The most useful maternity purchase I've made

I've bought a lot of things so far during this pregnancy, including maternity clothes, new bras for my expanding ribcage, and most recently new shoes for my puffy 3rd trimester feet.

Hands down the one I am most grateful for is my boot jack.
If you haven't heard of these (and I hadn't until someone in my prenatal yoga class told me to get one), they are devices that sit on your floor near your door, and have a prong on one end that you put your heel in. You step on the other side and it helps you take your boots off.

If you are pregnant now or plan to be pregnant, especially during the winter months, GET ONE!!

There are tons of different varieties and looks that are all variations on the basic theme of "crotch to stick your heel in" so I chose to go with a cute one shaped like a cricket instead of a forked piece of plastic or wood.

$22 Minuteman Cricket Bootjack

This cast iron guy is just over $20 but you can get a boring wooden one for under $10.

Bending over my belly to reach my feet is increasingly impossible, and I am so glad to use this instead.
It is much nicer to your boots and shoes than stepping on the back of your own heel and wiggling out, and it requires a lot less balance.

Even now that boot season is hopefully ending, I am still using this to get out of my boat shoes. And since it's a cute little bug, I think I will be keeping it around near the front door post-pregnancy as well.

Word to the Wise: Lots of sample sales starting today in NYC!

 

$189 Messeca Valentina platform

Messeca

Deal: 70% to 80% off women's fall and spring shoes, including fall and spring flats, sandals, wedges, heels, and boots.

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Friday, March 28. Daily 10am—7pm. 78 Fifth Ave between W. 13th and W. 14th Sts, ninth floor (no phone)

 

$450 Nonoo sleevess dress

Nonoo

Deal: Up to 70% off retail prices for womenswear, with samples starting at $50.

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Friday, March 28. Daily 9am—8pm. 611 Broadway between Bleecker and Houston Sts, suite 309 (no phone)


OXO

Deal: Deep discounts on kitchenware, cookware, and cleaning equipment, with prices starting at $1. Bring a shopping bag (one will not be provided).

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Friday, March 28. Daily 10am—5pm. 601 W. 26th St between Eleventh and Twelfth Aves, tenth floor (no phone)


David Yurman

Deal: Up to 70% off retail prices on jewelry. See the Racked.com report from the last sale here for what to expect.

When/Where: Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30. Thurs 3pm—8pm, Fri—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 11am—5pm. The Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (212-741-3400)


Are you excited for any of them?
I might hit the OXO sale.

Word to the Wise: Sample sales in NYC this week

 

$250 Astro jumper

$115 Crater leggings

Surface to Air 
Deal: Up to 80% off women's and men's clothing and accessories from the winter and summer collections. The women's XX Trench is $190 (from $690), the women's Cropped Only Jacket is $90 (from $270), and the Jivan Wedges in black are $140 (from $460). The men's Edmonton Bomber is $220 (from $760).

When/Where: Tuesday, March 11 through Sunday, March 16. Tues—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 10am—1pm. 225 Fifth Avenue between 26th and 27th Sts (212-725-5400)
 

 

$295 Coral fan necklace from Dinosaur Designs

Dinosaur Designs  
Deal: Up to 80% off jewelry and home goods. The sale will include handcrafted resin and sterling silver items.

When/Where: Friday, March 7 through Monday, March 10. Daily 10am—5pm. 211 Elizabeth Street at Prince St (212-680-3523)

 

$575 Bellagio 27" Spinner trunk

Bric's Milano 
Deal: Up to 80% off retail prices on luxury luggage and bags.

When/Where: Monday, March 10 through Saturday, March 16. Mon—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 10am—4pm. 260 Fifth Ave between 28th and 29th Sts (212-725-5400)

 

$138 Glitter sandal

Jack Rogers Sample Sale 
Deal:You will find an assortment of beautiful products from winter to spring in styles that will stay in your wardrobe for years to come. Dresses, sweaters, blouses, handbags, accessories and, of course, shoes!! The Jack Rogers Sample Sale offers a unique mix of hard-to-find vendors who embody classic resort dressing with a colorful twist as well as our iconic footwear.
Apparel – up to 80% off
Accessories (Bags, scarves and hats) – up to 80% off
Footwear (including vintage Navajo styles) – up to 70% off
Where/When: At Jack Rogers Showroom, 155 Fifth Avenue, 6th floor: March 12-14; Wed-Thurs (8:30am-6:30pm), Fri (8:30am-5pm).

$48 Heather Trio

QUINN & Kendra Phillip Trunk Show

Deal:Join us for wine Wednesday. Shop N’ Sip and meet the jewelry designer, Kendra Phillip.
Where/When: Quinn New York, 181 Orchard St, NY, NY; 10002; March 12 (6-8pm).

 

$7 Dauville Nesting bowl

Canvas

Deal:Get up to 90% off retail on SELECT merchandise at the Canvas. Deals include Furniture Floor Samples, Vintage Furniture, Table Top, Pillows, Throws, Bedding, Discontinued Items.
Where/When: Canvas, 123 West 17th Street, New York, NY 10011; (212) 372-7706. March 13-17.

Word to the Wise: SO many sample sales this week!

There are so many sales right now, I've aggregated the listings from SampleSally.com and Racked.com by type below.
But first, my (not so) short list of what I think the best ones will be in case you don't want to read all of these:

-Natori
-Amanda Uprichard
-Hayden-Hartnett
-Tangerine
-CFDA
-Hanky Panky
-Opening Ceremony
-Cardigan
-Rachel Comey
-Slane
-Edun

Amanda Uprichard silk printed blouse, normally $209

Women's clothes

What: Original samples up to 90% off and past season merchandise up to 70% off at the Lisa Perry sample sale.  Where/When: 988 Madison Avenue (at 77th Street), NY, NY; Thru  Dec 15.

What: Deals on men’s and women’s denim at the James Jeans sample sale. Where/When: 500 Greenwich Street, Suite 202; NY, NY; Dec 10-12; Tues (9am-8pm), Wed-Thurs (9am-6pm).

What: Score up to 70% off Alice +Olivia women’s clothing and accessories. Where/When: 260 Fifth Avenue (b/w 28th and 29th Sts), NY, NY; Dec. 10-15 (Tues 9am-8pm; Wed 9am-7pm; Thurs 10am-8pm; Fri 9am-7pm; Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-3pm).

What: Tory Burch is having a sample sale where shoppers can find deals on fall/winter clothing, footwear, bags and more. Where/When: Clothingline, 261 W. 36th St (b/w 7th and 8th Aves), Second Floor, NY, NY; Dec 10-14 (Tues-Fri 11am-7pm; Sat 11am-5pm).

What: Stop by the Diesel sample sale for deals on men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Where/When: 220 W. 19th St (b/w 7th and 8th Aves), fifth floor, NY, NY; Dec 10-12 (tues 7am-9am and 11am-7pm; wed-thurs 11am-7pm).

What: Shoppers get up to 70% off at the Juliette Longuet sample sale. Find deals on pieces from the fall and summer collections. Where/When: 153 East 70th street (b/w Lexington and 3rd Avenue), New York, NY 10021; Dec 11-12; Wed-Thurs (10-7pm).

 What: Qi Cashmere & Ainsley sample sale offers 70% off women’s, men’s knitwear and accessories. Find pieces from their RTW collections and loungewear. Price points include: Ombre marled scarf now $36 (orig. $88); Alexis cashmere color-blocked sweatshirt now $74 (orig. $245) and Ella cashmere pull-over now $105 (orig. $350). Where/When: 260 West 39th Street, Suite 1500, NY, NY; 10018; Dec 11-20, Open Saturday Dec 14th; Daily (11am-7pm).

What: Deep discounts at the Natori sample sale where you’ll find lingerie, nighties, bras, panties, loungewear and more. Sleepwear from $15-$30, bras $15, and panties at $3. Where/When: 102 Madison Avenue (b/w 29th & 30th Streets), NY, NY; Dec 12-13; (10am-4pm).

What: Shoppers get 50% off intimates, swim and mini at the Eberjey sample sale. Where/When: 40 E. 34th Street, Suite 1215, NY, NY; Dec 12-13; Thurs (9am-7pm), Fri (9am-4pm).

Deal: Markdowns on women's clothing from the fall 2013 collection. The sale will also include past-season merchandise. Tops, skirts, and sweaters are $90, dresses are $130, and outerwear is $260. Cash for purchases under $250.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Wednesday, December 11. Tues 8am—7pm, Wed 9am—6pm. 214 W. 29th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite #1503 (no phone)
Link: Lauren Moffatt

Deal: Up to 80% off merchandise from past seasons. The sale will also include one-of-a-kind leather bags and accessories.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Thursday, December 12. Daily 10am—7pm. 10 W. 33rd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, suite 306 (212-328-1560)
Link: Hayden-Harnett, Kooba

Deal: 50% to 75% off retail prices on women's ready-to-wear.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Thursday, December 12. Daily 10am—6pm. 330 W. 38th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (646-596-7828)
Link: Amanda Uprichard

Deal: Up to 80% off women's and men's fall 2013 ready-to-wear and accessories. The sale will include archives, samples, and past season overstock.

When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 13. Daily 10am—6pm. 107 Grand St between Broadway and Mercer St, third floor (no phone)
Link: Edun

Deal: Up to 70% off retail prices. Knit dresses start at $75, and vegan leather pants are $60. When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 13. Daily 10am—7pm. 262 W. 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Ave, suite #703 (no phone) Link: Anni Kuan

Deal: Up to 75% off retail prices of fall, holiday, and resort collections from all three brands. Samples start as low as $25.

When/Where: Monday, December 9 through Friday, December 13. Daily 10am—5pm. DMA Showroom, 231 W. 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite #806 (no phone)
Link: Chelsea Flower, Love, Sam, Joy Cioci

Deal: Up to 80% off 100% silk tanks, blouses, and dresses. Prices start at $35.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Friday, December 13. Daily 9am—6pm. 260 W. 36th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, second floor (no phone)
Link: Tangerine NYC

Deal: Discounts on men's and women's clothing from Burkman Bros, Daniel Vosovic, Isaora, Jonathan Simkhai, Whit, Timo Weiland, and NUMBER:Lab.

When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Saturday, December 14. Daily 12pm—7:30pm. 209 W. 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, third floor (no phone)
Link: CFDA Fashion Incubator

Deal: 50% to 85% off women's clothing. Sweaters that were originally $595 are $90, and sweaters that were originally $295 are $60. When/Where: Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 15. Sat—Sun 11am—6pm, Mon—Fri 10am—7pm. 91 Grand St between Mercer and Greene St (no phone) Link: Cardigan

Deal: 60% to 80% off fall merchandise, including intimates (Hanky Panky) and womenswear (Shui Chen and Acrobat).

When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 13 and Monday, December 16. Daily 11am—8pm, closed Sat and Sun. 215 W. 40th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, 12th floor (no phone)
Link: Hanky Panky, Shui Chen

Deal: Deep discounts on men's and women's clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. Brands include Band of Outsiders, Acne Studios, Proenza Schouler, Opening Ceremony, and many more. Cash and credit accepted, with a $100 minimum for credit cards.

When/Where: Friday, December 13 through Sunday, December 15. Fri—Sat 11am—8pm, Sun 11am—7pm. 76 Mercer St between Spring and Broome Sts (no phone)
Link: Opening Ceremony

Stephen Dweck purple delphinium ring, normally $415

Women's shoes and accessories

What: Deals of up to 90% off at the Eugenia Kim fall sample sale. Plus, a freebie bin! Hats, headbands, cold weather accessories and more for men and women. Where/When: 347 West 36th Street, Suite 501, NY, NY 10018; Dec 10-14; Daily (10am-7pm).

 What: High-fashion, artist designed socks (Ozone Socks) for men and women, including knee high, over the knee styles and more at 50%-75% off retail. Where/When: 224 W 29th St, 10th Floor (b/w 7th & 8th Aves), NY, NY; Dec 10-13; Daily (Noon-7pm).

What: The Rachel Comey sample sale offers great deals on past season merchandise – such as $100 women’s shoes and $75 men’s shoes and 50% off fall 2013 retail prices. Some deals include the Vignette Sweatshirt for $213 (Retail $426), the Crux Dress at $173 (Retail $345) and Tallow Jacket for $225 (Retail $449). As for footwear, the Asset tall ankle boots is now $248 (Retail $495), Typer ankle boots at $225 (Retail $449), Prose ankle boots for $225 (Retail $449). Where/When: 233 Mott Street, New York, NY 10012, Dec 12- 15; Thurs – Fri (10am – 7pm), Sat (10am – 6pm) and Sun(12pm – 5pm).

 What: The PONO holiday sample sale is a great place to pick up beautiful baubles for you or as a gift. You’ll find pieces made of Italian resin for as little as $10 a piece (colorful cuffs). Other deals include the label’s Masai Necklace on sale for $75 (orig. $205), the Cleo Necklace now $75 (orig. $265) and a bold Colorblock Choker-now $40 from an original $205. Where/When: 347 W 36th St. suite 405, (b/w 8th & 9th Aves), NY, NY; Dec 2–Dec 13, Daily (9am–6pm).

Deal: Up to 75% off jewelry, including sterling silver, 18kt gold, and freshwater pearl necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, and rings.

When/Where: Wednesday, December 11. 10am—7pm. 48 W. 25th St between Broadway and Sixth Ave, eleventh floor (no phone)
Link: Slane

Deal: Deep discounts on exotic skin handbags. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the New York Cancer Center. When/Where: Monday, December 9 through Wednesday, December 11. Mon 9am—7pm, Tues—Wed 10am—6pm. 111 E. 59th St between Park and Lexington Aves (212-920-1211) Link: Nancy Gonzalez

Deal: 50% to 80% off jewelry. The sale will include bracelets, earrings, rings, and necklaces, semi-precious and rare stones, and one-of-a-kind pieces.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Wednesday, December 11. Daily 8:30am—7pm. 73 Spring St between Broadway and Lafayette St, suite 501 (212-764-3030)
Link: Stephen Dweck Jewelry

Deal: Markdowns on women's jewelry. The Emeline ring/cuff is $300, the Donesia bib necklace is $250, the Daphne earrings are $200, and Coco rings are $100. Prices start at $25.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Wednesday, December 11. Tues 5pm—8pm, Wed 10am—7pm. 419 W. 14th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (no phone)
Link: Dannijo

Deal: Deals on luxury handbags from VBH; up to 70% off crystal giftware, stemware, jewelry, fragrance, and architectural items from Lalique; and 65% to 75% off fine jewelry and watches from Di Modolo.

When/Where: Saturday, December 7 through Wednesday, December 11. Sat—Tues 9am—6:30pm, Wed 9am—5pm. Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (718-747-1656)
Link: Lalique, Di Modolo

Deal: Up to 70% off women's jewelry, shoes, handbags, clothing, and more.

When/Where: Wednesday, December 11 through Friday, December 13. Daily 11am—7pm. 12 W. 57th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, #806 (no phone)
Link: Miriam Salat

Deal: Markdowns on jewelry, priced at wholesale and below.

When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 13. Daily 12pm—6pm. 246 W. 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite #12A (212-944-6480)
Link: Ben Amun

Deal: Markdowns on bags, including extra large bags for $300, large bags for $200, medium bags for $180, and clutches priced from $100 to $150.

When/Where: Tuesday, December 3 through Friday, December 13. Daily 10am—4pm. 209 W. 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite 1211 (no phone)
Link: Fabiola Pedrazzini

Deal: 40% to 80% off women's jewelry. When/Where: Wednesday, December 11 through Saturday, December 14. Wed—Fri 12pm—7pm, Sat 10am—4pm. 104 Greene St between Prince and Spring Sts (212-226-8878) Link: Fragments

Deal: Up to 60% off furniture, lighting, home goods, and more. When: Friday, December 13 through Sunday, December 15. Fri—Sat 10am—6pm, Sun 12pm—5pm. 155 Wooster St at Houston St (212-253-5629) Link: Ligne Roset

Sanyo Shokai Emory jacket, normally $450

Men's

What: Deals on men’s and women’s denim at the James Jeans sample sale. Where/When: 500 Greenwich Street, Suite 202; NY, NY; Dec 10-12; Tues (9am-8pm), Wed-Thurs (9am-6pm).
What: Stop by the Diesel sample sale for deals on men’s, women’s and kid’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Where/When: 220 W. 19th St (b/w 7th and 8th Aves), fifth floor, NY, NY; Dec 10-12 (tues 7am-9am and 11am-7pm; wed-thurs 11am-7pm).
 
What: Deals for men of up to 75% off retail at the Isaia sample sale. Find Italian made suits, sport coats, shirts, ties, knits, trousers, accessories and more. Where/When: 225 Fifth Avenue (b/w 26th & 27th Streets), NY, NY 10010; Dec 10-13; Tues-Thurs (10am-7pm), Fri (10am-1pm).

What: High-fashion, artist designed socks (Ozone Socks) for men and women, including knee high, over the knee styles and more at 50%-75% off retail. Where/When: 224 W 29th St, 10th Floor (b/w 7th & 8th Aves), NY, NY; Dec 10-13; Daily (Noon-7pm).

What:  No word yet on the discounts, but Ralph Lauren is having a sample sale for men’s and women’s apparel from the fall/winter collections!  Where/When:  Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St (b/w 8th and 9th Aves), NY, NY; Dec 13-16 (Fri-Sun 9am-6:30pm; Mon 9am-5pm).

Deal: 30% to 70% off all men's outerwear, including rain coats, trench coats, wool jackets, and more. Prices start at $75. When/Where: Tuesday, December 10 through Wednesday, December 11. Tues 8:30am—6pm, Wed 9am—5:30pm. 525 Seventh Ave between W. 38th and W. 39th Sts, suite 1709 (800-997-2696) Link: Sanyo Shokai

Deal: Up to 80% off women's and men's fall 2013 ready-to-wear and accessories. The sale will include archives, samples, and past season overstock.

When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 13. Daily 10am—6pm. 107 Grand St between Broadway and Mercer St, third floor (no phone)
Link: Edun

Deal: Discounts on men's and women's collections. When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Friday, December 13. Daily 11am—7pm. 168 Bowery at Kenmare St (no phone) Link: Thom Browne

Deal: Discounts on men's and women's clothing from Burkman Bros, Daniel Vosovic, Isaora, Jonathan Simkhai, Whit, Timo Weiland, and NUMBER:Lab.

When/Where: Thursday, December 12 through Saturday, December 14. Daily 12pm—7:30pm. 209 W. 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, third floor (no phone)
Link: CFDA Fashion Incubator

Deal: Discounts on men's apparel and accessories from the fall/winter 2012 and spring/summer 2013 collections, with a wide range of knitwear available. When/Where: Friday, December 13 through Sunday, December 15. Daily 11am—7pm. 648 Broadway between Bond and Bleecker Sts, suite 1003 (no phone) Link: Orley

 

Deal: Deep discounts on men's and women's clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. Brands include Band of Outsiders, Acne Studios, Proenza Schouler, Opening Ceremony, and many more. Cash and credit accepted, with a $100 minimum for credit cards.

When/Where: Friday, December 13 through Sunday, December 15. Fri—Sat 11am—8pm, Sun 11am—7pm. 76 Mercer St between Spring and Broome Sts (no phone)
Link: Opening Ceremony

Black pull-on ankle boots with low heels

I am in the market for a pair of short black ankle boots that I can just throw on and wear everywhere. And they are proving to be rather hard to find.

I had a pair of Target black ankle boots for about 2 years but they were looking really worn since the plastic/fake-o material was all scuffed at the toes and no amount of black sharpie or polish could bring them back so I gave them up.
I do have a nice pair of flat black ankle boots from Tibi, but they have both a zipper AND a snap, and really, who's got that kind of time?
Socks, pants, zipping, snapping... I'm tired already. I need a shoe that I can stick my foot out and they are magically on for the day, you know?

Here are some options I am looking at on Zappos:


$170 Ariat Wexford H2O
These are appealingly waterproof, and I love the Ariat brand for comfortable and durable boots (I know them from cowboy boots).
But the gusset (that is the elastic vent part) isn't really my style and these might be on the rugged side of what I am looking for. 



$298 Frye Lindsay gore
These are a little more refined than the Ariats, due to the flat sole and heel instead of lug sole, and the smooth leather. Fryes are also great and last a long time, though I did hear that now that they are made in China instead of the US, their quality has gone down.



$130 Shellys London Simonas
Somewhere in between the Ariat and Frye, I think, in terms of style and fanciness. This also has that elastic bit and a flat sole.





$398 Frye Smith harness short
These are the classic Frye harness boots in the short, 8" shaft length. These are definitely not the boots for all types of dresses and skirts, but could be great for jeans and rough wear. That's a lot of $$ for ankle boots though.




$104 Justin L9991
Similar in style to the Frye harness boots, these Justin ankle boots are a little higher in the shaft and a little clunkier in the heel. They get great reviews for comfort though, and are 1/3 the price.




$120 Report Roland
I like the little gold pyramid stud on these, and I think it makes them more dressy than any of the others so far. But I worry that they are not well-made since the Report band isn't known for its fine leather.



$315 Wolverine Bonny pull-on boot
I like the stacked contrast color heel on these, and the almond toe. These are definitely more city and fashion boots than the lower, flatter ones I've been looking at. I like that they are full grain leather, too.



$98 Seychelles Knock at the door
A change of pace with the woven leather upper, but I like the look of these too. Kind of unexpected to have that ventilation. They seem to run a half size small from looking at the reviews.




$48 Melissa Protection
These are rubber boots by the brand Melissa whose shoes I find very comfortable. It's a different style, more cowboy and rain-boot than the others.

Which do you like best and think is the best purchase?

Pour La Victoire Malorie Boot

I saw these boots in Beacon's Closet over the weekend and I was really tempted to buy them.
When I looked at them I could tell that they were leather and had nice leather soles, but I couldn't tell what size they were or who made them because the sole had been worn down already.

But I tried them on, they fit really well and were very soft.
They are the pull on style I like a lot, and fit over my wide calves.

I walked out without them and came home to find them online.
They are the Pour La Victoire Malorie over the knee boot, all leather, made in Brazil.
Originally, they were at Nordstrom for $390.
I saw them at Beacon's used for $65.

Now, $65 is more than I like to pay for used shoes. But I am still thinking about them and I wonder if they are still there at the store. I might have to go back for them.

What do you think?

$390 Pour La Victoire Malorie boot in tan
Sold out

It's a good time to buy black boots on 6pm.com

Summer is here! Put on your bikini and pack up your sweaters and buy winter boots!

No, but I am serious.
Now is a great time to look for the boots you should have gotten last year but chickened out on, or thought were too expensive.

I wouldn't go for super trendy things like the heel-less cantilevered shoes that might not be in again this fall (though I think those are great), but a classic black flat boot never goes out of style. Might as well get them cheap since you know you are going to need them eventually.

Here are my picks on super sale at 6pm.com now:



$39.99 Type Z Soha wide calf leather riding boots (was $159)
These are my favorites! And very tempting. Though the process of going through my stuff to move has shown me how many boots and shoes I already have. But these might be more comfortable, she tells herself. And they have those cute little buckles! And only $40! Ok, maybe I should...


$49.99 Fitzwell Jelly classic boot (was $199)
Standard, classic, never the wrong choice.
Black or brown available.


$41.99 Fitzwell Valencia Wide calf boot (was $169)
Another classic riding boot with a harness and buckle at the ankle and made for us ladies with wide calves.


$76.99 Gabriella Rocha Dryden wide calf boots (was $169)
These come in black, tan, or gray. All of the colors look nice to me.


$59.99 Type Z Kimi tall riding boots (was $169)
These come in black, dark brown, or gray. The other colors have contrasting zippers in back.


$46.99 Gabriella Rocha Sazzy ankle boots (was $129)
These nubuck ankle boots have cute studded straps. They also come in brown or gray but I like the black better. Pull-on ankle boots are the best because I am lazy and don't want to zip anything.


$269.99 Marc Jacobs dark blue ankle boot (was $892)
Ok, I know these are still kind of ridiculously expensive, but I loooooove them. They have such a great elegant almond toe shape and they are pull-on and they have those gold pyramid studs and they are so shiny and smooth.
Can I have them???
FINE. SCREW YOU TOO.

Just my luck...

 these are sold out:


$6.66 Rabbit tail shorts

I guess that site doesn't know it's my birthday.
OR MAYBE they are sold out because all my friends bought them for me already and they are on their way to me.
Thanks, guys!!

One of the best features of these faux fur shorts is that they have an elastic waist (you thought I was going to say the tail, didn't you?).
That means you can never outgrow them!

But what to wear on top?
It is a hard item to match, for sure.
I think I've got it though:


$9.48 Rabbit print blouse

Business on top, party on the bottom! All rabbit all the time.
Because what matches rabbits? RABBITS.


PS- I would actually wear that shirt.

Loving my F Troupe Bathing Shoes

Now that it is warm and sticky outside, I've been wearing my F Troupe Bathing shoes more often and I really like them.
They get a lot of comments and compliments too!
Probably partially because I have them in bright yellow.


$32.95 F Troupe Bathing Shoe in yellow

They are a mix between jellies, sneakers, water shoes, and sandals.
The side ventilation helps with the inevitable sweaty foot problem, but even with sweaty feet, these never smell. Unlike many other plastic or gel shoes.

I'm wearing them with gray jeans right now, and have also worn them with shorts and sporty skirts.

They come in other cool colors too:


Blue



White


Orange

Emerald: Color of the year shoes

It's official! The 2013 color is Emerald.
Remember Tangerine Tango? Screw that! It's emerald now.

Prepare to see it hitting the shelves near you, in clothing, shoes, bags, and makeup.

I like the color, it reminds me of teal more than emerald, which I think of as a little more yellow. Teal was one of my Bat Mitzvah colors, so I'm happy to see it come around again.
We've been generally in a jewel tone mode these past few years, huh?
With the notable exception of greige (gray/beige) of course.

I think that shoes and accessories are a great place to start with a new bold color like emerald. You don't have to commit to a whole head to toe look or worry about how the color sits next to your face when you do a shoe.

Here are my picks:


$29.99 (was 99.99) Betsey Johnson Sagga shoe
Hearts! The lighter green stitching on these quilted ballet flats is very nice and breaks up the color.


$49.99 (was $110) Seychelles Edge of Your Seat shoe
These sandals have high platforms so the overall tilt of the heel is not huge, making them easier to walk in than heels. I like the simple design of the straps.


$89.99 (was $198) Pour La Victoire Faine shoe
These flat strappy sandals are a little lighter, more what I consider emerald. They look comfortable and versatile and you could wear them with shorts or a skirt.


$66.99 (was $150) Aldo Solian
These high heels have white piping around the toe and a multicolored ankle strap. Just the thing for a brunch date.



$39.99 (was $80) Onitsuka tiger by Asics
Crisp white stripes on the green shoe, with matching green laces.

Word to the Wise: NYC sample sales now and this weekend

Lauren Merkin 
Deal: Up to 70% off handbags, clutches, and accessories. Bargain boxes start at $20.
When/Where: Tuesday, April 16 through Thursday, April 18. Daily 11am—7pm. 231 W. 29th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite 201 (212-239-2459)
 I've gone to this sale before and found a really cute clutch for my sister. If you need a Spring bag, head on over.

Jil Sander  Deal: Up to 85% off women's and men's clothing, shoes, and accessories. When/Where: Tuesday, April 16 through Friday, April 19. Daily 10am—6pm. 8 Crosby St between Howard and Grand Sts, fourth floor (no phone) I'm not a huge Jil Sander fan, but if you like her style and need some basics, 85% is not shabby. Plus on the last day they usually go down to 90% off. Which I love because the math is easy. You just move the decimal one place over and something that was $255 is now $25.50 because you are only paying 10%. MiH Jeans Deal: Discounts on women's clothing. Jeans start at $40, shirts start at $35, and jersey pieces start at $15. When/Where: Wednesday, April 17 through Friday, April 19. Wed 10am—7pm, Thurs 10am—8pm, Fri 10am—7pm. 584 Broadway between Houston and Prince Sts, Suite 609 (no phone) $15 Summer tops sound like a great deal. Bettye Muller, Linda Richards Deal: Markdowns on Bettye Muller shoes, as well as Linda Richards accessories and outerwear. The shoes will start at $35 (originally $195 to $625). When/Where: Wednesday, April 3 through Saturday, April 20. Mon—Fri 8:30am—5:30pm (closed weekends). 209 W. 38th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite 505 (212-382-2257)  Whee, $35 shoes! Yumi Kim Deal: Up to 80% off silk dresses, tops, skirts and more. When/Where: Thursday, April 11 through Sunday, April 21. Daily 11am—7pm. 44 Prince Street at Mulberry St (no phone) The silky tops have fun patterns and colors. James Perse Deal: 40% to 90% off men's and women's clothing, as well as athletic wear from the Yosemite line. When/Where: Tuesday, April 16 through Sunday, April 21. Tues 10am—8pm, Wed—Fri 10am—7pm, Sat 11am—7pm, Sun 11am—5pm. 260 Fifth Ave between W. 28th and W. 29th Sts (no phone) Get some really comfortable jersey shirts that will last a while, on sale.

Etsy Finds of the Day: Penguin Print Shoes by Olive Thomas

Olive Thomas Shoes is a Maya Levi, a shoe designer in Israel who makes leather shoes with fun prints on them.

Here are my favorites:


$210 Skimmer with Penguin print
AWESOME!
These flats have pointed almond shaped toes and matching vamp. They are black in back and fade to white in front, where they are printed where adorable penguins.
They are leather with leather insoles and manmade outsoles.

Comes with a cute matching tee with penguins on the bottom. I like the shape of the tee and the wide neck.



$210 Slipper with Wild Horse print
Similar to the penguin shoes, these are flat slippers with a photo digital design of horses running in a field on the toes.


BTW this one comes with a matching tee that has the horse print in a band on the bottom


$210 Juliette pumps with Flamingo print
Shaped like the skimmers but with a heel.

These are mostly black with a flamingo digital print on the toes. The heels are not that high, so walkable. Looks about 2-2.5" to me, but I could be wrong.
This also comes with a tee but I don't like the design of it.