Closet Fashionista: Favorite Things

Showing posts with label Favorite Things. Show all posts

When I say Ancient Greek Sandals are my favorite sandal brand you know I mean it. There are 152 posts tagged with Ancient Greek Sandals on the blog. If we weren't in the middle of a pandemic right now I'm sure they would have been featured at least once a week since the warmer weather arrived. I posted a (now inaccurate) photo of my sandals on Instagram in July but have since added 2 new pairs to the collection.

I first featured them as a "favorite thing" in summer 2013 after I bought my first pair - their iconic Ikaria winged sandal - earlier that month. I posted about them a few months previously in a Shopbop sale post that is now broken, ha ha. I did try to buy a pair then but they didn't fit. Back then Ancient Greek Sandals only came in a few styles and colors. They have since expanded into a plethora of colors, materials and styles. I wish I could buy them all, but I'll settle for my already too big collection of ELEVEN.

Founded in 2011 by Christina Martini and Nikolas Minoglou, Ancient Greek Sandals are handmade in Greece using traditional techniques that have existed for centuries. They are inspired by ancient Greek Gods and myths, pottery, jewellery and sculpture. One of my favorite things about the brand is their adorable wing buckles that appear on almost every pair. I'm also kicking myself for not buying some cute accessories at their flagship store in Athens. (I was trying to behave and not spend too much money, ha ha!)

I used to only allow myself to buy 1 pair a year but that kind of went out the window the past couple years. I bought two pairs on our honeymoon in Greece last September and have bought THREE so far this year, whoops! To be fair, I used a gift card and advertising money from the blog to buy all three pairs (plus they were all on sale) so I don't feel too horrible. And I skipped buying new pairs in 2017 and 2018, ha ha.

Here's a look at my current collection. Some pairs have literally been all over the world with me so they definitely show signs of wear now. Luckily you can't tell in these photos.

Ikaria in Natural - bought June 2013

Beach Days

Athena in Terracotta - bought February 2014

Saturday in the Park

Astrapi in Natural Metallic (Net-a-Porter Exclusive) - bought June 2014

Monochromatic Blue in a Sea of Green

Clio in Marine - bought May 2015

Those Hard to Find Basics

Alethea in Perforated Black - bought in Santorini April 2015

Windblown in Venice

Athanasia in Croc - bought April 2016

Into the Wild

AGS x Gas Bijoi Stephanie Charms in Natural with Red - bought in Santorini September 2019

Grocery Store Chic

Apteros in Crosta Wine - bought in Athens September 2019

Dainty Pinky Rings in the Summer Heat

Clara in White - bought March 2020

Introducing the Stella McCartney Wild Cat Skinny Jeans

Faye in Brown (Net-a-Porter Exclusive) - bought August 2020

Clio in Leopard - bought August 2020

Thrifted Safari Print Dress

*This post is NOT sponsored, I just love the Ancient Greek Sandals. Although, I wouldn't say no to a partnership with them...wink wink*

Since I haven't been taking new outfit photos lately I thought I would bring back an old blog series - Favorite Things - and feature some pieces I can't imagine living without. These Miu Miu leopard sandals were one of my first designer splurges back in 2011. They were part of the Fall 2010 collection and I was low key obsessed for a while before I purchased them.

I first posted about them in October 2011 but had been in love since I saw them on Net-a-Porter at their full price of $795 - YIKES! Even before that blog post I had an eBay alert set up for months to find them. I finally found them in my size in November 2011 and splurged $400 (I think) on them. Still a crazy price to pay but every time I see them in my closet they bring me joy so I think it was worth it, even 9 years later.

They are brown and black leopard print calf hair sandals with a 6 inch heel and a 2 inch platform. Basically a dream for a short girl like me. I look SO TALL in them! Especially in super skinny jeans. I used to wear them once a week when I was working in an office but since I started working from home in 2014 they've been more of an art piece in my closet brought out for special occasions.

Shop them:

Here are some past outfits featuring my Miu Miu leopard sandals.

Say Goodbye Burgundy Leather Pants

Revisiting October 29 2013

Revisiting May 9 2013

Clinton Crossing Spring Fashion Preview

Movado and Lucky Magazine Arm Candy Party

From the Boys

Thanksgiving Number 2

KARL for Net-a-Porter Launch

Christmas Celebrations

Pop of Leopard

It's been a while since my last favorite things post but this one is a long time coming! Let's go all the way back to February 2016 and this post. I shared a beautiful pair of sandals I was lusting over fully aware of the fact that I would never be able to afford them. Fast forward to July 2017 when I was shopping the Net-a-Porter End of Season Sale. There they were....in the sale but still over $400. Then they sold out. Cue disappointment. Then, in the last week of the sale, magically my size came back in stock and the shoes were down to $395 with an extra 20% off making them $316. All rational thought went out of my head and I bought them!

Boy am I glad! They became my most worn shoe that Summer and are so comfortable. I stopped wearing them as much this year because I was afraid of ruining them too early. That's the problem with loving something too much, eventually you begin to get scared of losing it and what will happen. Yes, I know they're only shoes, but I love them all the same.

For quite a while I've been searching eBay and online consignment stores to find another pair at a good price to replace these when they die. Most of the time when I found them they weren't my size, the right colors, or were more expensive than what I paid. Then I found a really pretty black version on The RealReal for $75 with 20% of and almost bought them. But in the back of my mind I was thinking "They're great, but they're not my colors" so I didn't buy them. Then someone else did and I had non-buyers remorse.

Cue to a week later and I was searching on The RealReal again and there they were, the Lanvin studded suede City sandals in my colors, and a half size bigger than mine. They were $75 with 20% off so they would only be $60. I added them to my cart and then decided to see if they had any others. I saw the black ones were back in stock so I added those to my cart too! Two pairs of my beloved sandals for $120 and Christmas gift money in my wallet - SOLD!

My originals on the left, new pairs on the right

The black ones had some strings hanging off the ankle strap that wasn't shown on the site so I asked for some money back and got a $15 credit to the site. Not great considering shipping is $12, but oh well. I just had to cut the strings off and they're perfect.

Here are some of my favorite outfits with the sandals! They've been worn 18 times on the blog but FARRRR more in reality. As you can see, they go with absolutely everything. Here's to many more years of wear with these and the new black ones!

Shop them for yourself below: