(silk crepe shirtdress, handmade necklace, marled chunky-knit wrap sweater, cross-body chain bag, Prada Ash Suede Studded Ankle Boots, script "love" and "dream" rings)

It took forever to find the perfect shoe to go with her ensemble for the evening. It was going to be a magical evening: dinner, dancing...something romantic and long-awaited. She had the perfect outfit already...

She planned to create something alluring, but edgy and sophisticated. A crepe shirtdress shot through with threads of silver and gold. A chunky-knit sweater in latte brown to keep the November winds at bay. Gold rings with cursive curliques: words reminding her to dream more and to love more. A cross-body chain bag with a brass doorknocker as an amusing detail. She even had the perfect necklace to offset the femininity of the look: a piece she had made herself after a trip to the hardware store, adorned with straight couplings and compression nuts in burnished gold (sourced from the plumbing section), strung on dove gray satin ribbon. (No one would ever realize!)

But the shoe was the piece de resistance; she needed something elegant and understated. Something on-trend but subdued...something to play up the feminine chicness of the outfit but not overpower the muted palette and gleaming accessories.

To that end, she knew she had found a match with Bluefly.com's Prada ash suede studded boots. In a beautiful taupe velvet (so not completely matchy-matchy), the high heel was to-die-for - and the gunmetal studding caught the light in a darkly dangerous glitter. They were perfect - and would soon whisk her away on an evening to remember.

The ensemble was not for everywoman; just for those who wanted to be remembered.

Thank you and I'd love to have your vote on StyleList.com!
xoxox
Carly

See Carly's Chic Steals blog here.