Hi ESB!
You are awesome at finding cool stuff, and I am clearly not, so I am hoping you can find me some sweet shoes for my October (2012) wedding (I am a plan-ahead type).
For reasons of comfort and my dress being somewhat short for a ball gown, I need a 2-2.5" heel. From my hours of research, the world puts out wicked flats, and the most gorgeous 3"+ heels, but interview-shoes in between.
I want something exciting and gold that will make my outfit a little more modern, and isn't a strappy sandal (because in October in Canada snow is an outside possibility). My dress is on the conservative side (think 50s vintage heirloom), so something with a punk/studded aesthetic might be a bit over the top, but I love all the shoes out there covered in glitter.
Oh, and I'm trying to avoid flats because my fiance and I have really tall families and I don't want to look super-short in the photos. I'd also rather spend $300 on sweet shoes I can dance all night in than on having my dress hemmed.
If you can help me, that would be amazing & thank you so much in advance!
*****
Here is my shoe advice: DO NOT BUY THEM A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
You will change your mind three times. You see ten more pairs you like. You will think to yourself, "What the eff was I thinking? These are so 2011."
Frida Gustavsson models Jil Sander for DV Mode Magazine S/S 2011 via Models Inspiration
Speaking as someone who went totally SHOE CRAZY during her seven months of wedding planning, bought four pairs then ended up wearing a pair that cost 99 pence on eBay, I totally agree with ESB's advice. Just shove the shoes to the back of your mind and wait. They will totally just crop up.
ReplyDeleteAlso ESB, that dress is a-mazing!
I think you should buy these: http://ruffledblog.com/recycle-your-wedding/see-ads/1418/J-Crew-Starlight-Sylvia-Heels-size-9/
ReplyDeleteif you're a different size, find them on ebay? I don't think you can go wrong with them, EVEN THOUGH they're jcrew.
God yes. But don't let it stop you buying shoes.
ReplyDeleteI semi-agree with ESB. I thought I would look last summer for a wedding this December (Australian summer) and then didn't buy anything cos I wasn't 100%. BUT I now wish I had bought these (totally unrelated to your shoe description): http://pinterest.com/pin/19871989/
ReplyDeleteI am gutted that I can't get them any more. My advice is that if you do see a pair that you LOVE, get them. Because if you're like me, you might not find anything else that you even remotely like.
God yes. But get them all the same. Shoes are easy cause you can wear them afterwards even if not for the big day.
ReplyDeleteI have to sort of disagree. I had the hardest time finding shoes for my wedding and ended up buying a cheap pair from chinatown 2 weeks before (and they split my toenail on the day).
ReplyDeleteIf you find a pair you like now, buy them. You might not find another pair.
Glittery, not strappy, 2.17 inch heel:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/us/en/zara-us-W2011/130508/388330/GLITTER%2BCOURT%2BSHOE
Some people can make up their minds early on, ladies. (Not that I was anything like that while planning my wedding...)
True story. I had three pairs plus flip-flops. the ones I donned for A MINUTED were rad, but fuck it. I went barefoot for lots of it.
ReplyDeleteYou really will change your mind. Wait it out.
Yeah, shoes, whatever.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I got totally distracted by that beautiful dress.
ESB is right. As usual. duh.
One more thing. I walked past Wittner (Australian shoe shop) yesterday and they all kinds of short heels in the window. The ones online are not what I saw in-store so maybe keep an eye out in the coming months.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wittner.com.au/shoes/heels.html?heel_height=21
katherinekiyoko -thanks to you I've now got my second pair of wedding shoes, I was scrolling through the Zara UK site thinking 'please have the glittery heels' and there they were...
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with snapping up a pair when you see them, even if you still have a year to go.
I absolutely agree with ESB, however, I also know what it's like to have to check someThing off your to-do list so you don't obsess. Just buy some really fabulous shoe clips for now on etsy. You can buy a cute sensible heel at j.crew or Kate spade down the road (or now if you must).
ReplyDeletei, too, would wait. my preferences (and trends in general) change so dramatically over seasons that buying shoes a year in advance could never work for me.
ReplyDeleteI think "wedding shoes" are a mistake. Wear your shoes before the wedding so they don't kill your feel. I wore my four inch heels all summer and was fine at an outdoor wedding with them.
ReplyDeleteI bought my shoes a year in advance and I still love them. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteAgree to disagree. As the questioner pointed out, it can range from helpful to imperative to wear THE shoes during dress alterations. If you find some you like now, get them. If afterwards you see another pair you like more (or as much. or you aren't sure) GET THOSE, TOO! Like others have pointed out, you'll still end up wearing them either way. For what it's worth, zappos has a year-long window to return items.
ReplyDeletethe earlier you buy them, the longer you have to stare at them and wish you could wear them
ReplyDeleteso yeah, I totally did dishes and laundry in my wedding shoes 3+ months ahead of time (they had these really pretty hearts on the sole that I didn't want to ruin)
@Anon 7:10 it's also a bad idea to have your dress altered more than a few months in advance. WHO KNOWS how much you'll weigh a year from now??
ReplyDeleteGet a backup pair now with a good return policy. I have two weeks left, no shoes, and I'm freaking out.
ReplyDeleteThe bride didn't ask if we thought she should wait to buy her wedding shoes; she asked us to find them for her.
ReplyDeleteHere is my pick, slightly over-budget, but they'd be killer with a 50s style dress.
GOOD LUCK! xo.
@nicole it's MY BLOG. i get to do whatever i want.
ReplyDelete@nicole also: those shoes are ugly
ReplyDeleteHa! I'd just like to see more suggestions from readers, that's all. I kinda love your shopping "assignments" - even if I failed at this one.
ReplyDelete@nicole there are more where that came from....
ReplyDelete@ESB I'm anon from 7:10. Very true! I guess I'm a plan-ahead type too, because I just ordered shoes for my April 2012 wedding. Just because I have them (and the dress) in my closet doesn't mean I'm running out next week for alterations, it means I can cross it off my list and not mess with it later.
ReplyDeleteAs for a suggestion, they're expensive but what about these
holy shit that dress, i want someone (preferably me) to get married in it immediately!
ReplyDeletei've never looked at photos and thought: "god that person is short, if they would've just worn a 2.5" heel..."
ReplyDeleteI bought these for my wedding....I know they are on the expensive side, but i wore them all day and night and had no problems. I use them all the time now too!
ReplyDeletehttp://us.jimmychoo.com/en/us/isabel-/invt/247isabelgfa/
I totally agree with amanda... looking at that dress makes you forget about the shoes!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try those Jimmy Choos on for my sister's upcoming Indian wedding. But if I was wearing a white wedding dress and wanted a little glitter, I'd go with these:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.katespade.com/bridal-trousseau/designer-wedding-shoes/clarice/S942302,default,pd.html?dwvar_S942302_color=101&start=66&cgid=shoes
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