[Fashion] For the Love of Mint. #MINTspiration

From left to right: Christian Louboutin So Kate, SJP Collection Bobbi, Manolo Blahnik BB Pump

So it should be no big secret that Mint is one of my favorite colors! It's just so pretty, feminine and it really pops on my skin tone.

Not sure if you've ever noticed but mint is one of the most difficult colors to find in shoes! Especially better quality shoes. 

Photo from hollyannaeree's Instagram

If you follow me on Instagram you've seen my most recent mint purchase - "Bobbi" from the Sarah Jessica Parker x Nordstrom collaboration - that gave me the idea for the group photo which gave me the idea for the blog post and here we are. : )

I wanted to show you some of the mint shoes I've found from some of my favorite designers and give you some info on them. (All are Full leather, Italian Made shoes)

Christian Louboutin "So Kate" in Aqua - $625

"So Kate" is currently one of my favorite styles from Christian Louboutin (Instagram write up HERE) - it's for sure one of the more comfortable 120mm no platform shoes I've tried. (Keeping in mind it's still a 5" heel with no platform - it's never going to be like wearing flip flops no matter the brand or price!) The fit is also much better than the previous style of Pigalle (they have changed the Pigalle recently to have a better fit, more like the So Kate yet the new Pigalle falls short for me. Photo comparison HERE and Pigalle vs. Pigalle write up HERE). They are suppose to fit more true to size yet I still find that I need a 36.5 in these (37 is my true size). The patent version of this shoe is a bit difficult to break in, yet the suede I find to be very comfortable right from the start and only get more comfortable with time. For patent So Kate I currently own a black pair and this "aqua" pair - the black broke in quite easily after a few wears around the house while this aqua pair...well I'm still working on it. 

(On a side note: as much as I love Louboutins I am kind of taking a break from them - there are other styles that I am just getting into more right now and I am a little over the red sole. Sometimes it's a cool pop but sometimes it's just too much! I don't always want to be so flashy. Who knows, months from now I could be back on the CL train but those are just my thoughts at the moment. It doesn't help that brands like Saint Laurent and Manolo Blahink are about 1000000000X more comfortable (generally speaking).)

SJP Collection for Nordstrom "Bobbi" in Mint - $365 

(says Mint on the site yet Blue Suede on the box)

Of all the pairs I tried on at Nordstrom (they didn't have every style at the store I went to) the "Bobbi" seemed to be the best quality. The style and overall feel of these are very similar to Manolo Blahnik, not that I'm surprised given who her partner for SJP Collection is. The regular leather styles I tried weren't as luxe in my opinion - especially for the price. I just wasn't overwhelmed with the quality of the leather on most but I am however always pleased to find a shoe with a soft leather sole. 

Normally I do not buy such open sandals (open toe d'Orsay) with no ankle strap because I have a narrow heel and it is often difficult for me to keep the shoe on but I really could not pass these up. I am a big Sex and the City fan and really wanted something from this collection. (Not to mention these just scream SATC to me!) As far as fit I did need to size down 1/2 a size, not surprising (although I prefer a 7 in Manolo Blahnik's Sedaraby) - what was surprising is that for a 3.5" (relatively low) heel these aren't overly comfortable. I have not worn them out and about yet but have given them a hour or so in the house - it seems like what is making them not so comfy for me is that my foot is working a bit to hold the shoe on, forcing me to unintentionally try and grab onto the shoe with my toe/ball of my foot area. These are the best fit I can get with this particular shoe, they don't slip off the back while walking but just something to keep in mind if you've never tried this style before. Also there seems to be a bit of friction on the ball of the foot closest to the toes - a small ball of the foot pad can probably fix that although I hate adding anything to my shoes. 

Other than that, a really pretty and feminine shoe - great price point and I LOVE her grosgrain detailing on the back of all the shoes! 

Manolo Blahnik BB Suede Pump in Mint - $595 (current Patent Mint style)

Not much to say about these - hands down Manolo Suede BB Pumps are the most comfortable pointy toe pumps I own. I have several pairs and love collecting the different colors that come out every season. (Lime Pair featured HERE on my blog) With a 4" heel (I am most comfortable with 4" for heels) and a leather sole that is almost as soft as the suede itself, I could walk forever in these. Not the sexiest shoe on the planet but for sure a classic.

Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman currently have a deal with Manolo where you can customize your BB pumps! You choose the color, material and heel height. One of these days I want to try for a 115mm heel - as much as I love the comfort of a 100/105mm heel just that little extra really makes the shoe look so much better to me! 

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to read this post. I know I am not on a regular schedule with these (or anything!) but I appreciate those that follow and enjoy. 

I hope this was helpful to some of you and if nothing else a bit of eye candy. ; )

Love,

Holly 

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[Addicted to Amazon]

[Fashion] Spring Staples: Ivory [Chanel + Christian Louboutin]

Bag: Chanel French Rivera in Ivory

Shorts: (similar here and here)

Shoes: Christian Louboutin Cortico Wedge Espadrille 85mm

(here and here)(more affordable here)

If you are familiar with my style you know it's either neutrals or brights for me and this spring/summer shall be no exception! Pictured above is what I wore today. 

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This Chanel French Rivera has become my most worn bag this season thus far and I'm glad because I am definitely getting my moneys worth! (always a concern when purchasing a white(ish) bag) 

It's a soft caviar (so fabric lined not leather lined making it less structured), flap style bag and I love it. It is limited edition but I just saw one at my local Chanel today so not impossible to get. Also being that it is a limited edition, non icon bag it is significantly less expensive than my flap bags so if you are looking for something with a similar look I think this is a good choice. 

If you are interested in a full review with price, pros, cons and DSLR photos let me know! 

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The Christian Louboutin Cortico Espadrille 85mm Wedge is new for this Spring/Summer (SS13) and becoming a fast favorite of mine. Unfortunately there are some cons to this shoe particularly with the sizing but I am making it work.

Louboutin Espadrilles are also priced lower than other styles the brand carries and the Cortico is currently the least expensive shoe Christian Louboutin offers. (so...yay! haha) 

(as with the French Rivera, if you are interested in a separate review let me know : )

^ Dress in this photo is from DailyLook and the recent Fashion Haul Video below!

Also I have a new Makeup Haul Video and some info on a 20% OFF Friends and Family Event going on now! (plus if you're an Ebates user you'll get an additional 6% CASH BACK)

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! 

Thanks so much for reading and just stopping by : )

Talk to you very soon.

Lots of Love,

Holly

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Chloe Lambskin Flats [Review] Most Comfortable Flats I've EVER Had!

So while returning a pair of shoes at Neimans the other day I stumbled upon a new obsession....

I was waiting for the sales associate to process my transaction and had decided to randomly try on shoes as I normally do. I had seen these Chloe Flats before and didn't think much of them truthfully. Simple design, basic colors and I'm not overly familiar with the brand itself but I had glanced at these during previous visits and were always intrigued with how buttery soft they were. I never thought they would be something I would consider purchasing (especially given the price, but I'll get to that later) but I thought 'what the heck I'll try them on just for fun'...now we all know how that goes! (lol. jk - a lot of times it just confirms how much I dislike the shoe) 

I put them on and it was like a magical moment from a movie - I kid you not. I did NOT expect these flats to be THAT comfortable! 

**please note that after reading this you may not have that magical moment because you will expect them to be as they are. I went in with no real expectations. 

 They are a little less structured than I have come to expect from a shoe but truthfully that is one of the aspects that makes them SO comfortable - they are formfitting.

It is a FULL leather shoe (I have come to really appreciate the difference a leather sole can make) and the lambskin is ridiculously soft. I don't even own anything else that I can really compare it to. It's softer than my Balenciaga City Bag and any other bag I have for that matter so unfortunately I can not really give you a good comparison but they are soft! (Like so soft that I wouldn't even want my skin to feel like that because I think it would rip if someone were to grab my arm. lol) 

Overall the shoe just molds to your foot when you put it on and then just continues to get more comfortable as the leather warms up with your body heat. They conform even further. 

*magic*

The shoe itself is very light weight and flexible which I definitely appreciate. It does remind me a bit of ballet slippers but much more comfortable and 1000000x more high end haha but the fit is similar to me. It's that same secure but not too snug feeling. 

It also features a very small heel and although it does not give you any additional height I think it helps with overall wear and durability of the shoe.

I'm sure the scalloped edges are one of the things most people like about the shoe but truthfully I wasn't that into the design. When I tried it on I didn't think it looked bad but to be honest I was more concerned on how delightful they felt on.

One thing I do like about the design is that there isn't a lot of bulk. It's a very minimalistic flat and I actually appreciate that aspect of them. I find it to be a very flattering style for my foot and I am not typically a fan of flats on me. They even have approval from the boyfriend!

The scalloped edges, while I am still not obsessed with the design, do add a little interest to the shoe. I figure if they were totally plain with just a straight edge they would look rather matronly and also the detail in the scalloping is part of the craftsmanship you are paying for. (The edges of the scalloping are actually sewn all the way around and very close to the edge so I don't think you will need to worry about it separating or peeling back over time.)

I have not had these for an extended period of time so I can not say how they will wear with normal use but I would suggest exercising a little caution with them. Of course if you are spending this much on a pair of flats you obviously don't want to be wearing them in the rain, hiking (not sure why you would wear them hiking but ya know, #justsayin) but I think in normal every day situations these will wear just as you would expect any soft leather item to wear. Of course these will be subject to scratches etc. since they are so soft, just as any lambskin handbag or jacket would be but, it's just a pair of shoes. No one is really getting down to ground level to inspect them so I wouldn't stress about it too much.

 Shoes are made to be worn and enjoyed! 

For me these fit true to size. For reference I am technically considered to have a narrow foot and heel (although to me my foot does not look narrow - I'd say more average or on the smaller side of average) 

I normally take a 36.5 -37 (6.5 - 7) in European styles and 6.5 -7.5 in US brands but I would say usually I am a 7. 

* For reference most people say that European sizes run small for them and they go up about a 1/2 size or so. European sizes actually fit me better than their US counterparts - there is usually less gapping along the sides of the shoe and overall just a more secure and better fit.

The sales associate said that these do stretch a bit (same for most leather shoes but these are especially malleable so I don't doubt these will stretch) but I have not had mine long enough to say how much they will stretch. That being said, I still think this was the correct size choice for me. They fit pretty perfectly now and I think if they were to get broken in, conforming to my foot even further they would be fantastic still.

I did choose black for my first pair (yes - I plan on saving for more!) because I felt as though they would wear the best over time out of all the colors. I am however also in the market to buy a pair of Nude and possibly a Taupe. They have a few other fun colors - a blue, yellow, green, coral, etc. but hey - I'm not rich. I can't collect them all Pokemon style. 

I know that the shoes I wear most are Nude and Black (or any variation of neutral I suppose) so I will just stick with those. 

Now for the part that's going to hurt your wallet (and how you can totally justify it! lol maybe?)

These Retail: $450

...I'll give you a moment. 

At first I was really having second thoughts because of the price but they were just so amazing I had to splurge! I can never find flats that I think are really comfortable and these felt better than if I was just wearing socks. 

(Can you tell I really love these flats? You can imagine what my poor boyfriend had to listen to the first few days I had them haha. Luckily he doesn't mind. If it interests me it interests him. Plus he likes to show off his knowledge to others, I think he likes the shock factor. lol.) 

When you think about it, a pair of Tory Burch Flats are about $255 and up for one pair and many of us have a couple of those. They have kind of become the standard for midrange flats. These are less than 2 pairs of Tory Burch flats! So think of it that way. Personally I love Tory Burch products - I have so many of her flats and accessories but truthfully all of my Tory Burch flats feel like they are made of hard plastic by comparison. So I would GLADLY give up two pairs of Tory Burch flats to own ONE pair of these. I think they are worth it. 

IF of course you are in a position to do so. Obviously I'm not saying don't eat lunch for a month to afford these shoes but if you are someone that would buy flats in the $250+ range don't pass these over just because they seem like they are (about) double the price. I think these will be one of the MOST comfortable flats you will ever own. (I can't say they will be THE most because I haven't tried every brand of flat out there but personally I have never had anything so comfortable.) They are a flat you will LOVE to and WANT to wear. 

Chloe Flats can be found a number of places - I purchased mine from Neiman Marcus. 

 They come in Full AND 1/2 Sizes depending on the store and I am told these are a permanent style for the brand, one of their classics.

 Chloe London Lambskin Flats - Style CH19170 

Here are a few colors I found online: 

Black

Green
Yellow
Metallic Bronze

Thank you for reading. Let me know if you enjoy seeing posts like this so I can do more in the future. 

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