My parents grew up in during World War II and the Depression.  But instead of talking about being poor, they instilled in me the importance of knowing what you should spend money on when you have it.  High on this list are your feet and your teeth because both are very expensive to replace and directly impact not only the way you feel, but how others perceive you.  Growing up, my mom cut corners on other things but I did not have a pair of cheap shoes in my closet. 

That being said, there is definitely a price range for great comfortable shoes.  So try on a lot of shoes and find what works for you.  I think online shopping for shoes is brilliant.  The good online stores have so much to choose from and with free shipping both ways, you can really look at shoes at home with your clothes to see if they are right for you.  I always try on shoes in the evening when my feet are at their largest size.  I walk around in my house, careful not to scuff the shoes.  I try them on with clothes to see how they will look.  If they don’t fit the bill, I send them back. 

Yesterday, I talked about ASGI.  They are a great brand that is stylish and well constructed, especially women who have issues with their feet.  They come with built in orthotics which can be removed for custom inserts if needed.  My good friend, Caroline is married to an orthopedic surgeon.  Its a good thing because she is his probably his best patient!  She is a huge fan of ASGI and finds Taryn Rose to be a disappointment.  Another friend is a runner.  She has no issues with her feet but is so very careful.  Her feet are very narrow.  Her shoes of choice are Ferragamo and Taryn Rose.  I have always had trouble because of my very flat feet and prefer Cole Haan, Think!, Helle, Dansko and Donald Pliner.  I also love Sofft, which is the brand I will talking about today.

Sofft has flat shoes which are fairly ordinary.  What they really stand out for in my book are their low and mid heel pumps with a ton of arch support so that they look and feel great all day.  A few of their shoes are trendy but most are more of a modern classic.  And for anyone with flat feet or other arch support issues, you will never want to take them off.  A couple of years ago, I made Thanksgiving Dinner for 20 wearing a pair of their low heeled shoes…and wore the shoes all day.  The only tragedy was that I dropped a big glob of turkey gravy on them so they were stained forevermore. 

The Fiorenza is a bold Mary Jane with an oversized strap, patent leather binding, a two-piece squared button and a stacked heel. Available Colors: Black Patent Leather, Chianti Patent Leather, Black Leather.

Check out the Fiorenza by Sofft at Shoebuy.com

There’s nothing that pulls me out of late-in-the-season-been-there-wrote-that writers block like a great Facebook conversation.  And today, it happened!  My college buddy and glamour gal, Faith was threatening to throw in the towel and start wearing “teachers shoes!”  Holy Wardrobe, Batman, That Would Be a Fashion Emergency!  Fortunately, her true friends jumped on in support with lots of great ideas and fashionable balance is being restored to the universe via online shopping…

To listen to the fashion media, there is Jimmy Choo and Uggs.  No middle ground.  For those of us who live and walk in the real world, there’s a whole underground of reasonable shoes that are fun to wear. 

Upon later reflection, it occured to me that it has been quite some time since I jumped in on the topic of “Cute Shoes That Won’t Kill You”  So, for the next few days, I am going to look at some great fun and fashionable shoes that your feet will thank you for wearing. 

My favorite comfort brands, which include a wide range of styles and price points are Sofft, Think!, ASGI, Cole Haan, Pikolinos, Helle Comfort, Dansko and Taryn Rose.  In honor of my friend, Faith, I believe I will start with the ASGI Faith Loafer. 

ASGI is a great blend of classic style, fashion forward and comfort.  They have great classic loafers and ballet flats, a trendy line of booties and pumps that will make your feet feel better than barefoot.  Every pair of shoes has built in orthotics. 

The ASGI company philosophy in their own words…

“ Most shoe companies design a look and then place a sole on it. At Asgi we started our shoes from a different place. Your feet. We call it foot-centric design and it means simply that we focused our design efforts on the foot first and then built our shoes from the inside out. We’ve pioneered a totally new way to support your foot. In total comfort. It’s called Soleplex and it’s the most advanced comfort system you will ever see in any shoe. We use only the finest, comfort-enhancing materials available. We love shoes as much as you do. That’s why we integrate the latest colors and patterns into the pods, chassis and the uppers so every part works together to form a comfort-fashion masterpiece.”

And the Faith Loafer…

Little Miss Preppy just let out her s-s-sassy s-s-side! This Faith loafer from ASGI has a reptile embossed leather upper with a sparkling chainlink vamp accent, twin-goring for optimal flexibility, and Soleplex technology, which means this shoe will be with you and then some every step of the way. The orthotic footbed will conform to the anatomical shape of your foot, the chassis will cradle your foot with utmost care, and the “pod” outsole will provide maximum shock-absorption.

Click here to learn more about the Faith Loafer by ASGI at endless.com

As early as I can remember, I was always trying to suck my stomach in.  And the swimsuits of the 70s and 80s were no friend to even the slightest pooch.  There were string bikinis strategically cut to give the most attention to the muffin top and the skirt suit that every mother bought from Sears or Penneys.  Thankfully, today is a new day and we have great options to accentuate all the right places. 

For the most part, bikinis and tankinis are something to avoid.  They tend to draw a line that says “Look at my stomach.”  If you must have a tankini, look for one that has an un-clingy top.  Other than that, seek out a swimsuit with a flattering top  and plenty of spandex and strategically placed rouching across the stomach.  A high cut leg will accentuate the length of the leg and a low cut top will give attention to the bust and shoulders.  Both strategies will draw attention away from the mid section. 

Click here to learn more about the Solid Shirred Halter Swimsuit by Aerin Rose at SwimsuitsForAll.com

Call me crazy, but I can think of no better way to spend a rainy morning than trying out luxurious fragrances with a friend.  This morning, I met my friend Janet Dashiell at her Los Gatos shop, The Black Swan Boutique.  We talked and sniffed and sniffed some more.  I felt so great when I left the store.  My outlook on the rainy day was completely changed!  It was like revisiting the smell to every great memory I ever had! 

Not your year to buy Valentines jewelry?  Instead of flowers that die or chocolate that never leaves, consider the most intimate gift…fragrance.

If you would like to learn more about fragrance, click here to receive my ezine, which will go out on Monday.  Or visit Janet at the Black Swan Boutique.  She and her knowledgeable staff will gladly work with you on an individual basis to select the fragrance or fragrances for your unique style. 

And now through Valentines Day, all of the Black Swan fragrances with rose essences are 30% off.  These include Sottile, White Flowers and Winter Rose by Yosh, No. 1 (the most expensive fragrance in the world on sale!) and 1872 by Clive Christian, Miele Rosa and Caterina de Medici (wore by Caterina de Medici when she was the Queen of France) by i Profumi di Firenze, Drole de Rose by L’Artisan and West Side by Bond No. 9.