Wednesday, 4 April 2012

The Munsters' escape


A moment of silence, if you please, for the unveiling of the Munsters...
Whoosh!!
[sound of angels singing, people weeping, cries of joy, cries of horror]

Some of the weeping and cries of horror are from me on the way home from my inspiration walk! These shoes by Fluevog are aptly called the Munsters. The first half of my trip was completely fine, but things deteriorated quickly on my homeward journey. Luckily I brought my flats with me, but, oh no, I was determined to make it back without succumbing to a shoe-stop. Grin, step, grin, step, grin, step... The shoe heel is not that big, considering the platform, but the square toe on a shoe 1/8 size too small is unforgiving on a decidedly wedge-shaped foot-end.


I threw together this outfit rather quickly. I wanted to wear these suede shoes to celebrate the rare appearance of our sky-shy sun, and to wear my honeycombed tights over my black tights, a first-time combo - I loved the effect, kind of like boom, aaack! (I scared myself! My legs looked like reptiles on psychogenic drugs!) Then I wanted slightly more sedate tonal coverage on my upper half, so shades of blue with a turtleneck, shrouded in my super-long cardi with handy pockets at calf level.



Details of the outfit:
  • those shoes, bought new less than a year ago as a life marker
  • salmon-coloured honeycomb tights over black tights
  • stretch muted-ultramarine skirt with groovy belt buckle attached, sample sale, Metallicus
  • black wool turtleneck, thrifted, Value Village
  • blue, blue, blue cardigan, Community Thrift Store
  • maxi cardigan, sample sale, Metallicus
  • magic pendant O made me, teardrop shape
  • NO BERET TODAY - oh, my naked head, but if my hair were alive it would be breathing joyously
Now a closeup of the tights and shoes below. I like how my feet look teeny tiny because the camera is angled way down, but I'm not too keen on the big head.


And then a weird photo. Caption: You wanna buy a watch?!


I shall always love my Munsters, but in a sick way, for special occasions only. (These are the shoes from my cartoon in the Implode/Explode post.) Isn't it odd how the mind can erase bad shoe memories? I know I should have changed my shoes and normally I would have, but I just couldn't help myself today. Do you ever do that?!








40 comments:

  1. Those shoes completely steal the show :)
    Everytime I see that type of heel it reminds me of the 90's and the Groove is in the Heart song by Dee-lite, the girl used to have some of those. I thought they were impressive (I was an impressionable teenager at the time hehehe)
    Look I found a photo: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJOW8DNHpEw/Tro8CUYYjJI/AAAAAAAADvs/VWcRLh2iEco/s1600/2ce683ce79544b57eeca2f59f0058b94_l.jpg

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    1. Whoa! I remember Dee-lite! Her tights are waaay more groovilicious than mine!!! Thanks for the photo! Apparently Madonna wore a pair in her movie Truth or Dare - I don't remember them though.

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  2. You are a piece of art, and look as a part of a magic painting.
    Fabulous!!!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  3. oi... got any Rolex's? I love the shoes but they would quickly cripple me... I loved "grin, step, grin step" hilarious and so horribly true. I forgot to share the photo of my friend and I hobbling barefoot round central london at night due to awful shoes. I think - oh they won't hurt that much this time.... oh so wrong on every occasion. I love your outfit, so damn classy.

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  4. I love your outfit so very much. You have inspired me to wear my Munsters! I bought mine on my 40th birthday. Wheeee!

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  6. So much fun! Except for the foot pain, of course. I suffered from shoes yesterday as well, and mine were flats. Not broken in yet, and I decided they'd surely be fine for walking to work (45 minutes, up hill and down). Now I have heel blisters . . . and slightly more broken-in shoes. . . .

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  7. Oh, man, those are fantastic! I love the layered tights with them too.

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  8. OMG, Melanie! Yes, that is too funny that we've both posted about the bearing the woe of the toe crush for the good cause of an attractive shoe. haha
    The reptilian leg look is blowing my mind. Genius! And the "wanna buy a watch" had me hah hah hahing. :)

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  9. I'd buy a watch from that lady!
    My worst shoe day was back in 1981 and I remember what I was wearing. I had just moved to Anchorage and only had one pair of brand new boots. I took off walking toward the downtown area feeling quite hip on my way. Until I was just approaching the city's hub and I was beginning to limp very noticeably. There was nobody I knew to call for help and I finally collapsed at the base of a store mannequin display at Nordstroms. I dreaded the walk home and needless to say I had blisters on top of blisters. It was all "cries of horror" as I lay on the hotel bed working to get the boots off!
    I sure love the looks of those Fleuvogs! I'd have a hard time not wearing them for sure.
    Have a good weekend Melanie!

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    1. Ouch! I feel your pain! Boots can be the worst - especially getting them off!

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  10. I love this. This is one of my favorite outfits of yours. Isn't it funny how that works when you just throw something on? Those shoes are amazing-- they look great with those tights. And I love the maxi cardi.

    I responded to your comment this morning via email, but I never know if that works!!

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  11. Your post made me laugh, because two days earlier I walked too far in my brand new Fluevogs, and discovered they were not broken in enough yet. But I stomped away, determined that what was a fairly significant investment for me would go the distance. In reality, my feet hurt so much I wished for my Payless Keds wannabes...lol.

    You look so pretty, and I love the photo of you kneeling. It's just so cool, and your beautiful eyes are really emphasized.

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    1. The crazy thing is I had my Keds-equivalent in my bag but refused to put them on. I'm fully recovered now. There may be some bigger truth in your investment remark and going the distance. Ha!

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  12. I love what you did with the tights--it looks amazing!!! And I'm in love with those shoes. I've wanted a pair of Fluevogs for quite some time..the heels are so fun! (Maybe not so much fun for wearing, but they're esthetically pleasing. lol) Loving the shot of blue, too. You look divine. XO

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  13. Those shoes (and now I know what they are - blogging is SO educational!) are fabulous! I love the shape of both the shoe and the heel. Oh but shoes are sneaky bastards sometimes, winning you over with their beauty and sex appeal, then KILLING your feet. My "hideous" red shoes are fine in terms of heel height/shape, but the sole is SOOOO thin, I can feel every stone/bump/lump in the pavement! In-soles might solve that issue, though...
    Love the outfit - sober and well-behaved on the top, then crazy honeycomb psychedelic reptile at the bottom (I'm thinking Lamia!) And your head doesn't look big. You wanna see a big pumpkin head? Just check mine out! xxxxxxxx

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    1. Yes, you are right: shoes are like mondo dismos - men who take money from stranded women! They schmooze and dazzle with their good looks, then, BAM, when we least expect it we're hobbled by abuse! Thin soles are a problem. I hope the insoles work.

      I had to look up Lamia - I love that reference, the Greek mythological child-eating daemon!

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  14. Do I ever erase bad shoe memories? Heck, no, I'm perfect, don't ya know? I REALLY wish someone had invented screw-off feet, so that you could just pop on a new pair. The annoying thing is, sometimes a well-behaved pair of shoes that have always been such sweet pals, get it into their head that today is the day they are gonna hurt. Go figure!

    Much love from England,
    Rosemary www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.com

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    1. Why does that happen? A perfectly friendly pair turns nasty out of nowhere...

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  15. Hi Mélanie!

    Those shoes are something else, the buckle reminds or Marc Jacobs shoes for fall 2012
    I would of went a bit more crazy as far as the outfit with the shoes, i say go all the way
    I never did the tights combo, looks good, i might try that one day
    As far as walking with impossibly uncomfortable shoes, i do not do that anymore, i wiil not risk it,no thank you to pure agony! You are a woman of courage Mélanie!

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    1. Hi Ariane,

      I'm not up to your speed yet on going full-throttle styling, but I'm getting there...!! You always inspire. These shoes are sneaky - fine for half the trip and awful for the rest. You are a wise woman to just say no!

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  16. Only YOU could make me want to buy a watch!!!
    I never wear one,actually! But you're tempting me!
    I was just showing G your blog,we think you are AWESOME!!
    I realised I hadn't commented on your last post,despite going back to it several times,cos I think I'm a little overwhelmed by how fabulous you are!
    These Munsters are divine!! I love the soft colour too;itmakes it obvious they are suede.The honeycomb tights are also divine,I think I've been callingt hem whalenets,for want of a better term...doh!So obvious they are honeycomb! I love how every detail is carfeully though out..or appears to be so?!
    O,in NZ "party walls" are only used in townhouses,or houses that are joined together.Our house is a stand alone,and we are attempting to soundproof the band room as much as possible,so we can make racket as much as we like!Well,G really!
    XXXXX

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    1. Not wearing a watch is a great way to live and I didn't wear one for a long time, too. Then when I started liking them again I disliked having to replace the batteries - bad for the Earth and expensive. Now I like the old wind-up mechanical watches with JEWELS inside them! Little rubies! There are so many to choose from on eBay, all fairly inexpensive. Awesome designs.

      I like your term whalenets much better. I just came up with honeycomb on my own.

      And you are right about party walls! I'm excited about your band room. I made a vocal booth once, extremely soundproof, with heavy casters and a loft on top. I called it Dr. Mel's Screamer. I heard you sing - great talent! Thank you for this incredibly wonderful comment!

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  17. I adore that tights-and-shoes combo more than words can express. I can see why you endured the pain!

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  18. i love everything,but shoes are amazing!!!

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  19. Whoa, I love the effect of the tights. There have been one or two occasions in which I've been caught having to walk in beautiful, but painful shoes. A memorable one was in New Haven, CT. A friend of mine had won the Yale Series of Younger Poets award to be given by my former teacher, Richard Hugo. I attended...and then discovered that the walk from the venue to catch the train was too long for the fairly new shoes I was wearing. I took off my heels and walked in my stockinged feet across the Yale campus.

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    1. That sounds like a picturesque walk, very carefree, very campus life. Cool event to hang this memory on!! Wow.

      I once had new-shoe foot pain in Hawaii so I started walking barefoot down the sidewalk and a cockroach, a jumbo-sized one, scuttled over my skin. I don't remember the specific shoes but I certainly remember the bug!!

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  20. I'm remembering back in 1968 I layered fishnet tights over olive green tights, with a denim mini skirt and clogs. Ah, those were the days (sort of). Your backdrop is divine, outfit elegant, and shoes funkalicious. The commentary is clever and entertaining, all the reasons I adore you.

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    1. I would love to see photos of you and your style in '68! Maybe someday?

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  21. Oh oh the SHOES are amazing!!!! Oh oh and naughty!!!
    The best looking and beautifully designed shoes always like to remind you that they are the stars for the day!!!! That means pinching.
    The honeycombs are the bees knees, tee hee!!! Love them.
    Happy Easter Bunnies
    Love v

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    1. Oddly, I was contemplating the expression "bees' knees" yesterday before I read your comment, wondering where it came from. Is it because the bees that stick the most pollen on their legs are the most successful, admired worker bees; ergo, this is a compliment for humans? Doubtful. "Oh, your legs are so pollen-caked that they are exceedingly attractive!!" No matter what, I love the expression. Thank you!!

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  22. You have convinced me to follow through with my long held desire to capture a pair of Fluevogs. A new goal for the year! And the tights over tights - very compelling. Your sense of color, your style, your wit and your writing make your blog post a high point in my day.

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  23. I am loving the double tights effect and have worn solid tights with coloured fishnets over them, but not in a long time, might have to try that again. I soooo wish I could wear Fluevogs, but they are just the wrong shape for my foot. I do have a couple of pairs of shoes made by the Portugese company "Eject" that were bought in a fit of shoe-passion, that I can't walk very far in, but oh, do I feel like the Cat's Pyjamas when I wear them, so I understand the adoration of the Munster shoes. They are a great colour and make a very loud declaration about the awesomeness of the wearer!!

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  24. I am absolutely captivated by your style, art, colour, texture, observations...
    Amazing shoes, even if they are pain-inflicting beasts. Pretty much all of my dressing up shoes are second hand, so I never attempt to walk anywhere in them. This also means I am a little like Cinderella's step-sisters in cramming my large feet into shoes 2 sizes too small for the few moments it takes to snap some photos, before peeling them off and allowing my toes to expand and re-inflate again.

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  25. How fun and hip! l dig the varied patterns and splash of blue!

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  26. Those shoes are amazing! They're worth any pain they cause! Also: I need that backdrop in my living room.

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  27. so elegant!love it!

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  28. My favorite are the tights. Very Prada. By the way, I changed the title of my post after your comment to Analogous and Complementary. It was missing something -- so thank you.

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  29. What fabulous Pilgrim shoes! I love the blue blue sweater on you- I see you really can rock almost any color.

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    1. Thank you for that term, Pilgrim shoes, of course, with the big buckle. I imagine, though, that North America would be a much groovier place if the actual pilgrims wore Munsters!

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