Bought: Flats, without looking four

What: BDG Skimmer Flats

Where: Urban Outfitters

Price: 10 dolla (sale!)

Here is a new discovery, for me.

Rounded toe flats = I look four. I feel like I'm toddling around, do de do de doooo. But - COMFIEZ.

Slightly pointed toe flats (see figure 1) = I look older (maybe 14.) And I'm walking, not toddling. And still, comfiez are to be had.

And for $10, you know I'm happy. My only slight issues are:

1. You have to shovel through Urban Outfitters merchandise to get what you want. Even if they're full price (and therefore not in the back bottom corner of some sales bin in that nasty, hot sales area), they're in a crate, on the floor. Have fun.

2. What does "skimmer" mean? If it means that they are cut very low on your foot, which they are, then skimmer also means "shoe likely to be inadvertently kicked off your foot, and will then slide across the concourse of your office building causing you to hop over to it."

Bought: Shoes I Can't Wear

What: Aldo Allday shearling lace-up booties + Aldo Norkus open-toe lace-up booties

Where: Aldo

Price: Out the door with both for less that $160
For boots called Allday, you really should be able to wear them longer than 3 hours. The 3 hours I wore them involved 7 inches of snow, and snow + stilletto + beige suede does not equal a practical fashion choice. My parents picked me up, and when my dad saw me stumbling through the snow, he called me a schiminita, which is a word used by my Italian side of the family (likely made up) to describe a vain princess-type. And I deserved it.

Now, if I were to wear these on say, a fall day, with crisp leaves underfoot and a slight breeze, they would be perfect. They are surprisingly comfortable if you are on dry, level land.

BUT, would you believe that the second pair I bought were even LESS pratical? Less practical than beige suede stiletto winter boots, yes.

I love them, but they are open toe, and they take twenty minutes to put on and take off, and they will make my feet hot in summer and cold in winter. I was 100% inspired by Maegan of lovemaegan.com, who wears these adorable Sam Edelman open toe booties. She lives in California. I live in Canada.

But I did get these purchases vetted before I walked out the door. I BBMed a stylish friend the following:

Laura:

Tell me I should buy two pairs of shoes.

Styling Friend:

You should buy two pairs of shoes.

Bought: Aldo Guarneri in Blue and Carney Food

What: Aldo Guarneri casual sneakers

Where: Aldo at the Eaton Centre

Price: $19.98 (sale!)

I couldn't find a picture of the blue shade I have so, instead, I used my expertise to "Photoshop" the image. I put that in quotes because I actually used Powerpoint to doctor the photo. That's why it looks so good:

There are some very astute shoe bloggers out there who have a real issue with sneakers (hello!) But as these are definitely not gym shoes, I think they're ok to wear out and about. I paired these with a pair of black sporty tights and a simple green cardigan and I think it went well.

Well enough to go to the Canadian National Exhibition. Sure, it's too expensive now, and the rides are exciting mostly because you could very likely die on them. But it is still worth it because of one place: The Food Building.

In this heaven-on-earth, you can find the following...

Poutine. Montreal smoked meat sandwiches. Curly fries. Wedge fries. Corn dogs. Deep-fried snickers. Waffles. Elephant ears. Funnel cakes. Hot dogs. 99 cent spaghetti. Bacon on a bun. Snow cones. And every food chain you can think of (Subway, Manchu Wok, Thai Express, Pizza Pizza, etc.)

I showed some restraint. First, I got curly fries and scarfed them so quick there was no time for a pic.

Next, a $1.50 hot dog covered in mustard. Ohhh it was good.

Then, a pack of cinnamon sugar Tiny Tom Donuts. Here is the Tiny Tom donut process, a wonder of scientific management:

Can you believe the guy tried to sell us (3 people) on the "Buy 10 dozen, get 2 dozen free." My 100-lb sister was considering it until we pointed out that we would be the proud owners of 144 donuts. I kinda regret talking her out of it.

I also wanted to ride the Polar Express, but it was closed so we tried Alpine Bob instead. As we got off, we saw that the carnie who had "closed" Polar Express decided to open it right after we asked. What a jerk. I can't get too mad, though, because he was missing all four of his front teeth.
I loved it. And I broke in my new shoes (well, they broke me. I got a blister.)

Bought: Aldo Fessenden Sandals

What: Aldo "Fessenden" Sandals

Where: Uh, Aldo

Price: $45.00. But $29.98 online. HELLO?

Well, I need them for tonight. The shoes I was convinced I could walk in all night turned out to not be shoes. No, they turned out to be my mortal enemies. So I had to grab these ASAP or my night would be crap.

They are cute. I'm mad I paid way more than the Aldo website offers, but whatever, it's only $15. And I think that if I manage to be creative (ie. recreate how the salesgirl in Aldo tied her sandals), I can get two or three different looks out of these.

UPDATE: Never mind, not even available on the Canadian site. And can't be shipped from the U.S. site. Hello, justification.

Bought - Nine West Laborc Pump

What: Nine West Laborc Pump

Price: ~$150.00 CAD

Where: Town Shoes (Toronto Dominion Centre)

It was down to these and an aquamarine platform. The deciding factors were the studs (apparently, huge for fall and strewn over everything in the store), the work-appropriate colour, loafer-inspiration and the hidden platform which promises added comfort.

Four hours into wearing them. The toes on my left foot keep going numb, but my right foot feels fine. Still love them, but not sure I've got the right outfit to set them off.

I'm more concerned with the mosquito bite on my forehead and the awkward teenage acne that's setting up camp there.

- Dodo