Shoes and Other Fun

They Want Our Shoes Too?

January 31, 2012
By Hello Ladies

Source: Uploaded by user via Hello_Ladies on Pinterest

 

Some pay us less than our fair share. Some want to control our bodies and make us pay more for health insurance. Others want us to run only after dawn and before dusk and never with headphones and never alone. Being a woman requires nerves of steel.

And so many of us reward ourselves for perservering, heck, powering through, by focusing on what’s fun about being a woman. Like being a mother. And having girlfriends. And shoes. We love our shoes.

But now new data threatens to ruin that pleasure. A study from The Journal of Applied Physiology is garnering lots of alarmist headlines:

High heels, high danger

Study says high heels cause permanent leg damage

High heels ruin the way you walk: study

Before you toss your Manolos, know this: the researchers studied only nine “habitual high heel wearers.” That’s not a very extensive research field. If you’ve ever donned a heel higher than three inches, you don’t need a study to know high heels aren’t  natural. But sometimes the emotional benefits of wearing a Louboutin outweigh the risks. Just be careful of your calves.  And for more footwear choices, check out our “Complete Wardrobe” board on Pinterest.

 

Image from Le Petit Poulailler

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We Need Our Girlfriends

January 13, 2012
By Hello Ladies

friendsToday’s guest contributor, Judy White-Orlando, reminds us of the importance of girlfriends. Women still face unfair hurdles at work. We are woefully underrepresented in Washington. The media is constantly sending us messages we’re not thin enough or pretty enough. But we have something powerful that helps lead us through the challenges. We have our girlfriends.

We Need Our Girlfriends

Thank you Martin Luther King for allowing me and my seven girlfriends to enjoy our annual girl’s weekend on Cape Cod.  Every year we plan, email, and pack, bringing way too much food and wine for our fabulous weekend. We have gone on this special weekend for 12 years.

I am the self-nominated cruise director of this group and of course no one objects. Weeks before the date, I send a litany of emails, outlining the themes, food assignments, possible activities and gift swaps. These emails must end up in junk mail because most go unanswered (?)!  The full gang arrives Friday night with every color Vera Bradley bag known to mankind.   Often time snacks, fire wood and empty wine bottles (yes, empty… wild girlfriends that we are, passengers enjoy ‘roadies’ on the trip down) have been seen falling out of the Eddie Bauer Explorer.

The unwinding begins as we sit around the fireplace for hours. We talk about our children, family drama, new favorite drinks, the holidays and anything that needs to be discussed.  One of the girlfriends, who is a shopaholic, hands out gifts for everyone.  Each year she finds something at Talbots that was marked down three times.  I now have 4 black, sparkling shirts that I make sure to wear during the weekend.

Over the years, the most memorable times have been sharing deep thoughts: what we are thankful for, what we like best about each other, reflections on what new career we would like to try and whether or not we would marry our spouse again! But then priorities kick in, and we focus on what time the manicures and pedicures are up town!

Each year, I try to think of something new for our weekend away. Our favorite memories include: the wine guy preparing dinner and a wine tasting,  a card reader answering our must know life questions including whether or not our children would marry, and hiring  (our new best friend), the taxi -driver, who drives us to restaurants so we can drink, (and sing the Mary Tyler Moore’s theme song) and arrive home safely.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, the fact of the matter is that every Martin Luther King weekend, we can depend on this time and know that we will have each other,  to talk with, to listen, to laugh and cry with, and just be there.  We need our girlfriends.

Image from Ambro.

SkinnyScoop Tastemakers

October 21, 2011
By Hello Ladies

We are thrilled to be included in SkinnyScoop’s new Tastemakers program. SkinnyScoop is of our favorite sites because it taps into the collective wisdom of women who willingly share their knowledge, and ecommended products, go-to resources and tips on this “virtual cheat sheet for everything.” Tastemakers provide content in a range of categories including, Balance, Amuse, Covet, Nurture and Energize. We hope you’ll check it out. And while you’re at it, take a look at our list of ways to observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Where Do You Buy Your Work Clothes?

June 24, 2011
By Hello Ladies

Woman shopping

We’ve tackled some tough issues this month — gender discrimination, pay inequity and the working mother’s juggle. So we’re going to lighten it up this summer Friday. Let’s talk about clothes.

A working woman’s wardrobe may not be as serious as some of the other topics we cover at Hello Ladies, but building a work wardrobe can require just as much finesse, strategy and fortitude as managing a career and a family. That’s because the middle-of-the-market designers seem to have forgotten the middle-of-her-life woman and the doesn’t-quite-have-a-middle-woman. It is possible to find decent clothes at the high-end, but the economy stinks and not every occassion, job or budget calls for Akris.

Last week I shopped for some staples and a few new pieces to get me through the summer.  It wasn’t easy. With a small budget, and even smaller amount of free time, I stuck to the higher-end mall stores like Banana Republic, J. Crew and Ann Taylor. And what did I find? Not much that’s wearable. The stores are stocked with:

1. Tissue tops. They just don’t cut it. Or cover it for that matter. Those of us above a size 4  need some fabric on our bodies. I’m not sneezing, I’m dressing. So bring back the cotton and leave the tissue fabric in the Kleenex box.

2. One shoulder looks. Sure, some of my coworkers may act like wild animals, but I’m going to work, not on safari.

3. Sleeveless. I love sleeveless tops but not at work. My preference has nothing to do with appropriateness and everything to do with air conditioning. In most offices, and certainly in mine, the AC is blasting from May to October. I’d throw a sweater over my blouse or dress, but they are made from tissue material or worse covered in…

4. Ruffles. The ruffle craze is out of control. Twenty-something celebs may need to add some bulk to starve off the anorexia rumors, but I do not. Nor do many of the women I know. I don’t need ruffles on my chest. I don’t need peplums at my waist. I don’t need layers on my skirt. I’m trying to smooth things out not bulk them up.

It seems  near impossible to find clothes that work for the office unless you are a super model, a twenty-something, or have no fashion sense whatsoever. So ladies, tell me where do you shop for clothes that are stylish, affordable, and cut to cover not to expose?

For some advice on building a work wardrobe check out these resources:

From our friends at The Gloss: How to Build a Work Wardrobe for Less

From The Corporette, also on Forbe’s list of Top 100 Websites for Women: Guide to Basic Women’s Suiting

From this site we just discoverd, The Wardrobe Diaries: 11 Work Wardrobe Essentials.

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I Hid New Shoes in the Trunk of My Car

June 9, 2011
By Hello Ladies

30 percent of women hide purchases in the trunk of their carTuesday on my lunch break I bought a pair of navy BCBG ballet flats at DSW. Originally $98 they were marked down to $25. And then I threw them in the trunk of my car. And I left them there until later that night, after everyone in the house had gone to sleep. Then I snuck them inside and slid them into the closet next to my brown, grey and leopard ballet flats.

Do I really need to hide a $25 purchase? No. I just wanted to avoid the inevitable conversation.

“Do you really need another pair of black shoes?”

“They’re not black. They’re blue.”

“Whatever. Do you really need another pair of shoes?”

“Yes. I didn’t have blue ballet flats.”

“But don’t you have zebra ones?”

“Leopard.”

“Whatever. So why did you need another pair?”

“Because I didn’t have blue.”

“You have those pointy toe ones.”

“Those are slingbacks. These are flats. And they are light blue. These are navy.”

“Whatever. Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

“Neither do shoes.”

So I hid them. And I am not alone. Daily deal site Eversave, along with MyCityMommy, surveyed more than 500 women about their shopping habits and 30 percent of the respondents admitted to hiding a purchase in the trunk of their car. Frankly we’re surprised the number isn’t higher. Fifty-five percent of women have thrown something out or donated an old item to make room for new purchases. And only 18 percent shop absolutely guilt free.

This despite the fact women know how to save money. Almost all of the women (93 percent) surveyed by Eversave use  coupons and/or promo codes and shop during sales. Eighty-three percent use daily deal sites to get a bargain and 80 percent sign up from coupons from their favorite brands.

So why the guilt? Or are you just sneaking around so you don’t have to explain why you need more than five pair of jeans?

Name Your Barbie

May 12, 2011
By Hello Ladies

Barbie dollI posted this photo on Facebook with the caption, “This is how I show up for work everyday. You?” Eden Goodsoe of Skinny Scoop replied, “Is there a Barbie that has her hair in a wet ponytail, no make-up and a mishmash of clothes? That’s me!” which got me wondering, if you could name your Barbie, what would it be?

I might be Late for Work Barbie or Tired and Cranky Mommy Barbie.  I could definitely relate to Bad Hair Day Barbie, Needs a Manicure Barbie, and Slow Jogging Barbie. But Mattel doesn’t sell those dolls. Lest I appear too self-deprecating, rest assured, I could also be Great Shoes Barbie.

What Barbie would you be?

 

 

 

 

I’m Not Alone: Facebook is Annoying

March 30, 2011
By Hello Ladies

Eighty-five percent of people polled by Eversave admit they’ve been annoyed by their Facebook friends.  I’m not alone.  The survey says the top three  annoyances are friends who use the social site to complain, share unsolicited political views (oops) and brag about their “seemingly perfect lives.”

That’s the one that gets me. Last year I wrote, “It is not helpful for the media to bombard us with messages about perfect women, with perfect bodies, living perfect lives, with perfect spouses. What’s the point? These stories omit the parts about the personal trainers and nutritionists who helped the celebs get back in shape, or the fact they are getting paid big bucks to get those bodies back, or the house staff and personal assistants and nannies helping them balance work and family, or the really tough nights and overwhelming doubts that every new parent experiences at some point. And we are left wondering why our lives aren’t more like theirs. And now Facebook is starting to read just like one of those glossy magazine features.”

Perfection is over-rated. It’s our flaws that set us free.

As I wrote, “It’s not that I have a problem with celebrating a fabulous life. I actually feel strongly that women should brag to their friends at least once a week. We need to celebrate our successes. But  we also need to be honest with each other. In between the vacation, the marathons and the family photo opps, what else is going on in your life? We need to share that too.”

But not, necessarily, on Facebook.

Eversave offers daily deals for busy women like us. Check it out, but if you treat yourself to a day at the spa or dinner at a fabulous restaurant, please don’t gloat about it online. (Disclosure: I have a business relationship with Eversave.)

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011

March 23, 2011
By Hello Ladies

Hollywood film star and AIDS activist Elizabeth Taylor died today at the age of 79.

 

If Husbands Were Shoes

March 2, 2011
By Hello Ladies

Bass Weejun Loafer

Love of my life

(This post first appeared on Skirt!)

If husbands were shoes, I always thought I’d marry a stiletto. A stylish, beautiful stiletto of course, maybe a Manolo Blahnik or a Jimmy Choo. If I didn’t marry a stiletto I’d at least end up with a Prada pump. I imagined Mr. Right wearing a well-tailored suit to the office every day. He would work in the city in finance or law. On Friday nights we would open a bottle of red and order take-out from a Thai restaurant.

But when it came time to settle down, I made a very different choice. The truth is I never even dated stilettos or pumps. They sounded great on paper, but in real life I was always attracted to loafers. If my husband was a shoe, he’d be a loafer — not a Gucci, not a J.P. Todd, but a Bass Weejun, to be exact.

It turns out the Weejun is the perfect fit. Weejuns are classic like Levis, navy blazers and Timex watches. They have solid New England values. With a Bass Weejun, what you see is what you get. They are never pretentious and they don’t make other shoes feel bad about themselves. They are at home in any closet. Weejuns are just as comfortable hanging out with Christian Louboutin as they are with Kenneth Cole. Weejuns tell it like it is. They don’t buy into fads or trends. They come in a standard oxblood color that will never be in style but that never goes out of style.

My Weejun is dependable. He feels comfortable in that just right, broken in kind of way. He is familiar, a safe choice, and he keeps my feet planted firmly on the ground. When I’m with my Weejun I can dress up in Armani or dress down in jeans. No matter what, I know he’ll be in Dockers and a golf shirt. On Friday nights, I kick of my Delman flats and we order burgers from the local pub. He drinks Coke, from the can, and I have a glass of white. My Weejun and me, we make a great pair.

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Best and Worst of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards

February 28, 2011
By Hello Ladies

 

The red carpet was fantastic at last night’s 83rd Academy Awards. We loved all the red dresses. Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Hudson (although hers was actually tangerine) sported this year’s “it” color. Purple was the other color of choice. Natalie Portman’s deep purple Rodarte gown was stunning. Mila Kunis and Cate Blanchet looked lovely in paler shades of purple.

Offsetting the vibrant hues were nudes and metallics – a trend that carried over from last year. But this year, the shimmer, feathers and jewels made the dresses look fresh and fantastic. Gwyneth Paltrow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hillary Swank and Halle Berry all wore beautiful, pale gowns.

Ponytails were the hot accessory this year. Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon both wore this year’s version of the updo.

And in the can’t remember the gown, but aren’t these women stunning category – Mandy Moore and Sharon Stone both looked great.

We only have one winner for the worst category: the show. Yawn. We turned it off.

 

 

Images used with a  Creative Commons license.

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