We’re doing things a bit backwards this week: I’m starting with the prize before getting around to the shoe.

A while back, regular Sammit reader/commenter Miachelle DePiano was drawn as the winner of a Shoe Hot or Not prize, which that week was an Inner Grace fragrance kit. After it arrived she e-mailed me with how delighted she was by the scent … but about a week later I got another message: The spray top had jammed and no longer worked, and since the bottle was sealed she extract the fragrance, either. Since it was a prize, not a purchase, she didn’t know if she could trot into a store and exchange it. Could I help?

I asked my friends at Philosophy — they’re based in the Valley — if they would be willing to replace the bottle, and Taryn said if I gave her Miachelle’s address, she would take care of it.

Well, by “take care of it,” Taryn didn’t mean she would just swap out the bottle! I’ll let Miachelle’s e-mail take over: “My husband told me I received a package yesterday, but I had no idea it would be this large. It was from Philosophy, and for what I thought I should be getting, extremely heavy. I was totally perplexed.

“Let’s just say that Philosophy went above and beyond my expectations. I didn’t just get a replacement bottle of perfume. I received a gorgeous gift box full of every product under the Grace product line (or so it seems).”

Miachelle was so thrilled that she offered me a piece of her custom-designed jewelry in gratitude. Newspaper ethics policies prevent me from accepting such gifts … but we agreed it would be fair if she provided a pair of earrings to be a prize for a Shoe Hot or Not post. It’s exciting because her jewelry is handmade and individually crafted, as you can see here.

How do you win? I’ll draw one comment from the ones added to this post by Saturday, Sept. 6. The topic at hand: The Candie’s shoe below, part of the fall collection at Kohl’s stores.  UPDATE: Congratulations to Merrilee, whose comment was chosen as the winner.

I remain on the fence about this shoe. On one hand: I do enjoy a good Prada-style, severe schoolmarm-looking pump like this, especially with some tights and a gray wool flannel skirt. It looks like it has a good, sturdy heel, too. On the other hand: what else do you wear this shoe with? For some reason I think it’d look silly with trousers — and especially denim! — because it’s so rigid and straight-laced in appearance. I don’t think I can declare it “hot,” but I don’t dislike it enough to condemn it, either. I declare it “just OK.” I wouldn’t make a special trip to go buy it, but like if I had a gift certificate to the store and couldn’t find anything else, I wouldn’t be upset if this is what I spent it on.

But what do you think? Is that pump Hot, or Not? Cast your vote in the interactive poll below by clicking your choice. (And if you’ve got a different take, feel free to create a new option.) You can vote once — but there’s no time limit. (Yes, I go back and check to see how each contender is faring, even months later.)
ammit

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And tomorrow, I’m going to the grand opening of the new Philosophy store at Dana Park shopping center in Mesa — and if Taryn is there, she’s getting a big hug of thanks. Thoughtfulness like that has become rare today, especially in the retail world. The company is awesome, which is partly why I love it so much. (The fact the products are great doesn’t hurt, either.) Here’s one for customer service expert Susan Brooks to use as an example!
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WHAT SAM WORE: 8/19/08
The shirt: Embellished linen shirt by Diesel (Last Chance)
The pants: Hipster boot-cut khakis (Gap)
The shoes: Suede chukka boots by RJ Colt (Last Chance)
The scent: Cannibis Rose eau de parfum by Fresh (San Francisco)

sammit

Posted in: Shoe Hot Or Not? |

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