How to Wear Red Pants

The Scene

We spent our second Christmas in Las Vegas this year. The best concentration of world-class restaurants AND luxury stores that never close?  What more does a fashionista pig need over the holidays. 

Only two adorable and hilarious partners in crime. 

Perfect place and perfect company to spend one of the best Christmases of my life. 

The Outfit

H&M top

Ann Taylor pants

Ellie Tahari coat

The Accessories

Target booties

Forever 21 necklace and braclets

Louis Vuitton bag

The Grade

B

The Commentary

Finally broke down and joined the hep young kids this summer by getting me some colored denim. Been obsessed with colored bottoms (does that sound gross to you too?) ever since.

Been dying to find the perfect pair of red slacks for months. Had my eye on several pairs from the likes of Tibi and J Crew. All over $200.  Eff that.

 I got my J Brand-lookalike red jeans for less than $30 so I figured I could stay below $100 for pants.  And lo and behold, Santa heard my wish.  In Las Vegas, on Christmas Eve, I found this pair for 50% off at Ann Taylor. Loooooving the high-water look. Tres awkward chic. 

Much like my new little booties. Like colored denim, I'd disdained these little fugly functional booties for what's felt like a year. But finally I came around a few weeks ago when I FINALLY got the so fugs-they-are-cute appeal.  Even more appealing: just $25 at Tar-jay. Not even Isabel Marant can get me to pay $600 for ugly.  

Added a little Vegas bling to the look with this necklace. LOVING it lately.

Let me tell you the whole look was STUPEFYING to most Vegas-goers.  Probably because there was nothing sexy about it.  Man repelling fashion at it's finest. 

The Inspiration

My First Christian Louboutins

This fall, my mom and I graced many a store in NYC with our Angeleno-ness.

Focused on the ones we don't have in LA: Topshop, Century 21, Uniqlo and Henri Bendel

But our favorite shopping spot in the city remains the shoe salon at Bergdorf's. Was made even bigger a month before our trip. Clearly someone heard we were coming. 

My mom fell in love with many a beautifully sensible shoe there. But ultimately the glittery Louboutin below edged out the Prada pilgrim above.

Your first perfect pair of Louboutins = smug Mamalina smile.

So smug was my little mama that when we got to the hotel that night, she got in her jammies AND her Loubies.

Fast-forward to December, and my mom casually announced she'd like to get me my first pair of red soles for Christmas. She was thinking a classic nude peep toe. I was thinking, mmm-hmmm, anything you say, YAY!!!!

In the ensuing weeks, we did some serious and delicious reconnaissance at Neiman Marcus.  Decided a patent would be a sound investment.  A leg-lengthening nude.  But a carmel-y brown-girl nude, not a pinkie white-girl nude.

Heel height was also critical. We didn't want it towering (I'm old and can't handle over five inches anymore). But my mom thought I should get a heel higher than her Marcia Balla kittens. To, you know, really flash that red sole ;) 

So a few days before Christmas, these little Very Prive beauties arrived at my office.

After I called my mom to thank her, she texted me a picture of these Louboutins and asked me if I liked them better.

She thinks she's wildly hilarious.

I texted her this picture of the paw Loubies and said they were her X-mas present.