3-1-2026 MY INSPO: february faves and heel appeal

-

 three-part inspo this week: an inter-shoe (interview?) with sib on shoes, top looks from february, and what's new at sam edelman - a scoop shared by bestie nicole.

the intershoe

i read vogue: the shoe this week and instantly thought of sib. if anyone loves shoes, if anyone has strong emotions regarding their importance, she's the top dog, beside carrie bradshaw, perhaps. let's dive into sib's shoe thoughts through what i tried to invent - the intershoe (shoe interview). *crickets*
what is the most important thing about shoes?
you wear them whether you like fashion or not. you dress an outfit up or down with them. even going barefoot is a fashion statement in its own right.
opinion on the wrong shoe theory?
not sure what it means, am too lazy to look it up. the wrong shoe is the shoe you are not wearing with pride and confidence.
what is your current f/w26 shoe rotation?
white docs when it snows, beige gazelles when snow melts. rotating between the two until weather allows for more choices.
what are your cinderella shoes, your town/country shoes, your cult classics, summer faves, and fetish fantasies?
cinderella shoes - rhinestone gianni bini stilettos
town/country shoes - adidas gazelles
cult classics - black platform heels
summer faves - black platform flats 
fetish fantasies - manolos because i can only fantasize about wearing them longer than an hour
what is your shoe shopping guide?
according to my spiritual guru celine dion, "i'll make them work, i'll make them fit. i will walk the shoe, the shoe don't walk me” 
how do you team socks with your shoes?
whimsy socks with formal shoes, sporty socks with sporty shoes, whimsy socks with sporty shoes, sporty socks with formal shoes, i mean, i don't really care unless it’s a flashy color.
what shoe made you fall in love with the shoe game?

what is on your shoe wishlist?
black and white gazelles, uggs tazz slippers with red detail, versace bratz platforms, and i want stilettos in every color but need to learn to walk in them first.
what does a shoe choice say about a person?
beauty is in the eye of the beholder, if you like ugly shoes, i wont judge.
how do you pair certain shoes with your fits?
in the book of sheen, charlie boasts about his ability to read the room even when heavily impaired. i don’t think i make the boldest fashion choices, but like charlie sheen, i like to read the room when making them. i’ve always had a more laid-back style so i like to style my wide leg pants with converse, a white maxi skirt with adidas superstars or a nice pair of burdine maxwell kitten heels with jeans. nothing groundbreaking, just cute enough to look and feel good.

february faves

here's a rundown of this month's fave fits:

2/6-2/7 double fit: skifest social looks for friday and saturday

2/9 work
2/13 valentine's day date

2/14 valentine's day dance

2/16 work

2/20 work

2/23 work

2/25 work

2/26 conference ceremony

2/28 cleveland public library

what's in store at sam edelman?

bestie nicole shared the sam edelman spring apparel collection - first that she launched, and the first apparel launch for the brand. you can find this collection on the nordstrom site. 
the 15 looks appear versatile and layering friendly. in whole, most of these looks appear timeless and capsule-like, easy to style up and down. sam edelman's collection did not reinvent the wheel, and it can be appealing to a vast variety of female customers - the trendsetters looking for boho chic crop tops, or the businesswoman in need of spring florals and office-approved skirts.
semi-sheer button-up tie cuff top
$98
available in mocha and navy
the rouching of the sleeves is a cute detail, but i was a bit unimpressed with the collar. i've been a fan of sheer tops, though so i think this top can be worn in various ways. i like the mocha shade.
sheer drawstring pants
$128
available in mocha and navy
i loved this shade in pants more than the mocha one. the ass part has a satin-looking built in short (no ass out this summer, sam?). i love the relaxed, sweatpant look - even though i am not a loungewear person, a summer chateau daydream seems possible with these pants. 
gathered a-line midi skirt
$108
available in almond, navy, and flame shades
the pop of red attracted me instantly. this timeless silhouette is perfect for every day, work, church or even a going-out experiment. pockets are a plus. 

floral print puff sleeve shirt
$98
available in one shade: almond watercolor floral


nicole and i were in agreement here immediately - our least fave article. looks like the silhouette matches the first sheer top pictured. i mean, my mom would probably like this blouse. insert the "florals for spring" commentary by miranda priestly here. the top is just - yawn. it's one that i feel like i sold a version of during my mall days at new york and company. one that girls would buy last minute for a christening or job interview. if this speaks to you, more power to you. "the only difference between a flower and a weed is judgment".

bubble sleeve off the shoulder cotton poplin minidress
$128
available in bright white and true black
personally, i don't find the bubble sleeve attractive, too cottagecore/tradwife for me. however, this as a cover-up for the beach seems convenient and simple. like the hem length. maybe there's power to the simplicity. 
blouson crop top
$98
available in navy, almond, flame
i love the silhouette of this top. actually, when i was browsing on rebecca minkoff's page a few months ago (was tempted to use bestie nicole's employee discount), a t shirt like this attracted me. the crop isn't at an awkward length, and it can be worn in versatile ways. this one would be in my cart for sure.
sheer lace top
$98
available in almond and true black

sib owns a similar, asymmetrical version, purchased in croatia. the photo here evokes a chloé boho vibe. lace is a big 2026 trend and i think lot of cute things can come out from it. 
lace knit maxi skirt
$118
available in true black and almond
to match the top above, sam edelman's collection includes this sheer maxi skirt. i am loving this skirt. another 100% in-the-cart item for sure. you could style it under a somewhat shorter skirt, contrast some colors to add dimension, or leave it as a summer cover-up. you could evoke a y2k spin by wearing this above a pair of jeans? i'd try it! ask any fashionista - layering pieces are where the true magic happens!
lace inset ruffle cotton button-up shirt
$128
available in true black and bright white
love the details, ruffles, and material. not sure how i feel about the crop. perhaps if it wasn't i'd be more attracted to it. same thing with the collar - but that's because i was on a hunt for the perfect victorian-esque blouse.

overall, you really can't hate this collection. it's a good capsule guide for the spring, with some pops of floral, lace and red. thank you nicole for the scoop. text me for the flash sale heads up!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-21-2025 MY WEEK: a kool kat's week out and about

-
Image
  it was a feast-full of a week my friends, and sib and i treated ourselves frequently with eating out, as did boyfriend and i. while i enjoy cooking every so often, i admit i have no desire to, and will always rather eat out. i understand the health and economic benefits of cooking at home, but i'll never say to no to tacos at barrio , ramen at ichiraku , udon noodles at asian feastery, or all you can eat sushi at  kintaro . same goes for breakfast - i'll indulge in the low-key diner vibes of manhattan deli  or go for the continental buffet after church at concord family restaurant .  a very cat-oriented week it was too. on our late-night walk, we had a shadow follow us, a cat kind enough to let us pet it a million times. we also participated in a kitten kanuudle  fundraiser with amazing raffles (neither of us won). sib and i don't own a cat due to allergies, but maybe someday we'd say yes to adopting, maybe, just maybe... sib and i were the youngest attendees ...
Read more

10-19-2025 MY WEEK: travel essentials and super products

-
Image
sib was dropped off to the airport end of this week, for her "vacay" to start. don't be alarmed, by vacay, we mean harvesting the olives our parents own. meanwhile, i have a few days of prepping and packing. i shared with you my packing list, months ago - was it vermont or pittsburgh trips? well, here i am to share my essential packing list for this month's big trip.  somewhere on the indyx realm on substack, i read that 12 items can be enough for a two week trip, they used as an example, to europe. of course i was up for the challenge. i love a good no-fuss packing list. and i am grateful to have a semi-wardrobe back in croatia (and a love for shopping, am i right?). still, i haven't been in the homeland during fall, since my senior year of high school. through the years my fall/winter wardrobe diminished, due to the oversaturated summer trips and necessity for summer wardrobe space in my parents' tiny apartment.  let's get onto what's in my suitcase....
Read more

9-14-2025 MY INSPO: the new queen reigning vogue

-
Image
  big news for the fashionistas these past few weeks was the announcement of anna wintour - the bob - leaving the position of chief editor of the american vogue. speculations arose - who will take over the reign of the bible of fashion, the most important magazine? love it or hate it, this magazine is it . i can attest - as i used to be a subscriber, and still follow the magazine's newest articles, even though we can see, it set in some old ways, and became stale.  gone are now the devil wears prada days, the floral dresses and stilettos, and orders of a whole milk latte from starbucks alongside a blueberry muffin. right? is this also a farewell to uninspiring covers, tone-deaf ai ads, and blatant support for unchic women (looking at you laura sanchez)?  i read anna , the biography by amy odell, i bought it immediately. there was something inspiring about her professional life, dominated mainly by men at the time. no title ix then. i respect anna wintour's ways,...
Read more