If I could only have one thing this summer...

Let it be these shoes by Mimosa.

I've been thinking about high heels for a while now and my love-hate relationship with them. Two weeks ago I wore one of my favourite pair of heels to work; they're 5 inches, with a platform heel and a red tartan colour. I forgot to wear socks with them and so the skin on the sides of both my feet were ripped off after walking in them for 10 minutes. Needless to say it was a day where I had to make my friend Michelle get me food because I couldn't make the walk to the grocery store and I had to beg my cousin to bring me flats to wear home. That day, I hated shoes and what they did to my poor, shredded, tired feet.

But despite that, I still love them. I love how tall they make me; I seriously tower over so many people I feel indestructable. I love how sexy I feel when I wear them; the comments, the whistles and the stares I get is awesome. I just feel really powerful and hot in high heels. Flats may be more comfortable (even that is debatable) but I truly believe women shouldn't leave the house without wearing heels.

Unfortunately I am finding it difficult to take my own advice ever since "the shoe incident." I'm a bit scared of them. I'm scared that my feet will never look the same again. I'm scared my feet will take up in arms if I put them in heels.

But I love heels so much that I might be crazy enough to endure the pain as long as I look good wearing them. Of course this may involve hobbling down the street, moaning in agony, but hell, I look damn good in them. I'm just going to wait until my scars heal a bit more.

Shopping made difficult

My friend Michelle and I were planning on shopping for shoes after work. We got off at 5 and made our way up Spadina to Queen. We were hungry and decided to eat first at Pho before starting our quest for the perfect footwear; Michelle needed fancy shoes for a wedding as well as Campers and runners whereas I was looking for high-heeled black boots.

By the time we finished our food it was quarter to seven. No biggie, it wasn't even dark yet. But most of the shops were already closing. I ask you: Why do all the shops on Queen Street close so early? There must be some kind of rule or law because it doesn't make any practical business sense. There is barely enough time for people to leave work, get a bite to eat and shop. We managed to look in three or four stores before we gave up the search.

Random note: Since when are black boots "out of season"? Out all of all the stores I checked out, none of them carried them. Michelle politely informed me that stores only carry them during the Fall and Winter. I say screw that! Black boots are timeless and can be worn on the hottest as well as the coldest of nights. Black boots are hot! And so the search continues.

Another random note: Every store was carrying Hunter boots. You know, the rubber rain boots that cost upward of $150...for RUBBER BOOTS. I've got my eye on a pair or red tartan non-Hunter ones. Is $60 too much for rain boots? I'm tired of working with wet feet and pebbles in my toes.

Can I wear these to work?

I bought these shoes from Aldo a few weeks ago because I've been obsessing over those Balmain studded leather ones from last season.
They're perfect because they go with everything; skinny jeans and a casual tee and any kind of dress. Day or night you can rock these heels.
But my question to myself is: Can I wear these to work? When I showed them to my sister she immediately proclaimed that they were "hooker heels." Her words, not mine. Which led me to second-guess my idea of wearing them to work.
When I dress for work I don't have an exact formula in my mind or a standard uniform; I pretty much wear what I feel like in that moment and I'm usually too tired to try hard. I don't care if I don't match or if my heels are too tall or if I wear a large sweater. I like to mix it up a bit with cool jewelry, tartan heels, schoolboy blazers and I like experimenting with length and volume. So if I'm wearing tight pants then I'll pair it with a loose tee. I also don't like to stand out a lot and I think these shoes might stand out. Just a bit. But will my co-workers think that I'm wearing "hooker heels"? Damnit, now my sister has me quite petrified that I will be labeled the office ho. My nickname will be "Hooker Chloe" or "Hot Heeled Chloe" or something equally embarrassing.

Which leads me to think about what is appropriate to wear to the office. There are a lot of women and some men in my office who dress well but none of them take chances with their clothes or accessories. But maybe I shouldn't judge; it's not like we're working at a fashion magazine. Still, is it taboo to wear something flashy to work? Are women too scared to wear their hooker heels in the office for fear of being labeled a trollop? Maybe it is inappropriate?
But I'm not talking about dressing like you're about to go clubbing. I'm talking about wearing something unexpected like my shoes, or a jacket with big shoulders or neon pink harem pants. Just for fun. Just to challenge yourself and defy the expected way of dressing for work.

I haven't worked up the nerve to wear something unexpected and maybe it's not appropriate for an office that is non-fashion related. But maybe one day I will get the courage to wear my fabulous shoes to work and not be scared of what people will think.

Falling down at Prada

Remember at the Prada S/S 09 show the big kafuffle over the models falling down in those impossibly high and impractical shoes?

Here's a great Fashion Television clip that shows the models tripping and falling. I wonder how many careers were ruined that night?

The reactions to the show are really funny and varied from "I felt sorry for the models" to "that's the price you pay for being a supermodel."

What was I thinking? Chanel flats?

I really need to rip up my credit cards. Yesterday I had time to waste before meeting a friend to see "Rachel Getting Married" so I went to Holt's just to look at beautiful bags. Nothing caught my eye (thank God) until I wandered into the Chanel boutique. And I saw them. The perfect pair of flats ever created. Black lambskin leather with a black patent toe. They were perfect. I had the SA put them on hold for me and I'm supposed to pick them up today. But holy shit they are expensive. And I'm really starting to think that $650 for flats aren't worth it, even if they are Chanel. Hmmm. So I've been debating all day whether I should get them after I get off work. Which means I have four hours to make up my mind.

I took my question to the Purse Forum and asked the ladies there what they thought and got some mixed answers ranging from "Yes they will last forever" to "are you crazy for spending that much money?" Noted.

I do want classic black leather flats but I know I can get amazing ones for way cheaper. But they won't have Karl Lagerfeld's stamp of approval. And I want a whiff of Lagerfeld in my shoes.
I am leaning towards not getting them since I just maxed out my credit card for the Yves Saint Laurent Muse Two bag and I can spend the money saved on Christmas presents. I can't wait for Christmas.

Update: I decided not to get the flats. I'd rather get Christmas presents!

So I went shoe shopping...

A friend at work bought these gorgeous riding boots from Winners a couple weeks ago and I just had to have them. So I went to Winners and found them. Problem was, there were many shoes that caught my eye and I had to try them all on. I ended up buying four pairs of shoes, two pairs of jeans and a men's shirt. A very successful day I would say!

I've always wanted riding boots and dreamed about owning a pair of Hermes but that's too expensive for something that will inevitably get dirty and worn. But this pair is just as good; dark chocolate brown, soft buttery leather on the outside, soft suede on the inside and a leather clasp on the outside. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn and go perfectly with the new pair of jeans I bought. I've never shopped at Winners before but now I have a new favorite store.



Next on my list, a pair of tartan and suede lace-up booties. Pair these with some neutral colours and everyone will be staring at your feet. It helps that the heel is 5 inches which makes me stand at about 6 feet tall. You may notice the sticker on the sole; Winners pastes these things on with so much glue they are impossible to rip off.


Then I realized I needed some new classic black pumps so I found a pair of Calvin Kleins in suede. They take me up five inches too. I haven't worn them out yet so I'm not too sure about how comfortable they are but my guess is they will probably give me blisters. And it's hard to tell in the photo but the heel and sole are embossed crocodile.



And after all this I figured I needed some more practical aka lower heeled shoes for when I want to rest my feet. Enter brown zip-up booties with a square toe. Still stylish but not as perilous as the others.

Want some naked with your shoes?

Now I have seen it all. Galliano used naked women as heels. Funny how these sculpted figures have rotund shapes: large breasts, butts and tummies. Unlike the models wearing them.
Would you wear these?
I am really into the pink version but it has more to do with the colour rather than the naked lady. What I really like about these shoes are the straps; they remind me of soft twisted metal. Very sensual and slithery.

Evil Prada shoes hurt models

At the Prada show, two models fell right down on the runway and several of them stumbled. The cause? Sky high heels.
The Telegraph says:

“I was having a panic attack, my hands were shaking. The heels were so high,” one of the models said. “Some of the girls were crying backstage they were so scared.”

As the video pans up, you see one of models' foot wobbling and then she crashes to the ground. Instead of trying to walk in them again, she carries them in her hands and still looks hot.

You can that several of the models are having trouble walking' their knees shake a bit and their feet look unsteady. I applaud these girls for risking injury to themselves. Well, not like they had a choice. But still. Modeling is dangerous work!

During the finale walk, another girl falls to the ground and instead of completing the walk, she turns around and goes backstage.


Click here to see the video of a model falling during the finale.


Check out the video to see the first model fall:

Shoes I want to get for L'Oreal Fashion Week

Next month L'Oreal Fashion Week is happening in Toronto and I'm already planning my wardrobe. October can be tricky because it could rain, it could be really cold but it could be warm too. The trick is layering so you can easily take something off and still look amazing.
But what I'm really worried about are the shoes. I don't have a good collection of footwear. I had a great pair of black open toe slingbacks but they broke. I have a gorgeous pair of open toe black pumps with a red sole but they ravage my feet. So that leaves me with my D'Orsay Manolo Blahniks but I think they're a little dressy.
I want shoes that are hip, comfortable (at least ones that won't tear the flesh off me) can be worn for day or night and will look good in a dress or in jeans.

Enter Nine West. They have such an amazing selection of shoes that look like they came off the runways of Paris. Well they are definitely imitations of designer shoes but not blatant copies so I can deal with that. Plus they are a fraction of the price.

Here are my picks for fashion week!

Dasolina platform

Purple and suede combined make for one sexy shoe. My God. I can picture this with a white bubble dress tied with a belt and a small clutch. It's a bit Victorian with the laces but the peep toe and the visible ankle make it hot.



Antonela platform

The dark burgundy is the real seller for me because it looks great in a shiny leather. But I also love the two straps with the buckle at the sides. Would look great with skinnies.

Lahdidah platform
I've seen so many people wear this style of shoe to New York Fashion Week and they always look hot. I love that only the toe is visible. It's more mysterious that the whole foot is covered. The heel is very architectural with those pointy angles.


Yung platform
It's a modern take on the gladiator crazy that has been going on the past season. It's more polished in the patent leather and not as Roman as the other knockoffs. More high fashion, less casual.


Jazid bootie


A bit of an update to that Victoriam bootie we've been seeing everywhere.


Undertoe bootie

I love the heel on this shoe.


Lecia slingback

Because everyone needs a classic black peeptoe slingback. I need a good replacement.

Yay! It's September! This means several things

1. Fall is almost here. Actually I consider Sept. 1 the beginning of Fall because it reminds me of school even though I'm not in school anymore. Fall is my favorite season because I love how there are so many ways to dress and how the air is so crisp and refreshing. It also means shopping for new clothes. But first I have to get a new cellphone before I start spending. I hate when technology gets in the way of shopping for clothes!

2. Gossip Girl premieres on the CW tonight! I'm going to keep refreshing the Pirate Bay so I can download it as soon as possible and then post a review of it hopefully by tomorrow. If only my Internet wasn't so slow.

3. New York Fashion Week begins on Friday which I'm so excited about. I can't wait to see what Marc Jacobs has in store for us. I just watched the documentary Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton again last night and I was reminded about how brilliant he is.

4. More Spring/Summer fashion weeks are coming up! There's still Milan, London and Paris to look forward to.

Also here are some randomly chosen clothes and accessories I really want for my Fall wardrobe:

H&M High-Waisted Cocoon Skirt
The skirt reminds me a bit of the Giambattista Valli F/W 08 dresses that poofed out at the hips. I would love to pair it with a tight, sheer blouse to make it have sex appeal.


Kurt Geiger Military-style Ankle Boots
They look like they will shred your feet but God damn they are sexy.


Whistles Majorette PeacoatThe neckline alone does it for me. I am really tired of seeing women's boobs fall out; even during the Winter, it happens. So this high neck is so refreshing and sexy. Less is more, as they say.


H&M Patch Jeans

This jeans are a bit equestrian and rural which I think is a nice contrast to the city and everyone in their dark denim.



Marc Jacobs Cameron bag
I've never been a fan of patent leather but this one with the studs is super hot and perfect for Fall.


Whistles Antler Necklace
It reminds me of Santa's reindeer and Christmas. This is the closest I would come to having a deer's head on my wall.

Riding boots: Can you wear them over non-skinny pants?

I've been thinking about getting riding boots for a long because a) I love the classic style b) They won't hurt me as much as high-heeled boots and c) I like to pretend that I'm an equestrian champion.
Hermes riding boots are the crème de la crème but I won't shell out $2000 for boots, even if they are Hermes. That said, they are plenty of other riding boots that are still hot.
My dilemma is that since I don't wear skinny pants I am not sure whether I can pull of wearing riding boots and flared pants. I don't like it when I see women stuffing their jeans into their boots, and the result looks messy and unkempt. I don't want that. I like the clean lines of a skinny pant sliding effortlessly into a boot. But since I won't wear skinny pants, that may be difficult. But Hermes does give me some hope, as models from the S/S 08 collection wore jodhpurs and loose-fitting pants with their riding boots.


Ok so I know I'm not a model but I think I could pull this off as long as the pants are bunched up at the top of the boots. But they can also be worn with leggings or tights. Too bad I don't wear either.

Here are some riding boots that make me want to jump on a horse:

Coach Whitley Boot


Coach Winslow Boot

Tory Burch boot
Bottega Veneta boot


What do you think? Can riding boots be worn with non-skinny pants?

You don't want to miss this

Net-A-Porter is having a huge summer clearance sale with clothes, shoes and accessories going for 20% to 40% off. But wait, there's more! There is now an additional promotion going on. When checking out through Net-A-Porter, enter the special promotion code “Summer” and receive an additional 20% off of selected items.
Luckily, the merchandise isn't old, discarded crap that no one wants; there are beautiful clothes, like a Alexander McQueen Wing embroidered dress, an Oscar de la Renta taffeta dress and plenty of killer Jimmy Choo shoes! Let the spending begin! Help the economy! Or buy that Fendi Spy bag you've always wanted!

If I had an unlimited budget, this is what I would get:

Alexander McQueen Wing embroidered dress
Because we all want to look like an angel for a day. Plus, it's a McQueen for God's sake. And it's half off!

Oscar de la Renta Taffeta embroidered dress

Forget the little black dress. This floral number is much more fun and sexy and will make you have that waist you've always wanted.

Bill Blass Bubble hem dress
On second thought, the little black dress can be stunning with a little poof and layers. This dress is not for cocktails; it's glam events only.

Chloe Strapless pleated dress

Sigh...it's so pretty and young. I just want to wear it everywhere, in the house, to work, to a party, in my bed. I would feel like a goddess.


Jimmy Choo Lace suede sandals

Seriously, these are yummy. They are wacky but glam and would go well with my Nicole Miller satin dress.


Missoni Rope detail boots
Gah! These are so sexy! Can't you just picture yourself stomping around in these? Forget the catwalk, I have Yonge Street!


Roberto Cavalli Serpent buckle belt

I love snakes; they have beautifully-coloured scales and so are the perfect muse for jewelery. This as an arm cuff would also be gorgeous.