Stuart Weitzman Frontpage

Today’s post is all about chocolate. Do I have your attention? Good. Only I don’t mean the kind of chocolate you eat. Now, just wait a minute! Don’t click out of here in search of that sweet, yummy, chocolatey goodness! You can get that anytime, from anywhere. The chocolate I’m talking about is of the suede, leather, and silk persuasion. Oh yes. Chocolate brown, that most overlooked of fall colors. Contrary to what you might think, it’s anything but boring. Brown can be a neutral palette that allows a brighter hue to stand out. If you have blue eyes, wearing a brown blouse will make your eyes seem even bluer and brighter. Same goes for brown or coppery eyeliner. (I know! Makeup tips! Hee!) But brown doesn’t have to stay in the background. If it’s done right, it can take center stage all by itself, and Stuart Weitzman, who always seems to get it right, has created a shoe so gorgeous and chocolatey, you may just want to eat it up—the Frontpage pump.

I’ll give you a moment to just admire it. All set? Let’s continue. Now, I might not normally go for a peep toe in the fall or winter. But while the weather is still figuring out whether it wants to be cold or not, you might luck out and get a reasonably warm day that would be great for an open-toed shoe. And, come on girls, we seldom pass up a chance to show off a kickass pedicure, right? Yeah, that’s a hint. Don’t even think about putting these shoes on until you’ve had a pedi. It would be disrespectful. Not to mention, it just annoys me when women wear revealing shoes and haven’t taken the time to do a little maintenance. Seriously, no one wants to see that, ‘kay? But back to the Frontpage. It’s all suede, with leather lining, so just imagine it slipping decadently onto your feet. The .75-inch platform is covered in suede, as is the 4.75-inch heel. The tip of the toe box is also covered in suede, but in a light, contrasting color to the deep brown of the upper. Which brings us to the vamp. Six loops of suede, in ecru, light brown, and dark brown, are stitched onto the top of the shoe to form a sort of modified bow. Stuart calls this color cola, but we know better. It’s rich, dark chocolate. The Frontpage also comes in black, with a black and gray vamp embellishment, or in a sexy scarlet red, with scarlet and black accents. I think it’s worth the splurge of $365 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

When the weather does finally turn and stay cold for a few months, you’ll want to keep your tootsies ensconced in a closed, cozy shoe. What’s that? Uh, well, I guess if it’s casual Friday and your boss doesn’t mind, you could wear some fuzzy slippers to the office. But I’m talking about a classic pump. Except this nude footwear Paris pump has a little twist. Or should I say, flounce? The almond toe is smooth leather, while the rest of the upper is soft suede, all in a creamy mocha color. Over the vamp is a short ruffle detail, fashioned from the suede of the upper. It’s like a little skirt for your foot! The Paris will also give you a little boost—there’s a hidden one-inch platform to offset the four-inch, suede-covered heel. It also comes in a gorgeous black suede with pearl patent leather toe combo. Either one can be yours for just $129 at Piperlime.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

As much as I love suede for fall and winter, nothing says luxury like silk. Now imagine getting that silky chocolate luxury for a reasonable price. You can, with the Caparros Bernie. They could have come up with a better name for such a pretty shoe. I mean, come on—Bernie? That’s a name for big, clunky loafers, not dainty, girly shoes like this! The upper is one hundred percent gorgeous chocolate silk. It also comes in black, if you prefer. The 3.75-inch heel is also covered in silk, and the footbed is lightly padded for comfort. That will be helpful to balance with the pointy toe, which I’m usually not fond of, but it works for this shoe. Plus, I love the delicate straps that wrap around the vamp, ending in a slender bow at the top. And if you look closely, you’ll see three tiny, caramel-colored crystals in the middle of the bow. That kind of attention to detail almost makes up for the brutish name. So does the price. It’s only $73 at Zappos.com.