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And they did! Foot Petals, the brand known for bringing you shoe accessories like cushioned inserts and non-slip pads, are expanding.

They are set to launch a line of special occasion and bridal shoes next Spring. These cute creations have been designed to include the brand’s patented comfort technology.

Women spend so much time planning their big day, that they sometimes forget about comfort. The creator of Foot Petals, Tina Aldatz, wanted create something that intermingled comfort and style. She is working with designers to place extra padding in the lining and non-slip pads on the soles.

The new collection, featuring 18 styles, was based from Aldatz’s attraction to 1940′s fashion. There are enough styles to please even the most low-key weddings.  From flats and wedges to kitten heels and stilettos. Each style is paired with dainty crystal details and made with dye-able white satin or metallic leathers.

The best part is that prices are very reasonable. The priciest of the line is $129. What a bridal bargain! You can find the brand in Nordstrom, Dillard’s and online at Zappos.com. You know if we carried the line, Zappos would be out of the picture!

If you have the closet space to put your shoes and clothes in the same closet, may I suggest a little organization. I was totally inspired by this picture to help all you lovely ladies get your wardrobes organized.

Photo Courtesy: Ruthie Davis’ Shoe Closet

If we could be so lucky as to have our very own shoe closet a la Carrie Bradshaw! For those of you who are, I’m totally jealous! For the rest of us, here are some tips to help clean out your closet, display your goodies and re-organize.

First things first. Look through your closet and pull out pieces that you haven’t worn in a year. I know it’s hard. I have had to part with some of my favorite ideas. If minor alterations need to be made to make an item more wearable, fine, but if not, get rid of it! A year is a year. That’s 12 months, 52 weeks or 365 days that you haven’t given a second thought too. Crazy, right?!

After you’re cleaning nightmare is done, you can move on to making your space beautiful. I get really excited after I’ve completed a tedious task and the outcome is better than I had anticipated. I’m a bit O.C.D, so organizing is somewhat of a drug to me. Anyway, back to putting your closet back together. It is key to organize by category( blouses, skirts, pants, dresses, etc.) and color. It will take a couple hours to do, but you won’t have to battle through your clothes to find that one thing that’s missing.

Enough about clothes, lets get to the shoes!

You’ll want to clean up your shoe collection as well. Get rid of any shoes that you are willing to part with. Now on to the fun part…

“If you can’t see them, you won’t wear them,” is a good rule of thumb to follow. Stack your shoes in clear plastic boxes or arrange your favorites on a cedar shoe shelf or hang them over the door in a canvas shoe bag. It’s helpful to keep everyday shoes, evening shoes and athletic shoes separated. For shoes that you don’t wear too often, like evening shoes, keep them on the top shelf of the closet. if you live in a place with distinct seasons, you may want to consider storing out of season footwear out-of-sight until it’s needed.

I am in love with nude shoes. Literally obsessed. I didn’t mean for it turn out that way, but I am drawn to nude shoes. After all, you can wear them with ANYTHING! Ellen posted some fabulous L.A.M.B heels with gold embellishments that are on my wish list. I have told myself time and time again that I am not allowed to purchase anymore nude shoes. I want them!!

Suleika has these beauties. She pairs them with jeans and skirts or dresses. The Chief is a versatile style that can be worn with just about anything. Guess manufactured the Chief in several different patterns and colors. We cannot wait to get it in more colors.

The girls and I were just introduced to these amazing styles by Bebe; Stewart and Sofia.

Stewart is a stellar open toed booties complete with aged silver rings for that extra sparkle and pizazz. The platform makes it a little chunky (fierce) while the color keeps it sweet. I love the cut-outs over the entire shoe. It’s a fun and flirty approach to a booties, making it wearable in the warmer months. This booties is available in black as well.

Sofia is a dainty reflection of the Stewart. Still keeping with the theme, Bebe has created a sling-back with an edge. The miniature braid and aged silver rings give it just enough detail. These heels can be worn to a special event or a night out on the town. The Sofia is also available in black.

Jayda in bone is a new upload from Paris Hilton. The color rocks, of course. The style is interesting. I would call it a modified wedge. It’s somewhat of a wedge and heel combined.  Not a bad combination at all. I like the gold buckles that add some shine. This shoe is a great seasonal style. Jayda is available in black, gold and orange. Enjoy!

Look at these! Barry in bone by Paris Hilton made its way to us just yesterday. It is not on the website yet, but keep your eyes peeled. This style is also available in black.

For all of our blog followers, you may recall the post about shoe sizes being on the rise. I dabbled a little in where to get larger sizes, but I thought it best to give the whole scoop!

It’s true! Pretty shoes do come in big packages. A size 12 shoe box!

Barefoot Tess is an internet-based site that offers some of your favorite brands in the sizes you crave. Ranging from sizes 10 to 15, women can now enjoy the same fashionable shoes of the average woman. The site carries flip-flops to boots with bridal shoes and rain boots in between. Some of their better know brands are Corso Como, Boutique 9, Dolce Vita, Poetic Lisence and Steve Madden. Barefoot Tess has thought of everything. They even carry vegan styles for all of you activists out there.

Here are a few of the styles I just had to show you…

Chie Mihara ‘Miosen’ in Brown

 Butter ‘Gardenia’ in Violet

Madeline ‘Vitality’ in Fuschia

 Poetic Lisence ‘Ideals’ in Black/turquoise

Corso Como ‘San Jose’ in Black Multi

Faryl Robin ‘Madison’ in Black

I wanted to show you many more, but you’ll just have to check out the website! You really should. I was impressed and I’m sure you will be too. There are too many options for you NOT to find something.

Have you ever wondered how Jennifer Aniston gets those killer legs or J-Lo keeps her booty sitting pretty? I know I do! It’s shorts season and it doesn’t look like those mini dresses are leaving us anytime soon… So I thought I would share a workout with you to keep your legs heel-worthy. If you’re not a gym rat, don’t worry. These workouts are designed to be quick and effective.

Time: 15 mins.

Target: Butt, thighs and calves

90-Degree Lift         

Standing Leg Curl                  

• Stand with feet together and place rolled-up mat (or towel) evenly behind right knee so that it’s parallel to floor. Lift right foot behind you with toes pointed, and pull heel toward butt to secure mat behind knees.

• Extend arms at shoulder level in front of you and clasp hands. (Beginners, use chair for balance.)

• Squeezing mat with leg throughout, lean forward slightly, keeping back flat, as you lift right knee behind you about 6 inches; lower.

• Do 20 pulses up and down. Switch legs and repeat.

Heaven and Earth         

  Open and Shut

Inverted Butterfly Leaps

Pictures curtousey of fitnessmagazine.com

After reading a blog about the upcoming fur laden Fall styles,  (thanks Shoe Girl) I have come to the conclusion that I am very naive about the whole cruelty free industry. Don’t have a cow (pardon the pun, I couldn’t help myself)! I have nothing against any of these designers; their work is impeccable. I just feel badly for the poor animal on my feet!

YSL Fall 2010 RTW 

Emilio Pucci Fall 2010 RTW

Louis Vuitton Fur Bracelet

I’m not an activist, but I love animals. All of them! The thought of fur gives me the heebie jeebies. It has for years. So when I saw all of those shoes with all of that fur, I was heart broken. I brought it up to Lindsay that these designers must not have a cconscience to be able to come up with a design knowing that animals will be hurt. To me, it’s unjustifiable, but she brought up a great point… 

Everyday, people use goods that come from animals. Especially leather! Check your car, your closet and your home. I’ve never thought of this before (I’m sure most of you are thinking that I must be clueless) but some of my favorite shoes are made of leather, and the sofa at my mom’s house is leather and I love it. The seats in my car are leather. An innocent cow was harmed for humans to have these luxury items. They aren’t the brightest of animals, but it is a life.  I will be keeping all of these things, as they are a part of my life, but I am very much more aware of the difference I can make by paying more attention.   

I don’t mean to offend anyone. Everybody has an opinion and this is mine. I’m open to yours as well.

I have heard some of the horror shown in the movie Food Inc. I won’t get into details, but if you are serious about a cruelty free lifestyle, I would recommend to watch it. It’s pretty harsh the way most animals, bred for production, are treated.

I know it may be difficult for some of us to say adieu to our beloved leather or fur shoes. I don’t think I could steer away from all leather shoes; they are just too beautiful. I will be trying harder to look for man-made products. Just think, Natalie Portman did it! She just launched a vegan line for Te Casan. Pretty cute.  And you will also save money. We could all use little more of that these days. Man-made products are much less expensive than leather and fur goods.

Conveniently, we have a vegan in house. Kinda funny huh?! The only complaint he had about vegan footwear is that they fall apart quickly. Because of the glue used, it’s hold is not as strong as industrial strength. He bought his shoes from Moo Shoes. I have found some other sites too. I also found this list from PETA. Check them out!

www.veganchic.com

www.toms.com

www.alternativeoutfitters.com

Don’t forget about us too! We have many styles that are not leather. And you know they have to be cute if  we are selling them! Read the product descriptions to see what the material is.

Pull them down from the attic, crawl under your bed or go shopping! Break out those sandals, ladies, the time has finally come  to show off our pretty pedicures.  I thought this would be a good way to start off the season, by indulging. If you have the ability to go to a salon and get a pedicure, great! But if you don’t, I found these instructions very helpful.

Image: Sephora.com

•  The first step in a pedicure is to clip or file the toenails. The nails should be filed straight across, rounded slightly at the corners conforming to the shape of the toe. You should never clip or file into the corners of the toenails as this could cause you to have ingrown nails.

•  Soak feet in warm, soapy water. This will allow the dry, calloused skin to soften. You can use a foot file, which can be bought at a Sally’s or other beauty supply store, to rub off the dead skin. Wet the foot file, apply soap and rub gently in a circular motion across all areas of the foot. Repeat on the other foot. Allow one foot to continue soaking while you work on the opposing foot.

• After the water cools, remove feet and pat dry. Using an orange-wood stick or Q-tip, apply a cuticle removing solution to skin underneath the front part of the nail. Keep the cuticle wet and gently loosen the skin. DO NOT cut, as this causes pain and/or infection. If you have hangnails, simply use clippers to trim them back.

• Wipe excess cuticle solvent off with a damp towel. Massage each foot with a thick foot cream or lotion. Don’t forget the toes! Allow lotion to penetrate feet for 5 minutes. For extremely dry feet, wrap feet in a wet warm towel after you apply the foot cream. Wet your towel, ring out excess water, and heat the towel in the microwave for 30 or 40 seconds. Do not leave the towel unattended in the microwave.

• Rinse off the lotion in warm soapy water. Scrub off the extra lotion or dry skin by using a foot scrub. Rinse feet and dry thoroughly.

• Clean each toenail with nail polish remover. This will remove any residue. Apply a clear base coat and it to dry completely. Then apply two coats of your favorite nail polish. Allow it to dry. Note: It takes 2 hours for polish to completely cure.

Image: All Women’s Talk

Adorne your toes with this seasons’ hottest color trend: Flirty Florals. Pretty pinks, precious purples and gorgeous greens are making a big statement. Check it out at Sephora!

Image: Sephora.com

So I was checking my email, as usual, and I ran across an article about the growing shoe size. I didn’t think it was such a widespread issue, but as I read on, I learned the opposite.

In the past 30 years, the average shoe size increased from a 7.5 to an 8.5. There is no proven reason why this is. It may be the growth hormones in our food these days or that earlier generations had much sturdier shoes that were better for our feet. One theory is that comfortable shoes, like Crocs and clogs, have caused our feet to spread.

It makes sense though. If you think about it, a high heel is usually narrow and somewhat confining to the feet; causing us to have problems with our feet. Wearing a “comfort” shoe gives our feet room to expand as we walk. If you were to wear these shoes on a daily basis, I think it would only be natural for the the feet to grow wider and longer.

I haven’t actually thought about it before, but now that I have read the article, it makes perfect sense. I still wear the 7.5 I have been accustomed to for years, only now my feet seem like they are wider in the front. I blamed working in the food service industry for my feet having issues. It is what caused me to wear comfortable shoes in the first place. For years my feet were spreading and I didn’t think twice!

With the average shoe size being an 8.5 now, it seems that this size cannot stay stocked in the stores. I’m going to do my own little experiment. For today, I am going to monitor the sizes that are shipped and take an average size…

Ok, so maybe they have something. The sizes that ran neck and neck were 7.5 and 9.

The kicker of it all is that nearly half of women continue to buy shoes that don’t fit! Why do we do that to ourselves? I know I’ve been guilty of it in the past, but I’ve come to learn how to talk myself out of buying something. I know! I can’t believe it either. That’s huge for me.

We love shoes! They are the one thing that can change the look of an outfit or update your wardrobe without spending a lot of money. It’s easy to see why women buy shoes, even if they don’t fit!

What types of issues do you have with your feet? And what are the solutions to your problems?

If any of you are having trouble finding your size, here are a couple websites that offer sizes 4 through 16…

www.shoesofyourdreams.com

www.designershoes.com

www.barefoottess.com

In today’s unsettled financial market, one day it’s up and the next it’s down. Research has said that the less money in the economy, the higher the heel gets. The taller, the better for us shorter folks. Looks like a gain to me!

One trend that is definitely up is towering heel heights. By the looks of the passed week’s runways, they are here to stay. At least for another season. One major show that caught my eye was the late Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 RTW collection. The animalistic attire was something out of Africa. McQueen’s colorful frocks boasted abstract images of wild animals and unusual prints. The shoes are what grabbed my attention the most. Have you seen these things yet!

For those of you that know his work, the talented McQueen is known for his outlandish yet savvy take on style, but this tops it all. This shoe, if you will, is the most animal-like of the entire collection. I’ve heard it been called the Armadillo, although I’m not for certain what they are calling this.

Lindsay and I attended our bi-annual shoe show this past weekend and platforms on anything was a must. Heels, boots, sandals and wedges.

While at the show, we ran into this little number, by Jessica Simpson, that reminded us of the Alexander McQueen shoe in his shows. Now this may not look anything like his shoe, but it turned out to be our inspiration for the real world wardrobe.

There are no girly frills on this shoe. But it’s not missing any of the bells and whistles. Complete with leather straps and a sky-high platform, you can easily be taller in a flash. I have to admit, these shoes were a little intimidating, but these could really look great. Pair them with your favorite cropped skinny jeans and a statement necklace or maybe even a moto-inspired jacket.

Here is another wedge by Jessica Simpson that we found magnetic. The jute covered bottom is a nice accompaniment to the braided leather straps. This silhouette is popular now. For fall, Jessica has put it on this wedge bottom for the extra lift we all crave.

Sadly, we don’t know the style names of these shoes yet, but styles like these should be arriving in July or August. So keep an eye out!

What do you think of these crazy high platforms?

I know what you must be thinking, but take a minute to process the idea. Think about it, your cluttered closet could have a direct impact on your everyday life.

The color and style of the shoe can put you in a different mood.

Incorporating fashion into feng shui does not depend on the type of person you are, but the person you would like to be. For instance, if you are looking for attention, choose a RED pair of shoes.

Feng Shoe Basics…

Wood Energy: Tends to come from comfortable, yet ugly shoes. The energy comes from a wooden or cork sole. DON”T wear these shoes on a cobblestone street. DO wear them on muddy, rural paths.

Charles David Tiki Wedge 

Fire Energy: These shoes are dressy or the latest in fashion. Fire energy enhances sexiness and creativity and are made of satin. Wear these shoes if you have an important business meeting. Don’t wear them on a first date!

Badgley Mischka Randee Pink Satin

Earth Energy: Represented by shoes we wear on daily basis, earth energy calms and renews the spirit. This energy is found in shoes made of cotton, leather or other natural fabrics. Use these shoes as your go-to pair.

Steven by Steve Madden Blend Taupe

Metal Energy: Gives the wearer strength and is powerful. Best used at embellishments like buckles or studs. Be sparing with metal. The energy will sound like a heavy metal concert.

DV by Dolce Vita Copper Bootie

Shoe Styles…

DRESS SHOES are important because they are the epitomy of female energy which is desinged to attract male energy. If made with the right materials and colors, these shoes can be very powerful.

WHITE is the blending of all colors int he spectrum and should only be used when the plantes are all aligned, like a June wedding.

Badgley Mischka Randall White Satin

BLACK is the absence of all colors and is said to attract all types of energy. Without color to distract the flow of energy, the flow is unfiltered. You should own multiple pairs of black shoes.

Harajuku Lovers Davenport Black

Use RED to attract men and their fiery energy. Males are drawn to bright, shiny things. Like moths to a light. Red shoes can have the same effect even when tucked under a bar! When wearing red shoes, you are almost certain to have a good day or night.

Paris Hilton Senorita Red Patent

A thought to live by…

SHOES OF MULTI-COLORED STRIPES OR DIAGONAL PATTERNS SCATTER ENERGY

If you are looking for more noteworthy tips, check out the book Feng Shoe at www.peterpauper.com

Still looking for that perfect pair of shoes for a party this January – or this New Year’s Eve? Heels.com and the party footwear experts at Badgley Mischka have you covered from heel to toe.

Heels.com carries a lot of fabulous party heels, crazy boots, and all sorts of shoes ranging from the casual to the memorably fabulous. What sets Badgley Mischka apart? I can tell you what I thought when I began to work at Heels.com: quality. Every stitch of these shoes oozes quality and expensive, luxe manufacturing.

Randee heel by Badgey Mischka in Pink satin

From the moment you take the shoes out of the box and you are presented with a soft cream colored bag, you know you are treating your feet to something truly special. Badgley Mischka shoes look and feel like hours of love and care have gone into each and every pair, from the satin uppers to leather soles and balances, and that’s the kind of treatment I like to give my feet when I’m wearing a really fabulous dress.

I wanted to feature Badgley Mischka this week because we just put several new styles on the website, and I absolutely adore them. I have already linked you to them in pink; here they are in gold:

Randee heel by Badgley Mischka in Gold Satin. Also available in black, pink, and white.

These Randee heels are exquisite, stylish, and effortlessly adorable. The T strap gives them a “now” feel, as does the small recessed and satin-covered platform. The highlight of these heels is certainly the three flower-like cloth details at the T strap which swirl and flutter attractively with every movement of your feet.

I was absolutely fascinated by these shoes when they came across my desk, in all four colors (black, pink, white, and gold). The flower-like details really have to be seen (and worn!) to be believed. Badgley Mischka really hit the nail on the head with these- they are fabulous and I crave a pair! Now… what color?

Randall heel by Badgley Mischka in white. Also available in black and silver.

The Randall pump is a similar shoe featuring a single flowery detail at the vamp and a covered heel cup for a pump-like sandal look.

Badgley Mischka fancy heels are dependably classic and classy in form. On the other hand, they often incorporate stylish little touches that make their heels suitable for any fancy occasion yet impossible to forget. These new shoes from Badgley Mischka are no exception, and surpass even our expectations from this Heels.com favorite brand. If you’re shopping for any fancy event, you owe it to your feet to give our Badgley Mischka heels a look!

Hello shoe lovers!

How do you feel this morning? Are you cheerful? Because I ….. alright, let’s be honest – I’m certainly not. know how you feel. Restless. Aimless. Craving large amounts of coffee. Maybe a little grumpy. Staring out the window at the terrible weather so much of us are seeing. You’d prefer to be snuggled in bed, laptop in hand, shopping for Christmas (or still asleep) – but instead you’re stuck behind a desk. The holidays are so close, yet a full week of work looms ahead. It can all be pretty daunting.

Dr Heels.com is here for you. My diagnosis? A case of the Mondays!

Good thing we’ve caught it so soon: I have just the thing to cheer you up. I think we need something strong and sexy. Something shiny. Something you could wear on New Year’s Eve with that hot dress you’ve been eyeing.

It’s time to take a look at Heels.com‘s strappy sandals.

The Carter Heel by Dolce Vita in Silver.

This season is all about strappy heels with plenty of cutouts to show off your feet. I picked out the DV by Dolce Vita Carter because not only are those straps fab, but also I just love this warm pewter colored cracked leather that Dolce Vita has used for a number of their sexy heels this winter.

The Iola heel by Guess in Pewter

Another very similar heel in that lovely pewter color, this Guess heel is in a smoother, shinier brushed pewter leather. Iola is less about the straps and more about the cutouts- lots and lots of sexy cutouts in cool, angular shapes.

The Barlow by Marciano in Gold and Natural Leather

Wow!! This sandal has a bootie feel thanks to how high it extends above the heel, but those cutouts put the Barlow sandal firmly in the “super sexy” category! Marciano sure does know how to design a drool worthy shoe.

So, heel lovers, how do you feel? Have I cured your Mondays yet?