My other shoe collection (part 2)

Unlike in my earlier post, these babies won't fit Barbie. In fact they're not for any doll. They're shoe erasers!

Despite not for use by tiny plastic feet, these were done with comfort in mind. Look at the platforms of these colorful pumps!




These boots are made for correcting mistakes. Lol!












Miniature shoe collection may be growing as fast as my real pairs!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Miss Shoeniverse

I don't know what it is about shoes that make me happy. Instead of attempting with words, let me show you through these images.

Photos by my photographer G, post-work by my T

Parisian chic

They say Paris is the ultimate fashion haven. I've never been there, but I think I may have had a taste of it with a shoe brand called Parisian.

The mall that started it all is aptly named ShoeMart, for short "SM", which is widely and wildly popular in this side of my world for great bargains and complete selection. It did start as a shoe shop and later on grew to the most successful retailer in the country, carrying all things you can think of. Their slogan "we've got it all for you" captures it perfectly.

I remember years back, this brand was merely associated with affordable, sensible shoes. In fact no fashionista in the past decade would have dreamed of wearing one. But look at how it has evolved! It boasts of fashion-forward designs, some "inspired" but a lot are original and I am constantly awed by their creativity and craftmanship. Most of all, how do they manage to do all that and price it at $15-40!

Their current showcase comes from the Philippine Fashion Week and I might have gone back for it about four times now as I find myself craving for a pair I left behind. I might end up buying everything here.

my favorite design from this collection, but not as comfortable as the rest 

i'm still tempted to go back for these, though not very practical in this weather

 trying them out, i'm obviously panicking

 the shop literally turned off their lights as my friend and i finalized our selection

i was very torn: the white or the beige?...

...went for the beige and no regrets! i can wear it with virtually anything in my closet

trying on more styles...

Here are some other Parisian shoes in my closet:

Grey-blue victorian lace up cut out heels 

 studded black gladiators

back-studded grey suede booties

 strappy heels in delicious blue

 black booties with hot pink back detail

Vixen super strappy booties in blush color

Blush-worthy

These were the sky high wedges I fell in love with in Zara. Somehow I knew the shoe-niverse had something grander in store for me. And I was totally right!

Perfectly called "Vixen" in "blush" color, I bought it in between school shoes shopping with the girls. Somehow (like almost every time), I got to sneak in a couple of minutes to run to the ladies' section. Lo and behold, the (current) love of my life, waiting for me on a corner shelf nobody usually notices. 

I love how the garter stretches at the side to make room for the feet to slide in. The solid heel which gives good support, no balancing act needed. The strap-happy design. And did I mention the color? The color is to die for! Makes me blush.

The new pairs sure are piling up. But I'm definitely wearing these this week!

Vixen caged heels in blush, Parisian Jr for Php1,299 (about USD29)

Meet Charles & Keith

As usual, my Singapore trip was another toxic, sleep-depriving, must-remain-intellectual-at-all-times kind of trip. And like in any of my travels, I always hope there's that 1hour break I can manage to shop for shoes.

For the first time ever, I packed very light (key is to pack dresses and one fierce shoes!) to give space for all the goodies I'm bringing to my colleagues from all over SouthEast Asia (they love the vegetarian pork rind "chicharon" and some mangorind candies - combination of Philippine mango and tamarind). In fact, I brought so much that I had an extra overnight bag. I never expected to go home with the same luggage weight.

I guess it was "meant to be" - on the first day, my Steve Maddens failed me for the 2nd time. It got ripped just as I was presenting in front of a boardroom of highly charged, mentally superior group of people (I was the first to present). So needless to say, I NEEDED to buy a replacement pair. And as always, Mr Charles and Mr Keith were ever reliable.

These light gold sandals were the perfect shade, the perfect cut! Bought it in 20min flat, while the shop was closing. It was not on sale, but still not bad at only S$53 (about USD35). I went home to my hotel very happy.


But my pretty Thai friend was much happier, carrying 4 bags worth of 11 pairs of shoes. Look at that smile - no boyfriend can put that kind of smile on any woman's face!

And look at her loot. She actually had to request for 2 FedEx boxes and we spent our last night packing away (convinced her to keep the boxes so the shoes wont get damaged en route to Bangkok).

Two of our pairs were exactly alike. The black criss cross at the lower right of the photo above had a hot pink version which somehow didn't suit me as well, but I was so tempted to buy them. The pretty friend was very "mad" at me for constantly saying "super nice" with all the pairs she tried on (but they WERE super nice on her lovely white feet!).


Not to say, I didn't have my own share. Just 6 pairs (compared to her 11 - I'm obviously trying to lessen my guilt), though not counting the flat sandals I bought from Rubi.

All were from Charles&Keith except for the disco ball silver shoes from Rubi.


My fave pair from this splurge --

This brand has evolved so much in the past years. With fiercer designs, I look forward to more meet ups with these guys.

Friend says this shoe shopping will last her a year. I said "yeah right". Perhaps I was giving myself a reason not to abide by her rule?

all shoes ave price of S$29, 5 from C&K, 1 from Rubi

16 pairs down

Spring cleaning more than 10 years worth of stuff (er, junk) has brought me to weed out 16 pairs of shoes. Wow. Not amazed by the number of pairs I've amassed (obviously gone past that already), but I'm awed by how much my taste and sense of adventure in shoes have changed! 


Goodbye to chunky heels, adieu to squarish toes, farewell to 2inches and lower.

Rarely or over-used clothes also went in to the pile --

Kinda deadly if you ask me. I have this feeling I have every right to replace those sixteen pairs in one go.

Infatuation

Delicious.







Topshop finally brought these babies to Manila --


The metallic pumps are to die for. The fit though was not good.



So much styles!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

so much shoes, so little time (and money!)

i don't remember having these many shoe styles to choose from back in the day. maybe i wasn't paying attention then but i'm quite sure the selection then was not as mouth-watering as they are now! 


while i don't necessarily believe (direct) knock-offs should be tolerated, i'm amazed by the thought of having endless possibilities of finding that fabulous pair inspired by a much more expensive, unreachable designer brand.


whether online, your local department store, or that fashion student who just started her own line, i'm giddy with excitement for what's more to come!

Raphael Young shoes (photo from shoewawa.com)

shoe sketches

lately i find myself getting that same 'ole feeling when i see beautifully drawn shoe sketches, the way i would feel when i see an actual pair of fierce footwear. i can't even bring myself to call them "the next best thing", they're so pretty i can stare at them the whole day.

i wish i could draw and come up with my own to-die-for-shoe-designs. for now, i'll wait for K and M to grow up and turn my shoe dreams to reality.

sketch by 6yo M, with curly-cue heels