Shoe HAUL: Forever 21, JustFab & Payless

Why hello there, fellow reader!  I thought it was about time to update my blog and I bring to you a shoe haul with reviews.  I recently went shoe and handbag crazy (an upcoming post).  Now let's get on with the pic heavy show!

DISCLAIMER: Please do not mind the grown-out pedicure. =) I also purchased all items myself and will give you my honest opinions.  All shoes are in size 8.

FOREVER 21

First up is the Night Moves Peep Toe Stilettos in black from Forever 21.  They are sexy and stylish but have ONE CON: the bottom of the shoes are so SLIPPERY!  Whose idea was it to put a suede or felt-like material on the bottom of the shoe so that you will slip and break your ankle and neck while walking on linoleum, marble or other slippery surfaces? Luckily, I had some non-slip grip pads from Payless laying around and that fixed the problem. I highly recommend those.

4.5" heel, faux suede, $36.80, comes in Black and Nude

I put on a pair of my trusty Summer Soles on these babies. Also, the flash washed out the goldtone hardware. Forever 21 has good pics.

My go-to heel height is 4", or 5" with a 1" platform. The extra half inch on these heels make a difference on my feet though- I notice a lot more pressure on the ball of my foot and the bottom isn't cushiony.  So after a while, they may hurt.

They fit my feet with some room to spare at the toe area and the material doesn't rub my feet raw.  I really like these!

PROS:
~Nice faux suede material
~Good fit; no need to size up or down

CONS:
~SLIPPERY BOTTOM (grab some non-slip pads from Payless for about $2)

JUSTFAB

Next up are a few shoes from JustFab (yes, I succumbed to the temptation).  Be aware that JustFab is a subscription service that charges you $39.95 each month but you are able to skip any month as long as you log in to your account between the 1st and 5th of each month and select the "skip" button. If you're interested here's my invite link where you can get 50% off your first purchase.

JustFab Gianna, 5.5" heel, 1.5" platform

Meet GIANNA.  I love the look of Gianna with her teardrop t-strap design and cork bottom.  But wait for the cons!

PROS: 
~Non-slip bottom! (A+ for that)
~Not too heavy
~Chunkier heel than a skinny stiletto 

CONS:
~Black DYE from felt-like material RUBS OFF ON YOUR FEET. After taking these shoes off after 10 minutes, I had black marks under my toes, on the side of my feet and on the back of my heels. It wasn't cute.
~Top part of the back of the heel irritates my skin and would rub me raw. I had red marks on the back of my heel just by standing in them. It wasn't because of the fit but the roughness.  I applied and trimmed some heel grips that I got from Payless to the inside of the heel and that seemed to solve the problem.
~Cork pattern may not match on both pairs.  Scroll down to the picture with an anomaly on the back part of the left heel.  There are two bold dash marks in the cork pattern that is noticeably different from the other shoe.  I'm not really happy about that but I can live with it.

The anomaly on the left heel that doesn't match the other shoe. It may bother your OCD.  In fact, it bothers mine, lol.

I like the design of the straps. It's like 3 U-shapes coming together at the center.

I believe they are still available in black in limited sizes but the Yellow is sold out.

Meet CAMBRIA in Coral and unfortunately, I believe this color has sold out.  It's a peachy coral that reminds me of orange sherbert.
Is it just me or is a really high wedge really wobbly, because I can handle a skinny, thin stiletto any day. 

JustFab Cambria in Coral, 5" heel, 1.5" platform

PROS:
~Fits comfortably with some room to spare
~The straps, material and inside parts don't rub and are comfortable

CONS:
~Bottom sole of the ball of the foot is REALLY SLIPPERY! It has a suede-like material there while the rest of it is a grippy rubber.  I don't know why they didn't just omit the slippery part.  So I put another pair of non-slip grips from Payless on the bottom of these shoes, as well.
~They're heavy but you'll expect that from a wedge.
~Raffia material gets frayed.  I had to trim off some stray pieces with scissors.
~My pair had a dirty black smudge on one of the straps of the left shoe that wasn't cute.

The super slippery felt-like bottom that my hair is sticking to.

The quick fix for the slippery bottom. Just run to Payless and get some non-slip grips. They're usually by the cash register.

The dirty smudge on one of the straps that I wasn't happy about. =/

This is RYDER in Chestnut and I haven't been able to wear her out yet because the weather got too hot.

JustFab Ryder in Chestnut, 1.25" heel, 15" calf circumference

PROS:
~The calves are not tight and the boots fit true to size.  They fit very snugly without being uncomfortable.

CONS:
~Cheap material and feel
~Boot zips up only half way instead of all the way up, which may be a disadvantage to some people but I have no problems with it.
~The back part that cups your heel feels like hard cardboard

All in all, I still like this boot.  It's cute and I got it on a BOGO so it was worth it.  I'm sorry I don't have a picture with the boots on but I will update if I get a chance.  These are actually the first pair of flat boots I own because all my others are heeled.  So welcome to the collection, Ryder!


This cute, 3 1/2" low wedge is called JACQUI. They were sold out in my size 8, but I heard they may run a half size too big, so I snagged a 7.5 and they happily work for me!  I just really love that snake texture with the mint- supercute!

Dat mint, tho!

PROS: 
~Comfy and lightweight

CONS: 
~The bottom sole is a nice, non-slip rubber but the ball of the foot is covered in a slippery felt-like material. It would've been better to omit that part.
~The end of the strap on one shoe is already fraying, or peeling apart somewhat, and I haven't worn them out yet.
~Gives me pinky toe cleavage!

Wearing JustFab Jacqui wedges in mint and Legacy bag in Poppy. Legacy is gorgeous and very Birkin-esque.

PAYLESS

The last two pairs of shoes I hauled are from Payless Shoe Source.
This shoe is called HASHTAG by Christian Siriano and it's a blue faux suede shootie. Don't step on them! Heh.  They are super cute but have a flaw.

Hashtag by Christian Siriano, 4" heel, split down the vamp

PROS:
~Nice faux suede material. Good quality of materials all around, even the inside pattern is fun.  I also like the different texture of the faux leather heel in contrast to the faux suede upper.
~Bottom sole is made of rubber so it's nice and non-slip

CONS:
~THEY FIT WEIRD. My heels with my usually size 8 were slipping out of these puppies, so I tried a 7 and a half but they were too short and tight in the toe area, but weirdly enough my heels were still slipping out of the shoe when I walked.  Maybe it's the curvature of the back of the heel that's too deep? I had to put some heel grips on the inside of the shoe.  Even though my right foot is a little longer than my left, I had to strangely put two pairs of heel grips in the right shoe to keep my heel from slipping. Odd, huh?    

Very sleek. I love them!

Had to add heel grips to keep my heels from slipping out

Image credit

And finally we have MAGGIE by American Eagle in brown.  I thought I'd finally get a lower- heeled, comfortable shoe and that's just what this shoe is!  I like to call this a "wedgie" because it's like a wedge bootie since it's high on the ankle.  A sandal wedgie.
I saw these online and just skimmed over them because I wasn't interested. But at the store, I tried them on and thought they looked cute in the mirror.  Then the comfort is what got me to buy them.

MAGGIE by American Eagle, 3" wedge heel, woven upper

PROS:
~Rubber, non-slip outsole
~Very comfy
~Lower heel is a plus for some

CONS:
~NONE

Where's my other leg? o_O

Image Credit

...And we are done! Thanks for taking the time to read or skim through this post.
My upcoming posts will probably be a handbag haul or a rave about Smashbox Studio Skin foundation that I've been using for a year and a half.  Until then, reader!
-Lady Lostris :D


Copyright © 2014, Lady Lostris Beauty

Review: Summer Soles - No More Slippery Feet

Happy Labor Day! It's supposedly the "official" end of Summer, but I say not!  Summer isn't over until the weather gets cooler, which is usually around Halloween in my part of the country. So while the warm days still continue, I will still be needing my Summer Soles. 

First of all, I have plantar and palmar hyperhydrosis, which is excessive sweating in the feet and hands. This only occurs when the weather is hot or if I'm anywhere that is uncomfortably warm.  In the wintertime, I'm usually fine. It's quite an embarrasing condition, especially if I have to shake hands with someone.  But the biggest problem I have with it is my shoe selection during the summertime.  Sweaty feet equals slippery feet in my heels, especially when wearing shoes with a non-moleskin foot bed.  So my shoe choices are limited, until now! =D

There are treatments for hyperhydrosis, but I am definitely NOT getting Botox injections in my hands and feet anytime soon.  Me no likey needles. =P So if some of you suffer from this, or don't have hyperdydrosis and still get sweaty feet during hot weather, then Summer Soles might be your savior.

For this review, I am using the Ultra Absorbent Summer Soles, but they also come in Softness of Suede (which offer patterns like zebra and florals) and Fragrant Footings.

THE RUNDOWN

~WHO: For anyone who has sweaty feet and wants to prevent foot slippage in their shoes.
~WHAT: A 70% wool, 30% rayon absorbent liner for your shoes. Comes in 3 different types and many different shades. Comes in one size of 5-11, allowing you to trim them to your needs. Also comes in Wide.
~WHERE: Summer Soles or Amazon (where I purchased them)
~WHEN: You can use them in the summer or anytime of the year when you feel you need them.
~WHY: Because they're awesome and Lady Lostris approves =)
~HOW: Just a simple peel and stick application, though I did ask someone to help me because I wanted to get them on straight and perfect.
 ~PRICE: About $8 for one pair but they also come in sets, i.e. 3 pairs for $21 or $15, depending on where you buy them.
~COLORS: The Ultra Absorbents come in black, chocolate, camel (shown below), beige, white, red and light gray. (The Softness of Suedes come in the same colors, including zebra, leopard and five other patterns, though I don't know if these are meant to be absorbent or just cushiony.)

The package comes with templates that you can cut out to help you with different shapes of shoes.

 

HOW TO APPLY 

The guinea pig for this review: Fioni Looker sandals from Payless that I got in August, but they are no longer on their website. Sold out! Notice the shiny, gold soles in this? They are not sweaty-feet friendly. =/ Let's fix them!

Fit a sole into your shoe with the backing still in place. Trim off the back of the heel to the length of your shoe.

No more overhang.

Now that you have cut one to fit, use it as a template for your other sole. Try to round off any sharp corners but it doesn't have to be perfect. No one is going to notice unless they are staring at your shoes, lol.

Woo! All done. I like to stick in the front part of the foot first, peel the backing away while pressing down and work my way to the heel.

 PROS AND CONS

PROS:
~They really do absorb the excess moisture from my feet. No more slippage!
~The pads do not stay wet and actually help to wick away the moisture. Also, if you've ever had sweaty feet and wore a shoe that has a moleskin or suede-like foot bed, the material will darken and stay that way, leaving an outline of your toes and feet. I hate that. This does not happen with Summer Soles Ultra Absorbent liners. =D
~Stays in place. I have had no problems with them moving around. Also, it doesn't leave any residue if you decide to take these off your shoe. If you make a mistake applying them, you can easily peel it off and fix your mistake.
~Comes in a variety of colors. I mostly use black and camel.
~Soft and comfortable material. I thought the wool was going to feel like a scratchy peacoat, but it didn't.

CONS:
~I haven't seen these in stores so you most likely will have to order them online and pay for shipping.
~Can get a little pricey if you're buying these for a large shoe collection.

 

THE VERDICT

I love them! Thanks to Summer Soles Ultra Absorbent liners, I can wear any shoe during the summertime, and I'm not constricted to wearing sandals that have a moleskin or suede-like footbed anymore. No more smack. No more squish. No more slippage. Just cute feet.



Copyright © 2011 Lady Lostris Beauty

Lil' Saturday Haul: Shoes & Lipstick!

I headed out today ONLY to get these over-the-knee boots from Forever 21 and ended up hauling three more items I didn't intend to.  Don't you hate when that happens?  I tell myself not to whip out the credit card, but I just had to get these really cheap Madden Girl shoes at Ross.

First up are these Matte Leatherette boots ($39.80) that I've been feening to get since I saw them on Forever 21's website.  I like the matte finish and opted for these instead of a faux suede, since that would get way too linty.  They fit true to size (I'm an 8) and there's still room to wear a thin pair of socks if I choose to.  The toe is semi-pointy - sort of almond shaped - but they do not squeeze my toes like my other almond-toed shoes (see last pic below).  I don't even think I need to break them in!  The zipper goes up two-thirds of the way, and there's a patch of elastic banding on the back of the boot at the very top.  A seam starts from the tip of the toe all the way up to the shaft.  I notice that they kind of bunch up at the ankles, but other than that, I'm in lurve with them!  Also, the lining is super soft if you choose to wear them bare-legged.

Then I headed over to Target to pick up another Maybelline Color Sensational (~$5.69) lipstick in Totally Toffee.  In my previous post, I had swatched Warm Me Up, but it was too much of a berry-pink, whereas Totally Toffee is more of a brown tone with a hint of pink - totally up my alley!  You can see in the swatches how much pinker Warm Me Up is compared to Totally Toffee.  It's funny how both of these colors are in the "Naturals" family when Warm Me Up is clearly a pink color.  Hey Maybelline, you got that wrong!

This holiday season, I may be traveling to another state, so I wanted to try out a dry shampoo.  I usually have to wash my hair everyday since I have an oily scalp, and it gets gross and greasy the latter half of the second day if I don't wash it.  So I picked up a dry shampoo from Sally Beauty Supply by Batiste.  I haven't tried it yet but hopefully it'll work for me, because I want to cut down washing my hair if I won't be staying at home for the holidays.  As a guest, I don't want to be hogging someone else's shower for too long!

Lastly, I found a cute pair of Madden Girl peep toes at Ross for only $17.99.  Score!

SOMETHING EXTRA

 Ever try to stretch out your shoes using the Freezer Method?  These almond toe pumps were killing my toes!  So I filled up a Ziploc bag a quarter way with water, stuck it into my shoe and let them sit for almost 24 hours.  When water freezes and turns into ice, it will expand and stretch your shoe out.  Well...it worked somewhat, but I still had to wear them around the house with some socks to further stretch it out.  I may try it again with more water.

I just thought this pic was funny. Hey, just throw your shoe into the freezer with a large tub of Cool Whip, Magnolia Ube ice cream (bomb!), pizza and waffles!  At least the Boca Burgers in the red box are healthy!...lol

Have a great weekend! =)

I Love Target Shoes!

Just a quick post because I love these Mossimo Black Kat faux suede booties in grey that I purchased from Target.  I had to drive to 3 different stores just to find it in a size 8.  At the first two stores, a lady at each store were checking out the same shoes, and they probably had my size in their hands!...lol.  They zip up in the back, have a hidden platform and are pretty comfy, although they can get a little tight in the toe area.  Check out the link for more info if you're diggin' these cute booties.

My tights are from Forever 21 and I also LOVE them!  I don't know what the pattern is called, but  I need to go back to get another pair.

I also Twitpiced my recent Sephora haul so check it out.  Happy Monday! =)