I went (b)rogue

one of the boys

I have not written about shoes for a while. 

I guess, with all the things we needed to sort out for our home, shoe browsing somehow took a back seat.

As it is nearing Christmas time, my husband and I started making our lists.

And when I thought about things I wanted--that are not household related, I remembered.

I was not sure if I'd go for oxfords or brogues, I needed to try them both and see what looked better on me.

But I knew knew knew I wanted one.

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I love this kind of shoe.  

In fact, I generally enjoy window shopping for men's shoes--leather ones.  I like how they are generally well made and shaped to perfection.  You never get that solid feeling with Ladies' shoes--not even from the better brands.

The stilettos don't stand a chance.

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I will be too happy to skip looking at men's running shoes.  Thank you.

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This style is reminscent of my Dad.  He also loves shoes.  I remember that as a child I would see my Dad line up all his leather shoes and shine each one until they gleamed.

No, this task is never delegated to the maid.  My Dad needs to do it himself.

Oxfords, Brogues and Loafers. 

Black, brown and tan.

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While the perfect shoe was still just an image in my mind, I was sure of some things.

1.  It had to be tan--preferably with some sort of gradient to brown.

2.  It needed to be well made. 

3.  It must look and feel like a man's shoe.  I'm not going for cute here.  

4.  I am getting a classic perhaps tweaked shape-wise to fit a girl's foot.

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I looked far and wide online.

While I had favorites, I could not bring myself to check any out.

Buying shoes online is something that I often do.  But it was different this time.

I. Could.  Not.

There was something telling me that I needed to see and fit the shoe.  I needed to do it old school.  Go to a shop, try it on, walk on it then decide.

It was only fitting.

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My husband and I found two stores that had what I was looking for.  There were two that were comparable in looks and pricing.

I'd be happy with either, but I needed time to think about it more. 

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We then headed to another mall to get shirts for my husband.

Walking in, he told me we should check out a certain store for my shoes.  He said that maybe they had it.  I was reluctant.  

We went in anyway.

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The moment I got in the store, my eyes locked in what I knew to be my brogues.

 The End.

inventory

With shoes like these, it is easy to understand why one would perpetually stand in tip toes ;)

savior

As I was thinking of my favorite things this year, I was if-y about one shoe. I mean, it was not a favorite because I didn't really wear it much, but I thought it deserves a special mention.

It is interesting how this would not be the first pair you think of when deciding what to wear. Then when you step into your shoes--the one you picked, sometimes you realise that it doesn't work. So you go through other pairs that you have until you find something that would--or you change clothes.

Thrice this year, this pair saved me. So while this is not an everyday pair, I think it was well worth getting. Thank you to my best friend who argued that it will come handy when I said I didn't need new shoes.

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I actually got this last year, when my best friend was still based in Manila.

For the heck of it, I'd wear this the next time I meet up with her.

2010 Favorite Things

It seems shallow summarising the year with material things, however when you really think about it there are reasons--and quite personal ones too behind each item.

Anyways, these are my favorite things this year. I'm sure there are a lot more that I loved but did not make the list.

A good number of these items were gifts, which makes it more special :)

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I turned thirty this year. My mom kept referring to it as my pearl anniversary, I never really saw it that way. For me, it was another checkbox and higher insurance premium. I love these earrings! Not only because they are lovely but more so because of the drama (okay, maybe not the drama), the thought, effort and care taken to get them to me. This was a very indulgent present. Thank you.

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I think those who are very close to me would know how colourful this year had been for me. It is not a surprise that it reflected on other areas of my life too!I love this palette! It is such a bonus that the other bold color is green--clearly the blue eagle who got this for me had seen the light ;)I had always wanted liners that (1) last all day, (2) never run and (3) have lovely colors. I'm so glad I found out about these :)I had NEVER, in my whole life felt as anxious to get any cosmetic product as much as these! Who is the fairest of them all?This sort of reminds me of Francis M's Kaleidoscope World. RIP Francis M.

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I always tell myself to act my age. I could be quite picky on what I wear because, well...I want to dress my age too, the thing is though, I am a child at heart. These are my favorite sneakers :) I got them this time last year. It has a golden pair somewhere out there too.I've worn these so much that they are no longer white--which I hate. I don't mind them being, off white, but it is just wrong for them to be gray. Boooo.I haven't worn this as much as the other two, but it makes me want to shout WHAT"S GOING ON?!?!?!

Some things are non-negotiable for me. In fact this year, I let go, with an aching heart, A LOT of swimwear that I thought were too young for me. Nah. I'm not posting any photo of the replacements. Not even on next year's favorite things entry.

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In line with my attempt at a second chance to wear Docs, I also expressed my inner rockstar by sporting studs. I especially like the pyramid details. I didn't get a picture of all my stuff with studs. I'm keeping this entry for my favorite ones :) I love them best in shoes.I think this is close to the end of its lifetime--only because I had worn them so many times! I know that there is no other shoe that I wore more than this in 2010!As you can see from the photo, these sandals are well utilised too. Like the previous shoes, I think this too will reach end of life soon. These were my staple weekend sandals in 2010.While this pair share the same traits as the other two, I had only worn them once in 2010. I imagine though that I'd probably be sporting these quite frequently this year. The future. This was a present from a very thoughtful--and observant individual :)

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Every now and then, you surprise yourself.

Last year I surprised myself in a big--but good way. The difference was quite dramatic compared to last time. That's all I'm saying.I shocked myself and rochness by incorporating some print into my wardrobe, and I even got these shoes. The selling point for me was the pony hair! DAD... I WANT A PONY (hair ballet flats).

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I went crazy over a pair of shoes last year. Seriously crazy. I guess it was because of the details and the different textures.The one. I found the one in 2010.

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Oh, and I took all the photos :)

I didn't get my camera in 2010, but it is sure one of my favorite things this lifetime. No joke.

after 15 years

After 15 years, I still have these shoes.

After 15 years, these are trendy again.

I'm wearing these tomorrow :)

what's up?

I admit that just maybe this is too reminiscent of the nineties, however it is something that had some back (come people may ask "did it ever go?") that I could not shake off no matter how much I tried.

I honestly think it had been a year ago when I told my friend whilst shopping that I wanted one but felt that it is too young for me and that I'd probably end up wearing it twice then forget about it.

It was not until last week that it became unbearable--even my subconscious was screaming DOCS. And thanks to a friend's encouragement (read: rochness), vivid dreams and a few items from my closet, I took the plunge. I can't help but smile whenever I remember what shoes I'm wearing. It's like I've outwit everyone wearing heels under their maxis :)

starfish

I feel that posting things you've purchased is... ummmm... not something I would do out of habit, because that's just not my style. I'm thinking, what's the point?

What is my point in posting this photo?

I without-a-doubt know that of all the shoes I've had in this lifetime (my high cut LA Gear in 3rd grade included), this is my absolute favorite. I have never felt this exuberant over shoes before.

(And that feeling deserves a blog entry.)I love it to the point that I had considered buying flip flops going home today when I saw that it was raining. Luckily, the rain stopped :)

count me in

As my sister and my Mom make sure A, my niece does not forget about us (her family who lives far, far away), she would constantly ask A about us.

Sister: A, do you know my sister?
A: Yes Mama, Ninang T.
Mom: You remember who Ninang T is?
A: Yes Nana, she is the one with a lot of shoes.
Mom: How many pairs of shoes does she have?
A: (Thinks) One, two, three...(continuously counts to) sixty.

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(I wonder what was the sudden inspiration was for A to count to more than I have heard her count before because clearly, I don't have sixty pairs of shoes.)

big and small

"Ninang, we have the same shoes, but you don't have any shoe laces... and I have two."

very special

This is one of my favorites. Somehow, it went with so many things. It is also very comfortable despite the height. It had been due to go a long time ago, but I held on to it because letting go is sometimes not the easiest thing to do. My wish for it is to find someone who can love it more than I ever did.

Yes. I am still writing about shoes ;)

for moonwalking

Okay, so I bought sneakers.

I know I don't need sneakers as not only do I already have a few, but also I never seem to wear them. The thing is, THE thing is that I like simple things. Basic anything. As an example, plain white shirts. First love.

I however love LOVE love basic things tweaked ingeniously.

Like a shirt with over sized cuffs. Like a black sweater with acid yellow stitching. Like black pumps with red soles.

Like say...a classic pair of basic sneakers with the laces situated off center.

Hello.

acrophobia

There was one thing I was always scared of--frogs. Be it photos, sounds--even thoughts of. Maybe of one exception, the muppet paired with Miss Piggy.

Height however, never made me break a sweat. Drop Zone? Any day!

Something however, happened a few months back. I got a delivery. And inside the box was a pair of shoes.

I decided immediately that I would wear it to dinner the same night. I was doing well until I found myself in need of going down a flight of stairs.

I got terrified. Seriously. I had to step back and take a deep breath. Shaking knees. Cold sweat.

At the end, a friend had to hold my hand the whole time going down. Not unlike escorting a very old--or very young person.

Needless to say, I haven't worn the shoes since.Until...tonight. It is Christmas. Why not?

in my shoe

I was deciding what shoes to wear when this fell on the floor. A heart.

dirty...filthy....

After walking on the ground, on cables, on bamboo swings, on elevated seemingly railroad tracks, on knotted rope mesh, I was beat. I didn't anticipate the course to be this physical. I was also sorry to realize that my shoes took some beating. I should have worn a different pair. Despite my aching (and bruised) body, I was still up for some Indonesian dinner, a girl has got to eat and this girl ate!

When asked to hang out at a friend's house after dinner, I didn't have to think about my answer. I quickly answered "Maglalaba pa ako ng rubber shoes ko" (I'm going to wash my rubber shoes).

As I replay the events in my head, I can't help but think that it seemed like an excuse (airhead heroine: I need to wash my hair). For those who once read Sweet Dreams as a kid, they would totally understand (of course Americans never wash their rubber shoes, come to think of it, I think in is a Filipino habit).

(And I did wash my rubber shoes.)

as the elves don't come fixing 'em at night

I was walking to the train station the other day when I realized that my shoe was making funny sounds, so when I got home, I immediately checked the soles. I found out that the metal part of the bottom of the kitten heel of the right shoe was already beginning to show.

I hate it when this happens, especially to shoes that look like it has only been worn twice.

How can this happen? I really don't understand, I mean, the left heel is perfect, all other parts of the sole--and body (pun unintended, seriously) are perfect.

Maybe it is the way I walk.

I will be bringing in the shoes to a nearby shoe repair store and hope that soon, I figure out the mystery behind my right heel.

who needs the weather channel?

I don't know about the raindance but wearing my tan shoes ensures rain (how about that, Storm?).

I have had them for one year in January but hardly wear them because they are not the easiest to match (and each shoe has two bells that, um, well, makes bell sounds when you walk), but each time I do, wow. Rain.

Three out of three. The odds are very good.

super glue me

I wanted to rest a bit before I look into some slides so I decided to go through my clothes and take out those that I wanted to discard but the task proved to be very tedious, so I decided to look into my shoes instead. I found a brown flat peep toe sling back that I got last year but almost never wore. Upon inspection, I found that the sole was starting to fall off the shoe. Geez! Those were not exactly the cheapest. I decided to mitigate the situation with super glue. I know that rugby glue should should be used for shoes, but where the hell would I get rugby glue? Besides, I remember what that stuff did to the street children at McDonald's Taft! (omg! That is some story! I'll write another entry for it)

So I played elf, as in the elves and the shoemaker and brought the shoes back to life. I was almost clapping my hands when I realized that the super glue tube is stuck to my right pointing finger.

I spent twenty minutes under the tap before I managed to get the tube off and another ten trying to remove a generous layer without ripping my skin off.

Good news: I didn't rip my skin

Bad news: I didn't get the glue out

Although I can now do all the things I could with my pointing finger before the incident, I am very much concerned with how I could get into the office, as the finger print identification system scans and verifies (quite conveniently!) that of the employee's right pointing finger.

ending the week right

I was having a very hectic week when I passed by a certain shoe store. To relieve the stress, I decided to try some pairs on. I ended up bringing some home, one of which is the one in the image.

Oh, and it was such a bonus that this particular one was on 40% off.

Not that I am justifying the purchase(s?) but I recently discarded a pair of casual sandals with a three-inch wedge espadrilles. (I could almost feel someone rolling her eyes saying walang point)

I am now dressed for church and I'm wearing this pair to mass. With a knit dress, admittedly, I feel like I am a member of the Spice Girls. Maybe I should ask for divine intervention that I would never trip, slip, tumble or fall flat on my face wearing ridiculously high wedges--or heels.

turning cinderella

Yesterday, as I took out a pair of flat white sandals to wear with a dress when for no reason at all, I suddenly thought of how hassling it would be if one of the skinny straps break. I knew I was being over imaginative, so I slipped them on and headed out. As expected, the straps didn't break.

Today after getting dressed for church I saw the same pair of sandals that I wore the night before as I haven't put it back in its box. I looked at my outfit and thought to myself that the sandals matched it (I contemplated some too, because there were more that a few pairs of footwear that went well with what I was wearing). I slipped the sandals on. I was about to head out when I again thought of the straps breaking. This is so weird because I was just telling Cindy the night before that I love the shop where I got the sandals from because it is nearly impossible to wear their shoes out, the only reason you'd throw them out is that, well, they are old. I eventually headed out wearing the white sandals.

I walked to the bus stop.

Sandals are fine.

I get into the bus.

No sign of breaking strap.

I get off the bus.

Sandals intact.

I cross the street.

Straps remain sturdy.

I get on the other side of the street.

Sandals perform as expected.

I walk towards the church.

I trip.

Strap breaks.

Sandals ruined.

I continue on to church limping to keep myself from leaving one sandal behind.

One word: Intuition.

INXS

Contrary to my recent post, as of the weekend, I no longer have four sneakers/trainers. I refuse to divulge the exact number, but...it is more than four. Booooo!