the universe owes me shoes

Dear Slightly Buzzed Fairy Godmother,

I'm getting hitched. And it blew up in my face. I wanted 75 people -- we're pushing 200. I wanted a backyard BBQ -- we're having a formal sit down dinner. I wanted to get married in the evening to beat the summer heat -- we'll be saying our vows at 3pm. I wanted a lot of things that aren't panning out -- such is life. It's easy to blame everyone else, but the truth is, while if I could go back and do it again -- I would have fought a lot hard for what I wanted. ​I didn't though, and this is how it is... and I'm going to suck it up. Everyone else being happy will make me happy. 

However, shoes. I feel like the universe owes me a fucking awesome pair of shoes for the amount of shit I've put up for the last year. I'm low maintenance. I have my standard items and stick by them. And I live in Vans -- which I plan on changing into when dancing starts. But I want a pair of killer floral heels for my most put together day.

I'm in love with these [pictured above]. In my mind, they're as perfect as a floral print gets. But I ordered them and just seriously too high- 6 inches. I can walk in them but I'm worried I'll break my ankle before the day is over. Could you help me find something similar? Preferable a floral print with a chunky heel. 

Thanks so much!  

*****

Those look like hooker shoes, sorta. Teenybopper hooker shoes.

I much prefer these Marais wedges.........................................

Is the liberty print too cutesy?


(You could always go with fancy Vans instead.)

Feel Like (More) Shoe Shopping?

Hello!

First of all: thank you. I've been reading ESB since I got engaged, and you helped me develop my wedding planning philosophy: As long as people have a place to sit and I end up married, I do not care.

So now I need some shoes. I've been scouring the webs for days, and I've found some options, but nothing I feel really thrilled about. I wish I had a picture of the dress to share, but I'm having it custom made based on a dream I had. It's above the knee white light-weight cotton with three quarter sleeves, and a sort of henley/scoop neckline. It won't actually look anything like this but it's got a similar sort of attitude... I guess. I will also be wearing a flower crown. I know that flower crowns aren't cool anymore, and I do not give one fuck. I like flowers, and crowns, and wood nymphs, so that's what I'm wearing.

My initial plan was to wear something in a neutral leather with a wooden or cork heel. That way everything would stay soft, natural, and romantic. I have this pair of Swedish Hasbeens, which would be perfect, except mine are a little scuffed and my mother thinks old shoes are inappropriate for a wedding. Whatever.

So then this bride convinced me that cobalt shoes are the only way to go, and I love these, but I'm worried that bright blue shoes might clash with my whole wood nymph thing. Or is it just right? The LR's are a little expensive; I'd like to keep the shoes under 200, so I'm also considering these as a low cost alternative.

So anyway, I'd love some advice from you and all your wonderful readers. Some final specs: I'm barely 5'1 if I round up, so I will need some sort of heel. We'll be on grass, so wedges or thicker heels are ideal. As I said, I'd like to try to keep it under 200, though I can stretch a liiiitttle. It's a backyard barbecue wedding, so nothing super fancypants. Oh, and I wear a 5, 5.5, or 6 depending on the brand.

Thank you!!!!

*****

Yah, I'm not feeling the blue for a wood nymph.

Neutral leather recommends, you guys??



(Pls let me know if you know who took the photo.)

Why are all the low heels so FUGLY?

Hi ESB,

I am getting married in April in a simple but pretty, all lace but no sparklies dress made by a local seamstress. I would love to wear any of the super cute heels and shoes that you and the other commenters have posted about in the past, particularly the Loeffler Randalls. Ugh, I drool.

However, I need a heel that is >1 inch tall to lift my hem off the ground so I don't have to hem the dress in alterations, and yet, not over 2 inches tall, since my fiance asked me to not be much taller than him on the wedding day (we're the same height).

I'd really prefer not to spend over $200; though if something is just killer, maybe I will. I feel like they are only selling ugly shoes of the kitten heel variety, so I need professional shoe shopping help.

Thanks in advance!

*****

Madewell has some cute "mini-wedges" with a 1 1/8" heel.

Which look to me like a knock-off of the Marais studded t-bar flats......

Probably you should just find a pair of flats you love and hem the damn dress.

Fugly shoes at top from Suitster via I'm Revolting via SUMI HA

Here's a wedding shoe for you....

The Hyde Pump, new for fall from Marais.

These flats are pretty cute, too.

Pls help find shoes for my AMAZON MOM

Hello ESB,

My mother has bought a dress for the wedding, and although it looks a bit blah in the photo, in real life it is a lovely fluttery silk crepe with soft sleeves and a bias cut that really suits her (six foot, size 16 (UK)) figure. It fits with the 30s garden party feel of our wedding and most importantly she chose it,  loves it and feels great in it.

Due to a number of circumstances (mostly that she’s retired and going on holiday to the Pyrenees and then Provence for 3 weeks: I am impossibly, bitterly, jealous) she is away for all of June. As we are getting married in July she wants to get shoes and accessories now. In London it has been raining solidly for 2 weeks, the early summer drop has not arrived at the shops and she is stressing. I do not like my mother stressed.

It’s her birthday soon, so I thought I’d buy her the shoes. She doesn’t like being too much taller than my father (she’s 2” taller in bare feet) and wants a wedge as the wedding is on a lawn. I found an excellent pair at Marais, but her preferred colour (blush) doesn’t come in her size. I could get the denim but she’s not sure about them. She loves your new wedges but says they are too high, and too black, she doesn’t want black.

So, summery shoes to go with the dress, UK 8, US 11, pop of colour, maximum 4cm heel, no sequins crystals or faff?

Please help the internets are failing me…

--The shoe designer who can’t buy her mother shoes

*****

Do you get to be that picky when your feet are SIZE ELEVEN?

If she's not willing to go any taller, I say buy the micro wedges in denim or jet and be stoked about it.

Seeking Flats: not blingtastic, not too blah

Dear ESB,

I have been having the absolute worst time finding shoes for my wedding in January. I would love to wear the most rockin' heels, but that is just not in the cards (read: chasing millions of kids all day and super lame knee that won't allow rockin' heels for more than an hour). So, flats it is!

I have been having the worst time finding rad flats that aren't something I could wear everyday and aren't the most blingtastic, could absolutely never wear again. My dress is super classic and I would love to find some navy or possibly purple shoes with some awesome accent to wear with it. If you or your fantastic readers could help me, I would be SO grateful!

Budget: Under $200 if possible, thanks!

*****

Rarely will you catch me recommending BOWS. But the Marais Maryjanes (pictured above) are pretty terrific.

These T-bar Flats are also rad.

Would you consider tan with gold studs?