Shoe lust

I had my blood taken today, so instead of spending the whole day napping or perking myself up artificially with caffeine, I decided to compile my 2012 shoe lust list (for that natural high).

1. Bonanno's Palm Beach sandals

Top of my list is a pair (and for the record, when I say a pair, I mean a pair in every color, but I will limit myself here to showcasing just one or two each) of Bonanno sandals. 
Now I won't go into the whole history of how Bonanno's are the real Jackie O sandals, about how Jack Rogers is a shameless imitator, nor the fact that Stephen Bonanno is the rightful son and heir to the Bonanno empire, yet divorcing Monica Bonanno left the leather dyes, stamps and even the Palm Beach factory in her hands (how the *** did her divorce lawyer manage that?). No I won't go into that. What I will do is a quick heads up for anyone who is still buying JR's or contemplating them instead of Bonanno's:

• Bonanno's use ONLY leather throughout, JR's use part man-made materials
• Bonanno's use rich dyes to color their leather, JR's "paint" the leather, so the color flakes off eventually
• Bonanno's are all handmade in their (new) Stuart, FL location, JR's are made...where exactly?
• Bonanno's are the only sandals Lady Lilly Pulitzer wears, as did Jackie O. JR's are NOT.
• Bonanno's will completely resole your sandals for you, JR's will not
• Bonanno's leather softens and molds to your foot with age, JR's will crackle, crumble and eventually tear

If you are still considering buying JR's, I am sorry. You are beyond reason.

Stephen Bonanno Palm Beach sandals in gold/gold

My order of priority for Bonanno's is gold/gold, silver/silver, white/gold, red/gold, light pink/white aaand then every other color.

2. Belgian Shoes

Second lust item on the 2012 shoe list are Belgian shoes, natch. I am still debating between Midinette Lizard and Midinette all calf, plus I have heard conflicting reports on sizing.... any insights from readers?

I really want a navy version, since I have waaaaaaay too many brown loafers and I wear a lot of navy jeans... Black with color trim would be my second choice, as I think these would be great for going on a trip where you want comfort and style and don't want to pack more than a couple of pairs of shoes.

3. Ferragamo Varina

Third on my lie awake at night trying to justify buying shoe shopping list is a pair of Ferragamo Varinas. I am super attracted to the color versions, but as an investment shoe, I don't know if I'd dare veer off the black path. Then again, these are a bit more special, so I guess I wouldn't be slumming in them during the day. Then again, my aunt swears by these flats, she's worn her pairs since the 80s and literally just gets the soles replaced, so she doesn't have to break in a new pair!

Drool. Ferragamo Varina's. Essential - no?

I'd probably start with the black calf (not patent) with black bow, cross over to a cream with black bow and then head into candy land with a pair of bright orange, green and pink to round out my Varina family.

4. Tory Burch Reva ballerinas

The next selection is probably a bit chewed out by the prep-set by now, but I do still covet a pair of Tory Burch Reva's. Again I'd love to hear your opinion about their fit, because I'd be ordering online, untried!

Tory Burch Reva's in black calf with gold

Tory Burch Reva in tumbled leather

Again I'd start off with the black with gold medallion to have my Reva base covered, then I'd definitely get a red pair, since I live in both navy and black striped nautical shirts during spring and most of summer.  I love the above pair but wish it had a gold medallion instead.

5. Tod's Gommini mocassin

These driving mocs have been on my shoe lust list for about a decade now. They are the softest, most comfortable slipper shoe you can wear out in public EVER. They are beautifully made, supple, understated and an absolute classic in my book. It is the idea office, travel and driving shoe. As far as I am concerned, these are pure luxury. Naturally I want. every. single. pair.

6. Gucci Horsebit/logo ballet flats & heels

Gucci Mayfair ballet flats

Unfortunately it appears that Gucci no longer makes my dream pair. It was the black logo ballet flat with the green/red webbing across the toe box, topped by a horsebit. They also did a matching block heel with identical logo/webbing/horsebit details that were awesome too. Looks like I'd be hunting down vintage ones... urgh. Is it just me or is wearing someone else's used shoes gross?

So there you have it! My shoe lust list that will bankrupt me for years to come ;-) Fortunately my taste and style preferences are enduring, so I shouldn't feel guilty for buying multiple pairs of $500 loafers, right? Ha!
Have a good week, guys!

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to be more creative, as opposed to merely stockpiling arts and crafts supplies. Since we're already close to Q2 2012, it was high time I put my paint brushes where my mouth was and get crafting.
Inspired by a Lilly Pulitzer instore mural I started by painting this little floral number:

Lilly Pulitzer-esque tropical flowers

I was considering writing Ladies in a Lilly-style font across the middle and using it as a bathroom sign... any opinions about this? Next I went back to my nautical roots and painted a fairly simple coral painting, based on a Lilly Pulitzer fabric (might be bedding?) that oddly took a whoooole lot longer than I thought it would!

This coral one was going to get emblazoned with a Gents in LP type writing...
(Perhaps I ought to explain this obsession with bathroom paintings: At our current abode, the master bathroom - for females - is immediately adjacent to a guest bathroom - for men - which always causes confusion when guests see the identical white doors one next to the other.... so I need some sort of directional signs).
Anyway, once I had completed the first two, I got a bit braver and grabbed a larger canvas to paint this Lilly Pulitzer jungle book style painting... I would imagine if I had kids this would be perfect for a nursery. I will likely gift it to a dear friend who is having baby number 3 and who has already received the standard baby blankets, rattles and diaper wreaths in multiples. As the baby's sex will be a surprise, pink, green and yellow is gender-neutral enough, wouldn't you say?

Lilly Pulitzer inspired nursery painting

Please excuse the Dixie plate used as palette and packing paper used as furniture protector, the border wasn't dry yet!
Please also excuse my complete lack of knowledge of LP print names and therefore inability to credit my source adequately! Finally apologies for my big gaps in blog postings, hopefully your week wasn't as hectic as mine :-)

Food for Thought

Yesterday we took our ill-advised monthly trip to Belgium, to pick up some urgent supplies. By urgent, I mean my chocolate stash was teetering on the brink of depletion. Fortunately DEC's cellar of exotic brews was equally dwindling, so we decided to brave the snowfall and drizzle to undertake the six hour round trip. Little did we know that our GPS had decided to no longer take us direct routes, preferring instead to route us the... shall we say...creative...way through rural backroads. When it's pouring down with sleet and there is no street lighting nor other cars to illuminate your path, there's no better route than through the mountains doing hairpin turns. Fun times.

I could barely constrain myself from kissing the ground when we finally made it home long after nightfall. I'm not sure how much longer I could have put up with the Chimay cheese fragrance emanating from the trunk. I could have sworn someone snuck a Limburger into our grocery bag.
At least I am now able to enjoy a couple of my favorite items once again:

1. Pere Joseph & pears

Pere Joseph (I realize it's missing it's accent, thank you) and pears make for a delicious food pairing. Pere Joseph is an "abbey" cheese, purported to have been developed by monks. Mmmmh oh heavenly creaminess. The grainy sugary texture of pears offsets the richness of the cheese nicely. Sprinkle on a bit of Paprika powder and you've got perfection. Williams pears of course go well with most cheeses, but my favorites are Pere Joseph and Caprice des Dieux, the latter being a French Brie.

2. Lavazza & Cote d'Or

As a tea (with milk!) drinker, my knowledge of the finer points of coffee is limited.
I became a convert to Lavazza (and, to a lesser extent, Illy) when I discovered it didn't need sugar or milk to brew a very enjoyable strong espresso.
But no coffee is complete without my favorite flavor-enhancer: Belgian chocolate. Who needs sugar when you have chocolate? I'm particularly fond of Cote d'Or (again, I'm aware of the missing accent) dark chocolate. Cote d'Or "fondant"-"puur" has a minimum of 48% chocolate content. If you prefer even darker chocolate there is Cote d'Or Noir de Noir (blackest of black), which has at least 54%. Any more than that and I think it becomes too bitter, crumbly and better used for baking than eating straight from the pack.

But enough about food! The third thing on my mind this Sunday is Summer! After the horrendous weather we had yesterday and the biting cold we've had to endure without the benefit of beautiful snow or skiing opportunity, I think I am ready for the sun. How soon is too soon to start showing off my new Lilly Pulitzer duds? I'm thinking about phasing in a Murfee soon, just to defy the dreary uniform of Barbour and wellies.

Lilly Pulitzer Reveal Part II.

I was barely coming down from my LP induced high, when RueLaLa decided to deliver the final K.O. to my bank account a day or two later...

Lilly Pulitzer Sea and Be Seen tote

This actually matches a cardigan I forgot to mention from the LP sale... I plan on wearing both with skinny white pants and silver sandals, proudly waving the matchy-matchy flag!

I managed to snag a pink polo shirt and Roslyn skirt before all the best stuff was sold out in my size. Not that I should be thinking about adding to this collection... but should there be another sale... you know... in a decade far far in the future.... I shall be focussing on PJs, bags, shoes and cashmere. I think I've got the dresses covered for now :-)

What did you get at the sales?

Lilly Pulitzer Reveal Part I.

The final stragglers of my Lilly Pulitzer shopping extravaganza during the New Year sale have finally all arrived. I admit, I went a biiiiiit craaaaazy. Well ok, a lot crazy.
I wasn't prepared for all the nice stuff that would be on offer! Rookie mistake.
My funds were already depleted from the Christmas gift giving palooza. But when there are such important matters at stake, there is a determination (read: greed) that rallies from deep within, separates the lint from the dimes in your pockets and hits "purchase". Because if you don't, you regret it... in June.

I went in with a plan: Check out everything first, add to cart, review cart, then check out. Yeah... errr... force majeur ruled against that plan.

Lilly Pulitzer Delia dress

Up first: The Dalia dress. This baby was coming home to Mama! I have a few LP shift dresses that are slightly too big for me (ok, future maternity wear kinda big), so I ordered the Delia shift in a size smaller than my regular size and it fits perfectly.

I love this pattern so I didn't get much further down the page before I had another item to check out...

Lilly Pulitzer Evie dress

...and then again... (I bought it in blue)

Lilly Pulitzer Jacqueline dress

...and again...
...and again

Lilly Pulitzer Bowen dress

I realized my shopping frenzy was a bit one-sided, so I rounded out my loot with a Paley cardigan in pink, an Opening Ceremony clutch in pink and...a tie for hubs. That's right, I thought of others. *Hoping this earns me some brownie points with hubby for part II of the LP shopping reveal....*