All About Flats!

While we’re in love with high heels here (didn’t you notice?) we also know that a stiletto isn’t exactly the best candidate for walking around town. Of course if we could wear pumps every day we would, but they’re just not always the best option. Especially for women like N our editor/lead writer, at five foot ten inches tall a good heel can easily put her over six feet. While she usually enjoys the height, sometimes, she says, you just want to be eye level. It is times like these when she turns to flats.

For the rest of us less vertically exceptional ladies, flats give our tired legs some rest, and make any outfit casual and fun. So here’s a blogger toast to the comfy yet stylish shoe- the flat!

In research for this story N and I went out to try on Via Spiga flats. At two hundred dollars a pair they’re a little on the expensive side (N said something about spending that much on something with more “substance” i.e. a four inch heel!), but they are some of the best fitting flats out there in a won’t break the bank price range. We liked them very much, but weren’t so convinced that we bought a pair. N has a pair of basic black ballet flats from The Gap (yes, The Gap) which she has had for years, since they were around twenty dollars, she’s pretty loathe to give them up.

Of course the best flats on the market are the illustrious Lanvin flats. Of course they also retail for around five hundred dollars. If you’re not into spending the big bucks for flats then we have a few alternatives.

For only $28 you can be the proud owner of these jersey flats from Urban Outfitters. We love the pink but they also come in black and grey. Urban Outfitters actually has quite a selection of nice flats (and other fab shoes as well), go to www.urbanoutfitters.com for store locations and to shop online.

We are deeply infatuated with these Sigerson Morrison flats, which we happily found on zappos. At $499 they are slightly out of a bloggers price range, but beautiful nonetheless. If you feel the desire to order these beauties (and who wouldn’t?) remember that zappos offers free shipping, a perk which makes it one of our favourite online discounters.

We love these red pointy toed beauties too. They’re from Fitzwell (ha ha) and are called Vanessa. At $65 dollars they’re also a lot more reasonable. In addition to being a flat for all seasons, this shoe also comes in a variety of colours.

These flats by Gabriella Rocha make us smile. The cute ankle strap says it all. ($60).

And in homage to N, we found some lovely little flats from The Gap. These ruffle flats are pretty darn cute, and come in brown black and white as well as two floral patterns. They can be found at www.gap.com or a store near you, and at $29.99, they’ll have you walking on air!

Flats are fairly abundant throughout the shoe world, and a staple of most people’s footwear wardrobe. We encourage shoe hunters to look around before buying, you never know when the perfect flat is going to jump out at you!

In this feature:

Gap

Lanvin

Zappos

Urban Outfitters

Cheap Thrills: BCBG Girls

While the BCBG Girls collection isn’t really as cheap as some other lines we’re looking at for future features, it is the collection with the most bang for your buck. We here at The Shoe Closet love lusting after those fantastic two thousand dollar Manolo Blahnik’s as much as the next shoe fiend, but every once in a while it’s nice to fall in love with a pair that you can actually afford without taking out a second mortgage. So, to that end we’re introducing the “Cheap Thrills” feature. Showcasing fab shoes which the average shoe lover can purchase without much fear of eternal debt. We’ll keep the prices low, and the fabulosity high. Promise.

For our first cheap feature we’re singling out BCBG Girls, for their high quality footwear at a reasonable price. The current collection, to be found at www.bcbgirls.com, is full of high heels and mad colours. Just the way we like it! There are flats too of course, and even flip flops, but the gems of this line are the pumps and thick heeled sandals.

Our obsession with BCBG Girls began with N, our editor/lead writer. She buys up the brand whenever she can, usually at Macy’s. Wearing a super high scalloped black peep toe to her high school graduation several years ago, N became hooked to the edgy styles and the wallet sparing price.

By the way, she still wears those black scalloped peep toes, and still gets compliments.

The favourite around here has been the Korinna ($98), a patent sandal with silver buckle accent and super chunky heel. Although this fab shoe eschews the season’s bright colours it’s still an amazing piece of fashion, and we adore it.

Of course there is quite a bit of competition for our undying affection. Especially within this amazing collection. We’re also head over heels for the Nyree ($98), a pointy toed pump in look at me shades of yellow “punch”.

Can’t forget the Betty ($89), a metallic flat with an adorable peep toe. Flats are a must (as all us chronic walkers know) and this one is more refined than the basic black ballet.

The spot for favourite is a two way tie. While we love the Norinna (above) we’re also seriously lusting after the Edda ($98). What more could fashionista’s everywhere ask of this hot t-strap heeled sandal? All the girls at the office want a pair.

Want more BCBG Girls? (And who doesn’t?) Check out their website at www.bcbgirls.com, they have accessories too! Also, shop BCBG Girls at Macy’s and Nordstrom.

The Bold and the Beautiful- summer styles 2008

While we love the basic black just as much as any other girl, the trend this season is footwear that POPS! We’re talking bright colours and look at me shapes. No longer are shoes the ugly stepsister of your fabulous clothes, now they’re front and center making a statement. Forget matchy match and bring on the contrasting colors and sky high heels!

Here are some of our personal favourites,

First up the Victoria Shoe by Giambattista Valli, (named for Victoria Beckham) shown here in pink. Even if these babes are a little too outrageous for the average shoe aficionado, they’re still hot.

Nothing but sheer adoration here in The Shoe Closet for the spring/summer 2008 Manolo Blahnik collection, especially these beauties. We love the two wide straps up top, a little twist on the traditional single strap style.

Finally we find ourselves drooling over these Christian Louboutin peep toes (called Fontanete). Made from Nappa Leather, which is the a-list material this season. Your best bet is to stick with the fuchsia, although the shoe does also come in a more subtle taupe. (Check out Bergdorf Goodman to purchase).

For our last two selections we venture into the realm of the more demure. Jimmy Choo (our current shoe obsession) once again keeps us gawking with these two beauties. The first, a patent voluptuous red peep toe called Eliza and the second an eye opening white pump called Eleanor. We like! We like!

Both to be found on the Jimmy Choo website.

Who knows how to make this bright trend work? The ever fashionable Sarah Jessica Parker shows us how it’s done in these blue peep toes. Smashing!

In this feature:

Jimmy Choo

Christian Louboutin

Manolo Blahnik

Fabulous Famous Footwear.

For our first real post we'd like to commend those lovely ladies in Hollywood who give us daily glimpses into the fabulous world of high end footwear. Here are a three of our favourites in the blacks and grays category.

Keira Knightly-
the subtle sparkle and cute ankle strap make these a winner.

Liv Tyler-
Monotone booties like Liv's make any outfit chic.

Alicia Keys-
This two colour pump screams sophisticate!

Notes From the Shoe Closet

What really makes an outfit? The shoes of course! Therefore we here at The Shoe Closet have dedicated this blog to all things footwear. Look for more posts in the coming days and weeks covering all angles of fabulous tootsies.

-The Shoe Closet Team.