I've eluded to the fact that I went a little crazy with my Fall and Winter shoe shopping this year. Technically, you could call it a full on SHOE HAUL. I bought....wait....are you ready for it...
8 PAIRS
That's right. Not one, not two, but EIGHT PAIRS OF NEW SHOES.
I also got rid of 4 pairs, but probably should have rid myself of 8, alas purging is not my forte! For some women this may not seem like that many, I've seen some blogger's share photos of their "shoe closets" with literally hundreds of pairs of shoes, but in my reasonably sized Italian apartment and with my reasonable salary 8 pairs is a LOT!
Although I did buy a few other things on sale, like 2 pairs of jeans for 15 euro each and a new leather bucket bag I've talked about here, most of my shopping money this year went to new shoes.
Part of that is because I made a promise to myself to invest in better items, replace shoes that are visibly old/worn/ugly and fill in the gaps in my wardrobe and part of this was a need for my wardrobe to reflect how my style is changing now that I'm feeling a little more mature.
THE SHOE HAUL
Shopping the Sales NOW for things I'll love LATER
I've put up a few photos on Instagram and on my Facebook Page of looks featuring my new shoes and I've received a lot of comments and emails asking for details so I thought I would share the newest additions to my closet pair by pair. Think of this as a formal introduction to some of my new friends that I'll be hanging out with for years to come!
Pair Number 1 : The Cuban Heel
So, there was some rhyme and reason in buying all these shoes! I realized that every time I had a dressy occasion I would always turn to my go to pair of heels, a soft brown leather pair that I bought for my best friend's wedding in Rome but have worn at least 50 times on different occasions.
They are comfortable, sexy and practical, and easy to walk in because of their wide heel. So, I was willing to INVEST good money in a similar pair and ended up finding these online in my size.
Real leather and made in Spain they feature a Cuban heel, otherwise known as an X Heel or Slanted Cowboy heel. This style will be HUGE in 2016 and soon I'll be chatting about the shoe trends conference I just went to in Milan to give you tips for 2016 and 2017!
These were *really* discounted and a few pairs from this line, with the exact same heel, are still on sale and unbelievably priced like this pair in brown and beige REAL LEATHER now priced at only $24 down from $110(sizes 5,7,8 and 9 are left)!
I've already worn these shoes on a few different occasions and soon I'll be sharing this look from my trip to Tuscany where I styled them with a beautiful custom made dress by the brand Dress Mavens. Keep your eyes open for a post on Tuesday which will feature a very rare coupon code for DressMavens.com!
Pair Number 2: The Low Heel Bootie
Last year around this time I invested in a few pairs of Chelsea boots. I bought a burgundy leather pair and a designer pair from Jeffrey Campbell in rubber for the rain styled here. I realized that I LOVE Chelsea boots because they are so comfortable and I wore them ALL THE TIME, however, the downfall is that they flatten my body, widen my legs and can be a little too masculine for my taste. So, I set out to find a pair of above the ankle feminine Chelsea booties with a bit of a heel, and I found these:
100% Made in Italy in real python leather, these were on sale for 80 euros (down from 650 euros!!). I found them online at this store and the exact is available here in soft calf leather (black or beige) on sale for $110 down from $400!
Pair Number 3: Ankle Boots for a Lady
I've written before about my recent "coming of age", which technically isn't over yet. I cut my hair, I've done some major closet purging and I'm investing in better quality things that are also a little more "mature". I've also been invited to do a fashion photo shoot next month with a super luxury car manufacturer and wanted to get a new pair for the occasion, so please meet my new "lady" booties for a new, improved and older me!
These are by the brand PIERRE DARRE and although the brand has a French name these are 100% Made in Italy in real leather. I got a GREAT deal on them and there is still ONE pair left (size 8) here, currently marked down at $47 from $189!!
Pair Number 4: Wedge Trainers
I've already chatted a lot about these new wedge runners and how I've jumped on the bandwagon a little late with this purchase. This pair of wedge hightop runners were $41 down from $98 and there are a few sizes still available here. Comfortable, practical and relatively feminine, I've been wearing them with shorts, denim skirts and rolled jeans to get some height without sacrificing the benefits of a rubber sole.
Pair Number 5 - The Replacement Thong
Part of my shoe haul strategy was also taking a good, hard look at the pairs of shoes I already own and deciding which pairs were down right worn and ugly, such as my thong sandals. I've had them for three years and they are looking rough, like embarrassingly rough. But I LOVE them, so what could I do? REPLACE THEM! So I bought this replacement pair of thong sandals, found online here for under 20 euro.
Pair Number 6 : The Stylish Winter Boot
Have you heard of SOREL? Probably, hasn't everyone heard of Sorel? The Canadian boot manufacturing company turned super, mega luxury brand. I found these fleece lined real suede and quilted boots on sale here for 55 euro and they are still available for $85 (plus you can use the discount code "FRIENDS" today only to get an additional 20% off at the checkout!
Although these will sit in my closet until we head to the mountains in November I am so happy I was able to snatch them up at a price I could afford. They are SO COMFORTABLE, like slipping my tootsies into a fluffy, warm cloud, and I could honestly sleep with them on. Sorel is famous for making ugly boots "chic" and for keeping your feet warm even in Canada's ridiculously frigid temperatures. It's been 5 years or so since I last bought new winter boots so I went with my gut on these and added them to my shopping cart with zero buyer's remorse.
I will wear these with my TWO blue puffer coats (seen here) and a beautiful bag by the brand Be*Why (keep yours eyes open for another giveaway!!) and to learn more about Be*Why read about them in this feature.
Pair Number 7 : The Trend - Fringe Slip On Loafers
I couldn't resist. I have a bit of a "fashion philosophy", namely spend on things that are "classic" and that you will use for years such as bags, coats, good suits/dresses and shoes, and SAVE on anything that is trendy. So when I saw these taupe DARIELLE fringe toe slip on loafers on saleI just couldn't resist. The black and white pair are $45 and the taupe pair is on sale again for $26 here.
Even though these are pleather and not leather they are actually very comfortable and do not make my feet sweat, and have been my shoe of choice ever since they arrived. Great for a day of sightseeing, walking around or running errands, I've been able to style them with skirts, rolled skinny jeans and shorts.
I get asked "where did you get those?" EVERY TIME I wear them and usually people can't believe I paid less than 20 euros.
These slip on fringe sneakers are also a great option for anyone who needs help packing for a vacation because they are a classy alternative to bulky running shoes. They can easily be worn for a day of long walks or hanging out in Sienna's Piazza del Campo but also transition into an evening pair appropriate for dinners and aperitivos!
Pair Number 8: The Open Toe Bootie
Believe me I was DONE shopping for shoes. Like Done. I mean come on 7 pairs....that's enough. But, when I got back from our summer vacation and happened to walk into a little mom and pop shoe shop in Modena and saw this pair on sale for only 15 euros I COULD NOT RESIST.
Someone needs to put blinders on me during the sales. Actually, this is part of the reason I often avoid going into stores in the first place!
15 euros, come on people....and you know what ... they are actually comfortable to wear. As in, walk around for several hours on cobble stone streets type of comfortable and they are sexy, and all women deserve a little sexy in their lives. Besides, after attending the SS2016 Trend Session and the Autumn Winter AW2016 / AW2017 Shoe Trend Sessions at the Shoe Convention in Milan I now know that open toe ankle boots and open toe booties will be HUGE trends next year!
If you're looking for a pair at a great price I found these online for $53 on sale from $162 in REAL leather, and sizes 5,6,7,9 and 10 are still available!
AND THAT IS IT
THE END OF MY 2015 SHOE HAUL! (I hope)
I am officially not going to buy shoes until.....well....let's not go there, let's just say that these should tide me over for a while!
Please console me with your sale purchases! What have you been buying?
I'm the type of shopper that buys a ton of things during the sales and is usually quite frugal the rest of the year. At around 37 euro a pair I'm really happy with all of my new shoe additions and now I just need to find a few good reasons to wear them!
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