East Coast Bombshells

A full day of editing = a few minutes of distracting fun! I made some of the East Coast Bombshells into zombies! Happy Halloween month!

Joining the Club

Within the past year or so, these monthly shoe clubs have been popping up all over the internet. Sites like Kim Kardashian’s ShoeDazzle and competitor JustFab, have you take a brief survey of your style preferences. These surveys consist of pictures of different shoe styles, runway fashion looks, and celebrity looks. For example, one screen of the survey will consist of three pictures; a pair of stiletto sandals, a pair of high heeled ankle boots, and a pair of cork wedges. You are asked to pick which pair you like best. This continues for approximately 10 screens showing you three pictures on each screen. After completing the survey your results are sent to your personal “team of stylists” and within 24 hours you will have a personalized selection of shoes, handbags and accessories to choose from.
I will admit, I was skeptical. How could such a brief and limited survey and this mystery “team of stylists” really come out with a selection of shoes that I would just love?  Then I started this column and thought to myself, why not give it a try?  Both ShoeDazzle and JustFab work the same way. After completing the survey and receiving your selections, you are not a full member and not required to pay anything until you make your first purchase. Both sites are the same price, $39.99 a pair, which includes shipping and handling. Once you make your first purchase you are not obligated to buy every month. You simply log on to your account between the 1st and 5th of every month and “skip” that month if you do not wish to purchase. If you change your mind you can always go back and make a selection.

After completing surveys on both sites and receiving my personalized selections I decided to go with ShoeDazzle as the selections on their site seemed to vibe more with my personal style.  It seemed to me that whoever made the selections on their end got it right.  You can opt to have alternate selections made if something does not jump out at you in the first personal selection of shoes or if you would just like to see a broader selection. You can always go back and choose for the original selection so I opted to have alternate selections. It was in those alternate selections that I met Carmela, a platform peep-toe stiletto in a striking black and white faux snakeskin with a bright pink sole. It was love at first sight and I made my first purchase right then and there.

My order was shipped fast and I was promptly sent an email with a FedEx tracking number. My shoes arrived on the estimated delivery date and I eagerly opened the package, already planning to wear them the next day and planning an outfit around them in my mind. After opening the standard brown box they were shipped in I was greeted by a pink ShoeDazzle shoe box. This is no ordinary shoe box, it is a thin “drawer” style shoe box with a metal riveted hole to make pulling the box drawer open easy. Inside the box there is a pink drawstring bag to store the shoes in, which is perfect to just pull out of the box and throw into a suitcase or overnight bag, not mention offers protection for your shoes.  Underneath this little pink bag lay my gorgeous new shoes. The picture did not lie or mislead, they are absolutely stunning. The true test came with fit and comfort, and again, I was not let down. They fit like a glove, no pinching, no slipping. I was immediately impressed and knew I would be a repeat customer!

I would definitely recommend ShoeDazzle to friends and I am recommending it to you, my readers as well. You have nothing to lose just by checking it out, and no obligation to buy. It’s fun and easy to shop , plus the product is wonderful . Great quality and style right to your door! I give ShoeDazzle an A+!

Breaking Up With Friends

Over the last 10 years, I recall complaining about the enigma of the opposite sex and just how crazy men are in general. Now that I rarely have this complaint, considering I am happily married and I don’t have these sort of issues anymore, I have somewhat switch sides. I totally see where men are coming from when it comes to dealing with us women. The truth is, to cut right to the chase, women ARE crazy. Guys are pretty simple, really. How many times have you girls been asked what is wrong and while imagining 10 different ways to strangle said person asking the question, you simply answer “I’m fine!” with a smile plastered to your face? 

Trust me, I do this this too. I am not at all perfect. I guess what I am hoping to accomplish is to point out our silly behavior. What it boils down to is that most girls are NOT good friends. Guys have always had the rule, “Bros before hoes” and still stick to this rule. Us girls have never done this for eachother. In fact, once you start dating a guy you are really into, we know that our friendship is getting tossed to the back burner for who knows how long. Yes, you are this predictable. The sad part is, sometimes your best friend is going through some tough times and most likely you are blowing her off for a  few dates that won’t even last as long as your shampoo bottle. 

Now, don’t mistake this behavior for another. Keep in mind that being a parent, working a full time job, and school can take time away from friends. It is hard to juggle everything you have going on in your life. The point is, keep your word. That is all you have. When you promise to be there for someone and pull out an excuse, keep in mind that your friend knows what your deal is and has heard all of your excuses a million times, so you aren’t fooling anyone. And when your date decides to ditch you and you really need a friend, you might not have any left. 

The beauty of this is that sometimes this is how new friendships are born. While your pretend best friend is pretending to care from a distance, the genuine friends that you’ve been blind to start to blossom. Also, it doesn’t hurt to admit that you are wrong and have sucked as a best friend. Woman to woman, this is what you expect from a boyfriend, right? Honesty. Try it. If you can’t do it then don’t give the men in your life such a hard time. 

In The Shoes of a Single Girl—Intro
 
To quote one of the most iconic female characters of the past 10 years, Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and The City, “The fact is, sometimes it’s really hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then to make the walk a little more fun.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. My love affair with shoes has been a long time in the making. It started with a  little girl and a pair of pink, sparkly jellies. Remember those? They were little rubber sandals, almost like the gladiator sandals that have become so popular in the past few years.

Of course, as a five year old, I had no concept of matching my shoes and clothing and wore them with everything. I loved those sparkly pink shoes and wore them until my feet just would not fit in them anymore. Twenty two years later and my passion for shoes has grown. I couldn’t tell you exactly how many pairs of shoes I own, but I would guess it is somewhere in the ballpark of 50+. To some people this may seem like an excessive amount, but to my fellow shoe lovers out there this is normal. Believe me, if I had the funds and space I would own an astronomical number of shoes.

To me, shoes are more than just a wardrobe staple. They are mood elevators, conversations starters, and the catalysts to a whole new me. I can be having one of those days all women have… One of those days when you just feel down on yourself, you feel unattractive for whatever reason, or sad, or mad, or a combination of a million other things. But then I put on a pair of shoes that make me feel like a whole new woman. It’s similar to how a pair of shoes can breathe life into an old dress. Take that old little black dress that seems plain and boring and add a pair of red, patent platform pumps. It gives that tired little number a whole new feel. Just the way slipping that pair of daring red pumps takes me from feeling frumpy and tired to sexy and confident.

High heels aren’t the only shoes I love, hell, stylish shoes aren’t the only shoes I love either! Quirky shoes, tough shoes, fun shoes, and functional shoes. I have recently vowed to transform myself physically, not only to look better but to feel better, and I can’t do it without shoes! Right now I am running in a pair of Nike’s that have seen better days, but fit my feet like a glove and carry me steadily and securely over the pavement. A few years ago I would have looked at those running shoes and though “Nice, fun color, but pshhh, me, run?!” Now I look at them like a pair of old, trusty friends, helping me reach my goal of a better, stronger, faster, happier, and more streamlined me.

So welcome to “In The Shoes of a Single Girl”, where I will share my relationship with shoes,  the  journey to a new me,  along with shoe tips and advice, where to find great deals on amazing shoes, shoes of the week, and more. Because let’s face it ladies (and some gentlemen) for many of us, footwear is our biggest guilty pleasure!

Model: Hannah Elizabeth

Photography: Misti Blu Photography

Happy Birthday to one of our very own East Coast Bombshells, Ms. Mal! We love you!

Secrets to having a successful shoot: From Photographer to model

As a photographer, I have photographed many models over the last 10 years. I’ve decided to give a few tips, from a photographer’s perspective, to up and coming models. 

It is crucial to arrive on time. Keep in mind that not only is it rude to be late, but there are other models, makeup artists, hair stylists, and even sometimes you are shooting at a locations where the time has been reserved. When you are late, not only with you upset the photographer, but you will delay the entire team and possibly burn bridges. 

Check your email. If you have been given instructions then you need to bookmark that email or put it in your planner. Do not call and text the photography team asking a million questions that are clearly stated in the instructions. Most likely the photographer is busy shooting, editing, or squeezing in personal time. Don’t bother them unless your questions are valid and not clearly stated. Even then, ask as soon as your get instructions, not the day of. 

To impress the photographer, show upon time. Read instructions and directions for shoot prior to arriving to be fully prepared. Keep nails neatly groomed. Don’t show up with chipped polish! 

Yes, there is a such thing as Photoshop! Us photographers love it. But… if we don’t have to repaint your nails in Photoshop and touch up your black roots to match your platinum blonde hair and so on, then we will be happy. It only makes our job that much more difficult. We understand that you are only human and you get bloated and you get pimples and bruises. We don’t expect you to be perfect. We just have a lot of images to edit and it’s very time consuming.

Next, directions! Welcome to 2011. Please don’t call us the day of asking if you turn left at Park Street and that you are lost and I have to stop everything I am doing and navigate. Use the internet. Mapquest.com or Google Maps. Please. Please. We are all adults here right? Be professional. Again, you will impress everyone by just showing up and being ready to shoot.

Last but not least, keep moving. Listen for the shutter clicking. Move slowly, almost like a dance. Slightly changing angles will improve your chances in getting that perfect shot. Just keep moving. If you hold the same pose for 5 minutes then we have 500 images of the same shot. We need variety and we will tell you to freeze if we need you to. Don’t move too fast, though! We don’t want to miss it either. 1 Mississippi. 2 Mississipi…. Also, neck! We want to see your long neck. Don’t hide it behind your shoulder. Practice in the mirror or look through magazines for ideas on posing.

Communication is very important. If you are lost in the concept then touch base with the photographer. We all want to be on the same page and will assume we are if you do not say anything. 

Hannah, Katie, Alicia, Christen, & Jenna!