Most of my “higher end” pieces have a story behind them, which makes that price tag a tad (just a tad) more bearable. Let me digress for a moment please. When I was younger my mom would always talk to me about the importance of letting your intelligence shine. How? When I would go out with friends, or on a date, she would always be sure to remind me to “not be silly.” Not that I wasn’t allowed to have any fun, not at all. What she was telling me was to be that smart, accomplished woman she knew, because in her mind that intelligence equaled beauty. It’s something I have always carried with me. A woman can be both intelligent and beautiful, they are not mutually exclusive.

Now, I shall return to the first sentence of this post. These shoes. To make this version short and to the point, they were made possible by an award that I earned at work, that amongst positive praise and a nice plaque, was accompanied by a monetary compensation. Where did that monetary compensation go? Straight to my feet. Some may call it frivolous, but I say that it’s a constant reminder of my mom’s message growing up: You can be both beautiful and smart.

“Intelligence will never stop being beautiful.”

{Outfit Details | Jeans: J Brand, similar here | Sweater: J Crew (old) similar here, here | Hat: Nordstrom | Shoes: Louboutin, similar here (25% off) | Purse: Prada, similar here | Sunglasses: Anthropologie (similar color) | Cross Over Ring: BaubleBar | Bracelet: David Yurman}