Tag: manolo blahnik sandal

13 Sparkling Shoes Ready for the Red Carpet

How can it be that we’re only days away from the Academy Awards?! The gowns, the jewels….oh my! Just before the Golden Globes, I wrote about how your evening bag definitely counts as part of the bling for your attire. (Click here if you missed that article.) I’ve waited until the Oscar’s are upon us to comment about the other, yet equally important, non-jewelry item that definitely contributes to your bejeweled look. Yes, I’m talking about your shoes. (Totally get it if you just got a little shiver of delight.)

Neutrals are often the best choice to enhance a look and elongate the leg, and if you’re just starting to build your evening shoe wardrobe, then I would suggest a neutral metallic and a dark neutral (black, navy, or charcoal, depending on your wardrobe). These will surely mix and match with your festive frocks. And don’t forget to think about cost-per-wear. If you’re a total socialite, out and about a few times per month, then it’s worth it to invest in a quality pair of shoes, even though they may seem expensive at the time. You’ll end up spending less than if you bought multiple pairs of less expensive options.

Here are 13 sparklers at a range of price points (some cost more than my rent, while others are equivalent to a dinner out), to tickle your foot fancy. And if you want more info about any of these, just click the link in blue.

Jimmy Choo black embellished suede

jimmy choo tinga suede crystal embellished sandal
Ted Baker embellished sandal

ted baker london primrose crystal embellished leather sandal
Guiuseppe Zanotti gold crystal mesh sandal

giuseppe zanotti coline crystal mesh sandal
Enzo Angiolini satin peep-toe sandal

enzo angiolini nordia satin peepe toe sandal
Badgley Mischka bejeweled peep-toe pump

badgley mischka hollie pump

Glint silver sparkly sandal

glint daryn sandal
Manolo Blahnik jeweled slide

manolo blahnik telo jeweled napa slide sandal
Kate Spade metallic sandal

kate spade illia metallic slingback sandals
Jimmy Choo gold metallic sandal

jimmy choo lang sandal
Badgley Mischka satin d’orsay pump

badgley mischka satin d'orsay
Nina ivory embellished strappy sandal

nina chelsea sandal
Oscar de la Renta beaded lace peep-toe

oscar de la renta ambria metallic beaded lace sandal
Givenchy jeweled sandal

givenchy jeweled mona sandals
So what do you think? Do any of these styles appeal to you? If you had to pick your favorite, which would it be?

Accessorize Me: Helmut Lang Black Dress

About ready to begin my 16th year as a full-time image consultant and wardrobe stylist, a big part of my job is accessorizing my clients from head-to-toe. Jewelry, is of course, a HUGE part of creating the whole “look.” I’m starting this new series, Accessorize Me, to demonstrate how to create different looks with the same outfit, just by switching up your accessories. Just as I do with myself and my clients, there’s a total range of price points — I love mixing high and low to create the look I’m going for. I hope you enjoy it, and I look forward to all comments!

First up is this cool crepe jersey dress by Hemut Lang that I recently purchased for a client. She is a hard-working author, mom, and wife, so this dress has got to take her out during the day or to a cocktail party with her husband.

Helmut Lang ruched-side crepe dress

First, let’s take it a little more casual, yet still with an urban edge. For this look, I opted for a long, statement necklace by Alexis Bittar. I just love the organic nature of the pendant with the clear lucite drop. In addition, the asymmetry of the pendant echoes the asymmetry of the dress. This necklace would work with a variety of outfits, for sure!

Alexis Bittar Lucite Jardin Mystere Pendant Necklace

Complementing the look with a cool stack ring, also by Alexis Bittar, and a simple, yet lovely pair of hammered silver hoops by Argento Vivo makes the right statement. The pave crystals in the ring pair well with the pave detail in the necklace, without being to “matchy matchy.”

Argento Vivo earrings and Alexis Bittar ring

To round out the downtown look, I chose a stacked heel by Anyi Lu (totally hot right now, and also referred to as a Cuban heel) and a simple black clutch by Oliveve.

Anyi Lu sandal and Oliveve queenie clutch

Now taking it more uptown, I went with a gold theme. This client is a mix of warm and cool coloring, so she’s lucky to be able to wear both metal colors. (If you’re unsure what metals are best on you, click here for my article on selecting the right tone.)

First off, I went for a much higher and dressier shoe by Manolo Blahnik. While these are a big investment, they will get a lot of play from everything from dresses to jeans, so the cost-per-wear will be pretty good. Then this clutch by Diane von Furstenburg is a great combo with the gold/black theme.

manolo blahnik shoe and diane von furstenburg clutch

And for the icing on the cake, we need some gold bling! I heart this bejeweled cuff by Jenny Packham, and you can’t go wrong with these stellar mesh drop earrings from ABS by Allen Schwartz (at under $100, great bling-for-the-buck!)

jenny packham cuff and abs allen schwartz earrings

While this is only two looks for this dress, I think we’re off to a great start. I’m sure we’ll even bring it down to total casual with flat sandals, a denim jacket, some more bohemian jewelry, and perhaps a simple cross-body bag. This $290 dollar dress is going to become a major work-horse this season!