Portland Mercury Fashion Show

On Sunday I went to the 6th Annual Portland Mercury Fashion show (my twin sister, Janeane Marie, was showing her collection) and there was definitely a spectrum of style on display, both on the runway and off. Overall it was a very good show, and I love when people come out to support Portland designers. It was pretty packed at the Bossanova Ballroom that night. The turnout was great.

I was lucky enough to be standing right at the

end of the runway. However, even though I had a great position to both view the show and take photos, I realized that my point-and-click camera is on it's last days. I've had it for years. I think it's time for a new one. I got a couple of good shots of some footwear, though, like these boots:

and these sandals:

I love the tall socks and the worn-out quality of both pairs of footwear. It's like when you find a pair of shoes you haven't seen in months or years, crammed in the back of you closet underneath that bag you were supposed to drop off at Goodwill when there was snow on the ground, and falling in love with them all over again.

Riding boots go with everything. A good pair can easily evoke jealousy from other girls, which in my opinion is a very good thing. And I know that socks with pumps and sandals is in high trend right now, but I think now it gives edginess to a nice pair of shoes, rather than the sweet Sunday-school quality it has given in the past. It's accessorizing an accessory, kind of, which takes a capable hand to pull off correctly. I think I'm going to poke around the hosiery department at Nordstrom tomorrow, see if I can find anything to start experimenting with it myself. I've been told Donna Karan hosiery is a great investment.

The Dark Side

I know summer is just around the corner here in Portland, and has already reached many parts of the world, but shoes like these Sam Edelman booties know no seasons. They are heavy, and dark, and mysterious. They have a hidden platform and removable leather quilting. They are gasp-inducing and nearly sold out online since their re-release (they were originally released in 2007).

Can you just imagine how tough you could feel wearing these, towering over your friends or that boy you're in love with? With black leggings or a black minidress, with your hair all messed up or pulled back tight... They remind me of the music video for Madonna's song Frozen, when she turns into a sleek black dog running through the desert. These are Rock'n'Roll. They aren't just edgy; they are the edge.

What am I doing here?

Sometimes, when I see a pair of shoes that really take my breath away, I become immobilized and fall into a far-away dream state that makes me dizzy and excited and in love all at once. I think about them when I am walking around the city, or when I am trying to fall asleep at night. They work their way into my conversations. I image what they would feel like on my own feet, and what I would wear with them. I obsess. Recently it dawned on me that I should start a blog about all the footwear on this planet that I love, to both channel and further my obsession. So here goes.

I really believe in the power of shoes. They are confidence, and style, and charisma. The right pair can transform any plain old t-shirt and jeans ensemble into an outfit worthy of blurting out "Oh my god, look at her!" They change both posture and attitude. I am increasingly drawn to the fringe of fashion, to the power of the accessory, as a means of creating uniqueness in this world. Individuality blooms from the arrangement of the things that have already been created.

These Loeffler Randall woven sandals are everything I want this summer. Nude. Tall. Breezy, effortless, and ridiculously sexy. Paired with tanned legs and long hair, they can knock out anyone who comes near. Their bareness is intense; their simplicity and foreverness are breathtaking.

I am starting to get a little dizzy.