Spring Shoes, Tan, and Me

Last week Angie at YLF blogged about tan/khaki being this spring's top neutral, a trend I both like and dislike. I love tan, particularly that near-white 'stone' shade; there's just something about the color that evokes casual, comfortable and warm. I adore camel wool coats, rumpled tan trenchcoats, even crisp chino khakis which remind me of my teenage years shopping at Bob's Surplus.

But I know -- I KNOW, Shopping Friend!! -- that none of those shades love me. Oh, I try to get away with it sometimes; a couple of years ago I bought a perfectly-cut clearance-priced camel winter coat and pretended wearing a colored scarf up around my face was good enough. (It wasn't. I didn't care.) I linger forever over by the classic trenches, imagining I am a hotshot journalist scribbling in my notebook in the drizzling London rain (I don't know why I am in London in my trenchcoat fantasy). I always buy one pair of tan shorts along with a black pair then struggle to wear them each spring/summer.

This year, I'm wondering if tan *shoes* aren't the answer to my dilemma. I don't have many nude/neutral shoes, but I think it's a look I should cultivate more, particularly with my darker dresses in the spring but also with jeans on the weekends, or skirts and pants during the week. There are so many varieties to choose from, too! Here are a few that have caught my eye this week:


This one is a bit of a cheat since it's a grey cement shade, but it's still pretty awesome. For those of you who have been liking my plum patent La Canadiennes, this is a great option. These London Wales are waterproof, lined, and on sale for $103. Great alternative to wellies in the spring!


These Lauren by Ralph Lauren flats look like the Me Too Swanns that everyone at YLF has, but the grommets and lacing around the side really adds a polished, fun element that appeals to me. I need a new pair of flats this year and these would let me work in the tan without it being overwhelming. They're on sale too.


How freaking adorable is that ruffle and button on these Seychelles? Too freaking adorable, I say. And the heel is very reasonable, 2 inches which is the new normal we are going to be seeing more of in stores again. (Hurray! Love 2-3 inch heels.) Seychelles are notoriously comfortable shoes too. I could see these with skirts or peeking out under pants or jeans. Not on sale...yet.


I have been bombing out on my Birthday Frye hunt; the Melissa boots came last week and they are going back this week. They're perfectly acceptable boots and they look fine on me, but they didn't make my heart sing. I already have tall brown riding boots that fill the same wardrobe hole the Melissa's would, and when I plop down a big chunk of change for a boot or a shoe, I want it to be memorable and fun, and not similar to something I already have.

These yellow Fryes? THESE are memorable and fun. Love the yellow! (Okay, it's not tan. I am easily sidetracked when shoe browsing.) The stud accents, the cool heel with the stacking and the leather, the peep-toe...they make me start ticking through my closet for what would work with them in the spring. Hmmmm...too bad they're so expensive. It kills me to spend that much on pumps.


Another cheat with the "platinum" color, but it's still a neutral I don't have. I love, love, love the whipstitch patterns on this. LOVE. I wonder how comfortable it would be, of course; if it's unlined, too much of it all over toe and around the heels could get very painful by the end of the day. But it's super-expensive, and say it is leather lined so it's probably okay. Not a brand I am familiar with. They will likely remain shoes I will admire from afar...

These are just options I saw wandering around Piperlime. I'm looking forward to seeing what it out in the stores in the coming weeks. I'm still old-school; I prefer trying on shoes in person over ordering online. (I say this now, but the London Wales boots and the Ralph Lauren flats are in my shopping cart as we speak...)