Tuesday Shoesday | Blue Loubou's at a Manhattan 'Mini'-Wedding

Quite possibly the most sophisticated "something blue" I've ever seen, these navy crepe de Chine Christian Louboutin slingbacks run circles around ubiquitous robin's egg garters and ho-hum hankies. They were also a tres-stylish part of Megan and Derrick's New York City 'mini'-wedding.
What's a 'mini'-wedding, you ask? Well, I suppose you'll just have to wait until the bride's story tomorrow to find out. {So sly of me, i know}.
Happy Tuesday Shoesday!

Find more Tuesday Shoesday on these stylish blogs: brancoprata, postcards & pretties, demoiselle, meant to be sent, simply & forever, life in the superburbs, landlocked bride, swatchbook weddings, magnolia rouge, marry you me, beyond beyond or, search #TuesdayShoesday on Twitter.

Photo courtesy Jesus Chapa-Malacara.

BHLDN Preview | Anthropologie's Answer to All Things Wedding

This past Wednesday was quite the fun day for Merci... I had the awesome opportunity to travel down to Philly with some lovely blogger friends to preview the much-anticipated BHLDN {pronounced "beholden"} collection - and as expected, it was fabulous.
I am sure you guys have been hearing the buzz build for quite some time, but the BHLDN line is the sixth brand to launch under the Urban Outfitters umbrella - and in a similar {but more bespoke} fashion to Anthropologie, it is the stylish, detail-loving, and vintage-vying girl's answer to all things wedding.
The line officially launches on Valentine's Day, but here are a few of my {many} favorite things, {there's just so much to share}...
Gorgeous, detail-driven dresses! After an amazing tour of the "campus" {read: a workplace styled to perfection complete with koi ponds and dog parks - but I digress}... we all enjoyed an intimate fashion show at a bed and breakfast turned pop-up shop for BHLDN. In addition to showing some beautiful gowns, the models also wore special-make up accessories from some of the most reputable milliners and accessory designers in bridal.
I especially loved the watercolor nature of the first gown, and the smoky coloring of the bottom hair flower, from Twigs and Honey.Details, details, details! Not one ounce of cuteness was left overlooked on any of the designs. From elegant pleating and flirty rosettes on the top tea-cut gown, to soft and ethereal petals on feminine belts, or the {bridesmaid gift worthy} bow bracelets - the BHLDN line was bursting with little accents that gave each piece a fun, bespoke feel.
After the fashion show, we were invited upstairs to experience four uniquely-styled rooms in the bed and breakfast. Each was merchandised will an array of BHLDN goodies, from pretty social dresses, tres-chic shoes {more on that later, of course}, and samples from the decorations collection, which will launch in the spring. Possibly the most fun part? Playing dress-up.
At top, Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere tries on her first wedding gown, and at bottom already-married me dabbles with a Tracy Reese cocktail dress that made me feel very Betty Draper-esque. Love!I cannot tell you how excited I am for ALL of you to see the BHLDN line first hand on Monday, {I mean really, look at these shoes!!}. I have tons more to share... And admittedly, I'm not giving away my all-time favorite piece just yet. {It may just be a vintage brocade and lurex accented d'orsay pump, and BLHDN may have only made 30 of them... but until a size 7.5 pair is safely secured in my shopping cart, you may never know}. ;)
Are you excited abut the line? What do you think?

Photos by Jacqueline Weppner for Merci New York

Tuesday Shoesday | Topshop Steals

So, I know I've been getting a bit of {teasing} grief for only posting uber-luxe selects on Merci New York's Tuesday Shosday features. {I can't help it. The eye candy consumes me}.
Since I myself am no stranger to scoring a cute shoe at a great price, I've decided to switch it up...
These darling TopShop flats ring in at a wallet-friendly $40... and could very well be your requisite reception shoe, or a chic little beach wedding / honeymoon staple. They come with a cute, raw edge rosette toe and soft suede heel, yet still remain tres-bon for the budget!
I last spotted them at the Soho store, but they are available online, here.

Tuesday Shoesday | Aruna Seth Trunk Show

Don't you just love Tuesday Shoesday? If you haven't been privy to the fun, you're missing out {as stylists, it may just be our favorite day of the week here on Merci New York}. Each Tuesday, a string of wedding bloggers has been selecting one tres-chic shoe, perfect for the walk down the aisle. For us, we've been eying up {among others} some classic Louboutins, simple Chloe flats, sixties-inspired pumps, and sparkly Jimmy Choos...
But today we thought we'd spin in a different direction and introduce those of you not-in-the-know to Aruna Seth, one of our favorite London-based luxury shoe designers, whose Swarovski crystal-embellished products are often the focus of our styling campaigns {just check out the backgrounds of our Web site for a range of her darling heels and wedges}!

Aruna Seth's shoes are glamorous, luxurious, and tall {to me, the higher the heel, the better}. The line is handmade in northern Italy and stocked at Gabriella Bridal Salon on 14th Street... and, as luck would have it, you can meet Aruna and receive a special 10% discount on her entire collection of bridal and evening shoes this upcoming Thursday at an exclusive trunk show...

Thursday, January 6th
12:00 - 7:00
No Appointment Necessary
Gabriella New York Bridal Salon
400 W. 14th st. 2A
New York City
212.206.1915
www.gabriellanewyork.com

Now that's the kind of Tuesday Shoesday we like... pretty, luxurious, and accessible!

Images courtesy of Aruna Seth / Gabriella New York Bridal Salon.

Find more Tuesday Shoesday on these stylish blogs: brancoprata, postcards & pretties, demoiselle, meant to be sent, simply & forever, life in the superburbs, landlocked bride, swatchbook weddings, magnolia rouge, marry you me, beyond beyond or, search #TuesdayShoesday on Twitter.

Tuesday Shoesday | Red Ballet Slippers, Chloe Spring 2011

One little red shoe, countless possibilities {and comfort, too - imagine that?!}. This particular style comes compliments of the Chloe Spring 2011 runway {below}, and though the bright pop of red is tres-becoming under layers of flowing chiffon, I'm not necessarily supporting the splurge. Your standard Capezio, Repetto, Bloch or Grisko {can you tell I used to dance?} would certainly do just fine for that ceremony to reception shoe-change. Red not edgy enough for you? Try this.
Chloe runway images via Style.com; product image via RDuJour.

Find more Tuesday Shoesday on these stylish blogs: brancoprata, postcards & pretties, demoiselle, meant to be sent, simply & forever, life in the superburbs, landlocked bride, swatchbook weddings, magnolia rouge, marry you me, beyond beyond or, search #TuesdayShoesday on Twitter.

Tuesday Shoesday | Tsarina

Perfection. Pure and simple. How can you go wrong? {Answer: You can't}.
The Tsar 140 Satin Pumps from Christian Louboutin would have been the answer to my wedding shoe prayers {if I hadn't scoured NYC for a one-off sample pair of Valentino d'Orsay pumps... which I found, thank you very much}. The lace detailing. The floral applique. The grosgrain ribbon trim and large silk white flower right at the peep toe... love.

Point is, these dainty little puppies would have made life that much easier.
And after all this wedding planning stress, you at least owe yourself that, don't you?

Oh yes, I rationalize quite well. Available at Net a Porter.

Find more Tuesday Shoesday on these stylish blogs: brancoprata, postcards & pretties, demoiselle, meant to be sent, simply & forever, life in the superburbs, landlocked bride, swatchbook weddings, magnolia rouge, marry you me, beyond beyond or, search #TuesdayShoesday on Twitter.

Tuesday Shoesday | The New Ruby Slippers

It's Tuesday Shoesday, ladies! And it's time to talk... color!
As the wedding blogosphere can certainly attest, the colorful shoe is a trooper. Suffice it to say, long gone are the days of Dyeables {cringe!} and white satin pumps. Today's brides crave individualism, and want to inject a bit of their own personality by wearing bright shoes with big style...
Statement shoes speak volumes, long after the last dance and blissful honeymoon are over. They'll come to be known as your trusted standby, LBD accoutrement, {and killer conversation piece} for many a post-wedded fête.
Our advice? Make the splurge. It's "practical" {and probably the one wedding day fashion investment your groom's got your back for}.

Looking for more Tuesday Shoesday? Check out these gems from some other stylish wedding bloggers: {brancoprata} {magnolia rouge} {demoiselle} {meant to be sent} {simply & forever} {landlocked bride} {swatchbook weddings}{luna & chloe weddings} Or check out #tuesdayshoesday on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of Jen Huang Photography.

Tuesday Shoesday | Say "I Do" with Jimmy Choo

Gorgeous shoes for a gorgeous New York City wedding... Need we say more? Check out all the chic and sophisticated details from Ashley and Riggs' New York Athletic Club wedding here.

Looking for more Tuesday Shoesday? Check out these gems from some other stylish wedding bloggers: {brancoprata} {magnolia rouge} {demoiselle} {meant to be sent} {simply & forever} {landlocked bride} {swatchbook weddings}{luna & chloe weddings} Or check out #tuesdayshoesday on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of Mastin Studio.

Tuesday Shoesday | Studded Christian Louboutins

It's Tuesday Shoesday, and we're psyched to get in on the action with many of our fellow bloggers. I thought we'd start with one of our favorite photos from a local New York City wedding photographer, Brett Mathews Photography. Sheri captured the rockstar-esque mise en scene of these killer Christian Louboutins when shooting a wedding at the Tribeca Rooftop. Now we have to say, we're not normally fans of anything bedazzled, bejeweled, or be-Snookified {a.k.a. Jimmy Choo for UGG - WTF?}, but these shoes are just beyond chic. They're perfectly classy-lassie to pair with your Oscar de la Renta dress, and truly make for the prettiest of wedding shoe pics... unlike Mr. Choo's latest, which for $795, seem best worn with spandex and a bump-it {just sayin'}.

What are your thoughts on embellished shoes for your wedding day?

Be sure to check out some other blogs sharing their "Tuesday Shoesday" picks today:

{brancoprata} {magnolia rouge} {demoiselle} {meant to be sent} {simply & forever}

{life in the superburbs} {gwyneth paige} {landlocked bride} {luna & chloe weddings}

Photo by Brett Matthews Photography

Philip Treacy for Valentino - spring's pièce de résistance

Why hello, March. You're quite chilly and grouchy this fine NYC morning, but underneath it all, I know your style. You're a softie.
Give or take a couple of weeks and you'll warm up to us... You'll grace us with some sun, reintroduce us to cute flirty dresses and soft ethereal layers, and before long, you will hardly be able contain yourself. And then you, dear March, will gift us with the creme de la creme of season-changing fabulosity- the open toe shoe. And yes, I've been waiting - and for good reason.
Several months ago, the sadists who control Paris Fashion Week really pulled a number on me. There I was, layering up and awaiting winter paleness, while Valentino's models sashayed down the runway flaunting their featherweight frocks. My eyes trickled down to the models' feet, only to be hit by the grande pièce de résistance- elegantly embroidered tulle and lace sculptures by way of famed milliner Philip Treacy.
And yes, dear friends and brides, these confections of pure fashion have finally arrived in boutiques.
To call these "shoes" would be a sin. I cannot begin to imagine how gorgeous a bride would look with these layers of luscious lace wrapping up around her ankles and peeking out from beneath her gown. They're divine - and with many brides splurging once again on luxurious designer gowns, I cannot think of a better piece to not only compliment, but complete the look.
Of course, this is high fashion, so nothing comes cheap, though most fashionistas would be prudent to focus on scoring the collaged styles above, which may be purchased at Valentino boutiques and fine retailers within the designer's standard price range {the strappy confection on the lower left is listed at $795 at Colette}.
Then again, those looking for a true investment- and by that I mean ogle, caress and do not wear investment- can own Treacy's grande dame, the elegant court shoe immediately above, for a staggering $6,250. {Sorry to tease ladies, but I just had to throw it in}.
All in, Philip Treacy's sculptural tulle shoes have incited my Spring Fever... They create a perfect cocktail of sophisticated glamour and edginess, while sparking chic, of-the-moment style for any city bride. Which are your favorites?

Images top to bottom: Marie Claire, style.com, Colette, style.com