Non-Dr. Marten Combat Boots

I've historically been turned off by combat boots, especially of the Dr. Marten's variety, but the Maje and Sandro renditions of them have made me wonder why I haven't considered them before. Actually, my blog archive reminds me that I did consider them during the latter half of 2013, although it's worth pointing out that anytime after May 2013 was a dark time for me because I was still getting over the breakup that was college graduation and the end of life as I knew and loved it. Fear not, I love life again but it took some time and lapses in judgement, which my brief inclination towards a pair of Dr. Marten's circa fall 2013 suggests.

I also know that I considered them sometime in 2001 when the chef d'oeuvre/magnum opus of The Princess Diaries opened in theaters. Princess Mia pre-Paulo "you broke my glasses, you broke my brush" makeover sports combat boots in her "as usual, this is as good as it's going to get" way. (See how I weaved Princess Diaries quotes into that sentence to show my encyclopedic knowledge of the movie?)

Thirteen years after The Princess Diaries came out and almost a year after dark hole fall 2013, I made the jump and bought combat boots. It went something like this: it was Friday afternoon and I was scanning Racked.com for a list of sample sales to ring in the weekend. I settled on the Scoop clear out sale for its proximity to my office, and as soon as the digits on my analog computer clock turned to 5:30, I headed down the cobblestoned-blocks of the Meatpacking District to the store. I knew I shouldn't have gone in the name of saving money, but it was a. Friday afternoon b. summer c. my life, my decision.

In their buckled up glory: Rag & Bone Hudson boot

I was leafing through the Splendid tshirts and patterned tops I normally associate with Scoop when I saw a pair of combat boots not too different from a Sandro pair I had window-licked earlier that week (isn't that the French translation of window shopping?). They weren't Sandro, they were Rag & Bone and they fit like a goddess but a couple of taps into my calculator proved what I already knew: I couldn't really afford them. I put them back in the box and idly wandered through the store only to find myself right in front them again. Just like Audrina kept finding herself on the back of Justin Bobby's motorcycle, I couldn't tear myself away from them. So I bought them. It felt so wrong, it felt so right, and now I have combat-esque boots. I win. 

Sneakers and Crew Socks

Here's a thought: Vans with crew socks.

The look has been flooding my thoughts for the past week, which is a long time as far as outfit fantasies go. I tried it out last year with a pair of metallic high socks and my red Supergas. I thought it was going great until a friend asked "what was going on with my socks" as if I had no idea that I was wearing metallic crew socks. What did it look like was going on with my socks? They were clearly having the time of their lives being the stars of my outfit. I retired the look immediately because her comment dropped my sartorial confidence level to below 100% and the socks had lost their metallicity anyway.

Before I get into how sneakers and crew socks will be better this time around, I'd like to discuss the plausibility of sneakers in the summer, or more specifically, in bare legs weather. It's a tricky thing for me. I like sneakers more than the average woman, a partiality that may also correlate to my having smellier feet than the average woman, and having smelly feet is ind of a one step forward, two steps back situation. One plus one equals two and I can't wear sneakers without socks. I need to wear socks, except my keen eye for detail combined with my slight obsessive compulsivity means I can't wear ankle socks with non-running sneakers. The tiniest bit of sock exposure over a sneaker drives me insane (see: white ankle socks and Supergas). So, if I'm going to wear socks with sneakers, I might as well go to extremes and wear crew socks. It's very Wet Hot American Summer, don't you agree?

I like the idea of wearing high socks and sneakers with a dress. It reminds both the outfit wearer and any outfit observers that though the wearer's pedal half resembles that of a Lord of Dogtown, she is still a womyn who likes to feel the wind beneath her wings/through her legs as she's walking down the street. Can I get an amen?

Man, is that an eclectic outfit or WUT: Madewell poncho dress, Vans, Stance Banner socks, Thorlo Classic crew socks, Lulu Frost earrings, Madewell necklace

Q&A: Summer Sandals

Hola snitchez and bienvenue to the first installment of my sartorial advice column. Two of my friends suggested I start this because I'm often on the receiving end of longwinded messages regarding what to wear and where to buy thangz. That sentence wasn't intended to position myself as a holier-than-thou consumer of clothes, but more of a testament to the fact that 87 percent of my daily thoughts are related to items with which I'd like to adorn myself. Soooo ask me anything, and know that if I don't have the answer off the top of my head, I'll take pleasure in finding it out for you.

Without further ado, the first Q from a friend and reader under the alias of Closed Toed and Confused:

"I'm in the midst of a sartorial conundrum. I need some summer sandals but am unsure of which to buy. I've never been much of a flip flop girl (too beachy) and have steered more towards the gladiator sandal. But as I think about a new purchase, I'm left wondering--is the gladiator dead? I'm pondering a pair of Birkenstocks right now but I'm pretty sure the rainbow straps I want scream gay pride."

Okay, well I love Birkenstock Arizonas. I've had the same pair since 2005 though I haven't worn them consistently over the years. I got the hint that they'd be coming back in style when I saw them in surf shops in Biarritz during summer 2k11, and as we all know, the French are legit forerunners when it comes to fahshan. Even though Birkenstocks are on the feet of French citoyens and models walking ready-to-wear runways, everyone shouldn't go buy a pair. If you dress hippie or dowdy on top, wearing Birkenstocks on your feet won't de-frumpify your look. So if you're going to wear Birkenstocks, you should do so with well-pedicured toes, skinny jeans or rolled boyfriend jeans, or a shirt dress/skirt. And rainbow straps equals #shinebrightlikeaNO. I happen to know that the reader who sent in the question has an affinity for navy blue, so I think a navy blue suede pair might complement her wardrobe. Or maybe in white or a pastel shade? The color you choose depends on how well it will mesh with the overall tone of your wardrobe.

I don't think gladiators are dead, but I think Jesus sandals could be a good compromise between them and Birkenstocks. Jesus sandals have the bulky look that is hashtag trending right now and the advantage of being a classic piece because they'll definitely come in handy when you're on a senior citizen tour of India in fifty years. I like this pair from Freda Salvador. I should also probably note that I'm not sure of the exact definition of Jesus sandals, but I once saw a pair of shoes at the leather market in Florence for 30 euros that had straps going over and around the foot, and since they reminded me of Jesus Christ Superstar, I called them Jesus sandals.

Finally, if you're loyal to the gladiator, you might want to think about investing in a pair of K. Jacques tropeziennes. Tropezienne shoes will never be out of style, and though I don't own a pair, I imagine they get better with age. You can also get them with rainbow straps that don't shout gay pride. 

Designer Spotlight: Starring Marion Hanania of Good Guys Don't Wear Leather

I stumbled upon vegan shoe brand Good Guys Don't Wear Leather a couple of weeks ago when I was beginning my search for a pair of spring booties. Though vegan leather isn't a necessary condition when it comes to my choice of footwear, I became momentarily obsessed with the brand's imitation suede booties, loafers, and brogues that I made it my business to meet up with its vegan founder and designer, Marion Hanania, when I was in Paris. (I've also seriously wondered the viability of veganism in France given that the typical French meal is comprised of meat, dairy, and eggs. Quiche Lorraine, anyone?)

Marion is the type of person who exudes creativity. When I met her, she was wearing an OshKosh denim jumper that not many people over the age of five can pull off. Whenever I meet someone successful in a creative field, I always want to know how they got to where they are now, which in Marion's case, is exhibiting her Fall 2014 line at the Don't Believe the Hype exhibit in the Tuileries.

She's a lifelong Parisian whose creative juices have been flowing since a young age. Proof: she has always loved to draw and her grandmother was a fashion designer. Now 33, Marion studied fashion design at L’école Duperré, a fashion school in Paris, and started her own company after winning a contest for which she could design anything of her choosing. She explained that though she was initially drawn to clothing, she wanted to try her hand at something new, so she opted for footwear. Before launching Good Guys two and a half years ago, she spent almost ten years working as a freelance shoe designer for fashion icons like Isabel Marant. (She isn't responsible for the wedge sneaker though.)

She started Good Guys out of a desire to bring something new to the shoe market: unisex vegan shoes. The shoes look and feel like leather and suede, but they're made of breathable microfibers, canvas, and natural rubber. She likes to keep her styles basic but is always on the hunt for the newest and most animal-friendly materials.

When I asked her my hard-hitting question of how one could be a vegan in France, she didn't have much to say except that it's pretty hard. As for her shoes, she wasn't sure how they'd first be received in France, but we can assume quite well because they're currently front and center in the windows of Colette. I'm planning on making the Duke bootie (below) my spring shoes once I get myself over to MooShoes on the Lower East Side to snag a pair.

Check out Good Guys' e-shop here, and its bumpin' Tumblr ova here.

Adidas, or Not

I began seeing Stan Smiths in street style pictures during New York fashion week but didn't realize how viral the trend had become until I set foot in the city manifestation of my soul mate last week (that's Paris, captain obvious). Everyone (though not anyone I personally know) has them--three of the bitchy chic buyers on my flight were wearing them, as was the manager of my favorite boutique by the Sèvres-Babylone metro stop (I'll never know the name of the store because its name is displayed in illegible neon pink font).

I've been doing some thinking on the Stan Smiths: I like them but not enough to buy a pair. I have a pair of white leather sneakers already, and a little part of me squeaks every time I look down and notice they're not as bright and clean as they were five minutes earlier. Now that I think about it, the appeal in the Stan Smiths lies in their tennis shoe shape, not their bright white color, though that does help. When it comes to an Adidas sneaker, I'm partial to a darker version in suede that proudly displays the logo. 

There are a lot of sneakers in current spring collections and upcoming fall collections that seem to have taken their shape inspiration from an Adidas original—or just a regular old tennis shoe. Based on my shoe observations whilst in Paris, I'd say that we're about to experience a resurgence in the flat tennis/soccer/skateboard shoe arena, even though one in three French women still wear wedge sneakers.

Below are some of the sneaks that have been on my mind. I have a particular inkling for the Twins for Peace shoes--two girls in the airport were wearing them in a beaded version, and I walked past the brand's store in the Marais by chance. Of all the shoe varieties, the most economical option would be to go to Foot Locker and buy a pair of Adidas or Pumas. I did, and I can't wait to wear them with my #trackpants.

PS. I'm back chez moi and slightly depressed because I'm not in hashtag Paris anymore, but that's okay because there are things in New York that I missed, like my bed, my mom, and almond milk.

Clockwise from top left: Sandro shirt, Veja shoes, Adidas Superstars, Saint Laurent low-tops, Twins for Peace low-tops, Puma Classics, Golden Goose sneakers, Vanessa Bruno trousers.

Patterned Pants: Silk Edition

Of all the email newsletters that I receive in my inbox, one of my favorites is Citizen Couture, although I guess it really isn't a newsletter because its contents are limited to a single street style photo. It doesn't come at the usual mid-morning time as most blasts. It usually comes in the middle of the night, which means that when I unconsciously check my email at four am (digital digital get down, bad habit), I have a lovely street style photo to gloss my eyes over.

Example: This photo came at 3:03 am on February 19. I effing love Rachel Nguyen's oufit--especially what appears to be silk pants. Also, she makes me want to go blonde. I'm going to do it. One day. 

Below, a silk panted outfit:

Vince sweater, J.Crew café capri, J.Crew denim jacket, Jenni Kayne D'Orsay flat, Zara bucket bag, Derng bracelets

Walking Shoez

I'm going to San Francisco tomorrow, and I can't decide which sneakers to bring...which means it's time for an awkward Photoshop collage. Guys, which sneakers should I bring?!

Jk, your opinion means nothing to me, I've already decided on the red ones. I just wanted to make you feel uncomfortable with my Photoshop skills.

Can you smell my Vans from your computer?

Ps. For some San Francisco inspiration, a clip from my favorite movie.

Toga Pulla Booties

Need. These. 

They're like a hybrid of Chloé studded booties (which I sometimes dream about/is a decent amount of my salary) and Frye boots.

Mhhmm.

Would like to point out that the resolution of this picture would be better if I had a pair of these boots and could take a picture of them sitting comfortably in my closet, rather than sourcing this picture from Google images. Something to think about.

Leopard Prints: Trendy or Classic?

I'd argue that everyone should own at least one item of leopard print clothing. Five years ago (shit, it's 2014), leopard print was just another animal print trend, whose popularity among my age group was most often evidenced on a pair of Tory Burch Reva flats. Now, leopard has surpassed giraffe and zebra and graduated from trendy to classic status.

When wondering if I should buy an item of clothing whose practicality is debatable, I ask myself if the piece in question is a trend or a classic. Striped shirts: classics. Velvet pants: trendy (I bought them anyway). Frye boots: classic. Leopard print: classic. Zebra print: trendy. Q.E.D. (Not sure if that's applicable here but I was never good at proofs anyway).

I have two pieces of leopard print items: a pair of pants and a shirt. Both were impulse purchases made for stupid reasons, but I've managed to wear each article enough times to successfully add them into my outfit repertoire.

Based on my experience, leopard prints bring out the most in an outfit when worn on shoes or as a handbag. I once tried to order a pair of leopard print booties online from Zara, but the shoes they sent me were one size too big and had sold out by the time I tried to exchange them. I went to bed angry at Zara for two days, but all was redeemed when I saw a Jonas brother on Fifth Avenue after returning the shoes at the store.

I'd say that there's no better way to end a blog post than with a Jonas Brothers anecdote, so below is a leopard print accented outfit for you to mull over.

J. Crew wool bomber, Rag & Bone boyfriend jean, Golden Goose ankle boots and sneakers,
Clutch found on Etsy, Madewell top

Snow Boots, blegh.

Ugh, snow boots.

I have a lot of mixed feelings towards snow. It's pretty on the trees outside of my apartment, it's gross in slush form on the side of the street, it's annoying when it gets in my shoes. I could write a haiku on snow, but I'd rather air my thoughts on snow boots.

I hate them.

They make my feet look fat. I hate myself for writing a sentence like that, but they do. My default snow boots are Bean Boots, which seem to look good on everyone except on me. They ruin whatever outfit I wear them with, so I'm guaranteed to have a bad day with Bean Boots on my feet. That's probably why I hated second semester of freshman year of college so much.

I tried to substitute New Balance sneakers for Bean Boots last year. My feet still looked extra masculine and they were always a little damp once I got from point A to point B, but a French person once told me that "I was so French" for wearing sneakers instead of snow boots, so I kept wearing them. In fact, they're on my feet right now.

I've been considering a Doc Martens Chelsea boot as an alternative to New Balances and Bean Boots. Their patented leather material means they're waterproof, and their Chelsea style means they aren't too punky.

But then again, I could always go rogue and buy a pair of Sorels.

Nevar!

(Sorry guys, but you have to bear the brunt of my autodidactic Photoshop skills. One of those Bean Boots totally got cut in half. #trying.)