A shoe story

A few weeks ago, I got it in my head that I needed nude wedges. Armed with a vague idea of what I wanted, I wandered the shoe aisle of TJ Maxx (LOVE the deals). After trying on several shoes that were cute but not what I was looking for, I thought I found a pair that worked.

They were only $24.99, and they seemed comfortable enough in the store. There was still this nagging feeling inside my head, though, that they weren't. quite. right. I didn't even know what I was looking for really--so again, with a vague idea in my head, I started browsing the internet. After visiting my usual haunts --Aldo, Nine West, Endless, Zappos-- I came up empty. On a whim, I clicked on Piperlime. Then, I found THE PAIR.

May I introduce the Dolce Vita Sancia in natural. It was perfect. The exact nude color I was envisioning, a wedge, and oh-so-high. And it was on sale! ....for $129. *screeeeeeech*

That is my entire month's budget for groceries. BAM. Perspective. Distraught (oh yes, first world problems), I tried to love the shoes I had already bought. They are high, reasonably comfortable with the soft suede straps......but I still couldn't help thinking about the Sancia. It was my DREAM shoe. The TJ shoe was not enough wedge, too 'bone' colored. Frustrated, I tried looking for less expensive alternatives. Instead, I just found lookalikes that were even more expensive (True Religion's Sue, DVF's Opal).

Until today. Browsing through Forever 21 (don't make fun of me; I try to avoid the teenybopper stuff), I saw a very promising perspective. The color was perfect, and it was a sky high wedge. It didn't have a price tag, but when I came up to the counter--$24.50!! Score!!!! Back to the store for you, TJ shoes!!!

The picture is not great, but the color is exactly what I was looking for, AND it was a wedge. It doesn't have the awesome bandage detail of the Sancia, but at a fraction of the cost, I can't complain. LOVES.

I think I really just wanted to replace my all time favorite summer shoes:

These splash wedges were bought for me by my mom back when I was in high school. Yes, they are a decade old, but they were so comfortable I could run in them, and still high and cute. Despite being battered and gross (as evidenced by the picture), I've been reluctant to throw them out of the back of the closet. Probably out of nostalgia. But now, with the new shoes, out with the old!!!

Moral of the story: yay shoes.

Asians in the mainstream

Growing up, there were not a whole lot of Asians on tv or in magazines. We had Lucy Liu, and that was about it.

I still love you, Lucy (source)

There was no one to emulate for hairstyles, for makeup...it's no wonder I spent the better part of my childhood wishing I were blond. (I actually realized this childhood wish sometime in college...but that's another story.)

Recently, however, there has been a genesis of eastern features into the limelight, especially on the modeling front. I first noticed it in my daily Victoria's Secret catalog (for some reason, they think that if they send me not one, but TWO catalogs in the mail everyday that I will be more inclined to buy fancy underwear) with Jarah Mariano.

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I did a double take when I saw this East Asian model trying to sell me underwear. Granted, she's only part Asian, mixed with other ethnicities more known for churning out models, like French, Italian, etc. But it's a start!

Then there was the introduction of several Chinese, Korean and Japanese models in the December 2010 edition of the famed fashion epitome, Vogue. (Sidenote: the one with Angelina Jolie on the cover--doesn't she look fab??) In their spread "Asia Major", Vogue exposes the newfound interest in exotic looking beauties from the east.

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Despite the controversy this article spurred regarding what was perceived as a callous lumping together of all East Asian models, I think it's fantastic that such different features are finally being accepted on a mainstream platform. Click here to read the Vogue article.

The newest addition to this influx of Asians is the new face of Louis Vuitton's 2011 menswear ad campaign, Godfrey Gao.

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Unlike the female models in the Vogue spread, Gao's Asian features are not played up as much, and upon cursory glance, he appears as well groomed and metrosexual as any other man with a Louis Vuitton manbag ("It's a European carry-all!!!").

While I am definitely not attracted to Asian men (they remind me of my dad--that may be TMI), I think Gao looks great and fits in perfectly with mainstream models. To me, it's less about him being Asian, and more about him having that typical plastic, hollowed out model stare. (Blue steel?)

What do you think of Gao and this new Asian assault on mainstream media?
[Inspiration article]