Kate Spade Bianca Sandal

Yeah, I know I just did a Kate Spade thing on the blog. So? I can’t help it if her stuff is awesome. Metallics have been big this year, showing up all spring with metallic sandals, handbags, and other accessories. Now the big color for summer is silver. Speaking of summer, it’s June, which is graduation month. Oh, but not just high school or college graduation. Oh no. Now it seems like every school and every grade has a graduation, including preschool. Preschool! Hey, you colored inside the lines. Yay! Here’s a diploma. Really? Are those of us who went through elementary school in the early ’80s now going to be at a disadvantage when we can’t put elementary and middle school diplomas on our resumes? Actually, this reminds me of something. I was once in a position to hire an assistant to a creative team. One girl who came in to interview actually brought me a Polaroid photo of a drawing she had made—and I am not making this up—in the third grade. She told me her mother had sent it to her specifically to bring with her to the job interview. I didn’t know whether to laugh at her or feel sorry for how absolutely pathetic that was. Guess her mom couldn’t make it to the interview to hold her hand. Needless to say, I didn’t hire her. Before you say I was unfair, she just didn’t have enough experience for the job anyway. But yeah, I didn’t want to manage someone whose hand I was going to have to hold every day, and whom I was going to have to praise for every little thing she did. Who brings a photo of their third grade drawings to a job interview?! Seriously?! Why do so many people, parents in particular, feel the need to pat kids on the back for every little task they accomplish, whether they do it well or not? You know what? Not every kid is good at everything. That’s just the reality, just like not every adult is good at everything. It’s a lesson kids have to learn. If you praise them for their weaknesses and their strengths equally, how will they distinguish between the two, or ever develop those strengths further? If you celebrate every little accomplishment, the truly important and fantastic ones lose their meaning. Parents, it’s bad enough that kids get a homogenized education in public schools. You’re just making it worse by treating every kid the same. I’m not saying any kid should be treated unfairly, or be made to feel bad for their weaknesses. But kids also have to be able to stand out when they do things that are, well, outstanding. Giving the kid who got Ds the same trophy as the kid who got As diminishes that good student’s work and accomplishment. And giving the kid who got Ds any trophy tells him he doesn’t have to work any harder because he’ll be rewarded anyway. Where’s the incentive to do better? And then parents wonder why their kids have an attitude and a sense of entitlement. I haven’t made any secret of the fact that I don’t have kids, so you can take what I’m saying with a grain of salt, or not take it at all. But those underachievers are going to grow up into lazy workers who bounce from job to job when they’re not praised for doing the the bare minimum, or they’re not going to get hired at all because they bring their third-grade artwork to the interview. Think about that next time your kid is supposed to “graduate” from the an elementary grade and gets showered with gifts. After twelve years of that, graduating from high school won’t mean anything, except another occasion to get gifts. Whew! Ok, rant over. Back to June fashion. Sandals. Silver ones. Like this Kate Spade Bianca Sandal.

The Bianca is a delicate, strappy, yet simple sandal, with one T-strap, and an ankle strap that closes with an adjustable buckle for a custom and secure fit. The upper is all silver patent leather, and sits on a leather sole with a half-inch heel. The part of this sandal that stands out is the T-strap, which is adorned with little metal and crystal flower appliqués, for extra sparkle. The flower petals are gold-toned, which both contrast and complement the silver straps, and make this the perfect sandal for the metallic trend. Not only that, it also comes in metallic fuchsia, and black patent. Get the Bianca for $265 at Endless.com

Budget Saving Alternative 1

You know I love Kate Spade, and sometimes it means I miss out when my size is gone or what I want is sold out, but I usually wait to buy her stuff when it’s on sale. Otherwise, I’d have to give up eating or, you know, live in my car. You can get in on the metallic trend for less with this Corso Como Fossol Sandal. No, that’s not a typo. It’s Fossol, not fossil. I have no idea. Ask them. Anyway, the Fossol is also a pretty T-strap, flat sandal in shiny silver, although constructed slightly differently. The ankle strap still has an adjustable buckle, but it’s more toward the back than on the side. The leather footbed is lightly padded for comfort, and is also perforated to help keep your feet cool. Like the Bianca, this T-strap is also adorned with sparkly embellishment, this time in the form of rhinestones in several sizes and shapes. If the metallic trend isn’t for you, the Fossol also comes in flat black and caramel. It’s just $89 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

If you prefer the strappy sandal without the sparkly embellishments, check out the Unisa Laporsha sandal. The upper is still silver, but it’s one hundred percent synthetic leather, so it’s an animal-friendly option as well. The three-quarter inch wedge heel is covered with pebble-patterned synthetic patent leather in bright white, and the footbed is covered in cork, which will put some spring in your step and some comfort under your feet. The outsole is flexible for even more comfort and ease in walking. The ankle strap fastens with an adjustable buckle. It’s also on sale. The silver Laporsha is usually $49, but you can get it right now for just $29.99. It also comes in gold, but that one is still $49. You’ll find them both at Piperlime.com.