Counterfeit Christian Louboutins

Posted by r5bales in Dolce Vita, General, Harajuku Lovers, High heels, Just for Kicks, Mary Janes, Platforms, Pumps, Shoe Advice, Steve Madden Shoes

Lately, all over the internet, on sites that strive for a good, honest reputation (Luxist and ShoeBlog included) banner ads for shoe sites such as LouboutinMall, LouboutinBox, and other Louboutin url derivatives have been popping up advertising “genuine Christian Louboutin pumps for only $150″. There has been a fair amount of discussion about these sites, including why the advertisements are showing up (for ShoeBlog, we rely on an advertisement network to serve up ads to pay for our costs and have little control on that gets added. We try to take down spammy ads but sometimes, to our chagrin, they pop up faster than we can remove them). The main question all of us have wondered is, are these sites selling authentic Louboutins?

Christian Louboutin as a company is not a publicly traded. So, Mr. Louboutin has full control over the product, marketing, and quality.He graciously turns down investors on a regular basis instead, focusing on sustainable profit, design, craftsmanship and his customer of which he has many loyal. He does not want to answer to investors; he has the luxury of serving his loyal customers, employees and complete design control.

Now, if he has turned investors down regularly because he wants quality control, WHY in the world would he flood the market, charging wholesalers $75, or even $100 for handcrafted high quality shoes? (Remember, wholesalers typically double their cost). We all know these are fakes. Pure and simple. I am not going to go into the moral aspects of the conditions in which these fakes are manufactured.  My issue is quality of your purchase.

Twenty four years ago my husband purchased a Louis Vuitton handbag after the birth of one of my boys.

It cost about $600. It seemed like a fortune to a young mother.  I have used the hell out of that bag.  It was a diaper bag for 3 children, it was a weekender bag, it is now a carry-on bag when I travel.  It has aged reasonably well.  Why?  It was made with real leather and superior craftmanship and it still looks wonderful.    Ten years ago I bought a Louis Vuitton fake for $40.  It looked good for about 2 weeks.  My granddaughter now plays with it in her dress-up box. When I buy something I always figure, “It takes me X days to pay for this, is it worth it?” So, is it worth 3 or 4 days worth of work to pay for something that will last six months at best? Will you have this fake 20 years later?  You will have the real deal 40 years later

Do you want a platform pump for about $150?

Dolce Vida Madison Steve Madden Slique

A maryjane?

Carlos Infinity Harajuku Lovers Infinity

Triple platform?

Steve Madden Triplet Enzo Angiolini

Are these exactly like Louboutin shoes.  Of course not.  Are they quality shoes?  I think so.  Are they counterfeit?  No.  I think the most touching posts I have read is by Islingback in ShoeBlog’s forums.  After hard financial times, she was able to buy a pair of desinger shoes.  Would she be as thrilled with a fake?  I don’t think so.

We want Louboutins because he has spent time, energy and money to make a shoe and a reputation as the best.  With a fake you will get neither, except pictures which have clearly been stolen from Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Ebay of authentic Louboutins.  As consumers, let’s be responsible with whom and how our money is spent.  I learned my lesson ten years ago.  It cost me $40.

Update:  From NYMag, here’s more confirmation from a Louboutin spokeswoman that the shoes are fake and also responses from the counterfeit sites confirming as well.

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Cusp Online Sale

Posted by galligator in Boots, Dolce Vita, High heels, Hot Shoe Deals and Steals, L.A.M.B., Manolo Blahnik Shoes, Mary Janes, Oxfords, Platforms, Pumps, Sandals, Spot the Shoe on Sale

The Nieman Marcus ‘Cusp’ website is having an ‘Up to an Extra 50% off’ sale (Online prices include all discounts).

Some of the featured shoes:

 

Manolo Blahnik’s Green Satin Buckled Sandal $337.80 $805 @ Cusp.com.

 

 

Modern Vintage Buckled Maryjane Pump $94.20 $225 @ Cusp.com

 

 

LAMB Platform Cap-Toe Booties $218.40 $520 @ Cusp.com. 

 

 

Dolce VIta Spectator Maryjane Pump $58.20 $145 @ Cusp.com

As always, have fun & happy shopping!

 

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Shoes of Project Runway 5.10

Posted by jitterbugbaby in Christian Dior Shoes, Dolce Vita, Kate Spade Shoes, Shoes of Project Runway, Stuart Weitzman Shoes

OK, so my Shoes of Project Runway isn’t nearly as exciting as Twinkletoes’ up-close-and-personal tale.

But nevertheless, there was PR this week, and I aim to find those Bluefly shoes, just like every other week.

So, first up, let’s look at Jerell’s winning outfit.  A) Deserved to win.  B) Totally perfect for the girl.  C) I WANT THAT CARDIGAN!!!  And shoe-wise, those feminine patent peep-toes are what would happen if the Stuart Weitzman Expump and the Kate Spade Lara had a secret love-child.

pr 5.10 jerell

 stuart weitzman expumpkate spade lara

Ironically, the best shoes of the show last night were the ones worn with Joe’s Auf’d outfit (which was really atrocious).  Don’t know if the client girls brought their own shoes from home (which I suspect they did, actually… since none of the shoes from last night seem to have shown up on PR before), but that red patent pair of booties (although not on Bluefly that I can tell) is sharp!

pr 5.10 joe

My girl Leanne made an outfit that was, yes, perhaps too matronly for her client’s job as an elementary school teacher, but it really did respond to the request that she make something that’ll bestow an appropriate teacher-as-authority-figure aura.  The grey shoes are super cute and an excellent professional wardrobe option.  They don’t seem to be on Bluefly, but either the Christian Dior CD pumps (if you want to splurge) or the Stuart Weitzman Portal (if you want a more affordable option) would be fairly close.

pr 5.10 leanne

 christian dior gray pumps  stuart weitzman portal

If you’re after the pointy-toe ankle-strap look that Suede chose for his outfit (and frankly, the shoes are just about the only nice looking thing in that picture… except, of course, for the girl herself, who’s a total charmer), you could… well… Bluefly doesn’t really have anything super close to this to offer.  But they have tons of other black pumps to peruse.

pr 5.10 suede

If you want a fun pair of maryjanes like Korto’s model (whose jacket I totally covet), the Brighton by Dolce Vita or the  are nice-looking options.  And for only about $65-70, too!

pr 5.10 kortodolce vita brighton  dolce vita payton

And last, but not least, is Kenley.  *sigh*  Kenley, it is time for you to put up or shut up.  Actually, how bout putting up (as in, making something that DOESN’T come straight out of a 1950s pattern book) AND shutting up, because I can’t even begin to tell you how ridiculous you sound talking about how you’ve experienced hardships in your life by coming to New York with no money.  Honey, that’s not hardship.  It’s just poor planning.

The dress was cute.  I’ll give her that.  And the shoes, likewise.  Kudos if you can find em, because Bluefly doesn’t really offer up anything in the ballpark.  But the low heel and the little bow on the toes are both adorable touches.

pr 5.10 kenley

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Shoes of Project Runway 5.2

Posted by jitterbugbaby in Dolce & Gabbana Shoes, Dolce Vita, General, Kenneth Cole, Shoes of Project Runway

I have a sinking feeling about the shoes of this season, at least as far as posting about them goes.  Because here’s the second week running where a number of the interesting shoes don’t seem to be available on Bluefly anymore.

Take Suede’s fantabulous dress, which rocked the runway and deserved its win (well… wait till I get to the Jerell dress).  Its shoes were similar, but not identical to, these Dolce & Gabbana red satin numbers.

pr 5.2 suede  dolce gabbana red satin

The idea of buying that dress from Bluefly is seriously tempting me.  I love it.

Apparently using the same shoe in black was Korto, whose dress wasn’t as terrible as all that, in my mind.  Not great, but at least tailored and structured and classy looking (unlike Wesley’s mangled mini and Leanne’s overly elaborate number that looked like the secret love child outfit of Peter Pan and a flight attendant).

pr 5.2 korto  dolce & gabbana black satin

And, oh look!  Terri used the same ones, too, but in what looks like a navy patent leather.  But the closest that seems to be available is this Modern Vintage Karina sandal.

pr 5.2 terri  modern vintage karina

Here’s another triple play shoe of this episode, used by Daniel, Joe, and Wesley respectively.

pr 5.2 daniel   pr 5.2 joe

pr 5.2 wesley

But does it appear on Bluefly?  Doesn’t look that way, because the closest comparable I can offer you is the Kenneth Cole Paper Back, which ain’t too close at all.

kenneth cole paper back

There were a couple pairs of shiny silver shoes, too.  This closed-toe maryjane from Stella, and this (cuter) sandal with the (cuter) outfit last week’s winner, Kelli, designed.

pr 5.2 stella  pr 5.2 kelli

But, again, the closest Bluefly has to offer is this Dolce & Gabbana strappy sandal.

dolce & gabbana silver sandal

So, with a final note of trepidation and a hope that this “mystery shoe” situation will soon remedy itself, I will leave you with the outfit that I was the most head over heels in love with.  Jerell’s.

pr 5.2 jerell

Oh, how this outfit deserved more love from the judges.  Peacock feathers for earrings and trim.  Perfectly matching bracelets.  Look at that collar!  This is young and sophisticated and fresh, and I love love love it.  Sure Suede’s deserved the win (look at how much work he put into that thing, and how beautifully it turned out), but this was the dress I wanted to walk off that runway with.

Of course, shoe-wise, even these seemingly basic black patent mj’s don’t seem to be on Bluefly, because the closest I could find was this pair of Dolce Vita suede and patent Brighton heels.

dolce vita brighton

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Dolce Vita Owl Sandals

Posted by Shomore in Dolce Vita

Every once in a while, it’s fun to be a little less serious.  This is why I adore the Dolce Vita Dijion Owl sandals.  At a quick glance, these might look like solemn, classy summer sandals with just the right amount of stacked wedge.  On further inspection, I found the owl vamp decoration to be a real hoot fit for the playful summer months.

For those lucky women we leave a large impression,  Barefoot Tess carries the  Dolce Vita Dijion in sizes 11, 12, and 13 for $52.  Just use  coupon code SHO30 to save an additional 30% off the list price of $74.    And if your shoe size happens to run in the single digits, the coupon code is also good on the  Dolce Vita Dahlia and Daisy styles (valid 6/19/08 - 07/03/08).

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