Tag Archives: Shoes

The Joy of Finding Something You like after a Shopping Hibernation

08/04/2021 Shirley

How often do you buy a pair of shoes right on the spot simply because you like them? And how often do you think rationally about whether you really need them or not?

Staying home during the past pandemic year changed my life in many ways. One of the things I realized was that I don’t need a whole lot to maintain my everyday life. Besides having food and a home to live in, I don’t need a lot of fancy shoes and pretty clothing. All I need are slippers and simple clothing like sweatshirts and leggings.

As a matter of fact, I haven’t shopped for fancy shoes for almost 10 months in Year 2020. The reasons being 1.) with everything that went on I wasn’t in any mood for shopping for unnecessary goods, and 2.) there wasn’t any point of buying things that I don’t know when I could ever wear them.

However, my idle shopping mode was slowly shifted as the vaccine became available. I started to pay attention to some of the promotion emails in my inbox. Then, I saw a pair of Stuart Weitzman boots that caught my attention months ago and now are on sale, and available in my size.

(Stuart Weitzman’s Carine Crystal boots covered with sparkling crystal balls.)

There’s no better time to shop than seeing something you like at a discounted price. Right on the spot, the boots sparked my hibernated love for shopping. Once again, I can feel the joy of putting the accessory in my online shopping cart, making the payment, and waiting for the boots to arrive at my house.

All of my rationales of not needing anything other than food and housing suddenly were all thrown out the window. What was left, at the moment, was the happiness and anticipation of seeing my new boots in person.

The anticipation was well worth it. I love the boots and looking forward to wear them.

The Cover Image: I really love this pair of Stuart Weitzman’s Carine Crystal boots covered with sparkling crystal balls. The picture is no near being close to justify the beauty of these boots.

Beauty, Fashion, Top Five

5 Things to Try This Month – March 2021

03/25/2021 Shirley

Have you ever seen any house plants that die completely and regrow months later?

Right before last Christmas holiday I bought a fresh catnip plant for my cat, Inca. The catnip plant died a few days after I bought it. I’ve bought numerous catnip plants in the past years, but none of them died on me that quickly.

After the catnip plant died, it was forgotten and left in the corner by the window. Fast forward two months later, and I noticed a tiny green catnip leaf sprouted out of the the dirt in the small pot of the dead catnip plant.

I decided to do a little experiment and feed it with water every few days. And guess what? The catnip plant actual grew from a tiny leave to an actual plant. (See the cover picture of this post, taken two weeks after it came back.)

For someone who doesn’t know how to take care of plants, it sure was an unexpected miracle. I was given a second chance to take care of this catnip plant who died under my watch.

In life, we don’t always get the second chance, but when we do, we definitely should hold on to it and try our best.

Below are the five things I am trying on this month. For sure, it won’t involve ruining my new catnip plant.

Nails

I could never get tired of red nail color. If I could come up with 365 designs for red nails, I’d have red nail colors all year long. For this month, I have red sequins over the red glitter nails,

(My red glitter nails with red sequins.)

Coffee

I drink coffee or Caffè Americano everyday, but I usually only add some milk without any sugar. I saw Nespresso’s Irish coffee recipe for March and it inspired me to make my own version of sweet latte drinks.

Below is a picture of my new afternoon pick-me-up drink, made with Nespresso’s Peppermint flavored coffee, Double Espresso Scuro and hot frothed milk, then garnished with whipped cream and peppermint chocolate. This is the best afternoon pick-me-up drink to get me through my work meetings.

(My afternoon pick-me-up drink.)

Accessories

It has been a while since I bought any high heels, because I’ve been staying home to avoid the pandemic and there’s no immediate opportunity to wear any fancy shoes. However, when I saw these red platform sandals “Dania” by Rene Caovilla (covered with red crystals) online, I couldn’t resist the temptation to add it to my own collection.

I don’t know when I will be able to wear them, but I definitely enjoy trying them on at home and admiring my new addition.

(My new red Rene Caovilla shoes covered with red crystals.)

Piano

A new song I am learning this month is Chopin’s Op. 28, No. 15 Prelude in D-flat Major, also known as “Raindrop”. I love the first section of this song. The melody give me a sense of calmness and reminds me of why I like the classical music. In my opinion, the second section of this song is a bit challenging to master, because it takes some practice to play it well enough to convey the beauty of this song.

Entertainment

I’ve seen some great reviews about the show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I finally start to watch it. I was hooked after the first episode.

The show is about a sunny, energetic and well-off Jewish housewife who lived in a perfect life, but it all changed overnight. She was a supportive wife to her comedian wannabe husband (who failed miserably on this), but he walked out on her. She had to regroup her life and eventually became a successful stand-up comedian herself. Of course, there were plenty of challenges she had to overcome to get to where she wanted to go.

Another thing I really like about this show is the fashion, the silhouette. I love many of Mr. Maisel’s dresses and her lipstick colors.

(The show I am finally have time to watch and can’t stop.)

The Cover Image: This is the catnip plant that regrew in the small pot from the catnip plant that died last during the last holiday season.

All Posts, Top Five

5 Things to Try This Month – January 2020

01/17/2020 Shirley

Just because the holiday season is over, it doesn’t mean we can no longer have a festive mood. In fact, I think the best way to start a new year is to carry on doing fun and new interesting things that involve glitters and red.

Below are some of the things I am doing in January.

New Nails

Back in November, I had my gel nails done in pink glitters with full-on clear crystals. For years, I’ve always had some crystals on my gel nails, but I had never tried full-on crystals on all nails; I though it would be too overwhelming. It turned out that I liked the look of full-on crystals so much that I decide to make this design as the new alternative to my all time favorite red nails.

Below is my new gel nails for January 2020. It has red, blue, purple, pink, and clear crystals over gold glitters. This, for sure, really elevates my festive mood. It’s definitely perfect for the beginning of a great new year!

(Gel nails for January 2020.)

Red Accessory

Although I don’t have red gel nails with crystals for this month, I have the red strappy suede heel with crystals to keep me company. This is my latest addition, bought during the holiday season. I didn’t get to wear it earlier, but it’s definitely perfect for the upcoming Lunar New Years celebration on January 25.

(Giuseppe Zanotti Harmony sandals in red suede and crystals.)

Lipsticks

Chanel recently released a new limited-edition Rouge Allure lipsticks in eight shades (four velvet and four slightly shimmering textures). When I first tried on these new Chanel lipsticks I was in the mall with my friend. The new lipsticks had just arrived to the store for display/testing only. Nothing was available for sale. I was so glad that I found them on the Neiman Marcus web site right after I got home. I’ve ordered them in a couple of shades and can’t wait to get them in the mail this week.

(Picture of the new limited-edition Rouge Allure lipsticks.)

Daily Adventure

For the past holiday season, a friend of mine, who knows I like shoes, gave me a page-a-day shoes gallery calendar. The calendar features one shoe design for each day of Year 2020. I’ve scanned through the first couple of days in January. It’s interesting to see various designs of shoes. I can’t wait to reveal what’s in place for each day.

(The new page-a-day shoes gallery calendar for Year 2020.)

Cooking

We recently bought a new air fryer. I’ve been testing the new electronic appliance by frying pre-seasoned fries and buffalo wings bought from the grocery store. It’s amazing how we can make crispy food without adding any oil. To take the experiment further with healthy ideas, I made chicken drumsticks by adding the Himalayan pink salt, garlic powder and grounded black paper only. The result was unexpectedly delicious.

(My first homemade/seasoned chicken drumsticks cooked with the air fryer.)

All Posts, Fashion

Sparkling Black Glitter Boots

12/12/2018 Shirley

Sparkling boots have been one of the popular fashion trends since last year. And for this year, many fashion houses continue to incorporate the glitter element into their Fall and Winter 2018 collection.

After the sparkling boots have been in style for many seasons, it’s no surprise to see different designers debut sparkling boots with slight design variations across different seasons. They all look nice, but if you look closely you’d know your preference over one to another.

For me, the most obvious example of two sparkling boots from different designer brands that look similar in some ways is the black glitter boots from Jimmy Choo and the sequins boots from Valentino Garavani.

For Summer and Spring 2018, Jimmy Choo released its Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boots in black glitter material. The Tesler boot is unique because it has fur pom poms on the back of the ankle, but what attracts me to the Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boot is its glitter material; a combination of grayish glitters and black velvet. The feel of this Tesler boots surface and its pom poms fur is extremely soft.

(Jimmy Choo Glittered Fur-Trim Boots)

As for Valentino Garavani, it recently released its new Liquid Metallic boots in shimmering sequins. When I spotted this Valentino Liquid Metallic boots in the magazine, I immediately thought about the Jimmy Choo Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boots. The Jimmy Choo Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boots has glitter covered heels while the Valentino Garavani Liquid Metallic boots has solid black color heels. (In my opinion, the details on the heels matter a lot!)

Both of these black boots are made in dark sparkling material (glitters vs. sequins) and both have the glamourous sexy look. But I prefer Jimmy Choo’s Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boots over Valentino Garavani Liquid Metalic boots, because I think the Tesler boots in black glitters seem a bit more classic with a fun twist.

Although the Jimmy Choo’s Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boots in black glitter material have 4-inch heels, they’re surprisingly comfortable when I wore them (given I haven’t worn them for more than five minutes). The Tesler boots are still sitting in my closet waiting to be broken in. In the meantime, I am just happy that I got the Tesler Glittered Fur-Trim boot for my sparkling boots collection.

All Posts, Beauty, Holidays, Top Five

5 Things to Try This Month – December 2018

12/05/2018 Shirley

I always have mixed feelings about December. It’s the month for joyful celebrations, which I love. But it’s also the end of the year, which could be a bit depressing (because the year went by too fast). Nevertheless, there are still many things I want to do before the year ends.

See below for my list of things to do this month.

Nespresso Holiday Coffee

Each year I look forward to Nespress’ holiday limited-edition coffee and espresso drinks. Last year, Nespresso offered three different holiday coffee flavors: peppermint, banana, and cherry. This year, Nespresso offers several blended coffee with coconut flavor (Exotic Macaron), almond flavor (Paris Madeleine), hazelnut flavor (Paris Praliné).
As always, I love their fancy coffee capsule designs. They add more festival vibes to the holiday season.

(Picture taken with Nespresso’s new Orange Biscuits and holiday coffee capsules. The biscuits are delicious and perfect with Nespresso coffee.)

Enchant Christmas Seattle

Enchant Christmas is a holiday lights festival which began in Vancouver, B.C., Canada a couple of years ago. It’s coming to Seattle’s Safeco Field this holiday season. The festival will have Christmas light maze, ice skating trail, Christmas market, live entertainment, and more. I am looking forward to seeing all the holiday lights!

Sequins for Holidays

One of the fun things about the holiday season is attending celebration events. It’s always fun to look for new outfits and accessories for different occasions. I think something with glitters is the must-have! Click here for more details.

(Saint Laurent Loulou Glitter Bootie in my favorite purple color.)

New Everyday Lipstick

I always bring at least one lipstick (for touch-up) with me when I leave the house. But last week I forgot to bring a lipstick when I met with my friend for lunch. It felt really weird to be out and about without any lip colors on me, so my friend and I went to shop for new lipsticks at the mall. Most of my lipsticks are in fuchsia, pink, and red colors, so I picked a new one which is a more neutral color.

(GIORGIO ARMANI’s Lip Maestro Lip Stain)

New Dietary Supplement

I’ve never though about taking extra dietary supplements as part of my daily regimen. For years, one of my best friends has tried to convince me to take the dietary supplement she likes to improve wellness and skincare. After years of persuasion by my friend, I finally decided to give it a try starting this month. I am looking forward to see if the supplement really works for me.

(BeautyGlo – dietary supplement to increase skin firmness and radiance.)

All Posts, Beauty, Fashion, Top Five

5 Things to Try This Month – October 2018

10/25/2018 Shirley

When I think of October, I think about the colorful tree leaves in the Pacific Northwest. Many of the trees that are green in Spring and Summer will slowly turn into different shades of brown, red, and yellow. And as we get close to the end of October, you will see the leaves falling like dripping rain throughout the day.

This beautiful natural scenery reminds me that a year has gone by and it’s time to get ready for a new season. There are many things I am doing this month, including getting new fashion accessories and getting a new bold gel nail color.

See below for my monthly column for October, 5 Things to Try This Month.

Reminiscent Classical Design

Many of the fashion designer houses are reinventing their classic logo and signature designs. I’ve been looking for a small cross body bag in silver. What could be better than a Gucci quilted leather crossbody bag with its signature red and green webbed stripe!

Shirley Style in Rag and Bone Overalls And Gucci Cross Body Bag

Winter Boots

October is the perfect time to update your wardrobe and purchase new boots for Fall. I am really into suede boots this season. Because the rainy season will begin in Seattle, soon, right now it’s the perfect time to break in my new Stuart Weitzman suede boots without worrying about any puddles of water on the ground.

New Gel Nail Color

I love red gel nails so much that I’ve been getting mine done in red two months in a row. For the month of October, I had the urge of being bold and pick a new nail color. I just got it done yesterday in neon orange color with white glitters and crystals. This will be perfect for the Halloween and my upcoming Palm Springs trip.

New Eyeshadow

I love glitter eye shadows. Pat McGrath is one of my favorite makeup artists and she just released some new eye shadow palettes, including her signature Mothership (V: Bronze Seduction Palette). I can’t wait to put them on for my next dinner event.

Piano Concert

Richard Clayderman is one of my favorite piano artists. I learned how to play many of his songs when I was a child. I am looking forward to his concert in Seattle, at the Benaroya Hall. Listening to him playing in-person is one of the items on my bucket list!

Shirley Style Monthly Column – 5 Things to Try This Month – October 2018

All Posts, Fashion

Christian Louboutin Moulamax Unicorn Sequined Leather Boots

04/18/2018 Shirley

When designers add glitter or sequins to a fashion item (i.e. clothing, shoes, or bag), they instantly upgrade the style and add more visual value and appeal to the product. In my opinion, not only do most of the sparkling fashion items looks great, they are also classic pieces that you can keep in your closet and never get tired of.

Sparkling boots were one of the must-have trends in the recent season. As a fan of glitter shoes, I purchased several boots made with these eye-catching, sparkling elements, and among the boots I got was a pair of Christian Louboutin Moulamax Unicorn Sequined Leather Boots.

Christian Louboutin’s Moulamax Unicorn Sequined Leather Boots are covered with silver sequins. On the reverse side of each silver sequin is shimmering colors (either green, gold, red, pink, or silver). You can be creative and sweep the sequins to make your desired pattern. And you can wear the boots in all silver or multi-color.

I personally like to wear my Moulamax Unicorn Sequined Leather Boots in a mix of silver and multi-color patterns. This shows the uniqueness of the shoe design. I also like to pair the boots with my short red dresses. In my opinion, a red color silhouette is perfect with anything that sparkles!

Christian Louboutin’s Moulamax Unicorn Sequined Leather Boots were launched for Fall and Winter 2017. To me, this pair of sequined boots is also perfect for Spring and Summer!

All Posts, Fashion, Food, Top Five

5 Things to Try This Month – March 2018

04/02/2018 Shirley

March is the beginning of Spring and it’s time to try new nail colors, new coffee, and a new cuisine. See below for the things I am doing this month.

Enjoy the New Nespresso Double Espresso

I am always looking out for Nespresso’s new coffee flavors. This month they released two new capsules (Double Espresso Chiaro and Double Espresso Scuroin) for the Vertuo system machine. I tried it at home and it’s delicious, especially with some frothed milk.

Switch to Green Nail Color

For this month (St. Patrick’s Day and beginning of Spring), I am switching from my all-time favorite red gel nail color to green. Instead of the dark green color, I got a light green color with glitters and Swarovski crystals. I love my new gel nail color and I think it’s perfect for everyday this month!

Break Into Light Color Shoes

Since we are in the beginning of Spring I can start breaking in the light color shoes I bought for the warm seasons. One of my recent favorites for casual attire is Puma’s Glitter Platform Sneaker in Gray Metallic. Unlike most of the glitter shoes I have, these Puma glitters are sealed under a glossy coat, so you won’t see individual glitters falling off.

Valentino

Update Work Wardrobes

With the starting of a new job, I plan to update my work wardrobes with more dresses. Among the brands I like, The Kooples, offers many dresses that are perfect for work and I can wear from morning to Happy Hour.
For example, the The Kooples’ Contrast-Collar Lace-Inset Mini Dress I recently got would be perfect for the office, if I wear it with a sweater cardigan and flat ballerina shoes (with short heels). After work, I can skip the cardigan and switch into a pair of stilettos. This is an ideal dress that takes you from day to night!

Experience a New Cuisine

I like to try food that I’ve never tasted before. This month my friends introduced me to the Kabul Afghan Cuisine restaurant in Seattle. We had kababs combination, which includes chicken, lamb, beef, grilled eggplants, Basmati rice, and Afghan Bread. All the food we had at the restaurant was delicious, but I liked the beef and the rice the best! We finished our meal with the dessert, Ferni, a custard pudding flavored with cardamom and rosewater, and topped with ground pistachios.

Kabul Afphan Cuisine Ferni Dessert — Shirley Style food advantures

All Posts, Fashion, Holidays

The Five Best Shoes for Holiday and Evening for 2017

12/13/2017 Shirley

Each year around the holiday season I like to pick five shoes that I think are perfect for the evening. If you are into glitters, I have three that I highly recommend. If you prefer non-glitters, there are still plenty to choose from.

See below for my suggestions.

Jimmy Choo Hanover Bootie

Glitter boot is in for the Fall and Winter. If you haven’t had the chance to update your wardrobe with an eye-catching boot, try Jimmy Choo’s Hanover Bootie. It’s elegant and stylish. Pairing the Hanover bootie with a miniskirt or short dress will elongate your figure and show off your legs.

Jimmy Choo Romy Pointy Toe Pump

If you are looking for a pair of stilettos in glitters, I highly recommend Jimmy Choo’s Romy in ombré glitter. For me, Jimmy Choo’s Romy pumps are very comfortable to wear for hours and the glitters are perfect for the season! Try the Romy pump in pink and black glitters (my current favorite pair)! The shoes will go well with dresses in pink and black.

Miu Miu Studded Glitter Pump

If you are into silver glitter stilettos, try Miu Miu’s Studded Glitter pump. This point-toe pair of Miu Miu shoes is covered in silver glitters and embellished with sparkling studs. I have a pair of Miu Miu Mary Janes in a similar design and with crystal rhinestones. The shoes go well with almost any outfit. In my opinion, if you are traveling for this holiday and can only bring one pair of stilettos with you, this Miu Miu’s Studded Glitter pump will be it for you!

Miu Miu’s Studded Glitter Pump

Gucci Gucci Elaisa Embellished Bow Pump

If you are not into glitter shoes, there are still many options when it comes to the holiday and evening wear. For example, Gucci has the Elaisa Embellished Bow High Heel Pump, which has a removable elastic bow made up of pearl embellishments. You can wear the pump by itself or place the pearl embellishment bow on the shoes (or ankle) to upgrade your look instantly.

Gucci Elaisa Embellished Bow High Heel Pump

Roger Viver Red Ballerina

Red is a must-have for the holiday season. When you need a short break from wearing the stilettos for the evening, try a pair of the ballerina flats. I highly recommend something like Roger Vivier’s Embellished Satin Ballerina shoes in red. This point-toe shoes has crystal-embellished buckles. THe design of the ballerina flat will give you the comfort you need without losing your sparkling charm. I suggest you to pair it with a black dress like The Kooples Floral Lace Dress.

Roger Vivier Embellished Satin Ballerina

All Posts, Fashion

Fall 2017 Fashion Trends

11/08/2017 Shirley

Red has always been my favorite color when it comes to fashion. I love handbags, shoes, dresses, and coats in red, and I will never get tired of the color. Luckily, red is one of the new neutral colors for Fall 2017 and Winter 2018.

If red accessories are not your preferred color, there are still plenty of other Fall trends you can incorporate into your wardrobe for this season. Below are some of my suggestions.

Velvet

If you are a fan of velvet, this is the perfect season for it. The velvet material can be seen on clothing, shoes, and handbags. Try GG Marmont Medium velvet shoulder bag.
This bag is not only made of velvet in a trending purple color, it is also a statement-making accessory for “love”!

Fringe or Feather

If you want to invest in a unique piece for the season, consider something with a fringe or feathers. Something like Alice + Olivia’s Philomena Dress., with just the right amount of the feather element, you can add a twist to the style by pairing it up with some fashion jewelry. You won’t be able to wear it all the time, but it will always be a classic item in your wardrobe.

Glitter Boots

One of the must-have accessories for this season is glitter boots. We’ve seen it offered by various brands, from Kate Spade to Saint Laurent. The sparkles on the shoes will instantly upgrade your look, no matter what you are wearing. A pair of glitter boots will definitely come in handy as we get closer to the holiday season.

Classic Plaid

Plaid is a classic Fall fashion element. It is available on stylish suits, jackets, and skirts for this season. One of my favorites items is Chloé’s Plaid Blazer. The combination of the red buttons with the brown plaid hue and the design on the lapel gives this blazer a traditional and stylish appearance.

Red

Red hue, the color of the season. Any clothing items, shoes, and bags in red will immediately spice up your outfits. If you want to invest in at least one red item for this season, I’d suggest you to try a pair of red leather booties. Not only this is in trend right now, it will also be a special addition to your wardrobe. Try Stuart Weitzman.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Shirley Style Monthly Column – 5 Things to Try This Month – October 2018

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Fashion Blog