How to: Shop for Shoes Online

Hey, newsflash: I like to shop for shoes. Like, a lot. As in, my closet is overflowing with the 130+ pairs of shoes that I can't stop buying. I attribute it back to my first pregnancy. I didn't get huge or anything, but things didn't fit well and I had an awkward baby belly that wasn't big enough for maternity clothes but was too big for normal clothes. It was a dark time for me. I turned to shoes. Shoes always fit. Shoes didn't judge. Shoes were pretty.

Fast forward seven years and I'm still totally obsessed. And one of my favorite ways to add to my collection is to shop for deals online. Seriously, I buy a huge amount of cheap shoes online, thanks to coupon codes, sales and the fact that I do it on a daily basis. But shopping for shoes online can also be a little tricky, so I've got some tips if you're going to be trolling the interwebz for pretty shoes.

1) Look for brands you already own.

This is something I do with online clothes shopping as well. It's probably the only time I could be considered "brand loyal." It's just that if I shop via brand, I know for sure what size will fit me, since I've already got some in my closet. For instance, I love Chinese Laundry shoes. I'm a 7.5. When I see CL shoes on sale, I don't have to hum and haw over the fit, since I already know. I heart online shoe superstores that have most popular brands of women's shoes since I can sort via the brands I already own and buy that way.

2) Read the reviews.

This is a MUST, people. Reviews are golden because they save you from making the same mistakes someone else has already made, like ordering too narrow or buying a shoes that's totally uncomfortable. I always check out the user reviews for comments on the way the shoes fit, whether or not they run true to size and how comfortable/easy they are to walk in. I mean, obviously I sometimes still buy shoes even if they aren't easy to walk in, but at least I'm prepped.

3. Shop around.

I made a rookie mistake on V-Day when I bought these cute boots at the mall. I loved these MIA Crusaders and bought 'em on the spot. The coolest part about them is that the studs make a spur noise when you walk and make me feel like I'm in True Grit, which is my favorite Western of all time. ANYWAY, I got home and started thinking about buying them in black so I looked them up online. Guess what? I totally overpaid. I found them cheaper online. Before you buy, plug the shoe brand and name into Google Shopping and you'll probably find the shoes you want for cheaper -- especially if there's a coupon code involved. Sweet, sweet coupon codes how I love you.

4. Make sure there's a darn good return policy.

Buying shoes online means you don't get to try them on, so you're sorta flying blind. There's been times where I bought shoes from a brand I knew and did everything right -- and they still didn't fit all that well when I got them. Seriously, I have one pair of heels that were so tight that they literally made me lightheaded when I wore them. That's why you need to check the return policy before you buy. Gold standard is free returns, but it'll vary from store to store. Just know what you're getting into so you can send the shoes back if they're totally heinous.

5. Hide the boxes from your husband.

Then, when he asks if your shoes are new, shrug noncommittally and mumble something about having them for a while. Just trust me on that.

Let's recap here:
Shopping for shoes online = good.
Shopping without thinking = bad.
Having a good return policy = good.
Owning up to it = bad.

What I Wore: Sloppy Jae

OK, this has to be quick because I'm heading out to lunch and am still all sweaty and unshowered from my morning workout. I have been so very unproductive today. So it makes sense that I would be abandoning everything on my to-do list for Mexican food. Because you never say no to Mexican food.

 Yesterday I was feeling kind of shlubby and didn't want to squeeze myself into ANYTHING, which is where this sloppy ensemble came from. Sloppy boots, sloppy scarf and sloppy sweater equal a sloppy Jae and I'm OK with that.

 Sweater: Gap
Scarf: H&M (a gift from my brother!)
Skirt: White House Black Market
Boots: MIA
Cuff: Local
Ring: 1928
Earrings: F21

 I heart these boots and have worn them for a week straight. They were my V-Day boots how romantic.

 

And lest you think I'm a complete slob, you should see that at least my socks matched my sweater. I'm not a barbarian.

I promise that next week, I'll post something that I had to like, put effort into. But considering I'm about to completely binge, I'll probably need a few days before I can squeeze into anything other than yoga pants. Also, my mom is coming tomorrow. This means mom-food all week long. Sometimes she says she's not going to cook when she visits. And then we laugh and laugh and she makes me things like egg sandwiches. It's awesome.

Freaky Friday: Year of the Snake

The other day Tracy sent me some awesome Freaky Friday fodder. SO awesome was it that I decided to base my whole post on it. Also, it's the Year of the Snake, so I'm totally on point with this one.

 It was these leggings. The write up for them says:
"

"If you've ever wanted to experience life as a snake, fashion designer Camille Cortet can help. Her pants are designed to break down and shed like a snake's skin."

OK, I have to stop you right there. When the beginning of your product description starts with "If you've ever wanted to experience life as a _______ (insert any wild animal here)" I Have an immediate problem. Because that's some Strange Addiction stuff goin' on.

ALSO. So you start out wearing pants and by the end of the day they're gone? How does that work with like, grocery shopping and banking and stuff that normal people do, exactly. I feel like I should start just forgoing pants and tell people that I WAS wearing them, but they shed.

I just... I don't even....

I love me some snakeskin. I think it's a neutral animal print and best if you're wary of the boozy cougar-ness that can afflict leopard print. But that doesn't mean all python is good python.

That was not a suggestive joke.

 THIS, however, is a very suggestive dress. And by dress I mean underwear. And by underwear I mean prostitute uniform.

 This was 70 percent off BUT WHY. I've been looking for really bad 80s maternity clothes for so long!

 If Jerry Seinfeld was really into fashion.

 These shoes look like they want to eat babies for strength and that makes me uncomfortable.

 Hey, I love an accent nail as much as the next gal, but when they can be considered as weapons, it might be a bit much.

Also, is it weird that I kind of want to put googly eyes on the snake nail? IT WOULD BE SO FUNNY.

Fashionable Frankenstein likes trends too.

OF COURSE I would find a python jumpsuit and lose all faith in humanity and cry into a pillow. 

Why WHY do they have to ruin a perfectly good print. I'll never know. I guess I'll console myself my eating my feelings. I bought a two-pound bag of Mini Eggs the other day and have a lofty goal to eat it ASAP. It's the only thing that makes me feel better.

Going Commando

Ha, you totally thought this post would be about going sans undies, right? Because just in case I didn't have enough sexual deviants visiting my page, I wanted to invite some more.

But seriously, this is about the military trend and "Going Commando" was the only thing I come up with. There was also a period in high school when I didn't know what it meant and would use it to describe my brother's computer activity. "I would have chatted with you on ICQ, but my brother was going commando and wouldn't let me on the computer UGH." Yup, I was an awkward teen and made everyone uncomfortable.

SO, have you guys noticed that military is kind of a big deal lately? I will admit that I'm kind of a pacifist. Cut me some slack, I'm Canadian. We're all hippies. The first time I ever shot a gun I cried for 30 straight minutes and went into a "WHO AM I" shame spiral because I felt like I was betraying my roots. I haven't shot one since. But, while war scares me, military clothes DELIGHT me. They are adorable and boyish and structured and everything I love about fashion.



Want some tips on how to wear military-inspired clothes without looking like a new recruit? I KNOW YOU DO.

Military by jacquelineportercurtis featuring camo jeans

Step 1. Look for stuff that fits tight. Wearing a cute pair of camo skinny crops is one thing. Wearing actual cargo pants is another. Military coat = yes. Oversized bomber = what the heck.

Step 2: Choose one military-inspired piece. ONE. Anything more and you're going to look GI Joe and while that's all well and good for The Rock, it's not OK for a garden-variety mom.

Step 3. Mix it with something girly. You need to have some feminine accent, whether it's a cinch-y belt, a flower brooch, an a-line skirt, whatever. Just something that says "I may look tough, but I cry at The Notebook and have a crush on Ryan Reynolds."

Step 4. Add something bright. The new-school way to wear khaki, olive and camo is with bright colors. I love it especially with cobalt and that reddy-orange that everyone was wearing last year. It just makes the look clearly fashion rather than fatigues oh I am so funny.

Step 5. Wear aviators and feel cool. That's what I do.

Military is pretty much everything this spring, so what say ye? Will you jump on the bandwagon? You totally can, even if you're scared of confrontation and you think camouflage looks better in the mall than in the woods. 

What I Wore: Going Barefoot

Yay me and my husband finally got to go on our Valentine's date night and it was lovely. I ate way more than a person of my size should ever be able to eat and then we caught a late movie. Because we were just going to dinner and a movie, I thought it would be a faaaantastic idea to wear uncomfortable shoes. I was going to be sitting the whole time, right? So I suited up and we ate and it was fine. Then, we parked at an alternate entrance to the movie theater and walked in, but after the movie ended, the entrance was locked and we had to hike all the way around the building back out to our car. And I wanted to saw my feet off. And I cursed the god of shoes who was probably laughing at me. Finally, my hubs decided to piggyback me out to the car, which caused my shoes to fall off. I ended up running barefoot the rest of the way because I'm a classy broad like that. I'm even classier when this is all going down in leather pants and snakeskin.

 Tank: I can't remember and it's in the wash so I'll tell you later PS I'm the worst style blogger EVER.

Cardi-jacket thingy: Joe Fresh
Pants: H&M
Cuff: Marc Jacobs
Shoes: The fires of hell/F21

Rings: Tiffany/Inspired Silver
Necklace: Buckle

Fun story about these awesome sauce pants -- they sound like I'm wrestling a bouncy house when trying to put them on. I was with my little brother when I bought them and he was outside the fitting room giggling because he could hear my struggle. Because they are TIGHT. But so coooool. Like, it's impossible to feel uncool wearing leathery pants. I just wanted to run off and audition for a White Snake video or something. 

 Look! I'm smiling because this was the beginning of the night and my shoes had not yet destroyed my will to live!

I've been shuffling around in my TOMS with a big 'ol Band-Aid on my foot ever since. Is there anything grosser than foot Band-Aids? I mean, honestly. Also, our babysitter thought it was pretty weird when I came home shoeless. But it was worth it. Also, those shoes are being thrown in the back of my closet and ignored for the next six months because I'm passive aggressive like that.

Freaky Friday: Awesomely Bad Valentine's

 So how was everyone's Valentine's Day? My favorite part was when my family decorated my bed with cards. One of them, from my daughter, read in its entirety:

Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
You are nice.

I mean, really how can you top something like that? With presents, that's how. I got a cargo jacket, new boots and a La Mer watch on order that I'm suuuuper excited about. We stayed in and had a romantic dinner... with the kids. The Mr. and I are having our super lovey romantic time V-Day date tonight. In case you're wondering, the leather pants will be making an appearance.

Oh yeah.

Anyway, my hubs is pretty good at gifts, obviously. So I thought I'd check out some stuff that would make for the most awesomely bad Valentine's Day ever. Are you feeling the love? You shouldn't.

 Tiny potato chip bag earrings. Hey, just because you're dressed up doesn't mean you can't remind everyone you shop at Wal-Mart too!

 This made me LOL. Oh, 80s you were so ugly. But I'm thinking a heart-festooned side ponytail is exactly what I need for my hot date tonight!

 Well now I'm just mad I spent all that money on a boat, when my husband just could have bought me an inflatable dress instead. Dave Ramsey would be soooo unimpressed with my money skills. 

 My husband loves him some cinnamon buns and no, that's not a pet name. I would so enjoy him licking my ears in a totally nutritive way. 

PS is it weird that we don't use pet names at all? Like, they make me cringe a little bit.

 Beer dress! This is when you know your guy is a full-on alcoholic. "You know what would be reallllllly sexy? If you dressed like beer. Oh yeah."

 Light up nails. Because you're a raver, but also a lady. 

 Can I just take an official "no wearing food" stance now? Because it's never OK.

Ladies, if your husband gives you a bracelet that looks like you slit your wrist, check your life insurance policy. There's a good chance he increased it before getting ready to kill you, hide your body and then film a Dateline special about it. 

 I'm just about done work for the day, but it's my son's birthday tomorrow so I'm busy with running around for that. We're taking him to Monster Jam and he is so excited that he's been carrying around his ticket confirmation for the last four days. Awesome. I'm just glad we're doing this instead of a party. It's my daughter's birthday the week after next and a massive My Little Pony party is in the works and it makes me want to nap forever. Halfway through this awful month!

Non-Hippie Boho Styles

I think we can all agree that I maintain a pretty straight-laced style. I identify mostly with preppy clothes, only without the bank account, bad nicknames and pretentious children (seriously if I see another "what my child wore" post I will go insane). But I do like to loosen up once in a while and love me some boho. But I can see how boho can be intimidating for some. Too little and you're not boho enough, too much and you look like a Woodstock wannabe, amiright?

But I've come up with some boho outfits that balance out the hippy-ness of boho pieces so you can wear them everyday. Seriously, boho is too interesting to skip completely. I love me some embroidery and leather!

Unless you're Rachel Zoe (and I'm reasonably sure you're not) boho dressing is all about proportion. If you're wearing a loose, flowy piece up top, go structured on the bottom and vice versa. If you go all boho skirt with long drapey cardigan, you're going to end up looking like that weird art teacher everyone had. It's best to choose one boho piece and build the rest of your outfit around it instead. Love some comfortable Free People Clothing like this shirt here. Aaaaand this shirt says it wants to belong to me badly.

Don't be afraid to mix boho pieces into some of your other stuff. Aztec pattern is pretty much the biggest thing ever right now, but worn with soft brown leather and you'll look like you're attending Burning Man. Add a hard leather jacket and suddenly, it's date night material. Unless your date is Burning Man. In which case, enjoy.

Here are some ideas for boho pieces without committing to an entire wardrobe overhaul: Tons of scarves, antique gold jewelry, brown leather EVERYTHING, slouchy bags, long lines and shapes, loosey goosey clothes and layering your jewlery. You want it to be a bit eclectic and not so planned.

I do like how everything looks a bit sunnier with brighter colors, flowy shapes and embroidery. And I need all the sunny I can get, people. I had to go to the bank today and walking outside made me want to become a recluse.

So, how do you define your style? Are you into boho? More structured? Decidedly more into sweatpants and oversized band T's?