Extra 15% off at Bluefly this weekend

And yes, that means up to 65% off fabulous shoes.

Speaking of which: I know I wrote about coveting yellow shoes a post or two ago, but I’m now considering upgrading to a pair of Yello Loubous:

Yellow-leather criss-cross cork wedge with a PVC strap and a generous platform–they’re called “Scout” and they’re now 56% off, going for $245 at Bluefly. Not cheap, and the height definitely gives me pause, but it’s chic, it’s Louboutin, it’s spring…and I’m seriously flirting with them. By all means, go find yourselves something pretty, too!

PS: If your budget is tight, consider entering our $100 giveaway. Seriously! All you have to do is post a picture of an old pair of shoes you should probably get rid off, and you’ll have a chance to win our $100 gift certificate at Endless, or a similar-value pair of shoes from the new Pierre Hardy spring collection at Gap. Truth is, your chances are pretty high right now because there are very few entries (should I, tragically, assume that our readers cannot be bothered with a new, fresh, beautiful pair of shoes, or $100 in cash to be used as they see fit at a premiere online shoe store? Nah! But really, we can’t wait to offer one lucky reader a good chance at sprucing up her shoe wardrobe! Just click on the banner at the top of the page, enter, and you’re entered in the drawing!)

Friday Shoe History Corner: Fairy-Tale Edition

This week’s Friday Shoe History Corner comes via a wonderful little book called The Book of General Ignorance: Everything you think you know is wrong. According to the authors, Cinderella’s slippers were NOT made of glass.

Oh, no. They were made of squirrel fur.

“Charles Perrault, who wrote the familiar version of the story in the seventeenth century, misheard the word vair (squirrel fur) in the medieval tale he borrowed and updated for the similar-sounding verre (glass).

Cinderella is an ancient and universal story. The Chinese version dates back to the ninth century and there are more than 340 other version before Perrault’s. None of the early versions mentions glass slippers. In the original Chinese story “Yeh-Shen,” they’re made of gold thread with solid gold soles. In the Scottish version “Rashie-Coat” they’re made of rushes. In the medieval French tale, adapted by Perrault, her shoes are described as pantoufles de vair–slippers of squirrel’s fur.

One sources says the vair/verre error occurred before Perrault and he merely repeated it. Others think glass slippers were Perrault’s own idea and that he intended them all along.

[...]

As well as polishing up “Cinderella”–adding the mice, the pumpkin, and the fairy godmother–Perrault reduced their peasant bloodthirstiness. In the medieval original, the ugly sisters cut off their toes and bunions to try on the slipper, and after the Prince marries Cinders, the King takes revenge on them and the wicked stepmother by forcing them to dance themselves to death wearing red-hot iron boots. Much of this bloodthirstiness was later reinstated by the Brothers Grimm.

In Three Contributions to the Theory of Sex, Freud claimed slippers were a symbol for the female genitals.”

- From The Book of General Ignorance, pp. 233-4.

P.S.: Aren’t you glad Disney didn’t get their hands on the peasant version?

Oxymoronic footwear

Sometimes, I stumble upon footwear that is so oxymoronic in nature that all I can do is … stare. And scratch my head in hopes it will directly massage my brain in order to warm it up for this type of stylistic gymnastics:

Sheer mesh booties. Yes, for grown-ups. They do exist.

I have to say, they’re on a par with these rabbit fur sandals (by Zanotti, no less):

See, that’s reason no. 1,423, 204th to love shoes, right there: they expand immeasurably your “Who would have thunk” mental catalog.

Put a little yellow in your spring.

Yellow is a hard color to pull off, especially when it’s on your shoes. I never owned yellow shoes, and I’m pretty sure that since the time I turned 12 I never wore anything yellow.

This spring, however, things are going to change. Yellow is big, and some of yellow shoes proposed by the designers are positively delightful. Every year I make one big shoe resolution–a couple of years ago it was throwing out my high heels; last year was buying more peep-toes; and this year, I think I’m going to make the leap to yellow.

I’m not sure what to choose though, especially when the choices are so varied!

Cynthia Vincent Sophie in black and yellow, 270 at Piperlime.

Kenneth Cole Button Up yellow suede flat, $120 at Piperlime.

Rafe Irina bow flat, $220 at Piperlime.

Dolce Vita Moritz peep-toe Mary Jane, $100 at Piperlime.

Frye Cameron skimmer, $148 at Piperlime.

AK Anne Klein Foxie, $89 at Piperlime.

Paul Green Vienna thong sandal, $219 at Zappos.

Kate Spade satin and crystals sandal, $299 at Zappos.

Gabriella Rocha Studio Cota, $109 at Zappos.

Franco Sarto Fancy, $89 at Piperlime.

Tory Burch Reva2, $195 at Plaza Too.

Chie Mihara Quake flat, $310 at Nordstrom.

…I’ll tell you what, I’m going to go and mull over this for a while…

Ask the Shoebloggers: Flat T-straps for Spring

A regular reader just asked me the following:

I’m looking for super cute t-strap flats. Not mary-jane t-strap flats, not gladiator-like sandals, but t-strap flats that have a pretty low vamp (closed-toe) and a simple back to cover the heel. I saw a girl wearing a pair, an absolutely flat pair; the only other pair I would want is from Nota Bene:

But, I’d still like a flatter shoe with more styles I can choose from…from patent leather to all sorts of crazy colors. Do you know any off the top of your head??

Well, let’s see. I’ve cheated a bit on some of the details, because there are so many excellent t-strap choices out there. Like the pretty Robert Clergerie sandals I mentioned in yesterday’s post.

There’s the Gumdrop by Oh Deer!, which fits the bill for coming in fun patterns and colors, has a closed back and toe, and is a proper t-strap. There’s a houndstooth wool version on sale at Piperlime for only $57 (but only in a 7.5–if that’s not you, try Zappos, where it’s $104). For spring, I like the blue patent, but there’s also red suede and black patent, too.

Anthropologie has these nautical cuties, which are a bit on the mary-jane t-strap side, but are adorable and relatively inexpensive ($88). They also have this pair of silver three-strand t-straps (m-straps?), which are not only trendily metallic for spring 08, but they’re absolutely gorgeous, too. Also only $88. Check out the toe view. And these certainly fit our reader’s description… yes, I have to say it… to a tee.

If you want to stick with Anthropologie, but prefer the woven trend for spring, snag these brown leather t-straps for $78, which are a bit mary-jane-ish, as well, but low-vamped for all that.

Matiko has a classic black patent t-strap that fits the bill and also comes in navy. It’s only $45!

Here’s another one that goes mary-jane style, but is so perfectly spring-like that I MUST include it. It’s the Shandi from Pink Studio, and just look at this pretty buttery yellow that’s fresh and clean without being too saccharine sweet. Or this bright coral red (this one’s $70 at Piperlime), or my very favorite of them all, this perfect robin’s egg blue version?

So, how’s that? I know some of these are exactly what you’re after, dear reader, but there are some in here that should fit your bill, and by george, are they all cute. Anyone else have suggestions? Feel free to chime in in the comments.