past newsletters …

Coachella Style

4/26/11

The music has stopped. The dust has settled. The smoke has cleared. Everyone is left wondering — what were they wearing at Coachella? Vintage, of course! No music festival is complete without some seventies denim cut-off shorts, ground gracing maxi dresses, and graphic t-shirts galore. This year wasn’t any different.

However, shortly after reading the clever quips screen printed on the ragged t’s, my eyes always shift to the ground. I want to see what the shoes look like! So I hopped over to Who What Wear for their recap and the LA Times for theirs. The line up was more or less what you would expect — gladiator sandals, moccasins, combat boots, canvas sneakers, and espadrilles.

Before you head out to your favorite music festival of the summer, here are a few footwear options from our closet to yours. They give you a reason not to go barefoot.

— Libby

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Bellaire - Like walking on air.

4/19/11

During the late 40s, the brand Bellaire emerged from its Boston based parent company, A. S. Burg, with a keen focus on a very particular style — the oxford. The name Bellaire, often a nickname for someone with a pleasant demeanor, derives from the French “belle” and “air” meaning beautiful air. Their slogan — Like walking on air. — continues the theme of beautiful weightlessness. It also serves as a tall order for the comfort and quality of Bellaire shoes.

Once you try on a pair, you’ll see that they indeed live up to their slogan. The craftsmanship of Bellaire shoes is fabulous — leather soles, silk laces, and dainty stitching. At the risk of sounding like a cross between an old lady and a broken record, they just don’t make shoes like this any more. (Of course, they’re not making a whole lot of records either.)

Unlike today, shoe manufacturers didn't create an entirely new look for each season. (Hard to fathom, I know.) Shoes were designed to transition from season-to-season and year-to-year. What better way to do that than with a timeless color and style. The lace-up oxford is universally flattering — enhancing the daintiness of a woman's ankles.

Instead of drastically altering their styles each season, Bellaire merely changed out the laces and chose a new tooling design. Simple yet effective. Bellaire certainly knew where their strengths resided. Slip on a pair. You too could be walking on air!

— Libby

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