Oh My God, SHOES

I love shoes. I mean, really, what girl doesn't? Especially with the business formal dress code at my work, I find shoes are where the girls let loose. My problem with shoes is that I never find the winning combination. This combo consists of a) style, b) color, and c) size. I can't even begin to look at sales because that just doesn't happen when you're a size 10. Size 10 people buy their shoes full price, leaving me NO CHANCE to find a pair when on sale. So basically... I never buy shoes. Last time I bought shoes (other than utility, like boring heels for work presentations and boots for winter) was... a year ago?

Except last night.

I was walking through the mall to get home (woo Montreal's underground city) while hiding from the humidity and eventually mini-monsoon, and I saw so much color coming out of the Gap store, I had to go in. Gap is my sorta guilty pleasure, you see. When I was in grade 8 or 9, I had my first real Gap experience. It was spring and the store was all pretty and colorful. I still remember the exact skirt and tank my mom bought me. Anyways, I fell in love. Year after year, I would find a little magical piece there. Flats, before they became widespread. Leggings, when they first came out. Skinny jeans at the beginning of their immense success.

Oh Gap.

It's always so pretty and happy in there too. But then 2007 hit. For those slightly less informed, that is the year Gap hired Patrick Robinson as their head designer. It was a huge deal, he was hailed the Messiah of clothing, and blablabla. He was gonna restore Gap to its foregone glory. Personally I don't see how it was struggling but that stuff goes beyond clothes and all the way to the stock market. So anyways. I think even the most average of customers can tell there was a hugeeee shift in Gap's merchandise. Yes, he did some good stuff. He brought in a line of work pants that are still being made. And jeans became less confusing (in that he set up which cuts would exist.. boot, skinny, straight, etc. with particular waist lengths and so on). But Gap also kinda died. Colors got gross (everyone must remember that fall with so much beige and brown... eek). Anyways last spring, he got fired. Took them too long, in my opinion. But he was gonzo. I celebrated, gave myself a pat on the back for calling it, and ran to Gap a few months later, expecting major changes. Well I was very disappointed. I continued buying a tee here and there (and of course skinny jeans, I only wear Gap jeans). But nothing special. I think maybe he had already prepared collections ahead of time, because I still felt the Patrick Robinson mark. But yesterday. Oh yesterday. It screamed BYE Patrick!

The store is now back to being full of color, khakis, and little twists here and there.

Anyways. That was a big long story to a) display my knowledge of the fashion industry and b) get to my point that I found something amazing. Also for those of you who aren't big Gap fans (I'm thinking of one person in particular who always says Gap with a bit of disgust in her voice), I get compliments on my jeans, etc. all the time. SO THERE.

But back to my amazing surprise at Gap. I found shoes. I've been looking for wedged espadrilles because they're cute, less painful than heels, and work-appropriate. Well, not only did I find one pair, I found TWO. And they are AH-dorbs.

YES, that's IKAT you see. LOVE.

The heel is like a dark fuchsia color. Love.

Black skinny pants, white tee, black blazer, and THESE. Summer power suiting FOR. THE. WIN.

So those are my lovelies. And you bet I'm wearing one of them Monday to work.