tres comf.

Boston winters mean you are forced to sport a lot of heinous footwear. Uggs, Pumas you convince yourself are cute and “sporty” even though they never look exactly right with your jeans, and the odd suede loafer you pick up at an Ann Taylor Loft sale and hate yourself when you wear.

Boston summers, on the other hand, are for tripping down Newbury, clutching an iced coffee and sporting flip-flops, Jack Rogers and cute strappy sandals like these.

But, before that delightful time commeth, there is the dreaded transition season.

Fear not. For there is French Sole. These ballet flats will have you skipping, twirling and pirouetting all over the Hub in comfort and Grace Kellyesque elegance (rumor has it she wore these shoes herself).

Our friend K in NYC turned us on to this amazing brand, and we will never look back. Our favorite styles are the Passport (shown above in black) and the Pax.  These flats come up higher across the toes. This means less toe-cleave (we don’t miss it) and much less rubbing/pain around the big toe knuckle (we really don’t miss it). So toss aside your Tory Burch torture devices and slip into a pair of these beauties.

* Notes:

• if the website does  not have your size, check Saks, Zappos.com and Jildorshoes.com. You can also call the store in NYC (212) 737-2859).
• make sure to check for the FSNY stamp inside the shoe, there are evil imposter brands out there.

 

Leather Trade

I need these.

So as HSR readers know I was in Colorado this weekend. Instantly upon arriving in this state a New Englander like myself becomes enraged with jealousy. Now, I love my Red Sox baseball hat and ballet flats (see Harlows Patently Nessacary post) , I would not trade these for the world, but being in Colorado makes my inner Cowgirl desperately wish she could Cowboy suit up 365 days a year. What made me the most jealous was not necessarily the true rough rides around but the clear out of towners who had done an amazing job of making the key purchases to play the part. How awesome would it be to wear these kickin’ boots instead of traditional NE winter wears like Pumas, Merrills and horrible Uggs.

So, let me tell you a story. My friend “T” arrives at the airport with the most perfect pair of cowboy boots. We are talking, perfect toe, good click of the heel and the perfect amount of leather detail. Where. Did. You. Get. Those. Are the only words my brain can fire out. Luckily, this is the best part of the story, T made her perfect boot purchase in Manhattan and ON SALE. Searle, a NYC boutique, had these amazing hand crafted wonders on sale for $69.99. I could not believe it, especially after an apres ski trip through Vail Village confirmed that these exact boots were being sold at “Bust Out Retail” for around $600.00.

So immediately upon returning to the condo and stripping off ski boots and layers I ran to my laptop to check out the Searle website. T was in fact correct, her perfect boot was found with a simple click on the SALE link. Intriguingly the same boots were now $99.99?!
Alright, totally still affordable and amazing. So today at work, I look at the same link. The boots have been bumped again to $129.99. Excuse me. Is this Ebay!! When were stores allowed to put something on sale and then bump the sale price UP? I understand we are not talking about Banana Republic who puts their $125.00 slacks on sale and then quickly lowers the price to $19.99. But seriously!! Who does that, raises the price after teasing with an amazing sale?!

I know what you are saying….Just buy them already!!! But here is the catch. They do not have my size and I am very doubtful that a size 10 just won’t fit my foot long, size 11 foot.

So the only logical answer is…..spend my entire lunch hour calling every Searle in NYC demanding a stock check on size 11.