Left to right: Christine, Kristie, Viviana, and Anaiz

Stand up and stand out! Congratulations to the graduates of 2010. Caps and gowns may not technically be high fashion, but these ladies prove they’re ready for whatever comes next in high-class graduation ensembles.

Matching her sash with her sashay, Christine looks well coordinated in her Londons. Kristie is the Envy of her classmates in a monochromatic, navy look; and—not to be overlooked—Viviana brought fuchsia flash to her special day with Stephanie. Anaiz was one of the first graduates to submit a picture, and she chose Nikita to cap off her gown and balance her gorgeous, dark hair!

ShoeDazzle would like to wish these ladies—and all graduates—the best of luck in the future! You’ve worked hard and looked great doing it!

Sunday is Father’s day, and that probably means many of you are scrambling to find the perfect guy gifts for the dear old dads in your life. I asked the stylists to weigh in on some last minute suggestions, but they were too busy figuring out what to buy for their fathers. So here we are, staring paternal gifting in the face; and since I’m better at sipping from glasses that are half empty, I’d like to offer some suggestions on things your dad doesn’t want this Sunday.



Sports bottles- he already has a flask; so what’s the point? Unless he plans to smash it with a steam roller and see if it survives—which would be cool—I wouldn’t bother. Also, do you really want him fastening that thing to his belt loop and going out in public? No.

Chick Flicks on DVD- he was excited about that 50-something inch flat screen TV; but the chances that he wants to see Pretty Woman or Hope Floats in high-def are pretty slim. I, on the other hand, would like that very much.

Underwear- possibly necessary, but so awkward. I’m aware this bullet point is shorter than the others, but it speaks for itself.

A tie- he can barely dress himself, so a tie is like giving a poodle a Rubik's cube—you know you’ll end up adjusting it anyway. That, or you'll have to reign him in when he has the tie around his head pretending to be Geronimo--his choice.

High heels, purses, and shiny jewelry- Wait: I might be wrong on this one, because if YOU get enough heels and accessories, then he can get away with watching TV on your anniversary, playing golf on Christmas, and taking “business” trips on your birthday. The key word here is ‘enough’. Make it happen.

Richy T.-- Hope definitely floats.

left to right: Lauren, Amani, Jubilee

This week’s Wrap Up stars are stepping out in their ShoeDazzle shoes--outside that is! Celebrate summer weather with these ladies in cool day and early evening looks. Lauren adds a silver lining to her brilliant, sky-colored dress in a pair of Marijas. What a great look for an early evening happy hour! Amani takes in pockets full of sunshine in her playful short romper. Notice how her Toni heels and gold accessories add just enough shimmer to brighten up the palette for daytime? Going for contrast, Jubilee pairs the warm tan of her Mimi sandals with a dusk gray, sleeveless dress; a light sprinkle of conservative jewelry keeps the look refined but no less fun in the sun!

Way to step outside in style, ladies!

The stylists have been working so hard to fulfill your alternate requests that they haven’t been able to sort through the Wrap Up submissions and they haven’t been able to select a shoe for Work It Wednesday. Instead, they asked me to “figure it out.” Consider it figured. Welcome to Work It Wrap Up! I know; I’m clever.

Left to Right: Anna’s Stevies add a little shine to her outfit. BTW: pocket tanks are going to be a summer staple, so stock up. Also, oversized scarves are the new cardigans—just saying. The Muse isn’t really a dainty shoe, but if you pair her with sheer fabrics and long jewelry, like Sophie did, you’ll achieve a look that’s both edgy and soft. Liz proves that Ginny is a stellar “casual” heel, adding height and drama to cargo Capris and a basic top.

Let’s be honest, this month is one of the craziest—that’s why all my blog posts have referenced the mayhem of June—and yet, these ShoeDazzle ladies still manage to get up in the morning and put together some Dazzle-worthy outfits before driving to work. Meanwhile, I’m selecting outfits from a laundry basket in a room that qualifies as a disaster area mere moments before beginning my commute. Hey: You win some; you lose some; and sometimes you embrace the fact that you can get away with horrible hair if you have the right hat. Happy halfway-through-the-work-week!

Richy T. – working for Kyle this Wednesday.

If you ladies are looking for a great workout, try being Kyle’s personal assistant in the beginning of the month. After dodging Kyle’s way-too-on-top-of-it wrath, I’ve seriously never felt more aerobically fit. I’m out of breath right now. As you might have guessed, the past four days more than made up for the Monday we missed. That Monday, I went to the beach; it was great, and I totally forgot it was June 1st when I came back. In short? I’m fried.

Know what else is short? Sprints. This Fitness Fried Day is all about sprints. That means you try really hard for a short amount of time instead of barely trying for the hour you “spend” at the gym. Kyle, I’m going to have to call you back—I’m sprinting. Hold for applause.

-Lunge for a whole song. Instead of counting your lunges, try doing as many as you can during your favorite song. I’m sorry if your favorite song is the full version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” because you’re looking at 5 minutes and 55 seconds of quadriceptive torture. I made up that adjective; I know what an adjective is and I’m not crazy.

- Pedal to the mettle. Are you brave enough to push yourself? Try pedaling on the recumbent bike as fast as you can. No crying. Do a short, 5-minute workout by pedaling comfortably for two minutes, above 175 RPM for one minute, comfortably for 30 seconds, as fast as you can for 30 seconds, and cooling down for one minute. Also, adjust the resistance when you crank up the speed, otherwise you’ll look crazy.

-I’ve talked about the benefits of walking, but if you run for a short while between leisurely strolls through the gym, you can multiply the benefits of your workout. I recommend running on the treadmill though, because otherwise, people just think there’s a fire or that you’re crazy.

It’s been a crazy week, and I’m looking forward to a crazy weekend.

Wishing you the same,

Richy T.—5’ 7” is not short.