Shoespiration – Nine West Gilficco Strappy Sandals
When I began my blog journey some years ago, our go-to destination for photo shoots was Richmond, VA. Richmond is steeped in Civil War history and remnants of the Old South’s charm still feel warm and inviting. Its allure has captured my heart and it’s the only city that draws me back time and time again.
As frequent visitors to the River City, our photo shoot locations are nearly exhausted. Though Richmond will never cease being a photo shoot destination, we’ll go back for the sake of history and nostalgia, we wanted a fresh new location. A place with character and history. A place like Fredericksburg, VA.
Fredericksburg, VA has always been on our route to Richmond, but we never paid any attention to it. Aside from visiting the Stonewall Jackson Shrine (a Civil War must see!), Fredericksburg remained in our peripheral. Little did we realize it was a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
Enlightenment occurred on the Fourth of July when Dad suggested we explore Fredericksburg for my latest photo shoot. Our interest centered on the Battle of Fredericksburg which was in part the first urban combat since the Revolutionary War and resulted in a Confederate victory. We headed to the Visitor Center at the battlefield just in time for a tour.
Our tour guide was an awkward intern from Gettysburg College. He was nice, but slightly inarticulate. As we walked the sunken road/stone wall which protected Confederate soldiers from their Union aggressors, our tour guide claimed our view of this battle would change when we got to one spot. We were not sure what he meant by that, but we went along with his storytelling in anticipation of finding out.
He situated us in front of a white house.
According to this tour guide, the Union troops positioned in front of the Innis house could not advance because the house was obstructing their view. The group of us looked at him and then each other uncertain if he was being serious or facetious. An uncomfortable silence filled the air as he seemed very proud of this “revelation.” That was until my dad raised his hand and asked what all of us were thinking:
“Couldn’t the soldiers have moved to either side of the house to get an unobstructed view?”
I held back my laughter, but some in the group were not so disciplined. A few snickers here and there before the tour guide quickly gave an unsatisfying response about the heat of battle and so much confusion. In retrospect, he was the confused one as we continued the tour without ever knowing how our view of the battle was supposed to be changed.
Across from the white house is the stone wall/sunken road along Marye’s Heights.
Confederate General Thomas Cobb commanded a portion of the stone wall.
We quickly parted ways after the less than stellar tour because we had a photo shoot to make happen. The sunken road and stone wall seemed like the perfect spot for this heel/outfit combo because the colors of the backdrop complimented this look.
The heels are Nine West Gilficco strappy sandals and still available here. There is a lightly cushioned footbed that makes these sandals somewhat comfortable. However, I can see myself needing sitting breaks to make these heels last all day. 😉
The stiletto heels are approximately 4 inches making them high, but not too high. 😉 I paired them with a floral skirt and yellow top for a dressier look.
Unfortunately, the oppressive heat and humidity on Independence Day really wreaked havoc on this shoot. My hair was a mess and I was sooooo sweaty. Gross! Even my limited Photoshop skills could not save the majority of these pictures and Dad took hundreds of them that day.
Eventually, the rain arrived leaving the area a soupy mess. We ended the less than ideal photo shoot with a walk through the historic district. On our walk we located a historic slave auction block on the corner of William and Charles Streets.
It was the “principal auction site in Pre-Civil War days for slaves and property.” In June of this year, the Council voted 6-1 in favor of moving this piece of history to a museum, but it’s still there as of this post.
In the coming months, I will be sharing more of Fredericksburg. There is so much to see here and it is becoming one of our favorite destinations for history and photo shoots. 😊
Hope y’all are having a great week!
Style with a Smile!
XoXo,
Lizzy
Ashley
October 3, 2019 @ 1:40 pm
These sandals are SO fun- the color just makes me happy! I love reading about you and your Dad’s adventures! He sounds like such a character. 🙂
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Elizabeth H.
October 3, 2019 @ 2:10 pm
Thank you, Ashley! And I’m pretty certain you just made my dad’s day with your comment. He truly is a character!
Eva
October 3, 2019 @ 3:49 pm
Love this sandals, they are just perfect with your look. A really interesting story.
Kisses,
E.
http://www.withcapitale.com/2019/09/munich-oktoberfest.html
https://www.instagram.com/withcapitaleofficial/
Elizabeth H.
October 4, 2019 @ 2:36 am
Thank you so much, Eva! I appreciate the time you took to read the post and comment. Looking forward to checking out your blog! 🙂
jodie filogomo
October 3, 2019 @ 5:08 pm
I love that you tour around for your photos shoots too, Lizzy!! And those shoes have me drooling,
XOOX
Jodie
Elizabeth H.
October 4, 2019 @ 2:35 am
Thank you, Jodie! Yes, my dad and I love history. So, we always indulge in it when we get the chance. Glad you like the heels too. They are definitely a pretty color. 🙂
Greg
October 3, 2019 @ 5:33 pm
For many July 4ths we’ve made the day special by taking a daytrip to a Civil War site that we had not yet visited. This year it was Fredericksburg and in earlier years Petersburg (City Point), Harpers Ferry, Manassas, Antietam and Richmond. Different places but always a good time.
I think our tour guide this time around meant well, but it seemed he needed a tad more schooling. I’m still not sure how the Innis House figured into the calculus of the Battle of Fredericksburg, but it is amazing that it survived. It’s just a wood frame house that was caught between to large armies in pitched battle. For me the fact that it wasn’t blown to smithereens is far more incredible than any role it may have played in helping or hindering the Union assault.
The town of Fredericksburg really surprised me. I wasn’t expecting it to be so charming and full of interesting sites. Of all the sites, the one that really caught our interest was that slave auction block. We only learned about it from the battlefield visitor center and even there it was barely mentioned. If we had not learned of it, we would have driven/walked right by it (as I’m sure many others do) without ever noticing it. That would have been a great loss. I wouldn’t want to pass that block without knowing that at one time human beings were regularly displayed and sold on it. Seeing it there still resting in the spot where it was so horribly used truly moved me. It brought home that no matter how one figures slavery figured into the cause of the Civil War, slavery was present then and it was just as plain, ugly and brutal as that one wretched block still sticking out of the sidewalk. I’m glad the city leaders haven’t moved it. Putting it behind glass in a museum, it would be just one more thing of the past. Whereas in its current location, it’s very much a thing of the present. A stark reminder of how horribly mankind, even today, can stoop.
Elizabeth H.
October 4, 2019 @ 2:34 am
Your summary always adds more insight to my blog posts. Thank you, Dad! I agree with all. 🙂
Greg
October 4, 2019 @ 11:31 am
Thank you Lizzy. I was hesitant to note this earlier, but not every one passing the auction block pays it no or appropriate notice. Sadly there are people who pay it the wrong kind of notice. Standing atop it, clowning and mugging for pictures. So sad. If they only understood the history they’d know just how disrespectful their behavior is. It’s because of them the city leaders voted to move the block into a museum. To save it from such desecration.
Elizabeth H.
October 4, 2019 @ 10:47 pm
You’re welcome, Dad! I’m certain this is one of the reasons the council voted as they did.
Michael C
October 3, 2019 @ 6:43 pm
Another fabulous blog I know you took time to put this together, nice to include your father in the blog , colorful display in your choice of outfit and heels you really should be promoting shoes for a living !! Thanks for writing and putting this blog together Elizabeth!!!!
Elizabeth H.
October 4, 2019 @ 2:30 am
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Mike! I really appreciate it! Yes, my dad makes the blog every once in a while! And you are always so generous with your words. Hope you have a nice weekend, my friend! 🙂
Jill
October 4, 2019 @ 1:09 pm
What a fun adventure! I’m swooning over those yellow sandals! That color makes me so happy!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Elizabeth H.
October 4, 2019 @ 10:45 pm
It was so much fun! Thank you, Jill! 🙂
Jessica
October 7, 2019 @ 12:25 am
This is such a cute combo on you dear! Love the yellow top and floral skirt.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Elizabeth H.
October 7, 2019 @ 9:17 am
Thank you so much, Jessica! 🙂
Margot
October 7, 2019 @ 4:06 am
This place looks so interesting !
I love your yellow sandals. There are so beautiful and I love how you style theses with this pretty outfit.
xx
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com
Elizabeth H.
October 7, 2019 @ 9:17 am
It is quite an interesting place, Margot. Thank you for your kind words as always. 🙂 Happy new week!
SundayDahlias
October 7, 2019 @ 2:30 pm
Thos shoes are so cute! As a fan of strappy shoes, I love yours!
http://www.sundaydahlias.com
Elizabeth H.
October 10, 2019 @ 12:28 pm
Thank you so much, babe! 🙂
Nina
October 9, 2019 @ 6:25 am
Loving your shoes dear!
Have a great day! xx
La ilusión de Nina – http://lailusiondenina.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth H.
October 10, 2019 @ 12:27 pm
Thank you so much, Nina!
Aditi
October 10, 2019 @ 5:03 am
These sandals are so beautiful! They look absolutely amazing with your outfit.
Adi xx | http://www.fancycorrectitude.com
Elizabeth H.
October 10, 2019 @ 12:27 pm
Thank you so much, Aditi! 🙂