“Shopping With Men” sounds like “Running With Scissors” or “Riding in Cars With Boys.” Might be fun, might be bad.

In this case, shopping with my brother who’s visiting from LA has been pretty fun. He can pick out a good, colorful, hip outfit for a girl, which is impressive. He has ideas and feels strongly about them. A lot of guys couldn’t care less what women wear as long as it’s girly.

However, my brother does not seem to be able to tolerate weird crazy shoes or even shoes that are too intense, whereas my shoe tastes can be described as verging somewhere on the map between motorcycle, dutch boy, domme leather and hip cuteness. I took him to some of my favorite shoe stores and he was not digging the Galliano or the LAMB or anything like that.

What he thought was a little too out of control at Iris that I loved included the Galliano Platform Ankle Boot. Call Iris at 212.645.0950 to see if they have it in your size:

What he liked included chiller shoes like this Completely Lustworthy Galliano High Top Sneaker, also at Iris:

I’m not a huge fan of Shoegasm’s quality, but we walked by and it’s sort of a cheap thrill, so we decided to go in. He wasn’t so into this white boot there, which he said was too go-go for him and not cool enough. I’d thought it was pretty cute except for the overly curved, rounded vamp and toe.

What he dug at Shoegasm: This All Black cutie with leather laces. I loved it too and want it badly! I can’t find it online so it’s on my list to go back and check out on sale!

Here he is holding a riding boot that I would have liked if it weren’t for the buckle. We agreed that it is exemplary of what is wrong with shoes today. Sometimes a designer doesn’t know when to stop and just let it be simple. That buckle was the straw that broke that boot’s arch.

What do guys like on girls, I asked?

Boots, he said.

Duh, I said.

And flats, he said he actually likes flats (!!!) on a girl. And high tops. A girl who’s kind of chill who can just be relaxed.

But I guess to each his own. I want a man who wears wild Fluevogs and Gallianos!

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I took a stroll through the Meatpacking District after visiting the Highline and stopped at one of my favorite shoe destinations, Iris. This boutique stocks the best of the best, and they had the Marc Jacobs Studded Flat for $575.

In the past, I haven’t liked the Mouse Flats that these imitate in design, with their ears, whiskers and eyes, but these are much more wearable, with cute studs to boot.

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This year, the Footwear News Achievement Awards will take place on December 1, and it’s an invitation-only event at the Four Seasons. Ooh la la! The best and the brightest of the shoe world will certainly be strutting their stuff in beautiful shoes!

Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh, Steve Madden and Giuseppe Zanotti are just some of those being honored.

Hsieh is being honored for his unconventional leadership style at Zappos. With five weeks of training for employees, even those who just answer the phone or work in the warehouse, Zappos has amazing customer service.

Tony Hsieh may be drowning in shoes, but in a good way.

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I love the steampunk look, and shoes are just getting tougher and tougher by the day. Industrial underpinnings, from buckles to studs to metal heels, gird shoes to your foot like some sort or giant rolling machine these days. Boots are more popular than ever, it seems, being worn year round. And though the steampunk look has been around for a while, because it’s classic it will always work. The key is accessories and adornments. Keys, pocket watches, chains, hats, vests, gloves, and glasses are very important. Without the adornments, you’re just vaguely Victorian.

There are a few different steampunk looks, and I admit to not being deeply entrenched in the culture, but from what I can deduce, there seems to be a dark, classic look that’s refined and traditional. Boots are leather and look Victorian. There are pocket watches and metals, but it seems to stick to fairly light, delicate looks.

I prefer the male look to the female look. A smart pair of trousers with a vest and a hat — sometimes I wish I could dress like that every day.

The other look seems to be a sort of heavier, more industrial look. It’s more futuristic, in the style of H.G. Wells. There are more heavy chains and machinery-looking things.

The company PUREVILE makes jewels that would be perfect for your steampunk couture. My photographer pal Jake Alper took some photos for me of PUREVILE’s goods for sale.

As far as shoes, clip on earrings or vintage shoe clips are a great way to jazz up already Victorian looking shoes. They are mostly one of a kind, so it’s best to search on EBay for “vintage shoe clips” or “vintage clip on earrings.” Absolutely Audrey and Shoeworthy are other good places to look for vintagey looking clips. If you’re going for steampunk, stay away from the rhinestones and glitteriness and stick with bronze and gold metals.

Any man who can pull this look off is on my amazed list forever.

These Candela shoes would be great to jazz up with chains and shoe clips.

Anyi Lu and Chie Mihara would also be great sources for imitation Victorian shoes. Aim for leather, lacing, and a slim fit.

These vintage boots on Etsy are fantastic. For $68, snap em up if they’re your size!

Happy steampunking!

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This year I attended a Halloween Edward Gorey ball called “The Dwindling Party,” put on by the lovely organization Dances of Vice. Putting on Victorian, Edwardian and other period parties, Dances of Vice makes life in New York just that much more interesting by bringing out all kinds of interesting characters in intense period-modern mashup costumes.

The setting, a loft in Carroll Gardens, was ornately gorgeous and the hosts including the foxy Shien Lee were incredibly gracious.

Photos are all by my fantastic photographer pal, Jake Alper, taken specially for ShoeBlog.

Benjamin Ickies and This Ambitious Orchestra, who runs in the same circus circles as yours truly, was the highlight of the evening for us, with his fun arrangements, voice and accordion regaling.

There were some dramatic dance performance art pieces.

Ah, the outfits. Mashups, indeed. There was a strange and interesting mix of steampunk, goth, Victorian, creepy Gorey, typical skeletons and Halloween stuff, New Orleans, bowler hats, cravats and drag.

And now for the shoes. Which were, of course, dramatic. And there were men in corsets and high heels. No complaining here. Now they get to know what it feels like. And some of them looked better than I do in them!

Pilgrim shoes go dark and goth!

Senor below had quite the Senorita look going, and it was impressive how evenly he stood on those stilettos!

These look like they could be on ModCloth!

Those sock-boot straps are so big right now.

I was impressed with Madame below, who was already tall, but with these platform pumps, towered above most men there that night, and still was graceful. The fake blood was a nice touch to her sexy referee look.

Hope it was a fantastic Halloween for you with some great shoe sightings!

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