MFO Shoe Series: Camille King, Manila

You probably first met Camille King here in the blog, when I shared with you the adorable photos she took of Berry & Xavi at play. Today she comes back, this time, as the subject of my Shoe Series!

It was actually my friend from high school, her cousin Mitch, who told me to feature Camille's shoes. And I am glad I asked Camille, and that she agreed. She not only takes amazing photos of her shoes, she has a huge shoe closet that I would want for myself. Want!!!

Camille filled it with her favorite pairs of ballerinas, wedges and flats. I love how her personality is so evident in the styles she chooses - very feminine, casual and yet full of personality. Check this out!

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

I didn't count them but I estimate 50 pairs based on the photos I took.

What's your shoe size?
 

It depends on the brand and the style of the shoe but I wear a 7-8. I think I have big feet for my height because I am not tall (okay, i call myself petite). Hehe. 

Which pairs are your favorites?

My favourite brand of shoes is Pretty Ballerinas. I got them all from Adora except for a few pairs I purchased when I travelled to Spain last year. I love anything girly, pretty and dainty so my top three favourites are from Pretty Ballerinas. And of course, almost all of my shoes are Pretty Ballerinas. I am obsessed!

Pretty Ballerinas, all in two rows

Aside from being girly, pretty and dainty, they are are really comfortable and stylish. I can wear them with anything.

I wear flats on most days and especially when I take my camera with me. My camera with lens attached is quite heavy (I shoot with a Canon 5D MarkIII) so I have to be comfortable and stable. I also need to be able to move quickly if I don't want to miss a shot. Flats work for me.

Pedro Garcia flats in bright yellow with ruffles

1. My newest pair which was a gift last Christmas. I love that the colors pink and teal match my brand and website, www.camillekingphotography.com.

2. Animal print with red lace and trim. I wear these with jeans, white or black top. It makes my outfit less boring.

3. Classic black ballet flats. I wore these everyday during a 2 week trip abroad and my feet didn't hurt at all. I also didn't have to worry about it getting dirty because its black.

4. Red glitter ballet flats. I don't think I ever wore these. I should! They are like Dorothy's shoes in the Wizard of Oz. I bought this pair because my daughter had the same pair and we wanted to be matchy-matchy. Unfortunately, she outgrew them already.

If you could only wear one pair of shoes, which one would it be?

Just one pair? This is hard! But I would choose a ballet flat in nude/beige so it will match everything. In the image, I would select the leftmost pair on the floor.

What are your favorite shoe brands? 

Pretty Ballerinas of course. Proof are the photos.

I also have Stella Luna and Schutz. Stella Luna pairs that I have are mostly high-heeled ones.

I have big legs and ankles (yes, I have cankles) so I choose styles that aren't too strappy. I prefer nude and beige colours as well. Wedges are more comfortable for me. I also prefer slingback styles. 

Pumps are always ill-fitting. The first four sandals on the left are Schutz. I love colour. The last two on the right are espadrilles from Spain.

What's in your shoe lust list? 

I am on the lookout to replace my nude high-heel sandals. No particular brand but it has to look similar and be as comfortable. I actually need some help finding a pair so if anyone has recommendations, it will be appreciated. 

Where do you buy shoes?

I buy all of my shoes from Adora. The Adora shoe department is called a Adora Shoe Mecca. Whenever I pass by, the sales person always has a big smile on her face. I wonder why. Gosh, I sound like a walking advertisement for Adora. I'm a good customer because when I find something I like, I am loyal. 

What's the one shoe you can't bear to give away or throw out?

This Stella Luna pair. I need a replacement. I should have bought two!

For more on Camille's photography, visit Camille's blog, HERE!

MFO Shoe Series: Gretchen Uy, Manila/Cebu

My husband and my sisters-in-law have been friends with Gretchen and her siblings David & Lesley since they were little. But I also feel like I have known her my whole life. Because we instantly bonded over being moms to active little ones, shoes, shopping, J.Crew and of course, DwellStudio!

You see, Gretch is one half of Quirks Marketing Philippines (the other half being her best friend Oliver) which happens to be the distributor of my favorite source of bed linens and baby stuff - DwellStudio, as well as other baby brands like Kaboost, OBaby & BabyPlus. The self-confessed Daddy's girl also continues to work for her dad, so she shuttles between Manila (for work) and Cebu (for family) a lot.

Apart from her busy professional life, Gretch is wife to her college sweetheart Dicky & proud mom to two boys (2.5 year old Gavin & Shoti, who is arriving in 2 months!)

With a lot on her plate, Gretch is drawn to easy pieces that she can easily mix and match. Her shoe collection reflects the same philosophy. Her shoes are a mix of pretty & practical pieces that would make any girl go "Oooohhh!"

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

Tough question! My Dad says I have plenty, my Hubby says I have too many and I say I have options! But if we need a number, I guess it's 50 (that's all that I will declare) hahaha!

My shoe collection is probably best represented by color groups and heel heights.

Looking back, I believe my style was influenced by my childhood exposure to my Mom’s Princess Diana and Jackie Onassis books, while also having the interest in reading Dad’s Time, Fortune and Newsweek magazines. I suppose my style icon would be Princess Diana + GE’s Jack Welch. I love the idea of Princess meets Power, Feminine meets Masculine.

What's your shoe size?
7 or 7 and a half.

Which pairs are your favorites?

Chanel black ballet flats -- I like the combination of the chain and tweed effect detail. It's very... Chanel. =)

Christian Louboutin Simple 80 nude pumps -- i love nude shoes as it goes with alot of my outfits and these are the perfect nude to my skin tone. Plus, the heel height is realistic. I know I can wear these till I'm 50 or 60.

J.Crew Tan oxfords -- this pair started my love affair with oxfords. It's a comfy and edgier alternative to ballet flats.

Valentino kitten heels -- the kitten heel makes it very feminine, while the studs make it edgy. Plus, it's another nude shoe. Love!

Stella Luna jeweled flats -- got me through some dressy summer events (pre-pregnancy), and even some weddings that I had to attend to (since I can't wear heels during pregnancy).

If you could only wear one pair of shoes, which one would it be?

Why would you want to do that?! (LOL! Spoken like a true shoeaholic! - MFO)

What are your favorite shoe brands?

The brands that haven't failed me -- Schu (the best flats that get me through every season and pregnancy), YSL (the comfiest heels ever! sexy too! ), Ferragamo (an oldie, but a goodie especially for my bunion friends), Pedder Red (on trend styles with great quality)

What's in your shoe lust list?

I have plenty! Giuseppe Zanotti flower applique blush nude heels

YSL crackled gold tribute sandals

J.Crew black and white oxford ballet flats,

and a two-tone oxford in black and brown (it's out there somewhere!)

Where do you buy shoes?

Locally, Schu, Rustan's, Zara, ALDO, etc. Abroad, HK's Lane Crawford and Joyce, are great mostly for "aspirational" special shoes. HK's Pedder Red is where I usually find reality haha! Singapore's Takashimaya, Tangs, and On Pedder hold great comfy and "realistic" finds.

What's that one shoe you can't bear to give away or throw out?

My one and only Chucks in army green with purple shoelaces. It's the pair my boyfriend, now hubby, gave me. It got me through a lot of photo shoots and makeup gigs back when I was still active in that field. Though my style has evolved and rarely wear them, I still put them on when I'm feeling blue. It manages to perk me up. =)

Tell us about your fondest/craziest/sweetest shoe story?

My best shoe memory happened when I was about 9 or 10 years old, and I was made to believe (by my own Father!) that Princess Diana and I wore the same shoes --- I was wearing St. Michaels (made in UK diba?!) patent black round toe flats back then.

That made my day, but of course later on I wised up. I often tease my Dad about it branding it “the only lie you ever told me”. He made up for it (a long time ago, I may add) by supporting my shoe habit (amongst other things). Hahaha!

*Obviously I’m a Daddy’s girl, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that my birthday falls close to Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day again to my Papa!

MFO Shoe Series: Kristine Dee

Jewelry artist Kristine Dee has come a long way from furniture. She trained in industrial design at  DLSU-College of St. Benilde, worked in her family's furniture company for a year, and then left for New York to take her Master’s in Industrial Design focusing in furniture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. To further hone her craft, she took up furniture making in Denmark Design School with her husband Sheldon. 

It was by accident that she stumbled upon the jewelry workshop at Pratt. She found it so fascinating that she signed up for classes in metalsmithing and found so much joy crafting pieces she designed herself.

After graduating from Pratt, she worked for a design studio that created home accessories for the likes of Banana Republic and MoMA. When she and her husband moved back to Manila, they put up their furniture company Duo Living, but rather than forget her love for jewelry design, it only intensified. Today, Kristine has made a name for herself in creating fine jewelry pieces that are testaments to her eye for form, line & function. The same goes for her taste in shoes - it runs the gamut from pretty & delicate to classic & functional to architectural & sculptural. The common denominator: great design.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

About 60 maybe (only what can fit in my closet).

Here is the picture of our shoe cabinet.  Share kami ni hubby, of course, I get more space than him! 

To keep my shoe collection well edited, I give away what cannot fit in here. - Kristine

What's your shoe size?

Size 6 sometimes 6 1/2

Which pairs are your favorites? 

Top 1 : Dries Van Noten I bought 10 years ago in New York

Top 2: white Prada wedge sneakers

Top 3: new silver Birkentstock sandals ( if you consider these as shoes) just because they are so comfy

Top 4: Stella Luna black gladiator boots

Top 5: Alexander Wang heels (but they are too high to wear for a long time)

If you could only wear one pair of shoes, which one would it be?

Silver Birkenstock sandals :)

What are your favorite shoe brands?

Dries Van Noten, Alexander Wang, Birkenstock, Jeffrey Campbell, Prada, Stella Luna

Jeffrey Campbell Tick NS bought at SM Fashion Forum

Stella Luna bling sandals

Stella Luna party shoes

Stella Luna wedges

What's in your shoe lust list?

More Alexander Wang, more Dries Van Noten and more Prada

Where do you buy shoes?

While traveling, online, and locally at Stella Luna

Brogues from Giordano Ladies, one of her favorite stores

Frye boots

Cole Haan peep toe pumps which go with everything

Stephen booties bought from a store in Philly, which can be worn two ways

Via Spiga peep-toe booties

What's that one shoe you can't bear to give away or throw out?

10 year old Dries Van Noten shoes ( because they have lasted me for such a long time and still in good shape)