STLFW: Breakfast with Naturalizer

Necklace: Stella & Dot | Top: Bailey 44 (option) | Scuba Leggings: Express | Booties: Vince Camuto (option)

OK, this is officially my last St. Louis Fashion Week related post, and I've got to say, I'm a bit sad about it! It all went by so quickly, and although I was quite sleep deprived as a result of all the festivities, it's been the most fun I've had in my blogging career. (Aside from meeting my partner in crime, Gina, of course.)

This was Thursday morning, the day of the second runway show I featured in Monday's post. A group of bloggers gathered together to drink coffee, snack on scones, listen to a short presentation from the Naturalizer team, and then pick out any pair of shoes we wanted in the store. Yes, I'd say it was better than being in my cubicle that morning.

Naturalizer, St. Louis Galleria Mall

If you know anything about Naturalizer, you know that they're all about comfort first and foremost. What I did learn, however, was that Naturalizer falls under the umbrella of Brown Shoe Company, whose corporate offices are located in Clayton, a suburb of St. Louis. Sam Edelman, Franco Sarto, and Via Spiga are a few other Brown Shoe Company brands that may ring a bell with you, and are no strangers to this blog. 

But back to Naturalizer. Naturalizer was created in 1927 and was the first company to create shoes specifically for women. Up until then, shoes were created for a man's foot, and simply sized down for a woman to wear. I'm all for wearing boys sized sneakers, but for everything else, I want a woman's shoe! They picture their target audience to be a young, professional and stylish woman on the go that doesn't sacrifice comfort over style. The three brands you can find within the Naturalizer store are Naturalizer (duh), Naya (a bit more casual and trendy), and BZees (think Lululemon, but for your feet - a super lightweight shoe to complement your activewear!)

Angelica, Kristen, Angie

I've had a few pairs of Naturalizer shoes in the past, but my all time favorite are these boots pictured below. I've had them for 6 years. SIX. The folks at Naturalizer have a knack for designing well fitting boots that are classic enough to last season after season - and did I mention that they are comfortable?

Left: Original Post | Right: Original Post

Needless to say, when it came time for me to pick the *one* pair of boots to take home with me, the struggle was real. I wanted all of the boots!

Mid-Calf Suede Buckle boot | Cheetah print bootie | Knee high cognac boot | Fur lined back zip boot | Gold hardware buckle boot

Ultimately, I ended up ruling out the black knee high boots with gold buckles. As much as I loved them, they are a bit too similar to the exact boots I was wearing that day and I couldn't picture opportunities where the knee high pair would be any better than the booties I already owned. If I didn't have the booties already, these would have gone home with me stat. They have a hidden wedge!

The cheetah booties stole my heart immediately, but I need more animal print in my closet like I need a hole in my head, so just out of sheer quantity, I had to force myself to put these in the "no" pile.

I've been on a lookout for comfy boots I can throw on in the winter for my commute to Pilates, but well, let's be real - using my "free" shoes for that purpose would be silly. It was hard to part with these though - the back zip allow you to fold over the fur, making them look even cozier!

So that left me with my top two contenders. A classic cognac riding boot and the grey, mid-calf, suede buckle boot.

These are the Janelle riding boot, one of their best sellers, and I can certainly see why. As soon as I put them on, I thought for sure they would come home with me. I loved the clean look from the front, and the detailed seaming on the back - reminds me of the tights with the rear seam line running down the back of your leg - emphasizes the curves of your calves for an awesome feminine detail.

In the end, I chose the grey boots. They're different than anything I have in my closet, and the hidden wedge makes them special and harder to find elsewhere. I know the buckles aren't for everyone, but I love the extra edge and detail. Very happy with my decision, and it's been hard to take them off ever since!

Michelle, Julia, Lindsay (our Alive Magazine host), Tamera, Brittany, and Carmen

Photo Credit: Alive Magazine/Sarah Stallmann

Afterwards, to replace all the calories we burned trying on shoes, Alive Magazine treated us all to lunch at The Restaurant located at The Cheshire. Our server had us at "blood red mimosa" and the rest was history. I was bad and ended up getting fish and chips, which is my weakness.

I couldn't wait to wear the new boots - it was an easy decision to pull them out for work Friday morning. Mid-calf boots can be hard to style if the proportion isn't quite right, but with my skinniest of jeans, I thought they looked great. 

Scarf: J Crew (option) | Top: LOFT (option, option) | Jeans: Express (option) | Boots: c/o Naturalizer

If you haven't been to Naturalizer in awhile, I encourage you to check them out! And yes, while I did receive these boots in exchange for this post, all opinions expressed here are my own. I certainly see more Naturalizer shoes in my future! A big thank you from this shoe addict to Naturalizer, Brown Shoe Company, and Alive Magazine for such a fun event!

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Linking up for: Tremendous Tuesday, #AllAboutYou, Erin and Laura for Trend Spin Linkup, Thrift Sisters with Ayana and Keren, What I Wore Wednesday, Random Wednesday.

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Shoe Addict

Sunnies: Tom Ford | Earrings: Premier Designs | Necklace: Banana Republic (option) | Top: Ily Couture | Bottoms: Express (option, option) | Bracelet: Express (option) | Shoes: Schutz (option)

I've seen this top a few places around the blogosphere, but I couldn't resist it for myself. After all, I'm an addict. Shoes are my weakness - they're the first thing I shop for when I need some retail therapy. They are the same size regardless of what my body weight is. They're the perfect finishing piece to every outfit.

I'm happy to report that I not only have this tee to vouch for my obsession, I finally made a video compilation of my little pretties. While not *every* single pair of my shoes is captured in this montage, I'd say this represents at least 90% of what I own. I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Shoesday!

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Linking up for: #AllAboutYou, Style Sessions, Erin and Laura for Trend Spin Linkup, and Stylish Tuesday.

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Shoesday: Spring shoe cravings

Leopard slip ons: Sam Edelman, Saint Laurent, Steve Madden | D'orsay flats: Sam Edelman, Forever 21, Kimchi Blue | Ankle Straps: Charles by Charles David, Steven, MICHAEL Michael Kors | Stripes: Ugg, J Crew Factory, Halogen

1. Leopard sneakers: Guys. I just can't get these leopard slip ons out of my head? Why?? I do love everything leopard, and I have just about any kind of leopard shoe you can imagine… except for a good sneaker. I feel like I'm seeing these everywhere lately - or at least they are haunting me wherever I go. I love that you can grab a trench and throw these on for an effortless spring outfit to run around in.

Left | Middle | Right

2. D'orsay flats: I don't wear flats too much, and I've been actually trying to curb my craving for regular flats, because of the fact that they go unworn the most in my collection. But, I've been really wanting to try the d'orsay flat lately. It gives a much different silhouette than the standard round toe flat I own so many of, making them easier to pair with dresses or skirts. And the cut out sides make them a little more flirty and feminine.

Left | Middle | Right

3. Ankle straps: Honestly, I think Zara does the best job with their ankle strap sandals. Every time I see them on someone, I just love them - or, I end up seeing an ankle strap I love and they always end up being from Zara. I just need to order some already. They're a great finishing touch to any outfit, and I love that even with the minimalist design - they still make a big impact on the overall look. I also love the idea of looking for more of a thicker, stacked heel for better walkability.

Left | Middle | Right

4. Stripes: There's something so springy and nautical about striped shoes that makes me so happy! I obviously love donning stripes - I think it would be easy to style these babies since stripes always end up being a great neutral to pattern mix with.

Left | Middle | Right

What kind of shoes are you craving for the spring and how do you plan to style them?

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Linking up for: #AllAboutYou, Style Sessions, and Stylish Tuesday.

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Resolution #4

Scarf: Banana Republic (old) (option) (LOVE this lattice one) | Dress: JCrew (option) | Tights: DKNY | Cuff: Express | Ring: BCBG (option) | Boots: Sam Edelman

res·o·lu·tion 

ˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən/

noun

1. a firm decision to do or not to do something.

So, Resolution #4 should mean: a firm decision to wear all my shoes. Or maybe: a firm decision to not neglect any shoes in my collection? Either way, I shall refer to this merely as "resolution #4" from now on. Yes, it's only my first week of my resolutions, but what do they say? It only takes 21 days for something to become habit? I could be making that up, but you get my point. I took these boots out of the vault because they deserved some love. They obviously make quite the statement, which is why I decided to pair them with solids. I tried to go with a full on monochromatic look with one of the new metallic skirts I've recently bought plus a neutral cable knit sweater, but it made me look like a matronly Fembot:

(source)

So, I just grabbed this easy dress, a scarf to pick up the taupe in the boots, and I was pleased with the results. It also gives me faith in these boots, because I had almost given up on them. It was snowy/slushy again today, so I begrudgingly *had* to wear my new red wellies, outdoors. A girl's gotta do...

Via Instagram

I don't know about you guys, but I am thrilled that there are only 8 hours left in the work week. Every morning I have woken up this week, I've been discombobulated, wishing it were Saturday. You can imagine my dismay when I realized it was only Tuesday. Needless to say, it's been a long week, and I have spent way too many hours commuting back and forth in this treacherous weather!! Cheers to the freakin' weekend!

Linking up for: Fashion Friday, Friday Linkup, Friday's Fab Favorites, The Fashion Informant, Casual Friday, What I'm Loving Fridays, Sit Down Style Session with Lauren and Jenn

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Shoesday Remix: Wear it now, wear it later

See details of winter outfit here

I featured these shoes in one of my first Shoesday posts. When I reached for them this morning, I realized I hadn't worn them since the seasons changed from cold to warm. I almost second guessed whether or not they were too wintery feeling - both because of the color and the suede. However, when I added the wine colored jewelry, the shoes balanced everything out just right. This proves that everything is better with a little wine.

NY&Company necklace (option, option) and 

earrings (option, option)

Banana Republic dress (option) 

Cara (similar) and Forever 21 bracelets (option, option)

Gucci Sunglasses

Michael by Michael Kors Elena pumps

I will admit that blogging has challenged me to try and be more creative with my outfits and how I pair things. I know it has changed the way I look at my clothes and the way I dress. Or maybe I shouldn't say "changed," I should say "adjusted." I don't feel like I am losing who I am by any means - like I said, documenting my outfits with this blog pushes my creativity and encourages me to take more risks. My mind is always thinking about ways to layer things or add pieces to make the outfit more interesting. And as a result, I know my dresses are getting neglected - at least now that it's too hot to layer a sweater or blazer over them. I am trying a new sunless tanner (story for another post), so I knew I was going to be in a dress today. I forgot how much I loved this print, but I couldn't just let it be. I tried changing out the belt with another. I tried layering long necklaces with it. I finally just told myself that it's ok to just let the dress be the dress. So here it is and I hope you like it!

Linking up with Lindsey and Shanna.

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Shoesday: YSL Tribtoo platform pumps

I've already done a Shoesday about my Tribute sandals, so I debated whether or not I should do one on these pumps, but I'd be silly not to, to be quite honest. They're amazing. And yes, I realize I say that about all my shoes, but seriously, they're truly amazing. 

First, the story about how these ended up in my collection. Well, I had a pair of Christian Louboutin "Rolando" pumps. (Did you catch that I used the past tense word "had?") They were beautiful, like jaw-dropping gorgeous, but the fit was just not made for my pudgy toes. I originally sized up knowing they ran small, but they slipped off my heel really bad when I walked, so I returned them for my normal size. They fit perfect on my heel - no slippage, but the toe box was a little snug. I tried to tough it out and hope they stretched over time, but over the year and a half that I owned them, I only wore them 3 times out of the house, and maybe a cumulative of only 3 hours total? The fact of the matter is, they hurt too much the second I put them on to ever endure stretching them over time. So, I finally made the decision to sell them and put the money towards a replacement pair - a pair I would actually be able to wear.

I wasn't sure what I wanted this replacement pair to be. During my birthday shopping extravaganza last year when I ended up with the CL boots, I tried on some Chanel pumps and some captoe YSL Tribtoo pumps. I loved both pairs a lot, so I thought one of them could be my replacement pair. I went to Neiman's and Saks to check them out again after I had sold my Rolandos. The Chanel pair I was eyeing was a simple quilted pair, and don't get me wrong, they were beautiful, but they just didn't have that "OMG I have to have them" affect on me. Then when I went to see the Tribtoos, they were extra tall. I didn't remember them being that tall, and in fact, I remembered them feeling quite comfy.

I went home that day empty handed, and I did a little bit more research on the Tribtoos. First, I wasn't sure what the difference was between Tribute Two and the Tribtoos. I've seen both style names but could never tell any visible difference between the two shoes. I'm not sure the validity of this statement, but I ended up finding this post from one of the gals over at the Purse Forum.

If the above information is correct, that totally makes sense to me now. I also found out that just like the Tribute sandal, the Tribtoos come in two different heel heights. I must have tried on the lower heel height last year, and for whatever reason, only the higher heeled versions were on display at the stores I went to this year. Soooo, I decided to go ahead and order the lower height Tribtoos. I debated on getting the captoe version, but finally decided to go with the solid black nappa.

I definitely do not regret my decision at all. They are the perfect black platform pumps, and I must say, hands down more comfy than my CL Rolandos. I would actually venture to say, they're more comfortable than *any* of my Loubies. The platform really makes them feel like a 3" heel, so the height is perfect. I will say though that they are just a touch big - just big enough to fall of my heel. But rather than size down and go through the whole CL Rolando debaucle all over again, I just added heel grips to them, and they. Fit. Perfect.

MSSP lace trim top (option)

Stella and Dot beaded necklace and brooch (option) attachment

Betsy Johnson earrings (option, option)

Express bracelet (option, option) and ring

7 for all Mankind "Gwenevere" white skinnies

YSL "Tribtoo" pump in black nappa

Chanel "Istanbul" tote

With shoes this beautiful and iconic, I wanted to bring all the fancy frills to the party. Lace, beads, brooch, bling, and of course, my Chanel tote. A pretty "safe" outfit, but it's all my nicest things rolled into one, and every detail gives me a happy. Unless you were shoe savvy, I really don't think you'd look at me and have any idea that this pair is "designer." I love that these Tribtoos just blend in with the rest of my outfit and don't scream its label. I know they're special, and I like it being my little secret.

As a side note, check out my bun. I was running late and didn't have time to dry my hair all the way, so I figured I'd do the old school way and use my bun form with my bun. It's still big, yes, but in comparison, I love it so much more as the round ball in my tutorial. But then again, I'm a sucker for all things obnoxious. :)

Linking up with Tori.

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