After lemming the Rag & Bone Newbury and Harrow Booties for what felt like an eternity, this season, I caved on...both. First came the Newbury in burgundy suede, while I picked up the Harrow in classic black leather just a week or two ago at Barney's. And after wearing the Harrow more in the past two weeks than I've worn the Newbury in the past two months, I've been forced to concede to a favorite, and it's clearly the Harrow.
Given the similarities between the styles (they share the same toe shape and seaming, as well as the same comfortably high stacked heel), my preference comes down to two design details - first, the shaft (that's the height of the boot) on the Harrow is an inch shorter than the shaft on the Newbury, which makes the bootie easier to wear with skirts and dresses, particularly for those of us with shorter legs (I'm 5'2" for reference). Second, as opposed to the clean finish of the Newbury, the Harrow has a notched v that sits at the front of the leg, which is not only flattering, but also makes it easier to tuck in a skinny jean (there's more room to play with at the top of the boot, though the Newbury works perfectly with skinnies, as well). That said, if I had picked up the Newbury in a more obvious color, I might have found it more versatile? You can't win 'em all, I suppose. If you're in the market:
Shop Rag & Bone:
Harrow in leather, $495 or suede, $346.50
Newbury in leather, $495 or suede, $346.50
Head to Head: Rag & Bone's Newbury & Harrow Booties
Recently Acquired: Shoe Edition
I referenced flagrant Sandy-induced spending in a prior post and here's the proof. Recent additions to my shoe wardrobe, clockwise from top left:
- Maison Martin Margiela x H&M Lucite Wedge Booties, $349 - available at select H&M stores, or on eBay - I may regret, but the plexi glass wedge makes these lean more art than fashion.
- Schutz Snake Flats, available at 655 Madison Avenue - I wish there were a little more toe cleavage, but the chain snake detail is incredible.
- Pamela Love x Nine West Pamela Bootie, $299 - Rough and tumble, I love the Southwestern influence.
- Stuart Weitzman Leopard-Print Calf Hair Ankle Boot, $650 - Stuart Weitzman leans mumsy, but these were hard slash apparently impossible to resist.
What have you recently acquired?
Pamela Love Partners with Nine West, My World Collapses
'A little bit country (Western, that is), a little bit rock and roll' is likely the most succinct imaginable summary of Pamela Love's pending, single-style collaboration with Nine West. The Pamela bootie, seen above, will be available in three colorways - Brick, Black or Red - all with signature, Southwestern-y silvertone metalwork, shipping 10/30. I normally eschew a mass market shoe (let's be real), but even at the ambitious price point of $299, I had to cave.
Pre-order here, and for more on Pamela's inspiration:
Haulin': Loeffler Randall Sample Sale
Loeffler Randall's twice-yearly sample sale has begun, and that can only mean one thing - I'm several hundred dollars poorer. I stopped by the VIP preview last night, and was pleased to see a well-organized (shoes are bagged, and grouped by size) assortment of shoes, boots, sandals, and clogs for anywhere from 50 to 70 percent off. Most styles rang in at about wholesale, with select flat leather sandals and clogs under $100.
My haul:
Nadia Espadrille Platform Bootie, was $395, here $200.
Loeffler Randall + Suno Wedge, originally $595, here $275.
Best of all, checking in at LR HQ awarded me this very special new badge from my friends at foursquare - the Kicks badge! It's well-deserved, if I do say so myself.
Shop the sale today through Saturday at Loeffler Randall, 525 Broadway nr. Spring St., 4th fl. Hours: Thurs–Fri (10–7), Sat (10–5).
Weathering Winter: Timberland's Stratham Heights Ankle Boot
As you may have deduced by now, I'm not much of a mid-heel girl. Give me something sky high or give me a flat; I simply cannot be bothered with anything in between. But, admittedly, impending winter weather has me acknowledging the appeal of a...more manageable heel. After all, it's difficult (though not impossible) to rock 4" in icy New York City terrains.
Enter Timberland's Stratham Heights Ankle Boot. This ruggedly-chic, almost Rachel Comey-esque bootie boasts beautifully-textured leather, a softly-padded sole, and - lo and behold - a comfortable 2" heel that offers just the right amount of lift when paired with a textured tight and skirt, or a colored skinny jean, as seen above. And though my idea of "reasonably-priced" is admittedly skewed by years of working in the industry, a leather bootie of this quality for under $150? SOLD. SIGN A SISTER UP.
Object of My Obsession: Kenneth Cole Meshing Around
It took a long time for me to come around to the idea of a peep toe bootie, and rightfully so. I mean, let's think through the logic of this style (or lack thereof, as the case may be is).
A bootie (keeps your feet covered and warm)...with a peep toe (exposes your toes to the elements!) Non-sensical, I know, but if you're tempted to get on board, meet Kenneth Cole New York's Meshing Around.
With a built-in 0.75 inch platform, and a staggering 4-inch heel, these booties make a MAJOR statement, yet somehow, inexplicably, remain insanely walkable. While unlikely in terms of actual, you know, execution, they make me feel like I can run a marathon, leap tall buildings in a single bound, etc., etc.
If you need a towering statement heel that allows you to go about your business "like a woman in the world" (cc: Felicia Sullivan), the Meshing Around bootie is available in black or fatigue green (seen above) online for $228 at Kenneth Cole.
FTC Disclosure: These booties were gifted to me following a press event sponsored by Kenneth Cole.
Holiday, To Give and To Receive: The DKNY Cozy
While I clearly love to receive gifts, there's one gift that I really have no desire to see under my tree - this year or any year. CLOTHING. Yes, I know it's surprising, but the reality is that style is so personal, and fit can be so fussy; clothing is close to impossible to give and receive.
The one imaginable exception in the free world is the DKNY Cozy. This miraculous sweater ACTUALLY does what most pieces of clothing only PURPORT to do - it suits any woman's style and can be dressed up (as seen here on the DKNY Facebook page...hit the "Like" button for my look while you're there!) or down (as seen above) in a snap. Head to toe, here's how I styled my Cozy on a recent Friday:
- Ray Ban Wayfarers
- Alexis Bittar earrings
- DKNY Cozy (gift)
- Hermes Medor watch
- Miraclebody Denim Leggings (gift)
- Rosegold Malo Bootie
If you've already got a DKNY Cozy, don't forget to download the iPhone app - it's chock full of magical styling tips!
Venturing Outside of My Comfort Zone: Tsubo
Comfort is actually one of the least important things that I consider when buying shoes. Silly me, I pay more attention to irrational elements like the perfect toe shape or the appropriate heel silhouette. But comfort is a tenet of the Japanese-inspired line Tsubo.
A design-driven collection with a focus on smart ergonomics, Tsubo's footwear is a bit quirky but definitely has sartorial appeal. My favorite pair from the Fall/Winter collection are the Nabu ($140), a shoe/bootie hybrid that boasts a three and a half inch heel (incorporating a covered platform.)
The Nabu have an interesting elfin look and I love the idea of pairing them with a contrasting tight or a pair of dark denim skinny jeans. And when it comes to comfort, these can't be beat - especially when you take the height into consideration. I feel like I could run a marathon in the Nabu, which is more than I can say for any other three+ inch heel that I own.
Do you have any wardrobe items that take YOU outside of your sartorial comfort zone? Share in the comments!
FTC Disclosure: Tsubo Nabu received for review.