A few weeks ago while perusing Pinterest (I may have a slight addiction) I discovered a blog on my sister-in-law’s boards. It’s called Outfit Posts, and, well, is a blog about outfits. It. is. awesome. It was obvious that I was destined to be a fan of hers when I saw her One Suitcase: Business Casual Capsule Wardrobe post. She laid out every single item, plus all of the outfits you could make. She has amazing taste, and I loved every single one. After spending some time looking at many, many outfits, I felt inspired for both my blog and my wardrobe. As far as my blog goes, I want to include more complete outfit examples and show photos of how I pack my various bags. As for my wardrobe, I want to try different (brighter!) color combinations, add more belts, and wear nude-colored shoes.

I am probably the last person to get on the nude colored shoe bandwagon, but now that I’m on, I’m staying on! When packing for a trip, it’s very helpful to bring shoes that go with all of your outfits. Typically, those shoes are in the neutral family—black or brown. However, I have recently added “nude” to my shoe repertoire. (Quick caveat: I am talking about nude-for-me shoes, as they call them on Corporette. This color is pretty pale, like a pinky-beige. Nude-for-you shoes may be a completely different color!) You can wear these shoes with virtually any color pants or dress. I particularly love them with my navy slacks and my spring and summer dresses. (Again, caveat: I like the look of the pinky-beige shoes with my navy slacks, because I think the colors go well together. But for dresses and skirts, I like the leg-lengthening aspect of the shoe, in which case I highly recommend nude-for-you as opposed to pinky-beige. Make sense?)

There are lovely pumps available, but of course I focused on the flats. Here are some different pairs I found when searching for my shoes:

These Steve Madden Heaven Patent Flat in Taupe are the shoes I ended up buying. I really can’t express how much I love them. They are comfortable, supportive, have a good grip, fit well, and are so cute. If you’re not into the taupe color, there are a number of other colors available including hot pink, black, and navy. There is also a non-patent version that comes in light brown and black.

These Wanted Shoes Ventura ballet flats come in several different colors and patterns. I love the lovely scalloping along the edges—it gives a little something extra.

To me, what sets these Miz Mooz Panthers apart is the texture. They are so distinctive and unique looking! Also available in several other colors.

Readers, do you have a pair of nude shoes? What do you wear them with?

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Even though spring is in full bloom here in Texas, other parts of the country are still in the midst of winter. I will be heading up north very soon, and it will be quite a shock to go from temps in the mid 70s to freezing winds and possible snow. Accordingly, I have been thinking very carefully about my outfits. Nothing (IMO) is as comforting or cozy in the cold as a good pair of knee-high boots. However, you have to be careful when purchasing boots for business travel. Here are the things I keep in mind when shopping for boots that have to work for both the business part AND the travel part:

Comfort. As always, the boots have to be comfortable. I always look for flat boots (of course), but if you have some comfortable heeled boots that can take the airport hiking, that works too.

Simplicity. Simpler boots seem more appropriate for work attire in general, to me. By simple I mean not a ton of extra buckles, zippers, or bulk. Boots like these adorable Sorels are great for weekends though!

Easy to put on/take off. I have seen many a pair of gorgeous, work appropriate lace-up boots in my day. But as with all shoes, when you wear boots to the airport they need to be quick and easy to slip on and off. Boots with no closings (like the Journee pair below) or with just a zipper make zipping through security a breeze.

Right now is a great time to find deals on boots since stores are clearing out their inventory in anticipation for spring. Here are some fabulous pairs I found that would be great for business travel:

These gorgeous Journee Collection microsuede boots come in four colors, have a wider calf circumference, and are very affordable.  Of course, they are not ideal for ice or snow. But for cold without precipitations, they are a great options! (I have a very similar pair from a few years ago in a wine color, and I wear them all. the. time.)

I love, LOVE these simple, beautiful Nicole Maverick riding boots. The stitching along the side keeps them interesting, and the 1 ¾ heel makes them a little dressier. They would look great with dresses or under pants.

These La Canadienne Passion boots are lovely and classic, and would work well for inclement weather.

Readers, do you travel in boots for business travel? What is your favorite pair?

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(February is a weird word to write in the plural!)

February 2012:

• I compiled my favorite tips for the plane etiquette round up
• TOMS came out with ballet flats
• The New York Times and I disagreed about the top 5 ways to avoid baggage fees
• A friend got some help about traveling with injectable medicine

February 2011:

• I got some great packing tips for your more delicate items.
• Since missing loved ones is a hard part of business travel, I talked about dealing with homesickness
• The series Building a Business Travel Wardrobe started, with a focus on suits and business casual.

February 2010:

• I learned what to pack for a winter business trip
• After much trial and error, I shared my tips for dealing with swollen ankles
•  Snowmaggedon 2010 happened.

The dreary weather has me longing for sunshine, spring, and bright colors. I feel like I’ve got a case of the blahs, and my accessories aren’t exactly doing it for me lately. One thing that I bet would help (because let’s be honest, it always helps) is new shoes. Not to mention that my feet have grown a bit from pregnancy (thanks a lot Mini Warrior!) and only a few pairs of shoes fit comfortably. Sooooo I have to suck it up and go shoe shopping! No fun at all, right?

For any shoes I buy (and really most clothing too) I look for options that will work for travel, work, and play. Here are my main considerations when looking for shoes:

Comfort comes first! If a shoe is too small, comes up too high on your heel, rubs the wrong way, or feels wrong in any form or fashion I won’t get it, and please, please don’t buy it for travel. If you have to have them, buy them for a time when you’ll be sitting. Even if you don’t think you’ll be wearing them on a travel day, I just don’t recommend it. (True story—I had a pair of adorable shoes that I took on a trip to wear at the office. My meetings ran so late on my departure day that I didn’t have time to change, and in order to make my flight had to run/hobble through the airport—alongside my vice-president—in painful shoes. Not my finest moment!)

Not a paper thin sole. I’ll admit—I don’t always buy shoes with the best support. But one thing I always look out for is the sole. If it is super thin, or if I even think I will be able to feel tiny pebbles on a sidewalk through it I won’t get the shoes. Of course, you can always add a gel sole insert to increase your comfort level. Just don’t try it out for the first time on a trip!

Durability. Take a pass on anything that looks or feels like it won’t last. The cutest shoe in the world can turn ugly if it starts falling apart on a long trip!

Grip. Slippery shoes are not your friend in an airport (or anywhere, really). If a pair of shoes is perfect otherwise, you can have a cobbler add grippy soles to the bottom. Another true story—I have the cutest pair of black quilted ballet flats. They are super comfy and I love them. Their soles are very slippery though, and once while leaving a hotel I slipped and fell. In front of a whole bunch of people. Again, not my finest moment. However, now that my cobbler has added rubber soles they are perfect!!

Heels or flats? You guys know I will always choose flats, but if you can comfortably wear heels I say go for it. Again, just don’t wear a pair of shoes for the first time on a trip.

I typically go for colorful flats, either pointy toe or ballet flats. There are several brands of shoe designed to be comfortable and durable. Dansko, Born, and Clarks are often worn by flight attendants and frequent travelers. Many pairs are very cute, like these blue Marnee ballet flats from Born.

I also love these less expensive options: Mix No. 6 Emely cutout flats and French Follies Addy Flat  (pictured above) in a cheerful yellow and white stripe, both from DSW.

Readers, what is most important to you in travel shoes? Any crazy or embarrassing  shoe-related travel moments?

A reader wrote:

Where can I get those Steve Madden knitted boots featured in your article about not getting your best shoes ruined?  Love them!

I love them too! I got those Steve Madden knitted boots three years ago from DSW. Obviously they don’t have those exact ones anymore, but I found their latest version, as well as a few others.

This seems to be the latest version of the Steve Madden boots I have, at DSW in black for $44.95 in limited sizes.

Here is a cute, similar pair from Target, also in black, for $34.95.

This pair from Amazon is available in black, gray, and brown, for $21.99.

I would definitely weather proof these boots before wearing them out in the elements—I just used Scotchgard. Oh, and these are NOT rain boots, even if they are weather proofed. I wore them all over Chicago and other wintery places in the snow. They scrunch down when you’re wearing them, and are super warm and cozy. Hope you enjoy them!

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One year ago….

• TSA crossed the line….again.
• I fell in love with navy and discovered the awesoness of gel soles.
• On my journey to more miles, one strategy worked (a miles credit card) and one backfired (trying for a travel voucher).
• Movie streaming apps on my phone changed my life. No joke.
• The Top Five Travel Necessities: Things I Wear is still very true, and something I consult for packing all the time.

Two years ago…..

• I answered readers’ question about traveling to rainy destinations and plus-size travel outfits.
• The TSA announced some updates to its liquids carry-on rules.
• I got super excited about flats, boots, and travel wallets.
• Andi Fisher from Misadventures with Andi wrote a great post about healthy eating on the road.
• Readers voted, and decided the correct term is “rollaboard” instead of “rollerboard”.

Three years ago…..

• The Home Warrior and I had a fantastic trip to Napa.
• I wrote about the importance of sleep on the road.

Happy Friday!!

As I mentioned yesterday, I may need a new pair of shoes for my long conference in a couple of weeks. I took a look at some of my favorite sites, and found some great ones right off the bat!! So here are a few of the finalists. They are bright, happy, super cute, and best of all—should be very comfortable for travel.

LOVE these Bow Flats from Hego. The springy colors will go with lots of things in my wardrobe, but I’m thinking my white pencil skirt and a teal cardigan would be lovely with the peachy color. The bow adds a touch of feminine fun without going overboard.

The pale yellow of these Me Too Fable peep toe flats just says “Spring!” to me. Peep toes are my favorite thing to wear from now through the summer! These would go well with a pair of gray slacks and a cream top, or maybe something navy. Or lavender. Okay, almost any color would look cute with these!

These buckle flats by Tod’s are insanely adorable. The color is the perfect shade, the yellow belt adds some cute contrast, the shape is great, and they look very comfortable. Of course, they have to be perfect to justify the hefty price tag. But a girl can dream….. I would wear these with just about everything I own. (Wonder how long it would take to justify the $445 that way???)

Readers, have you found any fun shoes lately?

Today in Texas it is rainy, cold, and just kind of crappy in general, weather-wise. Tomorrow it will be colder here than in Chicago. Yes, I know we desperately need rain. I just wish it didn’t have to be so darn cold at the same time! All of this dreary grayness is making me long for warmer, prettier weather.  More spring-like weather. Spring is, after all, our reward for living through August. So here are a few things that help me remember that sunnier days lie ahead. And don’t forget, daylight savings starts this weekend!

Love this colorful, stripey dress from JC Penney. I saw it and immediately wanted to go on vacation to an exotic beach so I could wear it. When I showed it to the Home Warrior he said, “Wow, that would be great for a cruise!” Excellent idea, dear. Its silky feel, on-trend color blocking, maxi length, and dramatic colors all say, Pick me!! And the price doesn’t hurt.

I’ve been dreaming of bright green ballet flats for a while now. For some reason, they just sound so happy and colorful—the perfect way to banish the blahs. Finding a pair that matches up to my imagination, however, has been near impossible. This basic pair is inexpensive, and pretty close to what I’ve been searching for. They are also available in several other fun colors! And of course, flats are great for travel.

Even though my black purse is awesome, and I love, love it, sometimes a girl just needs a brightly-colored purse. Exactly like this tangerine laptop bag from McKlein USA. It’s a good size, sturdy, has high reviews, and will give your outfit just the punch of color you’re looking for.

Finally, even though it’s not really travel related, I found these outdoor pillows at JC Penney and I love them. They just seem like spring on a pillow! So I bought a couple, and they are waiting for the day that I can sit outside with them.

Readers, what makes you think of spring? Are you ready, or are you still enjoying winter?

Earlier this month, TOMS came out with their new line of ballet flats. They are suuuuper cute, and are supposed to be as comfortable and dependable as their regular line. Yay! Now I really can wear TOMS to work! My favorites are the Natalia Rose Linen, the Gisele Gray Suede leopard print, and the Alessandra Burlap flats.

The reviews are overall very positive, although it seems they run at least a half size too big. Nordstrom will start carrying them in March, so fans will be able to try them on in person soon.

Unfortunately, they are so popular that a lot of sizes are currently sold out. There are plenty of sizes available, though, so check them out!!

This weekend, I head to Chicago for my sister’s baby shower. I am of course looking forward to seeing both sisters, and the shower should be a blast. However, I’m a little concerned about what to wear. The outfit itself shouldn’t be a problem—I’ll probably wear a dress with tights, a sweater, and a coat. No problem. What I’m worried about is the shoes! Today it snowed 8 inches, and it’s supposed to snow even more before the shower on Sunday. I have some cute boots, but my cutest ones are not weatherproof. So what’s a girl to do?

Turns out the best thing to do wear the waterproof but less cute boots during transit, and change into cute shoes once we arrive at the restaurant for the shower. Genius! And simple! Bring the cute shoes in a tote bag, then change and put the boots in the bag for the duration of the event. That way I don’t have to worry about messing up my nice flats with salt and snow and other gross stuff, but can still have a cute outfit. Win!

Of course, this strategy works well with work too. Just make sure your tote is reasonably professional looking, and no one will look twice!

Readers, what are your tricks for dealing with snow and still looking professional?