While looking into the perforated boots trend this morning, I came across a pair of Free People Oxford Ankle Boots, which inspired me to create the Anne Frank 2009 and Anne Frank Shoes shopper’s guides.

Wartime fashion, including makeup, hair, and jewelry, has always intrigued me. The boxy, yet flowy collared knee-length dresses with feminine hourglass cuts are flattering to all body types. They have a lasting elegance that combines style and practicality. The overall style and fabrics of the early 1940’s were simple, due to shortages from the war, but the women always found a way to spice up their looks with dark matte lips and elaborate curls, (even if their ringlets were peeking out from under a hat or Rosie the Riveter headscarf).

Today, I’ve created some Mod-Vint (modern-meets-vintage) “Anne Frank” looks that merge early 40’s fashion influences with 2009 flair. The look is formal and feminine, yet comfortable. Spritz on some Chanel no 5 or l’Air du Temps and you’re good to go: modern vintage is SO Anne Frank!

Shop the shoes here!

Shop the clothes and accessories here!

Reading the “color issue” of my beloved InStyle magazine really inspired me to branch out from my everyday blacks, browns, and greys, especially when it comes to makeup and nail polish. And WOOHOO!, the fashion pros even gave me permission to “go ahead and clash my nail polish” with my makeup and clothes. So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing! Yesterday was yellow eyeshadow and gold Keri Hilson earrings. Today, green shadow and lavender nail polish (with glitter, duh).

Color really does affect your mood, so if you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately, I highly recommend some shimmery Diamond Powder makeup, a colorful Jeweled Cuff Bracelet, or some Oscar de la Renta Embellished Espadrille Wedges to cheer you up. Hot.

Also pictured, Lorella Satchel by Guess Handbags and Emilio Pucci Blue Napa Lame heels.

Here are some of my favorite color/mood associations:

Red: Passion
Orange: Creativity
Yellow: Joy
Green: Ambition
Blue: Tranquility
Purple: Wisdom

Check out my Colorful Spring Trench Coats buyer’s guide to see some bright, sexy trench coats that are popping up everywhere in the city this Spring! I want a RED one!

When I announced this morning that “Crocs makes some pretty cute shoes,” my co-worker looked at me like I was crazy. I honestly never thought I’d ever utter those words myself either, as I was always convinced of the comfort but very skeptical, if not loathsome, of the shoes’ questionable style factor. My fashion-abhorring ex-bf4eva rocked the Crocs around town like nobody’s business, but I have just recently been able to admit that I secretly borrowed the ugly kicks for around the house and garden. (I know, I know. But, they’re comfy, lightweight, and waterproof! Can you blame me?)

The company has since created a line of pretty cute crocs for chicks that have a style all their own. They’re sort of punky, in my opinion. No longer strictly selling clogs with holes and a heel-strap, Crocs now has comfy, breathable, rubbery, non-slip shoes with attitude. They’ve got strappy heels, criss-cross wedges, metallic gladiator sandals, suede boots, and more! My faves (because I own a pair,) are the Alice flats, but I remember seeing an ad for the Cyprus heels a couple years ago and definitely would like to try a pair of those in Black and some Lena heels in Bronze.

Clockwise from left: Alice flat in Grape, Cyprus heel in Scarlet, Lena heel in Bronze, Positano t-strap in Grey (Carbon), Algarve wedge in Blue.

New rule: Though a little outdated, rubbery shoes can actually look pretty cool. The fact that they’re rubbery adds an unexpected touch, I feel. These puppies are comfortable, too. Try a pair if you don’t believe me.

My friend Angela has recently posted about how amazing Payless shoes can be in Pumped for Payless: Designer Lines!!! Well, I just discovered that Christian Sirano, last season’s winner of Project Runway, is doing a line for that will be available in about 10% of all Payless stores for $25 to $45.

This line and the rest of his ready to wear line is inspired by egyptian landscapes and come complete with fierce names like Slither, SheDevil and Strut.

What do you think?

When I’m on a mission for shoes, Payless is always one of my first stops. (Because I don’t know about you, but I actually like to WEAR the shoes I purchase, so a $300 pair isn’t going to fly. They’d never leave my closet). I’m tads obsessed with the current designer lines for Payless, among which are some familiar names, such as Lela Rose and alice + olivia. They run around $40 a pair, which is more than I’d ordinarily like to spend at Payless, but if they’re cute AND comfortable, I’m sold. Check out my shopper’s guide: Yup, They’re from Payless!

I have yet to try any of these shoes on, but my favorites from payless.com are the Lela Rose for Payless Palmetto Peep Wedge and the alice + olivia for Payless Erika Sweetheart Mary Jane Pump. The classic Sassy Espadrille in black, brown, or cutesy coral is a must-have for spring/summer. And I wish the Lela Rose Gillan Wedge came in black as well as navy because the “wood” stripes on the wedge are hot!

FASHION TIP: Sleek, sexy black shoes with unexpected “natural” accents, like wood, cork, or twine lend themselves well to a wide range of outfits.

Which is your favorite Payless shoe? Vote now on kazowie.com’s Payless Picks Poll.

When I read that Prada and Marc Jacobs incorporated metallic into their Spring 2009 lines, I immediately thought, ‘didn’t the metallic trend already come and go?’ When I saw that the designers mixed metallics with bright colors and sequins, however, I quickly changed my mind. Metallic’s in. And I actually like it! The complete opposite of pastels, metallics are a fresh new take on the bright colors of the season. It works for me. What do you think about metallics in Spring? Check out my Metallic Dresses, Purses, and Shoes shopper’s guides on Kazowie and leave a comment below!!

I have loved shoes since I can remember. After high school, when I moved from Denver to Seattle, I crammed over 150 pairs of shoes into moving boxes, suitcases, and crates. It was embarrassing. As an adult, with limited closet space, I’ve forced myself to only allow ownership of a limited number of shoes. If I want to buy a pair, I have to get rid of a pair. Which makes for a whole lot of maneuvering and finagling in order to hang on to old shoes that I could care less about, in order to justify buying a new pair.

In all of my years of shoe-loving, Seychelles brand shoes have never let me down. They are totally affordable and amazingly comfortable. I have never had a pair that weren’t extremely comfortable and lasted through multiple seasons. They make a wide variety of styles as well; from heels and casual wedges to boots and fancy flats. I have met many others that feel the same way that I do. They are truly amazing shoes. For a complete list of recent finds (a lot of them on sale!), go to my Seychelles-My Favorite Brand of Shoes list.

The end of Winter signals the coming of Spring, and the coming of Spring signals the emergence of sandals, sandals, sandals! Once the weather starts warming up, it’s time to pack away my snow boots, go get that pretty pedicure, and give my tooties some much-needed wiggle room. I think I’m so keen on sandals and flip flops because they’re the closest thing to going barefoot. Don’t get me wrong, I love shoes. I appreciate a sexy shoe. I appreciate a well-made, comfortable, reasonably priced sexy shoe even more (because of its extreme rarity). Tennies are supportive and comfy, wedges and pumps are hot, but if I could go barefoot every day, I would.

When checking out my ‘fit in the mirror, I often find that even the cutest pair of shoes can overpower the clothes, especially that full-length hippie skirt or cute flowy sundress. Thankfully, it’s easy these days to find flat sandals with minimal straps, buckles, and bands that create the illusion of being barefoot, while protecting the soles of your feet, however minimally. For comfort, my absolute favorite click clacks are plain black Reefs. And walking in B.O.C. thongs is pure heaven. For style, I’m into t-straps, toe bands, intricate beadwork, natural, minimal designs, leather, and earth tones. Check out some of my favorite picks for Spring ’09 on my Kazowie Flip Flops and Sandals buyer’s guide.