Some girls are a sucker for flowers or chocolate or romance, but the fastest way to my heart is through my closet.  My husband must love me A LOT because over the weekend he built me the purse and shoe storage I’ve been asking for and it is everything I wanted and more.  I’m not writing today to brag (well maybe a little), but to tell you about the awesome products that were used to put together my newly organized closet.  California Closets and the like will charge you a few thousand dollars to organize your closet, but there are many DIY design tools to lay out your closet in any way that you can dream.  Most of our closet was already stocked with RubberMaid wire shelving, so we (well, the hubby) added the ClosetMaid Selectives Corner Shelves and tracking shoe shelves.  They are reasonably priced, look professional, and went up pretty quickly!  The corner shelves are great because then there is NO wasted space in the closet.  I use the corner shelves for purses mostly, but some folded clothes as well.

The next thing I bought to help organize was the Real Simple Slimline hangers.  Real Simple partnered with Bed Bath & Beyond to create the slimline hangers ($29.99 for a box of 50).  They do save some space, but the biggest benefit from what I can tell is that my tops will not fall off the hangers.  They stay hanging exactly how I put them in there.  This is a huge bonus with my cardis and slinky tops!  I recommend trying them out…I even got the clips so my regular slimline hanger can be transformed into a skirt hanger.  I must thank my friend Kim for the tip!  Her photos inspired me

Check out my pictures below for inspiration.  THANK YOU SO MUCH to Brian for working so hard to give me a Sex-and-the-City-esque closet.  The only thing that could make it better is if all my shoes had Carrie-worthy labels.

shops love!!!

We’ve already established two ground rules for traveling to the city: layering and accessorizing.  The next big thing which will make or break your trip is your shoes!  It’s so easy to look into your closet and throw all of your favorite shoes in the suitcase, but don’t do it!  Pack them carefully and think about only bringing the most versatile shoes.  It’s always nice if you can pack in somewhat of a theme – for instance, I try to pack only things that I wear with my black shoes so that I don’t have to worry about bringing two pairs of pumps, etc.

Forecast this weekend in NYC – 80s in the daytime and 60s in the evening.  Sounds perfect to me!  I’m skeptical though and I think the city always feels cooler because the buildings keep the street covered in shadows.  Lots of walking, too, so I have to pick only my most comfortable shoes – I’ll save my heels for dinner only.  Based on all of the *shoe criteria* that I must follow, I’ll most likely wear my Frye boots to shop.  The great thing about them is that I can wear them with skinny jeans or pair them with a cute skirt!  Regardless of the temperature, a riding/walking boot will serve your purpose.

Here are two that I like: the first is my Veronica Slouch Frye Boot $328 (you’ve seen them before, I know, but they are appropriate today as well).  Second is the Steve Madden Smyrna $149 in black – I love this boot on so many levels – it goes with everything, can be dressed up or down (PERFECT for the city) and the solid colored wedge heel is going to make your legs appear even longer (a HUGE bonus for a shortie like me).

Most of the time when we travel for a weekend, we have dinner out.  This is your time to kick it up a notch!  For me, heels are a must for dinner, so I always make room for one *special* pair of pumps to wear for dinner.  I can sacrifice in the clothing department to make room for one extra pair of shoes (no more than 3 for the whole weekend).

Michael Kors, how did you do it?  Perfection in a ($195) Pump with your metallic glitter shoe.  I heart you.  If you want a similar *wow* effect, but need more cash for weekend activities, check out Nine West’s Red Hot Studit ($98).  Red is such a great fall color, and studs are all over the place these days!  If you just don’t have the room in your luggage, you can’t go wrong with this Nine West “Rocha” pump in a neutral shade.  Neutral, leather, pump…what’s not to love?

So in sum – I love shoes, but have to be mindful when packing for a trip.  I pack shoes that can go with multiple outfits and then break the rule for one evening out!

shops love!

ps…don’t forget about The Shopaholic’s giveaway!!!  Please continue to refer your friends until Monday, September 27th!

Yesterday I was shopping on Ideeli and happened upon a brand that I’d never heard of – Gentle Souls by Kenneth Cole.  The first pair looked vintage with soft colors and feminine details…I was struck with the urge to look for more.  My second test of the brand was their sizes – sure enough, they had a size 5!  That’s a huge bonus because I have small feet and many brands don’t start until 6.  Simply summed up, Gentle Souls consist of comfortable shoes that can actually be worn for hours on end.  I think they are the answer to my recent prayers…finding cute shoes that I can wear to work while not paying the price when I get home (very tired feet and sore tooties)!

I purchased “O JOY” in black for $89 – they retail for $195 though – such a deal!  Honestly, I would encourage you to check them out on Ideeli during the remaining 12 hours of the sale.  On Kenneth Cole’s website, they are retailing anywhere from $195 (for flats) to $350 (for boots).  Can we put a price on comfortable shoes?  As much as I’d like to say no, the answer is yes…we all have our limit.  Here are my favorites…

Here’s to Gentle Souls and gracious feet

shops love!