The low-heel shoe is an interesting niche. I even surprised myself with that biology term. But it works. It can either be done two ways: it can be holding up a shoe that your grandmother is likely to wear since higher heels are too high for her daintiness, or it can hold up a shoe that is chic and edgy and perfect for a day at work. They’re more comfortable than higher heels, but the flip side is they’re likely not as fancy.

Take this pair, par exemple (that’s for example in French, one of the few things I remember). It has an adorable low heel and yet isn’t something Nana would likely wear to play bridge. The flowers not only add youth to what potentially could have been an older shoe, but they make the shoe a perfect centerpiece for an outfit. You can wear it with all black in the winter, or with jeans and a cute top in the spring. What’s better than a shoe for all year round?

Brand: Unlisted (by Kenneth Cole)

Name: Let’s Go Crazy

Year purchased: early ’00s

Price: probably around $30

Store: my guess is Marshall Field’s

These are the epitome of what I call “starter shoes”.  They are plain, comfortable, mildly stylish, and appropriate with most outfits.  I will never get rid of them because they are way too practical.

Brand: Kenneth Cole

Name: Forward March

Year purchased: 2001 or 2002

Price: around $200 on clearance?

Store: Marshall Field’s

Debut: it was so long ago I don’t remember

I closed my savings account to buy these boots.  I wanted them so badly, and my stupid account had a stupid $200 minimum and I thought to myself, “Why should they have all my money and not let me have it for boots.”  I didn’t have any extra money to put in the account anyway, so that two hundred bucks was just sitting there earning about twenty-five cents in interest per year (and taunting me).  They’re super practical for dressing up in the winter, since the heel is not very high and they keep my legs warm, and whaddya know, they’re still in style eight or nine years later.  They were totally worth the investment and more useful than the four dollars in interest I would’ve had by now from that savings account.

Brand: Prada

Name: ?

Year purchased: 2009

Store: Buffalo Exchange

Price: $27 (used)

Debut: Mike and Anne’s wedding as my daytime pre-ceremony comfy shoes

Manny and I went on a purse hunt.  I needed a dressy small black purse for a few upcoming events, and I didn’t have a big budget.  We went to Buffalo Exchange to see if I could find something cheap and used.  On the counter next to some of the purses was this pair of Prada mary janes in my size for $27.  They fit perfectly and were pretty comfortable, yet I still needed to get talked into buying them by Manny.  Practical and cheap Prada shoes in my size and style and I needed to be talked into buying them by my husband. That just proves how awesome my husband really is.  Thanks, Manny.

Brand: T&C (?)

Name: Double Take (?)

Year purchased: 2007

Store: Via’s Vintage

Price: $5

Debut: My cousin’s wedding

I found these on the five-dollar clearance rack at Via’s.  They were an awesome price and super cute, so I ignored the fact that they were a little too small.  I don’t wear them very often because of how painful it is to stuff my feet into them, but just owning them makes me happy.

Brand: Bandolino

Name: Bdberry

Year purchased: I absolutely cannot remember.  Maybe 2007 or so.

Price: ?

Store: Macy’s

Debut: ?

You might assume that a pair of red patent leather shoes would always be on my shoe radar, but I honestly forgot about these until I started digging through my closet for this photo project.  I was surprised when I opened the shoe box and found these inside.  Pleasantly surprised, of course.  I need to find someplace to wear these soon…

Name: Tea Party

Year purchased: 2002

Price: ?

Store: probably Marshall Field’s

Debut: our wedding!

Since our Way Back Machine was already set to 2002, I decided to post my wedding shoes.  These were purchased in 2002 to wear with my blue-with-white-lace-overlay wedding dress.  There was no proposal or big to-do for our wedding, just a small ceremony at the courthouse downtown with a dinner at my dad’s new house afterward, all planned in three weeks.  We picked September 23, a Monday, because we already had it off from work and were leaving Tuesday for a vacation to Chicago to see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field.  In essence, we planned the honeymoon long before we planned the wedding.  I still believe Manny wanted to marry me because I had gotten him those baseball tickets.

Here’s a bonus photo from the debut at our wedding (my dress is blue, but the flash makes it look incredibly white):

Name: Phoenix

Year purchased: 2002

Price: the price on the box says $98, but I can’t believe I paid that much

Store: Banana Republic

Debut: my college senior art exhibit opening

In honor of the coldest day of the year so far (see my long underwear?), and all the snow that fell last night, I decided to post a pair of sandals.  I bought these in 2002 to go with the Betsey Johnson dress I had purchased to wear to my senior art exhibit opening.  I remember being really frustrated trying to find the right shoes, and having all the salespeople assume I was shopping for prom.  These were just perfect with the delicate lace of the dress and the sales clerk at Banana Republic was so excited that I was wearing them with Betsey Johnson.  Me too.

These low-heel (1″ heel) blue glitter shoes do just that. And that little ankle strap adds some sweet visual interest!

They’re in low supply – so snap them up fast!

These low-heel (1″ heel) blue glitter shoes do just that. And that little ankle strap adds some sweet visual interest!

They’re in low supply – so snap them up fast!

Name: J’Adore

Year purchased: 2009

Price: $25 (on clearance)

Store: Macy’s

Debut: the Guthrie Theater for my mom’s birthday

Manny and I were on our way out of the Mall of America one afternoon when he received a phone call.  He stood next to the shoe department at Macy’s while he was talking, which was convenient for me.  Over the course of his conversation, I searched the clearance rack, tried these on, got the match, and paid for them.  They have a really low heel and a lot of cushion, so they are extra comfortable.  They are also insanely adorable.

Name: O-Dubonnet-O

Year purchased: not sure; mid-00s

Price: not sure again; maybe around twenty bucks?

Store: eBay!

I saw a girl once at First Avenue wearing a pair of red patent leather mary janes and I knew I needed a pair.  I spent a couple of years tracking down a pair that I loved.  I love these shoes.  They’re a lower heel and a longer toe, so they’re perfect dressy shoes for pants.  This pair is a big-girl version of the shoes I saw that girl wearing at First Ave.

Name: Crinkle

Year purchased: 2007

Price: $2 (used)

Store: Salvation Army

Debut: a shift at work

Happy Thanksgiving!  These are the shoes I am wearing today, so I thought I would photograph them first!  I found these shoes on the $2 rack at the Salvation Army during the same failed furniture shopping trip on which I found my brown patchwork boots.  They are a favorite to wear with pants and are extremely comfortable for heels.

Name: Vitello Orlatur

Year purchased: 2000 or 2001

Store: Dayton’s

Price: $200

Debut: that same night to TGI Friday’s

These shoes were on the sale rack in the Oval Room shoe section of Dayton’s.  I kept passing by them and couldn’t get them out of my head.  One day, while shopping alone, I was asked by the salesman if I’d like to try them on.  He then proceeded to tell me that he would give me an additional 10% discount off the already 50% reduced sale price because I was a student.  That salesman was really good.  I was afraid to let my new boyfriend Manny know how much I had spent on shoes.  When he reacted with excitement instead of judgement, I knew it was meant to be.

Name: Engineer 8″

Year purchased: 2006

Price: Gift

Store: Bay Street Shoes

Debut: I don’t remember

Once upon a time I had a very stressful job at which I worked a minimum of 50 (salaried) hours per week.  At the same time, Manny was working zero hours while looking for his next job.  To show how much he appreciated me, he surprised me at work with a gift-wrapped pair of boots!  Now, we did end up exchanging brown for black; he had gotten the brown boots because I was obsessed for a while with the boots Natalie Portman wore in The Professional, and these Frye boots were the closest approximation to hers.  I just figured I would wear the black boots more often.

Name: Oscar

Year purchased: 2009

Store: Heavenly Soles

Price: $60

Debut: The day I bought them. I wear these quite often. They were notably worn with my BCBG dress in Beverly Hills the day before my 30th birthday as my “daytime walking around shoes” because they’re extremely comfortable.

Manny and I took a bicycle ride to Uptown last spring and I popped into Heavenly Soles (my other favorite shoe store) just to look around.  I couldn’t take these boots off after I tried them on.  They were the last pair in the store on the clearance rack. The best part is I haggled for them; they were originally $120 marked down to $90.  When I gave the saleslady puppy dog eyes, she knocked 1/3 off the price.  Manny carried my old shoes on his back the rest of our bike ride so I could wear these.

Not their debut, but here’s a bonus photo of the boots with my BCBG dress in Beverly Hills:

corsets – to svelte our waist and other bits we’d rather keep slimline… at the expense of perhaps, eating, breathing…

and of course, not to forget plastic surgery.  Growing old gracefully ?  Maybe, after the Botox, eye lifts, collagen implants have taken effect!

So, its nice to know that for once, you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. All the fab bridal shoes from Bespoke Big Day are available in your choice of heel from 1″ to 4″; over 30 shades of satin and 30 glitter colours too

Check out our range, of lace, glitter, crystal, flower corsage,

Eva bridal shoe in Gold leather

bows, feathers and just plain fabulous shoe designs specifically for your fabulous big day.

New designs are bursting out of the pipeline for 2010.. keep your eyes peeled!

Rachel

x

These shoes are really pretty and versatile- and will make a great addition to your wardrobe. While sold second-hand, they have hardly been worn and are in good condition, albeit with light marking to the soles from use, but nothing major- but please take the time to look at all the photographs, as these form part of the description and I have tried to show the shoes from every angle so you can see exactly what you are buying. I’m selling them for the bargain price of £30 (plus postage).

They will come to you in their original box, carefully packed in protective packaging to keep them safe in the post. I will send them out within 24 hours of receiving cleared payment and will use Royal Mail first class post as a default, but if you’d prefer me to send it by registered post just let me know when you pay.

Link to my ad in Gumtree:

http://www.gumtree.com/london/13/45787613.html

I have to admit that over the last few weeks life has gotten a bit in the way of my typical reading schedule. I’ve read a page here. And I’ve read a page there. But my regular “chapters at time” approach (patent pending) has fallen by the wayside.

While I haven’t gotten to Lemuel’s urinary pyrotechnics I am closing in on the end our time in Lilliput. Gulliver is giving it to those old “High Heels” and “Low Heels.” In fact, I was just asking myself: I wonder which of the heels you and I would be?

And just as I was in mid-ponder I logged onto the blog and I saw you had answered the question for me. Because, Twin Brother, if you are 5′ 11 1/2″ you are definitely a “High Heel”-er.

So, thanks for saving me the mental calisthenics.

As for Swiftian humor, here’s a particular favorite of mine:

“His Majesty gave Orders, upon pain of Death, that every Soldier in his March should observe the strictest Decency, with regard to my Person; which however could not prevent some of the young Officers from turning up their Eyes as they passed under me. And, to confess the Truth, my Breeches were at that time in so ill a Condition, that they afforded some Opportunities for Laughter and Admiration.”

I wonder what caused the laughter and what caused the admiration?

Anyway, I will get back to reading a bit more consistently. I can’t wait to get to Brobdingnag!

Justin

Distressed leather low heeled Cowbot Boot

Having searched high and low for the perfect boot we’ve finally found you these great distressed low heel Cowboy Boots.

Made in Italy in super soft leather, these boots have a lovely almond shaped toe and look great with just about anything.

But you’ll have to be quick as they are flying out of both the stores.

And, these beauties come in this gorgeous vintage buff or black.

Price = Under $90 with shipping

Update: Brilliant Web Sleuth Erica found these similar shoes — for nearly 1/2 the price!

They’re Caparros, and they’re on dsw.com for only $50!

Ooh, and they are available in nude, silver, black, white and ivory! Sweet.

And, these beauties come in this gorgeous vintage buff or black.

Price = Under $90 with shipping

Update: Brilliant Web Sleuth Erica found these similar shoes — for nearly 1/2 the price!

They’re Caparros, and they’re on dsw.com for only $50!

Ooh, and they are available in nude, silver, black, white and ivory! Sweet.