What I’m about to share with you has absolutely nothing to do with fashion, but I feel I need to get it out there before I can think about fall footwear.
Yesterday, I drove to a little town outside of San Antonio and met Jennifer from Conversion Diary for lunch. She was just as funny and smart as I thought she’d be based on reading her blog and I was so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone.
And by comfort zone, I mean sitting on my couch catching up on the latest “Project Runway” while eating a bag of Sour Patch Kids.
Anyway, Jennifer and I had an exceptional conversation on a variety of topics while we dined on very mediocre Mexican food.
I’ve had some sinus issues over the last several days because, even though it’s still hot and miserable outside, my fall allergies have kicked in. As lunch progressed, I noticed that my right ear was becoming increasingly stopped up and I really hoped I wasn’t screaming at poor Jennifer. My ear impairment had left me with no volume awareness.
After lunch, I got in my car to drive home and since I was all alone I cranked up the radio LOUD and began to sing along. It was delightful.
However, did I mention that my right ear was stopped up? And that the stoppage caused me to really hear myself singing?
This is where I humbly apologize to the dear woman who sat in front of me last Sunday morning as I belted out “Mighty to Save” loud and proud.
And I can’t even think about the fact that I’ve sat directly behind Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore while I sang at the top of my lungs. It’s a grief to heavy to bear.
Anyway, let’s talk fashion. It will assuage my sorrow.
1. Karen asks: “Help me! I am a shoe idiot. I bought a pair of black pants and I cannot figure out what sort of shoes to wear with them during the winter. They aren’t dressy enough for the black dress boots I wore with my dress pants last year. I usually wear brown leather shoes of some sort with jeans during the winter, but brown doesn’t go with black. Does it?”
You are correct. Brown does not go with black.
I’ve been doing my own research in a quest to find a good, black shoe for everyday wear. I spend the whole summer in my flip-flops and when the weather turns cooler, I need a comfortable shoe that won’t cause my toes to have hypothermia.
I have narrowed down my decision to something like this. Or this. Or maybe these.
If you’re looking for something a little dressier, then you could try something like this.
And if you want something a little more fun, then you could try these.
The key to the right casual look is to find something that’s either flat or maybe has a wedge heel. Personally, I always prefer a heel, but sometimes the reality of running after a child takes precedence and I have to forsake three extra inches for practicality.
2. Amy asks: “I love the look of a ballet flat and that moccasins are making a comeback. What I am wondering is, as a resident of Illinois, what do you wear with the ballet flat or moccasin (if being worn with jeans or pants)? Are there any appropriate socks to wear with them, or knee-highs or what?
I’ll tell you what not to wear. Tube socks.
Honestly, I’m not totally sure about the right solution to this problem. We all know that shoe designers don’t really care about function and practicality, mainly because they’re men and what do they care if women have on uncomfortable shoes?
My inclination is to tell you that what you need are some trouser socks. Either some fun ones like these or some sensible ones like these.
But, let’s be honest, trouser socks are really just glorified knee-highs and I’ve been to Illinois in the winter time. I don’t know that a sheer layer of nylon is going to provide that much extra warmth.
So I recant my earlier statement, go with a tube sock. Or a pair of Uggs.
Anyone else have a better idea? Northern girls? Let us know the secret to fashionably warm feet whether you’re wearing a skirt or jeans.
I’m going to have to end on that note because my very own little fashionista just wandered in here wearing her “Cutie Pie” pajamas and needs her mama.
Y’all have a great Friday!
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Uggs! Are those ugly shoes still in style? I heard Pamela Anderson say she was sad she started that ugly fad years ago. Did she start it? Mmmm? Anyone?
I knew a girl from Chicago who never wore socks with her shoes. Maybe it was just a fad of the 80′s? I’d go with the knee highs just to keep my feet from stinking. Tube socks in the snow:-)
Lunch with a fellow blogger! How fun. I’d love to have lunch with the famous Big Mama:-)
Have a great Friday,
Amy
I’m telling you I live in the Northeast and there is nothing like a warm pair of Ugg boots. I have never purchased a pair as I never seem to have the extra money but I tried on a pair of my son’s girlfriend’s uggs and they felt wonderful…. not the prettiest boots in the world but when it gets cold here in New York they are worth their weight in gold. I hope I can scrape up the cash to get myself a pair this year!
As a Northern Girl (MN), I have to say when I wear ballet flats I usually wear no socks or those little no-show nylons. And let’s face it, come winter we can’t really wear those shoes anyway. If I do it’s probably with a skirt & tights. Because I’m cold, Stacy & Clinton, and I can’t go without some sort of leg covering. I’m a girl who often puts fashion ahead of function, but January in MN requires tights or it’s frostbite. On the mocs, I’d say a trouser sock might indeed be your best bet. Sometimes when I’m on the praise team at church, I’ll wear my functional boots to church, and change into my fabulous shoes. Mostly because I am a WAHM, and my opportunities for fabulous shoe wearing are few & far between.
Northern girl here – I usually wear tights or trouser socks in the winter with casual shoes unless it is snowing, and then I wear boots.
Which reminds me, I need a pair of black boots for the winter because I only have brown, and brown and black don’t work together.
(ps – and I wear a skirt every day, so maybe it’s just because my legs are numb that I can’t feel the cold anymore)
Thanks. The pants flare a bit at the bottom and I am extra short, so I think some sort of clog with a back and a heel will be the way to go. In a fun color, of course…
Believe it or not, I have a few of those casual shoes you linked to, and I wear trouser socks that are skin-colored. I felt weird about wearing glaringly white socks with mary-jane-type shoes under my jeans, call me crazy. But the nude socks – they’re not so obvious and if you’re a few feet away, it looks like I’m not even wearing any socks.
And, you did a good job of making me want a few fresh pairs!
According to my teenage daughter, under no circumstances should you wear any type of sock with ballet flats. Unless you’re wearing a skirt or dress, then it’s Ok to wear opaque tights, but capri leggings would be better.
That Kenley is making me absolutely crazy. How, HOW, did she not get sent packing? That nasty attitude. Those jeans she made. ::shakes head:: And then she mouthed off to L.L. Cool J.
Frankly, Erin is going to miss Suede.
Sorry, but winter in Illinois just does not lend itself to fashion. I wear the ballet flats without socks for as long as I can possibly bear, and then I switch to Borns and boots for the rest of the year. Borns, by the way, can usually be worn with socks.
It’s a problem, a real problem. Kind of like world peace . . . not to be solved easily.
Don’t you know we are to make a “joyful noise” unto the Lord? So quit your apologizing and “noise-off” as loud as you can! I can’t stand it when folks DON’T sing at serviced “because I can’t sing well”. Joyful song praise is for GOD, not for those around us. So practice with “Just as I Am” because that’s how we are supposed to sing!
Having lived in Chicago twice, I’d say forget the fashion side of things when there is snow on the ground and wear a boot that is not only waterproofed and warm inside but has good grip on the icy pavement! If it’s cold but clear, wear what you want and “dash in and out” between car and store/house/work. There are also some warmer “footie socks” that can be worn but don’t show making your toes toasty but does nothing for your ankles. But when you’re talking ice and sludge, you want a waterproof boot, not “cute shoes” or you’ll end up in the “cute ER”…
Ditto on the Uggs. Even for those of us in Alabama.
And I’ve noticed that you leave out YellowBox shoes – do you not love them? Are they an Alabama thing? They have some FANTASTIC casual shoes like these http://www.iftheshoefitsetc.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=1793 that would work for the “black pant dilemma” mentioned above.
Well, obviously I know nothing about fashion because I DO sometimes wear my ballet flats with nude knee highs here in Illinois. Especially when I have to go to DC for lobbying in the winter where you can’t really wear heals because, the walking … it would kill you, and boots just don’t seem professional enough. Perhaps I don’t have the right pair.
Wear the nude knee highs and keep a heater under your desk. That’s my solution.
BTW, LOVE those animal print trouser socks. I might have to get me some of those.
And on the Project Runway note … did anyone else forget just how HOT LL Cool J is!? Wow.
Being in New England I’m a seasoned veteran when it comes to facing the shoe crisis in winter.
For special occasions or work I wear the warm comfy boots in the car and to trek across the parking lot filled with nasty slush and salt. You don’t want that stuff getting on your good shoes anyway. Once inside pull out the ballet flats or other cute shoes and wear sans socks. They’re small enough to fit in a large tote bag with all my other work stuff and adds even more to the illusion of being professional and put together.
But for the every day things like going to the grocery store my secret is Sketchers with the correct length of pants. The Sketchers are nicer than sneakers, cover your entire foot and if your pants reach the proper length you can wear them with any socks you want and as long as you’re not sitting no one will know the difference.
I have also found that there is an acceptable winter sock, just like it is perfectly acceptable to wear my ski jacket on a daily basis once the temps stay below freezing and head into negative territory. Get some kind of moisture wicking specialty socks, such as SmartWool. Everyone in the know will recognize them just as quickly as a Coach logo on your handbag. Perfectly acceptable.
This may be my favorite Fashion Friday. As a Florida girl, I have never (ever) been able to find a good winter flip-flop replacement. And I just can’t be that college kid anymore who wears flip-flops when it’s 40 degrees outside! Thanks for your help, o wise one.
I wrote a blog post just recently about ballet flats http://iknowwhereyoucanfindit.blogspot.com/2008/08/fashion-domino-effect-or-tim-gunn-and-i.html
I’m planning to wear tights with them – maybe some ribbed tights. Or possibly thin trouser socks. This is a whole new world of shoe fashion. I’m a little intimidated.
I really like the look of the J-41 shoe: http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7422967/color/3
But when I went and tried some one, I decided to go for these: http://zeta.zappos.com/product/122567/color/10374
they’re not black, so I have more shopping to do (I just got rid of about 12 pairs of shoes in a closet purge, so Hubs owes me a pair or two) but they give me some height and some support for chasing the little people. And they’re not, hallelujah, tennis shoes.
I was watching “What Not To Wear” yesterday and they were helping a lovely girl who shows dogs as a hobby. They tried to put her in a great outfit and she politely refused the heels.
“You can’t wear heels in a dog show, in case you step on the dog.”
I think that is sound fashion advice, don’t you? :>)
I currently live in Chicago and have successfully survived one miserable winter. My advice is much like Cheri-The Mom Lady, you have to become more realistic in your shoe choice when there is snow/sludge/nastiness on the ground or you will end up in the ER (and I am a nurse and I do not want to see you there).
I usually wear a waterproof boot of some sort when making my commutes, and then slip into something “more stylish” when I get to work or somewhere that deserves a cute shoe.
BUT, my question is: Does anyone know of a cute waterproof and tall boot that won’t allow me to fall on the ice or allow snow to make its way to my feet and attempt to freeze them to death? I think Uggs will become dirty very quickly, but I could be wrong. If you live or have lived in “the snow,” you know exactly what I’m talking about. Help!
I’m digging the pink leopard print socks, Big Mama. They would fit in with the other crazy socks at the dance studio.
What about leg warmers? Just kidding. I’m too old to pull them off.
You can’t get much more northern than MN, and I’ll tell you this–stay away from the mule/backless slip on shoes from about November to April. No matter how cute. No matter how comfy. Rain and snow do not mix with a backless shoe.
I know…I know….I’m speaking to the choir. But you’d be surprised.
I love the Born Mary Janes you found!!! Those are SUPER CUTE. Yes, they’re spendy, but Born shoes are made to last and well worth the investment.
I love those Hannah Anderson clogs. I may have to look at some of those for the future. I have never ordered from them. I have a wide foot and wonder how they would fit? They look like they might do well.
I cannot tell you how exciting it is to see that Big Mama chose my fashion Friday question. It’s up there, let me tell you. It also seems that I am good at asking the hard fashion-journalism questions. I had also emailed you one time (right about the time all of your email folders got wiped out) asking about a perfect knee-length denim skirt. Then I read your link to your denim blog from back in the day and saw that the denim skirt has eluded you “like a mystical unicorn.”
Because I’m scared of teenagers and their fashion know-how. And I know I will never get it right in their eyes.
So, I guess I will stick with the ballet flats sans snow and ice, and buy some trouser socks. Snow and ice, you do our fashion in. I have to admit, the mom who said that her teenage daughter was shunning us all for even thinking about wearing a sock with a ballet flat scared me. The daughter’s response, not the mom.
I think I’ll look for a moccasin. They are fashionable now, and it sounds like they are more widely accepted with a trouser sock than their cute ballet flat cousins.
Thanks for the shout out, Big Mama! It made my day!
not sure if anyone else laid this out there….get a heavier pair of socks, and but the shoes to fit with the socks on.
obviously super heavy socks will look odd, but I bought my flats a size larger, and it looks just fine with a medium weight DARK (lol) sock on.
ooops *buy
you could attempt to but the shoes if you wanted, but I don’t know how that might work.
I love all the shoes you linked to, but is anyone besides me on a budget?
Is it possible to be both fashionable and frugal?
I’ve got kids to feed and a hubby with a triathleton obession…
Ok, I love shoes and last year I bought the “last season” version of these.
http://www.shoetrader.com/pagebuilder/shoetrader_item?cat=brands&subcat=&item=83325&pagesize=3
I love them so much, and they can go through the fire and look brand new. The best thing is that they look better on your feet than they do in the box. Some shoes do that, some shoes, not so much.
Smart Wool socks are fantastic. They’re not too thick, but they really keep your feet warm. You can buy them at most outdoorsey stores (REI, etc.).
Ok, I am in a crisis over footwear since this will be my first Illinois winter, and coming from Florida I was a year round flip flopper. Well for the most part, with jeans. I DO own dressy cute shoes.
So could you devote a Fashion Friday to appropriate Winter Fashions for those of us new to dressing in layers??
I love, love, love Privos! I bought 3 prs. last winter at Nordstrom in the “Float” design: green, black and brown. Similar to the Privos you pictured. This year I have a cute brown pair with buckle on the toe and some pink trim.
I broke my ankle 4 yrs. ago and I have had several surgeries since. I’m picky about my shoes and it’s hard to get both comfort and style.
Good Luck and let us know what you buy.
As always, I love your blog!
Brenda
I asked the last question of my readers last winter. And I basically came to the conclusion that I will freeze before I’ll wear socks with my flats. When it gets really cold out, I wear boots instead of cute flats. I also bought a cute pair of fur lined clogs that are comfy and warm. Trouser socks might work with some “driving shoes” but with ballet flats? Notsomuch.
It is worth a bit of hypothermia to make a fashion statement, is it not?
Oooooh – I have found a fairly decent foot covering solution, that keeps the tootsies somewhat warm (works up here in Canada). Dress socks from the GAP. They fit nice, tight, and smooth like a nylon; they come in solids or (my favourite) stripey designs; they can play dressy or casual. They are my heros!
Today was such a lusciously gorgeous day that I went out to get some fabulous Chinese food just for me. I rolled all the windows down, found a song I love and belted it out, completely oblivious to the cars around me at the stoplights.
They, however, were not oblivious of me. I collected quite a few smiles as I started and stopped multiple times. Ahhh, the joys of singing as if no one is listening, even when you realize that they are.
Oh, I have lurked for far too long. I had to reply and tell you I unabashedly love your blog. My friend Melissa (holla) told me about it, and I am forever grateful! I now have my friend Heather hooked, too. Yay for time on our hands that we don’t really have but we spend.
I know nothing of fashion, but enjoy living vicariously through those of you who do. (Heck, I wouldn’t even know it if you made it all up. It’s like fashion shows. They could pull an outfit from the leftover Halloween costumes at Wal-mart, trounce it down the runway, and I’d be sitting there going, “Hmmm…so *that’s* the new look for Fall…”) Being 5’11″ makes it tough to wear anything but flats b/c I am a chicken. Plus my husband is “only” 6′. Thus, if weather and footwear permit, I remove my shoes when we stand to sing in church as to not look like an Amazon jungle woman next to him. It’s already bad enough that I outweigh him by thirty pounds. Yikes. Did I just type that? Oh, well, I’ve got the two sons to prove it wasn’t for nothing.
Gosh, I’m wordy. Anyway, I agree with Erin. WHY is Kenley still there? I suppose it’s good (definition pending) television to leave her on there a bit longer. As long as she doesn’t win. Oh, I’m enjoying PR! This is the first season I’ve watched and am kicking myself for not having watched earlier!
Do you also enjoy Tyra and the glorious trainwreck that is America’s Next Top Model? (Or ANTM as the homies call it.) Sigh…my favorite line from this season is when Tyra was mulling over one model’s looks with the other judges and she came up with this beauty: “She needs some ugly pretty because right now she’s pretty pretty and pretty pretty is ugly ugly.” You can’t make this up.
I am a Southern girl raised in Georgia, transplanted to Michigan 6 years ago, and taken even further from home to Toronto last November. So I know of the flip flop woes and the when-will-the-snow-ever-melt woes. I should also mention that I own about 15 pairs of ballet flats… I even took pictures of all of my ballet flats when Big Mama did her Fashion Fiesta back in April (http://valentinesinmi.blogspot.com/2008/04/fashion-fiesta.html). I either go sans socks or with those cute little you-don’t-see-me socks when I wear ballet flats… yes, even if there’s 5 feet of snow on the ground! If there really is so much snow that I’d risk freezing off a toe or two by making the 30-second walk from my car to my office, then I bust out in the snow boots, changing into my cute little shoes at the earliest possible moment! Whatever you do, please don’t let me see socks with your ballet flats if I’m sitting across the room. It’s not cute, it’s really not… and ballet flats are nothing if not cute!
You totally rock! I am in the desperate need for new shoes and loved all the options you picked except for when I clicked on the clogs. I thought they were like the ugliest shoes I had ever seen, then I zoomed in on the picture of them on someone’s feet and LOVED them! They are fun! I am struggling with the whole trouser sock thing too but want to look a tad more professional at work without sacrificing warmth of feet here in Wisconsin! Not sure what the answer is as others still go bare foot year around here.
I agree with the other Northerners. No socks with the ballet flats. If it’s that cold or wet, switch to something more practical.
Look at it this way: Wool coats are stylish for fall, but I doubt you wear them in September in Texas, right? Because that would be insane. Same principle holds true for those of us in the North. Sometimes, fashion bows to Mother Nature.
I just got the Privo Kosmos in denim last week…LOVE THEM!!! They are super cute and comfortable too. Can’t go wrong with Privo or Born shoes. Try shoebuy.com for great deals on shoes.
I like your suggestions. I got a pair of Privo shoes for my birthday (I’m too cheap to buy them for myself since I spend my money on tiny Stride Rite shoes that are outgrown in 1 week!). Anyway, I love them (the Privos, that is). They are so comfortable and cute!
I have to add a suggestion to the casual shoes quest – Dansko clogs are to die for! You can get them in cute colors and patterns (read: animal prints) and they add some height AND comfort AND you can wear heavy socks with them…or not. Also, I just bought a to-die-for pair of Ugg slip-ons that have fur liners I can take out. They’re called the Shoreham. Love them.
Well…not sure if you meant “Canadian” when you said “northern girls”, but I’ll fill you in on an Ontario trick.
Nylons (pantyhose) UNDER your jeans, pants, and trouser socks….
For some reason, the chemically manufactured poly-whatsis fabric they’re made out of makes a nice insulating layer when fashion needs to be a statement, not a muffled murmer under mukluks.
Of course, any sort of fashion statement is immediately ruined by the 8 inch thick layer of coats, hats, scarves, muffs, earmuffs, boots, tube socks, and insulated anything you put on over top to venture outdoors.
Ok, you are a complete hoot. I came back reading some older posts and realized that we have so much in common. More than just a love for glass soldered cross necklaces. I too have lists (may be OCD?), I like organizing things but never really get things all organized so I have organized “stacks” of stuff my husband occasionally moves to my craft studio room. I also have the clogs you have listed in this post as your “if you’d liked something fun to wear”. Only mine are the Hanna Andersson pink leopard one’s. But these zebra striped one’s are adorable too. So, we both have great taste in shoe’s. I LOVE TO SHOP. It’s kind of an addiction, really! I never met a pair of shoes that I didn’t like, or a brownie or a starbucks chocolate mocha frap….maybe that’s why I’ve put on 11 lbs in 3 mos. Gotta get to exercising I guess. I’m going to link you on my blog because I think some of my readers would like your sense of humor and I have a few that could use your fashion “advice”. I will check back often. In the meantime, I’ll email you pricing for the necklaces you requested the quote on. Heather Rice
http://www.ricetrio.blogspot.com
Uggs are defiantly THE shoe to get for the winter. They are comfortable, warm for those icy cold winter days, and fashionable, they go with almost anything! If you can’t afford to get the real things, find a company that sells some good knock offs, yes, you can really find good knock offs:)
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