I Think I'm In Love

Meet my new sweethearts...

The stylist pulled them out for our June cover shoot. One look at those babies and I was a goner--it was love at first sight. What's a girl to do but give in to her urges? Sigh.

The Problem with Tiny Feet...

...is that you have to check 22 (count 'em, twenty-frickin'-two) stores before you find cleats in your size!

Those beauties are from Adidas in Power Plant, kids' size 5.5 (I'm a 5Y in Nike). I checked stores from Sta. Rosa to Trinoma. After days of searching, I finally found this just-delivered pair, in my team's colors, no less!

But seriously, 22 stores?! And here's the thing: You won't find women's sizes here. If you're a girl who needs cleats, you either have to have small feet and go for kids' sizes, or big feet and go for men's sizes. (Luckily, I fall under the first category, which means my shoes are cheaper. I think the men's version of my new shoes are over five grand!) The last time I found shoes in my size, I bought two pairs because they're just so damn hard to find.

Which reminds me, a moment of silence for my retired pairs...

Goodbye, Adidas cleats, which Pia wore during her MVP run in Shanghai. Farewell, Nike cleats, which didn't give me blisters. You've both served me well.

Sports stores, the disc community is growing and growing and growing, and lots more girls are playing disc. Please stock up, I beg of you. And include women's sizes too! Or I could just order loads of women's cleats abroad and resell them here. Ha!

So, my problem is cleats. Ladies, tell me--what do you have a hard time finding here?

Would You Wear These Shoes?

I'm a high-heels girl myself but...

Ladies and gents, those are the 8 (yes, eight!)-inch Louboutin heeled ballet shoes, still with the trademark red soles. I think they were up for auction. The only way these shoes could be even harder to wear would be if the heels were...in front?

Afraid.

El Cheapo Shopping Finds

Am on a bit of a budget now, so had to keep expenses down on a recent shopping trip. Found these basic pieces at great bargain prices...

Racerback tops from Forever 21 at P190 (about $4.50) each. Super versatile.

At long last, wide-leg pants! These are by Weekender at SM Department Store. My priciest purchase of the day, at P699.75 (about $17)!

I'd been searching and searching for a nice pair of wide-leg pants since late last year. I still want a pair in camel, but this chocolate brown number can take the place of my faded brown slacks.

Next: Le Donne flats, P595 (about $14). It's very hard for me to find flats that I like--I have wide feet so a lot of the ones in the market tend to be unflattering. These pointy-toe ones seem to elongate my feet. Sooo comfortable! Soft as butter.

And finally, my husband's favorite: a little black dress--or, more accurately, a little black-and-white dress.

He loves that it hugs my curves (while I love loose clothing--I seriously have a lot of things I could wear once I'm preggers--husband likes it when he can see my figure). The fit is great now, but if I plan to eat in it, I should lose a couple of pounds! Or maybe invest in Spanx. Hmm. I did save a bundle on this shopping trip. This dress's price tag? P450 (about $11)! By Liberte at Robinsons Department Store. A similar one appears in September's P500-and-under fashion feature.

Found any good deals lately?

There Goes My Shoe Diet

I had been searching and searching for hot pink or purple sky-high suede platforms with no success. So when I saw these little darlings at Forever 21, I figured they were enough to scratch an itch...

Alas, they were a half size too big. Our fashion and beauty editor Pia gave me Avon Smart Foam Insoles--sorta like memory foam for your feet. They can be cut to fit shoes in any size, ranging from 3 for Girls to 11 for Men.

The benefits of these insoles, as the box says, are that they mold to your feet; give custom comfort from heel to toe as they follow the contour of your feet and support the arch; provide relief for aged persons and people with foot conditions; relieve pressue on the ball of your foot, bunions, swollen feet, and joints; and prevent heel shock by cushioning your every step. They are pretty comfy, but what they failed to include was that the insoles make my pink shoesies fit me perfectly!

For Shoe Addicts--Got Tired Feet?

"Are those...Louboutins?" OK!'s Lana asked with a little gasp.

Red-soled patent leather platform pumps! Now, if only they felt as good as they look.

"Um, no," I replied. I wanted to add that they were from Paris too...or, at least, my favorite fairly cheap shoe brand, Parisian!

These platform pumps are absolute darlings and, I believe, a necessity in every grown woman's shoe wardrobe. But I gotta tell ya, they hurt like hell. The heels I can handle--there's just something about the shape in general that doesn't agree with my fairly wide feet. Ah, fashion is pain.

I'll be the first to say that I don't have particularly pretty feet. A couple of years ago, my mom pointed out that my legs and feet seemed more worn than hers. I wasn't entirely bothered by it because I considered the imperfections battle scars--I did earn all those callouses and veins from all my running and dancing. But they're not particularly attractive when I wear shoes that exhibit the top part of my feet.

At an event a few months ago, a speaker talked about relieving stress and bringing on a good night's sleep by soaking in a tub of hot water and Epsom Salt. It was the first time I ever heard of Epsom Salt, and I decided to research. I read website after website extolling the virtues of this product, scientifically known as magnesium sulfate. I was sold.

I found a carton at hardware store True Value for about P500. (It's about as big as a milk carton, but trust me, the contents go a long way.) Since we don't have a tub, I brought out a little palanggana, filled it with warm water, and poured about a cup of Epsom Salt into it. I soaked my feet for half an hour, feeling the salt dissolve into the water.

When I removed my feet, I noticed that my prominent veins had pretty much disappeared! While the effect wasn't permanent (it lasted about an hour), it really amazed me to see a smooth, vein-free version of my feet for the first time in years. I became a believer in the wonders of Epsom Salt.

For all you shoe addicts out there, who suffer in often wear heels like I do, you might wanna give this a shot! Want more info? Check out the Epsom Salt Council's website.

Summer in September

I know the heel makes 'em look very summery, but living in a tropical country gives me an excuse to wear 'em year-round. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Got these cuties from CMG. They were on sale, about P1,400 (about $30). Love that it's in go-with-anything tan. Been wearing them with jeans, shorts, and casual dresses. So versatile, and great value in terms of cost per wear!

Payless in Manila

And I don't mean the noodles! Seriously, some editors thought I was on my way to a noodle event!

Anyhoo, after the madness of the Forever 21 opening (hadn't heard so much buzz since the drone of the vuvuzela), another American retailer is coming to town. Footwear store Payless Shoesource is opening in Manila! At yesterday's press event, we were given a sneak peak at the stuff on offer...

Casual footwear for the ladies

Shoes designed by Christian Siriano of Project Runway fame; there were also shoes by Isabel Toledo on display.

I was drawn to these laser-cut cuties!

A little somethin' for the men...

...and the kiddies!

Our worry was that, given the markup and everything, the shoes would all end up being Paymore. But Store Specialists (the group that brought Payless in) was thankfully able to keep prices down--flats, like the lime green and black ones in the first photo, go for as low as P795 (about $18). There are also these flat, calf-high boots for just P1,400 (a little over $30)! The more detailed little booties with heels are a bit over two grand ($45), but that's about as pricey as it gets. I hear the men's shoes don't go over P1,800 ($40)--and as anyone who's ever shopped for or with a man will tell ya, that's pretty decent for men's footwear! (Or maybe my husband just has expensive taste. Hmmm.)

The first store is opening at Festival Mall on the 28th if I'm not mistaken, with at least seven more stores set to open this year. For the uninitiated, Payless isn't a single shoe brand, but a carrier of several brands--and if the local stores will be anything like the stores in the US, all shoe sizes of a style will be stacked one on top of the other in their boxes. Sorta like a self-service shoe buffet! I think I'll wait for a more accessible branch to open though.

From Paris, with Love

My latest Parisian* purchase...

Sigh. Aren't they fabulous? They're made of this suede-y kind of leather, and they're in the current queen of neutrals: greige. (A mix of gray and beige--great as a wall color!) They were P1,299.75 (about $29), pricey for this particular brand. But similar styles in other brands would probably go for around P3,000 (about $67...a lot of money on these shores).

Including my strappy baby pink sandals (not pictured below because they look pretty ratty from being overused), my Parisian shoe total is now seven pairs.

I've gotten sooo many comments on practically all these shoes, and people normally can't believe it when I say they're Parisian. A few things about the pictured pairs (clockwise from top left):

1. My latest pair. I wore these on my first ever TV appearance as acting editor in chief! (More on that in a future post.)
2. These continue to get oohs and ahhs whenever I wear 'em! They're probably the most commented-on pair that I own.
3. A co-worker thought this rock n' roll pair was from Aldo! I love the thick wooden heel.

4. I decided I needed a colorful pair in my shoe wardrobe, and thus got these orange flats with cabbage rose accents (or, as described by PAG, "goldenrod with rosettes"). I wanted something comfortable and stylish that I could wear all day. I wore these during my NY food tour and got a couple of nice comments. (Most people were wearing sneakers, which I can't bring myself to do unless a) they're Chucks or b) I'm attending a dance class. I believe tourists can be fashionable too!)

5. The first pair of flats I ever liked. I used to veer away from flats because I figured they made me look squat, since I'm pretty short. But these faux snakeskin shoes were just too cute to pass up. Too cute in fact that I even settled for a pair that was a half size smaller (the only remaining pair that was remotely close to my size)! And no, it doesn't feel like I'm subjecting myself to that age-old practice of foot-binding.

6. I tuck skinny jeans or leggings into these gladiator-type flats. I also sometimes wear 'em with dresses to give the feminine numbers an edge.

The great thing about these shoes is that I could wear 'em all day--whether they're flats or heels. I really wish I could keep adding to my collection, but I'm running out of space in my dressing room--my husband has had to move his shoes into the guest room! Plus, I've decided to put a halt on all my spending. We've got some plans brewing and they need moolah to fund them, so time to start seriously saving up!

*Parisian shoes are available at SM Department Stores.

A Li'l Spring in Your Step

SM, I heart you. Your oh-so-reasonably priced Parisian line of shoes has some really delightful designs now. My latest find:

Absolute cuteness! Perfect for spring! In fact, they are most definitely a part of my spring wardrobe for my upcoming trip to New York! They aren't entirely comfortable, but I've lasted a day with a fair amount of walking in them. They've gotten so many compliments already. And they're less than P800!

I'm due for a shoe-shopping trip before I leave in a couple of weeks. Will be posting more of my finds!