Shoes are the ultimate accessory. The right pair of heels can completely change an outfit, making it more elegant, playful or conservative. When choosing heels to wear with your outfit, it’s important to consider a few factors.

1. Comfort

A pair of shoes might look great, but they’re not the right shoe for you if you can’t walk in them. If the heel is too high for you to walk in or the straps leave you wobbly, forget it! Shoes should help you make an entrance–gracefully. Consider long-term comfort as well. If you’ll be wearing the shoes for a long period of time and will be standing or dancing a lot, make sure your shoes will still be bearable by the end of the night. A good way to do this is to break your shoes in first. Wear them around the house a few times before wearing them out. If you can cook and clean in them for long periods of time, you can wear them out for a night on the town.

2. Heel Height

This goes along with comfort… If you are not used to wearing a high heel, start with a mid-heel. You want to be able to walk gracefully. Your shoes should be an extension of yourself, not a hindrance to your health. Heels, if worn correctly, will make your gait more elegant.

3. Style

Your heels should add to your outfit. Depending on the style you’re going for, choose a shoe that adds something to your look. For example, add a playful, yet sophisticated touch to a little black dress by wearing a zebra print shoe. Or, for a more elegant look, wear a satin black heel with rosettes or bows.

Buying Shoes Online

Buying shoes online can be pretty tricky. If you’re going to chance it, buy a pair of quality shoes that you know will last and fit well. Nordstrom, Zappo’s and Piperlime offer huge selections online and often have free shipping or discounts.
It’s sometimes hard to tell the quality just by looking at a shoe online. If you’re shopping in person, however, definitely check out discount stores like Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 or Payless. They often have very cute shoes for a fraction of the price. If the trend you’re looking for seems like it might last only a season or two, definitely opt for the discount variety.

Heel Trends

Floral

Shoes with a floral print have been appearing more and more because of the Winter Floral trend this season. Pair them as an accent to a neutrally colored outfit, an addition to a like colored outfit or, if the florals match, an addition to a floral print outfit.

Shown: Kate Spade Heels ($298), Bettye Muller Heels ($114.90), BCBGirls Heels ($98)

Safari

Animal print continues to be in, but is most fashionable in the form of a pump. Animal print heels are a great addition to a solid colored outfit, neutrals and LBDs.

Shown: Zebra Print Heels ($22.99), Animal Print Pumps ($22.99), Odetta Pumps ($69.99)

T-Strap

T-strap heels are one of the most popular trends of the season. The connection between the toes and the ankle strap is sometimes just a simple strap, or is often embellished with ruffles, studs or beads.

Shown: Chinese Laundry ($70), Rampage ($34.99), Circa Joan & David ($49.99)

Embellished

Heels embellished with bows, ruffles, feathers, studs, etc. are a great way to add an interesting detail to your outfit. Wear with a classic outfit to avoid overdoing the look.

Shown: Martinez Valero ($149), Nina ($89), Bow Tie Heels ($24.99)

Metallics

Metallic shoes are a great way to make your outfit sparkle! Wear silver or gold heels with you LBD for instant glam.

Shown: Corso Como ($175), BCBGMAXAZRIA ($198), Max Studio ($160)

Your Comments?

What do you think of these heel trends? Which are your favorites?

Deciding what to wear as you ring in the New Year can be a bit tricky. There are many factors to consider when planning your outfit.

Things to Consider:

Venue
The most important thing to consider is the venue. You’ll want to dress very differently depending on where the party/event is being held.
If your venue is less formal, dress just slightly more dressy than you would normally. For instance, if you’re heading out to your favorite bar or a friend’s house for New Year’s Eve, dress up your usual look by wearing a dressier top or even a dress. If you’re headed out to a nightclub, you should definitely wear a sexy cocktail dress. And, if you’re doing dinner and drinks somewhere more swanky, dress a bit more conservatively with a long or full skirt, a classy dress or a dressy top with trendy pants.
Temperature
You should also consider the temperature when planning your outfit. If it’s cold outside and you’ll only be going from the car to the venue, you can get away with wearing a cocktail dress or sleeveless top if you layer with a cape or shawl. If you’ll be spending a fair amount of time outside, dress warmer.
Other Guests
Lastly, consider what most of the other guests might be wearing. This is not so easy to predict, but definitely deserves some thought. You don’t want to be underdressed or too overdressed. The trick is to dress slightly over the norm. So, consider what you think others might be wearing. Think about your host or friends who will also be attending. What will they probably wear? Once you’ve determined that, don’t copy–dress up just slightly more. Be careful though, if you go too far, you’ll feel uncomfortable. If you are just a tad bit overdressed compared to other attendees, you’ll be the recipient of compliments all night.

Some outfit ideas

I’ve chosen pieces that are currently on sale to keep these outfits affordable.

Dressy Casual

If you are headed to a friend’s house, your neighborhood bar or a pub crawl, this is the category to choose from. Pairing a nice pair of jeans with a cute top and fun accessories is the perfect formula for this level of dressiness.

Shown: Sequin Top ($15.99), Beaded Top ($8.99), Belted Coat ($39.99), Cardigan ($69.99), Sequin Tank ($89.00)
Pair any of these tops with your favorite jeans, stiletto heels, a chunky necklace and a fitted coat.

Sexy & Fun

For a nightclub party, a cocktail party at a friend’s house or a fun night of club hopping, opt for a sexy little black dress or a fun cocktail dress.

Shown: Cocktail Dress ($94.80), Contrast Bow Dress ($99.99), Drape Neck Dress ($88.80), Asymmetrical Dress ($109.99), Sequin Dress ($129.99)
Pair with a cute pair of stilettos, a clutch, a warm shawl and statement jewelry.

Dressy & Sophisticated

For a dressier event such as a gala or a catered dinner and dance, opt for something a bit classier.

Shown: Halter Gown ($99.99), Lace Cocktail Dress ($59.99), Silk Dress ($106.80), Cashmere Asymmetrical Gown ($169.99)

Your Thoughts?

What will you be wearing this New Year’s Eve? What is your favorite New Year’s outfit you’ve worn in the past? Share in the comments…

My husband and I are on a long road trip, headed west to visit my family for the holidays. We’ve stopped in Santa Fe, NM for a few days. It’s so much colder here than it is in Austin! And, the weather definitely affects fashion. I’ve seen tons of snow boots, parkas, scarves and hats. It’s fun to see how the fashion forward make their bundled up looks trendy. I’ve seen a lot more fur than I did in Austin. I actually doubted that fur was a noteworthy trend until I got here. So, I decided now’s a great time to post on this Winter fashion trend.
Fur is back and better than ever! Yeah, I know…I feel weird about wearing fur too. The thing is, most of what’s popular and in the stores is faux. Even many designers used faux fur in their runway shows.
Of course, Rachel Zoe and Anna Wintour are wearing the real thing. But, that doesn’t mean you have to.
Fur styles for this winter are over the top. Luxurious shrugs, coats and wraps are the most prevalent. And, they come in all styles and patterns. Fur is also used as an accent around the neck, the cuffs or the hem.
Read more for runway and celebrity inspiration as well as some amazing finds.

Runway Inspiration

Here are just a few photos from the Fall 2008 Runway shows. There are literally over 500 images of fur focused outfits from the shows. As you can tell from these images, fur was used in a variety of ways; around the neck, at the hem, for the whole coat, etc. Louis Vuitton even showed a fur handbag. Fur was everywhere!
(All images from Style.com)

Celebrity Inspiration

Fur is everywhere. It’s pretty amazing how many celebrities are wearing fur considering the possible backlash they could experience. Mary Kate has been wearing fur for years even though PETA has protested her projects and has pleaded with her to stop. On doing just a bit of research, it’s amazing how much there is in favor of wearing fur. There’s almost as much as not. Interesting…

Faux Finds

Shown: Fur Cropped Jacket ($32.99), Fur Swing Coat ($32.99), Puffer Jacket ($38.99), Melodie Cropped Jacket ($69.50), Fur Trimmed Jacket ($30.00), Fur Trimmed Parka ($99.00), Laundry Faux Mink Coat ($278.00)

Fur Finds

Shown: Peter Mark Chevron Fur Coat ($450.00), Peter Mark Chevron Mink Coat ($1995.00)

Some Fantastic White House Black Market Dresses

Some amazing deals at Nordstrom.

Great Gift Ideas from Sephora

New York & Company Finds

Some Charlotte Russe Finds