I love Diane von Furstenberg breezy wrap dresses–flattering and bright, the very definition of feminine. So I really really wanted to love her shoes–I really tried–but instead I ended up, oh, I don’t know–a little underwhelmed? Some of the choices were really meh, like this “Comfy Chic” slide:

A simply metallic band attached to a chunky cork wedge–yawn!

I tried to get up my enthusiasm with these:

There’s nothing wrong with these Dolce thong sandals per se, but the $240 price tag puts a cramp in my style. I guess they’re pretty, but again, I guess I expect even more pizzazz from Mrs. Diane.

And speaking of thongs, she seems overly enamored with them. Now, I’ve never been a fan of high-heeled thong sandals. I’ve only recently  (and barely) gotten used to wearing thong sandals at all; but having that bit of leather rubbing between your toes with the added pressure of the high heel? Why, that must be torture! So this is why I don’t understand why this is needed for a sandal that would otherwise work fine without the thong–the CEO stacked heel sandal:

It’s a pretty sandal (even prettier in red), but–why the extra thong? There it is again:

I actually love the simplicity and lines of these Milano cutout mini-wedges, but…don’t love the thong–simply because it’s not necessary.

Overall, while I’m not necessarily impressed with the collection, there are several attractive options that might float some other people’s boat. Me…I’m going to stick with her dresses for now, thank you very much!

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Shoesense’s appreciation for the androgynous in shoe design is well documented. Manolo has offered suggestions for “soft butch” shoes for the indeterminately-gendered.

And I, too, am a sucker for a shoe that’ll fit my lady-size feet, but give me a bit of a masculine kick.

That’s why I’m lamenting the fact this particular Japanese shoe trend is apparently only out there for men.

I’m not even sure how to characterize the trend, but I saw it a few times during my travels around that country. Here, I’ll just show you the kind of shoes I’m talking about.

That second pair, especially, I am in total lust over. They’re sort of one part oxford and one part Harry Potter. And all parts covetable. Someone find me a pair in my size in the USA!

Or I suppose you could just offer them sized the way I saw some lower-end Japanese shoes sized: S-M-L. It’s true. Unbelievable though it may seem, you can buy shoes in Small, Medium, and Large. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself.

Yes, that’s an “L” on the bottom of that boot (and upside down in this view). Maybe this explains why I saw so many women wearing shoes that were much too big for them with their heels slipping up on every step.

Huh. Strange.

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I know what you’re all waiting for is the pictures from my recent Japanese jaunt that show the excesses of wobbliness and heel height that I saw on some Japanese women’s feet.  And believe me, those are coming.  But first I thought I’d showcase a few examples (apart from the Greatest Shoes of the Whole Trip) of the more sensible shoes that still retained a funk and style, since that’s what we Shoebloggers really love to wear ourselves.

First up is a pair that was actually worn by one of the friends of the woman whose gold low heels earned my gold ribbon.  These have a wedge of a couple inches, yes, but they were neat looking.  And they had an ingenious element to them that I saw on a number of shoes in Japan, which is a small zipper along the inside of the arch.  This means that in a country where you take your shoes off going into many buildings, you don’t have to spend the time untying and retying your shoes all day long.

Next up, a pair of green almost-flats.  Not sure how clear it is in this picture, but the tiny low wedge in there is trimmed in snakeskin around the edges except for a little strip on the heel.  These were snazzy.

The weather was beautiful for most of the time we were there.  You wouldn’t know it from looking at these boots, but really there were no Arctic temperatures.  I must say the boots are cute, though.  They make me covet a pair for cold East Coast winters.  And they made me appreciate the reasonable comfort for a day of walking.

And finally, this pair of adorable 2″ heels would make a much more manageable pair of professional shoes in my book than a 4 or 5 inch stiletto, of which there were plenty.  Love the bows (which were sparkly) and the purple metallic leather.

Next time on the Japanese Shoe Connection: a few well-shod fellows in footwear I’d love to have in my size.

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Got the Monday morning blues? Well, ShoeBlog has just the thing to cheer you up. We’re excited because we have two back-to-back contests for you this month.

Our first giveaway is the Bread N’ Honey shoe by a new brand called London Underground, which launch in Fall 2007. These triple buckle mary-jane shoes are a neutral putty color that pairs well with jeans. Can’t you imagine going to a rock concert in these? The decorated, printed stacked heel is also spot on with this season’s trend of decorated heels except they aren’t razor sharp stilletos that will give you intense pain at the end of the day. The winner of our latest giveaway will receive the Bread N’ Honey, which retails for $100, in their size.

Before I go into contest entry details, I thought it would be fun to mention some of the subtle originals of the shoe, which is by designer Paul Kaufman. During a meetup with Paul and the London Underground team (Hi Tamara!) at WSA I discovered the brand was named after the London underground transportation system. What’s even more interesting is the purpose of the raven and brass hardware resembling diamonds or jewels on all the shoes. In London, ravens protect the Tower of London and the crown jewels. According to legend, if the ravens ever left, Britain and the monarchy would fall. Similiarly, the raven logo on London Underground is meant to protect the shoes and the jeweled hardware. Didn’t think you would get a history lesson with this post, did ya?

Okay, by now you’re itching to enter this contest. It’s pretty simple, actually. Just submit a comment to this blog post by midnight PST on Sunday April 27 Monday April 28th (due to clarification on international entries). Good luck!

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Croc haters may have reason to celebrate. At one point last week, Crocs’ shares fell 43% after lower earnings forcasts and sluggish sales. A Crocs manufacturing plan is also closing in Canada.

At the CMT Awards, Taylor Swift had Faith in going barefoot.

Why does the pope wear red shoes?

If you didn’t see her feet you could confuse her as a professional runner. - Shoewawa on the Stiletto Run

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