The Search Continues...Part III

The following day, I wake up with a cold. Not just any cold - think sneezing coupled with a runny nose! Eeew!

But nothing can stop my search. I was relentless! I call Mick Margo, a quaint boutique in the West Village (19 Commerce Street) stocking labels like Alexander Wang, Crispin & Basilio, Jovovich-Hawk and of course Isabel Marant, and between sniffles ask if they still have the Isabel Marant Avela boots in my size on stock.

"Hmmm, let me check..." the SA puts me on hold. "Oh, yes we still have 3 sizes left...", she says graciously and then she drops the clincher, "I think they may even be on sale! I can check with the owner and I'll call you back as soon as I confirm with her. You can also put it on hold if you like!". Excited, I blabber incoherently, telling her how I've been looking for flat boots everywhere, that I hope it will be on sale, and that I will definitely swing by the store soon. Ugh! What an eager beaver! Now they won't put it on sale because they know how desperate I am!

But whew, what a relief! I decide to take a shower and get dressed. I was going to the store no matter what!

But as soon as I get out of the shower, I realize I forgot to ask what color the boots were!

So I call the store again..."It's a light shade of grey, and it's actually called "Anthracite" the SA tells me cheerfully.

"Uhm, I was actually looking for black boots. Is it a dark kind of grey? Practically black?" I ask almost pleadingly, as if willing her to say "yes".

"Well, it's a light kind of grey..." she responds.

"Do you think I can dye it black?" I ask again.

She explains the kind of the leather used on the boots and says it could work but she wasn't sure entirely. I thank her again and tell her that maybe I'll just see the boots for myself after the holidays.

She thanks me for calling and I put the phone down. And I feel kinda down as well. This was turning out to be such a rollercoaster of emotions!

I sit down on the couch with a plop. My feet feel hot that I decide to take off my moccasins.



As I stare down the floor, it suddenly occurs to me to check out the Minnetonka website! Kate Moss had those black moccasin boots, and hey they were flat and very very comfortable! Hmmm, this one's a viable alternative!



So I check the Minnetonka online store and practically squeal with delight when I see the boots on sale! $69.99! Woohoo! El Cheapo!!!

As soon as Dear Hubby steps inside the house, I excitedly tell him that I finally found my winter boots!

He offers to buy it for me and asks me how they look like, so I point sheepishly to my warm and cozy house slippers.

"Huh! Ganyan?! Manipis yan, hindi yan waterproof!", he shakes his head incredulously.

"Like that pero boots, Kate Moss wears that Hon!" I reason.

"Pag tumalon ba si Kate Moss sa Pasig River tatalon ka rin?" he says now laughing at me!

And with that, I knew the search still wasn't over. Sigh!

(To be continued...)

The Search Continues...Part II

While I was lingering around the Louboutin section, I saw a guy awkwardly holding a pair of heels. I couldn't help but notice because he stuck out like a sore thumb. Turns out he was waiting for the SA who came with a box of shoes and told him that "She can just come and look for me if she needs another size..."

Awww, turns out he was buying it as a gift for someone special! What a sweet boy! Now if only our men are like that huh? Hahaha!

I pulled away from the CLs and figured I might have better luck looking for boots downtown, maybe in SoHo or the West Village. But it was already past 4 and I decided against it because I wanted to wait for Dear Hubby to get off work so we can go home together.

I passed by St. Patrick's Cathedral and thought of dashing inside to say a quick prayer of help, but given that my prayer seemed so petty, it just seemed so shameful of me! Next time then, when I can go inside with kind thoughts in my head and unselfish intentions in my heart...

Tired and now disappointed, I went to Zara to see if they had anything that would remotely resemble the elusive Lanvins. I crouched down on every shoe rack they had and finally found the flat boots on the second floor!

True enough, this style was practically sold out. Great news again for those with size 39 or 40 feet! But bad news for me! Boohoo!

I called Dear Hubby to check up on his progress at work and he said we could meet up outside his office by 5:15. It was almost 5:00 so I made a pit stop to H&M just to see what they had there. But nope, no flat boots there. Zilch! Nada! Zero! Wrong move to start with the posh stores I thought. Now all the shoes here just seem so sub-par, but on an otherwise normal day, they would look pretty ok...

Remotely pleased that I didn't spend anything but very tired from a fruitless excursion, I went to Dear Hubby's office and waited for him outside his building. I was standing there plotting out my downtown itinerary when a girl comes up to me and asks me where MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) is.

"Just walk straight up and go past Fifth Avenue" I tell her. She says thanks and walks away towards the direction I pointed out, and for a second I get a cheap thrill that people in New York actually ask me for directions! Really! I get that a lot! Maybe I look like a New Yorker now, and not the "bagong salta" that I really am! Hahaha!

I stay outside for a couple of minutes until I couldn't bear the cold anymore and went inside the warm lobby of Dear Hubby's building to wait for him.

Finally he comes down and after kissing me asks if I was able to buy anything today.

"I didn't find anything..." I say sadly.

"Good for you!", he says with a wide smile!

(To be continued...)

Save Me!

If the Lanvins are not giving me a second chance (talk about the moment passing me by...), then I am seriously hoping that Isabel Marant will save me...




I've actually tried on these Isabel Marant Avela boots at Bird in Brooklyn, but it was a size too big for me. They didn't have it in my size so I really wasn't feeling it at the time. But the leather was soft and slouchy and the boots, if it were the right size, would have been comfy. Now if only I can still find these in my size somewhere out there...

Loeffler Randall Matilde boots are another option, but I'm not too hot about the 1" wedge. I prefer the "heel" to be hidden (as with the Lanvins)or for the boots to be totally flat, but hey this is quite good still. I mean, I considered the LR Emmy D-ring boots previously, and this is way flatter...



I'll be researching on the recommendations of Cathy as well! Hope my search for the perfect black boots will finally come to a fruition! I need to get this out of my head because I've been staring into space for days now! My mind is just full of images of boots - at the pinnacle of which are the Lanvins... So I will be venturing out this afternoon in search of the perfect pair as none of my beloved flats are going to keep my feet warm during these freezing times!



Btw, for shopaholic who is looking for flat boots in Manila, here are the Zara boots that I was talking about in the comments section of my previous post! These are pretty good and are totally sold out here! Maybe these are still available in Manila!



UPDATE: According to Ruby of Schu, the Zara boots are still available, but in limited sizes in Glorietta! Thanks Ruby! Girls, Go! Go! Go! =)

(Photos credits: isabel marant avela boots from impulseseattle.com, loeffler randall matilde from rokandlola.com, zara boots from punky-b.com)