Ask Belle Roundup: Vol. III, No. Thirty-Five

Hi Belle,

I started my job in May and all of the shoes I bought are peep toe.  I’m searching for two pairs of shoes, one in black and dark brown.  I’d prefer to be in the three inch heel range and under $150 in price.  Thanks for searching for me, I am planning my wedding and don’t have time to look for myself.

xx, Beth

Let’s start with the black pair, and my new favorite work shoe, the Ann Taylor Eryn heel.  They are super comfy, and since they’re pointed-toe, you can wear them with pants or skirts.  For a bit higher heel, I like the Ivanka Trump Janie pump.  They do run kind of big, however, so order two sizes if you can’t go to the store to try them on.

Lastly, a friend of mine just bought these Michael Kors flex pumps and she loves them.  Swears they’re the best shoes she’s ever owned.  It’s the rubber sole.  I love a rubber sole for shock absorption, so I may have to try these.

Now for the brown shoe, these Nine West Ambitious pumps caught my eye, and they’re a steal at $52.  6pm.com has a few sizes left in the Cole Haan Air Talia pump.

Belle,

What product do you use when your lips get chapped?  Mine are a wreck and nothing is working.

Thank you, Deb

If your lips are really chapped, the first thing you need to do is exfoliate.  Skipping this step is like painting your house without scraping off the old paint first.  You can use a product like Sara Happ Lip Scrub, or you can just gently rub the dry skin off with a nubby washcloth.

Once you have a smooth surface, I like to apply Blistex Medex.  You can also use Eucerin Aquaphor.  Or if you like a paraben-free product, try the Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm.

Hi Belle,

I just moved to Boston and I need snow boots.  I’m from Texas and I don’t know anything about snow.  Help me!  

Thx! Kelly

You live in a very snowy, cold part of the country, so good boots are important.  A lot of what you’ll find is chunky, clunky and maybe, a bit ugly, but as long as you don’t resort to Moon Boots, you should be fine.

A friend who lives in Minneapolis wears the Hunter snow/rain boots with a fleece liner.  Personally, I’d go with a traditional pair suede and rubber of Sorels.  It’s kind of like buying a Barbour coat.  The boots are a little bulky and don’t match anything, but they’re classic, so they work.

Dear Belle,

I just got my first professional job and I want to replace some of my cheap Forever21 pieces with nicer ones.  I want to start by replacing all of my poly cardigans.  I’m looking for wool cardigans in winter colors that cost in the $75 to $100 range.  Which would you buy?

Zoe 

That’s a great price point to be in because it allows you to buy a quality sweater that will last for a few seasons.  Ann Taylor makes a 100% wool cardigan in fine merino wool.  Given the site’s frequent sales, these are a great bargain.  J.Crew also makes a wool cardigan in that price point.  They make several styles, so you can find the one that flatters your figure.

Land’s End has some of the nicest wool and cotton sweaters on the market.  They really don’t get the respect they deserve.  But they make a number of styles in a wide range of styles from petite to plus-size.  And if you like cashmere, they have good quality cashmere for less-than-$150.

If you don’t mind a blend, Banana Republic makes an 80% wool cardigan that is decent quality.  And again, like with Ann Taylor, the weekly sales make these sweaters a bargain.