{ wish listed } leopard print flats

Forget black, I'm on the hunt (pun totally intended) for a pair of leopard print flats. They'd look equally chic with bright-colors and neutrals this fall. My requirements: a classic shape and constructed from calf hair, like this pair from Kate Spade. Are you looking for a pair of spotted flats this year?

1. Loafers, Steven by Steve Madden, $119
2. Elise Flats, Kate Spade, $225
3. Pritah Flats, Calvin Klein, $119
4. Celina Flat, Tory Burch, $265
   
   

{ win it } Jeffrey Campbell's Miller Oxfords

You can win your very own pair of Jeffrey Campbell oxfords as featured in yesterday's post, courtesy of Plum for Polly. The sweet cutout details will win over even the girliest of readers. Promise.

Mandatory entry:

1. Visit Plum for Polly and let me know which item(s) you love!
   
   

Note: Leave a separate comment for each additional entry for it to be eligible.

1. Become an official follower of Style Obsession - new followers always welcome! Sign up at the right via Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', or by RSS. Just let me know how you follow.
   
   
   
   
2. Follow Style Obsession AND Plum for Polly on Twitter.
   
   
   
   
3. Blog about this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment.
   
   
   
   
4. Tweet about this giveaway and leave the URL in your comment.
   
   

The Fine Print: Giveaway open to ALL readers. The giveaway period will run through Sunday, August 21, 2011. The winner will be announced the following day. Be sure to leave a blog URL or e-mail address so I can contact you! (Prize valued at $80.)

{ wish listed } Kate Spade Linette Heels

I've had it bad for these shoes since the Kate Spade's fall preview earlier this year. Plum is a nice color and all, but word on the street is that a dove grey version is on the horizon. I need more cocktail parties in my life. (Oh, who are we kidding? I'd just wear them to work.)

It's a Virtue

Thank goodness my landlord is a patient man. I'm expecting a few packages to arrive while I'm on vacation that he'll have to sign for, including this pair of Diane von Furstenberg sandals I just picked up from Gilt.

Knowing that these beauties await my return will make the flight home much easier to bear.

{ summer lovin' } Sandals

Each year I buy a new pair of sandals and wear them until they're hanging by a thread on Labor Day. For summer 2011, I'm crushing on this pair by Sam Edelman. The only decision left: on-trend color blocking or go-with-everything nude?

Save or Splurge?

I don't have to tell you that clogs are making a strong resurgence in the sartorial realm. With wooden platforms, supple leather and nail head details, I can see the appeal. Miu Miu's clog is undeniably luxurious - but has a $495 price tag that not many of us can justify. Luckily, retailers are beginning to release versions inspired by our runway favorites. Steve Madden's pair retains the flavor the luxe version with the curved leather details, but opts for a nude-colored leather that will elongate legs. Will you save or splurge?


I'd also like to take a moment to thank Bren of Chasing Beauty for the Stiletto Award! If you haven't read her blog yet, what are you waiting for? Bren has a knack for singling out amazing beauty products to try.

April Showers

April showers bring cheerful wellies - perfect for puddle jumping. (And you thought the seasonal sprinkles lead to May flowers.)

Do you have a tried-and-true way to beat the rainy day blues?

Growing Up with Lisa Frank

In grade school, I coveted Lisa Frank stationery, pens, pencils, Trapper Keepers, and especially stickers. So, you can imagine my glee when I discovered these Nine West pumps. Lisa Frank would be proud.

Twinkle Toes

If you're anything like me, I'm sure you thought that light-up shoes were only marketed to two very different clientele: teeny sneakers for those who frequent the playground, and lucite platforms for those who frequent the stripper pole.

And that's where we were wrong.

Both Jimmy Choo and Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte have created grownup variations of the novelty footwear. The Jimmy Choo version (above) comes with a price tag of $2,495 - and a glorified glow stick attached the heel.

While I won't exactly call the Rodarte pair "understated," they are considerably less garish than the Choo pair. I'm intrigued.

Tell me, would you wear light-up footwear? Or should we leave this trend to the wee ones?

{ DIY } Shoe Clips

I don't know how our grandmothers did it; clip-on earrings hurt! But if you're a vintage jewelry aficionado like myself, you've also amassed a sizable collection. And it hasn't been by choice. A handful accompanies nearly every jewelry win at an estate auction and antique stores insist that you can't break up a matching set ... even if it's just the bracelet you fell in love with. Since those baubles aren't going anywhere near my earlobes, I'm using them to adorn my New Year's Eve heels.

{ trend spotting } cap toe flats

At the first hint of spring, I'm the gal who is prematurely wearing open-toed shoes. But this year, I just might keep toes undercover with an on-trend pair of ballet flats. Designers are kicking up heels with two of spring's prominent trends: color blocking and mixing brights with neutrals. Now the hard part: orange, yellow or pink?

Do you plan to wear cap toe flats this season?

{ item of the week } Kate Spade Flash Flats

This week, Kate Spade's whimsical Flash ballet flats are topping my lust list. They're surprisingly affordable at $125 and would add just the right amount of daytime glitz this spring.

What's on your wish list this week?

{ holiday 2010 } Twinkle Toes

What's the holiday season without a little sparkle? Nothing is more festive than kissing under mistletoe and clinking glasses of champagne in a pair of glittering shoes. Here's to a Cinderella moment this holiday. Cheers!

(pictured clockwise, starting from upper left)
Steve Madden, Caryssa Glitter Platform Pumps, $129
Kate Spade, Charm Heels, $325
Kate Spade, Flash Ballet Flats, $125
Gap, Glitter Ballet Flats, $49.50
Badgley Mischka, Kiss Kiss Heels, $200
Miu Miu, Glitter Oxford, $585
Arden B., Glitter Pump, $34.30 (on sale)

Sweet Feet

I love sequins as much as the next gal and I'm sure I'll have plenty of sparkle-infused posts before the holiday season is over. But right now, I'm fixated on a rainbow of deeply saturated hues after falling in love with my new candy-apple red pumps. I'm sure any of the brightly-colored pairs below will also guarantee a cheerful holiday season.

(pictured clockwise, starting from upper left)

Stuart Weitzman, Jumbo Evening Slingbacks, $325
Ras, Dress Flat with Bow, $109.39
Wet Seal, Satin Bow Pump, $24.50
Bourne, Eva Pump, $244.95
Kate Spade, Gracious Pump, $263
Kate Spade, Fiona Flat, $95

Recent Purchase: Party Shoes

I spent most of this morning and afternoon running errands around the city, including a stop at DSW. I had a $10 coupon and had planned to pick up a pair of tights or socks - just to use the credit before it expired. Instead, I found the prettiest pair of candy-apple red satin pumps by Nina. I can hardly wait to wear them to holiday festivities.

{ giveaway } KM2 Shoes

Not only is Katelyn Gelber of KM2 Shoes one of the sweetest girls I know, she's also one of the most generous. I'm sure you all remember the shoes we swooned over yesterday. Well, one lucky girl is going to win a pair of KM2 Shoes in the style of her choice!

The Details
Open to everyone - even international readers! The entry period runs through Friday, November 12. The winner will be announced the following day.

Mandatory Entry
Browse the KM2 Shoes website and tell me which pair you'd love to own! You must leave your e-mail address or blog URL so I can get in touch with you if you win.

For Additional Entries
Leave a separate comment for each of the following:

• Become an official follower of Style Obsession via Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin' or via Google Reader
• Follow the KM2 Shoes blog
  
• Blog about this giveaway (please provide link in a separate comment)
  
• Follow Style Obsession on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway (please provide link in a separate comment)

{ meet the brand } KM2 Shoes

The old woman who lived in a shoe would have been blessed to take up residence inside a pair of KM2 pumps, appropriately dubbed "shoes to live in." And I must say that I agree with the sentiment. The brand is bursting with pairs ready for your next urban adventure.

{ Meet the Designer }
Katelyn Gelber of KM2 Shoes

{ Tell us about yourself and KM2 Shoes }

"Hi! My name is Katelyn Young Gelber. I am from St. Louis, Missouri - born and raised. I spent some time on the East Coast and now live on the West Coast. I am loving it. I am one of three sisters (Megan and Mattison) and 1/3 owner of Km2. We also have a brother, Parker Gelber. We got started in a UCLA marketing class. It really began when our professor noticed a passion for fashion in us and said, 'Hey, why not go for it! The first step gets you half way there.' So we took the first step and a year and half later, here we are. Its all truly by the Grace of God, every sister would agree."

{ Where do you find inspiration? }

"My sister Megan is actually creative director of the company so this is really more her question, but we all do have some say in the design room. We are really inspired by people. We are inspired by strong women, whether that be public figures or even fictional characters. We are inspired by boldness and a zest for life, we think of women in wonderful life situations and try to build our shoes around that situation and into that situation. Does that make sense? We like to have a story for every shoe. With that being said, of course we are continually inspired by traveling and culture and runway collections by our favorite designers."

{ What surprised you about designing shoes? }

"We were surprised by how many possibilities there are. You think to yourself, 'Well, shoes are shoes,' but they are so much more. I mean, we start with our shoes when we get ready for the day! The shoes are the focal point and we build our outfits around them. You can have a classic shoe and mix fabrics and embellishments to make such a statement. There are endless ideas when it comes to art for your feet, I would say the hardest part is stopping ourselves from going crazy and creating hundreds of styles that would overwhelm our clients."

{ Do you have a favorite pair? }

"My favorite shoe is the Audrey. I like it every which way. I like it in snake or nude or basic black. I love bows! I love bows plain and I love them with jewels. I have three different versions of the Audrey and they are perfect for work and then paired with a black dress to go out at night. They are oh so classy and oh so versatile. Megan designed them."

{ The Review }

When Katelyn, co-owner of KM2 Shoes, and I first started chatting, I was struck by her sheer enthusiasm and zest for life - qualities that are reflected in the line of wearable, sassy footwear.

I chose the Gloria pair for its striking mix of vintage embellishments and strappy chains. I will admit that I was a little intimidated by the long chains when I lifted the shoes from the box. It took a little finesse and patience to wrap them up my ankle! But this is precisely why KM2 Shoes is unique: there's room for creativity and customization. I opted to wrap the chains under the arch of the shoe, and the chains on the Venus pair are shown draped over the heel.

The attention to detail isn't just reserved for the shoes. You know that I'm smitten with packaging and KM2 didn't let me down. The package itself was wrapped in brown craft paper and hand-stamped with my address.

A deep purple ribbon adorned the box - testament to Katelyn's love of bows, I'm sure! But it also speaks to the brand's target market: a woman who is effortless, carefree and confident - and a woman who treats herself. The shoes range from $200 to $300 per pair. When you consider that the shoes are leather, durable, comfortable and hand-embellished, the price tag does becomes more reasonable for a special pair of Cinderella-esque shoes!

Love 'em? Giveaway announcement soon!

Wish List Wednesday: Gucci Wedge Sandals

Gucci, Clemence Platform Wedge Sandals, $990

File these under "out of my budget." But I love them anyway.

Barbie has Cankles

"I guess I always had a little 'girlie side' who liked Barbie," claims Christian Louboutin. And it seems the footwear guru also has a catty side.

In a recent CBS report, Louboutin allegedly deems Barbie's ankles to be "fat."

His claim is supported by a Board-certified cankle specialist (no, I'm not making this up) in the CBS article. Dr. Michelle Copeland explains, "She really doesn't have a full curve to the calf and it goes straight down to the ankle."

It's a cold day in hell when Mattel's anatomical wonder is branded imperfect.

No hard feelings, though. Louboutin did design the shoes for Barbie's 50th anniversary runway show earlier this year.

photos via Fashion Doll Guide, 21-7 Magazine, Mischo Beauty

Wish List Wednesday: Reiss Flats

Reiss, Issie Flats, $175

Need.