Shoe obsessions

The last time I actually went shopping was at the beginning of July, yet it seems like it's been forever ago. I only bought a few things here and there, returned some, and have worn the rest. Actually, I did buy a coat from the store I work at, but I used money I made from my shop so in my eyes, it doesn't count! It's a blessing and a curse that I've been so broke lately because I'm seeing SO much that I need. Every year I manage to scour up everything I'm lusting over into a wishlist and only end up buying one or two items. This year, I'm trying to be good since money is so sparse. I really need to focus on buying the right footwear to get me through the 6-7 months of fall/winter that Chicago is so famously known for.

Through scouring the internet for the best styles in shoes my size, I always seem to forget about Torrid. When I think of past footwear styles by this company, I think of 5" heel, patent leather hooker shoes. Needless to say, that's not really my thing. Recently I've noticed that they have seriously stepped up their game in terms of styles available in wide width. I'm super stoked that they're having a buy one get one half off sale, but I have to really simmer down my wants into needs.



The Nina // Camel Oxfords // The Serina // The Lola

Love the Nina flat, but I know I'd only wear it with a couple of black shift dresses in my closet and that would be the end of that love affair. I'd definitely get a lot of use out of the camel oxfords, so those are on my needs list. The Serina flats I'm still considering as a need, and as much as I love the Lola style, I realize that they're not a total necessity.



The Wendy in Brown and Black // The Lucky in Brown and Black

I love the Wendy, especially because of the wedge but realistically, I am on my feet 5 days out of the week with 8.5 hour workdays. I probably couldn't wear them to work and I'd be too tired to pull them off after hours. The Lucky has a more sensible heel with a 1/2 platform and 3" heel and after seeing this post from Calivintage, I realize that the brown booties need to be on my feet immediately.



The Lucy // The Tasha // The Toya // The Trusol

As much as I love the tall boot styles above and others on their site, there still isn't a style that I'm obsessing over. What I'm really looking for is a brown mid-calf flat-1.5" heel boot with little embellishments. The Trusol is a popular style that I've been seeing the past couple of years, but is only currently available in black. The Tasha is great but I'm kind of over the knee high look. Crossing my fingers that I'll find the perfect pair!

My favorite daydream

Blazer: Gap // Tunic, Shorts: Forever 21 // Boots: Evans // Sunglasses: Buffalo Exchange // Cuff: Nakamol, from Art Effect // Necklace: Free People // Bag: Thrift

I've been looking high and low for an ankle boot perfect for the summer. Boots are kind of essential for me since I'm on my feet for long periods of time as a full time sales girl. Even if it's just one day a week, my feet feel much better by the end of my fifth day if I wear my boots or my white sneakers. It's funny because I have this image in my head of what I want but I cannot stress enough how difficult it is as a wide-footed gal to find cool and comfortable shoes. Does anyone out there know of any websites that have a nice selection of wide shoes? I have a lot that I know of and check daily (Torrid, Evans, One Stop Plus, New Look, Zappos) but I'd love to know if there's something I'm missing!

Naya

As some of you may know, I have wide feet and it's been a constant struggle since I was a young girl to find shoes that fit properly. On one of my many quests to find both fashionable and wide shoes on the web, I came across this lovely brand Naya. Not only do they carry shoes in wide width, they also carry regular and narrow width sizes. How awesome is that? Here are a few of their current styles for their Spring/Summer 2010 collection:



The best part about Naya is that they are environmentally friendly. Here is a list of the eco-friendly materials they use in their footwear:

• Chrome-free or vegetable-tanned leathers
• Natural, organic or sustainable fabrics
• Heels made from sustainable bamboo
• Biodegradable latex foam cushioning
• Natural cork and rubber footbeds
• Outsoles made with recycled materials
• Nickel free metal buckles
• Recycled paper boxes
• Water soluble glues and cements

I don't know about you, but I am sold! A lot of the shoes that are pictured above are up to 50% off at the Naturalizer website. I kind of want to hold off on summer shoes right now as I have plenty of cold winter days ahead of me in the Midwest. I am anxiously waiting to see what Naya has in store for their Fall/Winter collection!

And lastly, I'll leave you with this quick video I found on their website. I really, really, want those white floral heels! My self control really needs to kick in before I do some major damage to my bank account.

Shoes and well kept secrets

I've said it before and I'll say it again... if I could change one thing about my body, it would be my feet! More women than I realized can relate to this, which is so relieving because I've been embarrassed about it for a really long time. For those that don't know - I've been cursed with very wide and flat feet. The struggle to find shoes that fit correctly has been a battle I've fought since I was able to walk. It's been extremely challenging to work with both of these qualities, but I seem to be finding more luck with online retailers. Evans has a great selection of wide width shoes. I recently bought three pair of shoes from them pictured above. In the past I've bought a pair of boots, simple black flats, and some heels and I wear them all religiously. It's funny because every pair of shoes I've bought from Evans have been black! I think next time I'll try to branch out color-wise.

So if you have the same problem as me, don't let it bring you down. I've never had shoes so comfortable and feel like they'll last longer than a season. There's a reason why I now have 6 pairs of shoes from Evans. It's 100% worth every penny.