Lattice caged sandals from Topshop

Love YSL's caged boots, but not willing to spend a few hundred on them? These lattice caged sandals from Topshop aren't exactly

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Christian Louboutin's 'Trash' shoe sold exclusively at Barneys

These head-turning 'Trash' shoes, designed by Christian Louboutin, have just landed at Barneys.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Complex Geometries Fall 2009

Complex Geometries' Fall 2009 is now on up on their site. This is the Canadian label's best video lookbook yet.

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[Source: Jargol Blog]

Marni 'geometric' bow-front flats

Flats with a bow decoration on the toe are a dime a dozen, so it seems. But that's why these pink leather Marni ones are so adorable, with their contrasting 'geometric' acrylic yellow bow adorning the top, setting them...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Pick a colour from Manolo Blahnik's rainbow for spring '09

Nothing spells spring to me than colour... lots of colour!

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Brian Atwood's 'Lana' platforms

I've always thought blue and yellow make an excellent colour combination, but I suspect these particular shades

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Giuseppe Zanotti flat toe-post sandals

I've mentioned a couple of times now that Giuseppe Zanotti has been creating some fabulous platforms

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Anna Sui studded gladiator boots

Over the last few months, I have made my peace with gladiator sandals. Or I thought I had. I love the high heeled, low topped versions, you see, and my love for

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Victoria Beckham spices things up in Louis Vuitton 'Spicy' sandals

Staying true to her roots is Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham, who joined a long list of celebs, to sport a pair of Louis Vuitton's 'Spicy' sandals...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Peter Jensen's fall '09 boots offend people of Greenland

Danish-born fashion designer, Peter Jensen, has revealed that a protest was staged in response to his fall '09 collection which was recently shown at London Fashion Week...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

High Street Vs Designer: Christian Louboutin Vs Dune

On the left, Christian Louboutin's 'Deva' boots, which you may remember us naming Ugly Shoe of the Week earlier this year. On the right, meanwhile

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Bright green slingbacks by Cesare Paciotti

A lot of people seem to struggle with slingback shoes - not because they don't like the way they look, but because they tend to create all kinds of "digging into the back of the heels" and

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Moda in Pelle's 'Camilla' cut out detail peep toes

Moda in Pelle seem to be liking shoes with holes in them rather a lot at the moment, and although it doesn't sound it, I reckon that's a good thing, because nothing says "summer" quite like shoes with perforations

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Nude patent platforms from Miss Selfridge

I wish Miss Selfridge had provided a photo of these shoes at a slightly different angle on their website, because I have a feeling this one doesn't quite do them justice. It does,

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Patent two-part platforms from Next

This weekend marked the arrival of the latest edition of the Next directory, and I instantly found myself adding these two-part platforms to my

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Kurt Geiger's satin 'Bardot' pumps

My obsession with Kurt Geiger continues, and this week finds me lusting after these satin 'Bardot' pumps, which

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Faith's studded 'Hudd' sandals

These 'Hudd' sandals from Faith are a really easy way to work the current trend for studs into your summer wardrobe. They look like they'd be very comfortable to wear, too, with that low wedge heel

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Fergie launches shoe collections at Nordstrom

I blogged back in December about Fergie's new shoe projects. Now they have come to fruition with an official launch at Nordstrom over the weekend...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Stella McCartney wooden soled high heel sandals

I had a pair of shoes very similar to these ones a few years ago (although mine were by Barratts rather

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Christian Louboutin's 'Escatin' sandals

I'd really like to see these 'Escatin' sandals on an actual foot. I have a feeling they'd look better being worn than they look in this picture, which isn't to

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Givenchy lace-up cage jelly sandals

Jellies... hmm, I can never decide quite what I think of them. But designer jellies might just force me out of this category all together...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

ASOS Premium elastic side ankle boots

I know I'm supposed to be thinking about sandals and flip flops now Spring has officially arrived, but I just can't pass

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Biba perforated suede high heel sandals

Size 7 Biba fans prepare yourselves for a treat which will make all non-size 7 Biba fans sick with jealousy... These perforated suede high heel sandals - so perfect for summer with their wooden heel - are reduced on...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Miu Miu emerald sequined satin ballet flats

It may not be particularly obvious from this photo, but I bet these Miu Miu pumps will look fabulous on, with all of those sequins catching the light. Up close, the pattern is something of a mish-mash, but when they're on your

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Samba white leather pumps from Monsoon

I'm a big fan of Indian khussa shoes, which are perfect both for wearing casually around the house, or with shorts

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Products for your happy enjoyment

From a few feet away this looks like a tie with an abstract woven pattern in rather bright colors, but if you look closer you will see that the little red rectangles actually say "Toshiba," and every other diagonal band contains a repeating line drawing of a different Toshiba product. They've even labeled each one: starting at the top and working down, we have cinema T.V., battery, car radio, cordless [telephone], "fst" [flat screen television], cell phone, and VCR. Corporate ties are usually very dull, so I applaud Toshiba for commissioning one (from Vinuchi) that's so lively and distinctive, if not actually attractive.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Guess whose shoes?

Which He's Just Not That Into You star chose these grey YSL Trib Two platform slingbacks to wear to her appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman this week?

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Jimmy Pike

Monday's tie was another Jimmy Pike creation from Desert Designs of Australia.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Schuh 'Bettie' peep-toe bow heels

If you're stuck for ideas on giving an outfit an extra bit of va-va-voom, channeling Bettie Page is never a bad place to start, and these peep-toe platform shoes from Schuh make no secret of their pin-up influence. Their 'Bettie Bow' heels have an almost obscenely skinny heel, offset by a rounded platform that just about stays on the right side of Minnie Mouse territory.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Miss L Fire 'Bathing Beauty' nautical peep toes

I'm sure no one needs me to tell them the nautical trend is back in a big way for summer - it's everywhere you

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Graphic

I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather on Monday (60 degrees, 50 higher than last week) to wear my first tie 0f 2008. A tie that looks like a graph (or several graphs) is about as graphic as you can get, wouldn't you say? This bold silk tie with rectangular jacquard weave is of unknown provenance, but is probably 30 to 40 years old and has seen a lot of use. It even appears to have been bitten at least once.

While my tie wearing, and thus tie blogging, has tapered off considerably over the last year, Mike Segers at Knot a Blog continues apace. This month will see his five hundredth blogged tie, so be sure not to miss that! In fact, I recommend you review ties number 1 through 499 in preparation for the big 5-0-0.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Pretty Ballerina's 'Rosario' pumps

Pretty Ballerinas never fail to impress me with their ability to produce great-looking ballet flats, over and over again. These 'Rosario' shoes are perfect for summer, with their pale uppers and fruit decoration

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Brian Atwood's 'Eva' ankle tie sandals

Another pair of polka dot heels, to get you in the mood for summer! These ones, by Brian Atwood, would've looked good even

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Mena Suvari tries out Christian Siriano for Payless for size

We recently had a look at the new Christian Siriano for Payless range as they stormed the runway at New York Fashion Week...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Eros

Nope, nothing smutty: Eros is the maker of the tie, as proclaimed on the very classy label, which also tells us "London Paris New York." This is a vintage tie of 100% wool, and at four and half inches wide it's a lot of wool, and it is heavy. Leslie named their superwide tie the Bellywarmer; Eros should have named this line the Millstone. I got it in the same ebay lot as my birthday tie; that must have been one groovy guy who owned both of them. There was a third one, too, and maybe I will remember which one it was.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Mid-Century Modern

With our so-called "Mid-Century Modern" home, gradually getting filled with Mid-Century Modern furniture and decor, it is only appropriate that I have some Mid-Century Modern ties as well. I don't think this one dates back that far, but the design fits comfortably with other textiles of that era. The label says "Nino Orsini," but this tie is obviously a home-made job, with the fabric behind the tip finished using the "scrunch it all up and then iron it flat" method. But who cares about the back of a tie?

And now I must be off to Syracuse to see the Chicago Afrobeat Project at Funk'n'Waffles!

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Corduroy weather

Ah, it has cooled off enough to break out the corduroys, which for me marks the official start of autumn. Today's tie is from my favorite line of polyester neckties, Christian Dior Monsieur (previous entries here). The ribbons in the pleasantly busy pattern are disturbingly sinuous (as in, like sinews), and the flesh and blood color scheme doesn't help matters. If I keep my mouth shut maybe no one will notice.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

FIRST LOOK: Bruno Frisoni Fall 2009

Wow, are these some shoes or are these some shoes?! Bruno Frisoni has certainly pulled out all the stops for Autumn 2009, and the shoes on the left in particular are show stoppers of the highest order. Bows, frills...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Clifford Possum

Desert Designs is best known for reproducing the works of Australian Aboriginal artists Jimmy Pike and Doris Gingingara on neckties, but I have turned up a third one. Today's tie features a design by Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri (c.1932-2002), one of the founders of the modern Aboriginal art movement. Susan Allan provides some background on his introduction to painting in an obituary on the World Socialist Web Site:

In the late 1950s he was employed, along with his older brother Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri and other Aborigines, to assist in the construction of Papunya settlement. This was the last Aboriginal settlement built under the Menzies Liberal government�s racist assimilation policy. According to the government, Aborigines were not ready to live as �white Australians� and had to be re-educated. This meant removing them from tribal lands and herding them into settlements.

In 1971, Geoffrey Bardon, a young teacher, arrived at Papunya. Bardon, who later described the settlement as �an unsewered, undrained, garbage-strewn death camp in all but name,� won the respect of the older men and encouraged them to paint their ancestral stories. In contrast to Namatjira�s realistic watercolours, Bardon supplied them acrylic paint and discouraged references to Western images. This approach help give birth to the unique Papunya Tula style, which is an abstract representation of tribal myths and legends that is derived from traditional ceremonial designs.

Tjapaltjarri's art gained enormous popularity and he was ultimately awarded the Order of Australia.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Yves Saint Laurent's Platform Obi sandals

These aren't quite as fabulous as the famous 'Tribute' sandals, but I'm willing to bet we'll

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Spring?

I won't fool myself into thinking spring is here at last despite today's lovely 50+ degrees; this is upstate New York, so we will almost certainly get more snow before spring truly arrives (and probably late at that). But that doesn't mean that I can't pretend for a day and wear a vintage polyester tie of pastel honeycombs filled with "crayon vomit!"

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Still here

After a long winter of turtlenecks and sweaters, and a long overdue trip to the cleaners to get my dress shirts washed and pressed, the temperature climbed into comfortable tie-wearing weather today (between 30 and 60 degrees F). Time to tackle that huge backlog of unworn neckties! Or one of them, at least. Today's tie is from Tachi Taylor, if the dodgily-applied label is to be believed, and features a woven Miro-inspired pattern.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Kurt Geiger Fashionistas 'Mayfair' peep toe

Hot off the press in Kurt Geiger's recently re-launched Fashionistas range is this arresting blush champagne court shoe that really has got it all: a subtle platform, hi-gloss metallic finish and a beautiful corsage made with hat lace and vintage-style buttons.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Marc by Marc Jacobs scalloped gold ballet flats

These are not ordinary ballet flats. These are Marc by Marc Jacobs ballet flats, which means that even this most basic of styles can be arresting and brilliant. We're not talking anything like the degree of subversion seen on the mouse shoes, but look - they've got scalloping! And the sunshine gold sheen on the soft, soft leather is like fine milled sand. If you're longing to sink you're toes in already, they're at Zappos for $249.95

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[Source: Shoewawa]

New Look's limited edition interweave platforms

With that hint of sun this week, it's time to shed the restrictions of your winter boots or closed-toe clumpy heels and start looking towards sandals...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Yay or Nay Wednesday

Cut-out boots still haven't quite won you over: the Halston boots from last weeks Yay or Nay scored a 52% 'Nay' vote, although 41%of you said you liked them.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Special Saturday Edition

Not only is today's entry on a Saturday tie, it has two ties! I took my son Pierce to his friend's bar mitzvah today, and we both wore ties. I wore the one on the left, a black Format tie of luxurious crinkled silk with woven red and gold pattern. Pierce, making his modeling debut on the tie blog (pause for applause), wore the tie on the right, a Save the Children tie called "Schwiggles," designed by Shantai, age 8. Does he look just like me, or what?

We each were handed a program and prayer book for the ceremony. Pierce was a bit befuddled by the book, not knowing that it starts at the "back" and goes in the opposite direction of a standard English book. As he sat there struggling with it, I whispered to him "Manga style," and he got it instantly. A piece of knowledge of one foreign culture helped him grasp another one in no time; I couldn't have planned a better demonstration of the importance of knowledge and understanding.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Topshop Anita studded fringe boots

I've been counting down the days until I would see these white studded fringe boots sitting pretty on the shelves of the Topshop shoe section, and woop woop, that day has finally arrived. A fan of the "Memphis" collection...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Vegan Chic: Bourgeouis Boheme Juno

Here's a cute pair of platform pumps for those who prefer to avoid weating ex-animal parts on their feet. From Bourgeois Boheme's Love Goddess range, these 'Juno' shoes have a gently sloping concealed platform and this season's must-have gem embellishment for an instantly wearable style.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Kimono my house

It finally warmed up here in Ithaca, so I tried my hand at tie-wearing again. My tie for Monday, March 31, is a patchwork tie of vintage kimono silks by T. Carney, made in Korea. The dark band next to the bottom has a very fine batik-style resist print on it; the triangle on the right side (my left), as well as the band just under the knot, are particularly lustrous, in a nubby weave that is sheer joy to look at and touch. The whole tie is quite tactile, for that matter. I wouldn't mind wearing full garments made from silk like this.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Terra Plana gets sexier with new styles

Since its launch in 2005, Terra Plana has been highly influential in getting the 'ethical can be cool' message across to the more fashion conscious customer. Its designs are contemporary and distinctive, unmistakably eco. But with its new crop of styles for summer 09, I'm seeing a more trend-driven direction for the label, particularly in these 'Caecilia' pumps with contrast heel and platform.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Happy Birthday to Me

Another year, another birthday, yippee! As of today I am twice the legal drinking age, which means from here on out I will have been drinking legally for most of my life. So I will use this milestone to list some of my favorite beers: Unibroue Belgian-style ales, especially Trois Pistoles (which I drank with my birthday dinner); Weyerbacher Quad; Pork Slap Pale Ale and Snapperhead IPA from Butternuts Beer and Ale; Ommegang Abbey Ale; and Ithaca Beer Company's Double IPA. Some favorites from our trip to England in August are Inniss & Gunn Oak Aged Beer, Badger Golden Champion, Robinson's Old Tom Ale, and Sharp's Chalky's Bite. I recommend seeking them out from your local beverage emporium and enjoying them in moderation, preferably while wearing a big, bold vintage tie like this one, "made in England for Bloomingdale's" with the thickest lining fabric ever made, I do believe.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

ASOS leather t-bar platform wedges

I spotted these wedges in the ASOS magazine a few weeks ago and have been eagerly waiting for them to arrive on the site ever since,

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Still pampered

It's been almost a month since I last wore a tie, and a year and a half since I wore one of my treasured Pamper Him ties from Chicago. This is the third one to appear on the blog, which leaves me with three yet to be blogged, I believe. That could take another couple years, at this rate. Pamper Him seems to have vanished, as have most of the fabrics from Exotic Silks from which they made their ties (but this one is still there). Only the ties remain, and darn few of those, I suspect.

Fortunately I have popped back onto the blog in time to learn about Catherine Gutsche's upcoming show at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte, Ontario. Faithful readers (both of you) will recognize Catherine as the artist who turned my wedding tie into a painting, which now hangs in its place of honor over our marital bed. The show runs May 14 through August 2 (2008, in case you're reading this in the future), with an opening reception on Saturday, May 24. If you're in the area, go see!

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Casual Friday: Puma pop art multicolour edition trainer

We were big fans of the Puma Pop Art style when it launched last autumn, and now it's got even more 'Warhol' with this new, block-coloured variation.

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Belle & Mimi leather high court shoes

Stone coloured shoes are hugely versatile, and can be worn with almost any colour you can think of. I think

Catching up

I've finally run out of steam. Here's the tie I wore on May 20, by Modules of Japan, one of the best of the art deco revival labels. There might be one more photo on the camera.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Maison Martin Margiela split toe booties

Martin Margiela's split toe boots have become something of a trademark for the label. Personally I've never been able to see the appeal of these - in fact, they're the very antithesis of

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Brian Atwood's footwear fetish book starring Rene Russo

To promote his latest shoe collection, Brian Atwood took an different approach by recruiting an older Hollywood actress to star in her own sexed up limited release book...

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Satin rose peep toes from Dorothy Perkins

If you're looking for occasion shoes on a bit of a budget, Dorothy Perkins could be a good place to look. These

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[Source: Shoewawa]

Peek-a-boo

Here's a favorite theme of mine: a design underneath, in this case stripes in shades from white to orange to brown, covered with another pattern (plain brown here) that is then peeled away strategically to create yet another pattern. Well, not really peeled away, it's all woven of a piece, but that's the effect. The different stripes and layers have contrasting weave patterns as well, adding one more design dimension. This is a vintage German offering from Juka's Spitzenklasse line, made of "Dralon, 100% Polyacril." It will outlast us all.

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Spring has sprung

Ithaca residents were assured today that spring is finally here, because I wore my rainbow-striped shirt with a rainbow-spattered tie. (The fact that snow is forecast for the weekend in spite of my sartorial proclamation is concerning; have my neckties lost their magickal qualities through neglect?) While most of my "crayon vomit" ties are roughly 35 years old and made of polyester, this is a silk tie by "A. Taghi" of more recent vintage. The only thing I can think of to say about it is, "Whoa."

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[Source: Burl Veneer's Tie Blog]

Steve Madden's red pointy 'Nadiah' court shoes

I still haven't been completely won-over by the pointy-toes that are suddenly back in fashion, but if I was going go buy some shoes in this style,