Store Appeal

TOD’s: Luscious Loafers

Tod’s is a high end luxury brand known worldwide for their slip-on loafers. I love loafers for their comfort and versatility. Plus, you don’t have to fuss with buckles, straps, or shoelaces, and they add instant class to any outfit. Incorporate some Tod’s loafers in your closet today. There are plenty of colors and styles to choose from.

Let’s start with some for men. This handsome pair is the Tod’s Winter Gommini Loafer. Featuring the signature Tod’s ‘Gommini rubber sole’ and heel guard, as well as leather-padded lining. Made in Italy. On sale at Neiman Marcus for only $191.00!

Next off is this honey brown leather pair of Women’s “Heaven” Loafers from Tod’s, $340.00 at Bluefly. Topped off with an adorable contrast bowtie these will be perfect for spring!

And for something more unique, a pair of sexy navy loafers. The Tod’s ‘Ballerina Dee‘ bead trim flats, $396.00. The navy suede is a rich, luxurious color and the sexier silhouette allows you to show off some toe cleavage!

Find lots more from Tod’s right here.

Be&D Handbags, Shoes and Accessories

Store Appeal: Very rarely does an American designer craft handbags that could pass for the Old World glory that is seen in Chanel and Balenciaga – with the exception of Marc Jacobs.  But many American handbag designers have a very streamlined, modern interpretation, which is not a fault, but they find it hard to recreate what’s already been so successful in Europe for over a century.  American designer handbag line Be&D does a brilliant job of melding the two for modern twist on an old favorite, though this is not by accident.  Be&D, which was founded in 2004 by Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain, is now helmed solely by Dumain, who grew up with an affection for antique luggage and in college studied international business, Spanish and art. The handbags, shoes and other leather goods are modern and sexy, but carry elegant and flattering lines. Just what every woman wants.  My personal favorite is the Be&D Kan Kan Tote.

Our Vote: While the online store is easily navigable, the photos are only one-dimensional and can be a bit lackluster, particularly when trying to demonstrate the detail of the fabrics, materials and hardware used on the products. Nonetheless, the shopper still gets a decent idea of what the product might feel and look like in hand, and fortunately, the dimensions and vivid descriptions of the materials used in each product are listed.

Our Favorites:

1.    Be&D Kan Kan Tote - $1,390

2.    Be&D Rizzo Shoes – $458

3.    Be&D Dallas Tote - $895

Stuart Weitzman Espadrilles + Summer Shoes

Store Appeal: For years, I have been a huge Stuart Weitzman fan. His shoes are so beautiful and fit so well. It’s no surprise women all over the world, including celebrities like Jennifer Anniston, have been singing the praises of Weitzman shoes for over 30 years. Possibly more important than the shoe itself is the company’s customer service mantra: “…every woman who walks into a Stuart Weitzman store will be the most important customer we’ve ever had.” Learning the business of shoemaking and design from his father, Weitzman now creates more than 300 new styles of shoes and handbags a year, proclaiming each is a monument to fashion and innovation. Weitzman shoes are even featured in Beso.com’s “Go Nude” shoe promotion – this season’s hottest trend in shoes!

Our Vote: Aside from each pair of shoe being made in Spain with over 80 pairs of expert cobbler hands of the course of 6-7 weeks per pair, each shoe also has its own very special place on StuartWeitzman.com. Click on a shoe, it will take you to its page, where size, color and material availability is presented to the shopper with the greatest of ease. What’s more, to the right are the metrics about each shoe – where it was made, materials it’s made from, design elements like platform rise and type of heel. Additionally, each shoe has photos taken from every angle to give the shopper the best feel for the shoe to aid in their decision-making. With prices that are hard to beat especially considering the craftsmanship, quality and mastery of design and function, Stuart Weitzman shoes are as much as symbol of status as they are a testament to the shrewdness of the woman who wears them.

Our Favorite:

1.)   Stuart Weitzman Alexa Espadrille- $375

2.)   Stuart Weitzman Saxony Bootie – $256

3.)   Stuart Weitzman Blingy Jelly Sandal – $110

4.)   Stuart Weitzman Avignon Platform – $365

Jennifer Aniston Wears Stuart Weitzman Alexa Espadrilles

Aldo: A for A-mazin’

Store Appeal: Aldo. You may have seen an Aldo Shoe store in your local mall or somewhere in your neighborhood. This privately owned company has locations across the U.S. as well as Tokyo, Paris, and London. I’ve always liked browsing their stores. Clean, white, minimalist, with shoes that follow the latest trends and fashionable styles, Aldo has become a staple in my wardrobe. Not to mention that I happen find their prices quite reasonable, considering the quality and how fashion forward their footwear tends to be. Also, while on the lookout for some women’s brogues that are all the rage this season, Aldo was my go-to, one-stop shop! I was happy to find more than one pair that tempted my wallet.

Our Vote: Aldo gets an “A” for awesome! Lovely selection of shoes (heels, sandals, wedges, boots galore, plus don’t forget the men’s footwear section!) and extremely easy to navigate. Clean and minimal just like their stores, the website is a breeze to use. Currently they’re making shipping free for all orders, so hurry!

Our Favorites:

1. Cuoco Low heel brogue, $90.00.

2. Galuski clog, $80.00.

3. Stenn wedge, $75.00.

4. Mignogna ankle strap wedge, $90.00.

Shop for more Aldo online…

See by Chloe Summer Sandals

Store Appeal: See by Chloe, the ready-to-wear line by Chloe is a younger, sportier feel. Though the brand still uses the same great colors and signature styles as the Chloe line, the pieces are little bit more budget friendly.

Our Vote: Shopping the site is a bit like most high-end lines where you have to choose the collection, choose the season and then click through styled photos of the products. So ultimately the actual shopping has to be done through affiliate sites like net-a-porter or of course, Beso! Still the products are displayed beautifully and showcased for the fashion-loving online shopper.

Our Favorites

1.) Red Espadrilles – $241

2.) Yellow and White Flats with Chain Detail $245

3.) Blue and White Leather Wedge – $259

4.) Jelly Sandal with Interchangeable Straps

See more See by Chloe…

Anthropologie: Vintage-y Delight

Store Appeal: If money was no object, Anthropologie would take over my closet by storm. From dresses to shoes to home accessories, I love every inch of this store! They’ve got a whimsical, vintage appeal and I love visiting the store to peek at the latest window display they have up. (I even found an entire flickr group dedicated to the wonderful Anthropologie storefronts!) Last time I was visiting my local Anthropologie freestanding store they used simple garden hose to fashion “baskets” of sorts, weaving hose together with some rope to create a stunning display. If you’ve got an Anthro store near you, you know what I mean; this store flows with creativity and it shows in their products! They’re all gorgeous, unique, and have great handmade details that make them stand out above other mass marketers.

Our Vote: Fashioned in the footsteps of it’s lovely stores, the Anthropologie website is lovely to look at with a handcrafted, scrapbook type feel. Whether you shop by outfit or design details you can’t go wrong. I especially like reading the customer reviews for the products; it’s a great way to get a real person’s opinion on what they liked or disliked about whatever it was they ordered. Also, there are great zoom-in/out features and multiple angles of the products so you know exactly what you’re getting. It’s love at first click!

Our Favorites:

1. Nexus ruffle top, $68.00.

2. Fine Cut oxfords, $128.00.

3. Sunday Spy shades, $28.00.

Find more Anthropologie here.

Clarks USA: Not your grandpa’s shoes…

Store Appeal: Clarks, you say? Yes, the Clark’s you’ve remembered your grandpa wearing since you were a kid. Slowly but surely Clarks is experiencing a revival among fashionistas across the globe. With an English heritage dating back to 1825 (yes, 1825!) you can be assured they know what they’re doing and their timeless style has stood up to it’s legacy. Don’t believe me? Here’s the fashionista herself, Sarah Jessica Parker donning the Clark’s Desert boot, an alternative to this season’s men’s inspired oxfords. I love the boyish rugged shoes paired up with a girly outfit for an unusual and modern twist on this summer’s fashions.

Our Vote: Very basic, straightforward site with simple navigation tabs. However, I do prefer beso’s online Clarks store for it’s easy-to-browse ability. I like seeing a bunch of options at once, and the beso site allows me to scroll through tons of shoes quickly and efficiently.

Our Favorites:

1. Classic Clarks Desert Boot, $95.00.

2. Clarks Splendor Lily Sandal, $90.00.

3. Clarks Miami Beach Wedge, $80.00.