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. 

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I just ran into some of the newer styles of Harajuku Lovers shoes.  Up until recently, the Harajuku Lovers shoe line has been filled with casual sneakers and slip-on flats. Not so this season.

Harajuku Lovers has apparently taken a page from Betsey Johnson and Beverly Feldman and gone from cute and casual to feminine and fabulous.

Perhaps, with LAMB shoes following the trend of increased prices that we have seen in more established luxury brands (Last spring, LAMB shoes were around $400, this spring some styles were near the  $700 mark), Gwen’s Harajuku Lovers brand is expanding to include club-worthy shoe styles at college-friendly prices? After all, it makes sense to establish a recession-resistant middle ground when the pricing on your flagship brand starts outrunning the budgets of your primary customer base.

Here are several favorites from Harajuku Lover’s new look:

Harajuku Lovers ‘Laila’ $80 at Zappos

Too bad I can’t successfully wear yellow.

This is a wonderfully vibrant spring style. And those heart details at the vamp and buckle are all girl!

Harajuku Lovers ‘Liberty’ $90 $73 at Zappos.com

With top canvas and rope details, these just might have fellow blogger trainingheels cringing in horror.  But, I’m pretty sure these are perfect for gals that love a casual sandal that can successfully dress up a pair of jeans as wekk as a fun and flirty summer sun-dress.

Harajuku Lovers ‘Paley’ $100 at Zappos.com

These red-hot penny-loafers are my absolute favorite -  conservative, but not at all stodgy or demure. I love a classic style with a sexy twist.

And look at this, much like Betsey Johnson, the soles are also part of the whole playful package:

Super Cute! How’s that for ‘secret soles‘.

There are several more Harajuku Lovers styles available that I haven’t shown here.  And, while I might miss the cute canvas casuals that were available last year, I love that some of the LAMB attitude is now available at Harajuku prices.

Because, however much I love shoes, I love not going into debt for them even more.  With prices ranging from $70-$100, these fun heels are accessible on most shoe-maven’s budgets.  Plus, imagine the prices if you run across them on sale.  Now that’s something to get excited over.

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If any of you are watching Joss Whedon’s new show, Dollhouse, you may (like me) be watching the shoes kind of obsessively.

This past week, Echo wore a pair of heels that I couldn’t look away from.  Here’s a screenshot.

In this case, it was actually because I thought they looked clunky and distracting, so… not a thumbs up.

But the last episode sent Sierra out in a pair of gorgeous criss-cross strappy pumps with what just might be my favorite of this season’s trends: heel zippers (which of course you can’t see in this shot).

What are these pretty puppies?  Thankfully something you can get your hands on if you’re feeling so inclined.

They’re the Tammy by L.A.M.B. (not to be confused with yesterday’s featured Flavia), and you can snag them for $349 at Heels.com.

I can’t say as I’d recommend trying to run away from government operatives in them the way Sierra did in the episode.  But they’re surely pretty shoes.

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As always, I hope our readers are having a wonderful weekend.  Here’s to time to unwind, relax, and spend time with those we love.

I am currently decompressing from my last, crazy, soccer-family weekend … that is, until it all starts back up again in the fall.  So, what did I run across today that made me smile? These gorgeous and airy cage sandals:

LAMB ‘Flavia’ woven peep-toe sandals in ivory, brown, or black $424.99 Heels.com, ($429 Zappos).

This is the kind of sandal a soccer-mom may dream of …. but can only get around to wearing after the spring soccer season is past. It must wait until she is no longer likely to find herself trudging across the kind of damp fields whose devious nature is to trap the unwary (OK, foolish) heel-wearer.  Don’t get me wrong; my brocade Skechers excel in that particular role.  But these basket-woven Maryjane beauties by LAMB?  They are a light, refreshing, and welcome, breath of spring.

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  And, whether you have a romantic evening planned with your honey, or are having a single gal’s ’stag’ evening - any excuse to ogle red, hot, sexy shoes is okay in my book.

So, let’s start with some sweet floral shoes that look like romantic bouquets:

Jessica Simpson ‘Josette’ $39.99 @ Smartbargains

Kate Spade ‘Gesture’ $218.97 $297.95 @ Zappos

Kate Spade ‘Carine’ $161.70 $277.95 @ Zappos

Taryn Rose ‘Betty’ $315.96 $394.95@ Zappos  

Moving on to wearing your heart for everyone to see (though on your feet, not on your sleeve):

 Promiscuous ‘Heartless’ $55 @ Zappos

Promiscuous ‘Enticing’ $49 @ Zappos

Promiscuous ‘Fixation’ $53.10 $59@ Zappos

Penthouse 509-Diora Stiletto $72.99 @ Snaz75

 BC Footwear ‘Cuttin and Scratchin’ $80 $100@ Zappos

Betseyville ‘Lenore’ $82 $114@ Zappos

Well, whatever your Saturday has in store for you, there’s always room for another pair of fabulous red shoes in any gal’s closet:

Luichiny ‘Clara’ $90.21 $134 @ Zappos

LAMB ‘Sidney’ $240.30 $319@ Zappos

RSVP ‘Dinda’ $53 $65@ Zappos

RSVP  ‘Rori’ $59.55 $85@ Zappos

Sam Edelman ‘XIla’ $64.43 @ Endless & $85 $123@ Zappos

Via Spiga ‘Mavis’ $122 $197.95@ Zappos

 RSVP ‘Joi’ $56.50 $74@ Zappos

Oh, and if you are one of those ladies who doesn’t yet own a pair of red heels - What are you waiting for? Red is an absolutely fabulous wardrobe neutral that simply exudes confidence from the ground up.

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