French Fashion Flair – Shoe Extra!

Now come on. Was I really going to hop, skip, and saunter from accessories straight into Lesson Five, without a spin through the footwear department?

Or a teeny-tiny (remember, size 36) homage to Christian Louboutin? But must I resort to begging him to adopt me – again? Couldn’t he possibly set me up in a little “pied”-à-terre, somewhere, so my toujours tempting tiny tootsies could serve as muse?

(Yes, the hot little red number below is indeed Louboutin, from his resort collection, courtesy of the online display chez Neiman Marcus.)

My tiff with the Fabulous Louboutin aside, might you kick off your shoes (in case you need to try some on), assume the lounging position, and get ready for some hot resources for cold temperatures – sans cold feet?

And n’oubliez pas (don’t forget) – you must practice your pout. That is the true secret to a French woman’s sexual power (well, that and Lesson Five) – and you certainly need your precocious pucker to pronounce chaussures.

Try it. Please. It’s such a delicious word. Chaussures…

Where were we? Ah oui – the Lesson Plan – with today’s extra!

• Introduction
• Lesson 1 (Find Your Style)
• Lesson 2 (Perfume)
• Lesson 3 (The French scarf)
• Lesson 4 (The Signature accessory)
• Extra! Extra! (Chaussures)
• Lesson 5 (Confidence)

And before we get going? May I remind you that the guru-of-all-things-good-taste-and-French is none other than A Femme d’un certain age, my gal pal Tish?

The Big Little Wolf Chaussures Disclaimers

Yes, we need disclaimers. I live with one (ahem) foot in a French mindset (mixed metaphor?), and the other, in a very East Coast style aesthetic. I also live in the real world – where my fondness for footwear finery meets practicality.

And speaking of practicality, the French women I know would never sacrifice being comfortable for something outlandish and uncomfortable. Jamais, jamais, jamais.

Pourquoi?

The French understand that life is about savoring. A tiny bit of discomfort for beauty and style? Absolument. But exchange a grimace for a smile? Certainly not.

• I’m all for style, smile, and wearing something you can stand up in!
• If you can’t walk in it, don’t wear it – except in bed!
• There are shoes which are objets d’art – and worthy of owning (and worshiping) as such!
• There are style options which fit, feel good and look chic!

Now that I have established my point of reference (and used up my monthly allotment of exclamation points), shall we continue?

A shoe by any other name

Let’s face it – just like the Little Black Dress (also known as the LBD, not to be confused with the LTR, the LDR or even TDS), you can’t go wrong with black stockings or tights, and black shoes. Or for that matter, black tights and shoes of color – if your legs are long enough to pull it off.

What else?

Heels, heels, heels! Stacked heels, chunky clunky heels, jeweled heels, sculpted heels.

And boots, boots, booties, and more boots – lace up boots, military boots, peep-toe boots, fur-trimmed boots.

You will see the classics, of course, with elegance, and wearability (this sleek Badgley Mischka pump is a fine example – and navy is very chic).

And you will be delighted at the incredible details and materials designers are using – fabric, stitchwork, zippers, studs, buckles. And as for those topple-over-and-break-your-ankles platforms that are still tendances (the current trend)? Personally, I say go for a reasonable pair if you wish (reasonable, being the key term), but personally, I find the proportions on some of the styles to be less than flattering, albeit a style statement.

As in all things – go with what you love – not with what the fashion gurus say is a must! (Quel horreur… the exclamation points are back!)

When it comes to spike heels or chunky heels, wedges or six inch platforms – with so many options at the moment, consider your legs, your ability to balance, your lifestyle, and your comfort with the look. And a bite-sized hint from a pint-sized petite? An outrageous platform on a short woman is off, off, off the mark. You want a heel (and style) that lengthens your legs, and an 8″ clunky chunk will do not do.

Platforms – (Get the plaster cast ready…)

For your perusing pleasure, if you wish to be six feet tall (and measure at 5’6″ or under), you may have an option to try it out (plenty to see on all the sites referenced here).

Of course, my preference at (cough, choke, teasing my hair as I type this) 5’0″ is to sit on the shoulders of a handsome man if I wish to have a grander world view, or better yet, to be swept up in his arms and carried off – oui – with my finest 5″ heels on my feet (and yes, that’s as tall as this little woman goes, and even that is for au lit).

Michael Kors Party Pumps offer a selection of not-totally-implausible platforms for the holiday season, as an example. And I must admit, I wouldn’t mind a dip on the dance floor in his black suede Salinas Cutout Pump. Then again, I wouldn’t say non to this seductive Valentino Zebra slingback with its not-too-precarious-platform and its oh-so-alluring cutouts.

Of course there’s the ever extravagant Jimmy Choo (you really must look), my object-of-obsession Christian Louboutin, and almost anything on this glorious page from Neiman Marcus.

If you love the nosebleed heel heights and the structural masterpieces suitable for striking a platform pose, then by all means, try them. Just don’t break your ankle or anything else in the process. Personally, I think the 1940s versions of platforms were a bit more sane, but then – perhaps these constructions are a sign of the times?

And do check out this link at CarolineDaily.com for the fab furry and feathery footwear! Capricious Cavalli, and bold Bruno. Admit it… you’d be tempted…

Reality (dammit)

As much as I adore designer shoes (need I convince you?) – they aren’t in the single mother freelance writer budget. And while my social dance card isn’t calling for Roger Vivier or Marc Jacobs or Le Louboutin these days, can you spell b-a-s-i-c  b-o-o-t-i-e-s ??

Yes, yes, I know – I just said “reality” but can we go with the dammit for a moment? I could certainly envision my petite feet feeling sweet in these double-banded beauties from the Maestro Mister Choo. Bootie, you say? With a side of bootay?

And back on track, booties are everywhere, still – practical and chic. There are options galore, and you can wear them with everything from jeans to skinny pants to skirts and dresses.

The Tahari bootie at the top of the page? Note the reasonable heel height and lovely details. And this Jeanette Bootie even gets an impressive comfort rating when you visit the DSW site.

For holiday time, there are options galore with sumptuous sparkle, and offerings at all price points in everything from booties to evening sandals to peep-toe practicality (ah, the tootsies have wiggle room).

But remember. If temps are tumbling, be careful where you bare those toes!

All glitz and glam aside, comfort and ease are essential – and sexy. Because if you aren’t comfortable physically, it’s hard to be comfortable in your own skin.

And bien dans sa peau – comfortable in your own skin?

That’s part of Lesson Five (next) week. The ease and confidence that comes from your all-important sense of self.

What to wear your goodies with

As for all these boots – booties are versatile, and so are more usual knee-high boots of all styles. They work with everything!

As for cuissardes (thigh highs) or over-the-knee boots, be realistic about your stature and your proportions.

These flannel Louboutins? I wouldn’t even try. But on a woman of medium height or taller, willing and able to show off her legs, they would be dynamite!

So how do you mix and match your footwear finds with your wardrobe essentials, your need to dress up or dress down, along with your signature accessories and real life?

Stylebop is a fun site, and offers a few looks when you check out their chaussures.

Here’s just one example – and quite simple to put together when you consider the individual elements. And do pay attention to the air of insouciance which accompanies this look, achieved by the varying lengths of the blouse and the cardigan, and in particular, by the way the scarf is worn.

Franchement, as for this outfit (click on the image to enlarge it), I believe it is an “almost” great! I don’t care for the leather shorts (yes, those are shorts). I’d go with a fitted black skirt, a few inches above the knee, black tights, a bag with a silver detail (the buckle on the boots is silver) – et voilà – I’d be ready to hit the streets of any city, feeling entirely within my confident comfort zone.

You can bet I would also snatch up these gorgeous Balmain half boots in a heartbeat, if dropping well over a grand on gams were in the cards. (I wonder where I might try them on? Would someone from the House of Balmain care to adopt me?)

My trilogy when it comes to succumbing to my fashion whims and wishes? Quality, comfort, and versatility. Especially if you’re going to splurge.

Resources (to keep you on your tippie toes)

It’s the weekend! Get out there!

Cruise the local shoe department, try things on, pretend you’re a more chic, more audacious, more flirty you.

And if you can’t quite make it out, aren’t we glad to have the Internet at our fingertips? Stop by these spots – and if they’re speaking French, pour a glass of red and click on the images. If they’re speaking English – do the same. And bon appétit!

• DSW.com
• Galeries Lafayette
• Caroline Daily
• Stylebop.com
• Sarenza.com (Luxe)
• Elle.fr (Accessories)
• Marie-Claire (News & Trends)
• Shoe Blog

© D A Wolf

Big Little Wolf’s Daily Plate of Crazy