Yellow Suede

In May, I bought a pair of sandals on a whim. It was the first nice day in what seemed like 3 years. I was taking a vacation day. The sandals were blue and architectural. And sexy. But it was not meant to be.

Everytime I tried them on (with the objective to wear them that day), I noted signs of the discomfort I was sure to feel within 10 minutes of walking. The shoes looked great - but they were slightly pinch-y in the (peep-hole) toe-box. The inside sole was a mildly textured, which was annoying. The sandals zipped up the back and I sensed the back closure was going to give, or not, and I wasn't willing to take the chance.

The thing is, 99.99% of the time, I'm excellent at returning things as soon as I've decided an item is not for me. But, between jury duty and work being crazy and near constant rain and headaches... well, I didn't get around to it.

Five weeks went by. To its credit, the boutique gave me the opportunity to exchange the shoes for another pair of the same price or higher. (I'd missed the return and credit milestones by quite a bit.) I tried on every pair of sandals in the store. I knew my window of redemption had all but closed and I wasn't prepared to be saddled with a pair of uncomfortable sandals I'd rarely wear.

In an irony, the day I came in for the exchange, every shoe in the place was on sale for 25% off. Now the blue sandals hadn't been cheap. To find another pair of the same value at 25% off was impossible.

Balisi, the shop, did let me use the extra towards a surprisingly practical travel bag:

Co Lab Gillian Crossover

(Just to switch gears for 3 seconds, this bag is made of indestructible PVC but it looks entirely like leather. It is the perfect size and shape for wandering around on vacation. My other travel bag, by M0851, is great but too small for my huge sunglasses case (which I cannot be without in this era of light sensitivity).  This bag has numerous little compartments making it optimal for travel. The price is also right. I can't say I love fake leather, but sometimes it has its place - like when one has to store things on the floor in the train or trudge through an absurd, shorts-soaking rain deluge (ugh) while walking up the mountain in Mtl. Sometimes, it's really nice not to have to care about the state of one's bag.)

Anyway, back to the sandals. There were few pairs remaining for me to try in my size, what with everything having gone on sale for 25% off.

I finally decided on these (the only pair I could get with stylistically that was also comfortable - and, let me tell you, comfortable they are!):

Zinda 8544 Ante Mango

They're still on sale at Balisi (where I bought them and which also has an online shop).

The soles are leather (they're made in Spain using that insanely soft suede and leather that feels like clouds). Of course, suede sandals are the epitome of stupid - especially in Toronto, since the weather's gone all UK on our asses these past few years - but really, they were the only choice short of forfeiting 200 bucks.

I can't say that yellow and brown shoes are my go-to colour scheme, but these are a) SO comfortable, b) so neutral, when you get right down to it and c) of the perfect height to be sexy without being trashy (or uncomfortable). They fit my foot perfectly - which makes any shoe look that much more attractive.

This is one of those purchases I would never have made, had circumstances not dictated, but I'm actually really happy with the outcome. Admittedly, the shoe is not dainty. (It's not as clumsy as it looks in the photo, however.) It's only wearable in certain weather. But it's walkable for miles and it gives one very nice calves. It looks great with jeans (skinny or trouser) and equally good with a denim skirt or shorts. The yellow may stand out (if you wear white) or recede into the background. The shape is retro, which is to say it actually looks like a shoe from the 70s, not like some reproduction designed to appeal to women who completely missed that decade. And, did I mention that they're comfortable?

So, today's questions: Have you ever had a purchase moment like this, wherein a particular item would not have been your first choice but it grows on you despite that? Have you tried Zinda shoes and can you tell us anything about the brand? Would you ever wear yellow shoes? Let's talk.

Something I've Been Doing

What do you do when you don't have energy to blog, sew or knit? Well (duh), if you're me, you shop.

Can't say that's excellent for the cost saving, but I've bought so little in the last year, I'm indulging that druggy comfortable feeling that comes with the activity.

Thing is, I can't show you internet photos of my gorgeous new McCardell-esque, navy sleeveless shirt dress - fitted in the waist, button-down, circle-skirted in a kind of mystery fabric (cotton and elastane) that works like mega-crisp, sticky-outy lawn, cuz the people who run the substandard Club Monaco website post about 20 items a season (nothing on Google Images either...). And there's just no way I'm motivated to stage a photo till this weekend at the earliest.

Then there are my fantastic new shoes by Sweet de Pindiere, which I also can't show you because that site sucks too. Not to mention that it took me a full hour even to locate the site in the first place, never mind finding a shot of my new, conical-low-heeled taupe sandles with mother of pearl disks covering the centre strap. They are very rich, and perfect with the dress.

Furthermore, I purchased a belt at Cole Haan that looks more like this than any of the others I could find on that site:

...only mine's black. Kinda misleading and boring (esp. as you can't even see the real thing - thanks, website) but my other black leather skinny lady belt was literally falling apart after 12 years.

I realize I could take all the shots with my nice camera all by myself. But is it so wrong to feel ripped off that the web isn't supporting me in my marketing efforts?

The belt was on sale for $40.00 (from $79.00). Given that belts seem to last 12 years, this is a pretty good cost per wear scenario, not to mention that the Bloor Street (Canadian) flagship is a very elegant store - as much a lady-shopping experience as anything else.

The shoes, bought in the 'hood at Balisi after Friday night dinner, were 20% off and came in under $125.00.

Where I (vaguely) went off the rails - at least by my own "make it yourself or, for God's sake, buy it on mega-sale" standard - was on the dress purchase. I bought that puppy for full price - $200.00 - which is somewhat out of my high-street comfort zone (esp. since, were I to wait 6 weeks, it's very possible that the price will drop). However, in 6 weeks, it won't have much wear-time left before the fall - and it's such a great piece (truly well-tailored) that I'm pretty sure - and I rarely make such predictions - it isn't going to make it to the sale rack.

Does it really matter that I need another summer dress like a hole in the head?