoes when you're having a “Fat Day” and not have to worry about facing down the dreaded heinous dressing room mirror.  You can always use another pair of shoes, no matter how many you already have, and still not duplicate a pair. We all know that you can never have too many pair of black shoes.  Or in my case; pink shoes!  Fabulous shoes can make you feel fabulous, and turn a mediocre outfit into something stunning!

I seem to gravitate toward one style of shoe in particular, and that's the t-strap!  I adore them, and how they look on the foot.  They're lady-like but not prissy, professional but not stuffy.  I love them, and I now have 6 pair.  Would you like to see them? I knew you would!  I should have photographed these on my feet, but I didn't.  Rats.  My poor photography doesn't do my beauties justice, but here they are.

These Naturalizers have been my go-to black shoe for a couple of years and you can definitely tell they're worn to exhaustion and need to be retired!  I haven't been able to bring myself to do that yet.  Maybe I can when I find a replacement go-to pair to fill their shoes!

Naturalizer T-Strap

I love Antonio Melani's shoes, and just happened to find a black pair of his t-straps at Dillard's 2 years ago.  They're the only pair of ankle t-straps in my collection, which I don't usually buy since I think they cut off the flow of your legs.  These are great with pants.

Antonio Melani T-Straps

That's 2 pair of black t-straps already; how about a third?  I just bought these Kenneth Coles when we were in Vegas a couple of months ago.  I didn't have a pair of patent leather ones, so you know I had to get these.  And they were on sale!  Plus they're a wedge, which is super comfortable and practical for me since my work day involves running to and fro all day long. I like the contrast of the wood wedge with the shiny black patent leather.

Kenneth Cole T-Straps

I don't just wear black though, I love color.  I especially love these turquoise wedges, and have found more outfits to wear these with than I imagined.  They came from Nordstrom's and are their own brand.  They've worn very well, even though they're fabric and have a cork wedge sole. I'll be sad when these have to be retired; this is one of the most flattering colors on me, and it isn't a color you find very frequently in a shoe.

Nordstrom T-Straps

In my wardrobe, brown is definitely the new black, and it looks much better near my face.  I have several pair of brown shoes, but I didn't have a brown pair of t-straps.  These Bandolinos came from DSW Shoes (who by the way, has 106 pair of t-straps online right now. Schwing!), and are suede with a faux crocodile heel, platform and strap.  So yummy!  Are they comfortable?  Nope.  Do I care?  Nope.

Bandolino Brown T-Straps

How much do I love Bandolino's take on the t-strap?  So much that I bought them in gray too!  I'm crazy about their updated 1940s retro style with the little peep toe!

Bandolino Gray T-Straps

That's my stash of t-strap shoes!  I want to go put the Bandolinos on right now, even though I have on workout pants.  😀  I know you're a fellow shoe lover, LilSis.  What's your favorite style of shoe?

~BigSis