Outfit – Page 5 – Will Bake for Shoes

Outfit
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- Work

Designing Your Own Shoes With Shoes of Prey & Nordstrom

Posted on May 9, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Beige Trench Coat Banana Republic Factory Store | Pink Polka Dot Portofino Button Down Shirt Express (similar here) | Pink High Waist Skirt Express | Mint Green Statement Necklace Kate Spade | Teal Arrowhead Bracelet and Crystal Bracelet LE TOTE | Gold Wrap Tassel Bracelet E. Kammeyer Accessories (here) | Eat Cake for Breakfast Bracelet Kate Spade | Gold Bow Moon River Bracelet Kate Spade | Teal Cross Body Avery Purse Rebecca Minkoff (similar here) | Custom Teal Suede d’Orsay Heels c/o Shoes of Prey | Le Rouge Fuchsia Irrestible 205 Lipstick Givenchy (here) |
About a year ago, Shoes of Prey launched their pop up shop at Nordstrom located in the Westfield Mall. Walking in to the opening party made me feel like a kid in a candy store. Not only did I get to meet Janie Bryant, the amazing costume designer from Mad Men, but I had a sneak peek of her shoes from her collaboration with Shoes of Prey at the opening. The highlight of the evening was receiving a voucher to design my own shoes as a thank you for attending the event.
I set up a follow-up appointment after the event since I wasn’t sure exactly what type of shoes I wanted. I created a few designs in store with a helpful Nordstrom employee on iPads setup underneath large flower structures made of shoes. I was really unsure with which shoe I wanted designed, although I knew I wanted classic heels, and left my appointment without placing an order and left to ponder what shoes I needed in my life. I tried thinking about shoes I missed out on because they weren’t available in my size and flipped through magazines for inspiration, but felt like I was back at square one.
The nice thing about Shoes of Prey is that they have plenty of fabric options and sizes (from 3 – 13). The turnaround time is pretty quick too, and are made-to-order and shipped in about 4 weeks. Having too many options became a problem for me and it was tough choosing between satin, suede or glitter. I was inspired by the colors from this outfit post and decided on this turquoise suede with a pop of pink leather on the inside. When building your shoe, you have the option to customize the sole and can even add text (perfect to commemorate the date you get married if you were designing your own wedding shoes.)
These heels had been in their box for a few months and I wondered if I would ever have the chance to wear them or if I needed to ask for them to be remade in a neutral color (you have 365 days to decide on having the shoes remade.) I am glad I didn’t change my mind because these heels have already been paired with more outfits and they really compliment my wardrobe since they are unlike any other heels I own. Their insole is comfortable and are now pretty comfortable since they have been broken in. I matched the heels with my Rebecca Minkoff Avery purse I scored through ThredUp and a statement Kate Spade necklace I found on Poshmark. My top and skirt are from Express and I bought them on sale last year, but I’ve linked similar options above.
I loved that customization experience didn’t just end with me ordering the shoes. I was able to build this outfit from the ground up and it took a little patience, but it was worth having all the pieces fall into place. It really is gratifying to be able to tell people who compliment my shoes that I designed them and that they can do it too! I am already looking forward to designing my next pair and to add shoe designer to my list of skills.
Let me know if you have tried Shoes of Prey and what you’ve designed!

Outfit

The Butterfly Effect

Posted on April 20, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Black Hat Express | Black Wrap Knit Sweater Diane von Furstenberg (similar here) | Dark Wash Skinny Jeans Madewell | Chiara Suede Ankle Boots Sophia Webster (here) | Grey Maise Satchel Kate Spade (similar here) | Le Rouge Carmin Escarpin 306 Lipstick Givenchy (here) |
Taxes were due!
Since I received a refund, I decided to treat myself with these Sophia Webster Chiara booties. I’ve wanted them for a couple of months and decided this was the perfect time to get them. The weather is bouncing between winter and spring, so I anticipate getting a lot of use out of them still. The detail is amazing and they are a statement all on their own. Sophia Webster is now one of my favorite shoe designers. Her shoes are whimsical and fun which is how I try to approach getting dressed every morning.
I feel a great sense of relief now that an event I was planning for work was completed last week. I had to pull some overtime and was coming home with very little energy and even less energy to get back to my computer and blog. I love getting dressed every morning, and I do feel a little bit sad when I am excited with how an outfit comes out and there isn’t a photo of it.
When I look back at my photos from when I first started blogging, I realize I didn’t just capture an outfit of the day. I captured memories. I remember what I did in a dress or how much I accomplished with a certain pair of shoes, and that seems to be missing as of late. The drop in content comes in part because trying to find a photographer on short notice is difficult and because Armando, my boyfriend and blog photographer, is focusing on work and school. School is almost over so I hope we’ll be able to resume a daily shoot. I love being able to look back and see what I wore and to remember all that has happened while wearing a specific outfit. I feel a little incomplete without some outfits being captured, but I am also trying to spread out the content that I do have. I am optimistic things will resume back to the way they were in a few months.
I hope you are having a great week! Since I didn’t share an outfit post last week I am tempted to share two this week, but we’ll see if I can live up to that!

Outfit
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- Weekend

Pink Rose

Posted on April 7, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Denim Jacket Kut from the Kloth via LE TOTE | Pink Edaline Silk Tie Blouse Joie (similar here) | Pink and Navy Floral High Waist Skirt Express (here) | Grey Maise Cross Body Kate Spade | Blue Patent Peep Toe Wedges Kate Spade | Le Rouge 205 Fuchsia Irresistible Givenchy (here) | Rose Earrings Forever 21 | Crystal Gem Bracelet Noir Luxe and Gold Spike Bracelets via LE TOTE | Pink and Blue Galaxy Case iPhone 6 Speck | Switching from winter wear to some florals for spring. I spotted this skirt on Pinterest and kept an eye out for it on Poshmark. I scored it along with another Express skirt in a sweet bundle deal. I haven’t worn the other skirt on the blog yet, but it is black and white hounds tooth print. The Joie top seemed to be the perfect color match with the pink roses in this floral skirt. It ties on the front, but having it tucked in hides that fun detail. This top fits me a little big, which is why it was tucked in, but that means it will be making its way to my Poshmark closet pretty soon.
I am really excited to be wearing to be taking out my colorful pieces for the warmer seasons. Dressing up during the spring and summer weather makes me feel a lot more inspired than winter or fall. There is a lot more variety of clothing and there’s just something about getting dressed in the morning that feels different lately.
I am looking and picking up some fun pieces for summer and will be checking out Shopbop and Bloomingdales since they have some pretty awesome sales going on now (yay for the Friends and Family sale!) Enjoy 25% off at Shopbop with promo code INTHEFAM and 25% off at Bloomingdales when you use the promo code BLOOMIES. The Shopbop sale ends April 7th and the Bloomindales’ sale ends April 10th. Get to shopping before you miss out!
I’ve been back at backing these past couple of weekends, but nothing I have made has felt Instagram or worthy of being captured on film despite being tasty. I have a few baking projects in mind, and I am optimistic something delicious will be shared on the blog soon.
Hope you are having a great week so far!

Weekend

Cabin Fever

Posted on March 30, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Black Hooded Coat Express (similar) | Blue Flannel Button Down Express (similar) | Black and White Checkered and Houndstooth Print Blanket Scarf Express (similar) | Dark Wash Skinny Jeans Madewell (similar) | Black Rain Boots Loeffler Randall (on sale here) | Pom Grey Beanie via POPSUGAR
Back in January, Armando and I made our way to Lake Arrowhead. We mentioned to a friend that we wanted to go on a weekend getaway somewhere close to snow before the end of the month and it just so happened they owned a cabin, had it listed on AirB&B and would be restocking it and doing some maintenance and we could stay at a discount provided we helped with cleaning and some chores.
It felt like it was meant to be. The cabin was super-cute and reminded me of gingerbread house. I packed clothing I could layer just in case there was snow. I was getting over a cold, so staying warm for that reason was also important. Armando and I enjoyed waffles for breakfast at Lake Arrowhead and we drove through the mountains to get to Big Bear Lake. Along the way, we stopped to ride some inner tubes down some hills at a place called Snow Drift. Traffic to Big Bear Lake was pretty bad, so we would stop every now and then to take photos of the breathtaking scenery along the mountain road.
I wore my new plaid flannel button down from Express that I had been wearing nonstop throughout winter along with my blanket scarf and coat. I was really excited to be wearing my new Loeffler Randall boots I scored from Poshmark using funds I had from a few sales. Don’t let the gold buckles fool you, these are rain boots and have been my go-to shoes during the times it has rained in the Bay Area. I was ready to drink some hot cocoa in this outfit and walk around some fresh-fallen snow. We made it to Big Bear Lake, which was completely frozen. It was so pretty and a nice weekend escape.
Armando saw and touched snow for the first time on our drive back to the Bay Area on Sunday. I am so glad he did and hopefully we can build a snowman next time! I am really proud of how these photos came out, so I hope you liked my cabin-ready look. even though Spring has started, I want to finish sharing my Winter looks before going into dresses and floral prints. It’s still pretty chilly in SF, so until next time!

Outfit
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- Work

Classic

Posted on March 22, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Belted Trench Coat Viktor & Rolfe x H&M (similar) | Denim Button Down Banana Republic Factory Store | Statement Necklace Urban Gem via Rockbox | Black and White Checkered Blanket Scarf Express | Grey Tweed Pencil Dolce & Gabbana (here) | Viva La Gem Kate Spade | Crystal Bracelet LE TOTE | Gold Leather Wrap Bracelet and Grey Studded Leather Wrap Bracelet E. Kammeyer Accessories | Nude Campy Mary Jane Heels Manolo Blahnik | Le Rouge Brun Creatéur 103 Lipstick Givenchy | Right before Daylight Savings ended, I had Armando take a few shots after work. I am so glad the sun sets a lot later, giving us more opportunities to get an outfit shoot in after work, but I think I am not the only one who feels Day Light Savings needs to end for good.
On this day we took photos, it was grey and misty, but it feels like the perfect setting for a classic trench coat and wool pencil skirt. My trench is an eBay find from 2012 and the Dolce & Gabbana wool skirt is a Crossroads Trading Co find. The skirt is one I bought right around the time I started working in my current position. It felt like a good investment piece, but not one I ever reached for. I am glad it has finally made its debut and I fully expect to wear it again. It is a versatile piece and can easily be dressed up with a silk blouse and leather jacket for a night out.
It should come as no surprise that the shoes are my favorite part of this whole outfit. These nude Mary Jane style heels are by Manolo Blahnik and the style name is Campy. I found them on The Real Real for an amazing deal and these just might be my go to nude heels for work from now on. I had a Carrie moment when I discovered these and love the round toe over the pointed look. They are really comfortable and classic. I appreciate great shoes, and The Real Real has some pretty amazing pieces for reasonable prices.
I am almost done sharing my winter looks and am ready to transition to Spring outfits so stay tuned for that!

Outfit
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- Work

Winter Blues

Posted on March 14, 2016by Brandy Saldana

Black Princess Coat Steve Madden | Black and Blue Wool Dress Alice + Olivia (here)| White Portofino Button Down Shirt Express | Grey Maise Satchel Kate Spade | Belted Black Suede Booties Nine West | Le Rouge Carmin Escarpin 302 Lipstick Givenchy |
I have been a little MIA on my blog, and most of my social media accounts, and that has been true for this past week in particular. I spent last Monday attending a Bikram Yoga class and left work early on Tuesday to bathe in some epsom salt and nap in order for my body to recover.
I spent the rest of the week coming home from the office to practice my design skills on Adobe InDesign. I drafted how a new website should look, one that I am working on as a project for work we hope to launch at the end of April, and also worked on adding some design elements to my resume. The rain has left me pretty uninspired when it comes to what to wear, but luckily Armando snapped this outfit in January before any storms hit.
This wool print Alice + Olivia dress has made its appearance on the blog before, and this time I layered a white button down shirt underneath and wore tights and suede booties. I opted to wear no jewelry to let the print make a statement. I love the print of the dress and I have it listed on my Poshmark closet, but it is a piece I picked up at Crossraods Trading Co that I am not in a hurry to sell because it is pretty versatile, which is a plus for Winter dress. I feel I’ve been wearing the same thing lately because of the rain, but this dress can have a turtle neck or long sleeve black sweater underneath, or a cardigan over it.
We have some dry days for the coming week, and I am already planning my next outfit. I have a couple of shoes I’ve been wanting to wear, so stay tuned for those!