The Pretty Pear

Shoe of the week! Sistine by Naturalizer

If you have wide feet, you know how hard it is to find cute shoes that are the right fit and are at least somewhat comfortable. I was so excited when I first spotted these wedges from Naturlizer and immediately started thinking about how cute they’d be with summer dresses and capris.

My foot is a size 8 in length but about an 8.5 in terms of width. Not all of the shoes I wear are wides but I always choose that option when possible, especially when shopping online. I ordered these in an 8 wide and hoped for the best.

They are really super cute on but the instep is too tight and the top of my feet puff up around the edge. It’s not a cute look but it’s a problem I run into a lot. I’m going to try them in an 8.5 and I think those will work.

The wedge isn’t too high at all, even for me and I don’t handle heels well. There’s a good amount of padding in the footbed and overall, the shoe is pretty great quality for $60.

Sistine by Nautralizer is available in four colors and one print, sizes 5 – 12, narrow – wide widths for $60 from Zappos.

$15 shoe event at Silhouettes!

This sale was a big hit last time so Silhouettes is doing it again! $15 shoe sale, 2 days only at Silhouettes.com! Offer ends tomorrow, June 24th.

Shoe of the week: Nike Mary Jane

I love these shoes. They were instantly comfortable with zero break-in time and while they’re not technically a wide width shoe, they fit my wide-ish feet just fine.

I slip them on for running errands or whenever I’ll be on my feet but don’t want to wear a full sneaker. They’re absolutely perfect for travel, too. I have them in black but the gray pair pictured is totally cuter. The Nike Mary Jane is available for $60 from zappos.com.

Shoe of the week: Naturalizer Holdup

This cute little Mary Jane by Naturalizer looks like an autumn shoe to me but I couldn't resist posting it. It's available in sizes 5 - 12, medium and wide widths for $69 from shoes.com.

I really like the gray suede but it also comes in bronze, a dark hunter green, and black leather. This is a versatile shoe that could be worn with a skirt or trousers for work or with jeans for casual days.

Coupon: Save 15% off at shoes.com with the code JUNE15!

Love it or hate it?

I wish Zappos had a feature that would filter all of the wide width shoes to show just those that are “cute” and/or “trendy.” I really am happy with how much better the selection of wide width shoes is becoming in general but I get extra excited when I spot a shoe that’s super trendy. Sometimes, my vision gets clouded by the trendiness and I forget to ask myself if I actually like the damn shoe. Funny, that’s how I am with plus size clothes, too. Hmm.

Anyway, this is the Kellie by Gabriella Rochar in the black and white patent option. Putting aside the fact that it has a 4 inch heel and I’d never be able to walk in them, I think they’re pretty cute. I do have to ask myself whether I think they’re cute because they’re actually cute or if I’m just excited that they’d maybe fit my wide feet.

So, do you love them or hate them? Pretend that a 4 inch heel is totally easy to walk in and you’d never, ever snap an ankle while wearing them.

Oh yay, boots that fit my ankles!

(I'm easing back into this blogging thing so forgive me if things are slow for a while. I also have some pretty squee-worthy news that I can't share just yet but I will soon. It's big!)

I finally had to bite the bullet and find a pair of snow boots that were actually made for snow. I'm happy with these Snowflakes boots by Trotters, with the caveat that they're not totally waterproof. I live in Chicago, where every street corner is a miniature pond o'slush that you sometimes HAVE to walk through. These boots don't totally protect the foot from getting wet but it's better than nothing, I guess. To put it gently, I have a very thick ankle so I'm just happy when I find something that fits. They're not very attractive but I wear them with jeans so it's not a disaster. Well, it can be a disaster for my pants but... sigh, whatever. Y'know?

I chose these boots because of the laces but uh, the laces aren't really functional. The reason the shoe fits my ankle is because they're cut lower at the front and they are super roomy. I could've probably gone down a half size or so but it's fine. You do need an insert because there's very little padding in the sole but the faux furry lining is nice and cozy. They're not the boots of my dreams but damn it, they fit. I won't make many concessions when it comes to clothing but with shoes, I'm willing to compromise some.

So, I guess I'd give these boots a rating of "eh, whatever." If you have really thick ankles and you're sick of looking, either click that link up there or Google "Trotters Snowflakes." They must be popular because I can't find a site that has the full range of sizes/colors in stock.

I do need to find legitimate boots that will keep my feet AND pants dry. I'm thinking very seriously about ordering a pair from Boots for Broads. Their boots are 100% custom made - you send them all kinds of measurements and they make a pair of totally unique boots just for you. The prices are very reasonable, too. They're based in Australia but it looks like they'll ship all over. I'll post a review if I decide to order from them.

I know a lot of people love Duo boots but their widest calf size isn't wide enough for my very wide calves. Woe is me!

So, um.

Torrid has done the impossible: I'm speechless. I don't even know what to say about these. Perhaps you can think of a situation where Bad Santa boots would be an appropriate choice in footwear?

Kidding aside, I don't know if I'm a square or if Torrid is aiming for a younger and younger demographic. I am grateful that a retailer is selling trendy items for young plus size women and if I was 18, I'm sure most of my clothes would come from there. However, the clothes are growing increasingly over the top in terms of trendiness. It feels a bit like they're pushing away slightly older women like myself who enjoy trendy pieces but don't want something to go out of style before it even arrives in the mail.

If anything, I'm a bargain shopper and how many times will you REALLY wear slutty Santa boots? Cost per wear! Cost per wear!

To their credit, the calf circumference is 21 inches and up, so there's that.

Deals on shoes and boots

From shoes.com:

• 20% off one day only, Monday, December 1st with the code MONDAY.

From Piperlime:

• 20% off with the code MONDAY at checkout, Monday only. As always, Piperlime ships for free.

From Endless:

• $30 off orders over $100, including sale merchandise on Monday, December 1st.

From Payless, both deals expire December 21st:

• Buy one, get one half off everything.
• Free shipping on orders over $60

From ShoeMall:

• FREE $30 gift certificate with $100 purchase. No code necessary. Valid December 1 - 4.

15% off at shoes.com

Save 15% off your entire order at Shoes.com with code OCT08 at check out. This code is valid until October 31st. If you're looking for wide width shoes, click here for a big selection. I really like these Era pumps from Franco Sarto, pictured left. They also come in gray, brown and black but I think the red would be so pretty with gray trousers.

I wonder if I could walk in these...

Naturalizer Kilowatt in pink patent
It can be really hard to find fashion-forward shoes in wide widths but these wedges from Naturalizer are very on-trend. The pink patent is pretty bright so if you like the style but not the shocking pink hue, they're also available in black or white patent. I love a colorful shoe, though. These are $64 from Zappos in sizes 5 - 12 narrow, medium, and wide widths.

Many of the reviewers say that these are actually pretty comfortable so maybe I'll give them a try. Wedges are way easier to navigate than heels and the straps look like they'd add some support to the ankle. Zappos pays for return shipping, so even if they don't work out, it's easy to send them back.

New sandals from Avenue

Avenue has several new sandals for spring and these Irene wedges are my favorite. They're available in black and white but I think the pink is adorable and way more exciting. The color and shine reminds me of fabulous pink lipstick. If you're not a fan of heels but still want some height and sexiness, a wedge is a great alternative. They're available in sizes 8 - 13 wide for $39.95.

Avenue has many more new items for spring and I'll be posting about those soon.

$20 off at Shoes.com

Save $20 off a purchase of $100 or more at Shoes.com through April 7th. Just use the promo code APRIL2008 at check out. This is just in time to start thinking about shoes for Spring, eh?

Step into Spring

I'm really pining away for some warmer weather. Frankly, I'm sick of bundling up and wearing "sensible" shoes. How boring. Happily, retailers are starting to stock their springtime items, including cute new shoes at Zappos! I love Zappos because the have a really big variety of wide width shoes, they ship super fast, and they pay for return shipping so the whole process is a breeze.

Fitzwell Anaya in Bronze
I really like these and I can't quite put my finger on why. I think it's because they're so not what you'd expect from a wide width shoe. They're sexy, they're trendy, and they come in a whole bunch of colors.

Stuart Weitzman Youngbuck in Red Patent
Oh, how I love a big friggin' buckle and these are so hot in the red patent. There's also a matching bag if you're into being super matchy-matchy but I wouldn't necessarily wear both pieces together.

Easy Spirit Micelle in Red Patent
More red patent and more buckles! These are sleeker than the Stuart Weitzmans above, and a more affordable way to achieve a similar look.

Naturalizer Hoffman in Camelot Leather
The obvious pairing for these shoes would be a tweed skirt or pants but how about a denim skirt (pencil, not flouncy) and a gauzy yet fitted top instead? Retro is the most fun when you go for something a little unexpected.

Check out more wide width shoes at Zappos. I've ordered several pairs of shoes from Zappos in the past and I've always been pleased with the experience. The free return shipping is vital for shoe shopping online and the selection is way better than what you'd find in stores.

Cute new shoes at Avenue

Alright, spring is still pretty far off and it's cold and dreary and just BLAH. So, let's look at some springy shoes from Avenue and dream of warm, sunny days to come. *cue chirping birds sound effect*

Gemini Leather Ballet Wedge
I love flats but sometimes flat is too flat and it's basically like walking barefoot. That's fine if you're just running to the store or won't be on your feet long but in reality, it's not great for your feet. These cuties are a cross between a ballet flat and a wedge, and the slight heel will keep you from dragging your pants through the dirt as you frolic about in a field of flowers.

Vicky Gemstone Sandal
These are a little on the geriatric side but sometimes you have to use your imagination when it comes to footwear. I'd consider these to be a flip flop replacement. They come in three metallic shades (the pink here, gold and silver) and metallic is always big for spring and summer. They have the big gemstone that adds a little bling but doesn't venture into tacky. The straps will show off your polished toesies very nicely. And best of all, they're probably way more comfortable than a ratty pair of worn out foam flip flops. They're a little glam and damn it, I like them. I want them in pink AND silver. So there.

Toronto Nubuck Ballet Flat
I really wish my mom would wear flats like these with jeans instead of her Big White Marshmallow Sneakers. Maybe I'll get a pair for both of us and sneak them into her house. Anyway, if you want to replace your Big White Marshmallow Sneakers with something that's still sporty, go with an athletic inspired flat like these. They're a much more modern option and they don't make your feet look like down comforters. Plus they come in brown and pink, one of my favorite color combinations.

A delightful coupon from shoes.com

I'm running out of adjectives.

Receive $20 off your order of $150 or more at shoes.com with the code JANSAVE. I'm kind of lusting after these Franco Sarto "Comic" pumps in slate grey. They look like a ballet flat but have a little heel. Totally cute!