Hop, Skip, Jump, and Fall into Love! I Love My Boots Berry Much! I Shared My Wish List!

Happy Monday and Martin Luther King Day! So where are all my orders for the last 2 weeks? Stuck on the Atlantic Seaboard due to weather.  What a shame!

Falling In Love Jacket - by Elevenses - Seattle Anthro Orig $118 Sale $60 Red Tag $45 - Jan 2011

Cinched Raglan Top - F21 - VP Mall Bako $10 - Jan 2011

Reversible Tank In Black Scoop Side - by Eloise - Anthro $24 - 2009

Hop, Skip, Jump Skirt Red Motif - by Ett Twa - Anthro Orig $78 Sale $40 - Jan 2011

Infinity Belt in Grey - Anthro Orig $32 Sale $20 - Dec 2010

Faceted Garnet with Sterling Necklace - Sundance $??? - Mar 2009

I planned two outfits, and had both posts ready to go. When I tried on the skirt for today's outfit...IT WAS TOO TIGHT. No fear.  It's a $24 Idra skirt from eBay. I re-ordered the Skirt in a 4. But I'm disappointed!  I was excited about showing off my new Anthro Seville Heels.  That's what I get for being proud. The post is ready to go as soon as the size 4 Skirt arrives. 




Falling In Love Jacket - by Elevenses - Seattle Anthro Orig $118 Sale $60 Red Tag $45 - Jan 2011

Cinched Raglan Top - F21 VP Mall Bako $10 - Jan 2011

Reversible Tank In Black Scoop Side - by Eloise - Anthro $24 - 2009

Hop, Skip, Jump Skirt Red Motif - by Ett Twa - Anthro Orig $78 Sale $40 - Jan 2011

Infinity Belt in Grey - Anthro Orig $32 Sale $20 - Dec 2010

Tapestry Tights - by Eloise - Anthro Orig $18 Sale $10 Red Tag $7.50 - Dec 2010

Berry Stitched Boots - by Lucky Penny - Anthro Orig $248, Sale $130 - Nov 2010

Faceted Garnet with Sterling Necklace - Sundance $??? - Mar 2009

 Before I began Blogging, there were three colors I would not wear.  I am wearing all those colors today at the same time.  I'd say that's a fairly amazing feat for me. I'm also well layered up. A style I never went for. 

The cherry on top of today's outfit is Anthro's Falling In Love Jacket by Elevenses (thank you LC of Bella Seattle who placed this Vest/Jacket on hold for me at the Seattle Store).  Pressing the ruffles so they would lay evenly was a chore. Not to mention the fussy wool fabric is a lint magnet.  But this unique vest is worth the extra effort.  Next down is my one and only Forever 21 purchase to date from the local mall, F21's Cinched Raglan Top.  And the base layer that was needed due to a deep V neck is Anthro's Reversible Tank by Eloise on the Scoop side.

Shop my F21 Top HERE.

 

I've been waiting for the Hop, Skip, Jump Skirt by Ett Twa to go on sale after seeing Kelly of Fashion Fuel wearing it when she first arrived in NYC. 

See Kelly wearing the skirt HERE.

 

Shop the Hop, Skip, Jump Skirt at Anthro HERE. 

How to Shop for Pop Backs from your Wish List.

Have you ever stumbled across an item you wanted but your size is out of stock?  No fear.  I almost always find that item eventually. First I have to get the item into my Wish List. I add the item in any size that is still in stock.  Then I check for Pop Backs often Monday through Saturday.  Just click the drop down selection arrow if you are looking for a particular color, then click the drop down for the size selection to see if your size has Popped Back into stock, then click update, and add to your shopping bag. This is shopping for POP BACKS from your Wish List.  You would normally do this for items that were never presented in the catalogs, or items from catalogs that have been written over, or any item that has Sold Out. Stock is returned Monday - Saturday during the day, and those returns Pop Back into Stock.

This is why I never delete anything I still want from my Wish List.  Plus, if the item Pops Back you can share this link in a Public Wish List. You can then Search the name of the owner of the Wish List and add the item to your Shopping Bag.  

For example: Size 6 has been out of stock in the Cascading Bow Dress forever, but when I checked this morning an 8 had Popped Back in stock.  Anyone want this dress in size 8?  Just send me an email.

Do you want to read the reviews for this dress first?  Just Google "Anthropologie Cascading Bow Dress Reviews."

I hope all this info is helping my Readers. I would love to know if it is.
 

On the very top of my outfit is Anthro's Infinity Belt.  I'm surprised this little snap closure belt doesn't pop right off me with 6 layers below. I love the tuxedo look at the back with the Vest.

I was shocked by the deep scratches and dry leather on my Berry Stitched Boots. It's from the pedals in my car and the legs of my desk at work.  Every time I hit one, I cringe at the gouge I just caused.

I regularly GIVE LOVE to my footwear. But these boots take a beating every time I wear them.  Which seems to be every other week or more. So I grabbed my pretty little bag of  Footwear Love I keep in a handy location (the back of the closet door knob).


Shoe and Boot Care Stash
Saddle Soap, Mink Oil and Shoe Polish
Hoofmaker Mane and Tail
Soft Brush for Buffing
Lots of old rags
Pledge
And a Pretty Bag to keep it in.

OK!  So the Pledge was in the Pantry.  Why Pledge you may ask?  I'll get to that near the end.

Normally I get by with liberally applying Hoofmaker Mane and Tail and buffing it in well with a soft rag.  After all, it's a moisturizer that contains lanolin.  Not only does it condition and protect leather, it's great for my nails. I keep some in my office for emergency shoe care.

Ah, but the scratches are another story. I needed to remove those first. I went at it with Brown Shoe Polish. I worked the polish into the scratches with a soft rag and let that dry for 5 minutes. Then I buffed that with a soft brush.  Still didn't cover that well.  So I did it again this time daubing it gently over the scratched areas.  I let that dry again and did not buff.  That was the ticket.

I followed with Mink Oil, applied sparingly, and worked it in with a soft cloth.  It took at least 30 minutes to do the pair. 

Now I understand why cowboys have such dirty boots.  Jeez!  Shoes are smaller, easier and faster to polish. But I do love my Anthro boots, so well worth the effort to have them pretty and new looking.


BTW, Mink Oil, like other leather protectors, water proofer, and moisturizers, will darken most leather.  But it's better than walking around in scratched, decaying, unprotected Footwear. Just don't use it on suede or fabric shoes.

About the other stuff in the picture. 

Someone told me once to use Saddle Soap on my boots.  Ba-ha!  Don't ever use it on textured leather.  It dries into the cracks and turns White.  It's very hard to spread and almost impossible to get completely off without leaving that White residue behind.

Pledge is wonderful stuff.  I use it on my Stainless Stove and Dishwasher. Besides Wood, it also works great on Marble, Granite, and Leather.  You heard me right, Leather.  So I have, in a pinch, used it on footwear.  Works great. 

Tapestry Tights - by Eloise - Anthro Orig $18 Sale $10 Red Tag $7.50 - Dec 2010

Berry Stitched Boots - by Lucky Penny - Anthro Orig $248, Sale $130 - Nov 2010
Sepia Crocus Bag or Dark Multi Stem Tote - by Orla Kiely AW08 - June 2008

As you can see my Berry Stitched Boots by Lucky Penny look gorgeous again.  No longer as Purple as they used to be.  My Mother calls this color Ox Blood. Yuck! And I adore Anthro's Tapestry Tights by Eloise , so much I ordered a second pair the other day on Pop Back from my Wish List.
How do you care for your Footwear?  Any comments on better products and techniques are greatly appreciated. 

Wouldn't it be great if they could come up with something that prevents ugly scratches. Footwear makers are being forced to use less polluting techniques to tan leather.  Less processing makes the leather softer and more prone to scratching.  So it seems our footwear won't last as long, so we will be throwing away more shoes and handbags into the landfills. How is that protecting the environment?  It's a vicious cycle.

Here is what is available in my Public Wish List today: Just search lauramartinsemail@yahoo.com from your Wish List.

Anthro Sister Love and Footwear Care, Laura (lauramartinsemail@yahoo.com)