I think I’m the only one in the world left who actively likes Gwyneth Paltrow. And dagnabbit, I like her sense of style, too! Not always the most flattering, this is true, but she shops outside the lines, and in a way that I usually think looks great on her. So, seeing her out and about for her Iron Man publicity tour has been fun for me. And boy, has she been parading the insanely high heels lately!

But the pair that grabbed my fancy has much more to do with the gladiator sandal trend.

Because how can you not love these Giuseppe Zanotti shiny gold sandals?

(photos from Just Jared)

If you have the cash and want to shell out for these pretty puppies, a very similar (though not identical, despite what other sites seem to say) version is available at Endless for $650.

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Remember Camileon Heels? The company that makes sleek heels that convert from 3.25″ high heels into manageable 1.5 inchers?

Brilliant idea, right? Wearing heels to work is a much easier proposition if you don’t have to worry about bringing a purse big enough to carry them while you wear a comfy pair for the commuting. And sure, you could leave the heels at your office, but then you’re down a pair of shoes at home, and that’s a dicey proposition. What if you’re heading out for a night on the town, and you want that pair of heels to pair with your mini or your jeans? See where I’m going with this?

Right… walk to work in your heels, then play Rubik’s cube with the heel until the higher version is clicked into place.

And the reason I’m posting about these again is that they’ve got a few new styles that I think are super cute. It’s nice to see they’ve expanded from the few purely basic styles they began with, because yes, it makes more sense to have a simple black pump if you can only have one style. But come on! We all like some flare, don’t we?

Well, Camileon now offers some flare (without getting too out there) with options like the Marta, with its stylish cap-toe and stitching.

In a similar vein, but with a pointier, slicked-down sling-back version, is the Valeria.

But my very favorite (and just in time for warm weather, too) has got to be the Mariella, which has just a hint of the bondage shoe to it with its buckles and patent leather accents, but keeps it all chic and simple at the same time.

You can check out the Camileon Heels site to shop online or to find a retailer near you (sorry to most of our international readers, so far the shops are only in the US, unless you happen to be in Winnipeg, Canada). Or, some styles are available at Zappos.

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Today the April showers have decided to have one last hurrah before May comes. But let that not deter us from excitement about springtime shoes.

On a recent stroll through the high end department stores in New York City, I snapped some pictures of shoe friends old and new that are out in the stores.

First up, of course, how can I pass by the now-infamous Marc Jacobs heel-less shoe? It’s on display at Bergdorf’s in all its oddly-shapen glory.

(those are my MUCH comfier Converse sneakers there reflected on the pavement, and believe me, I won’t be making that trade anytime soon)

At 10022-SHOE, the shoe floor of Saks that’s so big it needs its own zip code, corset styling is the rage. Chanel’s combined it with their classic quilted pattern in a variety of colors.

Though I must say I’m partial to this more literal interpretation of the corset, with ivory waxed canvas peeking through the laces.

Don’t want such crazy high heels (because I sure don’t)? Then how about these classy little loafer-inspired ballet flats.

Or my very favorite shoe spotted on the whole floor, this flat Prada boot.

It’s a flat! It’s an ankle strap! It’s Super Boot!

Tell me this wouldn’t be the perfect footwear for a really well-styled lady superhero. If my wallet had the ability to stretch indefinitely, this boot would be coming home to my closet, that’s for sure.

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Spring has finally sprung here on the East Coast, but rain is on the way for this weekend.

And thus is inaugurated this year’s discussion of warm weather rain shoes.

Until now, I’ve been partial to the Kelly from Kate Spade, especially in this pretty chocolate/lemon color combo (which is only $116 at Zappos).

But another solution has just presented itself. SWIMS. Yes, that’s right. Like the watery sport. But these aren’t your typical water shoes.

No. SWIMS are Norwegian-designed galoshes like your grandpa used to wear in old man fuddy duddy fashion. But don’t think you’ll look like gramps when you slip these on over your cute but non-water-resistant footwear, because these are CUTE.

The women’s style comes in 5 colors (liquorish, pearl, bubble gum, chocolate, and lemon), and will keep your own shoes protected snugly and safely in the rain.

Of course, they won’t help with high heels, and they recommend going up a size if your shoes are super long and pointy in the toe. But this makes a great deal of sense, if you ask me. Instead of hunting down one pair of shoes to wear with your rainy day outfits, you can just slip these on and keep your shoes matched nicely with your outfit.

Pricewise, they’re not that terrible. The site (which ships internationally) has them for 75 Euro (at the moment, just under $120), which is about what you’d be paying for those cute Kate Spades up top. Only these can go with all your other shoes, too.

Seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it.

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Dear readers, I have officially come to the end of my shoe pictures from Japan.  And it’s only appropriate that that end be the most common trends of Shoes on the Street.  I have to say that while I envy the Japanese women (and men) some individual shoe styles, I don’t envy them their constant wearing of pointy-toed high heels.

Case in point, these two pairs.  Please note that both were observed on women who were clearly walking around Kyoto sightseeing.  Yes, that’s gravel in one and uneven stone steps in both.

Ouch!  My feet hurt just thinking about walking around in those shoes all day.

Same thing goes for these sandals, which I’d expect to see on someone’s feet for a night out on the town (a mainly seated night out on the town, if they were on my feet), but were also being worn around a park full of temples and shrines.

Apart from the heels thing, the other major trend (which I’ve already mentioned) on the feet and legs of Japanese women everywhere is decorative socks and stockings.  I bought myself a bunch of them, because they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and styles.  Here are a few in their natural habitats.

I was head over heels for this pair (and the shoes are nice, too), which reminded me in a major way of those John Galliano lacey socklets that I loved last year.

This pair is pretty basic black, but check out the embellishments on the shoes themselves.  A frilly sock on top of that would just be overkill.

And this last photo was a woman who was wearing black knee socks with a double frill of lace around the top edge (think garters), but what I loved about the shoes is that they’ve got a little click-clacking charm hanging down from the underside of the sole right at the heel.  If you look at the larger version, you can see it more clearly.

And there it is, Shoeblog readers out there.  Shoe photos of Japan brought to you by Jitterbugbaby.  I now return to my regularly scheduled Stateside shoe-scoping, and will keep my eyes open for fun international shoes only via the miracles of teh intarwebs.

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