The Shoe Saga: Finally, a Touch of Red (White) & Blue

So, the last time I mentioned my (amazingly perfect, oh-my-God-I-can't-believe-I-found-them) wedding shoes. I told you that some dress doubt and subsequent internet searching lead to a pair of lightly-loved Christian Louboutin blue Bow T Dorcet pumps--my dream wedding shoes.  And after a nail-biting few days and emails the shoes were MINE.  ALL MINE.  

And when they arrived (to my office by the way, it took every bit of self control not to rip open the box and dance around my desk), they looked like this:

(source)

Gorgeous, but in need of a shoe doctor.  

I poked around on the internet and found a listing of shoe docs in NYC from the Louboutin site.  But I couldn't decide where to drop them off--I was a little scared that I would regret the decision. Did I have a reason for that?  Nope.  I was just a little nervous to leave my amazing find anywhere and I couldn't find the time to hop on the train to New York between work and wedding projects.  The 45 minute train ride sounded like torture to me.  Never mind that I live in a commuter area and no one but me considers the train ride to be a long trip.  What can I say?  There's just never enough time for anything when you're stressed, ya know? 

So I took a chance, and brought these babies down to North Carolina on a recent trip, where I dropped them off at Santana Creative.  They were also listed on the Louboutin site and at the very least I'd be on vacation, so there'd be plenty of time to drop them off and pick them up.  

And just a few days later, they were mine again and good as new!

They cleaned the satin for me, and there are virtually no signs of previous wear.

And because they were just a tiny bit too big for me, I had them add a pad to the heel, which you can see if you look closely.  

Lastly, I had them "touch up the lipstick," or revive the lovely red soles back to their former glory.  Long story short: Santana Creative Rocks!

And just like that, my pipe dream became a reality.  I'm still in shock that I got my dream shoes, (pinch me, please. or don't) and I catch myself sneaking a peek in my bag of bridal accessories to make sure they're still there and they're still mine.  Obsessive? Perhaps.  But it's mostly excitement.  I got the shoes, I got a great deal on them, and I'm going to wear them on the most amazing day EVER.  Yeah, "mostly" excitement.  

Have you scored a great deal on any of your wedding day accessories?  Is there any accessory in particular that you are excited to wear?

The Shoe Saga: Hope Springs on the Internet

The last time I told you about my shoes they were just a secret (okay, not so secret) desire of mine.  


But, friends, I am amazed and slightly ashamed to tell you that while I was looking for a possible replacement wedding dress on OnceWed.com, I came across a beautiful bride in a dress that reminded me of my own.  I opened the listing and saw this:

*Gasp*


THE SHOES.  THE. SHOES.  


And I held my breath as I read this description:


"This classic dress was perfect for my big day & I would like to see that it is used again! I was told by numerous people that the wedding was beautiful, but my dress stole the show. It is in (as far as I can tell) perfect condition after being...

professionally cleaned/ preserved. 

I wore blue Christian Louboutin's that went perfectly and would think about including, depending on the buyer's shoe size & budget!"




Oh my sweet Jebus.


Once I calmed myself down, I sent her a quick note:


Hi there, I saw that you mentioned you might be willing to sell your shoes with this dress. I actually have a dress, but I happen to be looking for a pair of blue pumps. I was wondering if you would consider selling your shoes (if they are still available and of course, depending on the size)? Thanks 

You know, what I really wanted to say was "Hi. You don't know me, but I am obsessed with those shoes.  And I know you are selling your dress, which is lovely, so lovely that it reminded me of my own dress that I clicked the pictures and found the shoes I never ever thought I would actually find. It's fate. Kismet, really.  So would you please sell them to me?  And please tell me they are in my size??"


Yeah, I think going with the first email was the right call.   After a few tense hours, she got back to me.  The shoes were available(!), and they were almost my size--they were just a half size too big.  Half size too big was close enough for me!  We spent a couple more days going back and forth, and then she sent me these pics:

Aww...aren't they pretty?  

And oh, the lipstick (the lipstick!)was still in great condition!




We exchanged a few more emails, negotiated a price and...SOLD!  My dream shoes would be mine, at a fraction of their original price, and in pretty great condition.  




Thank you internet.  I <3 you for all your quirks and surprises, especially the surprises.  






Have you found anything online that you never expected to find?

Don't You Step on My Blue Shoes

After my last shoe fail, I decided to take a break from shoes.  Two seconds later, I got real with myself and started looking for the shoes I knew I wanted from the beginning--

 

(source)

blue shoes.  Gorgeous blue shoes!  And really, me taking a break from shoes is like PB taking a break from jelly.  Ain't gonna happen.

It felt like a few years ago, when I stumbled upon pictures of brides in brightly colored shoes there were blue shoes as far as the eye (or computer monitor) could see.  Lately, it feels like the perfect blue shoes are tougher to come by.  So I collected some of my personal favorites, to share with any other blue shoe lovin' brides.

 

1. Kate Spade "Didi"  2. Nina "Conabel"  3. Rocket Dog "Marilus"  4. Kate Spade "Chrisette"  5. Seychelles "In With the New" 6. Christian Louboutin "Bow T Dorcet" 7. Vivenne Westwood "Anglomania + Lady Dragon"

Could you spot my favorite pair?  I'll give you a clue:  it's the pair I've lusted after for a few years now.  They're a bit hard to find and just a smidge over my budget. 

Sigh...

(source)

My heart races for these shoes, it's sad but true.  The perfect shade of blue, a touch of red lipstick peeking out from the sole.  And nothing short of a miracle will be needed to make this happen for me.  But to paraphrase the great Wayne Campbell(if I may be so bold), they will be mine, oh yes, they will. Be. Mine.  

Have you found a the perfect pair of shoes for your wedding day? Were they a reach to find or squeeze into your budget?? 

Set Up for a [Shoe] Letdown

A few months back, I found the wedding deal of a lifetime (or at least the best deal I've come across while planning my wedding):

(source)

I found these gorgeous Alexander McQueen heart shaped peep toe pumps at an amazing price--more than half off the original price!!! 

I couldn't believe my luck, so I scooped up a pair.  Purple shoes weren't in my plan before, but I couldn't say no to these gorgeous babies.  Just days later, they were mine!

I could barely contain my excitement when I opened the box.  And then...

My gorgeous and perfect shoes weren't so perfect in person. ESCANDOLO! (I know)

The soles were scuffed up, there were some runs in the satin, toe impressions on the inner sole, and they were a little too big.  That, was letdown #1. I called their customer service and they sent me a replacement pair, right away.  

And just a few days after that, I found myself with another box of shoes.  I held my breath this time as I opened the box and wouldn't you know it?  Another imperfect pair with the same issues: letdown #2.

Ok, fail horns, let me have it!

So I called them up and arranged for another return,  this time with no exchange.  Their customer service was really great by the way, extremely courteous and professional, they made the ordeal as painless as possible.  Did I get what I paid for?  Or was it just a mix up? Sometimes, clothing is sent out on photo shoots and returned in less than perfect condition.  My guess is that there was a mix up and I probably got a pair (and then another) of those.

I just took it as a sign that these lovelies were not meant to be mine.  

Have you found your shoes yet?  Did you have any shoe letdowns?

All Paired Up!

I'm a shoe girl.  And when I saw this picture, I stopped in my tracks and the wheels started turning.  

(source)

And if you're curious, the wheels made a sound like "oooooh, I want those for my wedding party. How can I pull this off?"

Mighty talkative "wheels" I have.  I love TOMS, but I don't think the rest of our wedding party loves them as much as me.  So that got me thinking, how about some other matching footwear?

Cute cowboy boots for a rustic look.

(source)

Checkered Vans for the punk rock bride!  

(source)

How much do I wish we could do this too?  I still <3 my Vans.

And then my other favorite (are they all my favorite? what a shoe hussy I've become),  matching Chuck Taylors!

(source)

The last picture makes me smile.  It's so sweet.  And I would love to have a shot like this but I don't think the mister will go for it.   I allegedly have white Chucks in my collection, but they haven't resembled anything "white" in ages and spending more money on shoes at this point is a no no.  

Matching shoes have become so popular for wedding parties that TOMS has gotten in on the act with their own wedding collection.   

(source)

It's hard to resist them on their own, for every pair of TOMS you buy, a pair is donated to a child in need, and they're adorable to boot!  I'm feeling these Petal Grosgrain classics, they are perfectly pretty and remind me of ballet slippers (in the best way).  Lucky for me, 'Lil $is has threatened to shut me up by buying the Bear and me a matching pair of TOMS as a wedding present.  But something tells me they don't make these in his size...so maybe she'll pick another style?  Or maybe she was just bluffing.  Either way, I'm a fan of matching shoes! 

Is your party wearing matching shoes?  Have you seen any other cute shoe ideas?

Happy (and soggy) Friday!

(source)

Rain.  It's become a four letter word to me (I know, it technically is a four letter word).   The "It-That-Must-Not-Be-Named" for our wedding. 


But on a gray and rainy day like today, I can't help but be thankful for Wellies.  

(source)

And as I come to terms with the fact that I can't control everything on on our wedding day (or in life), I find myself admiring pictures like these.  Pictures that are beautiful despite, or maybe because of, the rain.  

(source)

So here's to the rain: may it stay far, far away on our wedding day.  And if it decides to pay us a visit, may we remember to keep our Wellies on hand, along with our good spirits. 

(source)

Cheers! And happy (soggy) Friday!

How the Internet Makes Shoe Shopping Too Easy

With five months left until our wedding, you'd think I'd start being a little more decisive.  Well, I'd think that too and we'd all be wrong.


Case in point:  my wedding shoes.


A few weeks ago, I found myself browsing Endless.com in search of nothing, really.  I was probably looking for shoe inspiration or a good deal, maybe both.  And what I found was Butter, a whole lot of it.  I'd heard of Butter before, the shoe line that was cute and comfortable but I never thought much of it.  How could anything marketed as comfortable actually be cute? 


And then my inner magpie caught a glimpse of the Cruz Peep Toe pump in gold glitter.  And with just a few clicks of the mouse, the lovely Cruz was mine.

(Cruz)

Feeling a little unsure of the ruching detail on the Cruz, I picked up the Cleo in gold glitter too. 

(Cleo)

By this point, I thought "hmm, I might need some color."  So I picked up the Season d'Orsay pump in "bleu," to round out my sparkly trio.   

(Season)

Suddenly, I began to feel the little pangs of remorse in the pit of my stomach.  Three pairs of shoes?  THREE pairs of GLITTERED shoes?!  Maybe I was going overboard...so I snatched up a pair of the Club peep toed pumps in gold leather.  Hooray for self control!

(Club)

And just a few short days later, these gorgeous shoes were mine. They were soft, comfortable, and expertly handmade in Italy.  Seriously, if you want a pair of gorgeous shoes that you could conceivably wear for 8 hours without wincing once--Butter is the way to go.  

I persuaded myself to return all but one.  I'm not sure if I will wear them on our wedding day, but they are the current pick.  See?  Even a crazy shoe fiend like myself can have moments of clarity.  I couldn't imagine myself wearing the glittered shoes on my wedding day, and even though I wanted to keep a pair because they were so incredibly gorgeous, I had to say goodbye.  

But all it took was a moment of weakness and a good internet connection and poof! Shoemageddon 2011, delivered straight to my doorstep.

Have you found your wedding shoes yet?  Did you shop for them online or in person?

Be Still My Heart

Are these my shoes?

(source)

Because I really, really want them to be.  

(source)

I saw these a few minutes ago, and I thought "wow, those are cute."  Then I saw the heart shaped peep toes and I thought "I WANT THEM."

I mean, HEART SHAPED PEEP TOES! Alexander McQueen Heart Shaped Peep Toe pumps in Satin.  Sigh...My inner shoe troll is seriously chomping at the bit.

(source)

But how would ever be able to afford a pair of these babies, IF I could find them in my size, right?  So I should probably forget about it.  But then I saw that they were on sale.  And then I realized that my size was sold out.  

So I bought the next half size up.  Not sure whether I should hang my head in shame, or wave my wedding to-do list around in victory.

They go with the color palette, they definitely can (and will) be worn again but the heels are 4.5 inches high!  Gulp.


So now I'm impatiently waiting for these lovelies to be delivered to my desk, err, door.  


Have you found your wedding shoes yet?  Were they an impulse buy or did you take your time?

Deal or No Deal?

Image via Heels.com

A few months before our big day, I bought my first pair of wedding day shoes!  Xavier, by Badgley Mischka in lavender.  Gorgeous, no?

They were tough to find in my size, because it seems that most women on earth wear a seven and half (or at least it felt like that at the time), but I found a pair!  And I found them for waaaay below the retail price because they were a sample.  So what if they weren't completely perfect? They'd be under my long dress!  And, for the price I got, I could buy another pair for the reception! Mmhmm, a little part of me wanted two pairs of heels, and then a pair of flats. Shoe-addiction? Perhaps.

Well, they came a few days after I purchased them and they were...um... 

 Pretty! (Personal pic)

See the sticker goo? (Personal Pic)

 

I wasn't feeling the sticker marks on the bottom, but that was expected since I had purchased a sample. The real problem was that  I was sent the wrong size, they were way too big!

Damn. Cue the FAIL horns!

Ever purchased a bridal deal only to find out it was a bust?  

Shoes, Glorious Shoes!

You know, I've been trying to be really frugal lately (with the wedding on the horizon and all).  But it feels like every time I try to buckle down and save, something pops into my inbox** to divert my attention from wedding-related purchases.  


Today, it was Neiman Marcus and their shoooooes!  Take a look:

Image via NeimanMarcus.com

Valentino! (Pronounced Vaaaal-en-tEEEEn-oooo when I'm in this frenzied state)

Image via NeimanMarcus.com

And these?  So stinkin' pretty.  Delicate rosettes in the sweetest shade of blush.  Gah. 

And for the record, I'm a decidedly non-blingy person but why did my jaw drop when I saw these?

Image via NeimanMarcus.com

Because they're gorgeous.  That's why. 

And just because I'm not the biggest fan of bling, doesn't mean I don't like a little sparkle. 

Exhibit A:

Image via NeimanMarcus.com

Exhibit B:

Image via NeimanMarcus.com

Suddenly, I'm out in the open about my insane love for shoes that are way out of my budget.  And I'm all for buying a pair of something outrageous for the wedding, as long as I can wear them again but when am I gonna wear glittered slingbacks post-wedding?

To justify the price of some of these babies, I'd have to cook, clean, sleep, and eat in them--and I just might.  

For good measure, here's another pair of shoes that made me drool a little.  

Image via NeimanMarcus.com

But they're suede, and my wedding is in July.  Notice how I'm talking about them as if they are in the realm of possibility, again, please humor me.  

Sigh...I'm gonna blame this outburst on caffeine.  Mmmk?

Has anyone else started drooling over details you can't exactly squeeze into your budget?

**Sadly the "inbox" I'm referring to is my shopping/junk mail inbox.  I created a separate account to avoid the urge to shop, and to always have access to deals and discounts.  Yet it still makes me want to shop. Ah well...