Lessons from the Silver Screen: Dressing Dolce Vita’s “Pippa”

Whenever I see fur I think of Old Hollywood glamour. Marilyn Monroe. Zsa Zsa Gabor. Audrey Hepburn. Elizabeth Taylor. Rita Hayworth. Grace Kelly. This is the era of less as more, when diamonds were a girl’s best friend ... But I digress. Most notably it was a time when fur became timeless. It never goes out of style!

Cue Dolce Vita’s Pippa. This rabbit fur wedge boot is just ah-mazing. Initially, I was attracted to its equally fab stiletto counterpart, the Tatum, but a sturdy stacked wedge wins me over every time! Not to mention the Pippa is taller. The more fur the better.

Before I could even get the Pippa into my grubby little hands, I was a-buzz with legging options. Should I pair it with a black patterned tight? What about grey? I just knew that NUDE anything would be just awesome; the Pippa worn bare-legged (especially with warm skin tones) will be absolute perfection.

I’ve found that with fur you don’t have to pair it only with colors that are prominent within the legging's print. You can throw on complimentary colors. I had a girl try on the Pippa and it look great paired with her black jeggings, deep purple over-the-knee lightweight socks and multi-colored chunky knit sweater. I loved her layered look ... and her fringe bag didn’t hurt either! The pairing of the unexpected adds a bit of oomph to the entire look and tones down the boot for a wearable daytime look.

Inspired by my fashionable customers, I put together some outfits around the Pippa. Let me know what you think!

 

—Ashley, Lori's staff and creator of Stiletto Chic


  

Spring Trends: Gladiator Redux

Last year's gladiator explosion was strong enough that the reverberations are still felt this spring. Logically, we're calling this trend Gladiator Redux. Really, it's hard to fault the return of a style that was current when Tarquinius was chased from Rome.

What's the rumpus? Gladiators, like a hammer, the Appian Way and the Aeneid, is a form perfectly suited to its purpose. In that sense these sandals are never so much out of style as simply out of the spotlight, the way nailguns, superhighways and James Patterson novels may have the attention of their genre but not the genesis.

The gladiator follows the lines of the foot. Starting at the toe they sweep up the arch, cup the heel and wrap the ankle and shin. While this may have been perfect for securing a legionnaire's greaves or keeping the heat and dust of the forum under control, for us it means a form that is tantalizingly form and space, skin and covering. Gladiators draw attention to your feet, ankles and legs by revealing and concealing them, all the while providing ventilation and a secure fit.

For spring 2009, we are seeing some exciting tinkering. The basic form of the gladiator remains, but it has been abstracted into something seemingly more contemporary. Look for sturdy heelcups and wispy strapping from Sam Edelman or greaved uppers from Steven and lots of embellishments on top of the form, as with Dolce Vita.

The reason galdiators never really go away is because they are perfectly suited to life in the warm weather. Grab a pair. They are bound to stay in style as long as the sun is shining and footwear is the status quo.