Shoe Pr0n Blow by Blow

Darling Pr0n Stars: Hello! Good Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening!  Today I was inspired by my good friend Manolo, the Shoeblogger. He always has good advice and the most breathtaking shoes, but the shoe he had today, Miu Miu Spectator Peep-Toe Mary Janes were so beautiful, I had to share.

There’s a lot in this title to take in, so let’s break it apart. Brand: Miu Miu, named for its designer, Miuccia Prada. Sound familiar?  It should; she also owns & designs the brand Prada.  See?  You know so much already!

Peep-toe is self explanatory; make sure you’ve got a good pedicure before you show those tosies, and for the love of Pete if I see ANY of you wearing reinforced hose (the kind with a seam on the toe) with a peep-toe, I will haunt your nightmares for eternity, so help me!

Spectator is normally a men’s type of shoe, marked in appearance by the contrasting size cut out dots.  A lovely way to reference menswear in women’s clothing is to take a classic men’s style, like a spectator, and make it girlie. Here it’s also a mary-jane style (a girl’s type of shoe with a a strap over the foot or ankle). A pump merely means that it has a heel.

Conversely, the neutral colors and spectator detailing keeps the mary-jane patent leather, platform heel and bow from looking garish or over the top. This is a shoe that is a study in perfect opposites.

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What makes a beautiful men’s shoe? Its more subtle. Pr0n guys must learn to see the difference between a classic shoe and a contemporary one; between dowdy and geek-chic, and above all a lovely leather.

If you’ve followed the Pr0n previously, you know I have a specific weakness in the men’s shoe genre: the shoe boot. *fans self* With the shoe boot you have a very old style, almost vintage, that’s been tweaked to look effortlessly modern.

Pr0n guys, you want a boot that looks jaunty and delicate, not clunky and ready to actually go riding in. Think Prince Charles, not Charlie Brown.

Think about this Prada at Bluefly.com. Vegetarians will cringe when they find out that it’s calfskin, but nothing feels quite like it. What’s nice is the rounded toe, slight heel and stretch shaft, to help your manscaped feet ease inside.

Let’s talk about manscaping for a moment before we move on: pr0nstars, I’m expecting ALL of you to be in your pedicurist’s chair once the weather turns warm. We’ll look at the Mandal (the Man-Sandal) in another post, but everyone deserves pampering and nobody deserves toe-cheese.

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Don’t let anybody tell you that you have to wear 4″ heels to have a shoe that makes your heart skip a beat. Your podiatrist may not like you anymore for wearing perfectly flat shoes, than soaring heels but we can rock a pair of orthotics when we’re old, anyway.

I swore I wouldn’t show you another pair of patent leather shoes this time – it’s my problem, not yours and I recognize that I need help for it. BUT, I saw these D&G Dolce & Gabanna shoes and I needed you to see the beauty in simplicity.

These are a pair of deep green patent ballerina flats. Made in Italy. Perfection in style, quality and color.

Pr0nstars I hate to leave and have to say good night. But I’m overwhelmed by the beauty in this post and need to rest.  Sometimes less is more and sometimes more is more; I think that’s what we’ve learned in this post. That and who Muiccia Prada is. The more you know.

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Until next time – comments are love. It was good for me; tell me: was it good for you?

Save Your Wallet, Save the World

Totally Organic Talum Skirt, Greenloop, $29.99, Sz.8

Any fashionista worth their debit card will tell you their favorite four letter word is “sale”. But never let it be said that we fashionistas are not without are ethics or values.

We recycle, drive hybrids or use car-sharing and public transportation, take reusable bags to go grocery shopping and buy eco-friendly products and clothing!  So if we can combine a sale with being ethically responsible?  Genius!

Greenloop, a fabulous eco-fashion site, is have a blowout sale, with all sale items under $30.  No, really.  Sizes and colors are really limited, but with luck you can snag an unreal deal.  I’ve pulled together my favorites for you, my favorite pr0n parsley.

Strike while the iron is hot, act now supplies are limited and lots of other phrases that mean do something really really soon. Seriously, my favorites keep selling out before I can even blog them.

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Size 8’s should jump at the chance to pick up this Truly Organic Talum skirt which normally sells for $73.50.  It’s made out of 100% organic cotton twill with 100% natural dyes.

The skirt is lined in soft cotton poplin, and then they’ve added rouching and ties to the sides so you can play with the skirt and make it unique every time.  It’s shown here in wine, but selling in gray.  Wear this skirt three seasons out of the year.

Melissa "Hello" Shoes, Greenloop, $29.99, szs. 6,7,8

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If it was me, I’d snag these vegan “Hello” shoes by Melissa to wear with the skirt, or just about anything else.

Sizes 6, 7 & 8 save $66 on these Mary-Janes with a 3″ gold heel, & plaid detail on the button.  “Hello” is faux-velvet with a velcro closure.

The company has an impressive list of environmentally responsible credits.  Click on the picture for specifics (all links open in a new window, never fear).

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Loomstate Hawkeye Jacket, Greenloop, $29.99

Men who wear a size x-large, I’m calling your name!  If you don’t buy this Loomstate “Hawkeye” jacket (or chicks, if you don’t buy it for your guy), I will personally reach through this computer and smack you!

You’re getting a hooded, mid-weight anorak jacket that was originally $275, for $29.99.  If I felt like doing the math I would tell you that’s a very large percent off!

Here’s the low-down: easy, relaxed fit, drawstring at waist and hood, zip + snap front, four front snap flap pockets, removable, quilted inside vest, made from 82% organic cotton and 18% decycled polyester, “in China – with respect”.

This is one nice jacket.  So stop buying soy lattes for a couple of weeks and get yourself a fancy new jacket.  And then call your blogger – she’s single!

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Loomstate Paracaribou T_Shirt, Greenloop $24.99, sz. small

Loomstate also has a handful of really nice quality t-shirts for $19.99 – $24.99, including this organic cotton “Paracaribou” tee; they’re fair-trade compliant and made in Peru.

If you read my infrequent menswear posts, you know I’m a fan of nice t-shirts worn on their own, or layered.  I’d pick up a few of these, if not all, considering they normally sell for $60-65.

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EcoSkin Alexandrite Dress, $29.99, Greenloop, Sz. L

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Lest you think eco-fashion is all about t-shirts and jackets, feast your eyes on EcoSkin’s Bamboo & Tencel “Alexandrite” dress.  Good luck finding another dress this fashion forward, this eco-friendly at this price.

“Alexandrite” definitely has a Greco-Roman feel with its one shoulder flutter sleeve, and diagonal bottom hem.  It ties on the side of the waist, and is fitted through the bust, with a looser drape on the bottom.

This dress is available as of this writing in a large. That’s unusual for this sale, which has a lot of smaller sizes left over; so if this makes your heart go pitter-pat (and it should when you hear it was originally $167), make with the clicky and go get it.  We’ll be here when you get back. :)

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Sublet bamboo and organic cotton dress, Greenloop, $280

For the last product today, I’m going to tempt you into Greenloop’s regular priced items with a dress I simply can’t not show you!

I’m absolutely enamored with the styling of “Catherine”, made by Sublet in bamboo and organic cotton in the U.S.A.

Catherine has sweet, pleated tulip sleeves, a cross over v-neckline, pleated & gathered bodice, black tape side detail, with a full coverage back.  It comes in “Misty”, a dreamy lilac/grey.

Yes, it’s $280, but it can compete with any designer dress of that price point, and you’ll be a lot more comfortable, and a lot more satisfied with your purchase.

I know some of you out there spend that kind of money, why not spend it on this?  Sizes medium and large at the moment.

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Pr0n stars, I really hope you’re able to scamper over to Greenloop before all the good sales are gone and get some for yourself.  If not, at least take a look around and see what’s over there.  There’s always another sale waiting around the bend.

Until next time, it was good for me.  Tell me, was it good for you?

Dating Fashion: Menswear in the New Millennium

It’s so good to see you again, my darling pr0n pals.  I apologize for the prolonged absence; it was unexpected, and I’ve longed to get back to you.  Here’s what’s inspired me today: last night I met up with a gentleman caller of whom I’m fond, but have not seen in quite some time.

Commes Des Garcons Degrade Sport Shirt - $445, Barney's Coop

They say you’re only as young as you feel, and while that’s true, it’s been a few years since either of us saw 30.  My gentleman caller, who is a handsome fellow, showed up wearing an Old Navy Polo, cargo shorts, and casual shoes.  It’s not the worst style that your blogger’s ever seen, but not the best, either.

In my caller’s defense, he confessed that he did not know how to dress; this is an affliction from which many a young man suffers: Fashion Challenged.  In today’s post, I’m going to answer the question:  how does one dress these days when one is courting a young lady of the new millennium?

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Sometimes I think fashion is so simple, I wonder how so many get it wrong.  But I recognize that the basics are shown, it can become second nature for all.  I’ve done a man’s semi-casual outfit once before, for Sunday brunch; the date outfit is not so different from the brunch outfit.

We’ve got the usual April heat wave here in DC, where it goes from 50 to nearly 90 inside of a week.  I know your dear blogger was caught off guard, and thanked her lucky stars her summer wardrobe was machine washable.  So for our first option, let’s cut our gentleman caller some slack and show him how to properly wear shorts when drinking with a lady.

Here are two different flat front shorts: khaki if you’re a little bit country; plaid, if you’re a little bit rock and roll.  My gentleman caller told me he shops at Old Navy, so I found these at Old Navy’s grown-up siblings: Banana Republic and J. Crew.

On top, I like to style a button down shirt, with a tee underneath; I’m a bit old-fashioned that way.

You can stay on the safe side with a solid color long sleeve – just zhoozh bit, in the words of Carson Kressley.  You don’t have to be so tucked in, and you can roll the sleeves up haphazardly; you’re learning how to dress up casual wear, and dress down work wear.

Women know the dirty little secret of fashion is that you spend time to look fantastic, so you look as if it’s taken you no time at all to look that way.

Don’t be afraid to try something a little different and show some personality.  Put a clean, well-maintained, logo t-shirt in a different color underneath the button down; humor is fine within reason.  Just make sure you are positive about your lady friend’s sense of humor.  Or try a micro-plaid or stripe with your plaid shorts.  The general rule for mixing patterns is one big, one little; one big plaid, one little plaid.

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Gordon Rush Dark Brown Leather Sandals, $135.15 at Bluefly

Few subjects in the fashion world are as controversial as the “mandal”: the man’s sandal.  Is it a do or a don’t?  In this blogger’s opinion, the problem lies not with the poor, maligned mandal, but with the feet that possess them!

Men, it’s time for your first pedicure.  Not only is it incredibly relaxing, and pleasurable, but it makes your feet look good.  Again, women’s dirty little secret is, that our tootsies don’t look this way just because of an extra X chromosome, we pay.  As should you, if your feet plan to see the light of day after March.

If I hear even one of you asking me about flip-flops, there’s no telling what I’ll do!  Flip-flops are for the beach.  When you are not on the beach you will wear a shoe.  *breathes in*  It’s okay, I’m alright, I’m not going to hurt anyone.  Yet.

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Let’s move on to long pants, which can be known as “khakis”, even when not khaki colored.  Their proper name is of course “chinos”, but lots of things which are proper will get you looked at strangely.

Observant pr0n prawns (hehehe) will note that while I put a long sleeve shirt with a short, I’ve put a short sleeve shirt with a long pant.

Of course there will be situations where both of one or the other will be necessary, depending on the weather, but playing with proportion adds interest to an outfit.

Men should not fall into the trap of buying clothing that is too big; check that your shoulder seams are actually at your shoulders.  The shirt can be a bit loose or trim, depending on the particular style – try a slimmer cut shirt if you’re a trim fellow.  It won’t make you look bigger, but buying bigger will make you look smaller.

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with a casual shoe, but it depends on the shoe.  A plain sneaker or athletic type shoe does not tell your lady guest that you have put thought into your appearance.

Puma Green Leather 'Scarred Street Low' Sneaker, $111.34 at Bluefly

A sneaker with some color and style, paired with a solid or patterned top (choose one color from the shirt for your shoes), says that you are a gentleman of some distinct joie de vivre or je ne sais quoi, and what lady would not want that?  Of course, leather is always appropriate, and a simple driving moccasin is simple, classic, and comfortable.

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A simple wardrobe of easy to mix and match pieces is what everyone should strive for. When meeting a member of the other gender, one wants to make a good impression – but perhaps not too good.  One should look attractive, color coordinated, neat, and just a smidge dressed up.  Let your clothing tell your lady friend that you have been looking forward to your outing together.

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In my next post, we’ll talk about ladies, and what to wear when their gentleman comes calling.

As always, it was good for me. Tell me; was it good for you?