Summer Shoedrobe

Yesterday, June 21, 2010 marked the first day of summer 2010. You probably already have your summer shoedrobe, but you're probably thinking of a couple more you can add. I had a few pair in rotation for spring that will essentially be the same for summer: open toe canvas ankle boots, platform pumps, stilettos, a couple of pairs of flat sandals, black wedges (that I wear nearly everyday: loves them), nude ballet flats (I hardly wear) and caged platform sandals. That's roughly about 8 pairs of shoes. This economy is gross and we really need to be getting the most bang for our buck. I'm very practical when it comes to shoes. I have to be in love with them and they have to fit into my current wardrobe or I have to love them enough to refocus my wardrobe.  I might get two pairs of trendy shoes for spring/summer and then for fall/winter. It's usually a dressy pair and a casual pair. When I get bored, I sell them to consignment shops. I can sell two or three and buy a new pair.

I try to keep only 10-15 pair of shoes maximum in my shoedrobe. I'm not big on having a shoe closet or hoarding shoes. My mom is like that and I literally grew up in a designer shoe boutique in the French Quarter (New Orleans). She didn't own it, but my mom shopped there so much! We were there every weekend like clockwork. I worked there through high school and college. My mom loved Stuart Weitzman shoes. We became very close to the store manager — she was like an extra aunt. That was fun and I guess that's where I developed a love for shoes.

I love shoes, but I love them responsibly meaning I don't walk (long distances) in any that will murder my feet (or I just walk super slow), I don't spend a ton of money on them and really think before I buy (regardless of whether they are $20 or $200). I started a blog for them, but I really just wanted to integrate it into Mane & Chic. Most of my readers seem to love it anyway. In school I studied fashion photography and art direction, loved shoes so much that I focused most of my major school projects around shoes. I know that fashion can be trivial and shallow, but to me shoes are like architecture on your feet. You can learn so much about a person from their shoes. I am a bit of a shoe snob, but not for the reasons you may think. I'm more into construction and inventiveness, I couldn't care less about the designer or price tag though oftentimes it is the premier designers that offer the most inventive shoes with the best construction.

Lately, I've become obsessed with wedges. I used to hate them. What's cool about wedges is that you get all the benefits of heels without most of the hurt and I'm all about comfort now. That being said, I am looking to invest in a couple of additions to my shoedrobe: lace up wedge or platform ankle boots (in gray or caramel), pump wedges (in a bright color like yellow), thick strappy wedges or platforms (in caramel), leopard ballet flats, and a pair of platform pumps (in a skin tone neutral like beige, brown, caramel, light gray). I will not get all of these right away, but I know a few of these will transition into fall and even well into winter.

What's on your summer 2010 shoedrobe wishlist? Please share in the comments.