Oh My! The Eighties are upon us.

I knew my high school fashions were considering re-surfacing last year when I began catching early glimpses of puffer vests on teenagers around town. Now, with more kids looking like Madonna-as-Material-Girl, Eighties Style is having a serious fashion renaissance.

As evidence, I present Jelly Shoes. A fashion choice in that I actually never indulged in the last time around - having at that point in my teenagedom already have moved into kitten-heeled pumps and the plotting of how to get a pair of sturdy-heeled (cobblestone appropriate) knee-high boots for my 17th birthday.

But I digress. Probably out of an avoidance instinct.

Oh yes, Jellies. Always a style that makes me think of 8-year old girls in pink shirts and floral embroidered jeans; perhaps because they have not gone out of fashion with that age group? I simply wonder how grown ladies pull these off. But hey, if it helps you keep a sense of play in your life, go for it.

So, while these are obviously not a trend that is calling to me, perhaps there is something in here that some of you folks reading will find to your liking. One thing I can tell you, designers this time out have not limited their styles to sparkly pink jelly flats and flip-flops.

We have sandals (including the still-hot gladiator silhouette):

GIvenchy ‘Lace-Up Jelly’ $170 at Saks.com (also in Orange, Olive, Fuchsia and Black at Shopbop.com)

Jimmy Choo ‘Jelly Thong Sandals’ $175 at Saks.com

Kors by Michael Kors ‘Shane Jelly Toe-Ring Sandal’ $72 at Shopbop.com ($69 at Zappos)

See by Chloe ‘Flat Jelly Sandals’ $125 in yellow or black at Saks.com (also at Shopbop in Yellow, Orange, Green, and Violet)

Ballet Flats:

Cesare Paciotti ‘Ballerina 20000′ in Red, Purple, White, and Black. $128.09 $189at Zappos.com

Tory Burch ‘Jelly Reva Ballet Flats’ $95 in blue or coral at Saks.com (also available in Pink, Yellow, Brown and Black at Shopbop)

Melissa ‘Ultragirl Peep-Toe Jelly Flats’ $70 in Pink, Blue and Black at Saks.com

Melissa ‘Campana Corallo Jelly Ballet Flats’ $60 at Saks.com

Melissa ‘Campana Corallo Webbed  Jelly Flats’ $80 at Saks.com

Sneakers:

Kenzo Shoes Lace-up Jelly Sneakers in pink, yellow, white, and black. $80 at Shopbop.com

Oxfords (And you thought that this trend was on the way out!):

Mellisa ‘Joy and Alexander Herchcovitch Jelly Oxford’ in Gold or Black. $100 at Saks.com

And, of course, Heels:

Melissa ‘Jelly Peep-Toe T-Strap Wedge’ $100 at Saks.com.

Oh, and in case you are wincing just a little bit at the not-so-humble prices being charged for colorful pieces of molded plastic (or is it flubber?) there should be Payless versions soon enough.

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I am so excited about my newest purchase that I simply have to share it with all of you folks!

New-in-box, but not new-this-season….

Cesare Paciotti Emerald Python Pumps. 

Have you ever had THAT MOMENT.  The moment when, innocently cruising the *Bay when you find an amazing auction opportunity?  Have you ever had your hubby, boyfriend, sig-other or what-not look over your shoulder right at the moment that you click to take a better look and say ‘Those are nice’, and ‘Wow, that’s a really good (starting) price (for the material)” … and the next day, in a conversational non-sequitur ‘So, do you still want them; you do have a birthday coming up’.

Yes!

With not-quite-two days left on the auction, I found myself investigating reptile care, authenticity concerns, seller reputation, et. al. Then, cautiously optimistic enough to take the auction plunge - and making sure to be home at the appointed hour (busy soccer Saturdays, don’t ya know) so that I could cross my fingers & bid at the last 10 minutes*.

*As a side-note, does anybody else have the inevitable luck that if they watch an item & don’t bid, the auction closes without selling, but if you place a bid before that last hour,  the act of bidding inevitably draws out some competitive lurker who will drive the price into the stratosphere?  Just wondering - since that’s always what happens to me if I don’t play the whole last-minute bid & hold my breath game.

So, three days and one priority mail box later left me in possession of these (as my sister notes) ‘Swank’ beauties.

And, check out that rock-star dagger detail.

Swank, indeed.

Did these need a little reptile conditioner and TLC? Yes, but they were neglected in a box for almost four years (2005 season) Four years old and not out-dated; I’ve started them on a shoe-spa regimen and they are already getting their sheen and suppleness back.

See, resisting boot temptation does mollify the Karma gods.

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