New Winter Wares: Native Jimmy Boots

Well, my beloved Tretorn boots finally crapped out, so I've been on the hunt for some new winter weatherproof/waterproof kicks that look cool for NYC (not so much Aspen) and are under $100.  I thought of splurging on some Hunter boots, but decided they make me want to garden or go to a soggy music festival in the UK....not crunch around in the snow.  My fantastic in-the-know friend Shani Silver was sporting a pair of Native Jimmy boots last winter when I visited her in Chicago, so I texted to see if she still loved them (yes), have they held up (yes), and how they fit size-wise (a little big, but perfect for thick socks).  They have a lot of amazing color choices, and they are light as a feather which is abnormal for snow boots.  Fantastic.  Purchase complete. 

Check 'em out!

Image courtesy of NativeShoes.com

Ditch the Flips

Ah, the quest for the perfect summer shoe.  Flip flops may be great for the beach, but after a day of prancing around a city that has all but turned rancid from the heat, check out the bottom of your feet.  Or don't.  It's quite disgusting.  I'm totally digging my Soludo espadrille flats I picked up at Oak a few months ago for $28.  Yep, $28.  Sure, I know in Spain these puppies are like 5 bucks, but unless you are planning a trip anytime soon and I can convince you to bring me back a few, this is what I have to work with.

Click here to check out the flat espadrille round up on New York Magazine's website

Here's a few places you can pick up a pair in person and online:

Soludos

Oak

Opening Ceremony

PS - I've been wearing them to death, and they still look great (the stripes do a great job of hiding anything that's come across them).

Breaking News--Sea of Shoes Blogger Tired of Buying Shoes!

You know the buy-buy-buy mindset of Americans has been put on indefinite hold when Jane and Judy Aldridge, the mom and daughter duo behind the jaw-dropping conspicuous consumption blog Sea of Shoes, have changed their tune to one of quasi-frugality.  Needless to say, I can't imagine Jane setting foot into a Payless or Baker's anytime soon.  Best of luck to them both!     

 

Judy & Jane Aldridge from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

www.SeaOfShoes.com

Easy on the Wallet Wellies

Once I returned to the frozen tundra of New York city after the Holidays, I realized I was in desperate need of a new pair of winter boots. This meaning warm, waterproof, quasi-stylish, not a boot that hits the knee as it is fairly impossible to stick your pant legs inside it, and one that may work double duty as rain boots in warmer months. I once had a pair of Marc Jacobs wellies that made my heels bleed, so I was hesitant in going that route again. Lesson learned: stick to the rubber boot experts. There is a reason the Marc ones are so cheap: they are incredibly heavy, hard to walk in, and they draw blood.

I had always walked past the Tretorn store on Spring Street and after checking out their website I had to stop in a try them on for myself. I am in love. Forget Hunter wellies that will run you over $100 + $30 for the fleece socks. I bought a pair of Tretorns on the spot for $45 on sale. I went with the black Skerry's with the brown leather pull-tab, and I love that they are mid-height. They also have micro-fleece lining which has been super warm with my thick winter socks. And, as an added bonus, it looks like everything on their website it currently on sale. I will definitely be back when the weather warms up to check out all their canvas sneakers, which are a stylized breath of fresh air to their Converse All-Star contemporaries.

PS - I love the Skymra Mid Puffer for guys

Shop Tretorn Online

GQ's 15 Dress for Less Rules

While I love watching the videos on GQ's website (well-dressed, handsome men are always a sight for sore eyes), and for their 15-day Dress Better for Less countdown you must watch 15 videos at 2-3 minutes a pop. So, 30 minutes later you may feel like you are best friends with the two hosts, but you have lost out on a half an hour of your life. I have taken the grunt work out for you, gentleman, and have put myself through a grueling session of 15 back-to-back webisodes to bring you GQ's quick and dirty 15 tip to dress better for less. Just in time for the holidays....your family won't know where this stylish young man came from and where he hid his former frat boy.

1. Give a dark suit more mileage (and a more casual, updated look) by mixing in a printed button down shirt. GQ loves the plaid. Just make sure there are collar stays so it doesn't look sloppy. Pair with an un-busy tie in dark colors. This could be an amazing Holiday look too.

2. The camel coat is a versatile, practical, and sophisticated topper on cold days. Wear over a suit or on the weekend with jeans.

3. Add striped socks --- Ah, the Brits will love this one. Don't get crazy with awful Santa socks or four-leaf clovers. Stripes in subdued colors. Simple. Whatever you do, though, ditch the athletic socks.

4. Incorporate a pocket square into your suit life. Love this look. There are two ways you can go: 1) If you are a pocket square virgin stick with with white and straight across so you see a sliver of white. So Don Draper. Yum. 2) For you more adventurous types, and for a more casual vibe, look for vintage squares in patterns at thirft shops or even places like J. Crew. Just make sure you fold with a straight edge at the top so it doesn't look like a handkerchief.

5. Tweed Jacket - The perfect in-between from the sweater to the top coat on moderate fall days. GQ recommends Uniqlo for the tailored, slim cut....an unbeatable price.

6. The down vest can go so wrong so easily. Too puffy and you look like you belong in a rap video, too bright and you may as well be on mountain patrol or picking up trash on the side of the highway. GQ loves the vests at Lands End for three reasons: They are not bulky, they come in sophisticated colors (like gray), and it is under $30. Love this.

7. Sneakers + Suit - Leave your Dunks at home. When rocking the sneakers and suit be sure to go with classic sneaks in neutral colors. Also, if you have been tromping around the city in your shoes forget it. Clean and new-looking please. Adidas Originals styles work really well.

8. Great suit for under $500? Yep, find it at Banana Republic.

9. Getting a little chilly now that it is the end of November? Add a scarf to your sweater, blazer, or top coat. Cashmere is uber expensive, so go with a ribbed wool scarf in a neutral color. They usually have nice options Gap or Marc Jacobs. Guys, if you don't know what ribbed means you haven't been getting laid enough.

10. Incorporate a merino v-neck sweater to your suits. Is it is as cold in your office as it is outside? At one job I actually kept a blanket under my desk so I understand. Merino is a warm, thin, well-priced alternative to cashmere. The v-neck is perfect for wearing a tie. Go with neutral colors that won't clash with your suit (camel, gray, navy) and be sure to get slim fit so it isn't blousy.

11. Dark, straight-leg denim - Forget all this destroyed, whiskered crap. It looks so 5 years ago and is a telltale sign that you are from either Long Island or New Jersey. The Gap has great jeans from its 1969 collection that look so Marlon Brando or Johnny Depp. Wear with boots and roll them up a bit. And, unless you are gay or a hipster don't do super skinny.

12. Wingtips are the shoe of the fall, and they are classic so you can enjoy them for years to come. Don't spend an arm and a leg: Head to J. Crew, Florsheim, or Johnson & Murphy and go with brown.

13. Striped oxfords from Club Monaco - Nice slim fit, and a great mix-up to solids.

14. Skinny tie - www.TheTieBar.com.

15. Plain, black rolling suitcase - Do not keep using that awful duffel bag. GQ and Shitty Chic recommend the one from Muji. I bought this after seeing it on the video, and I love it. Great pockets, great price, and plain black with no logos. I am a convert to the four wheel roller. Love it.

OR, if you would like to watch the vids click here.

Instead of Champagne and Beer, it's Chanel and J. Crew

Remove the stripe, gingham, and overly layered mess that has become J.Crew's signature style, and they have quite a few pieces that scream Chanel to me. Maybe it's because they incorporate black and cream, or maybe I can just picture Uncle Karl digging into the Chanel archives to pull these ready to wear looks for modernization. Put this together with matchstick black jeans and flats or a black skirt/ shorts and opaque tights with ankle booties, and you will look like you just stepped out of Lagerfeld Confidential.

Wool herringbone professor blazer - $198

Silk frances cami - $88

Crystal thornbush necklace - $135

Abby toe cap ballet flat - $128

Paris Fashion Week Eye Candy

Totally unadulterated fashion eye candy for your Friday afternoon. Buzzing through this slideshow from Paris fashion week on style.com makes you want to get dressed. Forget the models who double as coat hangers, in Paris, the real style is worn by the women attending the shows. You will totally gag over this (in a good way) and add a good number of potential outfits to your "closet of clothes nothing to wear" list.

Style.com Captures Paris Fall 2009 Street Style

Cheap and Chic Summer Sandals at AE

American Eagle is my little secret resource for cheap summer sandals. I think it is atrocious how shoe companies take advantage of our need to show off our fresh pedicured tootsies and charge anywhere from $100 (for a pair from Steve Madden) to $800 for a pair of Louboutin's. Seriously people: It is a sole with a minimal amount of leather straps...basically just enough to hold the damn thing to the bottom of your foot, you can only wear them three months a year and AND they look like they trekked through the Kalahari come Labor Day.

Last summer I popped into American Eagle and found a great pair of brown leather gladiator sandals that tied at the ankle. I got endless compliments and basked in the satisfaction of my $30 find the entire summer. Now, here we are with Summer 2009 approaching. I was thrilled to see a pair of AE's sandals featured in my Style.com newsletter this week. They are all under 40 bucks, and at that price just go wild and get every one you like. My favs are the Tribal Sandals pictured above ($39.99) and the Fringe Sandal at a wallet-friendly $29.99. Now there is no excuse to forgo the semi-weekly pedi. Enjoy!

See all American Eagle's Summer Sandals.