The Pretty Pear

Shoe of the week: Cole Haan Mary Jane Wedge

2009-07-10T11:07:14-05:00

I'm so curious about these Cole Haan Carma Air Mary Jane Wedges. First of all, they're really cute but more importantly, they have concealed Nike Air technology in the insole! How neat is that? And they even come in wide widths! I really want to order them just to try them on but I’m afraid I’ll fall in love. But they might be worth the $300! Waaah!

Beth Ditto for Evans

2009-07-09T10:18:41-05:00

Beth Ditto’s line for Evans is up and available for purchase. I’m glad the collection actually came to be and I really want to like it but most of it is just not my taste. I do quite like the biker jacket, the purple hoodie and the sequined tunic. I’m leaning toward liking the acid wash denim pencil skirt but I’d need to see it on someone before deciding. It could be cute with the biker jacket and strappy, chunky heels. I can’t say that I’m willing to spend the money on any of the items, so I don’t think Beth will be in my closet any time soon. I’m sad because I really wanted to love this collection.

I guess what turns me off most is that I was a fat kid in the 80s and I wore a lot of long, baggy tops with leggings. I’ve always thought of that look as the “fat girl uniform” so it just doesn’t appeal to me. In fact, it borders on insulting, in a weird way. I think the cat face t-shirt kind of pushed me over the edge there. I’ve spent a lot of time trying not to dress like a streotypical frumpy fat girl and now that look is trendy? Eh? I know there are ways to put together outfits from the separate pieces and the looks are cute but .. I mean… cat face t-shirt? Should I wear that with big, white socks and a scrunchie?

Having said all that, I predict that this line will be popular and I hope it does well so we can see more from Beth soon. Maybe she’ll venture beyond the 80s trends into something more creative. I’m not anti-trendy but I was really hoping for a collection that was a more forward-thinking and not so reliant on the looks many of us got sick of 20 years ago.

More opinions about the collection:

One of my guiltiest pleasures

2009-07-07T11:29:19-05:00

I love cheap shoes. The pair pictured left are from last Spring and were maybe $10 from Old Navy. The funny thing is that I get more compliments on these $10 shoes than any other pair in my wardrobe. They’re flimsy, they offer zero support of any kind, and they’d probably disintegrate if water touched them. But the pattern is really cute, they’re not horribly uncomfortable and I just love them. I really wish I had gotten a second pair for when these fall apart.

I picked up these cheetah print flats from Target for $13 over the weekend. They’re just as unsupportive and cheaply made as the Old Navy flats. Sometimes I just say “whatever” and accept that my $13 shoes probably won’t last for years and years. They’re cute, fit well for a cheap shoe and I quite like them. They come in a bunch of colors and patterns, too.

Cheap shoes are not a guilty pleasure because I think you have to spend a ton of money on shoes. They’re a guilty pleasure because I know they’re totally impractical! The thing about cheap shoes is that you have to be realistic and highly selective about wearing them. If you have any kind of foot, knee, leg, hip, or back issues, wearing unsupportive shoes will make it worse. And if you do any amount of walking in cheap shoes, you’ll live to regret it.

This is why I suggest reserving the cheap shoes for when you’ll be doing a lot of sitting. In other words, don’t wear the flatest flats in the world to go on a walking tour of Paris and then cry about how your back hurts. You’re kind of asking for it. I have a pair of super supportive New Balance sneakers for when I’ll be on my feet or walking a lot.

Another thing to be mindful of is that cheap high heels are generally a lot more uncomfortable than well made, sturdy high heels. A good heel requires quality craftmenship and you’re not really going to get that from $15 pumps from Payless. If you’re going to be doing anything other than sitting and looking cute, invest in a decent quality heel. They’ll last longer and your back will thank you for it.

Shopping tip: An important question

2009-07-02T10:55:00-05:00

I’m just going to say right off the bat that this tip isn’t my own. It’s actually from Tim Gunn’s book. Le Gunn is wise, though so we trust his advice.

Here’s a question to ask yourself whenever you’re tempted to buy an item that’s on sale, you have a coupon for, or the item is otherwise cheaper than full retail:

Would I be willing to pay full price for this item if it wasn’t on sale? Would I still want it as badly as I do now?

Now, I’m not saying to immediately drop the item and run out of the store if the answer is “No” (Incidentaly, Tim Gunn would say that but I’m nicer than he is, I guess). I am saying to stop yourself and consider why you want the item in your hands. Will it really add value to your wardrobe or do you want it because it’s cheap and you’re afraid to pass up an opportunity?

This question can be tough if you’re a bargain hunter like myself. In the case that I’m actively waiting for an item to go on sale before buying it, I don’t really ask myself the Big Question. In that case, it’s a planned purchase and I’m just waiting to get a good deal.

However, if I’m in a store or just putzing around online and come across something on sale and think “omg I need this right now or I’ll never be able to find anything like it ever again!!!”

I stop.

And ask, “Is this item so wonderfully unique that I will never find anything like it ever again at a similar price?” And the answer is almost always no.

The question isn’t intended to make you want to pay full price for everything you need. It’s just a way to measure how valuable the item is to you and whether you’d be willing to sacrifice a little more financially to have it.

A few reasons to love QVC

2009-06-30T12:13:16-05:00

Customer reviews
QVC allows their customers to post reviews of products on the QVC site. I have seen that they’ll hide reviews for the Today’s Special Value items but other than that, they don’t filter out the negative reviews. I’m a lot more likey to buy something online if I can read reviews, especially if it’s clear that the reviews aren’t filtered to show only the good ones. The model works well for Amazon and Zappos and it’s great to see QVC encouraging their customers to share their experiences. Letting customers write reviews shows that QVC is confident in their products and that they put the customer’s satisfaction first.

One item, one price
Almost all of the apparel that QVC carries comes in sizes up to 3X or 26/28. But guess what? Every size is the same price. They don’t charge extra for plus sizes. Havng just one price for each item is logical for QVC but it’s totally different from how other retailers price their plus sizes, so it’s worth noting.

Standard sizing
QVC has one size chart and all of their clothes use that same sizing, regardless of designer or label. And if there are any differences, they’ll note that on-air. This means that you can order clothing with the confidence that the item is likely to fit. This doesn’t mean everything will fit 100% of the time but you can call the order number and the customer service rep will have measurements for any item you’re interested in.

And if you don’t like an item once you get it, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund, including the original shipping price. Their return policy is here, if you’re curious.

A few more reasons…
Great selection of my favorite beauty lines (Bare Escentuals and philosophy), PM Style on Monday nights with my favorite hostess Lisa Robertson, fun celebrity guests (like Carson from Queer Eye, even if you don’t buy any of his stuff, he’s so entertaining to watch!), Easy Pay…

Note: QVC didn’t pay me to write this and I have no affiliation with them at all, whatsoever. I just have a dorky love for home shopping.

Shoe of the week! Sistine by Naturalizer

2009-06-26T13:30:00-05:00

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.

The scoop on the Right Fit Straight Leg jeans!

2009-06-24T10:00:15-05:00

The folks at Lane Bryant were kind enough to send me a pair of the new Right Fit straight leg jeans to try. They’re Right Fit Blue size 6 petite in black (the pair pictured left are the “medium sandblast” blue). I’m between inseam lengths so for jeans, I’ll generally wear a petite length with flats and an average length with any other shoe.

Before even putting the jeans on, I noticed that the waistband is a little wider and there are double belt loops, which are nice touches. The black denim isn’t a true black; it’s a dusty, dark gray with distressing, whiskering, fading, etc. There's even a bit of subtle whiskering below the knee area. The denim itself feels much smoother than the denim used for the trouser jeans and is a nice, substantial weight (but not too heavy!).

I did a sniff test right out of the packaging and there was a definite chemically dye smell. I decided to wash them before letting the smell sway my overall opinion of the jeans. There was still a very faint smell after the first wash but I suspect it’ll fade over the next couple of runs through the washer.

Now for the important part – the cut. From the waist to the knee, the jeans fit a lot like the bootcuts. The cut from the knee to hem is straight but not so stick straight that the jeans are tight around my calves, which was my main concern. The leg is definitely straight and not tapered. The wider waistband is a welcomed improvement and should be more comfortable.

Overall, my first impression is that the straight leg jeans are a lot like the bootcuts but with… a straighter leg! I’ll be ordering the medium sandblast blue color in Blue 6 but in the average length. The inseam might be just a bit too long with most of my shoes but I think the hem will bunch around the ankle, in a cute way. I like the bootcuts in size Blue 5 but I have a feeling if I went down a size in the straight leg, they’d be a little too snug.

I can see these jeans being a really good alternative to skinny jeans if you want the same straight leg look, without the skinny-tightness. If you do want a skinnier look, you could try going down a size. These jeans are also good if you’re just over the bootcut/flare look and want a true straight leg.

The Right Fit straight leg jeans are available online now in average lengths for $54.50. They’re priced higher because of the additional detailing and (noticeably) improved fabrication. Honestly, I think $55 is a fair price for these jeans. If nothing else, I know I can bend over in a pair of Right Fit jeans and not flash my panties at passersby! That’s actually a major issue for me, so the fit at the waist is worth the price of admission.

If you’re a fan of the Right Fit line in general, I think you’ll like this latest addition. If you have any questions about the new jeans, feel free to leave a comment on this post. I’ll try my best to answer!

New music from the Gossip!

2009-06-23T12:05:00-05:00

So, the media has been abuzz with stories about Beth Ditto and her new line for Evans and the fact that she's fat. That's basically the news - she's fat and she designed a line of clothes. But uh, her band also happens to be coming out with a new album. It's out today, in fact. I'm excited to see Beth getting so much attention and I'm extra excited that she designed a line just for plus sizes but HELLO, NEW ALBUM!

I've been a Gossip fan for a while so I think it's funny that Beth herself is bigger news than the music at this point. I love her attitude and style but really, I love her band's music most of all. I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video for "Heavy Cross." The song is amazing and alright, fine - Beth looks awesome and sparkly.

$15 shoe event at Silhouettes!

2009-06-23T10:47:58-05:00

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.