ASGI: Isn’t Science Beautiful?

Ahhhhhh ASGI, producer of extremely comfortable footwear, we are quite fond of you. For those of you who have been with us awhile, you may remember that this Science-of-Shoewearing brand showed up here on Shoeblog last spring when Shoesense reviewed their “Joy” Mary Jane. She went through their amazng Soleplex technology, but since it’s always a good time for good news, I am going to tell you about it again. Here is the first major reason to get interested in this brand, and fast:

ASGI claims to design their shoes “from the inside out” and in this image of the heeled version of their 3-tiered Soleplex design, you begin to see why. In this image, tiers 1 and 2 make up the “Footbed and Stabilizer” level. It is a contoured base that conforms, memoryfoam-like, to your your foot so that you almost feel like the shoe was made for you. It is then reinforced to provide extra support. The bottom tier is a combination of the “Chassis” and the “Pods” that are seperated in the flat version of the shoe. The Chassic is the stong durable foundation that gives you stability even on cobblestones and uneven ground. The “Pod,” or in this case, the heel, is carefully placed to distribute weight. Even though this is a heeled shoe, you are in no way balancing on your toes. For more information on Soleplex technology, check out the ASGI website.

The CLAIM: ASGI shoes are designed with comfort first and then wrapped in the latest fashion designs.

The TEST: Twinkletoes will wear the Carina Bootie all over the streets of New York and render her decision.

The VERDICT:

Here is a photo of the Carina bootie in which I did, indeed, traipse all over Manhattan.

CLAIM 1 RESULT: COMFORT. I found that ASGI totally lives up to the hard sell on the Soleplex technology. The shoe does actually feel like it molds to your foot. The longer you wear it, the more comfortable it gets. On top of that, New York is incredibly hard on shoes. Virtually ever pair of shoes I own looks like it has been in a streetfight. In the past I have found that the heel caps on my shoes can wear down with one wearing. ONE! But the polyurethane Chassis and Heel scoffed in the face of the NYC streets. Subway Grates? Sure, I got caught in them (I am not the most graceful of girls), but they came right out with nary a nick on them. Questionable puddles in the street? No problem! The leather was not damaged at all and any grime just washed right off! These babies are amazingly street savvy.

CLAIM 2 RESULT: FASHION. On this level, I feel that ASGI has a little way to go. I paired these with several different looks to see how they worked.

Business:

Casual:

Dressy:

I think that it definitely works best with the work look. It is a sturdy, comfortable work shoe but i think it needs a bit of tweaking before it can be called full-on Fashion. My main issue with it is the toe box. The squared off toe looks a little old-fashioned to me. Tweaking it just a little by making it either rounded or pointed would go a long way for the look. I understand that it is supposed to loafer-esque, but I think the look needs a bit more streamlining. However, I stand firm on the idea that if you are looking for comfortable, good-looking work shoe, these are perfect.

I did spend a great deal of time perusing ASGI’s website and found that the Daisy Ballerina shoe is super cute! Based on my time with the Carina Bootie, I am also 100% certain that it is incredibly comfortable. In addition to the black style, it is available in gold and silver, a perfect fit for the new Spring trends.

You can find the Carina Bootie ($102.00) and the Daisy Ballerina ($104.00!) on Footwearetc.com.

Spring Sandals

I’ve been on the beach in Florida for the past couple weeks, where I’ve discovered that life revolves around sandals, mostly of the flip-flop variety (witnessed by The Sartorialist today), as you can’t really traipse around in platforms on the beach (though I have seen valiant style disasters, especially cute Japanese girls, try to do it).

Spring weather in the cities, however, means hot sandals, not flip-flops.

What to wear this spring as the weather gets better? (I know you New Yorkers were still complaining about the lack of spring as of a couple days ago but it’s almost 60 degrees up there now!) Polish those tootsies up at home (to save cash for more shoes!) with some nude, fuschia or burnt orange polish (the colors of the season, much to my dismay!) and look to 2009 resortwear sandals. Or, if you’re like me, ignore resortwear if you don’t like those colors, and get some daring black or gold sandals to show them off.

You can’t help but look at these sandals, but they look so tough that they might yell back, You lookin’ at me, then barb you in the eye with their studs, grommets and motorcycle embellishments. The supergirly, superfloral spring trend that invariably pops up every year, I just can’t really get down with that.

You’ve seen Rodarte’s 2009 photos on this blog before. I have to admit that I’m dying for a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood’s Rodartes, even if they make me fall like model Abbey Lee. Not his weird white platform fall 2009 handcuff Dorothy diva queens, but the spring ones debuted last year. I would wear these black pretty chaingangs anywhere – I wouldn’t even take them off on the beach!

I also love me a little Christian Siriano, as does seemingly everyone on this blog, even though I’d rather have these in black or fuschia… anything but brown (shudder) although they do look distinguished. Can I get this in a FIERCE sandal version, Christian?

I found these more wearable Jeffrey Campbell Ibiza sandals at a cute boutique called Elements in Berkeley. I couldn’t find the ones with pyramid studs online, but you can find a similar pair with regular studs at David Z for $88.

If you like it a little less black and spiky and a little more along the lines of soft and gold but still splashy with some softer studs, try DVF’s Wicked sandals for $295.

These Anna Sui gladiator wraparound folkies will have the Roman boys falling all over themselves to get at you.

Yes, we know everyone expected the gladiator trend to (someday) die and go away, but here they are again and again. There’s something enduring, easygoing, eyecatching and classic about them that I should have realized from the start when I advised a friend AGAINST buying a pair a season into the trend, thinking they would go away too soon to be worth the high pricetag. Will they be classic and still wearable seasons later, we wondered. The answer was YES.

The knee-high ones might be a bit riskier for long-term wear, but if you can’t afford Anna Sui or Chanel, go with a cheaper pair at Topshop and still look current. It’s been a few seasons so I’d say it’s now fairly safe, if you’ve been scared to rock it thus far. I have been, and I’m going to go have fun with it, even though I’m so late on the bandwagon that I can hardly see it rattle off into the distance anymore.

This Week in Shoes

- One of Nike’s first shoes was inspired by…a waffle maker? [via MakeZine]

- What do you do after desiging the First Lady’s Inauguration dress?  For Jason Wu, the natural progression was shoes [via NY Mag]

- Booties were a major shoe trend at Nickelodean’s 2009 Kid’s Choice awards.  [via Red Carpet Fashion Awards]

Coveting Cesare Paciotti

I am so excited about my newest purchase that I simply have to share it with all of you folks!

New-in-box, but not new-this-season….

Cesare Paciotti Emerald Python Pumps. 

Have you ever had THAT MOMENT.  The moment when, innocently cruising the *Bay when you find an amazing auction opportunity?  Have you ever had your hubby, boyfriend, sig-other or what-not look over your shoulder right at the moment that you click to take a better look and say ‘Those are nice’, and ‘Wow, that’s a really good (starting) price (for the material)” … and the next day, in a conversational non-sequitur ‘So, do you still want them; you do have a birthday coming up’.

Yes!

With not-quite-two days left on the auction, I found myself investigating reptile care, authenticity concerns, seller reputation, et. al. Then, cautiously optimistic enough to take the auction plunge – and making sure to be home at the appointed hour (busy soccer Saturdays, don’t ya know) so that I could cross my fingers & bid at the last 10 minutes*.

*As a side-note, does anybody else have the inevitable luck that if they watch an item & don’t bid, the auction closes without selling, but if you place a bid before that last hour,  the act of bidding inevitably draws out some competitive lurker who will drive the price into the stratosphere?  Just wondering – since that’s always what happens to me if I don’t play the whole last-minute bid & hold my breath game.

So, three days and one priority mail box later left me in possession of these (as my sister notes) ‘Swank’ beauties.

And, check out that rock-star dagger detail.

Swank, indeed.

Did these need a little reptile conditioner and TLC? Yes, but they were neglected in a box for almost four years (2005 season) Four years old and not out-dated; I’ve started them on a shoe-spa regimen and they are already getting their sheen and suppleness back.

See, resisting boot temptation does mollify the Karma gods.

Jeremy’s is a Goldmine

Twinkletoes had told me about Jeremy’s in Berkeley, and what a goldmine their clothes and shoes were, so I had subscribed to their e-newsletter featuring sales and had been oohing and aahing over the email pictorials for a full year, but little was I prepared for the real experience, which finally happened a week ago. Berkeley makes you think Birkenstocks, right? Not so! Cute little boutiques full of reasonable, hip lines like Pink and Tulle are de rigeur for the Elmwood section of Berkeley near the campus, and Jeremy’s is the best of them.

CHA-CHING! SHOE GOLDMINE!

The prices were so reasonable, the place was so well-organized and the gents who worked the shoeshop were uberfriendly. Yes, there are quite a lot of J.Crew items. But if you’ve ever shopped in the mucky chaos (and fun) that is Gabay’s or Tokio 7, this west coast cousin of those stores will have you yelping (literally and online) for joy about how organized and pleasant the shopping experience in.

And don’t forget to check out the clothes and other accessories too, shoeaholics! Gorgeous clutches, sunglasses, gloves and belts to fill out your new chic (and … shhh, cheap!) shoe collection. I have a weakness for Italian leather driving gloves and opera length gloves, so the next time I’m in there, I’m fighting you for them, be forewarned! I can get down like Isla Fisher in Confessions of a Shopaholic!

And here’s what you’ve been waiting for: the info for Jeremy’s. Now hop to it, saleistas!