Mama Threads

Cult Favorite: Mariana by GOLC

I need comfortable shoes. During the average day, I walk at least five miles with trips to preschool, the playground, the grocery store, etc.  In a previous post, I mentioned that I live in my Dansko clogs, but I have been trying to push myself outside of my comfort zone and recently discovered Mariana by GOLC.  GOLC is clog spelled backwards so I don't feel like I am losing anything in comfort...but in terms of fashion, it's a major leap forward.  The shoes are made in Brazil and use an eco-friendly vegetable tanning process on the leather that makes the shoes soft and supple.  The biggest thing is Mariana makes crazy comfortable high heels - perfect for summer weddings where you can dance the night away.  However, the slip-ons have amazing style and are perfect for long days of chasing after the munchkins!

Buying Tip: Check out shoes.com - they have a big part of the line on sale right now.  Also, visit shoebuy.com.  Both sites have codes on RetailMeNot.com that offer 15 - 20% off with free shipping and free returns.

Shopping Tip: The comments on these shoes say they tend to run small so try ordering two sizes and returning one.  Hey, it's free!

Fun in the Sun: Summer Sandals from Naturalizer

During the summer, it's easy for me to fall into the rut of flip flops, but cute sandals are everywhere and an easy to way to look stylish.  Check out this pair from Naturalizer on 6pm.  They remind me of Camper sandals but without the high price tag. They come in a variety of colors but my personal favorite are the multi-metallic.  The gold/silver color goes with everything.  These are 3" heels but with the cushioned footbed, you get all of the height and none of the pain!

Cult Favorite: Saltwater Sandals

I first noticed these sandals on the feet of the children in my neighborhood.  Then I noticed a few moms had them as well.  They were super cute and seemed to come in a rainbow of colors.  Then I started to ask around.  The word on the street was they were super comfortable...and cheap!  I did some checking and they are Saltwater Sandals from Hoy Shoe Company in St. Louis, MO.  They got their start over 60 years ago making sandals for children.  They are crafted from high quality leather with real metal buckles.  The sandals are lightweight and very flexible.  They quickly shape to the wearer's foot.  This site has some great tips on getting the perfect fit.  They are pretty tricky to find online!

Online sources:
GotLeather.Com
BestDressedKids.Com
Ebay.com

Hoy Shoe Company also lists brick and mortar stores on their website.

Sale Alert! 6pm.com Sale on Nine West & Dansko

6pm.com is a good online store in the vein of Marshalls or TJ Maxx.  The offerings change but you can generally find some great deals with a little digging.  Right now, they have all their Nine West shoes for $19.99 (great sandals for summer!) as well as all their Dansko on sale.  It's hard to find deals on Dansko shoes so jump on this one.  Also, bookmark this as a great place to browse when you are looking for a deal but don't have something specific in mind.

Check It Out: Designer Shoes...for $38!

Warning: these are not for the playground!  

Today, I had a really, really fun day and got to wear a real pair of heels for the first time in ages.  Being a mommy doesn't lend itself to stiletto heels very often, but today reminded me that somtimes even a mommy needs to look stylish and feel sexy. Of course, I don't really have a lot of space in the clothing budget for Manolo Blahniks.  However, I found an amazing pair of shoes at Payless. Designer Lela Rose has come up with a really stunning collection for the discount shoe store that is full of interesting details (like the patterned silver fabric and small bow on these shoes) and simple design.  One caveat: these shoes have 3.5" heels - ouch!  Make them a little more comfortable for date night with these great little inventions: Foot Petal's Tip Toes. The balls of your feet will thank you.

Outfit of the Week: Snow Storm!

We are about to have a potentially large snow storm here in New York.  In my mind, we had turned the corner and were headed toward spring.  I was all about the spring dresses and spring jackets.  I was thinking about April showers bringing May flowers.  I was NOT thinking about a foot of snow and being stuck inside AGAIN.  We want to go to the playground!  We want to play t-ball in the backyard.  I DON'T want to make anymore playdough!  Ok, I am done ranting....on to some thoughts on my favorite winter gear.  

Last year I took the plunge and bought myself some decent snow boots.  I did some research, and Khombu had great reviews across the board and were pretty fashionable.  Fast forward to the end of the season (aka right now), and I can only say great things about them.  These boots kept my feet dry and toasty warm.  The tread on the bottom is great and made me feel confident walking on slippery patches holding the baby.  They were pretty easy to put on, and they looked pretty cool over my jeans - stylish and functional (keeping my pants dry too!).  Now is a great time to buy winter gear with all of the end of the year sales.  Stock up for next year or the surprise last-gasp-of-winter storm!  This style pictured on the left is called the Bellino 2.  6pm.com has them for $73.13.  I know this sounds high, but it's more than 40% off and good boots are worth the investment.  They are well made and will be boots you can wear year after year.

One of my other favorites for winter is corduroy pants.  Cords manage to be both soft and warm but are way more stylish that just wearing your jammies around.  Plus I get tired of wearing jeans day after day and this is an easy, durable, washable option.  I just wore my favorite pair to a baby shower and felt right at home, but I also think they are perfect for chilly days at the playground.  Right now Eddie Bauer is offering their classic cords for $19.99.  Colors and sizes are limited but make sure to check out both the petite and long verisions for better selection.  Petites are for women under 5'3.5" - the inseam is 2" shorter than the regular size.  The talls are sized for women taller than 5' 7" but can easily be shortened to fit anyone.  It's a great way to save on a classic that will easily fit into next year's wardrobe (or give you something new as winter stretches on FOREVER!)

Finally, no winter wardrobe is complete without a cardigan.  They are super easy to throw on over a t-shirt if you get chilly during the winter but can also easily help a wardrobe move into spring where layers are key for cool mornings that move into warmer afternoons.  Garnet Hill is having a great clearance on sweaters right now.  I thought this cardigan was perfect for early March and would move well into the warmer weather.  Right now, it's just $34 (originally $128).  

The Best Flip Flops in the Whole World

I love bare feet, but one can't really walk around the city without shoes on.  Flip flops are the next best thing.  My absolute favorite brand is Havaianas. They have extremely soft soles and yet are very durable. The straps are very flexible and never give my sensitive feet blisters after the initial break-in period.

Buying Tip: Check out Amazon.com for some great deals on a lot of different styles.  The widest selection can be found directly at the Havaianas website.

Wearing Tip: My feet always require a break-in period after the winter.  Avoid wearing them on a really long trek the first time out.

Must Have Shoes: Dansko Clogs

I consider getting out of the house with two kids during cold weather an accomplishment worthy of a medal.  Since I don't have colleagues as a stay at home mom, I regularly look to passerbys on the sidewalk, as I handily manuever my stroller around a tight corner and up a stair with my two children strapped in and reasonably dressed in winter attire, expecting them to give me a thumbs up or a high five for a job well done.  I am also proud if this whole exercise takes me less than fifteen minutes start to finish.  One of the keys for me is slip-on shoes.  My kids are usually reaching the meltdown stage by the time it takes to wrap them in scarves, zip them in jackets, and slip on their mittens.  It's not the best time to leisurely sit down and tie my shoes.  Instead I throw on my jacket, grab a scarf and step into my clogs as I rush out the door.  Also, during an average day, we Brooklynites frequently walk a couple of miles by the time we visit the grocery, hike to preschool and finish up with a playdate before heading back home to dinner.  The Dansko clogs, while on the expensive side, save my feet from taking a beating and save my sanity in the rush to get out the door.

Buying Tip: Check out some of the less well-known shoe websites and sign up for their email lists.  The competition is fierce and many offer regular discounts making these pricey shoes just a little bit easier on the budget.  My favorite right now is shoes.com.