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Showing posts with label Shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shoes. Show all posts

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Shoes in Little India ... maybe for moi?

Posted on 14:12 by kumar
While doing a shopping column today in Toronto's Little India, I saw these pink and blue paisley brocade (?) shoes in the window of a shop that was closed. Most shops in the area don't open until noon, some even 4 p.m., I discovered.

Wah. I want these shoes. They're not the typical beaded Indian shoes that aren't my style (like the ones sitting below them in the window). I can see myself wearing them for a special holiday function. I wonder if they're my size? They look pretty big. Think I'll have to go back one night after work. I hear a lot of the shops on the Gerrard St. East near Coxwell strip are open until 9 or 10 every night.
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Posted in Little India, New, Shoes, Shopping | No comments

Monday, 24 August 2009

Shoe boo

Posted on 04:27 by kumar
Here's my beautifully tanned foot - see post below - wearing ... ta da: my new sandals!

I had a good response to the Which is Thrift? post on new and used shoes.

Many people thought both pair of shoes looked new, but Style Symmetry and Smartchic (whose link I can't get to work, sorry) guessed right.

The sandal to the left was bought new for about $69.99 - not cheap for the Grunge Queen - while the shoe that was beside it by Geox was $6.99 for the pair at the Goodwill.

Here are my white feet from a few weeks ago, wearing my new silver Kenneth Cole ballet flat to the left (around $50 as part of a 2 for 1 sale), and on the right a used pair of Kenneth Cole flats bought at the same Goodwill for $6.99!

Both are in mint condition.

Kudos to your thrifty reasoning for those who guessed right and thanks to all who posted comments!

Just goes to show that it is possible to find new shoes at the thrift shops - it's not easy but sometimes you can score big. I look for shoes that don't have a worn look or stink too much. A current style always helps but sometimes you can find some fab 1980s heels that could be spruced up with a visit to the shoe repair doctor.
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Posted in Goodwill, New, Shoes, thrift shopping | No comments

Friday, 14 August 2009

Which is thrift?

Posted on 03:51 by kumar
I really put my foot in my mouth. Just after I buy two pair of new summer shoes I find two similar pair in the thrift store for next-to-nothing!

Can you tell which wedgie is which, new or thrift? One is by Geox and the other Easy Spirit.

I think I'll have to rethink my "Never buy shoes thrift rule." Rules are meant to be broken anyway, right?

How about these?

Both ballet flats are by Kenneth Cole, but one was super cheap and the other, though part of my two-for-one deal mentioned in yesterday's post, were still $50.

Arg.


I should mention both thrift shoes are in mint condition and look like they haven't been worn hardly at all. I guess that's the big issue I have with thrift-bought shoes: they tend to be really quite worn and stinky. But if you find a pair in good shape that suit you, take a second look by all means.
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Posted in Accessories, Designers, Fashion, New, Shoes, thrift shopping | No comments

Friday, 8 May 2009

Get a leg up: fishnets and ruling the world

Posted on 04:25 by kumar
Want to have men fall at your feet and women you don't know give you the evil eye on the subway?






















Wear a pair of fishnet stockings.

I picked up these brown honeycomb stockings at a warehouse sale in Toronto - six pair of Hue for $20!!

I've been wearing fishnets for years. They're comfy as hell, last way longer than regular nylons, and offer a different take on a sheer stocking.

NOTE: I rarely wear black ones - they tend towards trashy. I lean towards nude shades or fun hues like purple.






















Plus they're cheeky little guys, and the reactions you get are crazy. Women I know who are pals shower me with compliments.

Women I don't know eye them and me suspiciously, sometimes downright nastily: Who the hell do I think I am, a pin-up girl hussy?

A manager at work kept staring at them the other day with raised eyebrows. I asked her if she liked them. No comment.

Men tend to turn into little boys. Their brains melt to mush and if they do know you they start blathering on about your legs or some other meaningless topic.

If they don't know you they just stare, stare, stare.






















Ladies, if we want to rule the world now we know what to do: don a pair of fishnets!

At the sale I also bought some beautiful patterned nylons.

Fancy stockings purchased at warehouse sales are a cheap way to zoot up your wardrobe, and they're perfect for this time of year when it's still a touch too cool to wear bear legs.

It helps if you wear them with fancy shoes. I found these patent strappy point shoes at the Sally Ann for $6.99, and they inspire a similar reaction as the tights when I wear them together!
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Posted in Accessories, Salvation Army, Shoes, Stockings | No comments

Thursday, 7 May 2009

Who says shoes won't do? Decorating with heels

Posted on 03:55 by kumar
Well, why not?

Once I left behind a pair of gorgeous retro lace lace up shoes handmade in Paris - they were a size 6 and since my clompers are huge I figured I had no use for them ....

But when I saw these yellow pumps in excellent condition, handmade in Spain, I took the plunge and bought 'em for $5.99 at Stretch Thrift.

I can either give them to a pal - the colour is so hot right now - or keep them for a display.



This isn't the most brilliant display but I like the contrast between the blue and the yellow - complementary hues on the colour wheel - and the simplicity of the tableau is in keeping with the sleek lines of the Danish modern teak hutch that I'm using as a bookcase.

But sigh, I wish I could cram my feet in them. They're in fab condition and the gold script reading "Arnold Churgin handmade in Spain" isn't smudged or worn at all.

Arnold Churgin, a quick Google search reveals, is a Calgary, Canada--based ladies footwear company that started in 1964. Love that they're Canadian but the Spain connection has a certain amount of Euro cache. http://www.arnoldchurgin.com/
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Posted in Accessories, Arnold Churgin, Canada, decorating, Designers, Shoes, Simplicity, Stretch Thrift, Thrift, Thrift store decorating | No comments
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kumar
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