Summer Wish List - Part One

I can't believe the year is halfway over.  It seems like just yesterday we were ringing in the new year with a glass of bubbly.  But a new year brings a new summer season which means I need new clothes and a few new pairs of shoes.  I'm currently in a style rut and I hate 85% of what's in my closet.  I really need an entire wardrobe overhaul, but I can't afford to completely start over.  There are some salvageable pieces that I can work with, but my wardrobe needs an injection of life!  Today I wanted to go over my summer wish list and the reasons why I chose these pieces.  Some, I have already purchased and some I plan to purchase at a later date.  Some are just plain old wishes because they are no longer available.  But I wanted to take the time to give you some insight into the type of pieces you should consider adding to your wardrobe this summer if you are overwhelmed and have no idea where to start.  I will break this series into three parts.  We'll start with shoes.  So let get started.

Let's start with shoes.  Why shoes, you ask?  Because shoes are really the foundation of your outfit.  A pair of shoes can completely transform the look of an outfit.  Not to mention, you simply own less shoes than you do clothing.  So it becomes important to make sure you are adding styles that are versatile enough to work with a good chunk of your wardrobe.  This leads me to my next point.  We must, (let me repeat) we must stop buying shoes simply because they are cute.  I know, I know.  I do it too, but we have all got to do better.  I have a closet full of shoes that I never wear because they simply don't go with a lot in my closet and some of them are too hard to walk in.  So I always reach for the same shoes.  Do you know how many printed strappy sandals I have in my closet?  I have reached for the majority of them once and some, I have never worn at all.  It's re-damn-diculous.  Now, I'm not saying that a shoe has to be basic.  Pause for gasp.) Never that.  We will never be basic.  It just means that you have to be more selective about what goes into your closet.  It should hit the following boxes:

1) You should really love the shoe and very different what you currently own.

2) The shoe should be fairly comfortable to walk in.  It doesn't have to be Easy Spirit or Naturalizer comfortable, it just has to not hurt your feet. 

3)  It needs to be in a wearable color that can be worked into several "natural" outfits in your wardrobe. When I say, "natural", I mean it shouldn't be necessary to purchase any piece of clothing to work with this shoe.  This also means that you don't have to force an outfit from your current wardrobe that you normally wouldn't wear. You can even reach for a print, if you know you reach for prints often and they work with your current style.  But if you know you barely wear them, leave that shoe in the store.

Now that we've gotten the rules out of the way, go grab a cup of tea, so we can get started.

Zara, Espadrilles, $69.90

https://www.zara.com/us/en/woman/shoes/espadrilles/satin-tied-platform-espadrilles-c819505p4479502.html

Espadrilles are the perfect summer shoe that every woman should have in her closet.  They serve the perfect balance of comfort, style, and seasonality.  Personally, I'm currently not a huge fan of wedges, but I do love platform shoes, which is why I prefer this Zara shoe.  This platform makes this shoe extra special and I particularly love the satin finish on the upper.  The satin gives this an extra feminine finish, which is somewhat of a contrast to the platform style, which tends to come across very harsh.  The balance of the two simply works, which is why I not only recommend this, I actually bought this shoe for the season.  If you are not a fan of the platform, there is flat version of this shoe with a satin upper and a genuine leather version as well.  This shoe hits all of the boxes.  It's great looking shoe, it's very wearable and will go with tons in my wardrobe, and its extremely comfortable.  Got it?  Good.

Zara, Stripe Espadrilles, $49.90

https://www.zara.com/us/en/woman/shoes/espadrilles/striped-tied-wedges-c819505p4335510.html

As, I mentioned earlier, I'm not a huge fan of wedges.  However, I will admit that I sometimes wish I had a pair to reach for when I am wearing certain dresses.  The wedges listed above will solve my problem, but if I were to pick a true "wedge" espadrille, these would be my choice.  The black and white stripes make this shoe extra adorable, along with that extra long ankle tie.  The entire thing just works.  And at $49.90, you really can't beat the price.  These are a shoe you can pair with almost anything, even a floral print.  Yes, you can mix prints, if done right. 

Madewell, Boardwalk Lace-Up, $49.50

https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/SHOESANDBOOTS/sandals/PRDOVR~E9325/E9325.jsp?color_name=desert-camel

This is a shoe, I don't have, but I'm buying very soon.  It's the ultimate "barely there" sandal that you definitely need if you wear a lot of floral maxi dresses.  If you're wearing any length of a summer floral dress, you never want your shoes to overpower the print of the dress.  You want something minimal, sleek, and sexy to pair it with.  This is definitely that shoe.  It comes with a rubber sole, so you'll get a lot of wear out of this shoe.  The shoes are also real leather and they are made in a variety of colors, including metallic gold.  These are the shoes that you pick up in two color ways.  At $49.50 a pair, that's not terribly hard to do.  These shoes will get a lot of wear because they are so easy to wear.

Zara, $49.90

https://www.zara.com/us/en/woman/shoes/heeled-sandals/silver-toned-mules-with-vinyl-straps-c358014p4081403.html

This shoe hits all of the boxes and then some.  First, the shoe is really on trend this season.  The acrylic theme is everywhere this season, as well as the block heel.  So it's literally two trends in one shoe.  Also, its not a high heel, which makes it comfortable, but the style of the shoe gives it the sex appeal needed to feel comfortable enough to wear this on a night out.  I own this shoe and I have worn this shoe numerous times mainly because it can be worn to work and on a night out.  It's really that versatile. 

Zara, $69.90

https://www.zara.com/us/en/woman/shoes/heeled-sandals/high-heel-mules-with-pompoms-c358014p4224001.html

I sigh every time I see this picture. I know that this shoe isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I love it.  It is so freaking fantastic! I'm sad because this shoe is practically sold out.  I waited too long and they are out of just about every size.  I'm really close to searching for this shoe on Ebay, that's how much I love it.  I keep stalking the site, hoping they will restock, which they do from time to time.  But no luck.  I think that ship has sailed.  But let me tell you why I love it.  One, I love the block heel. I am obsessed with block heels this season, because they are simply easier to wear and they look so chic.  This upper on the shoe is a tad bit much, but its one solid color, so you can make this work with the simplest of outfits.  A simple oversized white tee and jeans would be the perfect outfit. You'll look well put together without even trying too hard.  Plus, those shoes are a conversation starter.  It's a win-win.

Ego, Leona Mules, $32.99

http://www.egoshoes.com/leona-faux-fur-lined-flat-mule-in-black-faux-leather.html

Yo........yo.......yo.  I'm sure you've seen the Gucci Princeton slide all over the internet.  Mules in general have made a significant comeback thanks to Gucci's resurgence as a fashion powerhouse the past couple years.   They can really do no wrong.  The fur lined slide led the pack in popularity this past spring.  Even if you were wiling to shell out the thousand bucks to buy the Gucci shoe, it's nearly impossible to find.  So why would you?  This shoe is so similar to the Gucci version, that I can't even deal.  I wouldn't recommend rocking these in 100 degree heat, but I suggest you scoop these before they are long gone to rock in the fall.

Ego, $32.50

http://www.egoshoes.com/cheska-floral-embroidered-flat-mule-in-black-faux-leather.html

The fur lines shoes may not be your in your wheelhouse, but these basic floral print mules may do the trick.  Again, Gucci inspired mules are everywhere and everything this season and I expect this to continue through the rest of the year and even going into 2018.  I have a gold pair that I wear to death that I bought from H&M.  They're also a good alternative to open toe shoes when you are in between pedicures and your toes aren't looking their very best.  Sometimes it's just too hot to cover your entire foot.  I'm officially adding the tan version to my wish list because sometimes you need an alternative other than black.  See below.

Ego, $32.50

Sam Edelman, Gem Gladiator, $109.95 (Sale $74.95 at the time I wrote this)

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sam-edelman-gem-gladiator-sandal-women/4544257?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=SILVER%20LEATHER

The pom poms and tassels make this shoe extra special and sets it apart from other gladiator styles, which is why it is on my wish list.  There is indeed a lot going on, but the neutral colors make this shoe easy to pair with items currently in your closet.  Pair this with any solid colored dress in your closet and it instantly transforms your look.  Sam Edelman shoes are on the pricey side, but definitely worth it.  I bought a gold pair about 4 years ago and they are still going strong.  So the shoes are definitely worth the money. 

That wraps up part one of my Summer Wish list.  I hope that you found this information helpful.  Also, let me know in the comments section what's on your wish list.  Stay tuned for part two on "Summer Tops" coming later this week!

SSJ