SS Fashion Week Footwear: Runway Drive-by

OK, friends, I have lots of interesting shoes to share from the NYC runways, so here goes.

We start before the jump with this one from Preen, which I put here, not because I like it or want to wear it or think it would be comfortable, but because it answers the question What would it look like if LEGOs and doilies and bikers had a baby and it took the form of footwear? And since that’s a question I just know you were all asking yourselves, I didn’t want to keep the answer from you one second longer.

And I will give you this one, too, from the Carolina Herrera show, because rarely have I seen a shoe that looks THIS painful to wear.

Now follow along after the cut for many more.

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2011′s Feminine Oxford Flats

I was a big fan of cute Oxford jazz shoes waayyy back in the 90′s; the combo of cute with dressy works for me.  So, with current trends starting to allow for shorter heels and sassy flats…let’s just say that  I’m not hating  fashion’s recent obsession for Oxfords with a more traditional, low-heeled silhouette.

My own closet is inordinately over-stocked with menswear-inspired heels and uber-impractical platforms. It’s definitely time for me to concentrate on acquiring more practical shoes for everyday wear and general errand running. Plus, flats, while not my faves aesthetically, are so much more practical for summertime outings to the park than my usual stiletto-sandal crushes tend to allow.

Here is what I am currently mooning over:

Betsey Johnson ‘Drrew’ $67.46 $89.95 at Zappos.com & Endless.com

Lusting after: (more…)

Happy Birthday Betsey Johnson!

  Betsey Johnson will have 68 candles on her birthday cake today.  To celebrate she is offering a 25% discount for purchases made on her website.

   Betsey was born August 10th, 1942 in Wethersfield, Connecticut.  She is best known for her feminine and whimsical designs.   While many of her designs are considered “over the top” and embellished, I love them.   

In the 1960s she was part of the Warhol night club scene.  Edie Sedgwick was her house model.    In the 1970′s she had a rock and roll line called “Alley Cat”.  I made an Alley Cat pants suit (Vogue patterns) in 1976.  If I could fit into it I would still be wearing that outfit.  It was one of my favorites.   In the 80′s she started opening stores.  Today there are over 4o franchise stores.  In the 2000′s she signed a license deal that made her designs more available through Betseyville.   Betsey is also a breast cancer survivor and is very active in the fight against the disease.   Her cheeky description of her style formua is,”Take a leotard, add a skirt.”

 She also does a cartwheel at the end of her fashion shows.  How cute is that! (more…)

UGG Art and Sole Auction

UGG Australia recently collaborated with a number of popular designers in the 7th annual UGG Art and Sole (Charity) Auction with proceeds benefiting the St. Judes Children’s Hopital.  According to the St. Jude’s website, this event has raised more than $315,000 for the hospital to date.

From the UGG’s website:

In 2005, UGG® Australia decided to use St. Jude as the primary charity for every annual Art & Sole celebrity boot auction. Each year select high profile artists, actors, and musicians are asked to hand design a pair of Classic Boots to auction off on the brand’s homepage during a fourteen day period in December. All of the proceeds are then donated to further the research for St. Jude. Last year, the 5th annual auction raised more than $105,000. Celebrity participants included: Liv Tyler, Miley Cyrus, Eva Longoria, Matthew McConaughey, Ellen DeGeneres, Martha Stewart, Jessica Simpson, Sharon Stone and many more.
Details

Each participant that agrees to design a pair of UGG® Boots is sent an art kit which includes everything they need from paint to sharpie markers. When finished, each celebrity signs each boot and a headshot before sending back to us. Then the auction begins!
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization.

This year’s designers included Manolo Blahnik, Betsey Johnson, Reem Acra, Giuseppe Zanotti, Rebecca Minkoff, LaROK, True Religion, Stuart Weitzman, Christian Siriano, Lauren Moffatt, Thomas Wylde, Chrome Hearts, PPQ, Zang Toi, Rebecca Taylor, Erin Wasson, Jenni Kayne, Miss Sixty, Leanne Marshall, Pamela Roland, Carlos Falchi, Eugenia Kim, Chloe Dao, and Rafe New York,

My favorite was the flowers and butterflies offering from LaRok (Final bid $2100)

But, the biggest winner for St. Jude appears to be this strappy, studded boot by Rafe New York which ended it’s bidding at $2750.

Final bids on the boots varied from that just-shy-of-3k high-bid down to a more modest $500 for these Thomas Wylde’s skull-themed boot:

Now, let’s play a game!

How many boots can you match to their designer without peeking at the auction link at the top of this story?

Answers are listed after the break below.

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Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Extravagaza

Last year we wrote about the Ruby Slipper Extravagaza in celebration of the 70^th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz.  Some of the world’s top shoe designers were chosen to reinterpret Dorothy’s iconic Ruby Slippers for modern times.  At the time, only artists’ sketches were available, but now the actual shoes created are available for viewing.

The shoes are currently on display at the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED ™ Store in Soho  until September 15 -23. If you can’t make it to the store,  you can view the collection online and even bid on individual shoes via an online auction (www.rubyslipperauction.com) benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.  Bidding closes on  the evening of September 24, 2009.

Wizard of Oz Collection: Roger Vivier Shoe Design

Wizard of Oz Collection: Christian Louboutin Shoe Design

Wizard of Oz Collection: L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani Shoe Design

Wizard of Oz Collection: Betsey Johnson Design

Final Reminder: For slippers of a different sort, enter the Dearfoams slipper giveaway here.  Contest ends TONIGHT!  Of course, they aren’t nearly as beautiful as the ruby slippers showcased above, but I’ll bet they are more comfortable.