Shoes on the 81st Annual Oscar Red Carpet

Cursed the long gowns! Not that they aren’t utterly fabulous and TDF, but it makes spotting shoes that much more difficult.  Anyways, here are the shoes on the red carpet we’ve compiled thus far and we’ll be sure to keep you posted if we find others.

First up is Mamma Mia’s Amanda Seyfreid in a ill fitting Valentino Couture dress.  The dress looked infinitely better on the runway without the straps and is a size too large on Amanda’s petite frame.  Even her gray Jimmy Choo ‘Night’ sandals weren’t a top pick for me.

Alicia Keys, on the other hand, was stunning in this Armani Prive lavendar gown.  Her shoe of choice?  It’s the Jimmy Choo ‘Lance’ sandal, which is available in gold at Saks for $695.

One pair of shoes we didn’t get to see were these custom Casadei 1616 shoes.  They were worn by the lovely Anne Hathaway and matched her Armani Prive dress perfectly.  While she didn’t win Best Actress, she was one of the best dressed on the red carpet for me.

Sources: Celebutopia, Just Jared

This Week in Shoes

- If you’re looking for links to the shoes from NY Fashion Week, Fantastic Toe gives a pretty thorough rundown here, here, and here.

- The Olsen twins are expanding their fashion empire.  Next up for the the Elizabeth and James clothing line?  Shoes, of course.  Here’s a sneak peek: [via Olsen's Anonymous]

-Footwear designer Jean-Michel Cazabat has teamed up with Highline United to create Luxury Rebel, a new line of shoes inspired by the bohemian spirit and legendary music of the 1970s. [via WWD]

- In other collaborative news, Avant-garde design trio ThreeASFOUR is working with old-school French-luxe shoe designer Robert Clergerie for their upcoming fall 2009 show.  What to expect from the all-important shoes? Grays, black, metallics, and patents in the form of boots, pumps, and sandals, all with sharp angles. [via Elle's Blog]

The Mini Mini Market’s Maxi Sales

I have been going to the cute, funky, homespun little mom and pop shop Mini Mini Market in Williamsburg for I don’t know how many years. It feels like forever. And I have never seen them have such deep sales before. The shoe sales were particularly good, and I can always count on them to have reliably hip (yet usually not tragically so) shoes.

I didn’t get the names on all the shoes, but there are a fair number of Jeffrey Campbells, and they also usually carry BC shoes.

There were also handbag and clothing sales, of course, and in the back they have cutesy frothy lingerie and a wide assortment of knee socks and tights, which are a particular addiction of mine.

The Mini Mini Market also owns Shoe Market on N. 6th Street just off of Bedford in Williamsburg. I have been going to Shoe Market since the first day it opened and I was always addicted. They carry women’s, men’s and children’s shoes that Maddox himself would drool over.  Unfortunately, the website does no sort of justice at all to the variety of shoes they have there. There aren’t just granny-hipster Worishofers. You have to go yourself to check out the unique, interesting collection they curate. In a small shop, it’s all about editing down what to show, and I have always walked out with one thing I liked or at the very least great shoe advice or shoe accessories, like sticky pads to prevent heel slippage.

Other shops in Williamsburg are also having tons of sales. At Catbird, the adorable little Metropolitan Ave store is closing and everything is 50 to 75 percent off! Also check out the typically Williamsburg-nature-or-pop-culture-referencing-nomered Bird, Oak and Amarcord.

Altered Couture: Reconstructed Shoes

I am constantly surprised at the different fashion movements that we find around us. One of the more intriguing trends that has been on the rise (or revival) for several years is the Altered Couture & Art to Wear movements among home-sewers, hobbyists, and artists. These result in one-of-a-kind individualistic pieces that fulfill simultaneous roles as both art and fashion; function with beauty and individuality.  The fact that many of the creations combine artistic methods with recycling of past fashion materials is a bonus for those interested in living a more ‘green lifestyle’ – it seems a natural complement to those who tend toward a boho-chic lifestyle.

Why this topic? Simple, yesterday’s weekly ’pilgrimage’ to our local bookseller saw me purchasing the Spring 2009 issue of Stampington & Company’s ‘Altered Couture’ magazine.  Just look at the shoe-candy cover on this thing:

And the quick peak inside to give you an idea of the content and format:

Above photos via Stampington & Company website.

While there are occasionally articles on altered shoe projects, this issue has not one, but three different articles specifically focusing on individually reconstructed/altered shoes, plus two additional reader’s projects highlighted within the ’gallery’ subsection of it’s pages.  It is a lovely indicator that even in a tight economy, some people are drawn to add elegance and beauty into their lives – even in so simple a fashion as making a pair of sale-price shoes into unique pieces of wearable art.

Whether your are a crafting enthusiast, sewer, or simply a lover of unique or artistic shoes, this issue is an intriguing look at those who don’t settle for ‘store-bought’ but feel compelled to make a simple pair of shoes into something much more interesting.  The fact that the articles give a brief explanation on how readers can apply techniques to their own projects to achieve similar results is an added bonus.

And, at least one of the featured artists, Pat Berryhill,  has an online etsy storefront; one where the following unique items that were showcased in the Spring 2009 Altered Couture are currently offered for sale:

Here Kitty, Kitty Mary Jane Shoes $50, size 8-8.5

Snazzalicious Shoes $50, size 8

Marie A. Shoes $50, size 8

Cover price of this quarterly publication is $14.99. I have found it to be stocked at most Borders and Barnes and Nobles brick-and-mortar locations, as well as some news-stands and grocery markets. It is also available for order at the Stampington & Company website.

Of course, if you are a size 8, you could always pop over to etsy.com and decide if these are for you.

Christian… and Other Craziness of the NY Fashion Week Variety

My mama always told me trends come in threes.  Didn’t yours?

No?  Well, ok, my mama didn’t exactly say that either, but I think we can safely assume that three designers picking up a shoe trend means it’ll be making an appearance at the retail level for us plebs.  And I can’t say as I’m unhappy about that when the shoe trend in question is the lacy details that showed up in the Marchesa and 3.1 Phillip Lim shows and then again yesterday at Rebecca Taylor.

Me, I wouldn’t pair these pumps with trouser socks, but you know… whatever floats your boat.

Zac Posen seems to be trying to send some business over to the folks who make the Bedazzler.  Otherwise, how to explain the rhinestones on some of his shoes.

Also, no, your eyes are not deceiving you.  That is a velvet and clear vinyl knee boot on the right there.  *shudder*  Not a Zac Posen fan, me.  Very much not.

But the show I was most looking forward to, in news that should surprise none of you if you’re faithful Shoeblog readers, was Christian Siriano’s.  Much as I may find the man incredibly annoying to listen to, I can’t argue that he has great conceptual clothing.  And after Twinkletoes’s preview hinted at fabulous shoes to come, I was giddy with the anticipation.

And then came the show itself.  And you know what?  Christian Siriano’s shoes were the best part.

They’re edgy and cool and young and sleek, if not anything terribly far outside the box.  They sure as hell outdo the clothing, if you ask me.  Apart from two dresses, I found the whole thing to be a largely shapeless, unflattering collection of blah browns occasionally enlivened by a metallic texture or a teal tone.  Dare I say it (and here’s something I never would have thought I’d say about Christian), a lot of the outfits looked cheap and poorly-made, and the shoes are what provided the style spark.  Case in point:

That dress is a horror.  I’m sorry to be blunt about it, but that looks like something I could pick up at Forever 21 for $19.  The shoes, though?  Well, the shoes are a very Christian-appropriate FIERCE (and look at the retreating model’s gorgeous footwear, too)!

For those of you who followed that particular Project Runway season (and you can check out our shoe coverage over this way), you’d certainly recognize the over-dependence on ruffles and giant shoulder-bulging sleeves.  I’m disappointed in the line overall.  Except for the shoes.  And except for these two dresses, which are—to use another keyword of Christian’s—fabulous.

Want to check out the rest of Christian’s line?  Elle has pics here.  Agree with my assessment?  Disagree?  Comment your little hearts out.