I Have a New Home

Hello everyone, thank you for checking me out.  I really appreciate it and look forward to all of your input.  Please note that my blog has a new home, I’m pretty excited about it.  I can be found at www.sexybagsnshoes.com.  Please stop by and tell me what you think.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Kellie

Killer Derby Hats

I did a post a short while ago on my quest for a hat for the Kentucky Derby.  I got a few great suggestions via Twitter, Facebook and my blog.  Thanks to everyone that helped out.  My girlfriend who lives in Las Vegas has some friends that are showgirls and she told me, “I’ve found the perfect hat for you!”.  I was excited, she described it and then told me our only issue was transporting it.  Well, it’s a hat so my response was “put it in a hat box”.  Apparently, I don’t know diddly about a showgirl hat.  This hat is too big for a hat box.  My next thought was me running around with a 30 pound hat with a brim that has the circumference of the rings of Saturn.  What kind of “hat” can’t be transported in a hat box.

I decided that whatever this “hat” looked like, it was going to be over the top and I wanted no part of it.  I trust this friend, she has impeccable taste and now I find myself doubting her sense of style.  As I said earlier, I was sent various responses on my quest for the perfect hat.  Well after seeing these photos, I decided that 30 pound hat might be just what the doctor ordered.  Hmmm?  🙂  Kentucky Derby, here comes Kellie in her rings of Saturn!

Platform Booties

Sometimes there is just nothing that can be said that the picture doesn’t represent.

Pelle Moda Shantel Open Toe Platform Booties…..enough said!

Those Shoes Are So Hot But Your Walk Is Not!

Sometimes it’s a duck waddle, sometimes it looks as if you have a wooden leg as you try to keep the weight off of one side and sometimes, if you’re like me, the shoes are now in your hands and you could care less that you’re dressed cute and now have no shoes on.  We’ve all seen it and we all know what it looks like when we see it on someone else.  It’s the walk that says “Damn! These shoes hurt!”

The solution is to make certain to buy shoes that fit.  I know that sounds like a silly suggestion but I’ve spent enough time in the shoe department to know that many women will buy a half size smaller or a half size larger just because they love the look of the shoe and it doesn’t come in their exact size.  Ladies, ladies, if it isn’t available in your size, it’s not meant to be.  Move on and look for something different.  If I know a pair of shoes are uncomfortable, I will wear them long enough to discover that and then they’ll end up sitting or going to charity.  You can size your own foot if you are unsure of what will fit you.  Find out how to do that here.

Many of us bought the shoes that were our size but because shoes are not made specifically for our feet, they can still get to be quite uncomfortable after extended wear.  I just recently found out that you can give your shoes a makeover, let me warn you that if you love your shoes like I do, this video shared by someone that can relate to the pain, can and will hurt your feelings before it liberates you.  😉

What if you bought the shoe in the right size and it’s still a little tight?  I’ve said it & I know you have too “wear it a few times and it’ll stretch out”.  Fess up, you know you’ve said that 😉  In the meantime, our poor little tootsies are suffering.  Well did you know they have a little device that will take your pain away and stretch those shoes out for you?  They do, they’re called…..drum roll…..wait for it……SHOE STRETCHERS!  I know, wasn’t that well worth the wait?  You can get them in varying styles and sizes too!  They offer a boot stretcher, a stretcher that will stretch your length & width and they even have a high heel stretcher.  So here’s to putting an end to the duck waddle & the next time you see a fellow shoe lover with the stiff leg, let her know, there are solutions.  Happy Shopping!

Can’t Afford Designer Shoes? Rent Them!

Ok, we’ve all heard of Bag, Borrow & Steal where you can rent your designer handbag but now a company in the UK has a new spin on designer shoes.  Cinderalla Me does not yet ship stateside but I’m pretty sure that with as much as us girls like our shoes, they will.  If not, I’m pretty sure that it won’t be long before we see something here very similar.

Alexander McQueen - Tess

I love shoes and I just don’t think I’d be willing to share.  My next concern would be hygiene, they assure the customer that these shoes are safe.  They go through a regimen of UV treatment and steam cleaning.   They also offer quite a few high end designer names such as Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo & Gucci just to name a few.  I must say, while I know it is not in my makeup to rent a shoe, I love the concept.  Kudos to them for seeing a trend and being innovative enough to find a solution to help out those that are willing to live beyond their means, women that are so trendy that they will only wear their shoes for one season & women on a budget who would normally bypass the luxury of a designer shoe, this allows all to have a great pair of shoes, even if it’s only temporary.  Now you can look like you’ve got a great collection at a fraction of the cost.

Your thoughts…

Velcro for Big Girls

When my kids were small, I bought them gym shoes that had velcro closures.  I never thought about getting shoes for myself that had velcro on them. Thought that before they learned to tie their own shoes, this was a wonderful invention.  I would have never thought in a million years that I’d buy a pair of shoes that had a velcro closure.  Well, not only did I buy a pair, they are the cutest pair of shoes ever!  I must admit that while I own loads of shoes, very few of them are wedges and none of them have velcro anywhere!

I purchased these cuties at a store called PH8, and while the name annoys me, the clothes and the shoes are nice.  Once upon a time this was Bebe Sport but now they are “sporting” a new name that to me is a lazy way of spelling Fate but the fashions are anything but lazy.  Much of what they offer caters to looking great while you get your workout on but they also have items that are geared toward the night life.  The shoe selection in my local area was slim but what they had to offer was definitely worth looking at and obviously even buying.  I will never look at velcro quite the same and these cuties are quite comfy too!

Your thoughts…

Kentucky Derby Here I Come!

I am excited to have been invited to the Kentucky Derby!  I’ve never gone, so I decided to do a little research.  I started looking for hats.  OMG!  Who knew they could be so expensive!  When I was growing up, my dad would tell me that I had Champagne taste on a beer budget and when I started looking at hats, I knew exactly what he meant.  Every hat I decided I loved was in excess of $500.   This beautiful hat in my favorite 2 colors is over $700.  My son asked “Why don’t you go to Walmart and just make you a hat?”  I laughed, although it is a great idea, first of all, I know NOTHING about making a great looking hat.  Secondly, wouldn’t showing up at the Derby on Millionaires Row with a Walmart hat go over about as well as a fart in a car?  While I am not willing to spend $700 on a hat that I’m pretty certain I will never wear again, I would also like to show up in a hat that looks a lot better than the one Minnie Pearl wore.  She was funny enough to pull that look off.

I ventured to Neiman Marcus, Nordstroms and Dillards this afternoon thinking I have some planning to do so lets see what they have to offer.  Who knew that even in Florida, they actually get hats specifically for the Derby and I’m about a month early.  Based on my research, you put your outfit together around the hat, I’m a bit nervous and excited about the prospect of what  these hats that will flood the Florida market will look like.  Anyone have any knowledge of where to get a great looking hat at a modest price?  When I say modest, I mean really great looking for oh, around $100.  Help!  🙂

A Personal Note

I love shoes!  I think I profess that every time I write a blog post.  I love fashion and looking good.  I want to think that each time I share with you, I have something of value to add.  Well, believe it or not, there are times (more often than not) that I have no idea what to write.  I have tried to write about designers, new trends and shoes that I think you might enjoy reading about.  I’ve decided to apologize for that.  Why you ask?  While I love my subject matter, I am not writing from my heart and that keeps me from updating frequently.

I am the single mother of 2, I run a business (unrelated to shoes & fashion) and I have a part time job.  This does not always leave a lot of room to find something “new” to share.  I own well over 200 pairs of shoes, I have a passion or maybe it’s an obsession with shoes.  I can talk about shoes but I must confess, not all of my shoes are designer shoes.  I tell people, I will buy shoes from anywhere at any price point.  I have flip flops that I paid a $1 for as well as a few pricey pairs of shoes.  I am the same way about clothes & purses.  It is my goal from this moment forward to write from my heart, to share my shoes & my passion for my own brand of fashion (which is NOT about what the celebrities are wearing)  and along the way, hopefully offer you some information that you may find helpful as well.

I wish you much success and I hope that this blog will become a little more interesting.  All the best.

The Shoe of the Month Club

You know it figures that I would find a way to get shoes without a ton of effort.  Well, recently, I have come across a site that will send you shoes picked by expert designers based on answers you provide.  The designers pick 5 pair a month to present to you and then you decide which pair, if any you want.

The head designer is Kim Kardashian.  I’m not one for celebrity fashion trends but I love shoes and if I can sign up and get a pair a month for a low fee, then I say, let’s get some shoes!

The other wonderful thing about Shoedazzle that makes it different from other monthly clubs is, first when you get your initial selection, if you don’t choose a pair of shoes, you aren’t billed.  Secondly, once you pick a pair, you are billed each month unless within the first 5 days of them sending you the selections, you can choose to pass for the month and not be billed.

I joined the book of the month club and no matter what, I get a bill each month.  I like the shoe club better by the way.  Go figure!  The choices I got this month included both heels and flats.  I can honestly say that I liked at least 3 out of the 5 selections that were sent to me.  In a case like that, you are not limited to just the one pair, just know that each pair is going to cost you the $39.95 fee.

The shipping is free so that at least makes it worth it knowing that these shoes are not going to be found at the local mall so you won’t see yourself coming & going.  To me, that alone makes the $39.95 worth it.

Platforms, booties, pumps & flats that are trendy, cute and reasonably priced.  I love it!  Check them out, what have you got to lose?  This is MY version of those dating sites that find your perfect mate.  🙂  Happy Shopping!

It’s All About the Wrapping

As the Christmas Season approaches (yes, I said Christmas) we start trying to figure out what gifts we are going to give our loved ones. How often do you think about the gift you’re going to give yourself? I love me enough to think I’m worth a great gift as well. I also start thinking about the coming year and this year as I sat contemplating the meaning of life and what resolutions I needed to make in order to break, I thought about my “wrapping”. After all, I am obviously all about the clothes, shoes, hair and purses right?

As I stroll patiently through the mall this season, I have been observing what people are “wrapped” in and what it says to me. No, I’m not judging per se but think about it, a first impression is quite lasting. Now mind you, when I go to the mall, I’m usually sporting my jeans, some gym shoes & my hair is pulled back in a ponytail so I’m not looking like a fashionista so trust me I’m not judging, just observing. I think as you move into the new year, you should ask yourself however, what image are you working to convey and whether you’re casual or formal, keep your ideal image in mind. Just because we are talking about the outward appearance does not mean you have to spend and arm & a leg to get the look you’re going for. I love a great designer bag but I will admit, they don’t all come from the Coach store (my designer of choice). Ebay is a great place to get a beautiful bag and at a better price than in the store. BE CAREFUL! I can’t say this enough when you’re talking about buying on any auction site though. The Purse Forum is a wonderful place to have your potential purchase authenticated. Ask your seller to send you as many pictures as possible. There are many other designer bags to be found on Ebay as well and again, TPF will not only authenticate purses, they will also do shoes.

Speaking of shoes, check out Like, if you’re into designer shoes, they will show you not only where to find them but if you can’t afford them, they’ll find you a pair that are similar to the ones you want but obviously at a more affordable price. I found a hot pair of Givenchy boots for a cool $1,150 but found a reasonable substitute for $83 by Carlos Santana (great music, cute boot). I really like this site (no pun intended) because they offer every designer as well as the lower priced items offered by the not so household names but still great looking shoes.

Now that we have our purses & shoes, lets talk about our clothing. Gosh, as women, there is no easy way to tell you where to get a great deal on clothes because they’re everywhere! I have over this past year discovered some really cute jeans (I love jeans! Gym shoes or pumps, dress them up or down) Most of us are familiar with True Religion but what about Miss Me Jeans? Want something even more affordable, try Wet Seal jeans, don’t knock ’em. I had a pair of Baby Phat jeans that wore out long before my Wet Seal jeans that I bought the same day!

Lastly but most importantly is the hair. Ok, those of you that have that long, luxurious, flowing hair that you just love, I’m not talking to you. Those of you that are more like me in that you get bored easily with the texture or the color, I’m talking to you. Extensions are out there in all kinds of variations, lengths and colors. I highly recommend seeing a professional to make sure you end up looking fabulous. Another option is a lace wig. You can custom order these in the exact color, length and texture and because of the lace base, the hair looks as though it is growing from your very own scalp. There was a time that these were reserved for celebrity status because of the cost restrictions but of course, as with all great fashion, it eventually becomes more affordable. If you want the absolute best hair on the thinnest swiss lace, you’re still going to pay a pretty penny (and trust me, it’s well worth it) but if you only want to be blonde for a week, I’d go synthetic. This isn’t your grandmothers wig that’s for sure! The materials used not only look like human hair but because it’s synthetic you don’t have to worry about losing the style you purchased. They last quite a while too so when you get the urge to be blonde again, just shampoo and shake and voila, you’re back. It is my hope that you will have a joyous season & do yourself a favor and wrap yourself in something beautiful.