I know the title of this blog might create high expectations, but let me say this first:

I’ve never been really big on flip-flops. Sure, there were those uber-Californians in my high school who wore their battered flip-flops faithfully through the dead of winter (60 degree weather, oh my!), but that was never me. The ones I had were never that comfortable, plus they always ended up breaking somehow — not good for frequent beach trips, let me tell you!

Then, on a music trip to Brazil two summers ago, I discovered Havaianas. Since then, Havaianas have become my favorite brand of basic rubber flip-flops, hands down — I refuse to wear anything else. Made from Brazilian rubber, they’re durable, come in a rainbow of colors and prints, are extremely inexpensive, easy to clean sand off of, and most importantly, they are incredibly comfortable. It sounds gimmicky, I know, but I swear they add a spring to my step!

The basic pair of Havaianas. I own this style in both black and white, and it comes in so many colors, even metallics (I especially like the pretty fuschia ‘Acai’ color).

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Spring is finally here — at least, in name. You’ve felt it, no doubt — those slightly-warmer-than-usual temperatures that tease you into thinking that you might be able to wear a skirt and a pair of wedged sandals. Then you do, and you’re fine, until the temperatures get a little too low for comfort. I know, I’ve done it too many times!

The perfect shoes to wear during fickle weather? Flats and skimmers, of course! Unlike sandals that might give your feet a little too much exposure during the low temperatures of the day, and unlike boots that scream “winter!”, flats and skimmers give you comfort, keep your toes warm, and many are cheap enough to snap up a good number to give you different looks (most of those I’ve included here are from Payless or Target).

Flats and skimmers for the spring should be freshly light-colored and made of material that can weather the occasional rainfall (meaning no suede or velvet — those are materials for the holiday season!).

I’ve never had a reason to wear boat moccasins (seeing as a trip to the water to me means a beach trip rather than a trip to the lake), but I still find this twist on the traditional boat moccasin incredibly cute. Obviously these would be worn on a casual (or whimsical!) day.

Pewter flats are incredibly versatile and can be worn during any season for nearly any look — with black tights and a mini in the winter, with a pair of jeans in the spring, with a dress or skirt in the summer. And because of the neutral color and metallic sheen, you can also match them with any color you choose to wear.

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I’m a choir nerd. I admit it. Not like I’m an amazing vocalist or anything, but I do love music, and I do enjoy singing with a group. And this President’s Day weekend, I’ll be in New York City with my college choir, singing in a mass choir at a major concert hall.

Exciting. Yes. Stressful? Certainly. It’s a three hour concert with three major works (including Mozart’s Requiem!) — and we will be standing for the whole duration. Meaning that I’m going to need shoes that I can actually stand in for three hours straight.

As comfortable as they are, flats are out of the question. I’m short, and I need some added height. Spice Girls platform shoes won’t suffice in the style department. And as visually appealing as a stiletto heel is, let’s face it — they’re just not that comfortable, at least for standing stationary for a prolonged amount of time. All my weight on a square inch heel for three hours? No thanks!

This is where the wedge comes in. Spreading your weight over a larger area equals more comfort, which is what I’m mainly concerned about. And with the added height, I’ll be able to comfortably see the conductor over everyone’s heads — allowing me to focus completely on singing the right notes!

Admittedly, wedges aren’t exactly worn a lot in the winter — it’s challenging to find a warm, closed-toe, dressy pair of wedges. But when comfort is a priority, a good pair of winter wedges is a necessary component of a well-rounded shoe collection.

While these black suede Steve Madden wedges fulfill the concert hall requirements (closed-toe, black shoes), they are also available in brown, grey, and purple for after-concert activities.

A really fashionable pair of dressy wedges is so hard to find, but these Seychelles fit the bill — they’re comfortable without sacrificing style.

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Valentine’s Day is less than a week away, meaning that all the lucky women in the world with a date for that night are now out shopping, concerned with putting together the perfect date outfit. (And single gals like me wouldn’t mind going shopping for something new, either!) The ensemble: top & bottom (or make it simpler for yourself and opt for a dress!), bag, and, of course, shoes.

While it’s a little typical for the holiday, the color red is extremely appropriate — it’s attention-getting, powerful, and passionate. And red shoes are just the thing to channel your inner “smoldering temptress”, as Satine says in Moulin Rouge. Here are just a few I’ve found:

This strappy, suede and patent leather pair of evening shoes just screams vixen. They’re definitely not for the faint of heart!

If you’re vertically-challenged like me (or even if you’re not!), wear these glossy peep-toe platform heels. The platform is actually metallic — something different to catch the light while you’re strutting around!

Want a more classic option? Try these peep-toe pumps, both in faux suede and faux patent leather. ($14.99 and $24.99, respectively — not bad!)

And, of course, my favorite kind of shoe: the classic and versatile pointy-toed heel.

I hope all you StyleFeeders have the perfect Valentine’s Day you’ve always dreamed of! Stay safe, stay comfortable (by carrying a pair of spare ballet flats…or by asking for a foot massage!), and most importantly, have fun!

You gotta love Steve Madden — you can always count on him to come out with classy, sexy, and flattering shoes. A lot of his styles are contemporary but not so trendy that they’ll be in next season’s “toss ‘em” pile.

The sale section of Steve Madden’s website is like a candy store where the really yummy items are mostly $34.99 and under. Here are some of my favorites in that price range (just in time for to indulge yourself for Valentine’s Day!):

I have a ton of black dresses — I brought seven with me when I went home during the holiday season! However, I’m getting tired of the whole black dress/black shoes combo, and that’s where these python-print shoes would come in. Neutral but noticeably different, they’re a classy but not tacky way to channel the animal-print trend.

I fell in love with the following shoes as soon as the graphic loaded on my browser. Not only is this pair unlike any of the shoes I own, but I really like the criss-crossing details — and for $27.99, it’s definitely a bargain!

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Until attending school in Maryland, I never had a reason to buy boots. Sure, they were cute, but to a Southern Californian, they’re kind of like umbrellas or wool coats — you’d look fashionable wearing them, but everyone knew that they weren’t really necessary.

Then I encountered temperatures below 50 degrees and this thing called snow, and the need for boots became apparent to me. (Plus, I realized that I was missing out on a whole aspect of seasonal dressing!)

So, join me on my quest for the perfect collection of boots, won’t you?

These calf-high pewter leather boots look comfy and stylish — and they’re actually from Crocs’ new line, You by Crocs! Quite a deviation from their earlier work, no? (They’re also available in black and chocolate lambswool.)

A pair of cognac slouchy boots are a must for fall/winter dressing, and I bought these brown double buckle boots over the holidays — at a very affordable $39.50!

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The holidays are here, and with this time of the year comes the inevitable endless stream of social events: office parties, family get-togethers, dinners out with friends, and perhaps a romantic date or two. These numerous functions mean that a girl’s got to put together a lot of great outfits — and this girl is especially concerned with what’s on her feet!

Shoes make or break an outfit and can make you feel more confident — as cheesy as it sounds, there’s just something about finding the right pair of shoes to go with an outfit that instantly lifts your mood. (Am I right, or am I right?)

I love shoes just as much as the next girl, and I blame part of this obsession on my heritage. I’m Filipino-American, and Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos was reported by Time magazine to have owned 1,060 pairs of shoes — one of which was battery-powered and sparkled in the dark!

But really, who can blame her? There are flats, boots, sneakers, pumps, heels, sandals — and then there are the more specific categories: ballet flats, oxford pumps, this past summer’s gladiator sandals, peep-toe heels, etc. Of course, one of each type of shoe is never enough — and this can lead to a huge collection if you’re not careful!

Fortunately, shoes don’t have to be expensive in order to be stylish. As a financially challenged college student, I buy the majority of my shoes at Payless, Target, DSW, and the sale section of Nine West (which I highly recommend!). I love it when people on the street ask me where I got my shoes — and I can tell them I got them on sale at Target for under $20!

I’ll be blogging here on the Tastemaker Diaries as your resident Shoe Addict, bringing to you my favorites, both dressy and casual, from the ever-so-covetable high-end brands to the affordable and more attainable low-end brands. Just so you know: I don’t proclaim to be an uberfashionista. I’m just into having a collection of good quality, practical shoes that I can use year after year, as opposed to simply having a huge collection of shoes. I’ll be bringing that element into my blogs, as well as my love-them-at-the-moment obsessions.

I can’t wait to meet all of you and learn about your tastes in shoes! Until next time…what shoes are you obsessed with this holiday season?