A Shoe In

I visited my ever-chic, ever-generous baby sister up in NYC this past weekend and had planned to run a post on the major trends I’d spotted amongst  the women of the Big Apple.  The task was gargantuan — and ultimately impossible, as fashion is as varied as it comes up there.  As my sister put it: “I can try out any look I want here, and no one bats an eye.  Sequins at 8 am?  No problem.  You see it all here.”  So as much as I want to reduce the sensory overload that is NYC to a simple fashion equation (one scarf plus one camel jacket plus one pair of tweed heels = chic pea in the city), the best I can do is underscore the one commonality between a number of the uber-chic femmes I saw up there: serious footwear.  I’m not talking about the refined equestrian boots that appear time and time again amongst DC’s sartorially-minded set, or the platform heels that have been all.over the fashion mags for the last two seasons (Brain Atwood must have made a fortune over that period thanks to his “Maniac” pumps) — I’m talking about motorcycle boots, heavy-looking leather booties, and other  “I-walk-on-the-wild-side” footwear designs.  When I saw Habitual Jeans‘ 2010 ad campaign, I thought — “Hm, I’m not so sure about this.”  Apparently, the women of NYC are.

And get this: I seriously dug the devil-may-care edge it imparted upon often otherwise all-black getups, even if I can’t envision myself totally inhabiting the “rebel with a cause” persona.  Let’s consider adapting the look to our own needs.  I think you’d look impossibly chic sporting a silky top ($185, Reiss), some skinnies, and a slouchy pair of suede boots ($220, TheOutnet):

Finish with a coordinating tweedy coat ($545, Barney’s), a long knotted necklace ($52, Madewell), a gleaming gold watch (a.dore roman numeral numbering on a watch face — Freelook, $199, Endless), and an of-the-season cross-body bag in rich cognac leather ($348, Steven Alan):

Not so sure about the buckled suede style?  Perhaps some fierce booties are more up your alley.  The “it” shoe in this category has got to be the Alexander McQueen biker bootie:

A bit too fierce for you?  Go for a black suede bootie with a twist instead ($89, Miss Selfridge), and keep the rest of your look refined, pulled-together, and slightly Kate-Spade-esque with a ruffly polka-dot blouse ($24.50, Old Navy), and a pair of black skinnies:

Class it up with some cluster pearl earrings ($60, Carolee) and a tangled, knotted bracelet ($49, Juliet and Company) — and don’t forget the red nail polish (I’m still bananas over Essie’s Geranium color):

Finish with my fav.o.rite bag of the season — now on sale! — the Kate Spade “Five Points Camille” in fiery orange ($333, Kate Spade):

Lace has been big this season, and I saw my fair share of lace-adorned footwear this weekend.  For inspiration, check out the ever-chic Olivia Palermo (I.love.her) in these sky-high Charlotte Olympia lace booties (somehow I don’t think she’d survive long pedaling in those puppies…)

Image from {the sartorialist}

Adapt the look a bit by scaling back on the leather-and-lace combo with a feminine top in cheering cherry red ($450, Marni), a fuller skirt ($425, La Garconne), these fierce (and affordable!) pumps (on sale for $80, Lori’s Shoes):

I like the idea of finishing with some art-decor vintage Dior studs ($310, ASOS), a polished gold bracelet ($42, Juliet and Company), and an eye-catching gold cut-out clutch ($55, French Connection):

I’ve been seeing a lot of dramatical ridge-soled boots this season — a.lot.  I’m not so much on board with this trend — it looks like it’s trying too hard.  (I feel the same way about heeled flip flops — why can’t you just do what you’re supposed to do, and do it well?)  I mean — what do you want me to do with these?

They confuse me.  If you’re into the aesthetic but share my reservations, consider scaling back and test-driving the look with some otherwise classically-structured pumps (Camilla Skovgaard, $475, Scoop NYC):

Make it work with a charcoal-on-white scarf ($195, Virginia Johnson), a silky chalk-colored shirt ($118, Madewell), a black pencil skirt ($175, Karen Millen)

As for accessories: a pair of gem-studded earrings (Judith Jack, $169, Zappos) and a chic doctor’s bag are the way to go ($498, Steven Alan):

That’s all she wrote for now — more on NYC fashion to come!