Most of us are more than ready to shed our boots and trade them in for some fun and fashionable spring footwear. Korey Karnes of Chicago Social magazine www.modernluxury.com shows us some of the latest spring and summer shoes.
Korey also reminds us to put our best feet forward to help out a benefit called "Step Up and Give Your Soles" taking place next Monday, March 31. The drive to collect gently worn women's shoes will benefit Dress for Success (DFS), www.dressforsuccess.org a non-profit organization that assists disadvantaged women by providing professional attire and career development tools. The Chicago chapter needs work-appropriate shoes including professional, closed toe, pumps or moderate heels.
The campaigns begins with a fundraising breakfast, featuring Christie Hefner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Playboy Enterprises, Inc., followed by a drive-by "pump" drop-off, a hosted evening wine reception and a silent auction for a fabulous tour of original art collections on display at Playboy Enterprises' corporate headquarters in Chicago.
A fundraising breakfast will be held on Monday from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the newly renovated Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Washington, Chicago. The breakfast features keynote speaker, Christie Hefner, who was named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes magazine in 2005, 2006 and 2007. There will be free admittance to pre-registered guests; a $10 entry fee will be charged for those who register at the door. To pre-register, call 312.751.5512.
If you would like to donate shoes, just drive by or stop in at all three Chicago Kimpton hotels: Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington; Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph; and Hotel Monaco, 225 N. Wabash. They will be accepting pump donations at all three locations from 8 am until 6 pm.
The Hotel Allegro is also hosting evening wine reception for hotel guests, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For non-hotel guests, there is a nominal fee of $5., which includes one wine ticket, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and the chance to bid on silent auction prizes including round-trip airfare tickets; a stay at one of Kimpton's nationwide properties; a tour for four of the unique and extensive original art collections on display at the Playboy Enterprises' corporate headquarters in Chicago, produced by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Alberto Vargas, LeRoy Neiman, Shel Silverstein and many others.; and a distinct assortment of Playboy couple's spa merchandise. Shoe donations will also be accepted at the reception.
For more information, visit www.dressforsuccess.org.
In honor of Dress For Success, here are some great spring shoes we love!
FROM AKIRA SHOES:
¨ "Dakota" by Miss Sixty $174; a neutral-colored leather strappy sandal, with an orange-colored hidden platform heel.
¨ "Gianira" by L.A.M.B $325; s a peep-toe spectator-style Oxford, a big trend for Spring
¨ "Glenn" by Corso Como $149; open-toe, sling-back sandal, with an architectural heel made of Lucite.
FROM TARGET www.target.com
Closed-toe wedges, $22.99
Red Floral Ballet Flats, $12.99
Mossimo Woven Metallic Heels, $29.99
Mossimo Plaid Ballet Flats, $19.00
FROM KOHLS www.kohls.com
¨ Mooties Red Satin Heels, $44.99
¨ Candies Multi-colored Wedges, $49.99
¨ Simply Vera Oatmeal Patent Heels, $69.99
¨ Simply Vera Black Flats, $59.99
FROM GUISE/CHIC 2128 N. Halsted, 773.929.6130, www.GuiseChic.com.
¨ Patent Nude flats and black leather flats by Delman, $195
FROM GRACE SHOES
1917 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, 773. 384.7223, www.shopgrace.com
¨ Georgina Goodman Rose metallic open-toe pump with gold accent on heel. $595
¨ Luciano Padovan Leopard, fish-skin, and linen slingback platform sandal. $495
¨ Lario 2-tone blue low heel slingback with buckle. $550
FROM BLOOMINGDALE'S www.bloomingdales.com
¨ Salvatore Ferragamo silver beaded jelly sandals, $195.
¨ Stuart Weitzman yellow patent wedge sandals, $255.
¨ BCBG Max Azria lobster and beige patent heels, $240.
FROM Heelz Chicago Shoe Salon 69 East 16th Street, www.heelz.net
¨ Ivory colored moccasin pump w/heel*patent leather w/croc print*leather lining and sole*3 1/2" thick covered heel*Made in Italy. By Casadei $505
¨ Copper*round toe; cutout detail; triple straps across upper*t-strap; adjustable ankle strap w/buckle closure*leather lining and sole*3 1/2" covered heel*Made in Italy. By Due Farina $370
¨ Bone (pale green) patent leather pump*very pointed toe*gold metallic leather lining; leather sole*signature GML tip*4 1/2" covered heel*Made in Italy is by GianMarcoLorenzi $623
About Dress for Success
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 80 cities in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the UK. To date, Dress for Success has helped more that 350,000 women work towards self-sufficiency. Visit www.dressforsuccess.org to learn more.
