John Galliano Spring/Summer 2010

John Galliano presented his collection that has a 1920′s flavor.  The shoes are anything but 1920.   They are really high, they are really stilettoed, they are really fun.   I am not sure why these talk to me, while others haven’t but these are shoes I want to touch.  Let’s look at them.

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Dior Spring/Summer 2011

It has taken a while to look at- and comment on- everything featured in each Fashion Week.  I have been critical of the shoes featured so far.   They have been uninspired, uninteresting, unoriginal. While there is nothing new under the sun, John Galliano’s collection for Christian Dior featured,  fun, colorful and reasonably interesting shoes.  

I have read criticism that these shoes are too subdued for John Galliano, and that the collection isn’t really a Dior Girl’s collection. I am not sure who the  Dior Girl is and what she is supposed to wear, but subdued isn’t the term I would use for this collection.  It would be nice to get an upclose and personal look at these to see how they are made.

When looking at the collection, the image of Mitzi Gaynor singing, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair  came to mind.  

Let’s look at the rest of the shoes and part of the collection.

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Christian Dior Fall 2010

John Galliano continued his equestrian, libertine theme in Christian Dior’s show today.  There was lots of leather, lots of chiffon.  There was some criticism that there isn’t a real distinction between the John Galliano line and Christian Dior line.    Overall, there were a handful of pieces that I liked.  The boots were thigh high and ankle length, one being a pair of lace boots that were lovely but we have seen lovely lace boots before.  The platforms and heels seem quite high.  Have a look.

The outfit:

The lace boot:

Is Karlie Kloss the cutest thing ever?

The short version:

My favorite boot from this line.  The accent trimming on the platform and sole sort of reminds me of Proenza Schouler and Prada from last year.

I wonder if this look is just a pair of boots covered with leg warmers.  Well, that is what we called them in the 80′s.   I don’t know what they are called today.

John Galliano made his appearance dressed in costume.  Complete with spurs.  Ya gotta love him.  He has quite a flair for the dramatic.

Happy Birthday John Galliano

Christian Dior designer, John Galliano turns 49 today.  He is a quirky, quirky guy.  When you see how beautiful his dresses look on Charlze Theron, maybe the quirks are a good thing. He produces six couture and ready-to-wear collections a year for Dior as well as his own label.   Like most high energy people, he has an extreme fitness regime, including a daily six mile jog along the Seine. “It helps to concentrate the mind and I find that I have so much more energy and focus.” 

Here are some of his designs. Love them.

$1179 at Styledrops

Red sandals $915 at Styledrops

 Red suede boots $760 at Styledrops

Maybe I will watch Pirates of the Caribbean to celebrate his birthday today.

Shopping With Men

“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!