BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

TAKING [BIRKEN]STOCK

August 18, 2014 by jessica 1 Comment

I figured my sartorial standards took a nosedive the moment I started considering Birkenstocks as an alternative to what used to be my most comfortable sandals. After walking for miles throughout Brussels, my feet were tired, sore and swollen. We passed a surprising number of orthopedic stores on our daily outings and Birkenstocks shone in the windows like footwear’s version of an oasis.

My desire to own a pair was quickly quieted by a fear that I’d come off as a Woodstock refugee, but everywhere I looked, the most stylish women were wearing Birkenstocks. It wasn’t the double-strapped Arizona, mind you. It was its chic, feminine alternative: the Madrid.

Think of these as the upscale (ha!) version of the Adidas shower slide. (Which, by the way, J.Crew is now carrying. A sure sign the trend has gone far enough.) It’s a single-strap slide that looks surprisingly good with dresses, draped shorts, cropped pants and cuffed boyfriend jeans. Really, the more feminine or sophisticated an outfit is, the better the Madrid looks.

I continued obsessing over them while we were in Belgium, admiring the women’s footwear choice with the voracity of a fetishist. It wasn’t until I woke up early and perused Birkenstock outfits on Pinterest that I knew I was going down a dangerous path. I mean, really, can anyone can deny how chic the sandals look here and here? No.

Maybe I’m yearning for our days back in Brussels or maybe I’m embracing the normcore trend more heartily than I’d ever care to admit. Either way, I caved. I ordered a pair of black Madrids with the tonal buckle, in the name of fashun, of course.

And you know what? I freaking love them. Let’s just hope I’m not one step away from a road paved in marled camp socks and patchouli.

Styling Tips:

A fresh pedicure and well-moisturized heels are a must.
It looks best with tailored clothes. I had envisioned wearing them with breezy dresses, but it looked frumpy on my body type. Maybe it’s better on skinny gals? In any case, I like how they look with slim ankle-length pants, shorts and rompers—all in classic silhouettes and basic colors.

Fit Tips:

Go a little smaller than you think you should. Even though I wear a size 7, I still went with a size 37. According to their size chart, that’s technically the correct size for those who wear a 6 or 6.5.
I get the impression that narrow is suited for widths A and B and regular is for C and D. The black Madrids were only available in a 37 narrow on Zappos and I’m glad I took the risk because they fit my regular width foot perfectly. I would have hated a wider pair.

BAUBLE OF THE WEEK

August 17, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

You may have noticed me babbling about Julie Vos’ online sample sale yesterday on social media. It’s such a good opportunity to score a beautiful piece of gemstone jewelry (like the earrings above) for a song with plenty of time to wear it before summer transitions to fall. A couple of my favorite Julie Vos pieces are included in the sale: a three-tiered pair of crystal and sapphire blue earrings, an eye-catching chalcedony ring, and the unique gemstone ring I just added to my collection. Shop a few of my other favorites below, all coming in at under $100:

THE THINGS WE DO FOR BLOGGING

August 15, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

Last night, I was trying to get the perfect photo for Instagram to show that my new Ferragamos match the painting I created for our bedroom when I heard a laugh behind me. Dave was poised with his phone taking photos of me taking photos of my shoes. I scoffed, “ain’t no shame” and when about my business. Until he threatened to share it via Shapchat with one of our friends. I pleaded with him to keep it private and send it only to me. I promptly made it public on Instagram. I look ridiculous, but this is what blogging is, folks, and I suspect we’ve all had an awkward photo moment once or twice.

Here’s to a weekend filled with awkward poses and situations to get the perfect shot for your blogs next week! Around here, the week will bring some of our trip photos (finally), an interview with the woman behind Kira Kira and a giveaway, my thoughts on Birkenstocks and a French Wardrobe update.

P.S. You should check out Margaret Elizabeth’s weekend sample sale for incredible deals on gemstone jewelry. I bought these in black onyx and moonstone. Sign up for the mailing list for another 15% off. Shipping is just $5.

CURRENTLY COVETING

August 14, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX | SEVEN

For me, this summer was all about loose, comfortable pieces. I’m anxious for a return to ladylike silhouettes this fall, starting with this dark floral skirt. It’s at the top of my fall shopping list. What’s topping your must-have list?

I actually own the DVF clutch above and it’s one of my closet staples. It’s sophisticated and versatile, but there are other colors available if you’re not on the market for a black clutch.

Have you had a chance to shop the Tory Burch private sale? There’s not a lot left, but there are still great pieces in the regular sale section on the site. I love this pretty blue dress and this ’60s-inspired swingy top.

SALE AWAY

August 13, 2014 by jessica Leave a Comment

One of the biggest perks to living in Madison is visiting Bop, Shopbop’s original—and only—brick and mortar store, during Maxwell Street Days. The sales include online returns that have been worn, are in need of repair or items the retailer decided not to stock. This year, I bought a pair of turquoise Ferragamo Varina flats for $200 (see them here). The bottoms were scuffed and there’s a small smudge on the bow, but everything else is in great condition. (And if we’re being honest, the small imperfections make me less nervous to wear them.) I also found this dress for $20, which I suspect is because of the tiniest, almost imperceptible black pen spot on one of the white stripes. It was an easy piece to wear on one of the warmest days in Brussels.

I do prefer the dress with a pair of black heels (not happening on cobblestones) or pointed flats, but my feet were so swollen on this trip that I could only wear these sandals. Every. Single. Day. (It’s really a shame the other shoes I brought didn’t make an appearance. It was a lot of wasted suitcase space that could have been used to bring back more Delftware…)