Holly in Heels

You guys. There are so many cuuuuuute shoes out this spring. This is kinda the time of year where I start to get excited about shoe shopping again. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a universal, year round sorta hobby...but when I can paint my toes pretty colors and pop on a dress or a cool pair of skinnies - my feet get excited that they're not longer crammed into boot weather! This season, lace-up sandals and flats, cage sandals, gladiators, and wedges are all the rage. I can get on board with the wedges, but now that I'm in mom-mode for most of my everydays, I shy away from cage and lace-up styles. Puh-leeease. It takes me too dang long to lace up a sandal when my toddler is running out the door, and when I can easily slip into a chic slide sandal just the same. Well, THANK YOU JESUS, I found work-around! I am love love loving these Sam Edelman 'Ginette' Sandals that criss cross, but ZIP up the back. Holluh! I thought twice about the price, but I think in...

As a busy mama and freelance writer and fashion blogger, there is so much on my plate! I mean, if I’m not cutting up strawberries into tiny pieces or picking up Cheerios off of the ground, then I’m burning the midnight (naptime) oil blogging away, working on my latest writing project, or reading up on the latest fashion trends and shoe styles to keep my busy mind well inspired! It’s a good job, and I’m glad I get to do it. But I’ll also admit, sometimes I just need a little vacay. You know, just a few days to get out of my routine and feel the ocean breeze, eat at some new joints, and get my tan on! This month, my little fam is going to an island getaway, and since I know you all may have some vacation time in your future, I thought I’d show you my getaway shoe picks from the one and only surf apparel favorite, Reef . Let’s start with the ladies, shall we? I am mad crushing on these Reef ‘SHADED PALMS’ sandals . Their good, natural color goes wi...

I love to look at things according to trend. Every season, I think it’s one of my most favorite things, to check out the top fashion magazines, the top fashion blogs, and peruse street wear, to see what types of items will be next on my wish list. This is one of my favorite things about shoes, too. There are endless amounts of styles, possibilities, flairs – from buckles to studs, kitten heels to spikes, pointed toe to round – the trends come and go, just like the seasons do. This season, you can count on a few eye-catching trends to hit your shoe must-haves list. I know we all have our flip-flops, combat boots, and our cute flats from every single season past, and those have their place. But if you’re like me, you want to freshen up your shoe closet now that the summer sun, short shorts and party dresses are almost here. So I give you: 4 laws of summer sandals. First up: Floral Sandals . You’re likely seeing it everywhere, but floral patterns are a MUST this spring and summer. Fr...

Labor Day weekend has passed us right up, the "back to school" commercials are circling the airwaves, and the sun is going to bed a little earlier every night - so you know that means summer is drawing to a close. Personally, I'm ok with it - and guest fashion blogger, Lauren Farnoosh , agrees with me, too! Miss Lauren is author of the sassy style blog 'Styled By Noosh' at  styledbynoosh.com , and here gives a few key fashion tips on layering up those fall fashions. Enjoy! . . . Transitioning from summer to fall can be an uncomfortable time. One minute it's cool and breezy, then suddenly scorching hot! Layering with lightweight clothing is an easy fix. I personally love wearing a jacket with some shorts or a skirt. This is the time of year when you can be really creative with your wardrobe and mix and match your summer and winter clothing together for fun and eclectic looks.  for more fab fashion tips head over to 'Styled By Noosh'...

Ok sweet blogosphere friends--welcome to the final few days of summer. I simply cannot believe it. As much as I'm an "autumn" spirit at heart, I have loved this last June, July, and August which have been filled with so many memorable adventures, highs, lows, loves, heartbreaks, and of course...lots and lots of summer shoes! As you'll be able to tell from the amount of blogging I have not done, it's been a very good summer! I'd say one of the BIGGEST highlights of the hot, hot, heat this summertime was my adventure to Las Vegas! Exactly 1 week before my little baby Hazel's 1st birthday, I hopped a plane and met my beloved cousin in Sin City. Not only was it one of the most relaxing vacations I've had, but it was the most money I've ever spent in one weekend - ha! I'm still mayyy-jorly loving my husband for not disowning me after he saw the receipts ( more on that story later! ). During my fab Vegas adventure, I had a few go-to shoes that I...

I have to admit that I am an autumn girl at heart. I love traipsing around in leather boots, scarves, a colorful knit beanie, sipping on hot cocoa and curling up in a coffee shop. Now, don't get my wrong, I love the summer too - mostly warm summer nights that allow me to keep my shorts and tank on at 9pm, and feel the warm summer breeze on my sun-kissed, sunblocked skin! But to be honest, I'm always stuck on what to wear in the summer. In beautiful SoCal, we get this phenom called "June gloom" and it is enough to drive a fashionista bonkers. It's cardigan weather up until the clouds burn off, around 11am or 12pm, and I'm left needing an entire outfit change! So basically, layers are my BFF. This summer, you can find me in 3 key things: 1) stripes 2) short shorts 3) flat sandals I majorly love these summertime outfit ideas from Piperlime - fun combos of stripes + lace, nude strappy heels and flat leather sandals, too. The Steve Madden 'Stecy...

As I enter my mid-thirties, the summers of wedding after wedding seem to be simmering down. It's really a darned shame too - not only do I LOVE weddings...the decor, dresses, cocktails and dancing 'til my feet hurt...but I love to go SHOPPING for a solid wedding guest dress. With a few weddings on the calendar this summer (YOW!), it's high time I break out my shopping shoes, and find a good guest dress. #1 on my list? This Long Sleeve Crepe Shift Dress by Wayf . With an entire collection of perfectly patterned and cut dresses at Nordstrom (also my go-to for wedding wear, please note!), this classic floral pattern tops the list. I'm also adoring this great polka dot pick by Wayf - great shape and style, and perfect with a bright heel or sandal.  And option number 3, is this perfectly pink little number, also from Wayf . At $59, this beauty can easily be dressed up with a chunky statement necklace, and a killer pair of black leather pumps. I'll take t...

Helloooo, shoe gals (and guys!)! I want to start out by saying...PHEW! This spring has really taken off for me, in the best way possible! Not only is my baby girl grow-grow-growing out of her newborn shoes fast (see her via Instagram ) but my writing has taken a MAY-JOR upswing, and I'm loving it. My most recent dream come true has come in the form of being one of the new contributing writers to The Orange County Register! Check out my first published article here - and you'll see me in many more print papers that come dashing to your Orange County, CA doorstep. Yipee!! Locale Magazine LA has also dropped this month, featuring my writing and modeling (haha, still funny to me, but true!). The digital issue of this new, cool mag is all over the City of Angels as well as online  (my spread page 96!). So that's been my life these past few months, and why blog posts have been scarce. All #GOODSTUFF! So, to catch you up on a few of my shoe + style thoughts so far this seaso...

This Thursday is SPRING! Can you even believe it? Ok ok, if you're currently reading this from the East Coast (book a flight to Southern California), I'm sure it's a little harder to believe, but it's true! And not only does the change in season mean longer days and warmer nights are ahead - it means NEW SHOES! Of course. And the #1 trend for sandals this season, think: woven, natural, and caged. Here are a few picks I currently can't resist... The Sam Edelman 'Beck' sandal - inspired by the classic gladiator, with a dash of hippie-chic sophistication. I adore the smooth leather straps, making this caged-up sandal something you'll want to stay in all summer long! A Nordstrom exclusive ( I love those, you see !), DV by Dolce Vita 'Villa' sandal has got to be the sandal of the summer. There's something child-like about this design, something simple and easy about how you can wear it. In 5 amazing colors, to go with 5 different br...

It's no secret that I miss heels . Sure, sure, being pregnant has plenty of perks (getting waited on hand-n-foot, traffic stopping belly, excuse to eat a lotta ice cream), but a few drawbacks too...especially when you've got a case of the swells. Hellooooo, summertime baby! So when I temporarily gave up heels a few months ago, I swallowed my pride and invested in a few pairs of sandals from both Target and Nordstrom. Out of all of the sandals I've slipped these mama-to-be feet into this summer, I have to say that the most versatile and stylish pair of sandals is the Mossimo 'Lena' Metal Toe Flip Flop from Target , in black. A great padded sole, double straps around the foot, and a chic gold finish at the toe, and the $17 price is just right. I dig! And if I had a few more months of this baby-carrying thang, I think I might be tempted to purchase the turquoise , pink and metallic gold colors, too! Look how gorge! So whether it's for pregnancy c...

Earlier this week, I covered a new fashion find of mine, a jewelry designer with a sustainable cause . It's all the rage right now ( TOMS shoes , Krochet Kids , the list goes on...), and low and behold, I found a NEW fave to add to the list: iSanctuary . iSanctuary employs young women rescued from human trafficking, in both India and the United States, through the production and sale of this amazing jewelry--a powerful healing experience for these human trafficking survivors. How amazing would it be to recover from such a tragedy in the form of creating something beautiful + new? I'm all for this cause...and I have a feeling you are too.   Read more about International Sanctuary here . And man oh man does this company have some gorgeous and original designs! Check out their most recent Spring/Summer line , and beautiful Artisan line , too. I recently snagged the classic 'Ring of Gold' bracelet from iSanctuary , and I have to say I absolutely adore it. The gold is so...

I love jewelry. I have always kept the drawers in the mirrored make-up vanity in my bedroom fully stocked (most of the time overflowing!) with bracelets, bangles, bib necklaces, rings, baubles...the list goes on. I figure when I'm in a 'jeans and tee' kinda mood, I can always spice up an outfit on the fly with cute shoes and sweet jewels. But when jewelry has a cause behind it, I get even more stoked (and feel less guilt, honestly!). You too, right?! Well let me introduce you to Color by Amber --the makers of some beautiful jewelry made from sustainable materials, which supporting artisan communities worldwide! By wearing any of the Color by Amber pieces, you're wearing 40% pure recycled eco-resin jewels, helping to renew and nurture our fragile planet that sustains us all! Read more about the cause, as well as partnerships with Nepal and Senegal online here . Very cool. There are tons of collections that Color by Amber has for sale online now, but here are a few...

Zara is one of those beloved but often overlooked stores/brands that I keep circling back to these days. The store's sassy Euro style knocks it out of the park every time for me - stylish wedges, on-trend sandals, heels, and more. And when Zara has a sale...oh man, oh man, you know where to find me! So I thought I'd shed a little light on the sale subject this week and share with you a few of my fave Zara strappy sandals - now ON CLEARANCE online and in-store: The 'Combination Heel' from Zara is beautifully, and stylishly color-blocked, with a hearty buckle and squared off toe to finish. These wedge sandals would go seamlessly with a breezy tank and some boyfriend denim - or even a summer dress in just the right shade. At $29, who could go wrong?! I totally love these 'Studded Strappy Sandals' - their neutral color goes with literally anything in your summer (or spring!) closet, and the 4" heel is just the right height! Your go-to heel with that sum...

It's official. I miss heels. I may get to wear spandex a whole lot, and tighter dresses than I've worn since my college days...and I do get the occasional "you're the cutest pregnant girl!" comment (which I do appreciate), but nothing compares to wearing heels. I miss standing in front of my shoe closet, looking for the perfect pair to my outfit. I miss the long look my legs used to have in a good pair of heels or wedges - the way it would finish an outfit and make me feel like a million bucks! Only a few more months of this...but in the meantime, excuse me while I drool over these 'Abby' wedge espadrilles with the clear heel, by French Connection . Love me some turquoise! So all you NON-preggo girls out there, do me a favor. Wear some heels in honor of yours truly. I'll be joining you in about 6 weeks (along with a margarita)! xoxo, holly in heels

Of course I always dig when Target partners up with a top-notch designer--but it's icing on the fashion cake when they pair up with a shoe brand! That's why I'm currently digging the Sam & Libby for Target of sandals, wedges, and stilettos currently on shelves. I picked myself up a pair the other day when I was at Target, and I am looooving my neon purchase! Here's a taste of what you must get your fashionista hands on, with Sam & Libby for Target: The Sam & Libby Kylie Strappy Thong Sandal is a metallic dream come true. The ankle strap adds an adorable gladiator-like look that will never go out of style! Next on my list of Sam & Libby faves is the Kelly Wedge Sandal with an ankle strap, in bone color. The tribal-inspired wedge has a pop of color around the toe, and a perfect wedge and platform. I love the color on the Sam & Libby Sonia Silver Wedge Sandal in natural snake & coral. Check it: And last, but not least, is the Sa...