L-A: So we got Ally out of the suburbs and L-A into a mall this weekend. Crazy things happening. We got an invite from Rockport to visit their new store in the Halifax Shopping Centre. Rockports aren’t new to the city – I know Winsby’s on Spring Garden has carried them for ages – but the store is new. And, full disclosure, we got free shoes.

I’ve purchased Rockports before, but they were always my sensible shoe and they were usually a flat. Every time I’d see them in store windows, I’d see maybe one that I dug, the rest I was always meh on. It seems as though Rockport is stepping up their game, because while I don’t love everything in the store, you can definitely shop for shoes that won’t make you feel like you’re past your prime (if you know what I mean).

So, while I was totally drawn to purple suede peep toes (as was Ally and her neighbour Melissa) and some of the boots, I decided to play it a bit more sensible.

Oh, if only I didn’t have the fat calves.

I decided against boots based on my calves (always the way) and against the peep toe because suede in Halifax is potentially the worst combination ever and partly because I don’t own a pair of black pumps. I have black peep toes. I have black sling backs. But I don’t have a pair of black heels that are good for various seasons and can do the day to night routine. So that’s where my focus was. Because not owning black pumps isn’t for lack of trying. I look, but most of the time they look dowdy or matronly or alternatively, sex kitten. And I’m weird about pointy toes (the trouble with a size ten is that you don’t want a shoe that makes your foot look longer).

So my shopping really came down to the following:

Rumble in the Rockport Store.

Both shoes have the fancy Adidas technology. Both have a platform. But the real debate was between a heel that’s 4.06″ and one that’s 2.83″. The 4″ heel? Awesome.

I did try the boots – but the fit wasn’t there. Either in calf size or style.

But is it practical? And is practical really that important? And will an almost 3″ heel look dowdy? (because I hate  stumpy heels. It’s why I hate the kitten heel so much).

Final decision? The more sensible heel won out. Which is actually unlike me when it comes to buying heels. I’m the most sensible girl with flats, but heels? I love an impractical heel I’ll only wear once (see Spade, Kate; glitter shoes). I would have worn the four inch heels more than once, but I also knew I’d regret the decision after a day at work or an evening at a party. Even fancy technology doesn’t really stop that kind of hurt (although if it does, I’ll let you know). I’ll just buy the 4″ heel another day. And maybe in the purple suede.

And for the dudes? I did spot some shoes that were pretty awesome. I totally wanted to get a pair for the husband, whether or not a distressed Oxford is his jam.

Ally: Happy Thanksgiving Monday! An amazing orientation session at a new shoe store in Halifax is cause for festivities at any time. As mentioned by L-A, we were completely honoured to have been invited to check out the new Rockport store at Halifax Shopping Centre for a tour and an opportunity to pick out a pair of shoes that we could take home and test on our own.

I won’t lie. Rockports in the past have often made me think of my mom. As in my mom wears Rockports. And while she’s so lovely, truly lovely, the statement, “I just loves these shoes for walking the dog!”, does not bring visions of shoes with sex appeal.

Maybe that’s just me.

So, I was beyond impressed when we walked into the store and saw their really diverse selection.

Neighbourhood Bestie Melissa did indeed turn her attention immediately towards the Sasha purple suede peep-toe shoe.

In person, these shoes are quite cuddling.

We both tried them on, they come in an electric blue as well, but were not in my size sadly. Also, I have made a decision to take a break from the peep-toe shoe. My pair of Tom Wedges tried to massacre my toes this summer. I haven’t forgiven them.

Anyway, Melissa did indeed purchase a pair of shoes:

Like, L-A Melissa also had an important decision to make. Practical? Or Cameron Diaz from Bad Teacher (Mel is a stellar flagstone of our public education system). Her decision came in the bootie variety. Would she do straight-up leather? Or suede? Practicality won again. Melissa’s presenting her choice in the photo above, here’s a photo of her shoe in suede:

I really wanted to love the Purple peep-toe. I really did. I just couldn’t come home with another pair of shoes that I wouldn’t wear. The comfort level was great throughout the base of my foot, but I think I have toes that do not wish to be creeping out the front. It’s not you peep-toes, it’s me.

I turned my attention to the boot section of the store and decided that my Guardian Angel Sienna Miller/Nicole Richie/Kate Moss must have waved her Parliment Light ciggy in the world and uttered, “Let Ally have her chunky buckled shoes, and ones that are not limptastic like her previous pair purchased at Le Chateau”.

Be still my heart.

If these boots were a song, they would be this:

I was Happy Ally.

Would likely not pair the boots with the pants, but I could forget I ever claimed that. Point is, they are amazing. Comfortable, bad-ass, and skinny jean necessity. Which means I basically had to hop down to Banana Republic to purchase a pair of grey skinny jeans to honour the occassion. I may have purchased other stuff there too. Lots of stuff, but that’s for another post.

Sure, we all picked practical shoes, but you’re dealing with a shopping trip that included four ladies in their thirties, two of which were coming from the suburbs and one of which was getting frantic calls from her husband screaming, “WHERE IS BLUE BEAR??!! WHERE IS BLUE BEAR??!! HE WON’T NAP WITHOUT BLUE BEAR??!!” Mortifying.

L-A: I think there’s something to be said for the fact that we all found shoes that are practical, but still really frigging cute. None of us left thinking, “these shoes are good to walk the dog in.” (or take the cat out on a leash and get weird looks from the neighbours. Whatevs.)