Ruffles & Frou-Frou

This weekend, I got back a bunch of repaired shoes & boots from the cobbler, so I built an outfit around these lovely velvet boots, newly re-soled. Which inspired a romantic outfit, rather well suited to the warm, spring day (sweater only needed for a bit in the morning & a few air-conditioned conference rooms).

What I'm wearing:
Black wool ruffled bolero sweater, Kohl's | Dark floral short-sleeve knit top, H&M | Black crinkle cotton skirt, Rampage | Black tights, Calvin Klein | Burgundy crushed velvet boots, bought from a friend | Chunky gunmetal & rhinestone necklace, random accessory store | Black with pink gems Victorian-esque earrings, random accessory store | Black roses cocktail ring, Icing

 

Bad Shoe Luck

I've been having bad luck with shoes recently. It seems like when I put a pair of shoes on, one wants to fall apart -- but not until I get to work!

I get dressed at home, walk around the house, go outside to take these blog photos, go back in the house & gather my things for the day, get in the car, my husband drives me to work (or even a few times, I walk a couple blocks to the bus stop, take the bus, & walk another couple blocks from that bus stop to the office building), walk into the office, walk up one flight of stairs to my cubicle, & then when I'm starting up my computer or maybe when I walk back downstairs to get coffee, only then does one of my shoes start to fall apart!

Today, the back of the wedge on my right shoe started to rip off. Last week, one of the straps on my bat-buckle boots started to tear thru. One of the soles of my fuchsia velvet boots is coming off at the toe. The same problem is happening to my tall purple lace-up boots too.

The soles I can probably repair myself with barge cement, but the strap will require a trip to the cobbler. I just wish they would fall apart at home so I don't spend the workday limping around.

What I'm wearing:
Black & grey dress, Macy's
Black & white stripe cardigan, Chadwicks
Black tights, Calvin Klein
Black buckled wedges, Kohl's
Black beaded bib necklace, Torrid
Gunmetal hoop earrings, random accessory store
Black cocktail ring, Icing
Revlon "Raisin Rage" lipstick

Speaking of shoes, here's a related yet unrelated shameless advert -- American Duchess now has reproduction 18th-century latchet buckles with rhinestones! What that means is that, if you're a historical costumer who wants period-correct 18th-century shoes, you can finally get fancy yet also historically accurate buckles for them. All the other places that make buckles produce them in plain ol' silver or brass, even tho' many extant versions were covered in gems. This is a small thing, but it makes my magpie heart go pitter-pat. Sorry for the intrusion into CorpGoth Land!

A Cobbler Is a Girl's (& a Goth's) Best Friend

I just got a bunch of shoes back from the cobbler, & it's like getting new shoes for xmas! Except they cost a fraction of what new shoes cost & they already feel broken in. I tend to save up shoes for repairing until I have several pairs. Don't know why, there's a good cobbler just a few miles from my house. But it seems like a chore to take stuff there, leave them for a week, & return to pick them up. So I wait until it's it's really worthwhile -- which also means I haven't worn these shoes for about a year in some cases!

From top-right (& oldest to be repaired), I had pair of black buckled boots (side zip, faux buckle) with kitten heels that needed new heel caps plus the pointy toe were horribly scuffed & worn, from Baker Shoes; a pair of black pointy-toed kitten-heels that needed new heel caps, from Aldo; a pair of black suede pumps with square heels that needed new heel caps, vintage Fleuvog; & a pair of black suede lace-up granny boots that needed new heel caps, from some store in London.

This is probably the most common repair for women's shoes. That little cap on a heeled shoe wears off pretty easily & can be fixed easily too. My cobbler charged about $15 per pair. For the boots that needed the pointy toes mended, that cost $17.  And all the shoes got a cleaning & shine for free, even the suede shoes (the granny boots were in rather sorry shape too).

A modest & very worthwhile investment! They're all like new, & now I have a bunch of fabulous shoes to wear again. Can't wait. I hope everyone out there has made friends with their local cobbler too!