Shopping around Shoes

I set out last week to buy myself a new pair of shoes. I found what I was looking for at Nine West, where for $89.00 (a steal, if you ask me) I became the proud owner of these fabulous platform wedge gladiators (below & 1). They're light, and comfortable, and look amazing (in fact, a woman saw me trying them on and asked for a pair herself!).. but when I got home, I realized I had no clue how to wear them. I brought them in to work at Basic Basic for some help.


With Megan's help, I set out to match clothing to my new shoes. Who hasn't planned an outfit around a favorite pair of shoes? I know I'm not the only one. So I'm sharing my findings here. A sort of how-to wear this season's must-have sandal: the Gladiator.

Click to enlarge.

To start with, I knew I needed something hot to wear this out with. We went with long Tart leggings (2) - they're thin and tight, with a little sheen. If you prefer a thicker legging, So Low makes a great pair. On top is this Ruffle Tank by Parker Blue (3). It's long enough to cover all your questionable areas, and the ruffles add a sexy twist. Juicy's Sleeveless Ruffle Front Top is a nice summery alternative, or if you prefer something a little simpler, this Sleeveless Ruffle Tunic by Zooey has the same feel with less flounce.

On the other hand, I wanted to try the shoes with something girly, but not necessarily sexy. After trying on a few dresses with no luck, Megan grabbed Young, Fabulous, & Broke's Silk-blend Melrose dress (4). We found that the shoes looked best with an A-line skirt. The Melrose dress flows beautifully, and the pleating on the chest gives it a sweet little babydoll feeling. This Sleeveless Tiered Dress by Splendid ran a close second to the Melrose. To dress the sandals up, you can try Susanna Monaco's Pleated Scoop Tank Dress.

Finally I needed something to slum around in. Dressing these babies down was easier than I expected. I grabbed my new favorite white tee (Petit Bateau's Short Sleeve Light V-Neck.. it's their new super-thin fabric. I wish all my shirts flattered me like this one!) On top of that I threw on Juicy's Jacquard Terrycloth hoodie (5) in a color called "So Sari." I love the drawstring bottom, and the wide hood. So comfy! Kritik's hoodies are just as fantastic, and come in some seriously vibrant colors. A denim mini skirt or your favorite jeans will look great to finish off this outfit.

So I left the store a happy camper, with lots of new clothes (yay!) and tons of ideas, and hopefully helped a few of you that found themselves in the same situation. I'm debuting the shoes this weekend - wish me luck!


rachel rose

Introducing...

So welcome to Tete-a-Tee-Zone, a brand-spankin' new blog for the website tee-zone.com and our NYC location, Basic Basic. Here you'll find information about new brands, our favorite new items, and behind the scenes scoop from our photo shoots and in-store shenanigans. With that said, some brief introductions are in order..

I'm Rachel. I've worked at Basic Basic for a lifetime. Currently I'm in charge of store styling (those mannequins are heavier than they look!) and web-site odds and ends, which is what led me here, writing my first blog.

My two co-authors are Mary and Megan. Mary does web-site styling. You know those catchy phrases on the front page? Those intuitive style collections? That's all her, and she's great at it. Megan (lucky girl) accompanies our photographer on photo shoots and creates the product pages for all our items. In fact, she's standing behind me as I type this, preparing outfits for tomorrow's shoot. We're all a little jealous.

Anyways, on with the show..

On the L-train to work today, Megan found a picture of Michelle Williams in this month's Elle magazine wearing a Michael Stars Striped Tank (see left). You can get a similar look with this Michael Stars Striped Beater in delicious candy colors, or take a look at the Stripe 2-button Cami, currently on sale for a skimpy $19.00!


And check this out: Jessica Alba wearing the LA Made Full-length Trench. Celebritystyleguide.com added a handy Link to our product page on tee-zone.com. We're almost famous!

That's all we've got for today. Be sure to check out Susanna Monaco, as featured on our home page.. we're all dying for that Amy Halter Dress. Until next time,

rachel rose