This issue of Ask the Shoebloggers comes from a friend of mine with a dilemma that’s got to do with a very of the moment trend.

What kind of (hopefully comfy) shoes look best with the now-trendy
wide-trouser-leg pants? I have a pair of nice wide jeans/slacks, and
I’m always worried I look a little Saturday Night Fever-ish if I wear
close-toed shoes or platforms–but I can’t wear flats because they’re
too long.

First off, I have to say that I support the trouser jean trend. Sure, you have to be careful about the high-waisted aspect, but it’s so much more flattering on so many more people than the horrible skinny jeans that are still unfortunately making the rounds on many more legs than they should be.

I, too, have bought a pair of trouser jeans, which I love, and I specifically had them tailored with a little extra length, so when I wear them, it’s got to be with heels or platforms of some sort.

Here are a few solutions I go for, illustrated with shoes that are close to (if not exactly) ones that are sitting in my closet.

First off, there’s the dainty look with a low wedge (which, for me, means 2″ or less). Or really any wedge, since if you want to go for more height, a wedge is a fairly comfy way to do it.

To avoid Saturday Night Fever, stick to something that doesn’t have a platform. Here are two pairs that have just been/are about to be added to my collection that I’m already planning on pairing with the trouser jeans.

Ecco Durango ($140), which is a good option to transition from one season to another.

or

Taryn Rose Kaelyn ($445), which is a more warm-weather choice, particularly if you opt for the leafy green color.

I’ve been pairing my trouser jeans with boots for the past few months while the weather’s still been cold. Everything from a 2″/2.5″ heel, sleek sort of boot like the Kenneth Cole Kiss Hello ($110)

to the classic cowboy boot (a good sturdy, comfy way to get a couple inches of height). Mine are Lucchese, similar to the N4540 pictured here, and on sale right now for $263 at Shoes.com.

Also fun would be sticking a pair of Camper Twins under your trouser jeans. Since just the toes will peek out from under the wide legs, I’m all in favor of those toes being interesting and different. I’m all about these Peacock heels ($165), which also come in another color combo that you can get directly from the Camper website.

Pretty much, I’d say almost anything goes. Just stay away from platforms, yes, because the 70s are over. Closed-toe shoes should be fine, as long as there’s something interesting going on with the toe (see above examples: stitching, buttons, open-toe, multi-color appliques). That should keep your inner disco diva confined to her proper place where she can keep you going all night on the dance floor instead of looking like you’re missing your John Travolta.

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It’s time again for Ask the Shoebloggers, and this time it’s not shoes for the bride, but for her bridesmaids.

Here are the initial parameters for this, our newest mission (which, of course, we chose to accept):

My best friend is getting married in September and we’re trying to find the perfect bridesmaid shoes—please help! Our dresses will be black, and she’s hoping to find a black shoe with some red and/or yellow on it (the colors of the wedding and bouquets). Our dresses are knee-length, and very 50s style with a wider skirt and fitted top—not too fancy.  Our location is in the U.S., we’d love to keep the price below $75, but could go up to $100 if need be. A mid- to high heel would be great!

With that, our very own Shoesense went on the hunt and came up with a first round of suggestions. First up was the gorgeous, but too pricey (at $270, and that’s on sale at Piperlime down from a full price of over $400!) Sophie by Cynthia Vincent.

Piperlime also has the Nine West Drazly 2 pump in black and red for $80.

From Nordstrom comes the pretty red/black version of the Boutique Nordstrom Melina pump (also $80).

And finally, the all-black Bruno Premi Deja-Vu slingback ($85).

That was our first round of suggestions. Then our bridesmaid-to-be responded with this:

Thank you so much for your help! We took a look at what you suggested and our bride thinks she would prefer to do a solid yellow shoe, and then put a sash on our dresses or a headband in our hair or something. So now we have changed the focus to yellow. I liked the style of the Nine West one you sent, and we really like a few at J. Crew, but they are a bit out of our price range.

The J. Crew styles she particularly liked are the Gwendolyn satin t-straps ($225)

and the Cleo patent leather t-straps ($195) that are so juicily lemon colored I want to make them into footwear lemonade.

And so now I’ve taken up the call for a yellow shoe, the official Shoeblog favorite color of spring, and very hot right now.

The rsvp Daina is a pretty lemony yellow patent leather sandal ($70) with a swooping heel detail I pretty much love.

The Nine West Argent in yellow satin is a pretty good substitute for the J. Crew Gwendolyn’s, but it’s only $64 at Endless instead of over $200. This one also comes in a yellow leather, but the color doesn’t pop nearly so much as it does in satin.

In other Nine West yellow options (of which there are several), there’s the Doverly ($80), which isn’t solid yellow, but might work anyway.

And if you want to go the super-dainty feminine route, there’s the lovely, refined Solelyn ($64).

The Jessica Simpson Chasie slingback ($100) has that same dark heel/yellow combination as the J. Crew Cleo, though with a heel of 4.75″ I can’t imagine dancing the night away in these at the reception.

There’s a new batch of suggestions for our wedding planners. Let’s see if any of them work out.

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It’s been a while since I’ve read or seen anything on former Oscar winner, Gwyneth Paltrow. However, recently the internet is abuzz with discussions not on Gwyneth’s latest movie (Iron Man) but her choice of stilleto stunners. They are quite the antithesis of what you would expect from the soft spoken actress, wouldn’t you say?

Reader Mike asked us to ID these 7-inch booties which were seen on Gwyneth.

Photo via JustJared.com

Originally, I thought they might be a hybrid of one of these shoes from the John Galliano Fall 2008 collection, especially due to the tassels, platform, and the bondage and outrageousness of the shoe, but I was incorrect.

Shoesense (thanks!) discovered that the Sun had identified them as being heels made by designer Guiseppe Zanotti. Apparently, they were so high that Gwyneth required support to help her balance and walk properly. Gwyneth has quite the gams to show off, but the mere thought of how painful these might be should, logically, deter any rational human being from getting anywhere close to these shoes much less shell out major bucks for them. Wrong again on my part. There is a wait list for these shoes now. Sigh.

Other sky high contraptions for pain seen on Gwyneth include (from top to bottom): Givenchy peep-toe boots, Burberry boots, and the more easily identifiable Christian Louboutins.

Photos from ThisIsLondon.co.uk

For more on Gwyneth’s crazy shoe selections, visit ThisIsLondon.co.uk.

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A regular reader just asked me the following:

I’m looking for super cute t-strap flats. Not mary-jane t-strap flats, not gladiator-like sandals, but t-strap flats that have a pretty low vamp (closed-toe) and a simple back to cover the heel. I saw a girl wearing a pair, an absolutely flat pair; the only other pair I would want is from Nota Bene:

But, I’d still like a flatter shoe with more styles I can choose from…from patent leather to all sorts of crazy colors. Do you know any off the top of your head??

Well, let’s see. I’ve cheated a bit on some of the details, because there are so many excellent t-strap choices out there. Like the pretty Robert Clergerie sandals I mentioned in yesterday’s post.

There’s the Gumdrop by Oh Deer!, which fits the bill for coming in fun patterns and colors, has a closed back and toe, and is a proper t-strap. There’s a houndstooth wool version on sale at Piperlime for only $57 (but only in a 7.5–if that’s not you, try Zappos, where it’s $104). For spring, I like the blue patent, but there’s also red suede and black patent, too.

Anthropologie has these nautical cuties, which are a bit on the mary-jane t-strap side, but are adorable and relatively inexpensive ($88). They also have this pair of silver three-strand t-straps (m-straps?), which are not only trendily metallic for spring 08, but they’re absolutely gorgeous, too. Also only $88. Check out the toe view. And these certainly fit our reader’s description… yes, I have to say it… to a tee.

If you want to stick with Anthropologie, but prefer the woven trend for spring, snag these brown leather t-straps for $78, which are a bit mary-jane-ish, as well, but low-vamped for all that.

Matiko has a classic black patent t-strap that fits the bill and also comes in navy. It’s only $45!

Here’s another one that goes mary-jane style, but is so perfectly spring-like that I MUST include it. It’s the Shandi from Pink Studio, and just look at this pretty buttery yellow that’s fresh and clean without being too saccharine sweet. Or this bright coral red (this one’s $70 at Piperlime), or my very favorite of them all, this perfect robin’s egg blue version?

So, how’s that? I know some of these are exactly what you’re after, dear reader, but there are some in here that should fit your bill, and by george, are they all cute. Anyone else have suggestions? Feel free to chime in in the comments.

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A couple of weeks ago, Shoeblog.com searched the depths of the online world in a quest for dreamy fuschia wedding shoes for a very contemporary and stylish spring bride.

We thought the Nine West Luxious shoes (left) would be a perfect fit for our future bride and they were. Sadly, the size wasn’t available on Zappos and our lovely bride almost had to settle for a different pair of shoes (Chinese Laundry pump; right). Fortunately, Endless.com (which is my new Zappos given that Zappos recently did away with their free overnight shipping) came to our rescue. They had the fuschia Nine West Luxious shoes in stock, with the right size, AND they were four dollars cheaper than Zappos.

I was so eager to see our modern bride with her new shoes and I’m sure you are too. So without further ado, here comes the bride (can’t you just here the wedding march hymn in your head)!

My shoes came today! Thank you so much shoeblog.com! I saw my package was in as soon as I came in from work, I tore them out of the box, took off my Chuck’s, and tried them on right away! I added my tiara so you can tell how it will look with the dress on! (^_^) Just kidding!

And since our bride has assured us that her darling fiance will not be reading our blog (who would have thought that would be a good thing?), I present to you our super fabulous and lovely bride during a wedding dress fitting. Doesn’t she look gorgeous?

Note: Picture siloing done by the bride herself. She happens to be pretty great graphics artist (we know because, as a thank you to us, she designed us a fun Shoeblog logo which we will be revealing in the upcoming weeks).

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