Shoe Story: Sharaé Nikai On The Come Up..

Its Spring time in the city and this month we are featuring an up and coming actress from Jersey City, currently residing in the City of Angels, Sharaé Nikai. As you can already imagine how this story unfolds, Sharaé moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. She considers herself a comedic actress and has been featured in scripted and unscripted works such as Chelsea Lately, Conan O'Brien, Yo Mama - which actually brought her out to LA and she's been here since - and Brides of Beverly Hills where she served as the voice of reason in wedding dress options to some of the funniest craziest zaniest brides.

This year she'll be featured in a documentary on CBS about black women in marriage and she has booked her first feature film called Fight Your Way Out where she plays Aisha Billings, the wife of a boxing trainer. Unbeknownst to her LA compadres, Sharaé is an avid lover and player of Basketball having played b-ball her entire life. This sassy b-girl with a tomboy swag let us into her quaint and humble abode to take a look at her minimalist style. Kick back and get a glimpse into her psyche and her closet....

Put your ideal outfit together, where do you start? What are you wearing? 

Right now my look is mostly composed of black. I'm into 'less is more chic' thing. The look you shot for the opener of this pieces was a little bit more snazzy than normal. Generally when getting dressed, I think about where I’m going to help determine materials. If I'm just hanging out with friends its cotton and lightweight. If I'm going out it might be satin. My goal is always to be practical and comfortable no matter where I am going. I'm not the girl who wears 6 inch heels to Ralph's {laughter ensues}. If I'm auditioning that also determines what I wear. My wardrobe is really based on my life. 

Name 5 of your favorite shoe designers?

Who I wear the most and who I like the most are a bit different. I really like Sergio Rossi – I don’t have any yet. What I wear the most is Tory Burch and BCBG Max Azria. I went through a Dolce Vita phase before they became really popular. I really would like a pair of Chanel ballet flats and an old pump by YSL the Clara pump. I also love Salvatore Ferragamo for their sleek flats and pumps.

Whose shoe closet would you love to raid?

Charlize Theron. Her style is crazy. Her style is so chic and less is more. She’s killing everyone softly. I really enjoy her style. 

Define your style in three words? 

Clean. Chic. Classy 

If your shoes could talk, what would they say? 

Could you get a driving sneaker please. I drive so much that the right shoe of all of my shoes have been hit on the back side. They would also say I am not your flunky.

So you’re a shoe, what’s your style? 

Sleek, classy, black patent leather with a pointy toe – I'm describing the YSL clara shoe. That's me. That's who I am. 

If there were a law passed that prohibited women from wearing heels, what would you do? 

Buy stock at Tory Burch. 

If you were stranded on an island, what three things must be with you? 

Water, food and my favorite person. 

Flash Round...

NYC or LA?  Oh Shit  - LA - my cousin is going to kill me

Chloe or Alexander Wang?  Chloe

Land or Sea?  Sea

Check the selects...

A Carven a day keeps the foot doctor away...

An ode to tomboy chic style...

Ride 'em cowgirl...

Fringetastic...

Pillow Talk...

All smiles...

White space...

Servin' for the kids...

Shoe Story: Autumn, The Madame of Sir & Madame

Hey lovas! It seems like its been forever and a day, but we are back in full effect with Shoe Stories and this time we headed all the way to Chi-Town to get the shoe-skinny on the one and only Autumn Merritt - one half of the Chicago based boutique Sir & Madame. Autumn is a married shoe-maven and mother to two, of what she calls 'the wild things.' I've known this lovely lady since college {yes, here we go again I have DOPE friends} and Autumn has always held her own in the department of fashion and style. As you can imagine, we naturally wanted to feature her here on From The Bottom Up! So on our trek across country {we moved to LA!} we stopped at the shop to catch up and see what's up with her closet.

Unlike some of our other shoots, we shot Autumn and a few selects from her shoe collection at her boutique. At first, it was a bit nerve racking, we're used to being able to have access to our subjects closets to peruse through and pull more magnificent shoes that shouldn't be missed. This time around, the editing and selection choice was 100% left up to Autumn and honestly gyals and gents it was damn good!

From Fendi to McQueen to NIKE to Puma and Kurt Geiger and some super chic cowboy boots, Ms. Thang has it all, literally! I can only imagine what her actual closet looks like. The backdrop of the store added some pizzazz and showcased Autumn's style in a rather unique way - since its her store, she and her partner {her hubby} are THE curators - we were still in her closet, just figuratively. And now, we're going to give you a sneak peek of her beyond eclectic and dope collection, but first of course take a minute to get to know Mrs. Merritt below.... 

Put your ideal outfit together, where do you start and what are you wearing/what is it composed of?

I think I start with color, which is usually Black, White, or Grey. I'm trying to incorporate more color, but who I'm doing it for I don’t quite know, so hell I'll stick with Black, White and Grey. From there I usually start with the bottom – in this case pants/jeans - which is important for me. Its difficult when you are curvy to find the right bottoms {laughs}. I’m an LVC , Levi, Cheap Monday type of girl. But my outfit generally consists of a pair of high waist black jeans, with a white blouse or white t-shirt. I'm a fiend for basic t's. I am completely alright with that {Black jeans/White top} being a uniform for me and then to my shoes. My shoes and my jewelry make my outfits. 

Name your top 5 fav shoe designers?

I don’t really have a top 5. I'm really all over the place. I gravitate towards what I like, naturally. If I had to sorta filter out my top 5 it would go a little something like this: I love Miu Miu and Proenza Schouler. I enjoy Alexander Wang and I like All Saints, especially when it comes to being able to just go - ME: "get your Black and Grey" {laughter ensues} yes, my Black and Grey and leather, All Saints is it.

Whose shoe closet would you love to raid?

Hmm June Ambrose. From heels to loafers and brogues she really does it for me. ME: You’re the second person who said June Ambrose, interesting. 

Define your style in three words?

Me: It can be more than three words {As she counts with her fingers}. Classic with a twist. The same way my husband and I describe the store {Sir & Madame} and the brand. I’m pretty simple.

If your shoes could talk, what would they say?

They would say 'girl go easy on me.'

So you’re a shoe, it can be a sneaker, whatever , you decide what it is. But what is it? How does it look? How does it feel?

My shoe first of all feels great. I’m a sucker for function and fashion. I say function first. They're going to have some hardware and they're going to be comfortable. Doing this interview I noticed a pattern in my shopping habits - I love hardware. They would probably be a flat. ME: I can dig it. AUTUMN: not like a ballet flat ME: No. More like a loafer or something with character and personality. AUTUMN: yes a loafer or a flat boot. Something with some meat to it. 

If there were a law passed that prohibited women from wearing heels, what would you do?

I’d be O-KAY! – with laughter.

 If you were stranded on an island, what three things must be with you?

Oh Jesus! {We both burst into laughter} Family counts as one right? ME: Yes. Ok, Family, Music and Food. ME: The three essentials!

Flash Round....

Vamp or Red? Red

Chanel or Celine? Chanel

Land or Sea? Sea

Now get into the shoes hunty....

Chanel's on the table.

Chain gang...getting up close & personal. 

Kick...push...coast Prada tassle flats. 

Cap toe McQueen Booties and Fendi's that will have you green with envy.

Pushing through...like a stallion. 

Shell shocked and duffles.

Michael Kors grommets on rack

Silver lining...Kurt Geiger platforms.

Backpacks, Dunks and Trunks.

And the Women are Wild.

Puma life...live wild...at all times.

Retros, Boots and Lace ups...They're all made for walkin.

Buckle up. 

Lean wit it. 

Earth strong.

Shoeluminati.

All-Star team.

The Edit.

Sir & Madame.

She got style and hops.

Want style like the lovely Autumn? If you're in the chi-town area head over to Sir & Madame located at 938 North Damen Avenue or just pop over to www.sirandmadame.com. And if you're looking for styles from her unique shoe collection - do what I tell all my readers...just shop!