Hello Hauteness

I have definitely been racking up the airline miles as of late.  This weekend I met up with Rich in Orlando to go to Disneyworld and Universal.  He grew up going to the parks every year whereas this was my first time.  I must say….it…was…a…blast!!!!!!!!!!

Every little kid dreams of going to Disneyworld and I was definitely one of those kids.  It only took 27 years, but I finally made my way there thanks to my awesome boyfriend.

Funnily enough, I had a bit of a struggle packing for this trip.  Being a girly girl, I had a hard time matching comfy shoes with cute outfits.  I only wear sneakers and t-shirts when working out so trying to find a way to create chic looks with them was a challenge.  I know, I’m ridiculous…but this is me.

In the end, I managed what for me was a few packing miracles:

1. I didn’t overpack.  There was only ONE shirt I didn’t wear.
2. I packed only a pair of sneakers and a pair of hiking shoes.  Woah.
3. I didn’t have to use the extension on my carry-on suitcase to allow for more room.

Once I was at the park I realized that my boyfriend, his brother, and everyone else was right.  Comfortable shoes are KEY to one’s enjoyment of a weekend spent in amusement parks.  The few ladies I saw dressed up in the parks stuck out like sore thumbs because they looked ridiculous.  When walking around all day, riding roller coasters, and mixing with Disney characters, heels, skinny jeans and a fur-trimmed puffy jacket is not a good look.  It’s all about t-shirt chic on trips like this.

How do you think I did?

Of course, I have nothing on this guy…

I had to visit a store aptly named Castle Couture.  They had all of the female Disney character dresses for girls 12 and under.  If only I was 8 years old and could have fit in one of them!  I totes would have come home with a Belle or Snow White costume.  Sigh!

And this post would not be complete without a pic of me and Rich in front of the Dr. Seuss entrance at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Happy holidays Hauteness readers!

My older sister Allison (hi Al!) and her hubby Kevin are going to be traveling to Europe soon and she recently emailed me with a good question:  What is a good alternative to tennis shoes when you’re traveling and walking a lot but want to look cute?

This spurred some thought for me because I have been guilty of choosing vanity over comfort when traveling in the past…and regretting it later.  Guys, this topic doesn’t apply to you as much because, to be honest, men’s shoes are far more comfortable no matter the style.  That’s probably because men are smarter and just plain refuse to buy a pair of shoes if they’re uncomfortable.  Whereas we ladies will justify buying a horribly painful pair of shoes if they’re gorgeous, designer, or on mega sale (or even better, all three!).

If I were a traveling guy I’d rock a pair of classic Converse or Tom’s when walking the streets of Italy or Paris.  If I needed to dress it up a bit I’d do a pair of cushy loafers with a supportive bottom for evenings out.

So to answer my sister’s question, I did a search on Zappos.com to see what I could find in terms of cute women’s flats that had some decent support.  I found some options and posted them for your perusing pleasure.

A couple of things to remember when looking to purchase comfortable yet cute travel shoes:

1. Check out the sole of the shoe.  If it looks thin then stay away.  That means there’s little to no support.
2. Consider athletic brands when shopping for flats.  I really love the styles that Puma and Lacoste do for women because they’re supportive but still cute.
3. Stay away from flip flops.  They just won’t support you and will eventually rub you the wrong way (I tell you this from personal experience).
4. Go with a relatively neutral color (black, brown, gray, or even white).  This will allow you more versatility when outfitting.  It’s all about packing light which means taking as few pairs of shoes as possible.
5. Whatever you decide to buy, don’t wait to try them out on the streets of Europe.  Walk around your house on carpet for a day or two to see how you do.  If they hurt when you’re hanging out at home then they have no business making a trip to Europe with you.  BREAK THEM IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL.

Do you have a great pair of shoes you’ve travelled (and outfitted) with?  I’d love to know about them to share with other Hauteness readers.

Check out these great options I found on Zappos.com…