A detacher Somerville

Something about these shoes I find strangely appealing.

$425 at Lambs Ear Shoes and at Creatures of Comfort. You'll remember, I also loved last spring's version. Guess I should've just bought them then...instead of obsessing about them all over again.

Madewell - the Jessie sandal

On Madewell's facebook today, they had this photo showing a new skirt, but when I looked at it, I was much more interested in the shoes she is wearing! One quick search on Madewell's site and I found the Jessie sandal. They come in black and brown and are only $128.  Sort of a gladiator sandal crossed with a Mary Jane, and a touch of Birkenstock. I love that they can be casual with shorts or jeans or dressed up with a skirt or dress. Also, even better is that they don't have buckles - much, much easier to get on and off, which is kind of an important functional part of any shoe.

More Summer Sandals - A Détacher

So adding on to my buckle theme from the other day, I knew there was one other one I was forgetting about. Luckily, I remembered! A Détacher makes some amazing shoes and they are usually a little too complicated on the wearability scale for me but they remind me of old-school (real) Helmut Lang looks from back in the day.  However this season they seem way more wearable. And there is one such sandal with a large buckle on it, reminiscent of a belt buckle a la the whole "buckle trend" i was talking about last week, and it comes in many different amalgamations. My favorite is the highsmith. I like it probably because it's the most simple of all of them but I like how simple it is and how it sort of looks like a belt remade on your foot.

Creatures of Comfort are the only ones carrying the simple black leather t-strap version. Most all other stores only have the simple t-strap in silver, including Mohawk general store whose lookbook pictures I included above. Doesn't the silver look amazing how they styled it?

the Highsmith in black

The Coyne with a suede knot

A little out there but the sandals have a box heel that is so on trend right now (all the Brit girls are wearing it) and I think the knot version, while less wearable for sure, is very sexy. Especially if you wear the higher heel version.

There is another color in the Coyne - the knot version - that is silver with a tan suede knot and doesn't have the white rubber on the bottom (not a fan of that.) It was in the runway show at NYFW and is available here. Okay, stop the bus. THAT one is my favorite. Why more stores don't have that color I have no idea? (Also note the "socks". Sort of a half-tube mesh thing. Una in Portland is carrying them.)

The Coyne in tan/blue

A sportier version - called the Sherman

A high version of the Coyne - called the Hesse. This one is fun.

And last but certainly not least is the crazy platform Geisha version, called the Linn. (buy it here.)

All of them are in the $400 price range, unfortunately for me. No less beautiful though.

Spring sandals

After seeing a picture of Clemence Poesy at the Acne show during Paris Fashion week, I can't get the image out of my head of her shoes. A black monk-strap oxford, all beat up.  Clemence, for those who don't know, is one of those effortlessly-chic French girls who also happens to be an actress and was in a Harry Potter movie among other things. Her whole look is filled with style inspiration from the floppy hat, to the big, camel pashmina scarf, the fuzzy angora sweater, the white snakeskin clutch to even her basic black cropped pants -- but it's the shoes that have been keeping me up at night.

Loeffler Randall Skye Gladiator Plank Sandals

And like many other shopaholics right now, I have been shopping for summer sandals. I keep being drawn to these lace-up gladiator Loeffler Randall sandals that unfortunately for me are sold out in black (in my size,  although Bird has a couple sizes left but not many). And then while checking Loeffler Randall's website on the off-chance they might suddenly be available -- you can still get them in nude or cheetah-print -- I spotted the asymmetrical Selma sandals that have two different color leather straps in different thickness that wrap around and each buckle at the ankle, with two different size buckles.

Loeffler Randall Selma asymmetrical sandals

And it's the buckles that really remind me of Clemence and her monk-strap oxfords. The thing about her look is how prominent the buckles are on her shoes. I have searched the internet far and wide for a similar monk-strap oxford, but as is the case very often, I believe they are vintage - a relic of the monk-strap heavy '90s (Remember when monk-strap shoes were all over the J.Crew catalog?). And even more so, they are very fall and I am keen on summer - despite the fact I live in Portland and have at least 3 more months of soggy weather. Furthermore, I know this is a trend that is coming and as very often happens with me, I can't find the thing I'm looking for until it is actually a trend. So, we will leave them until later...and revisit again in the fall.

Back to the sandals, so the double mismatched buckles is what draws me to them and makes them different from most of the other sandals on the market these days. I like the black and the tan together although the tan/silver is a nice combination as well. And I think both color-combinations would work equally well at being worn with a dress or casual with jeans or shorts.

Givenchy virginia gladiator sandal

Can't stop coveting these lovely $700 gladiator sandals by Givenchy. Available in black, copper metallic and off-white at Barneys and mytheresa.

Loeffler Randall

Loeffler Randall was one of my favorite shoe brands when I lived in New York but I had kind of forgotten about it until the other day. They have some nice sandals that I'm thinking of ordering. As well as some other great basic items, including a rubber version of their classic tall boot.

Fawn sporty flat sandal in Nude/Acid/Black - $295

Fawn in Black/Hot Melon

Selima Plank sandal in Nude/Neon - $175

 Luca Mignon Sandal  in Gold - $295

 Filippa Mignon Sandal in Bottle snake embossed leather - $295

 LR Rain boot with back zip - $195

LR Rain bootie in grey - $165

new No6 wedge sandals

Sandal competition

After looking for months for a cute and wearable sandal, I think I found it today: the Quelques Shoes de Plus suede flat wrap sandal available at No6 for $245. Now I just need to decide which color....
Runners-up in the sandal competition were:

the Quorra sandal from J.Crew $150 in mink

the Kork-Ease Ava sandal available at Urban $135

Belle by Sigerson Morrison gold twist sandal $240 at endless.com

the perfect sandal

I am completely in love with these Loeffler Randall sandals spotted on Barneys.com today. They are light grey leather with brass buttons. You can never go wrong with brass button detailing. It is always in style. Unfortunately this beautiful sandal - called the Audra - is $295.