Cheryl Shops

For the first time in my life, I'm not freezing my ass off in January, and it's truly a beautiful thing. In fact, the temperature has been pushing 70 this week in San Francisco, which leaves me in an I-have-no-idea-what-to-wear situation. The short answer here is usually layers, but when it comes to my lower half, I'm discovering bare legs with knee-high boots is a good balance. My problem, however, is that I got rid of most of my boots before I moved here, so I have very few options (five, to be exact). The other day I wore a navy, silver, and white outfit with taupe buckled boots and I just felt wrong all day. I've concluded I need a pair of pure gray boots, cool in tone and maybe a little slouchy in shape. Good news: I found the perfect pair. Bad news: They're $1,250. And while I am trying to buy fewer but nicer things, I don't think these (gorgeous, gorgeous) Marsell boots are quite in the cards. Which is too bad, because with their cool, cone-like 2.5-inch heel and neutral greige color, they're pretty much perfect.


So, by comparison, these Sergio Rossi boots, at $400, seem like a veritable bargain! They're also more classic, with an almond-shaped toe, stacked three-inch heel, and higher shaft. The color is a bit darker too, which is probably more practical in the grand scheme of things.



I am also considering these Frye Deborah boots, but I worry the shape is a bit too western for this city girl, and while the 1.5-inch heel is probably the best choice for tackling San Francisco's hills, I tend to prefer something higher (especially since I live and work in rather flat areas). I do, however, appreciate the pre-aged effect.



As for budget contenders, these Zara boots are just $99.99, and in spite of the fact that they have a subtle zipper (in case you haven't figured it out by now, I hate boots that zip), they look equally sleek and sturdy. Which means not exactly slouchy, but for $100, I'm not going to be too picky.

The comedian Louis C.K. has a funny bit called "of course...but maybe," in which he addresses the ill logic behind political correctness. In spite of all the crazy crap that's been going on this this country the last few days, however, I'll stay away from politics, lest you, dear readers, be subjected to my diatribes on the injustices of the world. But I will borrow Louis' setup to talk about shoes. Or, more specifically, boots.

Of course it's in the mid-nineties in NYC this week (there I go again with the weather!). Of course, I mean, it's July! But considering Nordstrom's legendary anniversary sale is now on, maybe—maybe!—it's a good time to buy boots. The mere thought of putting your feet in boots might make you sweat, but, hey, you're getting them on sale in the pre-season, and come fall, you're going to wear them evrrrrwhrrr.

The pair in question is Frye's Wyatt Disc boots, which are very on-trend for the upcoming season in that they're short and embellished with a low heel. I like that the studs are rounded and more beat-up-looking, thankfully moving away from the faceted pyramid studs we've been seeing for seasons. Frye boots are typically made of really nice leather, and these have been artfully broken in already, which, as a Frye owner, I can tell you normally takes years (but is worth the effort). I like the shape of the shaft—between the width and the little dip at the front, they're practically made for wearing with skinny jeans, making Wyatt your go-to weekend boots. They're a slight investment at $218.90, but after the sale, they go up to the regular price of $327.95, which now makes them seem like a veritable bargain, right? Of course it's too hot for boots right this very minute, but maybe you'd be nuts to pass them up.

Even though I work in fashion, my coworkers seem endlessly fascinated by the fact that I wear heels to work every day. "Even when it's raining!" one of my work friends once exclaimed. Much like my tactic for staying above the dirty summer sidewalks, big platform heels actually come in handy on rainy days because they keep you elevated over the puddles. Of course, you don't want to wear suede or leather or fabric in adverse conditions, but patent and synthetic leather withstand the conditions quite nicely. A great source for the latter is ShoeDazzle, which is one of those sites that makes you take a quiz, then "curates" a selection of product for you. (More on that later.) Nearly everything on the site is under $100, with the majority under $50, and many styles for even less than that. What makes ShoeDazzle stand out is the sheer variety of styles—this is where the quiz comes in handy to help narrow things down for you, although you can easily shop by style, new arrivals, or trend—and the fact that they have uber-stylist Rachel Zoe lending a hand. (Another bonus: ShoeDazzle has done away with that annoying monthly-commitment thing that similar sites still do.) The Gally wedge sandals (a Rachel Zoe pick) turned up in my shop, and at $39.95, I mean, how could I not buy them? Minimal and geometric, with a comfy wedge heel, they manage to be both neutral and interesting. I can also report they're incredibly comfortable, with a well-padded insole, and they withstood even the torrential downpour that was happening at lunchtime today. I got no fewer than eight compliments on them, including from one incredulous friend who made me take a shoe off to prove where they were from (she thought they were Céline!). And while it would be truly extravagant (and possibly stupid) to wear $1,000 shoes in the rain, isn't it better to spend just a fraction of that...and save the rest to spend on even more shoes?

Bonus: Now through Wednesday 6/12, you can enter to win a trip to L.A. here!

I recently expounded on the joys of black platform sandals, but now that sale season has begun, it's a great time to buy some crazy fun shoes too. You know what I'm talking about: Shoes so impractical, you'd never pay full price, but once they hit 40 or 50 percent off, how can you afford to pass them up, amiright? I've been meaning to write about June Ambrose's HSN line for awhile, and before you start laughing so hard you can't finish reading this post, let me just say that HSN has some amazing exclusives, and they're really courting a more fashiony customer such as yourself. Case in point: the June Ambrose by theme® line of shoes; if you're not familiar with Ambrose, she's basically responsible for styling every fly music video you watched in the '90s and is thus worthy of her own shoe line. There are a bunch of fun styles in the line, but my favorite is the Freda, a sandal with bright blue suede, sexy mesh, and, best of all, a bold peacock print. (There's also a practical all-black style and a chic nude and leopard, but come on, the peacock is fun, and that's the point of this post.) Would I ever pay full price for them? Probably not, but they're on sale at the moment, and that's good enough for me—good, cheap fun.

We fashion bloggers like to swoon over shoes, the more outlandish the better. Six-inch heels! Rainbow colors! Studs and buckles and straps and spikes! And yet, the shoes I end up wearing the most are the neutral ones.* I don't know if that's a sad commentary on my dreams versus my reality or what, but generally at the beginning of every summer, I buy a pair of black platform sandals and I wear the crap out of them. In spite of all the tempting summer colors out there, black is important in New York because, hey, it's New York! But also because NYC is disgusting in the summer, and all of those pretty candy colors are going to be gray with filth by the second or third time you wear them. Platforms are also key, because they keep you elevated several inches above said filth. (If you want to conduct a really gross experiment—at your own risk!—walk around the city in flip-flops for a few hours, and you'll see what I mean.) So here are five options I'm considering, all under $150. Let's discuss!

Dear readers, it's a first-ever combo post at Cheryl Shops: MasstigeWatch and In These Shoes, together at last! We've seen Nine West here before—past collections with Sophie Theallet and Giles come to mind—but last month they debuted a collaboration with a high-end retailer, Kirna Zabete. This is noteworthy in that Kirna Zabete doesn't have an in-house line—the store is known for its incredibly well-selected stock, and it's the kind of place where, if money were no object, I would totally shop all the time—and that it's a store, not an actual designer (although there are two lovely ladies, Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley, behind it). That said, it's one of the strongest collaborations I've seen thus far at Nine West—so much so that I"m featuring all eight pairs, many of which are on their way to being sold out already!


Top row:
The Bandeau was the style that first got my attention because, let's face it, who doesn't want a satin sandal with a puff of marabou feathers at the toe? Then again, with a nearly 5-inch heel, these are perhaps best suited for activities that don't require standing, if you know what I mean.

I'd hesitate to call anything with marabou feathers practical, but compared to the Bandeau, the Otay, with its 2.5-inch heel, is practically utilitarian. At least you can walk in them.

The one style that's completely sold out, the Jois is, interestingly, also the most expensive in the line, at $169. It has stiff (pun intended) competition in this area, but I would argue that it's also by far the sexiest of the collection.

Middle row:
My one quibble with this collection is that there are 4-inch heels and there are flats, but there's nothing in between. And while I'm not a flats girl, I tend to make an exception in the summer, especially for embellished thong sandals like the Seashell.

The Altra is one of those shoes that looks fabulous on the shelf (who can resist ruffles?!), but I worry a bit that it might not look so great on, especially if your legs are of the thicker variety.

Bottom row:
Another style on the verge of selling out, the Sophi is an edgy update of the every-woman's-wardrobe-necessity black peep-toe pump. It looks like something Alexander Wang would create, but better.

The Wexar would make a great summer-wedding shoe, particularly if you're getting married on the beach (I speak from experience). Unlike regular bridal shoes, I'd venture that you'd definitely wear these again.

As I said earlier, I am generally not a flats person, but the Kneata might just make a convert out of me, if only for accomplishing the nearly impossible: making flats look a little bit dangerous.

Today was the first day of spring. Here in New York, that meant sunny but brisk weather with temperatures in the mid-40s; tomorrow it's supposed to snow. Again. Is it me, or has this been the longest. Winter. Ever?! So whether or not the weather cooperates, I'd like to comemmorate this change of seasons with shoes so pretty, they can't help but improve your outlook: the floral-print Plenty by Tracy Reese Hayden pumps. A slight twist on that old chestnut "business in the front, party in the back," they have a solid suede toe with a fun floral print at the heel. They are, by all means, impractical, but they're the kind of shoes you buy on impulse; you then panic that they won't go with anything in your closet; but then they're so unique, you end up wearing them with everything. I, for one, would wear them for a month straight if it meant temperatures would stay in the 50s. Maybe we can make that happen?

I am really, really, really, really sick of winter. Really. I think I have maybe another week or two left in me, and then I'm going to need to take desperate measures: I'm going to start dressing for spring, actual weather be damned. I mean, how am I supposed to keep wearing tights and boots when there are cute shoes like these Rowan sandals by Milly for Sperry Top-Sider around? Granted, nothing says warm weather to me like a classic pair of Top-Siders, but the preppy mainstay has smartly partnered with Michelle Smith, who put a modern, fashion-forward spin on the line for spring. There are glittery slip-ons and fun printed espadrilles, but the Rowan sandal here is my favorite from the line—it combines signature Sperry elements like lacing and webbing with fashion-forward details like an espadrille platform and a chunky lucite heel. (Seriously, I am drooling over that heel!) The tan color probably would make a better transitional style, but my super-impractical side—you know, the one that wants to wear sandals when it's 40 degrees out—really loves the white. And why not? It will be spring soon enough, right? Right? Please?

So maybe I'm not immune to trying new things in the new year after all; last week, I bought a pair of flats. That's right, flats! I stopped by Topshop to check out the sale selection (with the ridiculous exchange rate they charge, I refuse to pay full price for anything there) and walked out with this pair of studded blush ballet flats for $20. Yep, I said $20. No, I will not shut up! Even better, they're from the Office in-store boutique, so they're real leather from Spain, unlike many of Topshop's house-label shoes, like the similar but inferior (read: synthetic) Mine flats. Unfortunately, the shoes aren't available online; this studded quilted pair from  Office is similar, but the wrong color and not at all on sale (plus—oof—£25 for shipping). The closest I could find are the Mantsopa flats from Aldo, a chic quilted style with round gold studs at the toe cap (they're also available in all black or camel with a black toe). They're synthetic (boo) but just $50, a bargain (yay!).  I might just buy another pair—who knows, maybe in 2013, flats are the new platforms!

Let's be honest, January is a bottom-feeding time of year. Granted, if you are patient, it can be fabulous: Amidst all the pilling, dirty rejects, I've found everything from Prada pumps to 8-ply cashmere sweaters for 75% off. I'm now at the age where I still love a bargain, but I no longer have the stomach for sifting through sales racks. Thankfully, through the magic of the Internet, I get email alerts when my favorite brands go on sale (Shop It To Me is a favorite service for this, and if you have an iPad, Shopstyle has a fantastic app), and thus clearance season becomes awesomeness season. The best part is when an item you've been watching for months hits 50% off, but then it becomes kind of a game too—do you pounce immediately or wait until it goes to 70%? A wise woman once said you should never buy on sale what you wouldn't pay full price for, but an even wiser woman (me) says why pay full-price for one pair of shoes when you can get two pairs on sale?

Which brings me to these Theyskens' Theory Evie pumps, now on sale at Shopbop for 50% off. Word on the street is that platforms are on their way out ("single-sole pumps," aka non-platform pumps, are the buzz for spring), but as I've said many times before, you can ply my platforms from my cold, dead, atrophied feet. These are suede, and I have a hard time paying full price ($420!) for a pair of suede shoes. $210, however, I could handle, especially when they have a very comfortable 3.25" heel (that's a 5-inch heel minus the 1.75" platform), an interesting seamed toe, and a sexy gold metal detail along the heel that creates the illusion of a stiletto. There's one pair left in my size in gray, and while part of me wants to hold out for another markdown, I don't know if I can. After all, I'm a shopper, not a gambler.

If I were younger and thinner and had better hair, I'd want to be a personal style blogger. Granted, I think most aspiring fashion bloggers nowadays want to be personal style bloggers, and with good reason: If successful, they tend to have very high-profile careers, with much cachet in the industry. (Well, as much cachet as one can hope to achieve as a blogger.) You can usually tell when a fashion blogger gets her big break; all of a sudden, her Zara and ASOS bags are replaced by Givenchy or Céline. I'm happy for her when this happens, but I also brace myself; sometimes this means then end of what made the blog so unique in the first place. It's easy to look fabulous in Acne and Phillip Lim; it's way more interesting to mix vintage, high, and low all together.



One of my favorite bloggers who's managed to stay true to her aesthetic is Sincerely Jules, and even though she is, yes, younger, thinner, and better-coiffed than I am, I find myself constantly buying things she models on her blog. (A tip: It is good karma to buy items directly from your favorite fashion blogs!) She has a great Southern-California laid-back vibe, but with a hint of glamour. I am currently obsessed with this post, in which she combined relatively simple elements—a sweatshirt, a denim jacket, sneakers, a tote—with a sparkly beaded miniskirt. I have a similar jacket, sweatshirt, and skirt; the Céline tote is a pipe dream (see, there it is!); but what I'm missing is a pair of gray high-top sneakers. Jules' are YSL; my budget is more DSW. So I think these Steve Madden Dougiee sneakers are a good alternative. With tiny gold studs, they're a little more blinged out than Jules' pair, but I think that will actually work nicely with the gold sequins in my skirt. I'm a little nervous to wear sneakers with a skirt—you know how I feel about my heels—but maybe I'll just have to practice that angled, off-kilter pose that all the bloggers do. The Céline tote may be for the top tier of fashion bloggers only, but everyone can pop a knee and look fabulous.

Fact: I love T-strap shoes. Another fact: I love studded shoes. So, you can pretty much guarantee I'll love studded T-strap shoes like these Schutz Fiona pumps. I buy a new pair of black pumps every fall, and while on one hand they can be kind of mundane and necessary, it's details like the faceted gold studs that give these lovelies some personality—and that also let me justify buying them. Well, they are different than anything else I own!  They have a small covered platform that will help me transition out of chunky-clunky and into the more ladylike shapes for fall. Plus, the heel clocks in just under four inches, which makes them Cheryl Shops–approved for city life. As for who created such a beauteous pair of shoes, Schutz is a Brazilian brand that's fairly new to the U.S.; they offer very trend-conscious footwear at very reasonable prices (most styles are under $200), so expect to see a lot more of them here, or at their new store at 655 Madison Avenue (at 60th Street).

Yep, it's that time of year when I come home to September issues of my fashion magazines piled in front of my door, too thick to fit into my mailbox. September issues are like meals, and I can't wait to digest all the fall-fashion deliciousness. One item that I want to simply devour is this pair of Givenchy cuffed wedge boots, which I've already pinned to my Pinterest page. What is it about these boots that makes them so irresistible, especially when I already own so many pairs? (See, I just beat my husband to that question.) For one, the cuff, created by an additional layer of leather, has the same leg-elongating effect as wearing a pair of boot-cut pants. Except these are way sexier, because your thigh is exposed. The shark lock detail at the top is spiky and dangerous-looking, which is also sexy. But underneath that sheath of buttery-soft pebbled leather lies a sturdy, practical wedge heel. (A four-inch heel, but a wedge nonetheless.) These boots are the best of both worlds, and they're priced accordingly. So I'll wait for someone to knock them off and offer them at a more palatable level (Pour La Victoire, I'm looking at you), but for those of you who can afford an occasional indulgence, you can now pre-order the real thing at Forward by Elyse Walker.

At my day job, I'm neck-high in fall fashion. On one hand, it's weird to be talking about wool and leather and dark colors when it's over 90 degrees outside, but on the other hand, I can't wait for it to be fall. I love going to the beach and I really love sandals, but I do not like sweating, humidity, how the city smells, air-conditioning, or bugs. My comfort level falls somewhere between 65 and 75 degrees, so, yes, I know, I should move to San Francisco. But I digress. I'm totally looking forward to that sweater-and-jeans weather that starts up around late September, and while I can't even bear to look at fall clothes right now, I can at least look at fall shoes. And I would like to look at these J.Crew Everly pumps, and then look at them some more, and then look at them on my own feet. They're the type of shoes that at first you think, "These won't go with anything in my closet," but then realize, "These go with everything in my closet." The archival foulard print is so unique, it will elevate whatever you're wearing, and the pointy cap toe is very on-trend for fall (trust me: pointy toes are back). These shoes are an investment, but as I noted last week, investments are where it's at. And, as I've discovered, closed-toe come in handy in the summer when your pedicure starts chipping but you don't have time for a new one. See, some things are seasonless.

Just last week, I wrote about how I'm too cheap to invest in really expensive shoes and yet I remain fixated on the fancy footwear. Case in point: Valentino Rockstud sandals, which I first wrote about in March 2011. I'm still obsessed, and yet I can't quite shell out for the real thing. Which is why I'm so happy I found these studded Guess sandals. They aren't quite as subtle as the real thing—the white is really bright, the studs are very yellow-gold—but they retain that lovely ladylike quality that Valentino does so well, with a nice kitten heel and front straps that create a bow-like effect. I can report that they're comfy, with a totally walkable 3-inch heel and a bit of padding in the footbed, although they run a bit big—I had to go down half a size. The best part, though, is that they're on sale for $88, which makes them less than a tenth of the price of the real thing. Cheap? I prefer frugal.

In spite of the fact that I write a blog devoted to the pursuit of shopping, I have a price threshold for most things. For shoes, my favorite, it's actually about $300. (An exception: I paid full price—much more than $300—for my wedding shoes, which I wore, you guessed it, once.) And while I do manage to score some amazing pairs on sale, this has prevented me from investing in some really quality footwear. Take, for example, YSL Tribute sandals. In a neutral color like black or nude, they're practically a classic at this point, and I have a feeling that if I actually ponied up for a pair, I would definitely get my money's worth. (Side note: They are, by almost all reports, incredibly comfortable, which is always a bonus when you're spending $800 on a pair of shoes.) The problem is, I just can't pull the trigger.

I had no problem whatsoever buying Vince Camuto's Toleo sandals. Okay, they are a blatant knockoff, however the front straps are thinner, and the platform doesn't have quite the same sculptural quality. That said, they are finished quite well, with a stitched sole and a nice balance to them. While I can't exactly compare them with the Tributes, I can report that they're so comfortable, I walked from my office in Times Square to the East Village with nary a blister. Also, it should be noted, they make your legs look fantastic. At $98, they're pretty much a no-brainer: I will probably order them in nude and, Vince, if you're reading this, whatever other color I can snatch up—silver would be absolutely fantastic, wouldn't it?  

The first time I saw one of the many variants of the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers, beloved by the Man Repeller, among other bloggers, I had a hard time deciding whether they were cool or ugly. Then I realized, this is something I experience with the pieces in my closet that end up garnering the most compliments. Which means I should probably buy a pair, but $680 for something I'm not 100% sure about is a bit hard to handle, not to mention that there's a lengthy wait list for the real Isabel Marant deal. Enter the Cool suede wedge sneakers by Ash, a pretty close approximation for about a third of the price. Ash, one of my favorite shoe labels, has been making wedge and high-heeled sneakers for ages, but this is their first style to feature a concealed wedge, à la Marant. I have absolutely no idea how to wear these—with skinny jeans seems like the most obvious choice—but I look forward to coming up with all the viable possibilities.

Come on, you don't think this 60-degree weather is going to last, do you? Yes, it has been a mild winter thus far, but I would truly be shocked if we don't get hit with some frigid temperatures soon. There always seems to be a blizzard during Fashion Week, which starts next Thursday, by the way. And speaking of Fashion Week, the paparazzi would likely go crazy over these Miz Mooz Othello boots. They're big and furry and outré, but they're also practical—the faux fur will keep your legs warm, there's a rubber sole, and the wedge heel is a manageable 2-3/4 inches (that's 3.5 inches minus a 3/4-inch platform). Plus the bow tones down the shape and gives them a chic bit of definition. To make them totally street-style-blog worthy, I recommend wearing with a furry hat and coat, plus a supershort skirt and an It Bag (both Fashion Week staples). The fact that they're just $121 can be your little secret.

Back in my personal wish-list entry in my holiday gift guide, I featured Loeffler Randall's crushed blue velvet Natane lace-up stilettos, noting that I was watching them like a hawk in case they went on sale. Saks.com marked them down the day after Christmas, but, alas, by the time I got to them, only size 10 was left (and those are long gone now). After I finished mending my broken heart, I came across the next best thing. They might not be blue velvet, but the metallic lizard version is the silver, er, gold lining in the cloud. They are still available on Loeffler Randall's website and, even better, are on sale, although still on the pricey side, at $313. Still, have you seen a pair of shoes that so deftly toe the line between glamorous and edgy? And in spite of the 105mm heel (about 4 inches), I'll bet that, like every other pair of Loeffler Randall shoes I own, they're quite comfortable. While I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for another markdown, if these babies are still around by my birthday, I think I might have found my present to myself.

Dear readers, as this is my last post before the holidays (not to fret, I'll be back the first week of January!), I thought I'd leave you with a special treat. With all the gift guides and fall shopping guides, I know I've been low on shoe posts lately, but hopefully this will make up for it. So, I've been obsessed with Diane von Furstenberg's Penn fringe boots ever since they came down the runway last February. They're in line with that whole urban-bohemian Isabel Marant vibe, and they look like something Kate Moss would wear (an instant win in my book). And in spite of the fact that they're $650, these boots are sold out nearly everywhere (Shopbop being the one exception, although they're out of my size in black). Of course, this makes me want them even more. Desperate, I started Googling black suede fringe boots and lo and behold, I found this very similar pair by Ecote at Urban Outfitters on sale for $34.99. That's right, $34.99. They are real, actual suede, and while the fringe isn't nearly as thick as the DVF version, I feel like at that price, you really have no cause for complaint. They even get bonus points in my book for the very tolerable 2.5-inch heel (as opposed to DVF's 3.75"). If there were ever a no-brainer featured in this category, I think these boots would be it. Seriously, go buy yourself a pair—they're Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year rolled all into one! And on that note, see you next year!