My life in pictures

Top Row L-R: Toms Jadon Wedge, Pamela Love Tribal Necklace, Big Star Denim
Middle Row L-R: Dresses @ Show & Tell, Awaken Cafe, Candid Art Hand Chain
Bottom Row L-R: Vintage Dodgers Tee, Baggu Leather Bags, Jeffrey Campbell Heels 

Inspired by Burberry Spring 2012 Runway

For as long as I can remember I have had a love of ethnic and tribal print. For the past few seasons these prints have been de riguer on the runways and it seems Christopher Decarin of Burberry is the latest in a long list of designers to draw inspiration from vibrant African textiles. The Burberry Spring 2012 collection was loaded with covetable printed pieces including an update of the iconic trench coat that I would love to get my hands on.

While lusting after expensive runway pieces is all well and good you need not break the bank to try this trend out.  For my look I paired a basic tank with a beautiful wrap skirt from Nneka, but you could easily substitute printed fabric for your local fabric store.

Sneak Peek: Nike x Liberty of London

Convert Shoes Opening Fete

The Window at Convert
Photo by Lindsay Isola 

I am a shoe fanatic! By this I mean I have an insatiable, undying love of footwear from sneaks to the highest heel and everything in between. I'm not quite sure when my love of shoes started -it might just be genetic. My mother seems to have the same affliction and regularly acquires new styles to add to her impressive collection. Or, once again, it could be the influence of my dance career. Every dancer knows that even though we abuse our feet with countless rehearsals, jamming them into pointe shoes, etc that they really should be cherished. I look at cute shoes as the perfect reward for the body parts that have taken me the farthest in life.

Given my obsession it is not hard to imagine just how excited I was to get an invite to celebrate the opening of eco-chic Convert Shoes. For the last year Convert has stocked fashionable and well made apparel and accessories for the Bay Area's ethically minded style set.  The new shoe store follows in the same vein and also features an exclusive collection of Jeffrey Campbell X Convert vegan styles in addition to brands like TOMS, NATIVE, and, a new fave clog brand, Maguba. The party hosted by well known bloggers Anne, Krystal, and Erica was a total blast and of course I picked up a new pair of shoes! See more pics from the event below!

Host Anne, Erica, and Krystal
Photo by Lindsay Isola

Lovely Chocolates + Shoes= Heaven!

PACT Socks made by Wind Power- Awesome!

Love these TOMS

Need a pair of these Maguba Clogs immediately
Photo by Lindsay Isola

Me and my new Palladium Kicks
Photo by Lindsay Isola

Photos are my own unless otherwise stated.

Heavy Metal Madras

Preppy, Punk and COLOR

Varsity Jacket- Nike, Necklace- Candid Art, Puff Sleeve Tee- H&M, Skirt- Kajan Padraig, Boots- Madewell, Bookbag- Baggu

A good outfit is no thing to waste

Vest- Banana Republic, Shirt-Zara, Bow Tie- Madewell, Jeans- Gap, Booties- Miu Miu

I'm totally lame and slept through all the New Years festivities so I decided to rock the outfit I had planned to wear on Saturday today. This outfit really made me happy for multiple reasons-

1) The shoes- enough said!
2) Bow Ties are my new "thing" and I love how the metallic silver plays off my shoes.
3) The color of my blouse is awesome and matched #1 and my nails perfectly!

Based on how much fun I had today I have a new style resolution for 2012- Party outfits are no longer just for weekends and evenings, they are just as appropriate attire for Tuesday at work , Saturday for coffee, or any other day for that matter!

30 Day Blogging Challenge- A Picture of Me Today

So this 30 day blogging challenge is taking me more like 60 days, but I refuse to throw in the towel even as the amount of holiday events on the calendar continue to increase. Today was a busy one, but I loved my outfit so much that I had to take a picture. This look is 2 parts prep, 2 parts edgy, with a little sparkle thrown in for good measure. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season thus far!

Bow Tie and Bag- Show and Tell Concept Shop, Chambray Shirt-Gap, Skirt- Zara, Shoes- Urban Outfitters

30 Day Blogging Challenge- What's in a name....

I heart Clark Dessert Boots

Like a lot of fashion lovers I have a weakness for shoes. I have always felt that a good pair of shoes gives an outfit personality. My taste in shoes is quite varied with heels, ballet flats, boots, and sneakers getting equal rotation.

When I started blogging a year ago I fully intended to dedicate my post to my favorite accessory thus the name Soulful Soles.  In my post over the last year I have definitely written about my love for shoes, but I have also blogged about all kinds of other stylish things that make me happy. Over time the way I interpreted the name of my blog has evolved. Today Soulful Soles is an invitation to readers to take a walk in my shoes as I explore the manifestation of "style" in all aspects of life.

Vested Interest

This week has been crazy busy and I have already fallen behind on the 30 Day Blogging Challenge. Today, in lieu of a full blown post I am sharing a picture of me that was featured this week in the nytimes.com street style section. I am so honored to have one of my photos chosen for a second time. See the first photo here.

I promise I will get my act together and be back regular posting soon. Happy Friday everyone!

30 Day Blogging Challenge Day 3- In the Bag

What's In My Bag

Bag- J Crew

I think the question should really be what is not in my suitcase or purse rather. I seem to have a good amount of my life swimming around in there. The multitude of zipper compartments in this bag ensures that I have a place for any and everything I need for almost all situations. Now for the contents:

Clockwise from far left: Show & Tell promotional flyers, Coach purple leather check book holder, employee id badge, Comme Des Garcons Super Fluo Card Case, Lisa Perry "POP" coin purse, Built NY camera case, Sony Camera, Keys, Rayban Two-Tone Wayfarer,  Floss, Makeup Bag, Mints, Gum, Vintage Christian Dior Sunglasses, Rosebud Salve, Business cards. 

30 Day Blogging Challenge Day 2

Favorite Color Combinations

My latest obsession- NEONS with everything.

I am especially loving how a statement necklace can bring any outfit to life!

From L-R: Tom Binns, Noir,  Fenton, Tom Binns

This week I took my own advice and paired a neon necklace and belt with blues to give them a little lift. 

30 day blogging challenge

I have to admit I have been in a bit of a blogging rut. While there are various ideas that have been swimming around in my head for weeks none of them have made their way onto the page. In an effort to get me out of this rut and back on track with my beloved blogging I am borrowing an idea from Nicole of StyleBust fame.

Here's a preview of what's to come over the next month:

 E-Commerce stores I shop most often

My favorite color combinations

What’s in my purse

The meaning behind the name “Soulful Soles”

Items on my wish list

Greatest accomplishment today

Favorite band of the moment

A picture taken of me today

Weekly rituals

A book I love

A photo of something I ate today

My celebrity crush(es)

Something I don’t leave the apartment without

Today I donated the following garments

What I decided to do with my free time today

Top 3 Bay Area fashion designers

Today’s playlist

A habit I wish I didn’t have

My guilty pleasures

Things I’d rather be doing right now

A fashion trend I miss

3 of my favorite people to follow on Twitter

A picture of my living room

Top 5 cities I’d like to visit

Today I saw

Bulleted list of my entire day

Top 3 TV shows

What I wore today

DIYs I want to try

3 things that have happened in the last 30 days

Here comes the rain again....

It officially feels like fall in San Francisco. The wind and rain have returned, but I am not complaining because it gave me an excuse to wear my new asymmetrical rain coat. I loved this jacket so much when I saw it that I bought the same style in two colors! Good thing it rains a lot in SF.

Jacket- Nike, Shirt and Boots, Gap, Pants- Express, Bag- Jcrew

The Inside Scoop on indiDenim

As many of you know I have a slight obsession with denim. I am perpetually on the hunt for the "perfect" brand- you know the one that always fits right and has the current leg shape and wash you are craving for the season. Finding the perfect pair of jeans is no easy task, but California based indiDenim is hoping to change that with custom made denim for all shapes and sizes.

http://www.indicustom.com/

indiDenim was started in 2008 with the goal of bringing the denim shopping process into the 21st century with custom jeans for the masses. Online customers are able to customize their denim two different ways. The first option is to tailor one of indiDenim's signature fits to your liking. Customers can choose between skinny, trouser, straight, bootcut, or plus fits for women. The second option allows customers to be the designer and combine their choice of hip and leg shape, fabric weight and wash, thread color, hem height, and pocket detail .  The results of a body questionnaire combined with indiDenim's unique fit technology ensures the perfect fit. With fabric from the historic Cone Mills indiDenim serves up quality denim that rivals (maybe even surpasses) what is available in the premium denim market today.

A couple of months ago I had the privilege of visiting the Emeryville offices of indiDenim to get a behind the scenes look at their process and to customize my very own pair. Below are a couple of the pics I snapped during my visit.  Danielle, my tour guide and fit expert for the day, was super nice and knowledgeable and helped me to design my perfect pair.

The denim wall showcases the available fits, washes, thread choices, and hems.

A range of pocket designs help to further customize your indiDenim.

After a little more than a month wait I received my indiDenim and I can say that I am very happy with them.  They are the perfectly cropped, clean, straight leg jeans that I have wanted for a while. They paired perfectly with Sperrys and a J Crew striped tee for a casual look to enjoy California's sunny September weather and I can't wait to pair with heeled booties for fall!

Nice and Neutral

I love color, but neutrals can be just a fun. The key for me is mixing and matching different shades and textures.

Vest, Boots- Gap, Dress-H&M

Leather Bracelets- Gap

Bootie-licious Part Deux: Miss New Bootie

Me showing off my booties!

A couple weeks ago I wrote about how I was in search of the perfect pair of booties to take me through fall and winter. Well ladies and gents today i hit the Jackpot! I scored not one, but two pairs of equally awesome booties that I plan to rock with everything. Thanks to the good folks at the GAP my feet will be fitted for fall!  

Compared to all the other boots I have been eyeing these babies were a steal ringing in at under $100 per pair. Peep the specimens below:

This badass leather ankle boot also comes in black and brown leather, but I could not resist this intoxicating shade of aubergine.

I can already tell that these stamped leather boots are going to be in heavy rotation this fall. They are sooooo comfy and will add the right dose of edge to any outfit. I am giddy thinking about all the things i can wear them with!

I am urging you- run, don't walk to the Gap to get a pair. 

You won't be sorry!

Women Enough Bare Event + Breezy Black

Last Thursday I skipped Fashion's Night Out, one of my favorite events of the year, to attend Women Enough's unveiling of their "Bare" add campaign to promote healthy and diverse body image and self esteem in Women. I was lucky enough to participate in the add campaign. It was an amazing experience with a diverse group of lovely women and lots of sexy shoes!

The picture above is one of my favorite shots from the Bare campaign and perfectly shows off all the amazing shoes. I wore my own pair of Prada color block heels for the occasion.

When I was deciding what to wear for the event I naturally started with the shoes I wore for the photo shoot. A breezy strapless black dress from BCBG and subtle cat eye makeup completed the look.

 

 Posing with the lady of the evening WE founder Michelle Fetsch

There were some awesome prizes raffled off at the event including a $100 Show & Tell gift certificate and a massage.

Several of the ladies at the event were rocking some seriously sexy shoes. I snapped a couple pics of the fashionable footwear.