My Comrade

Heeeey, Shoewawa's Helen Lee doesn't like sneakers either! But she likes these Blowfish Canvas Sneakers.

To be fair, these are kind of a bootie... and if there's one thing Style Bard loves, it's a form of the boot!

Love. Want. Need. ~J. Crew Elephant Charm Bracelet~

I have to tell you, I'm not always charmed by charm bracelets, but I do have a soft spot for two things, and that's a cute animal charm and white accents on jewelry. Elephants (along with birds, in case you were wondering) are one of my favorite fashion animals, and I recently purchased an amazingly soft hoodie by Cocoa with a cute white elephant patch on the front. I also love the gold rope-like body of the bracelet. I would just love to add this bracelet to my jewelry box and I can think of plenty of outfits it would accent! (That's really always the mark of doom, isn't it? When you're already picturing yourself wearing it?) Unfortunately, at $125 it's not exactly in my "cute jewelry" budget, and even if I were feeling sinful, this bracelet has already sold out at the JCrew website. Ah, well, what can I say but "good job, JCrew"? Found via FabSugar.



PS, would it be too much or just right to pair it with these edgy Gara Danielle Shark's Tooth Earrings from ShopBop? They're kind of fantastic, and very on sale.

I Hate Sneakers

So, I hate sneakers.

Anyone with me?







Unless you're running or working out, or have a medical condition, I find most sneakers relatively abhorrous. There's always a more flattering pair of shoes to make your outfit, and very few excuses not to reach for those when you head out the door. Sneakers are well-built and comfortable, but the compromise is that they're clunky and square-shaped. If they aren't required, I say leave 'em at home. A cute flat is just as easy (if not easier) to slip on, and as comfortable.

I just got back from a trip that required long walks and hiking (part of my most recent long absence). Now, usually I'm the girl who'll survive a long day on her feet in heels without complaint, but for the hiking and climbing required to get to beautiful heights (like the picture above - that's from my trip!), I knew I couldn't get away with anything other than a pair of sneakers. Did I own a pair? Of course not. So I got to take on the chore of looking for a cute but practical pair of sneakers.

After a long day at the mall I was running out of time (shopping last minute is my trademark) and I was mightily discouraged. All of the sneakers I could find were colorless, too athletic-looking, had more dohickeys and doodads than I required, or made my feet look like boxes. Crimes against fashion, really. Sure, I was going to be up in the mountains, but people could still see me, you know? And we'd be taking lots of pictures.

My one other issue was that I didn't want to really spend the money on a pair of sneakers I was never going to look at again in two weeks. I thought, if I could at least find something marginally cute, I won't give them to Goodwill the moment my trip's over. (That was the fate of the last pair of sneaks I kept around after promising myself I'd work out more. Sssshyeah.) If I genuinely bonded with these shoes, against my heartfelt prejudice, maybe I'd keep 'em around for the once every several years my lifestyle requires sneakers.

The last store left in the mall was DSW actually, and I didn't have a ton of optimism going in. However this is a happily-ending story. After about 40 minutes in the store I found this pair on a sale display:

Amiya, by Adidas (Zappos).

They're well-made, come in cute, vibrant colors, and I really appreciate that they're slim. The toe even comes to a slightly rounded point. There are patent strips on the upper to add extra shine and flash to them. Because they were on sale, and because DSW has an amazing non-expiring return policy, I was happy to buy them on the spot, and have continued to like looking at them - even though they're sneakers.

I also love them in Black:



I would still grab another shoe to wear around casually before I would reach for my sneakers, but these have really fulfilled all of my demands and opened my mind about this ugly shoe type. Now let's keep it up, okay fitness shoe brands? There's no reason a woman should have to look like crap while she's working out and trying to look fantastic. (And where better than to meet Mr. Right than the gym? I'm just saying.)

Fabbies Update

For those of you having trouble voting, the Fabbies site has been moved and altered so that it's not only working better than before, but prettier, too!

Follow the the following link:



Voting has also been extended to April which gives you plenty of time to register and vote for me as well as all of your fashion blog favorites!

Guess what guess what?

Great news while we're on hiatus: Style Bard Shoes got nominated for a Fashion Blog award for Shoes! The Fabbies are new on the circuit and hosted by some renowned bloggers like Style Bard's hero, Manolo. I am sooo very honored, and I would love it if you could forgive my recent MIA and take just a few minutes to register and vote for me.

There are so many other very deserving blogs in the other categories, so check them out while you're there!

With sincere thanks,
Style Bard

Bard's Prom

While you're waiting for me to get my ass in gear and get this site going again, here's a comment I left on Project Stunway's latest Project Runway post...

"That's exactly what I keep saying. Homecoming is homecoming. Short, bright dresses to shake your booty. A clamorous mess I avoided in HS. I went to prom for the more elegant updo long-dress feel of an adult night with champagne flutes, you know? We had a very modern prom, no gigantic dresses or tulle, but some girls went "trendy" and had short colorful things on that garnered NO attention from anyone... because you can basically get away with wearing those to a dinner out. Red carpet for teenagers is what it is to starlets: wear something outrageous and go big. Not something you can wear tomorrow for cocktails. (Or ever again, if I remember prom correctly.) But, if you go to Nina's blog I think she even says she never WENT to prom? How about having a woman on panel who went to prom recently tell us what's modern for a 17 yr old, mmk?"

And to make a point (dare I?) here's the Bard's prom dress, circa '03 (see? I'm not irrelevant):



And before y'all get all concerned for me, I'll have you know that a safety pin at the nape of the halter solved that bunching problem, but alas did not come in time for photos. The only photos I have in non-bunch-land are the ones taken at the actual prom, which are not digital, alas. By the way, my favorite pictures of the night were taken with my actual "date" (which this young man is not... in fact, she was a girl). See how modern and relevant I am, Nina? Haha... my best friend was a grade below me, so the only way she could come was as my date! I'm sure I had more fun with her than I would have with some guy I went out with just for the occasion like my whole limo did...

If you've got a prom story/photo, link me to it! PS: I think Chris COMPLETELY should have won, and Ricky should have been out. I can't remember the time the judges missed on both for me.

I'd just like to ask for some patience while I tinker with the blog... I will be back stronger than ever in 2008, it's just been a tedious process so far!

Please check back or feel free to email me about my progress updates. =)