These are some of ShoeBlog's Most Popular posts.
This week’s FSHC brought to you by these heavily embroidered silk ladies heels from c. 1735.
Tell me Irregular Choice wouldn’t make this shoe today! I dare you! And I’d probably love it.
(Source: Shoe Icons Museum)
I swear, between Imelda Marcos, Holocaust shoes exhibits, and various dramas of more or less political characters involving their shoes, we should really have a regular column devoted to shoes in politics (may I remind you of Paul Wolfowitz visiting a mosque in Turkey and having to take off his shoes, thus revealing his raggedy, be-holed socks underneath, much to everyone’s embarrassment, frankly).
Today’s feature would come from Tony Blair. The Internets are abuzz this morning with news that Blair attributes his political success to a lucky pair of shoes he wore for 10 years every time he appeared in Parliament. France 24 reports: ‘I know it’s ridiculous, but I’ve worn them for every PMQs (Prime Minister’s Questions) … I’ve actually had them for 18 years,’ Blair told The Times in an interview, adding that ‘cheap shoes are a false economy.’ Learn from this man!
The lucky shoes were a pair of custom-made brogues made by Church’s, an English manufacturer of fine men’s shoes. At the time, Blair would have paid 150 pounds (almost $300) for a pair. Today, they would cost closer to 250 pounds.
No photograph yet of the lucky shoes, but here’s a pair of Church’s brogues to satisfy your visual appetite:
If you want these for your man, you’ve got to be ready to pony up 370 pounds ($750, or so). Gulp.
Ah, thank god for lasers–how else could we have a shoe covered in tiny, delicate flower petals competing with playful peek-a-boos that engage in frothy rococo swirls, imaginative leather bouquets that leave the viewer always thirsty for more? (Or I guess, we could rely on old-and-trusted handmade techniques, in which case each pair of shoes would cost an arm and a leg now.) Laser cut-outs in floral patterns come also in 3-D, where the cut-out has been turned into a pretty applique, or in 2-D, creating gardens of patterns that envelop the wearer in magic. If you’re a fan of this style, here are a few choices for a variety of occasions and budgets:
Hype Scheme flat, available in three creamy color combos, on sale at Endless for $74 (double that price at Zappos, if you want to know).
Anna Sui ‘Cherry Dipped’ Floral Flats, $268 at Anthropologie,
and Anna Sui White Floral Trainers, $258 at Anthropologie.
Dr. Martens ‘Laser 14′ floral-etched eye-zip white boots, $121 at Zappos.
Dr. Martens Mods Laser cut-out boots, $134 at Zappos.
Sesto Meucci leather mule with laser-cut floral detailing, $169 at Neiman Marcus.
Michael Kors Gogo laser-cut ballet flat, $113 at Zappos.
I know I’ve posted about vegan and vegetarian shoes before, and quite frankly, it’s not because I’m either a vegan or a vegetarian. More power to you if that’s your choice, but it’s not mine. But as someone who’s picky about her shoes, and therefore has a somewhat more limited palette to choose from, I sympathize with people whose choices in footwear mean they have fewer choices. So, here’s another find in vegan footwear: Bourgeois Boheme.
This UK-based company offers men’s and women’s shoes and accessories in vegan and vegetarian style, so you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for your beliefs.
Bourgeois Boheme has got styles to cover you from work to play, like this vintage-styled Evelyn heel in faux snakeskin (also available in blue and gray, or should I say grey, since this is a UK company, after all).
And how about this sexy little Nicole ankle-strap d’Orsay? Tres belle, n’est-ce pas?!
Or if you’d rather do flat, try the Veronica in fire engine red.
I’m particularly partial to the Anita, which is also an ankle-strap d’Orsay, but in a more casual style that I’m digging.
And who can’t resist a little sparkle? Me. That’s why I’m also loving these Kylie ballet flats (also in silver), perhaps named for the world’s favorite Australian pixie. After all, sequins aren’t from animal products, are they?
Bourgeois Boheme does ship worldwide, so even if you’re not in the UK, you can snap up some of these footwear goodies. And at less than 50 pounds UK per pair, they’re not going to cost you an arm and a leg, either.
The colorful butterfly appliques on these Rene Caovilla sandals may be a bit over the top, but I’m in a whimsical mood. I can’t think of a better shoe to help celebrate the new season (yay, I’m actually looking forward to the dog days of summer!). They’re enough to make my heart go aflutter.
Rene Caovilla Butterfly Sandals are on sale at NM for $664.
or
| © 2009 ShoeBlog | |||
|
|||
Piperlime
Recent Comments