Thursday: silver Jimmy Choo heels

Back when I lived in Europe, I spent a lot of time in Italy — mostly Milan, since that is where the fashion action is. But I did find myself in Florence a few times, and on my list of must-see sites, the Ferragamo Shoe Museum comes in second only to the Prada outlet that’s about 45 minutes out of town. Okay, perhaps I shouldn’t really ignore the Uffizi Gallery, or Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia or the Duomo like that, but we are all in agreement that shoes are works of art too, right?

I’m not even a huge fan of Ferragamo the brand — a little too conservative for my taste — but I gotta give props to Salvatore the man, who founded the company and revolutionized footwear. I’m not exaggerating; this is the man who used cork and wood and even the cellophane from candy wrappers to make fancy shoes when all the leather in Italy was going to the military during World War II. The museum contains 10,000 models of shoes. You think the Uffizi has 10,000 Michelangelos? I didn’t think so! All kidding aside, the museum is definitely worth a visit (note: I just read that it’s closed until November 30). And yeah, okay, you can go after you’ve done the Uffizi and the Accademia… and the Prada outlet!

Technorati Tags: Ferragamo, shoe museum, Florence

Tuesday: Tod's berry patent pumps

With everything going on, I haven’t made much jewelry lately… and now that fall is here, I’m feeling more like knitting than beading. But I was with my cousin this weekend — the one with the bead store — and I’ve found a new object of lust that is making me dig out my crimpers and round-nose pliers.

They were sparkling at me from inside the glass case at the gem show: strands of tiny briolettes, in champagne and peacock blue and even black — and of course, glistening white. Diamond beads. Yes, that’s right. A girl’s best friend.

They range from the muddy (not even on the charts for clarity) to the “not bad to the naked eye” variety, from the minuscule to the fairly honking sized. And they can go for anywhere from a couple bucks a carat (for the pebbly rough beads, which are kind of cool but not at all sparkly) to $55 a carat for some pretty nice champagne rondelles, to over $1,000 per carat for the almost-colorless ones.

I was seriously contemplating buying a strand of champagne colored diamond beads to wear with some necklaces made from tiny 20k gold satin rods — very Gurhan and truly fabulous — but somehow I managed to step away from the ice. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t stopped thinking about them. I still covet them. I must have them! They do say diamonds are forever, don’t they?

P.S. These Tod’s shoes are more burgundy than cranberry, aren’t they? Drat!

Technorati Tags: diamond beads, jewelry making, Gurhan

Thursday: Manolo gold lizard sandals

So after weeks of being deprived of my fall shopping (and whining about it), I finally scored! I was up late last night, desperate to buy something — anything! — when I finally came upon this pair of Tod’s Jodie Pump with Fringe, in berry patent leather. I’m hoping that in person they are more cranberry than burgundy — oh yeah, and I hope they’ll fit too. But there’s nothing like no sales tax, no shipping charge at eLuxury!

With that purchase under my belt, I feel well primed for the next stop on my seasonal shopping spree: Neiman’s.

How cute are these Miu Miu platform knee boots? They remind me of these fabulous Valentino bow knee boots I’ve been coveting — only at $770 they’re, oh, $620 less than the Valentinos. What a deal!

This YSL bib dress is very sexy librarian.

Ooooh, love the proportion of this Vera Wang shearling bolero. That reminds me, I need some opera-length leather gloves…

Technorati Tags: Neiman Marcus, fall shopping, eLuxury, red patent shoes, shearling, knee boots

Tuesday: linen Gunmetal peeptoes

Fall is here — finally, officially — in a few short days (and that is one downside of the coming season: shorter days), so it’s time to get down to brass tacks. Since I’m woefully lacking in quality shopping time these days, I’m all about the one-stop shopping. So for the next few posts, I’m going to case one store at a time in my quest to reap the bounty of the harvest!

So without further ado, herewith Saks:

I’m completely intrigued by the BCBG Max Azria collection for fall: there are some really cute pieces and the prices are great. There’s this wool jersey dress with three-quarter sleeves (really, that length is so flattering) that also came in this variation in loden, with slightly balloon sleeves. I’m a little wary of the XS-S-M-L sizing… and that just means I actually have to go to a store and try the stuff on. Sigh.

Moving right along, this Tracy Reese turtleneck would look great with skinny black pants and boots (more on that search later).

Another basic for layering: Theory’s white stretch cotton top with cuffed full sleeves.

This black jacket and skinny pant combo from Ports 1961 (another new favorite line) is so Audrey Hepburn. Love it!

Next time: Neiman’s!

Technorati Tags: fall shopping, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ports 1961, Theory, Tracy Reese, BCBG Max Azria

Thursday: brown Bottega Veneta slingbacks

I’ve become obsessed with red patent leather. I don’t know how it happened. One day about a month ago I was at Barneys browsing in the shoe department. It was still pretty warm that day, so I wasn’t seriously shopping at all. But I came across a pair of deep red patent Manolos and I couldn’t get them out of my head. Then, last week at the dressmaker, I was trying on a super-cute knit dress that I was thinking of ordering in chocolate brown, and it hit me like a brick: I needed to wear red shoes with that dress. I mean, I don’t think brown’s drab at all; I love brown. But suddenly I wanted — nay, needed — deep red shoes. For that outfit. (And more, I tell myself! Red is a neutral!)

But wait, there’s this pair of Gucci red patent pumps too! The heel is so this-season (more than the Manolos if I recall) but at 4 1/4 inches, I’m a little scared. Of course, they’re also on back order. Boo!

So while I wait to find the perfect red patent leather shoes, I’m thinking of branching out. There’s this Marc by Marc Jacobs slouch hobo that has caught my fancy. I even love the name of the color it was given: lipstick red. How glam…

Technorati Tags: red patent leather shoes, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Gucci