i’ve been seeing a resurgence of loafers in my september mags this year, and it’s no surprise.  designers are returning to ladylike classics with menswear touches, and a loafer is the perfect way to add a dash of masculine energy to keep a girly look from going too far over the frilly fringe.

there are options out there at the highest of price points – i especially love the versions from elizabeth and james, and tods, but both are pretty cost-prohibitive.  but honestly, when a classic style like this comes back around, i think sometimes it pays to look back to the classic sources. and when it comes to a loafer, my first thought is still bass.

sure enough, they didn’t disappoint.  bass has updated their classic loafer with a shorter vamp (creating a more feminine shape), and a funky cumin color to give the right dose of edgy, but kept the price point downright cheap at $65.  i’d wear these with cuffed boyfriend jeans now, and a silk blouse (like, say, this one i picked up recently) with menswear trousers for fall…either way, they’re a great way to indulge in the men’s-inspired shoe trend without going the route of the overdone oxford.

i’ve been cruising the “what’s new” section at shopbop a little too much this week, and there are more than a few accessories that i just can’t get out of my head.

starting at the top, from left:  loeffler randall meg booties ($575) that i still can’t figure out how i’d wear, but love nonetheless.  if there’s one thing on this list i’ll actually end up buying, it’s this vanessa mooney dagger necklace ($140), which would be absolutely beautiful layered with a longer pendant necklace – i think jewelry’s trending that way for fall.  gara danielle druzy ring ($144), just because it’s blingy and pretty.

as for the bottom row, from left: halston heritage stingray satchel ($495), an unbelievable steal for a style so luxe and unique, and i predict it’ll be gone in an instant.  tory burch eddie beaded flats ($175), which would look amazing peeking out from trouser jeans, or with a flippy black skirt right now. loeffler randall’s shearling lowe boots ($695) are a serious splurge, but they’re also a serious step up from uggs, with all the cozy warmth!

happy friday, everyone!

i’m not even going to pretend there’s rhyme or reason to this week’s list.  try to just sit back and enjoy the randomness of it all.

i came across some earrings by gabriela artigas in a magazine this month, became obsessed, tracked her down, and am now coveting at least half of her line.  she makes some of the most unique, edgy and wearable pieces i’ve seen in ages, but this vintage art deco sterling spheres necklace ($320) is by far my favorite. it has that perfect mix of hip and timeless, and i simply can’t think of an outfit this wouldn’t improve. time to start that birthday wish list, i think…

i’ve been dying to test out the latest from relastin, but had a weird fixation on finishing up my last moisturizer before i cracked this one open.  readers, i have no idea why i waited so long.  much like my obsession with their eye silk, the skin revitalizer has this texture that’s just indescribably luxe…kind of silky, and thoroughly indulgent.  if i were a millionaire, i’d use it head to toe.  it’s perfect for summer, as it’s not the least bit greasy or over-moisturizing.  and, looks like it’s on sale at amazon for $40! trust me…you so want to try this one.

stuart & wright is having a serious sale right now, if you’re into the hipster lines like a.p.c. and acne.  as i’m usually not, i was about ready to pass this one by until i spied these handmade sandals by ariana bohling, now marked down to the realm of the reasonable. decisions, decisions.  (incidentally, if you’re of the smaller foot set, check out the sale on ndc’s equally lovely summer sandals too.)

and last but not least, this tote from hayden-harnett is just singing my song this week.  the tie-dye-ish chevron print is so fresh next to everyone else’s same old stripes, and i love that this has just a bit more structure than your typical summer tote.  plus, it doesn’t hurt that the line’s designer is an absolutely lovely human being…but you’ll be hearing more on that later.

have a great weekend, all…see you back here next week!

i can’t even begin to get into all of the sale wonderfulness going on across the web this weekend – it is, after all, the holiday weekend during which we celebrate our forefathers’ dedication to bargain shoe shopping for all.

right?

anyway.  first up, sigerson morrison (and it’s baby sister, belle) are now down to 50% off online.  this translates to $200-300 shoes from sigerson, and a big pile of under-$100 options from belle.  too good to pass up?  unquestionably.  now if only they’d mark down my booties already!  (a little tip: their sale page is quite temperamental, but if you plug in your preferred size, it seems to calm down dramatically.)  the styles below are all from belle, and all under $125:

and the next most exciting sale on my list is allsaints, who i’ve raved about before.  those sale-shopping geniuses over at racked pointed out that their styles are now up to 50% off online, *and* you get free shipping in the US – a very exciting thing indeed, since they’re based in the UK.  in particular, the luna dress and, though it’s a little out of character, the devanna skirt, are both high on my list, as is the suesha cardigan, though i’m more than a little scared i couldn’t actually figure out how to wear it.

other sales and steals of note include:

• le train bleu:  25% off sitewide this weekend with code onefourth
• basic boutique:  40% off sitewide (excluding final sale items) through monday with code CELEBRATE40
• blue bee:  a big ol’ sale section up to 70% off for the next few days, priced as marked.
• shopbop:  a whole new batch of markdowns hit the site in celebration of the 4th, and there are some goodies to be had!

if other deals cross my path, i’ll most likely be too lazy to update this page.  so, i’ll throw them up on my twitter feed – in case you needed more incentive to follow me.

neiman marcus is having a spring sale so good, it’s making me reconsider my longstanding boycott of their online store (a very long story involving a dispute over some ill-fitting prada shoes which had not been worn, i don’t care what they say.  but i digress…).  anyway, the sale is fabulous, especially with regard to spring shoes.  you get to take an additional 25% off the discounted price of everything that’s already on sale, plus free shipping at any price (with code SHOPNM).

if you haven’t splurged yet this season, may i suggest:

from left to right:  michael kors bristol wedge, $118 from $225; antik batik gladiator sandal, $108 from $215; loeffler randall brynn thong, $163 from $325; cole haan air phoebe woven rope sandal, $84 from $168; prada espadrille wedge, $193 from $385; stuart weitzman leather wedge espadrille, $163 from $325; tory burch lizard-print reva flat, $118 from $235; tory burch espadrille flat, $58 from $115;  joie wingtip flat, $149 from $198.

not to mention all of the lovely, lovely loefflers on sale, and some elizabeth and james stacking rings i’m seriously considering.

just don’t test out your new shoes on a hardwood floor…trust me on this one.

this week’s finds are as random as they come, but they’re all things i’ve fallen hard for in the last few days.  fortunately, there’s only one budget-busting splurge in the mix, and i’ve included a pretty serious steal to make up for it!

at first, i wasn’t enthralled with the fenton/fallon collection for j.crew…once again, i’m just not cool enough.  but the more i see of this bracelet (it’s been circling blogland something fierce this week), the more i want it.  i love the idea of pairing it with a grey burnout tank, the perfect cutoff shorts, and flip flops…a single decadent accent to the ultimate lazy summer outfit.

i spent the week debating exactly how many things i had to have from madewell’s new site.  their striped espadrilles didn’t make the cut…straw shoes fade and die so quickly, i couldn’t bear to spend $50. fortunately, anne at city sage and the stylish ladies at blue moss both noticed these chic stand-ins from target – for $16, thank you very much.  i snapped them up instantly.

(incidentally, speaking of cheap summer shoes, i’m digging these retro huraches too…and at $15, i may even be able to justify reliving that trend.)

of course, for every steal, there must be a contrasting splurge, or my superficial little shopping world would just implode.  smythe’s linen military jacket would blow my entire summer wardrobe budget at $650, but i also think i’d wear it just about every day, and well into fall, as this military trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

sigh.  heartbreakingly perfect, isn’t it?

with that, happy weekend everyone!

ah, spring.  i’m so not a fan of warm-weather attire, but the shoes?  they’re another story entirely.  i get absolutely giddy when my favorite shops start to break out the sandals in january, and i start counting the days until i get to wear my peep toes for the first time each spring.  truth be told, i end up a little overwhelmed by my choices…in the best possible way, of course.

but i think i’ve finally narrowed it down to my favorites of the season.  i’ve tried (so very hard) to minimize the splurge factor, so most of these are under $100, and each and every one will bring some serious spring style to your closet.  this list is far from exhaustive (it’s a great year for sandals), but there isn’t a pair here that wouldn’t be extremely welcome at my house.

if you’re the type to pick one classic shoe to get you through the season, this cole haan ($108) is it.  sleek and simple, these will blend with any style you’ve got going.  but look closely, and you’ll see just a touch of inspiration from those oxford brogues we’ve been seeing everywhere.  add the nike air technology, and your long summer strolls will be utterly effortless.

these sweet mini-wedge espadrilles from marais ($92) just remind me of childhood…in the best possible way.  i’d love to see these paired with skirts and dresses, sure, but they’d be equally cute with cutoff denim.

for something a little edgier, i fell hard for these bright blue gladiators from aldo ($60) when i first spotted them.  i got the chance to test them out (yes, my job is awesome), and i can tell you they’re one of the most comfy sandals i own, and the construction is really impressive for the price.  i’ve developed a whole new affection for aldos after trying these.  rock them with your spring shorts, and release your inner badass.

i hardly know where to start with these studded snakeskin flat gladiators from modern vintage ($225).  they’re a bit of a splurge, i know, but look at them!  the snakeskin straps, the studded vamp…it was too much for me to resist.  these might just top my list this year.  (you can, incidentally, get a similar look for less here…not as wonderful, but under $100 is always nice.)

sigh…these rachel comey margot sandals had me at hello.  again with the mini-wedge and the bright, cheery color…i have a feeling these wouldn’t leave my feet all summer!  i’m sorry to tell you they’re a definite spluge at $275, but nab 20% off with code SPRING10 for the time being.

and last but not least, we all need a little something to kick around in when our pedicure’s lagging.  these striped yellow cordones from TOMS ($69) are an adorable alternative to those little leather oxfords we’re seeing everywhere, and a nice change from the keds of yore.  plus, you get do-gooder bonus points, as TOMS still buys a pair of shoes for someone in need for every pair they sell.  (update: the powers that be just emailed to let me know they’re discontinuing this color, so act fast if you love the yellow. if you miss out, the red version is sticking around, and it’s just as cute!)

happy friday, everyone…i hope there’s some shoe shopping in your future this weekend!

since i already have a pair of tretorns, i can’t exactly justify a second pair (especially since i wear trainers approximately 3 times a year).  but if i could, oh my…these exclusive tretorn colors for j.crew are singing my song!

i especially love that fawn color (third from the top), but the raw linen shade right above it is pretty perfect too.  i might even replace the laces with leather ties, like that stylish kate did,  just to add a little extra prep to the look.  whichever color you love, grab a pair for $68 at j.crew before they sell out…which i have a feeling will be soon.

editor’s note: thanks so much for the input, everyone!  looks like the score is pretty well tied, but i do think i’m leaning toward the booties – would still love your thoughts, though.  for those of you with *excellent* memories, you remembered that the booties are the ones i featured last fall from sigerson morrison (they were re-released for spring) – and they’re still $295.  the sandals are by marni, but i found them over at yoox.com, also for $295…on sale.

i know black isn’t very interesting for spring, but i’m finding myself wanting a shoe with a bit of edge to keep my spring looks from getting overly girly.  i think i have it narrowed down to two choices…both pretty versatile, and not like anything else in my closet.  so, pricing and branding aside, tell me which you love best!

it’s a tricky one.  the sandal is the clear choice for spring…but when fall comes, i suspect i’ll wish i’d splurged on the bootie, and i do think i could make it work for some of my spring looks.  what say you, dear readers?  (once we get a consensus, i’ll let you know where you can find both of these lovelies!)

i didn’t actually plan it this way, but i must be in an extreme sort of mood, because if there’s a common thread to this week’s friday finds, it’s some seriously over the top style.

for those that are a fan of todd selby’s photography and/or his blog, you’re going to be thrilled to know that his book launched this week.

the selby is in your place is packed with photos from the homes, studios and offices of some seriously cool people, including karl lagerfeld, simon doonan & jonathan adler, and erin wasson.  to be honest, selby’s style is a bit much for me sometimes…he seems to seek out the crazy, even slightly creepy, in everything he shoots (see his shoot of the explorers’ club for some seriously crazy photos of dead animals).  but he struck a nice balance with the book, adding in a few more mainstream images to make it appeal to a wider, less artsy group.  if nothing else, the new book is worth it for the shots of lagerfeld’s studio alone, which are completely fantastic.

speaking of completely fantastic, every time i think i’m finally over studs, something comes along to make me fall all over again.  and lately, whenever that “something” comes along, it’s from be & d.  like, for example, their memphis studded flat in this gorgeous citrus hue.

i love that, from the front, they’re as conservative as can be, but when you turn to walk away, that studded cuff on the back makes you an instant badass!  so perfect to add some edge to a skinny jean or legging, and i’d love to see them toughen up a pair of silk shorts when the weather gets warm.

and i know it’s a little random – i think jane and judy aldridge are rubbing off on me – but i’m finding myself jonesing for a completely over-the-top pendant necklace.  something like, say, a giant elk head.

laugh, but then think about it with a slouchy tank top (this one springs to mind), blazer, cutoff shorts and tights.  and maybe those be & d shoes.  i’m feeling it.  especially for $8, i think it’s worth a shot.

happy friday, everyone…have a great weekend!