Ever have one of those days when you want to look chic but really want a comfortable shoe?  Well look no further than the ballerina flat.  Wear it with jeans, skinny pants or straight work pants (flared bottoms don’t work) or a skirt or even your favorite little black dress. 

The Brooks Square Ballerina Flat from Taryn Rose is a Patent leather flat with a retro buckle available in Red, Black and Brown.  The Italian made shoe has a leather upper, leather/rubber sole and leather lining.  It is absolutely just as practical as it is beautiful. 

Taryn Rose was founded in 1998 by Dr. Taryn Rose, a young orthopedic surgeon who combined her knowledge of anatomy with a passion for design, Taryn Rose shoes are hand-sewn in Italy and made from the finest materials.  Known for their style, ease and remarkable fit, customers evangelize them as the most comfortable designer shoes they’ve ever worn.  Hailed by the footwear industry and the media as revolutionary, Taryn Rose prefers to describe itself as evolutionary since the product responds to changes in how we live.  Source:  Endless.com

Click here to learn more about these Taryn Rose flats from Endless.com

Have you figured out that I just love a modern twist on a classic look?  I can barely contain my urge to drool when I walk past the Oxford Booties at Nordstrom.  And I love to see women wear them.  They are easy to wear for most women. 

A great play on this year’s “menswear theme,” the oxford booties that are so prevalent this season are masculine in shape but feminine in design.  I love the way they look with skirts, knee-length dresses and stovepipe pants.

This shoe from Endless.com is a great wear-to-work addition to the professional woman’s closet.  Endless.com’s commentary is “Show off your high fashion flavor with the BV1606 Ankle boot from Biviel. Its soft leather upper is smooth and luxurious and its slant-cut collar adds a sleek edge to its basic shape with the slightly pointed toe and classic square stacked heel. The front of the shoe is ruched together with a leather lace that tabs through it and ties in a bow at the top. The leather interweaving detail around the toe and collar spices it up a bit with a touch of sophisticated elegance.”

Where and how would I wear this bootie?  I love them with tights and patterned hosiery.  They are a trendy alternative to those loafers we seem to wear every day.  Details such as kilts and laces are fun but be careful that they don’t scream out too loud.  Look to tie details back to the outfit that you are wearing…a fine line between too “matchy matchy” and that which screams “WRONG!”  Take a careful look in the mirror and follow your instinct! 

Click her to learn more about this Oxford Bootie from Bivial at Endless.com. 

I spend so much time on the internet:  sending or responding to email, blogging, researching and promoting.  I do have a few websites that I frequent, whether for information, inspiration or promotion.  Here’s a few of my very favorites:

www.divatoolbox.com  The brainchild of diva Janet Powers, this is soup to nuts everything women need to do just about anything.  If it isn’t there, just add it yourself by contributing an article.  That was Easy!

www.allthingssouthern.com  I was just minding my own business, browsing through Barnes and Noble one day when I ran headlong into Shellie Rushing Tomlinson’s latest book Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On   I practically read the book cover to cover in one reading and now covet my weekly online newsletter! 

 http://fashionatforty.ning.com/  This is the social network site that I started and would love for you to join!  For everyone who has traded leggings for Spandex but refuses to be caught dead in Mom Jeans, this is your spot!  Invite a girlfriend and jump onto the conversation. 

www.localmarketingcoach.wordpress.com  Ryan Kuder is the guru on getting your name out in the local market.  If you have a small business and seek to gain better exposure from those who are searching and buying in your own back yard, bookmark this site!

www.backinskinnyjeans.com  I am very different in my style, views and approach to blogging.  That being said, I have amazing respect for Stephanie Quilao, the quality of her blog, what she has accomplished, her courage to step off the ledge of corporate job security and trust her own abilities and what she has done for other women in the blogosphere. 

www.localcandy.com  Looking for a new haunt?  This is a great place to find out about what’s new and cool. 

www.craigslist.com  For everything from a job to a vacation rental to a soul mate or news about what’s going on in the area.  And a great place to promote your business. 

 www.facebook.com  For finding long lost friends or new inspiration.  Or just finding out quickly what all of my friends are up to. 

www.sliceofpink.typepad.com  Is a cute site.  What makes it really special is Linkalicious, off of her home page, which is a treasure trove of great blog sites on every possible topic. 

Ankle Boots are hot for the cool season ahead.  They are meant to be shown off with skinny jeans, and long tunics or sweaters with leggings.  Want to wear them with a knee length skirt?  If you don’t want a fashion citation, be sure to pair those knee length fashions with matching opaque tights. While there is nothing wrong with long, wide pants, why hide the details of the ankle boots?  They deserve to be shown off!

Ankle boots are fun boots, not to be mistaken with the galoshes your mother wore or some kind of practical flat boot!  Look for fun accents like zippers, trims, cuffs and bright colors and prints.

The ankle boots pictured here are the Landon from MaxStudio. These luxurious lace up ankle booties are guaranteed to keep your feet warm and step upbeat. A great value, these boots have wonderful details: uppers of soft and textured napa leather, a lining of plush shearling, along with a painted wooden sculptural heel and a fresh pushed up bullnose shape. These glam booties are more practical than you think, as they are as well suited for the slopes as they are for pounding the pavement in style. With a padded footbed, leather lining and fit true to size with a leg lengthening heel.

Click here to learn more about these nappa leather and shearling ankle booties from MaxStudio. 

Click here for complete outfit ideas from MaxStudio. 

Cap Toe Heels will give those classic outfits such as skirt suits and wool trousers with a cashmere turtleneck sweater a retro forties feeling. 

They are available this season in a wide variety of patterns, styles and fabrics: prints, plaids, suedes and patent leather.  The styles available range from Mary Janes and slingbacks to boots and even peep toes.  For that very put-together look, the color of the toe cap should pick up on the hue of the outfit that you wear. 

This beautiful Italian-made bootie has a suede, patent and spazzolato leather upper and leather sole.  The heel is 4” with a front platform of approximately 1/2”.

Click here to learn more about these cap toe booties from Endless.com.