Libby Edelman Shoes: Too Cheap To Be Good?

During junior high and high school I was a big fan of Sam & Libby shoes. The price was right, the styles were cute, and the shoes were comfortable. At some point I had wondered what happened to Sam & Libby and the shoes I had once loved. Here’s a 1989 article from the New York Times about the designers, Sam and Libby Edelman.

After selling Sam & Libby, the Edelmans began designing shoes under the names Sam Edelman and Libby Edelman. I have a few pairs of Sam Edelman shoes and really like them! But it wasn’t until I saw a pair of Libby Edelman shoes in a magazine that I went to HSN‘s website to see the selection (HSN seems to have the largest selection).

Here’s the shoes I saw in a magazine:

Libby Edelman Patent Cutout pumps in pink (also available in gray, black, and yellow) for $59 at HSN.

The shoes look cute, but also uncomfortable and not particularly well made. While looking around HSN, I wasn’t that impressed with the overall style of the Libby Edelman shoes available. The shoes looked cheap and/or had too many embellishments.

This pair of gladiator’s did catch my eye:

Libby Edelman Gladiator sandals in black (also available in tan) for $59 at HSN.

Has anyone bought a pair of Libby Edelman shoes? And if so, how did you like the shoes?

April 8th: One Day Without Shoes

On April 8th, TOMS Shoes is sponsoring an event called “One Day Without Shoes.” The event is being held to draw attention to the lives of children living without shoes. The reality of life without shoes, according to the event’s website, is startling. For instance, “In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil. Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.”

Anyone can participate in the event, and you can even join a group of fellow enthusiasts and go barefoot together. Here’s the list of events. I am posting this now, so interested persons have time to sign-up and plan accordingly.

If you do decide to participate, make sure to register on the website so you can be entered to take part in a Shoe Drop (all expenses paid!). As a shoe company, TOMS gives one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair of shoes purchased. These shoes are distributed during international Shoe Drops. I’m sure the experience would be very powerful.

Camilla Skovgaard Sandals

I am still on the fence in regard to Camilla Skovgaard’s shoes.

Do I like them? I just can’t quite seem to make up my mind.

They were certainly an original take on the past several season’s ‘everything gladiator’ sandals trend; original enough to have caused copyists to sit up and take notice.

But, I have just not fallen into even a single, mini, lust-filled frenzy for any of the Skovgaard designs thus far encountered. Of course, I never really got on board with the whole gladiator sandal trend in spite of its – to me – unfathomable popularity and longevity. So, I may just be having a core personality mis-match with this designer’s recent offerings.

And, while these are not my current, personal style, I freely admit that the distinctive, jagged soles on these are nicely eye-catching.

A few current styles:

Camilla Skovgaard Pebbled Leather Mules $450 at Saks.com

Mules are so incredibly not a personal favorite of mine.  But man, are we seeing a lot of them this year!

Camilla Skovgaard Collar Sandals $545 at Saks.com.

Yes, this is a nice, modern shoe in a versatile nude. And the whole wide, bondage-inspired ankle strap is always a little bit sexy on a shoe. I’m just not in love with the whole package. Again, it’s a personal taste and style issue on my part.

Camilla Skovgaard Suede Cutout Sandals $480 at Saks.com.

Once again, these are nice enough for a hybrid boot-sandal type of thing. And I do love the grey suede (Does anybody else remember pre-internet just how rare it was to find a gorgeous, grey, suede shoe of any style?).  Anyway, I just don’t have the mad shoe-love going on for these.

All personal opinion aside, originality and a recognizable artistic voice is always nice to find in modern shoe design. Camilla Skovgaard definitely has that whole artistic vision thing down pat.  I can easily imagine that several of our readers will find these to be right down their fashion alley.

And that’s as it should be. After all, how dull would it be for  us to all be wearing the same things?

Who knows, maybe the perfect Skovgaard for me just hasn’t been created yet.  Just because I’m not on board now doesn’t mean that some future creation won’t eventually ensnare my shoe-dreams.

Bacon Shoes at Zazzle

So I am looking through a cooking magazine for something to fix for dinner. In a sidebox they featured a pair of shoes. 

They are revolting.  They are heinous.  I want a pair.   

The Hover Bacon Extremes $64 at Zazzle.com

The close-up. 

Here is the funny part, there are about three or four options.

The Champion Slip Ons  $60 at Zazzle.com

So not only can you wear bacon on your feet, you can also wear breakfast.  These are not as revolting as bacon, but still pretty entertaining.  This website has opened up a whole new world for me. 

Breakfast Shoes $60

or Eggs and Bacon $72

There is a whole menu of stuff.  

Bacon.  Who Knew?

Update:  Nelodee mentioned the Eating Shoes by Tokio Kumagai, so of course I had to look it up.  I found a web site that showed several food in fashion pieces.  Here is a link to them.  Fiberarts Magazine  enjoy them.

A Great Online Shoe Store: Habitat

Habitat is my new favorite online shoe store! I have spent many a night putting off sleep so I can lust after Habitat’s well-edited selection of shoes. And if you live near Leawood, Kansas, you can frequent Habitat’s brick and mortar store (4569 West 119th Street, Leawood, KS 66209, Phone: 913-451-6360). I have purchased shoes from the website, and I was impressed with the service, especially as I needed to exchange a pair for a different size. Habitat’s current selection of shoes features so many great pairs that it’s hard to choose a favorite – so I’ve picked five!

I love the details on Chie Mihara’s Ajo t-strap! The shoes are so wearable yet fun! $420 at Habitat.

The buckle is so cute and functional on Coclico Odalisk’s heels! I am also loving the leather and color. $320 at Habitat.

Rachel Comey’s Margot flat is such a versatile shoe! I’m always looking for flats in neutral colors that have unexpected details to keep things from getting too boring. $275 at Habitat.

For a slightly lower price-point, Seychelles Gypsy heels in orange (also available in black) make a great summer shoe. I could totally see myself wearing these heels with cute summer dresses. $95 at Habitat.

I’ll spend much of the summer outside being “active,” so I need a comfortable shoe. Bensimon’s canvas tennis shoes are a bit more fashionable than most – and I love red (also available in brown). $55 at Habitat.