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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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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