I hope you all had a lovely labor day and bought some shoes with your hard-earned money. I didn’t, but that’s ok because I make up for it every other weekend haha. This fall and winter is going to be boot bonanza. Unlike previous years though, there’s a new type of knee high boot in town–the faux-knee. (It’s catchy if you say it outloud)

Charles David "Regent"

The faux-knee is an over the knee type style without the constricting feeling of other knee high boots. The faux-knee is more like a cuff that goes over your knee instead, making it chic, easy to wear and very diverse. Usually faux-knee boots have an open back behind the knee making it easy to bend and move around. Also, the cuff over the knee is loose, unlike other knee high boots.

Think this is just a fad? Think again, faux-knee’s are popping up everywhere and are available at lots of different price points. You can find them in most major department stores and I guarantee you can view a wide array on a street near you this fall. You can find some other great styles of the faux-knee here, here and here!

Earlier this week I mentioned that I bought my first pair of TOMS shoes. I am totally in love with them and keep trying to find excuses to wear them haha. But, TOMS also makes today’s feature for Made Ya Look Friday.

What do you think of these sparkly TOMS? Are they a LOOK or a Make Ya Look? I’m honestly torn on what I think, so I’m anxious to know how you guys feel about them. They retail for $54. The result will be posted tomorrow morning. Happy voting!

View This Poll

Lock-laces are shoelaces that are no-tie bungee cord laces to put on all your running and athletic shoes. Not only do they come in hundreds of colors, but they are so effective! Any athlete out there understands the importance of having your shoes tied tight, but not too tight, and what an inconvenience an untied shoe is while working out. Enter Yankz. These bad boys will eliminate you from ever lacing up your shoes again. That’s right, no more sitting down to tie your shoes, stopping in the middle of a great run to re-tie and no more shoelace bubbles! (You know, when one lace gets like really big, usually at the top?)

Should I get lock-laces? YES. Will I like them? NO, you will LOVE them. Do they really work? ABSOLUTELY! The huge bonus of lock-laces is that they move and stretch with your feet. So, if you’re shoes are getting too tight the laces will loosen up thanks to the bungee cord technology. You also won’t ever have to deal with your shoes being too loose either, totally eliminating a major cause of blisters.

Why are these thrifty? They are FUN, they are relatively CHEAP in price, and are PRICELESS and NECESSARY for any athlete. Lock-laces can be bought at most specialty running stores and on Amazon.com as well. They come in lots of fun colors and are super easy to put on your shoes. I will never go back to regular laces again.

What do you think–are you a fan of lock-laces? Let me know!

Heaven?!

What are the most important things to keep in mind when organizing your shoes?

1. Keep them in a DRY place with plenty of room. It’s not good to have your shoes all stacked up on each other because they will not only get dirty fast, but they will lose their shape as well.

2. Keep them away from pets, children or careless mates. We spend a lot on our shoes so let’s take good care of them!

3. Shrine your shoes–yes, shrine. If you love your shoes as much as I do, or even half as much, then you should display them neatly and with respect. If you think that sounds crazy, fine. Organize them carefully and just watch how much faster you find what you’re looking for at 6am.

4. Create a system. I have several stacking shoe racks that are AMAZING, so I have a system of what goes where. I keep my flats on the bottom and wedges on the top. Boots line up along the wall so that they have plenty of room to stand. (I also have things color-coded)

5. Take inventory! Seriously, I know it’s hard, but if you’re not wearing a pair of shoes anymore then please, pass them along. NEVER throw out a pair of shoes! Donate them or take them to a consignment shop. Only toss em if they are too beat up too wear anymore. One woman’s trash is another’s treasure right?

Hooray for September–boot season is officially upon us! There’s nothing better than shopping for that perfect new pair and breaking out your favorites from last year. But, don’t get too excited just yet. Depending on where you live, it may be too warm out to start wearing boots. I firmly believe that just because the temperature is warm enough for flip flops doesn’t mean they are acceptable. However, that also doesn’t mean you should toss on your Uggs when it’s 70 degree. So then what do I wear?

Simple, you wear slouchy, light fashionable boots. Keep it casual, classy and cool! You can absolutely rock a great pair of “transitional” boots this time of year with skirts, shorts and dresses. Slouchy doesn’t have to mean sloppy! Slouchy boots are perfect this time of year because they have a more loose and airy fit. Also, they are usually shorter and more fun than your typical fall/winter boots.

Here are the don’t with slouchy boots. DON’T wear slouchy boots with an uber-professional outfit. Slouchy boots aren’t really work appropriate, but they can be if you work in a very casual atmosphere. Typical corporate cults won’t really favor slouchy boots though. DON’T wear sloppy boots that are just old, worn in and scrappy. Slouchy is a style, sloppy is not. Finally, DON’T wear boots that aren’t meant to be slouchy but are slouchy on you because they don’t fit correctly! So many people have this problem. If a boot isn’t meant to be slouchy, you will know. When you try it on, if you can’t pull it up high enough for it to fit correctly, you shouldn’t buy it! You will be uncomfortable and the boot will not look it’s best.

Here are some great slouchy boots for your enjoyment and don’t forget to keep up with SASI on Twitter!

Matisse "Amigo" 199.95

Steve Madden "Candence" 99.95

Sorry that I fell out of the blogosphere last week, I was busy busy. The good news? I have shoes to report on!

Friday night I had the pleasure of attending the Junior League of Chicago’s annual Summer Soiree at the Chicago History Museum. Although the theme was “A Night on the Green” the attire was summer cocktail and that only meant one thing to me–a pair of fabulous shoes to accompany my dress. I wore a frilly and fantastic black strapless dress from White House Black Market and paired it with Betsey Johnson’s “Whitney” open-toe pump. I’m an idiot and forgot to take pictures of the outfit, but trust me, the shoes looked great! More importantly, they felt pretty good, respectively. It’s hard to really say any pair of high pumps are comfortable, but these were some of the more comfortable ones I have worn in a while. The platform made the heel feel less high and the open side kept my feet from feeling too restricted. I was fortunate enough to find these lovelies at Akira Shoes and they retail for $150. In my opinion, they are worth it in style and comfort.

In addition to getting to wear those great Betsey’s I also tracked down and bought my first pair of TOMS shoes! I talked about TOMS once before, and although I love everything that TOMS stands for, I haven’t always loved their shoes. The style is simple and the canvas material is casual. I have definitely seen some people who look great in Tom’s and, as always, there are some people who don’t look quite as good. So, I was kind of neutral about myself in Tom’s. That was until I tried them on while killing a few minutes at Nordstroms. The last thing I expected was for these shoes to be as comfortable as they are, seriously awesome. And, the canvas felt great and the shape of the shoe really came to life once I put it on. I was immediately sold, but Nordstrom’s was only sold out. Since I didn’t want to pay for shipping OR have to battle with those stupid UPS stickers on my front door, I was on a shoe-hunt for a pair of Red canvas Tom’s in size 7. Tom’s shoes stretch about a half size so it’s better to buy them a half-size down from your usual shoes. Finally, after days of looking around, I picked up my Tom’s in the Nordstroms at Old Orchard mall. I am happy to know that my $44 purchase not only made me happy, but funded a pair of shoes for a child in Africa. I encourage all of you to at least try on a pair of Tom’s the next time you’re shopping because I think you will be just as excited as I was.

Check in tomorrow for BooTuesday and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter!

The best way to wear these is with ease and flare. The looser fit of the actual boot part makes these shoes casual but adaptable. They look great on bare legs and over skinny jeans and leggings. There aren’t a ton of options on how to wear these because you definitely want to show them off, so that’s really the only limitation. Summer booties are perfect for fall because they aren’t as flip-floppy as regular sandals and the boot makes them more weather appropriate. Summer boots are a refreshing fusion of fall and summer right now. You are ready for fall, but aren’t ready for actual boots and heavy shoes, I totally understand. Try on a pair of these the next time you’re out shopping and I have a feeling you might fall in love.

Here are the dont’s: DON’T wear these with longer flowing skirts or dresses, it totally throws off the balance. Try pairing it with mini’s instead. DON’T worry about your cankles–these sandals are the perfect disguise. DON’T think these shoes are too trendy for you, I’m positive there is a pair out there with your name on it!

Enjoy the pics and don’t forget to follow SASI on Twitter and Facebook!

Steve Madden "Tipper"

Naughty Monkey "Brilliant"

Blowfish "Fontana"

If you wear lots of sky high pumps then you need insoles with lots of ball support. The balls of your feel take on all the stress when wearing your pumps and its important to provide a cushion for your feet. The best kind of insole is one that covers the ball of your foot and reaches back to the arch.

Open toe shoes–go with a more narrow insole made for women’s feet and one that is the length of the shoe. You will still need plenty of support on the balls of your feet but also on your heel, so make sure you pick an insole with both. The more narrow insole will fit like a glove inside your shoe and you’ll avoid all bulk and any chance of divulging your secret.

Are you a runner?? You should definitely get some insoles in your shoes! All runners have different needs and stress points according to their bodies and their shoes, but insoles for your running shoes are still important. If you suffer from shin splints in particular, insoles can really help out. Find the best insoles for your shoes at your local running store.

Not sure? Memory foam insoles are a safe bet for all shoe types. They provide lots of comfort and support for your feet. As long as you can’t see the insoles from the outside of your shoe and your shoes still fit correctly with the insole, you should be all set.

More tips? Send them my way! You can also follow me on Twitter and don’t forget to see whether Friday’s shoe was a look or a make ya look!