Yesterday, San Francisco's first Bloomingdale's opened. My work schedule prevented me from joining the ravening hordes for more than ten minutes, but I did see enough to know that I will soon be drooling over and petting the goods - until some eagle-eye salesperson notes my thin wallet and rabid eyes and boots me out. I goggled at the Chloe boutique and stroked the Marc Jacobs boots - boots I had previously seen only on the internet. The internet, though I love it dearly, is not terribly tactile.

More thorough report to come.

I insist on adoring knit caps even though they make me look like a frumpy bank robber. But I simply have to pass on these embroidered cashmere hoodlum hats:


$48 at Garnet Hill

Labels: stay toasty

Probably the millions of people who shop there without hitting sensory overload before making it past the first flank of mannequins. Thank god for the interweb. (And for Bunnyshop, from whence I totally stole this.)

Behold: Old Navy ballet flats.

Labels: shoes

Read my latest bargains round-up at Knickers Blog here. In the interest of total disclosure, I now have to admit that all I'm buying any time soon is boring white bras. Preferably cotton.

Bunnyshop is also having a boot conundrum. This makes me feel better about having spent every lunch hour this week on an increasingly desparate hunt for boots.

Mighty Goods scores again with the little clothespin people. Would it be creepy to buy out the stock and organize a village, complete with grocery store, post office and social hierarchy?

Delight's latest set of deals has coerced me into spending a lot of money on shoes. A course of action I highly recommend for anyone.

Frye's campus boots? Or...


Banana Republic motorcycle boots?

I don't spend any time on either a campus or a motorcycle, so the name doesn't help. They're relatively similar in price. I've tried on the BR boot, so know they fit in the ever-tricky calf area. (My calves are...muscular.)

I remain torn. Any advice from the Peanut Gallery?

Labels: shoes

Mission Brown Pump: Accomplished. I have about four shoe categories I am currently scouting. No, I don't have anything better to do with my time and no, that doesn't make me pathetic. It makes me a smart shopper. Yeah. Smart shoppers would do well to check out these Cole Haans, which I will now describe with an embarrassing excess of exclamation points: Half off! Embossed! Made in Italy! Leather lacing! Did I mention half off!

I did? Good.

Labels: shoes

Which means you need to hustle. All offered treatments (find your city here) are $50 - which is why I will be cooling my tootsies in the previously off-limits spa chair at 3:30 on Friday.

P.S. Totally worth sneaking out for a two-hour lunch. Not that I - or you, my angelic compatriots - would ever contemplate such an irresponsible thing. Ahem.

I never thought I would go for the phrase "detachable turtleneck." Yet, I find myself smitten with this sweater dress from Indie shopper:


It spares us the bulk of some of other popular sweater dresses and the shape (admittedly, it's tough to tell in this picture) looks flattering. The neckline is certainly lovely.

For those of you lucky souls in the midst of Indian Summer, here's a pleated halter dress on sale:


I know there are those of you headed straight for the credit cards even though it's 45 degrees out because I said the word "sale." Smart people.

Labels: dresses

My hunt for the perfect calf-length brown boot continues. Aside from the price tag, these are just about perfect. The leather just glows. And I bet the cow tasted delicious.


Here is where I begin to stray from my mission. I need boots that are practical for walking. These are patently not. But lace-up! Heels! My brain's magnificent outfit creation system starts working overtime.


Now, I've just lost it. I think the Kors redwood boots and I were meant to be. With barely a nod to my original mission, I embrace the color (red!), the heel (good for the calves!) and the price (big!).


I return to reality on Shopbop's last page o' boots, where I see the boots I might be able to afford. Sort of. They're quite nice, too.

Labels: shoes

So do I.

Unfortunately, they're $250. As you may know if you've been here, well, more than once, price is no object when one is pretend shopping. However, I am actually in the market for calf-length flat brown boots. They will be my winter shoes and I will love them. I just have to find them. I found the perfect pair at Aerosoles - comfy, nice leather, in my price range. Bastards didn't have my size. Will not be getting my size because they're out of stock. I am currently on the hunt for another pair. Prospects are looking dim.

As ever, suggestions are welcome.

Labels: shoes

Forever in need of something to spruce up the denim and white cotton trademark I've adopted, this coat from ziji is spot on:


Everything in the collection is stylized and luxurious looking. The silk dresses seem made for petting.

Labels: tops

The finish on this leather handbag is described as "sheer and subtle golden finish with a crackled nutmeg undertone." Sometimes the description makes me want the bag as much as the picture does.

For $70 at Ego Central.

Labels: bags

There's nothing I love more than a Bluefly Giveaway. (Maybe a fresh batch of shortbread. Or my dog. But you take my point.) The person who shares my living space and gamely pretends I have fewer shoes than I actually do takes great joy in poking fun at my rabid devotion to the Bluefly Giveaway. He knows I'm playing when, after several days of hearing the same tinny music coming from my computer, he notes that it coincides with a manic smile - the kind you might see on a three-year-old who still believes she'll get something just because she asks for it. Like Pavlov's dog, he laughs at me whenever he hears the signature tune. I truly hope to be able to wave my fabulous freebie in his face someday.

Play it for yourself here.

Labels: shoes

Sure, "last call sale" means "things no one else wants" but the promise of 65 percent off makes all verbiage obsolete. Or maybe I'm just a sale whore. These Taryn Rose ballet flats are something of a steal at $100 (normally $285), especially because they're rumored to be very, very comfortable.

Labels: shoes

I've been wanting a pair of red patent heels ever since I realized they exist. Because I really do need another pair of shoes. Really. These would make me, my jeans, and my skirts, very happy:

Labels: shoes