Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Charlotte Issyvoo Rocks the Schoolmarm Shoes

Shoes: Ingledew's; Tights: Reitmans; Skirt: Jella
I used to wear high heels -- a lot. Then my back gave out so severely, I'm now functionally disabled (though very slowly improving over the years) and I can't wear heels anymore. I hate that. 

I'm trying very hard to expand my fashion imagination to include flat footwear. I'm trying to think of flat footwear as fabulous. It's not always easy. But with these Italian shoes, it's not that difficult either.

This post and this outfit are all about the shoes. 
 
Jacket: Zoompy; Shirt: Reitmans; Clutch and earrings: vintage
I thought this outfit was all about the pleated skirt, but I was wrong.



It's all about the shoes. I just couldn't keep my eyes off them! I kept calling attention to them like a little girl with new... well, new shoes -- though, as a little girl, I always insisted on buckled mary-janes and eschewed lace-ups as too ordinary for extraordinary me.



Flat, lace-up shoes with a dress or skirt is a look straight from the 1930s. My grandmother, who was very tall and was married in 1936, thought herself quite classy in such an outfit right up until her death in 2000. She was right. 

Today, somehow, such a look has a bit of a schoolmarm quality to it, which works well, considering the fact that I teach college English. I am a schoolmarm and I often quite like a prim look. Beau thought a pose in front of a school would be just the thing. 


Hair clips: Stylize
The bun just goes with the look. I guess I should have worn my glasses too, eh? (Yes, I am Canadian and yes, I know how to wield an "eh" correctly.)


Bracelet: thrift; Belt: Kara Girl
I doubt, though, that the classic schoolmarm has... um... chests like this, or, if she does, she hides them well. Indeed, I do too when I'm teaching. All hail the demure little cardigan, hiding magnitudes beneath its fluffy innocence!

I'm not used to having a chest so please excuse me if I goggle at it from time to time. I was pretty flat-chested until my back got bad; I had to give up jogging so I gained weight and, what do you know, I grew a bosom! I'm rather enjoying having a bosom, I must admit.



I realize I lied when I said in a previous post that a little ruffle at the bottom of a blouse is the closest I'll ever get to a peplum. I already had this little oatmeal jacket stashed away, waiting for an occasion.



And this really is a peplum. There's no getting away from that fact. I'm still not sure if it works but the jacket matched my new shoes so well, that I really had no choice but let the shoes dictate my choice of jacket. I had no choice, I tell you!

Left gold and diamond ring: Birks; Right gold and diamond ring: Effy
Of course, the other big news is my new wave ring. I felt positively decadent wearing both of these rings at once and I think they look rather well against this red.



If you read the fashion magazines at all, you know that this orange tinged, tomato red has been all the rage for a while now, especially when combined with chunky, yellow gold pieces. This is why I seldom throw out my accessories; they always come back round again if I wait long enough. I dug up this old envelop clutch and these earrings and, presto, I'm a modern gal!

Originally, though, I got the earrings because they look like they're from the 40s (though I suspect they're actually from the 80s, which were strongly influenced by the 40s). They match the clutch perfectly and the little gold swirls go well with the new ring.

 

And anyone who knows me at all knows I'm all about the bling... or are the kids these days calling it "flash"? Luckily for me, I'm not a kid so I can call it whatever I want.



I do believe the whole ensemble worked. Finding this tomato red dumpster as a backdrop was just good luck. Beau and I both zeroed in on it as soon as we saw it.



But, really, this outfit was about the shoes. I mean, come on, just look at them! Crip fashion sometimes can rule.
qwerty

14 comments:

  1. Crip fashion ALWAYS rules! :-)
    Love, love, love the shoes. I'd wear them in a heartbeat. Keep your eyes open for true wing-tipped lace up brogues this season. High vamp, low heel is very "in" right now so stock up; I am!

    Spashionista (Alicia)

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  2. Killer shoes!!! and the jacket is perfect, when you tire of it, pass it on ;) I relate to Frida as well as I too have a disability and some days it is really painful. YOU ROCK!
    May I put a widget w/a link on my blog to inspire more blogger traffic?
    I make killer widgets ;)
    write me back and let me know!
    Hugs
    Reva

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  3. I already loved oxfords/brogues but yours are really special! And take comfort this coming year the "IT" shoes are flats. FLATS were strolling the runway- creeper re-makes, brogues, gladiators, flats, modern and walkable.

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    1. It works well for me that flat lace-ups are in style right now. The problem is that they will go out of style and I may still be crippled. Then what?

      I had to look up "creepers." Holy late 80s, early 90s! I feel so old. I remember them well.

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  4. OK those shoes are the absolute cherry topping this delicious dessert of an outfit!!!! They're fabulous!! I've never seen two-tone brogues in those two shades and they're making my eyeballs explode with joy! I lost a shed load of weight really quickly about a year ago and lost my boobs. Now I'm back to what is my normal, they're back. Yay for boobs!!!!! xoxo

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    Replies
    1. These shoes were on sale and they were still expensive. They're Italian and the leather is like buttah. And, if you look closely, you'll see that they are THREE tone, not two-tone.

      Beau was sold on these glasses when I told him he looked like a NASA scientist circa 1967. He HAD to have them.

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  5. The shoes & jacket are fabulous! They absolutely belong together. I'm new here, so please forgive me if I'm out of place, but I think the shoes and jacket would look amazing toughened up a bit with some cuffed "boyfriend" jeans and maybe a scarf.

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    Replies
    1. I totally agree with you about the boyfriend jeans and I hadn't thought of that, so thanks. My real boyfriend's jeans would be mountains too big for me and waaaay to long, but I'll keep my eyes open. I've got an upcoming post where I wear them with skinny jeans to moderate success. Keep your eyes open for that.

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  6. I love brogues and oxford shoes and these beauties from Ingledews are fabulous. Yup, they definitely deserve to be featured on Bella's shoe love post!

    Funny, my clearest memory of my grade three teacher was how her cross necklace nestled in her substantial cleavage. At least, as a grade three student, I thought it was substantial. {Sigh} I loved her.

    Sue xo

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    Replies
    1. I've gained weight with my back injury and now have "substantial cleavage" myself. I now have to watch out for pendants disappearing in my bossom too. You gave me a good laugh when I read that.

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  7. The shoes are stellar. And the school marm is too.
    Happy Shoe Shine Tuesday, May edition, yo.

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  8. I just found your blog from Bella's shoe post. I'm sorry to read about your back and the fact that you can't wear heels anymore but out of this troubles comes the opportunity for new style and these shoes are both cute and stylish!

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    1. Thanks! I'm not one of those people who tells people they should "always think positive." Having a back injury sucks. But that doesn't mean life is now devoid of some joy, including these shoes. In a way, that's what this blog is about; as the header says, it's about "finding small beauties in a big bad world."

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  9. Those shoes are spectacular!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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