Dillard’s department store is having a super duper online clearance sale.  Starting today, you can take an additional 40% off already reduced prices, effectively bringing you down to 80% off the retail price in some cases!  Those prices, in my opinion, are pretty darn extraordinary.  Since seeing is believing, here are some brands with prices so hard to resist, I didn’t.  I picked up both of these Cole Haan shoes and the Sperry Top-Siders before writing about them - I just couldn’t believe the prices and had to put myself into the sales queue first since I know that these will sell out fast (can you tell how excited I am?).

Cole Haan Air Elly OT Ballet; Regularly $185 and now on sale for $33;  It’s a classy silhouette that we blogged about back in 2008, and here you have in on sale!

Cole Haan Air Chole in red, pewter, or black; Regularly $195; On sale for $35 (try to beat that price, seriously!)

My darling husband is taking sailing classes.  From him, I’ve learned that the Sperry Topsider shoe brand puts out some really practical boat shoes with wonderful soles that will grip well on the boat and have soles that won’t leave ugly black treadmarks.

These Sperry Topsider ‘Coastline’ mary-janes are $28, down from $80 and while they aren’t the most fashionable shoes out there, they will be functional.

There are a ton of other shoe brands to choose from, ranging from fashionable brands like Jessica Simpson and Michael and Michael Kors

Like these Michael by Michael Kors Berkeley T-Strap; Formerly $154, Now $46-$59

or Jessica Simpson Stratia; Regularly $89 now $32

to shoe brands known more for their comfort, like Ecco, Born, Privo, Merrell, etc.

And once you are done with the shoe shopping, dare I tempt you with clothing like this Laundry by Shelli Segal Strapless Pleat-Front Dress which is $62, down from $354.

Okay, I didn’t set out to, but I’m starting to feel like I’m a salesperson right now, so I’ll just leave you to shop in peace now.  Happy online surfing!

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Hello warmer weather!

As we move into another spring season, certain classic footwear trends have re-emerged as if on an annual schedule. In this case, the trend is of rope-like espadrilles and cork-soled sandals. These continue to be casual warm-weather favorites.

This spring and summer it will be tough to go wrong style-wise if your sandals include a cork sole; or perhaps rafia, bamboo, or jute details. Natural textures, warm tan and brown colors, and an earthy, Boho vibe are making a huge appearance in stores this spring.

First up - Prada’s Rafia, Cork, and Bamboo Wedges:

Prada Raffia Wedge Sandals $650 at Saks.com

Prada Bamboo Wedge Platforms $695 at Saks.com

Prada Wedge Platform Cutout Sandals $750 at Saks.com

I’m not finding myself to be much of a fan of the rafia, and I can take or leave the whole cork thing, but the bamboo is pretty intriguing.

Volatile Shoes also has a few bamboo-wrapped offerings in their spring line-up (with more of a reedy effect): Read the rest of this entry »

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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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Image from: Glitter Graphics

Happy St. Patrick’s Day Folks!

Are you wearing your green today? I certainly wouldn’t want to see anybody getting pinched. And why is it that this is one habit that most so-called adults that I’ve known have never outgrown?  There really are few things less dignified than adults being gleefully pinched by coworkers. Oh well ….

I’m wearing my green …. My kids made certain of that. My outfit today is primarily courtesy of my four-year old son’s foray into my closet this morning. Given that knowledge, it is not nearly as cartoonish an ensemble as one might imagine.

So, in the theme of green, here are a few earthy-green shoes for your consideration:

Boots:

French Connection ‘Holly’ $146.25 $298 at 6pm.com

Booties:

Dolce Vita ‘5173-18′ $88.92 $167 at 6pm.com

Low Sandals:

Everybody by BZ Moda ‘Opal’ in Avocado $179.95 at Endless.com

And Heels:

Exchange by Charles David ‘Web’ $52.65 $99 at 6pm.com

Heels:

Kors by Michael Kors ‘Talulah’ $249 at Zappos.com

And more Heels:

Pour La Victoire ‘Pascale’ $319.99 at Heels.com

As for me, I am wearing my patiently stalked Pour La Victoire ‘Penelope’ oxfords - which I picked up on clearance at Amazon last Fall:

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If the shoes are anything to go by, there were apparently some highly suspect events going on at Bryant Park yesterday.

A tiger got loose at the Oscar de la Renta show and slashed the hell out of some unlucky model’s feet.

Michael Kors decided to use his fall 2009 collection to let the world know that he’s giving up American sportswear and moving into S&M gear.

And a serious case of repeated projectile vomiting was clearly had by some front-row inhabitant at the Richard Chai show.  I’m only offering one example of this embarrassing illness, but believe me, this was not an isolated incident.

But despite such heart-breaking occurrences, there were some pretties on display, too.

Oscar de la Renta and Doo.Ri joined ranks with Matthew Williamson to prove once and for all that heel zips will surely be forthcoming for fall.

OK, so that Doo.Ri one might not survive the deadly leather-eating virus eating away at it.  But if it manages to pull through with minimal scarring, the button-up spats that were also part of the line might help as a facelift.  You all know how much I love a spat.

And last, but certainly not least—in fact, I’d go completely the opposite direction and say that is the GREATEST—the Marchesa (sweet little booties with faceted heels) and 3.1 Phillip Lim (metallic trims and red soles) shows suggested we may be seeing more lace, which, in combination with the chunky platforms and mixed textures, is a playful and ladylike trend I can wholeheartedly get behind.

Note: In case the red soles look familiar, that is because Christian Louboutin continued his successful collaboration with 3.1 Phillip Lim for the fall 2009 collection.

A mixed bag of a day, but in the end I like to think the triumphs outweighed the tragedies of this round of fashion shows.

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