My Latest Purchase: Fashion

I finally bought my first pair of Toms, and after wearing them once, I'm incredibly in love. With Toms, you have to be careful because if you wear them incorrectly, they'll turn into the ugliest things on your feet since Crocs. Here are my dos and don'ts for rocking this summer's beach shoe sensation. 

Toms are great for summer because they are lighter than air. They are comfortable and (at least the lace) they let your feet breathe. They are the perfect way to dress up your down. 

Where to wear them? 

These shoes are perfect to wear to the beach, picnics, fairs, bonfires, the zoo or any other summer outdoorsy activity that enables you walking around in a non-agressive setting. Do not wear them to the pool or other places where you put wet feet back into them (mold) or where hiking and climbing are constantly involved. I don't see them giving much support against sticks and stones. 

What to wear them with? 

Yoga pants, summer shorts, a casual skirt, a short beach dress, skinny jeans. Do not wear them with maxi-dresses or any combo of pants/skirts with a dressy shirt. They will dress up your dress down (casual wear) but they will completely dress down your "dress to impress" look. 

Be Cautious: When picking a colored lace or solid shoe pattern, be very careful what you wear them with. The "natural" color I picked matches almost anything, as will the white, grey and black. If you're picking a color, do not pair with a completely different color. I know this season's "style" is mixing your colored shirts with colored pants, but let's not go overboard. Keep the pants a solid, neutral color. If pairing with a summer dress, try not to contrast colors. For example, don't wear the teal shoes with a red dress. Again, with the wrong usage, you can turn your Toms into Crocs (and let's hope I don't have to explain why Crocs are never meant for public gatherings). You want to make yourself stand out, rather than have people's attention go straight to your feet. 

Shopping tip: When ordering my Toms, they cost $.05 less on Nordstrom.com than the Toms website. Five cents is no big deal when it comes to savings, but when I had to two sites up at the same time, clearly I picked the pair that was $57.95 v. $58.00 (both with free shipping). Also, before I ordered, I made sure to try them on in the store first. They run big so you need to go down 1/2 shoe size. 

Don't forget, when you buy a pair of Toms, shoes will be donated to children in need of footwear. Another plus :)

Lastly, these shoes aren't meant to be worn with socks, and with your feetsies surrounded by cloth against the summer heat, they are bound to get stinky. This tip is going to sound incredibly weird, but I tell it to everyone: PUT DEODORANT ON YOUR FEET and let it dry before putting your shoes on! Deodorant is mean to absorb moisture and eliminate stink. Makes perfect sense!