Love: Anthology Shoes Bondi Orange

This is the Bondi from Anthology Shoes. The color is supposedly orange but it looks more like yellow to me.

The specs from the site are below:

• Sheep skin leather upper
• 4-inch EVA cork wedge sandals
• Cushioned leather insoles
• Anthology rubber sole

These are my most comfortable pair of shoes. I ❤ it so much. It's so easy to match with most outfits and brings a pop of color when I need it. I'm a crybaby when it comes to shoes as a slight pinch gives me bloody blisters at the end of the day but this pair was so comfy even the first time I tried them on that I have no complaints the whole day. I've even tried it on a shopping trip and I have no blisters to report.

One downside I noticed is that the rubber sole is slightly peeling off about half an inch at the back after a few months of use. It's not that overused yet so that's bad. But then, I bought this at an insanely low price at their sale portion so I'll try to get it to a cobbler to lengthen the life of these lovelies so no regrets.

Love: Outland black round toe flats

I wasn't able to get the particular style name for these Outland flats I picked up from Olympic Village earlier last week but these are my current favorites. I've been wanting a pair of black round toe ballet flats for a while now and the metal-tipped ribbon, the hole details and the soft dark silver insoles make these pair a winner in my book.

As with most shoes, the first days are the most uncomfortable for one reason or another. For this pair, the chafing at the back of the heels was irritating. Thankfully the chafing period has passed. I love that the size 35 is a good fit for my wide feet.

This was initially paired with a dress but was also easily paired with pants. With the color and design, it's a good all-around pair of shoes. I'd love to get the brown and the dark navy as well but these will do me for now.

Love officially.

Craves: Random

I've decided to post this random post of stuff that tinged my brain last night while I was surfing.

I think I need some of these jute material shoes though it makes me feel terribly guilty wanting a new pair after just getting one. But they're on sale. How can I not want them? The insole is pigskin leather and the sole is rubber. Super win from Ylla for the Laura Ballernina flats. All the colors are lovely and so are the blues and the purples that are not in this pic.

I need to stay hydrated and these pretties from CBTL are making me thirsty.

I don't go to The Body Shop much because it's hard to control myself when they've got discounts and promos abounding. This one is on a really great promo sale though and would be great hoard for Christmas presents.

My loves. VMV hypoallergenics and BB cream. They call it Skintangible "Faint"ation Skin-Refining Non-Makeup SPF 30. I just call it God-sent answer to a prayer.

Love: So! F.A.B. Aster Beige Coffee

 

I didn't expect to get myself a new pair of shoes at the first day of the month but I just happened to pass by So! F.A.B. having a sale a week before that and found a great range of shoes that are very comfortable. I even found some of their high heels easy to wear. As those who know me well know, comfort when it comes to shoes are the best.

Frankly, with the bargain prices they had and all the different designs available, I was quite overwhelmed with them all so I got a bunch of them and tried them all on. It was quite a long process but I'm happy with the loafers I got. I would even more shoes but that's for another post.

First off,the comfort can't be beat with these. It's got comfortable cushioned insoles and ridged rubber soles. I have wide feet so I sometimes get shoes a size up but the size 35 was a great hugging fit. Also, absolutely no blistering for this pair for me.

As for the design, I find it really great when a pair of shoes have that visible stitch mark. So many shoes nowadays are simply glued together and it's such a pain when they just fall apart in the middle of walking somewhere anywhere. I'm glad there are still shoes like these. As for the color, I thought they would be hard to pair with stuff but the top is such a neutral nude that it's actually quite easy to wear with both dresses, pants and even shorts. A great all-around type of shoe. I'm lovin'.

Unboxed: Sugarfree Bowie Champagne

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Sugarfree had a sale online and immediately checked the shoes they put up. I'm a fan of classic pumps in general and as they had the Bowie Champagne on sale, I chose it from all the other pretties that were available in my size.

The shoes were beautiful and they came in a pretty black box with a ribbon handle. I wish I could say I fell in love but with shoes, comfort always come first with me and I'm as of yet unpracticed with the height. I'll take to wearing them every now and then on soft flooring but I'm not gonna be able to use them continuously for a whole day. Too high so sigh.

Looked Up: Kenneth Cole Kid's Shoes

I'm a cheapskate when it comes to a lot of things but I really like shoes and I so love getting some when they're on sale. These babies are at 60% off. That's about $16 for a pair and since they have free shipping for purchases over $100, wouldn't it be a good idea to get more?
 

Pictures from the product website.

Craves: Posh Pocket Shoes and Ylla

I dearly wanted to buy a pair of shoes once a month this year but I skipped March because of certain reasons. So April becomes a two-pair month for me. I gotta keep up.

Initially, I was going to get an Anthology pair but I got sidetracked by two other local brands that have some great reviews in some sites I've been visiting so far. I probably should stock up on high heels but with being on night shift all the time, I figure I need some down time.

I initially was hesitant about getting Ylla shoes because, really, the product presentation online could use a bit of angleing but when I checked out their facebook page, the Primas definitely made me look again.

I'm guessing at one point in time, a girl dreams of being a ballerina, or at least to wear the tutu and the ballet slippers with the ribbons and all. I'm not going to try enrolling in ballet school any more and I don't think my current style would ever incorporate tutus, but the shoes have definite promise with the Ylla Primas.

It doesn't hurt that it's insole is leather-lined. From experience, this is the best when it comes to shoe comfort, letting the feet breathe and gradually comforming to your unique shoe shape with use.

As for the Posh Pocket Shoes, their Bridal collection calls to me. I guess it's the constant wanting for the perfect pair of ballet flats with grosgrain bows. Ever since I saw a hot pink pair from J Crew, I've been wanting one. It has become an obsession with me haunting Net-a-Porter and Outnet for the very latest of the same design. When I saw the Posh site and found one with the added twist of glitter detail, there was no going back. The fact that they're portable is overkill for me already.

It's so hard to decide on a color, though. Black is the easiest color to pair with any outfit but it's a little much to get both in the same color, not to mention, at the latest count, black has been outnumbering my other shoes by half. Nude is also a great color and I've learned that it's as easy to pair with outfits as black, being so neutral. Pink is a great pick, considering how the designs are definitely girly. And the other Posh ones in silver and white are pretty as well.
 

So hard. I want them all. Should I go and get them all? If they were on sale, I'd probably get all of them, every pair being such a pretty design, but with being a mom, I need some self-control. There's still a little time to decide, April not being over yet. I just have to make up my mind.

Pictures from the Posh Pocket Shoes and Ylla Shoes facebook pages.

Looked Up: Anthowarehousesale

Remember these? It's driving me crazy because the ribbons can't be any cuter and it's currently on sale at 30% off but what drove me even crazier is another pair in a different color.

Is it the silver or is it the pink that's pulling me in. Argh!!! I'm going crazy. My husband absolutely won't understand if I buy both but I don't want only just one. I really really want both.

As for these boat shoes, I know I only want one. Actually, I'm not entirely sure if I want one or if I simply can't resist that it's on 50% off. I'm not exactly one for asexual dressing but the silver lace sure looks nice while I'm very sure that the orange suede is comfortable and a nice touch of color to anything.

So which of these? Any or all? If only I can be sure my size would still be available next month, then I'd wait a little more but the good ones go really fast. Argh!

Pictures from the Anthologyshoes.com.

Love: Outland Mary Janes

 
I’ve been obsessed with Outland shoes since I got pregnant last year but for the life of me, I always bring my husband along when I go shopping and he keeps shooting down my need to buy one of these. If you’ve never slipped on any of these babies, I highly recommend that you go to your nearest mall and try them. They are incredibly sweet to the feet that it’s not hard at all to fall in love.

I stalk them periodically. They are simply the most comfortable pair of shoes I’ve ever worn. The upper and lining is leather and the soles are rubber. The midsole is just so soft, if you’ve been walking in a pair of stilettos for a whole day, slipping your feet into one will make you want to get all the pairs you can afford. They come in a variety of neutrals and I do mean variety. Have you ever seen a neutral pink and a neutral blue? So easy to pair these with clothes.

I was so happy when I found these pair. It’s from a very old season and is worth 20% of the usual price of the current styles. Because it’s old stock, the leather was harder than their newer styles and the soles weren't as soft but nonetheless, it was a pair of Outland Mary Janes and right in my favorite nude color.

After a few weeks, the leather has been broken in and have molded to my feet. My feet are never smelly in these, being leather lined and very skid-proof due to the rubber soles. The nude color needs some care in the handling and the cleaning but easy enough to clean. I have no complaints on these and would love to get more in the current styles.

Review: Butterfly Twists Leather

Chicify is currently on sale and I got myself a pair of flats. They're a pair of twisty flats in black from Butterfly Twists. They're available in small, medium and large sizes, hovering between two shoe sizes per option. I got them for P649.50 plus delivery costs.

They initially had a very bad first impression for me and I was wondering what the heck I was doing buying a pair online just because they were 50% off. The fit was too tight for me and there was a little bunching by my toes. Based on experience, bunchings like that would feel like a nail was drilling on them by the end of a long day.

Reading up the bill and finding that I can't return or exchange on sale items made me reconsider them. Yes, I am that kind of person. I checked the bunching and found that I could actually adjust them. The first time I saw the pair, they were this twisted unruly things. You actually have to adjust them a little inside so that they would align before you wear them the first time.

Going out for a spin on these for 2 hours, I've made peace with the pair. They're not super comfortable but they're not bad either. It's a so-so kind of thing for me.

First off, the back of my heel hurt a little because of the elastic. I tend to have that problem with a lot of shoes. Other than the back of the heel, the fit is tight, but not so much that you feel like you put your foot in a sardine can. It's a hug kind of tight which I like and I love the fact that they make my feet look so small.

The soles are silicon and provides great traction. They're thin but I walked the whole 2 hours and the soles absorbed the shocks so the pads of my feet don't feel like I walked in them that long. I even skipped a few times.

For the twist part, they're easy to fold and come with a bag to store them in. The bag is a little big and the ribbon was a little hard to pull at first but I got the ribbon to pull eventually and the bag is easily folded up into something smaller.


All in all, I like them. Not love but like is good. I like them so much I'm wondering if it's excessive to buy another one. I'm loving the gold but the silver and the white seems like they'd work for me too. And the satin ones look really darling too.

Pictures from the Chicify website.

Brain Drain: Wearing Heels pt 1

I like high heels. I have the worst posture and high heels force me to straighten up. But they’re quite hard on one’s feet so I follow some rules on buying and wearing them.

YSL

· Size. Size 5 is not always the same size 5, even when you’re buying from the same store or brand. It’s harder when you’re buying online so I usually check reviews on whether they tend to run on the small size or not. When you’re not sure, check the site’s size guide. I find the Easy Unit Converter’s shoe size converter helpful in this when the site doesn’t give a size guide. When I’m still confused in the end, I simply give up and check if there are any physical stores available in the area and fit from there. It’s still worth it for me to buy online, though. I hate carrying bulky shopping bags around and the shops I like to buy from has free delivery.

Easy Unit Converter

· Base. Check if the base is narrow or wide. I have wide feet so it’s important for me to check this. I’d hate to squeeze my toes in and get corns. A wider base also provides better balance.

· Material. I buy leather. PETA please don’t throw stuff at me. I eat meat. Why leather? Because leather stretches and conforms to my feet and eventually gives the best fit. This isn’t always the case with all types of leather. Also, leather shoes last longer on me, except for that one time rats chewed on my favourite flats. But I still subscribe to leather as they last a long time and don’t peel the way shoes nowadays tend to do.

 Wikipedia

· Cushion. If you’re going to be on your feet for any time at all, you’re going to have to make sure it’s comfortable. I always press on the foot bed for any foam to absorb the shock. I’m a sissy that way. 

Kenneth Cole

· Initial fit. I don’t believe in buying a pair that doesn’t feel comfortable the first time you fit them. When buying shoes, check that they’re comfortable the first time around. I once went back to the store 30 minutes after purchase to change to a bigger size because I couldn’t bear to walk in them by that time. Shoes will be broken in, yes, but what that means for me is that they will feel uncomfortable after about the first 2 hours of wearing them. There will be stretching and there will be some blisters and after a time, they will be as comfortable as when you first wear them. Of course, if you wear 5 inch heels for a whole day of walking/standing, prepare for a world of hurt. It’s not even your feet that will hurt by then. It’ll be your lower legs screaming.

· Rubber soles and heel tips. Sometimes, I think this is the hardest thing to find in the shoes I shop for nowadays in the malls which make me wonder how most shoe-wearers handle slippery areas. I’d hate to slip in my heels. It’s embarrassing for one and a lot of aches and pains if you slip in high ones for another. It’s actually easy and cheap enough to get heel tips replaced in the shoe repair shops littering the malls. This actually lengthens shoe life as it takes longer to wear them out than the plastic ones. Soles are not as cheap so when I find rubber-soled shoes that I like, it’s love. An alternative is to buy one of those stick-on rubber soles. They won’t last that long, though and you’ll have to replace them. I actually found a couple at the P88 Japan Home store.

Keens: TOMS ballet flats

I’m looking forward to the TOMS ballet flats. They look very adorable.

 

I come from a third world country or we could go with a more PC word, developing country and I appreciate it when a company makes an effort to help like TOMS does, giving a child in need of shoes a pair for every pair that you buy. That’s where their “One for One” slogan comes from. I’m not really very much into their alpargata. I wasn’t excited about their wedges either. The new ballet flats, though, looks something I would very much want to wear.

From what I’ve gathered round the net, they’re coming out in leather and suede, burlap, leopard, linen, textures and whatnot. I’m very much excited. Prices will range from $74 to $129. Not sure how much it will cost around these areas but there are coupons that abound if ordering directly from their site.

Picture snipped from the official TOMS website.