One Pair, Three Ways

Have you ever bought a pair of shoes that you fell in love with, but when you get them home, you realize you don't have anything to wear with them? Sometimes, shoes can catch our eye and we almost forget to take into account practicality. But almost any pair can work with any wardrobe. Here are three different ways to wear a standout pair of shoes!

• GIRLY--If you like anything pink, sparkly and delicate, you'll love this outfit. Start with a pair of sparkly flats (the AE Sequin Ballet Flat, $19.50, in pewter) and add on a pretty cardigan (Abercrombie's Abigail sweater, $33.60, in light pink), a floral miniskirt (A&F's Piper skirt, $50, in navy floral) and a pair of white tights (AE Pointelle Tights, $12.50, in cream). You'll look cute at school, out shopping or on a lunch date.
• EDGY--Prefer a look that's not so sweet? Try this: AE Sequin Ballet Flats, with a military-inspired jacket (AE Rugged Bomber Jacket, $129.50), a pair of ripped-up jeans (AE Skinny Jean, $44.95, in medium vintage destroy) and a tough cuff (AE Hammered Stud Cuff, $15.50). People might mistake you for a rocker chick!
• GLAM--If you hate blending in with the crowd, try this standout ensemble. Pair the AE Sequin Ballet Flats with a bright ruffly tank (A&F's Cass tank, $26.60, in dark pink), dark wash cuffed skinnies (Abercrombie's Erin Skinny Destroyed jean, $68.60) and a neon watch (AE Pink Watch, $24.50). Perfect fashionista finds!

The next time you buy a pair of shoes you aren't sure about, don't take them back until you try them with a few things in your closet...you'll be surprised how you can make them work!

Perfect Shoes for Small Feet

Moccasins can be the perfect shoes for small feet!

For most petite ladies out there, you probably have trouble from time to time finding shoes that fit. I know I do. I wear a size 6 in most shoes, and while most stores carry this size, they are usually all out or fit weird. My feet are very narrow, so it's very hard for me to find shoes (especially boots and moccasins) that don't slide right off my feet because they're too wide. Most of my flip-flops are also a little too big on me, making it harder to walk. And on the high-heels that I own, I had to make extra holes because the ankle strap was too big on me. So I know how hard it can be to find shoes that fit tiny feet.

But this past weekend, on an afternoon trip to American Eagle with my little sister and mom, I found the moccasins I've been lusting after (AE Suede Fringe Moc, $34.50, in honey tan). Not only that, but they were in my size! Eager to see if they would actually fit, I slipped them on and to my surprise, they fit perfectly, even without socks! These are very narrow shoes, so if your feet are a bit wider, you may have to go up a size, but they were perfect on my very narrow feet.
My mom convinced me to buy some socks to wear under it (only with jeans, of course) so I got the AE Marbled Crew Socks ($6.50, in navy). When I got home, I tried the mocs with the socks (hahaha I'm a poet and didn't know it) and they still fit great.
I was a little disappointed, because I was also wanting to buy the AE Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50) in grey. Unfortunately, the smallest size they had was a 7, and my feet were swimming in those. I even asked one of the employees to check the back room, but they were all out of 6's. So I'll have to check out other American Eagle stores to find those beloved boots.
But I was happy about my purchase, especially since I had a 20% coupon. The socks, as it turned out, were $5 at that store, so I walked out of there with mocs and socks for under $35!
So check out your local American Eagle Outfitters store, or their website, for some great shoes for smaller feet.

Shoe Crazy!

Go shoe-crazy this season at American Eagle: they
 have 25 different
pairs of winter-ready shoes!

I'm not the kind of girl who loves to go shoe-shopping, who'd rather buy a new pair of wedges than a new cardigan. I'm more into clothes and accessories than shoes--not that I don't like shoes or don't put much thought into them, I'm just not crazy about them. But with all the brand new cold-weather shoes available at American Eagle, I fell in love with a few pairs.

I'm typically not a ballet flat fan, simply because I'm too impatient to break them in so they give me blisters. But the AE Velvet Ballet Flat ($29.50) may have solved that problem once and for all: they're lined with sherpa, which should prevent blisters and keep my feet toasty even in the snow. Plus, they look luxe but aren't actually expensive. They're definitely on my buy list.
I love moccasins. I know I've said it before, but they're just great comfortable casual shoes that add a boho/Navajo vibe to any outfit. I still like the AE Grosgrain Ribbon Moc ($29.95) in dark tan but now American Eagle has two new mocs that I like even more. The AE Suede Fringe Moc ($34.50) definitely has a 'native' look--I love 'em in anthracite. I also really like the AE Suede Moc ($34.50) in rich chocolate. The best part about both pairs is they have the sherpa lining which is perfect for Colorado winters.
Last year, I bought the AE Cable Knit Clog ($34.50) in grey. It was my first experience with a clog and I can't wait to wear them again. This year, they have them again in case you missed them the first time around, in grey, charcoal heather grey and taupe (the dark brown is no longer available this year, sadly). This year, I really like their brand new AE Striped Cable Knit Clog ($34.50). The stripe pattern adds to their cuteness and again, the sherpa lining is great.
I can't forget about the boots! American Eagle currently offers 6 styles of winter boots, so you should be able to find at least one pair that suits you. I personally love the AE Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50) in grey--they look like Uggs but are much cheaper--and the AE Button Warm & Fuzzy Boot ($39.50) in chestnut--a cute take on the basic winter boot.
No matter how cold it gets, you can still make a statement with your footwear!

No Pain, No Gain

Being "vertically-challenged" so to speak (I am 5'1), I really love the invention of high heels. Not only do they add inches to my height, they also increase my confidence.
One problem: they are extremely painful!
Recently, I bought a pair of cute, brown-and-white wedge heels, perfect for summer. So far, I have worn them four times, and each time, I brought along an extra pair of shoes (and used them, by the way). The shoes are great for looking cute, but I can only wear them in a maximum of two stores before I switch.
Today, my mom and I ran errands. I wore the shoes and I could not make them last longer than two stores. Now I have blisters on all of my toes as a souvenir.
One of the many questions guys ask of all heel-wearing girls is, "Why do you wear those things?" The answer is: for beauty only. We never claimed they were comfy, but we wear them anyway. And despite my pain, I know I will wear those shoes again...but maybe only if I'm going to be sitting down!