Recently in Shoes Category

I hate to say this, but I totally LOVE the shoes Lauren Conrad is wearing in this recent photo.  I say 'hate' because I'm no fan: of her, her fashion line or that stupid show.  But I do think she looks pretty cute here with the Chanel bag, the awesome shoes and the silly bee-like sweater worn as a dress.

I've searched all over and I can't figure out who makes them.  No red sole so they're not Louboutin.

Here's the closest I could find:

Dolce Vita "Molly" at Dillards for $150.  The toe on these isn't quite as round, but they do have a good high heel - 4.5" with a hidden platform.

Aldo "Fristac" at Aldo.com for $250.  The description doesn't say how high the heel is (that is so annoying) and who in their right mind would pay $250 for Aldo shoes?  These aren't nearly as cool as Lauren's either.

Last, L.A.M.B. "Finsbury" at shopbop, on sale for $280, regular $400.  These are quite a bit different in detail, but I think come closest in overall coolness level to Lauren's. 

If anyone recognizes Lauren's shoes I would so LOVE TO KNOW what they are, please leave a comment!

Gucci's cruise collection for '09 has been out for a few weeks now.  In shoes they're showing a lot of faux tortoise, gold hardware, chunky wedges and platforms.

Here's a classic style that they've updated with the tortoise horsebit, the "Hollywood" 4.1 inch high heel open-toe patent leather pump. $595.

In handbags they're showing fringe, heart shaped logo crests, patent tortoise and updates of classic shapes and the hysteria style (and others) from fall and other past collections.

Here's the "Hysteria" Medium Hobo in tortoise patent leather with Gucci crest detail. $1,360.

Here's the "Irina" Evening Bag in metalic leather with the heart shaped logo crest. $695.

They're also showing a few designs with cartoon-like detailing that reminds me of Ed Hardy.

And some classic monogram totes with quirky dog embroideries.

Nine West has shamelessly taken a page from Christian Louboutin's design book with this platform peep-toe pump ('Raven' Boutique 9 by Nine West, $145), shown first, which looks very similar to the iconic Louboutin Very Privé Slingback style (version shown-Glitter Patent Slingback, $760), shown second below.

The styling of the slingback itself is different: the cut and also Nine West uses a small metal buckle whereas Louboutin uses elastic. And of course, no red sole on the Nine West.

I guess it's great to have "the look for less" option available to people who don't want to or can't spend $760 for shoes. But this also illustrates the divisive topic of intellectual property rights for design. It just doesn't seem right to financially reward companies who knock-off.  But then again it's hard to say that two designers couldn't have both had the same idea.

I also tried on some Tory Burch shoes at Bloomingdale's yesterday.  These big clunky lug sole pumps, $295.  I find the gold around the heel to be a bit garish but they looked so comfortable I tried them on anyway.  They are very comfortable, but they just didn't do it for me.

I also tried on a shoe very similar to this one below, but it had a sling back and peep toe, otherwise it was the same style. I didn't like the sling back. So this version, the "James" pump, $310 is better. I love the classic heel and round toe.  Again, I'm not crazy about the gold on the heel, but I could live with it.

There's also a new version of the Reva ballet flat, $235 that I really like.  A croco embossed leather with her signature logo medallion in leather instead of the normal gold or silver. Since it's such a large medallion I think it's a bit more tasteful not in a bright metal.

Like the LAMB shoes I saw, these were made in Brazil. I find that disappoiting. I very much prefer to wear shoes made in Italy, ONLY! I know the dollar is weak and that makes production there very expensive, but they just pass it on to us at retail anyway... I just think these are perhaps overpriced for being made in Brazil. At least with shoes made in Italy, you know you're paying a lot for the fancy brand, but you ALSO know that you are getting an incredibly well crafted shoe, nearly like art. That's why I don't mind paying so much for Gucci shoes. Even J. Crew makes many of their shoes there, so I cant' believe that Italy has become so expensive that the likes of Tory Burch and LAMB have been priced out. I think they're just pocketing the extra profit from having lower COGS. Anyway, sorry for that little rant, it's obvioulsy one of my pet peeves...

Walking through the frenzy that existed today at Bloomingdale's 2nd floor shoe salon, no one would ever guess that we'd just been through an historically bad and shocking week on Wall St. The scene was a mess: totally crowded, shoes everywhere (on the floor, mixed up, out of order), no place to sit, no mirror space to look.... annoying 15 year olds with their Moms buying them $400 shoes... etc. etc. It was really quite a debacle.

Anyway, I endured to try on some cool L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani shoes.  They were these killer super high pumps with a Vivienne Westwood kind of feel. L.A.M.B. Women's "Fen" Leather Platform Pumps, $395

I was very tempted, but I was disappointed that the line is made in Brazil. And, for the price I didn't think the leather was as fine as it should have been. I'm thinking about it. The other problem with these is that at a 5"+ heel, they will make my pants too short since all my pants are hemmed for 4" heels.

Here are couple more of the designs:

L.A.M.B. Women's "Finsbury" Leather Platform Pumps, $400

L.A.M.B. Women's "Rosebury" Leather Platform Ankle Boots, $520

Neiman Marcus has a great selection of classic Christian Louboutin pumps right now including the iconic "Very Prive" style in satin, patent and regular leather.

I particularly love these three styles:
Platform Pump with 5" heel in black nappa leather (pre-order) $700

Slingback Pump with 4 7/10" heel in black leather $770

Very Prive Platform Pump with peep toe and 4 7/10" heel in black leather $770

You can get free shipping until 11:59 pm July 6 with code JULYNM.

I can't recall this ever happening before, but I got an email yesterday announcing additional markdowns on their sale!  WOOHOO!  I guess the recession is even slowing down Gucci customers.  Anyway, it's a great opportunity to swoop in for some bargains.

For example, just what EVERYONE needs is these G shape ice cube trays (set of 2), normally $100, now only $39.

A great bamboo key ring, normally $160, now only $59.

In shoes, they were showing a lot of patent leather for Spring/Summer - I'm not a fan. But if you are, a lot of those styles are on sale. But check these out... "Pelham" high heel platform sandal with 3.7" heel in brown leather with light gold hardware, normally $495, now only $199!!!!

You can even find some great bargains in ready-to-wear fashion like these black tab waist pants in cotton/elastene. Normally $675, now only $269! Wow, that's amazing.

Hurry before they run out! Gucci.com.

The Michael label by Michael Kors makes some very reasonably priced and cute shoes.  Check out this one, the "Molly" Platform.  $133 at zappos.com

I like that it's got the slingback so it doesn't fall off your foot. I have a similar Anne Klein pair (without the slingback) that are just so hard to keep on my feet. I also like that they are leather (upper and footbed) but have a rubber sole. I'm not a stickler for comfort, but rubber soles are so much easier to walk in when it's a platform shoe and also are more durable. And in a shoe this price, it's not like you're going to keep them forever anyway, so having a leather sole that you can replace is not that important. It says the heel is 3 3/4", that's great.  I just love how it's so easy to find proper high heels these days (I mean 3 3/4 and 4"), it used to be a lot more difficult. 

This Spring Giuseppe Zanotti has come out with some crazy looking cut-out wedges in various styles.  Hideous or Fabulous?  I'm going to have to say hideous.  Although I would wear them, I think they would look great for part of a mod Halloween costume.

Cutout Turquoise Satin Wedge - available at the Giuseppe Zanotti boutique 806 Madison Ave., NY - $675

Cutout Leather Sandal Wedge - available at Zappos.com Couture - $754

Cutout Leather Sandal Wedge with Zipper Detail - available at Net-a-porter.com - $695

I posted a couple of weeks ago (see Feb. 26th entry) about high heeled gladiator sandals for Spring.  I found another good pair, so I had to put them up. They have a 4 1/2 inch heel and are $268.  I've found Coach shoes to be very well made and a good value... just not in the same league as Gucci, etc.  You cannot buy a real Gucci shoes for $268 anymore, well maybe flip flops.  That's because Gucci shoes are hand made in Italy and Coach shoes are not. 

This is totally geeky, but I love these shoes.  Most of the time (as I've mentioned before) I am in 4" heels, but when the occasion calls for walking around on cobblestone streets etc. these are perfect in a geek chic sort of way.  It's funny too because I had them in junior high school, but I had the high tops.  I don't like the high tops anymore though.  And, I found a picture of my Dad in the 60s wearing the oxfords in off-white.  Who would imagine we'd end up wearing the same shoes?  You need to get the black ones dusty when they are brand new, so the white part doesn't look so super white.  They're only $42!  And if you buy them at zappos.com you get free shipping and free returns (if you order the wrong size). 

We're seeing a lot of the gladiator style high heel sandals for Spring this year.  With platform or without, many with wood heels.  They're also showing the gladiator flats, but personally, I don't like those.  I'm a heel girl (always).  The high heel gladiator is a pretty versatile look - wear with skinny jeans, pencil skirts, tunic dresses, shorts etc.  Here are some options from drool-worthy Chloe and YSL to quotidian Nine West.

Chloe Platform $920 

Yves Saint Laurent "Tribute" $760 

Tod's "Plateau" $595  

Michael Kors "Granger" $164 (on sale) 

Daniblack "Nance" $140 

Nine West "Gaulla" $89 

The Nine West shoe is a Rachel Zoe "pick" on piperlime.com. I'm not sure that' a selling point though. I suspect her association with a Gap, Inc. company has more to do with a fat check than her actually liking most of the shoes. (Okay, maybe that's too cynical?)

If you're like me, then you believe that a perfectly designed shoe is like art. I would definitely classify Christian Louboutin's simple 100 mm pumps as this type of shoe.  Sorry I don't have some better pictures, with other angles.  It looks much better in person. 100 mm is just over 4 inches, the leather is super fine and soft, the shoes are incredibly light (of course as with any decent shoe the soles, lining and outer are all leather, this makes them really light), the round toes are the perfect round - rounded oval, and of course the distinctive red soles. Wow!

Isn't that just beautiful, in a classic style-icon sort of way?  If they put shoes in museums, these would have to be there. Louboutin's platforms are more popular, but I don't think they have the simple perfection of these.  They make the exact same shoe with an 85 mm heel, but to me the aesthetic is slightly off with the lower heel. 100 mm is perfection.

Louboutin shoes have been around since the early 90s, but it's really just in the last few years that they've become the ne plus ultra of shoes.  It used to be Manolo and Jimmy Choo, but now I'd say it's certainly Louboutin.  It doesn't seem like celebrities even wear any other shoe (okay, I'm exaggerating).

Here's an old picture of Nicole Ritchie in a similar pair of his pumps.  I think she looks seriously great, don't you? 

Louboutins can be hard to find depending on where you live.  New York actually has 2 stores, Madison Ave. and Horatio Street.  How lucky are New Yorkers?  You can also get them at Bergdorf, Saks, Neiman Marcus, etc. I think Saks has the best online selection.

The July fashion magazines are out!  I love this because they start previewing Fall.  Fall is my favorite season for fashion, I think it's because I used to get such a thrill out of "back to school" shopping with my Mom.  Clearly I am not in school anymore, but the season is still my favorite.  I always treat myself to at least one pair of special shoes.

I've found a candidate: see ad below from the July issue of either Vogue or Bazaar.  (I forgot which one I tore this page out of.)  I called Furla's Fifth Avenue store and these are not in yet, but should be in by the end of July/early August.

The magazines are showing a lot platforms for Fall, and these are particularly cool because they have a bit of a retro vibe and the heel looks like it must be at least 4" high (I hope so!).  Anyway, I hope they are fabulous in person as they look...

Cheerio and Happy 4th of July weekend!

Imagine my delight when I received a hand addressed invitation last week from Gucci to shop their Spring/Summer sale before it opens to the general public!  This is very dangerous for a Guccaholic.

Let me take you on my imaginary shopping spree at the Fifth Avenue, New York store where I usually shop.  (they also have a shop on Madison Avenue in Manhattan)

I would start on the third floor because I always go straight for the shoes. 

With restraint I have selected just two pairs.   First, the amazing crocodile platform sandals with a super high heel in a gorgeous chocolate brown...

And second, black 3.7 inch mules with the classic Gucci red and green web and light gold horsebit.  I have a similar pair with a silver horsebit, but I think it is good to have both to coordinate with your jewelry (white gold or platinum vs. yellow gold).

Next, I would go back downstairs to the street level to bags and wallets.  What I have been really wanting lately is a new black bag because my current black Gucci bag is starting to show its age.  I like the giant hobo with the giant horsebit because you can fit a ton of stuff in it and it has a cool slouchy look.

Next in bags, I absolutely adore the Bamboo print that they are using this year.  I am not sure if it is a vintage print that they brought back or it is a new one - either way it is fabulous.  I am bamboo crazy anyway.  I love (and have a couple of) their shoes with the bamboo detail.  I also love Tiffany's Bamboo collection in sterling silver, but they discontinued it.  :-(   Sorry, I was getting off track there.

This is the classic "Bouvier Bag" that they did this season in a ton of different leathers/fabrics/combinations.

Last of all, I would check out wallets.  The Spring/Summer wallet collection is somewhat limited, so I've picked out a unique one.   They brought back their vintage "Pigna" print, which looks to me like a pineapple.  It looks great with brown... so this would be a wonderful wallet to go with any brown bag.  It is totally unique and eye-catching.

After wallets, I'd be done! 

Wow, that was fun.  In reality, I will go and maybe buy one thing.  But I will REALLY try not to if I don't really need it because I realize that I have a shopping problem......

Happy shopping to my fellow shopaholics.