Archive for the ‘Neutral Hues’ Category

Ankle Boots are a must-have for Fall and I must say I’m quite impressed with the latest arrivals of lace-up  ankle boots. While some styles are focused on the latest trends (such as open-toes, studs, and clog-style adaptations), others are quite classic and can easily be worn for years to come.

Whether you choose a smooth or suede leather upper, a bold color or a neutral tone, an open-toe version or a clog-bottom style, I’m sure that you’ll find one or two styles of lace-up ankle boots that you love. They are a perfect transition shoe for Summer to Fall and are extremely versatile and fun to wear. Wear them with long leggings, skinny jeans, or an above the knee dress or skirt.

Here are our top picks for lace up  ankle boots…

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These gorgeous KORS Michael Kors Angie Lace Up Ankle Boots (below) in distressed taupe leather feature a peep toe with classic lines.  The approximately 4-inch heel is offset by the 3/4-inch platform.    There is also a nice tan suede version of this boot, but I love the distressed leather.

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The Marquee Lace Up Ankle Boots (shown below) are a fashion forward design by Velvet Angels that features a lovely blue suede upper, wrapped suede heel, and a hidden 1-inch platform.

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These Marc by Marc Jacobs Lace Up Ankle Boots (below) feature an on-trend clog bottom with studs and a synthetic wood toned heel and platform outsole.

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The Apepazza Strasburgo (below) is a military-inspired  ankle boot with a short lace-up panel, two buckled straps at the top and rear zipper entry.   Folded leather cuffs over the front of the ankle provide the finishing touches on this casual yet stylish ankle boot.

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These Donald J Pliner Hoa Ankle Boots (shown below) feature an antique metallic leather upper with elastic panel for a stylish and comfortable fit.    Like all DJP footwear, these boots are leather lined and crafted of superior quality.

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The Jeffrey Campbell ‘Loggins’ Oxford (below) is a vintage inspired lace up ankle boot with fold over collar & comfortable mid heel.

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Chic rocker style best describes these Chloe Black Leather Ankle Boots (shown below).  These sexy boots feature lace up detail on the front and zippers on both sides of the boots!

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The Trouve ‘Jenna’ Bootie (below) features zipper teeth detailing on the trim of the cuff and vintage-inspired lace-up styling with a flirty peep toe. The stacked heel and platform provide a considerable lift, while the side zip closure ensures easy on and off.

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These Giuseppe Zanotti Ankle Boots (below) are absolutely gorgeous!  The suede upper has smooth leather trim and lace up detail the front with brass loops. 

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Click here to browse a large selection of ankle boots!

There are many ways to wear ankle boots. The most popular is with skinny leggings or jeans.  Longer styles of jeans and leggings look better in my opinion, though I have seen a few people pulling off cropped versions with ankle boots.

Only skinny pants should be tucked inside ankle boots. Pants with wider legs will balloon out to much when tucked inside ankle boots. Instead, wear your wide-legged pants over your ankle boots. I find that ankle boots actually make for a comfortable and less bulky fit (than tall boots) when worn under wide-legged pants.

Skirts and dresses also look great with ankle boots.  Go for lengths that are at least a few inches above the knee (or shorter). Avoid wearing ankle boots with mid-length skirts and bare legs.  For a classic combination, you could also pair ankle boots with a long skirt.

Look great showing some leg with your ankle boots, especially while the weather is warm! As the weather gets cooler, you can wear them with tights or leggings for a polished and put-together look for Fall.

Damage or premature wear on your heeled shoes from driving can be frustrating, especially if you’ve made significant investments in your shoes.

Driving with heels can permanently damage shoes with scuffs and scrapes.  Leather can also become crinkled with that worn look at the vamp way too soon!   Indeed, this is not a pretty sight!

There are a couple of solutions to this problem.   One of the most popular solutions is to change into another pair of shoes when driving.

This is certainly worth doing to protect the shoes you love from damage!

One option is to change into sneakers or some other sport shoe.  Another option is to change into driving shoes.

Driving shoes are great because they are specially designed for maneuvering the pedals and providing foot support while driving.

I usually keep a pair of driving shoes in the car to change into when I’m wearing heels.

A good driving shoe will be lightweight, form fitting (the vamp and heel fitting snuggly without slipping out), and will have good traction on the sole, extending up the back of the heel.

Some of the more attractive driving shoes have just enough traction on the back of the heel without looking like a “driving shoe”.

Here are some tres chic driving shoes that are also cute enough to wear casually when you’re not driving!

Elie Tahari Janine Driver 2. These pretty little flats have hardware detailing and a sweet bow at the vamp adding a touch of charm.   Shown here in gold, also available in black, pink, red, lilac, navy, and purple.

KORS Michael Kors Apache.  This cute little moccasin-style driving shoe is leather lined and available in suede or specchio leather.   Shown here in mocha specchio, also available in gold specchio, and black suede.

Arturo Chiang Amalie Driver.   This moccasin-style driving shoe has classic lines and a soft leather upper with hardware detailing across the vamp.   Shown here in beige, also available in black or gold leather.

Joan & David Zarza.   These sweet flats feature a rounded toe with knot accent at the vamp and tonal stitching.   Available in brown suede.

Stuart Weitzman DDMOC Driving Moccasin.   These sporty driving shoes feature glossy, snake-embossed patent leather, thickly padded insole. and a cushy rubber outsole.   Shown here in brown, also available in black or ivory patent leather.

If changing shoes is not convenient for you, don’t despair!   There is another solution: the Heel Shield by Achilles Shield.

Keep the Heel Shield in your car and just clip them on the back of your shoes while driving.

They are made of recycled plastic and can also be ordered in a variety of colors and textures, such as black crocodile and pink ostrich.

There are other similar products out there but Heel Shields has gotten the best reviews.

The Heel Shield sells for $15.99.    This is really a small investment to protect the shoes you love!

They don’t just make watches and handbags.   The Texas-based company, Fossil, has a new womens’ shoe line out this Fall.   The designs are vintage-inspired with a modern twist.   Here are a couple of the new styles just in at Piperlime.

These are not your ordinary pumps. The Fossil Allison Peep Toe Pump has a sculptural platform and wooden heel that’s beautifully wrapped in rich full grain leather.   Available in grey suede leather (pictured above) or in black (with brown wrapped heel) or brown (with camel wrapped heel) in smooth leather.

The Fossil Misha Maryjane Pump is a modern update to an authentic vintage style. The contrasting buckle and just-right heel make it a great style for everyday wear.  Available in black (shown above) or brown.

 
These ankle boots by Caligarius shoes are absolutely gorgeous!  Rich with beautiful textures and chic lines, these shoes have a refined style that will add sophistication to any Fall wardrobe.  The stiletto heel has a marbleized color and the platform is wrapped in snakeskin. The Caligarius Lorena Ankle Bootie is available at Endless.com.  Also available in black.

The name “Caligarius” was given to ancient Roman shoemakers and it’s from those roots that these beautifully crafted shoes were born.  

Stefano Ferragamo is the designer behind all Caligarius shoe designs.   From a long line of Italian shoe designers, he is the brother of Salvatore Ferragamo and, while his designs are quite unique, it’s clear that he has inherited the family talent.

That’s right, it’s another sale! I found these gorgeous Charles David shoes in some classic styles that are a great addition to any Fall wardrobe. This week, they are marked down to $39.99 at 6pm.com until this Sunday, Aug 23rd, 2009.

Charles David – Element $39.95 (Was $205.00)

Charles David – Wanton $39.95 (Was $215.00)

Charles David – Rosalie (Bordo) – Footwear $39.95 (Was $215.00)

Charles David – Taunt $39.96 (Was 215.00)

Charles David – Pasha $39.95 (Was $205.00)

Charles David – Tumult $39.95 (Was $205.00)

Charles David – Palisade $39.95 (Was $245.00)

Charles David – Adore $39.95 (Was $250.00)

Suit up for Fall in these Charles David shoes. Click here to view more Charles David shoes on sale at 6pm.com. On sale this week!