el blog

Ca-Breezies Battle Mother Nature's Enblazoned June

By Meghan Dryzga

 

Did I sleep through spring? Because I could've sworn just a week or two ago... It's fine, Nature Mom. Clearly you're testing my versatility and ability to readily adjust to your erratic moods. That, OR Mother Nature is pregnant or experiencing menopause... Flank the nation with your hot flash, Nature Mom; I can take it. (Let's see, we'll need one umbrella for her unexpected downpours of emotion and a cardigan for her occasional cold shoulder. Put those in the car, honey.)

You know who else can take Mother Nature's unadulterated heat? My ankles. Why? Because it's capri season. Well, it's shorts season. But if you're a career woman, traipsing into the office in your fave pair of high-thigh khakis isn't going to win you any "office appropriate" awards. So we all find a spectacular pair (pairs?) of staple capris and pretend they're as airy as your Friday Night Patio Bar Skirt. (I capitalized that. It seemed important.)

So here's the trouble with capris. If you're short and shopping the standard-fit rack, capris can look a lot like a mistake. Like, too short to be slacks, too long to be shorts, kind of mistake. A peddle-pushers kind of mistake. A "crooked smile that says your intuitively trendy neighbor is confused about your fashion intentions" kind of mistake. A "Honey - I'm not mad, I just need to know if you put my work pants in the dryer. They seem to have shrunk. Otherwise, this is an exceptionally good day for me, as I may have just fit into our 'tweenager's girl-size pants..." kind of mistake.

The solution? It's not found with a seamstress and a 2-inch hem. Nope, any pin-stuck woman relegated to the back of the dry cleaning shop inhaling questionably quease-inducing levels of cleaning fumes and wearing an apple cushion as a bracelet will not be trusted with my hems. My short sticks leave a very small margin for hem error that only my mother can manage.

Believe it or not, it's easier than that, certainly far more fun and unquestionably more versatile (take that, menopausal Nature Mom). Enter, "cantaloupe conundrum," the summer-struck peep-toe heels that hoist up my height and air out my calves like a floor-level fan in a pedicure parlor. The perfect combination of girlishness smoldered in summer and professionally pruned; tall enough to tip the hip-scale but not quite tip me over (let not my low center of gravity fool you; when it comes to balance, I'm like a baby deer... a land-legged seafarer).

So go on, Nature Mom. Let summer's heat seep through the office walls. My feet are dipped in cool cantaloupe that push my calves under my ca-breezy capris for summer sun to finally see.

 

Comfort Finds a Conga Partner (and She's Cute)

By Meghan Dryzga

Hi. My name's Meghan and I have an affinity for comfort. I don't find any glory in being fashionably in pain.

But you know who comfort looks good on? Not me. Like, five-foot-ten, long, lean, trend-ily waify, glossy skinned, moisturizer mandatory, makeup optional... not me.

I'm five foot nuthin'. A hundred and sumthin'. Wait, that's not the saying. (Yah, the saying goes "five foot nuthin', a hundred and nuthin'." No typo there. "Sumthin'" was every bit of intentional.) So when you slide even the finest yogawear onto this petite stature, there's enough puddling at the ankle to wash me clear out cuteville.

And my dramatic conga with comfort doesn't end there. Take the short stroll from my hip to my heel and there's a fair chance you'll find that I may not be wearing shoes. Where's this girl from? Good God. Is she employed? Alright, alright, alright. I moved to Arkansas two years ago, but I swear that has nothing to do with it. The rumored Arkansan barefoot inclination is all rumor, not reality. And yes, Good God, I'm employed. I've worked in the advertising industry for nearly 10 years now. But sometimes, between meetings, you can find me milling around sans shoes. But it's not my fault.

Thing is, finding the utopian collaboration of comfort and cute/professional appearance in a shoe has been near impossible for me. Finding a set of heels that don't turn on my pinky toe by noon, and attempt to turn a 5-piggy picnic into four pigs and a strip of bacon has been discouraging.

And the flats. The flats?! Hey - "E" for effort on the flatty selection, Dillard's. Not that I don't love the loafers; always grateful for the opportunity to revisit my days as a tomboy. OH, but you have Mary Janes. Forgive me. Is it me, or did I just walk onto the set of a Britney music video. Those'll go great with my school girl uniform; you know how I like to wear it to client presentations. Do you have coordinating pigtail accessories? As much as I want to accent my less-than-lankiness with a pair of shoes that make passersby question if I've given up altogether, eh, I don't.

So what IS she looking for? Is she just passionate or wildly picky.  I'm just - ugh - both. If I just had a sole, a swatch and a thread handy, I'd be able to show you what I'm... I'd be able to... I'm sorry. Do you hear that? Are those angels singing? Trumpets? Doves all aflutter for Eidia in all her Lushness. Well, sweet Georgia peach, I'll be smitten as a school girl with a box full of Christmas puppies. Nobody get alarmed, but I am nose to nose with one dangerously adorable pair of Audrey-style flats that don't put my femininity in peril. That emphasize my appreciation for "professional yet darling" but do not ignore my deep desire for heel-less-ness and my aversion to ankle pain. Oh sweet Blueberry Pie (that's what I named them), you understand me better than my husband when I explain to him (again) that there IS no dirty-dish fairy. Scoot over Santa; Eidia's moving into the workshop, and she's got a luscious line of comfortably cute toys for all the girls that made the "good" list.

 

WE ARE PROUD TO BE SNOBS

By Nicole Tongson:

Once upon a time, (well, at the end of the eighteenth century according to the Oxford Dictionary as well as many other respected sources), a snob was a cobbler. The shoemaker, or snob was at the very bottom of the social ladder and was known to be of humble origin and lack a title.

Although the word has almost a complete opposite meaning today, we are proud at Eidia Lush to have found our team of true professional "snobs".  They are by FAR the most talented artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with (and I come from a long background of professional art and design, so this is a big statement). 

It seems as though over the past few years, shoemaking has become known as somewhat of a glamorous profession. Students are flocking to design school to become shoe designers and claim they have the chops and skills to make shoes.  I can tell you by being immersed in the industry now for several years that it is far from glamorous.  To be a shoemaker, you have to have patience to the fullest degree.  While feeling the pressure of hundreds of unmade orders sitting behind you, you need to pay very close attention to EVERY SINGLE detail that crosses your eye.  In today's society, we don't understand the concept of patience and NOT rushing, which is why you'll find a lot of true cobblers to be of an older generation.

I took a trip to California last weekend to visit 3 of our main cobblers in the workshop and will be posting some amazing pictures next week of where your Eidia Lush masterpieces are created and how.  In the meantime, if you love the idea of true cobbling being still alive in the United States as much as I do, then you'll love the collection of "cobbler" themed images I've collected from Getty Images below:

Cobblers come in all shapes and sizes, from all countries and cities...the only problem is that it is a dying trade (one which is practically already dead in the United States). Because of the man hours invested in each pair of handmade shoes (for one pair of Eidia Lush shoes it takes more than 20+ solid hours), cobblers can't compete with mass manufacturers from China and other shoe exporting countries.  By buying Eidia Lush shoes, you are helping bring back this trade to the United States.  We are proud to have our team of professional cobblers (or snobs).  Design your own pair of shoes today and support them!

Silver and Gold

By Nicole Tongson

Adding chains to any outfit, in any color, can add instant drama and sass. On eidialush.com, we thought, "Why not give our customers the option to add chains to their shoe designs?" Below is a ultra chic creation made by Melissa from Virginia.  She chose a magenta blossom silk brocade, our Jillian box toe platform, and the silver chain edging....a combination that is sexy with an urban flair.

 

I'm dying to know what she wore these babies with. When wearing a shoe with this much boldness, our recommendation is to keep your accompanying outfit to basic solids consisting of blacks, whites, and muted khaki or bronze tones. Below are a few outfit ideas from the Eidia Lush crew if you're considering purchasing a design similar to Melissa's:

 



Left: The Elizabeth and James' backless leather-trimmed jersey dress is ideal for those who love showing off some leg.  Its' classic shape and solid black color combined with the uber-short length and open back make it the perfect compliment to the shoes for a glamourous night out.

Center: Rag & Bone's Rock-chic black leather-panel lace-up skinny pants are great to match the urban look of your chain adorned heels. Pair the pants and heels with a simple white tank top for a day (or night) on the town.

Right: Chloe's pleated bronze high-waisted skirt is a nice color to wear with these heels because it brings out the understated bronze in the pattern. Pair it with a cute cropped jean jacket and plain white tank top to add some playful innocence to the sexy shoes on your feet below.

 

Are you interested in the chain look, but don't know where to start?

We've put together some designs that you can customize and purchase on our site today. Take a look at 4 of our favorite looks:

  

 
1: Underwater Treasure - $266.00

2: Street Smarts - $233.00

3: Masterpiece - $225.00

4: Charming - $193.00

 

Inspired by our chain designs yet? If you'd like to see more, check out all the options for chains on shoes at www.eidialush.com or if you have your own idea for a chained shoe creation, email us at [email protected].  Happy Designing!

Shoe Transformation: Rocking a Presentation to Sipping a Martini

By Nicole Tongson

ROCKING A PRESENTATION

The sun is rising, and you've got a little extra pep in your step as you walk to work in your new Eidia Lush silk flower flats, a flowy khaki skirt, and a vintage cream blouse (some outfit ideas from netporter below).  You don't know if it's the fact that you have actual flowers on your feet or if it's simply because it's the first day in months that you haven't shoved your tootsies in dirty snow boots...but something down there is making you smile.  These shoes are fun, sweet, bold, and are carrying just enough "umph" to get you through the intense client presentation after lunch today...

  

SIPPING A MARTINI

...After such a long day at the office which was finished off with you rocking the presentation,  you're definitely in the mood for a few cocktails with the girls at that new martini spot downtown.  You stop home and slip into your favorite sexy satin shoes that are adorned with crystal "angel wing" feathers.  Throwing on your favorite skinny jeans and a simple top (some more outfit ideas from netporter below), you grin at yourself in the full length mirror, as you get ready to turn some heads.

   





Voilà! Instant shoe transformation from rocking a presentation to sipping a martini...keeping your unique style at the forefront the entire time :)

To create your own shoe design and transformation, visit www.eidialush.com today!

 

The Golden Slippers

By Nicole Tongson

These golden slippers are one of the latest pair of shoes finished by our cobblers. As simple as they are, they have completely stolen my heart...

  

We still have this exact fabric left in stock, so if you're interested in creating your own fairytale slippers like the ones above, design them today on www.eidialush.com.

Boots, Oh My!

By Danielle Blasko

In the world of fashion, not many trends last from one season to the next, but one of Fall's hottest trends has survived the transition to Winter. The ankle boot, in all it's versatility, was totally hot last Fall and it isn't going away yet!

               
Whether you're an ankle-bootie cutie or an over-the-knee bombshell, the fashion world has you covered and you cannot go wrong with boots this Winter season. 

 
 
Both of these boots are being handmade by our cobblers as you're reading this.  More pics to come soon of the finished pairs :)

Guess Who's Back?

By Danielle Blasko

Hello Eidia Lush ladies! We know we’ve been MIA for awhile (we’re sorry we had to take a break from the blogosphere) but we’re back in business! We have spent the last several months rethinking our concept and completely revamping our image for a new and improved, totally haute couture Eidia Lush product line.

 

Our loyal blog readers may remember the post "Women's Feet Are Getting Bigger" from way back in May, in which we expressed our desire to accommodate women of all shapes and sizes. After all, uniqueness is exactly what being an Eidia Lush lady is all about!

 

Regrettably in the past, we were only able to offer a Total Custom Design service for women who didn’t quite “fit the mold,” which was much more costly to buyers than our main line.

 

While we realize that women's feet have been evolving, “standard shoe sizes” are still considered sizes 5 though 9, which made it difficult for us, as an up-and-coming company to provide for the ladies with larger or smaller or wider than “average” shoe sizes.

 

Well we vowed to expand our size selection as soon as resources would allow it and that is exactly what we have done! Eidia Lush now offers sizes ranging from 4 to 14 as well as a wide width option at no additional cost to our buyers.

 

Although we are truly pleased about our ability to offer such a wide range of sizing options, there are many other exciting changes to explore, including a greater variety of shoe styles and to choose from and dozens of embellishment options. So, what are you waiting for, head on over to Eidia Lush.com and experience first-class, couture custom designing just like you’ve always hoped it could be.

 

 

Delirium Descent

On July 30th, models will be strutting down the runway in custom designed Eidia Lush shoes at the Debonair Social Club in Wicker Park.  10 haute couture designs created by our lead shoe stylists will be featured at the event, titled Delirium Descent. 

Clothing will be designed by House of Frog, shoes by Eidia Lush, hair by BANG! Salon , and makeup by Meghan Sullivan

All proceeds will benefit NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Health).  There will be a $5 cover + $5 donation for the charity. 

Order your own Total Custom Designed shoes after the show to get 40% off.  This will be a full blown theatrical performance so come early and get a good seat.  Hope to see you all there!

Decade Fashion: 1910s

By Danielle Blasko

 

Last month, we took a leap into the distant past with a brief history of 1900s period fashion. That was the first post in a series of ten that will explore the history of women’s fashion in typical blog form.

 

Be on the lookout for my personal Eidia Lush custom design, period inspired shoe designs that will be linked in each post. If you love the design and want to complete your decade fashion look, all you have to do is click on the link, choose your size and (this one’s tough) wait patiently for one of our talented cobblers to create your newest pair of pumps.

 
 

Between the years of 1910 and 1919, fashion took a turn toward exotic lavishness particularly influenced by Orientalism. Parisian couturier Paul Poiret, was among the most highly influential designers of the period truly bringing Orientalism in fashion to life.

 

Jacques Doucet, a French designer, and Italian designer Mariano Fortuny, were also key figures in the fashion world of this decade. Interestingly, during this era, which paved the way for the 1920’s Jazz Age, the first female couturier, Jeanne Paquin, organized the first real fashion shows.

 

As Paquin made strides for female fashion designers, Poiret began designing clothes for uncorseted figures aiding in the liberation of women who began to throw away their corsets as the trend to loosen up clothing caught on.

 

Women moved away from the stylistic emphasis on accentuating curvature, instead opting for a lowered and less defined waistline, particularly as the decade neared its close.

 

A tunic worn over a long underskirt was the preferred style at the beginning of the teens but as the decade wore on into World War I women began to wear calf-length dresses over angle-length underskirts out of necessity for work-appropriate attire.

 

Almost all women’s shoes in this era were rounded at the toe and had slightly curved heels. Ankle straps were common as a result of the tango dance craze. Even shoes could not evade the colorful and exotic treatment of Paul Poiret!

 

It should come as no surprise that I could not resist Poiret’s influence when designing my custom interpretation of 1910s footwear with Eidia Lush: In the Style of Paul Poiret.