Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Review: Dyeable Shoes

My shoes initially looked like this


Even after taking them off for the walk across the stream to get to our ceremony spot


they got wet in the rain before our reception and now look like this:


In case you haven't been following I searched for turquoise shoes for months and finally settled on some dyeable flats from David's Bridal.
Not to fear! I had a back up pair of fuschia flip flops I got for $3 at Target in case I couldn't find anything else.


Warning! If there is any possibility that you or your bridesmaids will be walking outside in dyeable shoes - don't do it. I knew this was going to happen even if it didn't rain. But I really wanted this color and wasn't willing to settle. People have told me that even if you barely walk in grass that may be damp the color will run. Either give in and get something else, keep looking, or have backups.

In the end I think we got some great photos of my blue shoes and kinda liked wearing the flip flops during our reception.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Something Blue...

My shoes are my something blue.


A great shade of dark turquoise or teal or peacock. Or you can just call them blue. A simple ballet-esque flat shoe.

It took me FOREVER to find the right shoes to wear. The dress was also an ordeal but the shoes were a nightmare. I am not necessarily 100% in love with them but I swear I looked everywhere and although going barefoot was appealing I needed to do something.

I ended up getting them at David's Bridal. First off let me say that I despise this store. It is sort of like Walmart. You may hate what they stand for but since they have managed to take over every corner of the globe you can't help but find yourself inside thinking your getting a great deal at the expense of customer service. After ordering nearly a half dozen pairs of shoes on-line, looking in every store in town, and hours surfing the web I found myself heading inside to the big DB.

I had heard of several horror stories from fellow blogging brides about DB and I myself had 2 less than polite encounters when trying to find a dress. But I went in anyway. And low and behold I found a pair - the right price, comfy fit, and really cheap dying price ($3). So I ordered a pair and waited 4 weeks (!!!) to pick them up after they were dyed.

I really didn't want to go the dyeable route but I was set on this color and had no luck elsewhere. After I picked them up I REALLY wish I hadn't gone the dyeable route. I stood there in disbelief over how sloppy they were. Not only was there all sorts of dye on the bottom sole but there were at least 5 spots where the origional satin was visible. Because of all of the slop over on the sole the seam between the sole and the shoe had a striped appearance. I asked to see a manager and explained that I at least wanted the white satin covered up and the mess on the sole should be an even mess if the slopover with the dye was unavoidable. She sent them back to the "dye girl" (her words, not mine) immediately. They came out in about 10 minutes and she said they should dry and blend.


Anyway I am sure no one is still reading but I let them dry for a few days and they looked like they had water marks on the bottom and were absolutely horrible. I called DB prepared to be stern to demand that they redye a new pair right this time. I was sort of freaking out because the wedding was just 11 days away at this point and barefoot seemed like it was no longer a choice. But the phone call was very easy and the manager remembered my issue and said they would dye a new pair and have them ready for me the next day. Good. I was very relieved and despite having to wait 20 minutes for the sales girl to find them, they were ready the next day.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend going with dyeable shoes, but if you have your heart set on a specific color it opens up alot more styles. DB is much cheaper than getting a custom color dye. My seamstresses salon charges $30 for a custom color match. So maybe I got what I paid for. Despite generally rude experiences with salespeople and the sloppy "dye girl" I don't think DB is as bad as the corporate wedding evil giant I originally thought. The manager was very helpful and willing to make things right with very little effort. Any hey, sometimes going to the corporate giant makes shopping a little easier or at least they have some selection.

Did anyone else have a difficult time with their wedding day attire? Either with finding it or getting it right?

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

I think I found them!

I don't want to jinx it, but I think I found my shoes! I really owe the blogosphere for this great find. I first saw them posted on Classicly Modern and then All You Need is Love. So I headed over to Amazon.com and snatched them up. Unfortunately, based on what these lovely ladies said I am a little worried about the fit. But I am not worried about the price. I used my Amazon credit card rewards so the cost was $0.

I hope these work because I have also come to think that some sort of a ballet flats would be best for several reasons.
1) I don't usually wear heals and don't think wedding day is the time to try it out (although peep toe pumps are sooo cute! wait a minute- is this really me saying this?)

and 2) I will be to walk over this stream to get to our ceremony site and really don't want to fall in the water!!

Photo from our ceremony planner - Weddings in Sedona.

The shoe saga continues....

Monday, February 2, 2009

Shoe Dilemma Take Two

Thanks for all of the great advice about shoes. I got some great ideas.

Jeana from My Dream Ring suggested I look at like.com. This was a new site for me and is great because you an search by color as well as style, etc. Although they didn't seem to search many stores... Anyway I found a few more contenders. Unfortunately none in turquoise/teal.

Jessica Simpson Ceasar- but not in my size :(
Charles by Charles Pendant Pump
Caparros Vincente II Satin Pump
Cole Haan Air Elly Patent Wedge
Mootsies Tootsies Trusty Retouched - perfect but no turquoise or fuchsia!!!

My future mother-in-law reminded me that heals of any size might be be the best things since we are getting married outside and have to embark on a short hike to get there - over a stream as well. And honestly who am I kidding. I wear Teva sandles everyday. Thinking flats or something like the wedge shoes above might be better.

The search continues....

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Shoe Dilemma

Since I am wearing a short dress I think that shoes will be key and really set the tone for my look. I have been dreaming about a fabulous peep toe in turquoise or a darker teal. I would even go with a flat ballet slipper if it was the right color. Something like these would be almost perfect:
Nine West Julia Rea shoe
no longer available :(
Charles by Charles Women's Tux Peep Toe
But they are no longer available. :(

I am having a hard time finding what I want. For months I have window shopped and spend countless hours on-line. Every time I find a style I like, it either doesn't come in my size or not in the color I want. Since I am completely frustrated I might even consider going fuchsia. Such as these:Fuchsia Satin Peep Toe from Nordstrom


I might even have to go the dyeable route. I sort of wanted to avoid this. I did have high hopes for the new Lela Rose Dyeable shoes at Payless. The price is right but I found thier >3.5 inch heals a little out of my comfort range. And they seem like they are only about a half inch wide.

Any suggestions? Where can you find comfortable and stylish dyeable shoes? or turquoise satin fabric (no patent leather - yuck) peep toe pumps?

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Hot New Trend

I don't have my shoes yet. I don't even have my dress yet. The lack of wedding attire and less than 5 months to go is really stressing my out. One thing I do know is that I definitely want some brightly colored shoes. A cute splash of color to go with my short wedding dress (wherever style I might decide on...) I came to this conclusion months ago and thought I was being really trendy and fashion forward. Then I began looking at bridal magazines and blogs and realized. No, this is really the big trend. This is even more apparent if you look at Martha's latest feature: Wedding Day Shoes. Of course there are the classics of white and ivory but nearly half the posted photos are brightly colored heels of fuchsia, blue, orange, and more.

Martha Stewart Weddings

I am waiting to see what dress I settle on before making any final decisions but am leaning towards a turquoise peep toe. I really like this style. It is called Abby and is a dyeable shoe. Does that really work? Where do you get shoes dyed anyway? It is a simple design with a mid sized heel. But who knows I change my mind daily. (I also really liked this cute shoe from Kate Spade but it is more than the dress budget so I think I'll pass.)
from Zappos

Here are a few of my inspiration shoes. I almost wish I had bridesmaids so I could make them wear a whole rainbow of heels.












both photos from Amy Squires

Photo from Snippit and Ink


Photo from Brooklyn Bride

Photo by Jessamyn Harris featured in Inspiration Board from Snippet and Ink