shoes for a cold winter’s night

Well, where I live, winter has set in in earnest. It hasn’t been one of our worst, that’s for sure. But it’s no picnic either. We just got our first real accumulation of snow, which has now turned to the obligatory slushy, dirty, semi-melted/semi-frozen mess that happens when snow falls in a city. I’ve been living in my trusty Ugg’s, which are quite literally the only shoes that keep my feet warm in cold weather (damn you, poor circulation!) But I’ve also been looking around me at what footwear other people are turning to to face not only the cold, but the wet, slushy ground, as well. And what has amazed me is that I’ve actually seen very few solutions that seem feasible to me.

To me, a shoe for this kind of weather needs to be several things:

• durable–a non-slip sole with some treads is a must for not falling on your butt on icy sidewalks (your worn-out leather boots from a few years back might be OK to get slushed-up, but their smooth leather sole isn’t going to do you any favors on slippery terrain)

• water-resistant/waterproof–you don’t want the slush seeping into your shoes. Sure, my Uggs aren’t waterproof, but they are water-resistant and naturally wicking, which takes any water that may get in away from my tootsies

• high-rising–I’ve seen so many people walking around in Merrell slip-ons (seen here), which are definitely a good solution as far as the first two variables go, but when you’re climbing through mounds of snow at the crosswalk, your ankles are a vulnerable target for wetness and cold

I have to say that for this kind of shoe, I pretty much give up on fashion. Mostly they’re being worn from one door to the next, and then being taken off just inside the doorway so they don’t track dirty wet slush around inside. Here’s a prime example of where comfort and function is going to come before style almost 100% in my book. All those ladies traipsing around in their high-heeled Timberland boots in the snow are beyond me. If I can find a nice-looking boot, great! But if it comes down to one or the other… function is where I’m going.

So, with those variables in mind, here are a few prime choices (in my opinion) for people who live in places where this sort of weather pops up from time to time.

The Merrell Spirit Tibet high boot: Thinsulate, waterproof seal, traction sole–and cute, too! $125 at Altrec.com

The Sorel Teslin boot: waterproof, Thinsulate, fleece lining, bungee cord collar, rated to -25 degrees F (-32 C) In black for $112 at Backcountry.com, white for $139 at Lord John’s Footwear or honey or brown for $144 at Zappos

The Ugg Adirondack II boot: cozy sheepskin lining, Gore-Tex upper, Vibram sole (an excellent non-slip material) $189 at Zappos

With any of these boots, you should be able to navigate the treacherous slippery apres-snow city streets with ease, warmth, and comfort.

For those dog days of summer (they WILL come, I swear!)

Ladies and ladies, without further ado, I present to you, the invention you’ve been waiting for: the air conditioned shoe!

Well, it’s just a patent, and nobody know how it truly works, or whether it does work at all, but…let’s give it up for ingenuity!

Heights of Absurdity

Um, excuse me, but isn’t this just a tad ridiculous? I know Balenciaga has a devoted following, but Ghesquiere seems to have taken things a bit too far with this spring-summer 2007 collection. Fashion has always had this tacit component of objectifying and fetishizing women, and these impossible-to-walk-in heels take that assumption to the extreme. For, surely, you can’t really walk in these–at least not like a normal, sentient, aware human being. And if you can’t really move, and/or your gait acquires all the elegance and fluidity of a rusted robot, and/or after 5 to 10 steps your feet and calves are screaming and begging you to please, please get down from up there, for the love of all that’s holy–you’ve become nothing else than an object. Do fashion designers really hate us women so much? Will somebody please tell them to stop this nonsense? There’s nothing really revolutionary about these vertiginous trippers. Here’s something revolutionary for the Torquemadas of the fashion industry: comfort. A simple, yet painfully underrated concept. How about seeing more of that on the runways???

boudoir slippers for valentine’s day

Valentine’s Day (whether or not you’re celebrating with a special someone) is always a great excuse to look around at fun themed shoes.  And what I always love are the classic boudoir slippers.  They have that touch of sexy but also a playfulness and vintage style that makes me think of those 50s movies where everything the heroine wore was perfectly coordinated to her perky lifestyle.  For a modern version of what I’m talking about, check out Down With Love , which does that style very very right.

But on the slipper front, you can check out the actual vintage slippers at Silver Screen Loungerie , which are heavenly.  Or these new options.

$42 at Pinupgirlclothing.com

Or a slightly lower-heeled version:

$42 at Barenecessities.com

Or these, available in white or black and on sale for a mere $16 at Pinupgirlclothing.com

If you’re daring and want something red-hot, go for these

$36 at Babygirlboutique.com

Red Shoes for a Happy, Happy Valentine!

If you live on the East Coast like me, you’re probably wondering right now whether you’ll be able or willing to get out of the house later, with all this wintry mix shoved into our faces today. But! Never despair–put on a pair of steaming hot red shoes, and you’ll melt the most glacial of landscapes for this Lovers’ Day. And in that vein, may I suggest?

Sigerson Morrison metallic red pumps, fiery and delicate at the same time, $175 on Zappos.

These red suede pumps from Kate Spade are also luscious ($220 on Zappos):

I also like the sexy sillhouette and curvy details on this Sergio Rossi pump ($366 on Zappos):

…as well as these Moschino ladybug pumps, which practically do all the flirting for you ($399 on Zappos):

And of course, this would feel a little incomplete without mentioning a pair of scorching hot Louboutins, such as these satin platform stilettos ($680 on NeimanMarcus.com):

What are YOU wearing for Valentine’s Day today? Or alternatively, what would you DREAM of wearing? Do share in the forum!