Your trendy alternative to sandals this summer
As I’ve been traveling with my husband this spring and summer, I’ve really tried (triiiiiiied) to keep my suitcase minimal and come up with a variety of outfits only using a few pieces.
But what always messes me up when travelling during the Spring and Summer?
SHOES!
It gets especially tricky in the warmer weather because I’m not a huge sandal-wearer. (Winter is a piece of cake- all i need is a black, sleek heeled bootie.) Therefore, I'm always looking for something that I can get a lot of walking in, be dressy for dinner, and that is especially a little nicer for Mass on Sunday.
Should this be impossible???!!!!
Apparently not... because a fashion miracle happened.
Last year (if you recall... just a couple months I shared with you my Beverly Hills incident. Yes, I know... it takes me some time to learn lessons), I went to Rome, and I really needed a versatile shoe that could get me around this city in the heat of July.
Perhaps it's the rebel in me, but I protest against sandals. So I really wanted to do whatever I could to NOT wear them. This is especially difficult when you have to wear something with longer skirts and dresses to get into the beautiful churches in Rome (... I am so happy they keep an eye on that).
Okay, to try and solve the mystery of what to wear, I opted for my ‘go-to’ shoe on that trip: a cute, mule flat with a giant bow detail. (these shoes were soooooooo cute.)
Annnnnnnd.... how do you think that turned out? (face palm)
As you can see in the photo below, I’m in nooooooo pain what-so-ever here, with my feet covered in band-aids.
My haggard hair and sloped shoulders are byproducts of the pain that I had put my feet in. But you can't see the pain in my face because I wear the largest sunglasses known to man.
My feet were slowly being ripped apart as my feet slish, slosh, and slide in these shoes on the wobbly cobblestones.
It is now "protocol" for me to bring a large ziplock bag of band-aids in any city I travel to, because I knew my feet wouldn't make it out alive.
Ridiculous!!!
But it's okay now because I've finally learned my lesson. I have found my ultra-versatile, classic and trendy shoe that has been SERIOUSLY knocking it out of the park.
What is it?!
IT'S MY LOAFERS!
I purchased a couple loafers over the past couple years- gold ones and white ones (yes, I know, a little odd colors, but so much fun). At first, with the white loafers, i felt like I should be a rich, old lady sipping a martini on the side of a tennis court in a Columbo murder mystery. But I overcame that --- white loafers are in!
So, I must confess, in the beginning, they got a lot of dugout time, just hanging out in my closet. I would glance at them often, with the hint that they might be worth wearing.
Then.., for some reason, as if my guardian angel nudge me- I started wearing these loafers in my rotation for the past couple months. And now?! I can hardly comprehend how I managed without them!
Thank you God. For real!
So, I've rounded up a few cute ones that have a little zest and spice to them. These are sure to upgrade your super simple outfit to super chic. Also, (as I am writing this) it's the Nordstrom half yearly sale (oh yeah!!) -- put this on your yearly calendar -- so it's the perfect time to snag these puppies up!
Beaded Loafer by AGL --> How cute are these with jeans and a simple Tee? The beaded detail acts like jewelry and you can get that chic vibe with little accessorizing.
B.P. tie loafers --> How cute are these with white dress?!!
J. Crew smoking slipper --> ummmm what CAN'T you wear these with?! Versatility, helloooooooo!
Nine West tassel loafer --> Perfect with blue jeans or a chic LBD
My absolute FAVORITE summer shoe (so far), has been this white loafer by Sam Edelman. I've worn it to travel, to BBQs, to daily mass, to run to the grocery store, to dinner and even to the ball park! Now I can keep up with my husband as we travel the world from cathedrals in Rome to Triple A ballparks in Texas.
Here we are last night at the ball park! I've paired these loafers with black dress, a white romper, some floral shorts, and of course jeans. So many options with these!!