time for a little wednesday rant.  normally, i look forward to spring and summer not at all – i’m just a girl that likes to layer, and loves her scarves, and summer just does not allow for either of those.  and then, there’s the fact that i strongly dislike being above 70 degrees.

but even in the depths of my despair, i always know that even when spring fashion disappoints, i’ll have all of those lovely spring sandals to fall back on.  sadly, not this year.  this year, they’re just…yuck.  woven peep toe boots, *more* gladiators, prep school oxfords and clogs?!  (okay, the oxfords may not be all bad.)  normally, the unveiling of all of those warm weather shoes put a definite spring in my step, but this season’s “hot” shoes have left me pretty cold.

the source of this rant?  an email this morning from saks, telling me to check out all of their hot new contemporary shoes for spring.  to-wit:

those were the first four shoes that came up.  are you depressed yet?  seriously, am i expected to wear these messes?

(okay, so maybe those elizabeth and james sandals on the right are actually kind of cute. but what exactly are those shoes on the left? they’re like keds…gone very, very wrong.)

personally, i’m rebelling…if this keeps up, i’ll spend the summer in my sperry topsiders (oh, and those luscious loeffler randalls i nabbed a few weeks back…), and not a single new shoe box will enter my closet until next fall.

what do you think of this season’s choices?   i’ll admit, there were a couple of styles mixed in that didn’t make me want to hurl (and don’t worry – i’ll be weeding them out for you)…but for now, i’m a little blue.

in the spirit of the upcoming holiday, i thought i’d send a little valentine to an old love.  loeffler randall and i have had a perfect love affair since they launched, as my regulars will undoubtedly know.  but we hit a rocky patch in spring & fall ‘09, and i’ve been angst-ridden ever since.  it’s hard to say exactly where the love went – loeffler changed, i changed, and i guess i just lost that lovin’ feeling.  but i’m thrilled to announce that we have finally reconciled, and the love is stronger than ever for resort & spring ‘10.  even if you can’t indulge, this is valentine’s day (eye) candy at its finest.

from top left: idris navajo sandal, $375; belinda snake print platform pump, down 30-ish% to $332.50; sydney birdcage flat in stingray, down 50% to $225(!); shireen studded flat, $395; carlie mignon twist sandal, $325; anna woven platform, $725 (i know, i know…but it was too pretty not to include).

oh, and here’s a little valentine for you all – one of my best frugal fashion tips: don’t let loeffler’s splurge-worthy pricing get you down!  this is is one of my favorite lines not only because they make stunningly amazing shoes, but because they routinely get marked down astronomically at the end of the season.  so, if you fall in love, hang in there and google regularly, paying special attention to small, indy boutiques.  i’ve scored some unbelievable (under-$100!) deals that way.  like, say, these blue python athena flats for $225 at lamb’s ear shoes, or these sable pale gold sandals for $112 at confederacy. (whoops, i’m sorry…did those sell out suddenly? cough, cough…)

i have to admit, i’ve been less than enthused with loeffler randall’s offerings this year.  they’re just not doing it for me like they normally do.  even this shoe, their yvette cut-out pump, just looked out of place to me when i first spotted it.  but then i saw it being worn, and i’m beginning to see the light.

i do love the tri-color, and suede is always a favorite of mine.  i’ve finally warmed to the shoe bootie, and that probably explains some of my newfound respect for this shoe.  the cutout was concerning me, but then i saw some photos of it being worn, and i actually think the cutout gives a more light, delicate look to this, which most shoe booties really, really lack.

good, right?  a vast improvement, i thought.  plus, i have to admit i’m really in love with that zipper detail on the back.

in all, they’re a major splurge at $575, but i think they’d make a pretty amazing addition to your closet – one that would stay a standout for years.

so, what do you think of these?  are they splurge-worthy to you?

leopard print seems to be *the* accent of the season and, while i’m generally pretty frightened of the stuff, i’ve also been oddly curious.  after all, the color scheme does make up the perfect neutral, and it’s a more unexpected accent to black than red.  the trick, i think, is using just a touch.  it’s so easy to go overboard, and the distance between chic and tawdry when it comes to animal prints is distressingly short.

if i’m going to get it right this season, i think i’ll start with these leopard-print flats from ralph lauren.  the birthplace of polo is definitely not the first place i’d look for something along these lines, but i think ralph’s typical overdose of prep is the perfect solution in this case – it balances out the print, and keeps the look chic, without a trace of cheap.  a leopard heel just feels a little too….something…for me, but this sweet ballet flat should do the trick nicely.  especially for under $100.

since we’re a bit behind, i thought i’d do a quick mega-post of some things i’ve come across recently and thought “i have to show those to my readers when i’m back!”

it’s finally, officially fall where i live – it’s my favorite season, and i can hardly wait to break out the scarves, cashmere sweaters and boots (yes, the flat boots have finally won my heart).  i have a respectable collection of both after last year’s gluttony, but there are a few pieces i just know i’ll need sooner than later.

i fell hard for this beautiful patchwork scarf by echo designs ($78) when i saw the above photo in a catalog recently.  in fact, i adored it so much that i honestly couldn’t believe it was the same scarf when i looked it up on echo’s website – from those pics, i’d have never given this one a second glance.  to settle the score, i asked echo to send it along so i could check it out in person (a dirty job, i know).  readers, in person, this scarf is absolutely gorgeous.  perfect color palette, great patterns, and lightweight, gauzy wool i can hardly wait to bundle up in.  trust me on this! (for better pics, go here. also, a great picture of the red & yellow version here.)

splendid actually makes a quite good cashmere, and their prices aren’t horrible ($209 for this one).  this shadow stripe v-neck breaks all of the rules about horizontal stripes – the neutral color combo is sure to keep the look flattering.  and wouldn’t you love to see this under a blazer?

this season, i’ve abandoned (or, have made up my mind to abandon) my grey cardigan obsession, and am now after a camel version*.  camel can stand up to grey any day as an unexpected, classic neutral, and it goes with literally everything. this option by brochu walker ($325) doesn’t really qualify as a cardi, as it’ only a half-buttoned option.  but i adore the soft, drapey neckline and the thumbholes on the sleeves – both seriously cozy features, which is what i’m after this time of year.

(*in a perfect world, i’ve actually found my camel cardigan…now i just need to find the $500 to bring it home!)

and, yes, boots.  so far, these are the style i’m most loving for fall.  i’ve loved frye’s paige boot for years, but this season’s distressed grey version ($345) might just be too much for me to resist.  the only thing holding me back is the fact that that gorgeous front detail will never see the light of day, as i still refuse to tuck my jeans into my boots (a trend best left to ladies without hips).

so, what are you craving for fall?

editor’s note: don’t miss out on our fab giveaway this week!  enter to win a beautiful necklace by celeb favorite tuleste market, courtesy of charm & chain!

i know i’m going to reminded of this in january, when all i can do is complain about the endless winter.  but i am so, so ready for cooler temperatures!  i’m ready for my cardigans, my sweaters…and, most of all, my boots.  in past years, i’ve had a hard time with boots, but last fall, i finally learned to embrace and even love them (i blame my completely irresponsible splurge on the holy grail loeffler randall boots).  now, i can’t get enough.

this fall, over-the-knee styles are everywhere.  personally, i won’t be going anywhere near this trend…i think it’s just too young and too much for a boot novice like me.  but, i am loving a residual trend: the cuffed boot.  take a look through some of these lovelies, and pick your favorite for fall!

ash is doing the best versions of the tall folded boot i’ve seen this season.  i love that they add a little style and edge without relying (much) on zippers and buckles to do the job.  these manage to stay sophisticated, chic and utterly unlike anything else in my closet.  plus, how can you be expected to resist blue suede?  from left: time long cuff boot in stone grey, $435; olivia tall boot in blue suede, $300; eden bellbottom boot in tmoro suede, $300.

lately, i’ve realized i’m not a person that loves neutrals, at least in the traditional sense.  i’ll almost never go for black or brown when it comes to classics.  instead, i’m drawn to greys, nudes (not khaki, it should be noted), and even navy blues to carry my brighter shades with style.  these neutral folded boots will stand out in a sea of black, but still manage to be the most versatile thing in your closet.  from left: elizabeth and james steel boot, $395; via spiga ’suri’ boot, $225 (also amazing in plum); belle by sigerson cuffed shoe-boot, $295.

so, i’m curious…what boots are you craving for fall?

okay, before you fall in love, don’t fall far….they’re by pierre hardy, and they’re $1400, so this is a look-but-don’t-touch post.  but i still had to share…i mean, look at them!

now, i have absolutely nowhere to wear these – after all, they take over-the-top to a whole new level.  but oh, i wish i did so that i could properly covet them.  as of now, they’re just making me covet the shoe and the life i’d have to have to own them (hmm, can you ever really own a shoe that lovely, or are you just borrowing it from the world?  what, too far?).

so, here’s what i’m wondering:  what amazing fantasy event would you want to attend in order to wear these amazing shoes?  for me, i’m thinking maybe the annual costume institute gala at the met.  it’s hosted by anna wintour, and i just know she’d stop me and demand that i remove my shoes and give them to her immediately.

what about you?

i admit to a bit of skepticism about these lovelies these because of the brand, which i associate more with beachy foot attire than thai silk pumps.  but that skepticism aside, these are one of the cutest “cheap thrill” shoes i’ve seen in a while.

i love the raw/duponi texturing on the silk, and that pleated knot on the vamp is a great way to embrace one of fall’s hot trends, not to mention embracing a very “sexy secretary” sort of look.  plus, i’m a sucker for a purple shoe…it’s this oddly unexpected neutral when it comes to footwear, and seems to match nearly everything.  if you’re looking for an inexpensive shoe, i cannot overstate my preference for purchasing them in a material other than leather.  it will either be gross, or it will be faux…and with very few exceptions, neither is good.

i especially love that they are $59.  if you can handle the 4″ heel height (i, much to my recurring chagrin, cannot), i’d call these perfect, and click “buy now“!

ever since i saw cameron diaz wearing these lovely sandals in the april vogue, i’ve been pretty obsessed with them – well, with the whole perfectly summer look, really.  and, since it’s the first pair of vegan shoes i’ve ever really fallen for, i figured this was a great chance to prove i actually can be eco-conscious sometimes (apparently, as long as it involves absolutely no sacrifice on my part).

photo courtesy vogue magazine, april 2009

it’s taken me this long to finally track down these sweet goliath sandals, but designer olsen haus finally has a website!  at $99, these are such a great, reasonable option for a chic sandal (if not quite a ‘cheap thrill’).  i absolutely love the blend of black and tan leather stacked on the vamp, and the geometry of the ankle straps.  it’s definitely one of my favorite sandals of the season.

if you’re one of my eco-friendly readers, olsen haus is definitely a go-to for chic vegan styles.  they have a few great options ahead for fall too (though some are a bit over the top, i have to admit).  but i love this blue faux-suede pump and, naturally, this magenta flat.

okay, maybe not “cheap” by my normal standards.  but $166 for prada shoes is a steal no matter how you slice it.

maybe i’m just rebelling against all of those sky-high platform sandals this season, but i think these butter yellow kitten heel peeptoes will get you through the rest of summer and early fall with so much style, and they’re so classic, they’ll last for years!  plus, they’re from prada’s linea rossa line, which is always amazingly comfortable.  i’d love to see these paired with skinny jeans, and they’ll be amazing with colored tights when the weather cools off.

nab them at barneys now…they have almost a full selection of sizes left!