I don’t buy shoes because they are in fashion or stylish, per se.  I simply like them – and if I think I will still like them seasons and years from now, I may be willing to spend higher prices for that – as I perceive it – value.  But, if I can find that same shoe a little bit later at a discount, that is like a double-win.

As a result, I love YOOX. You can find fabulous after-season shoes at some great discounts.  As I slowly shape up my budget, I will definitely be visiting YOOX with more regularity.  As it is, my YOOX dreambox(wishlist) is almost always full.

So, here are a handful of Renee Caovilla sandals that I have been eying over at YOOX but have not yet decided whether to add to my YOOX dreambox.

Rene Caovilla Women’s beaded ankle-wrap sandals $590 $355

I like these almost as much as the floral versions shown here. But, the price on these beaded sandals is accessible, if not exactly cheap; giving them more than a slight edge over the $835 floral version…and doesn’t that base price rising from $590 to $835 show us just how much prices have changed over just  a couple of years?

Renee Caovilla pailette platform slides $550 $385

These are cute, but I’m a little leary of slides. I’m occasionally clutsy on my feet, so I generally like to have a slingback or ankle-strap to protect me from my occasionally betraying ankles. Plus, my pants inevitably get caught between my heel & the top of the  slide.  Annoying.  But, if you want a different way to indulge current trends while clog styles are still extra-hot on the fashion scene, these are refreshingly different. And, once the current fad for clogs die down, they’ll still be an adorable pop of color.

Rene Caovilla platform demi-wedge sandals $570 $342.

Okay, here’s one of those YOOX downsides. I love how different these sandas are while still being crazy-cute and sweetly-sexy. But there are currently no pairs in my size. These are a possible dreambox entry anyway, just to remind me to keep an after-market eye-out for these.

Rene Caovilla crystal sandals $590 $395

Ah, bling – always a great place to start on shoes. Yet again, my size is not available. If you are a size 10 or 12, though, these are just waiting for  a loving new home.

Rene Caovilla strappy mandala sandal $590 $395

What do you think? I’m definitely loving the first pair the most out of all of these, but all of them have at least a little bit of  my attention.

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Okay, maybe they aren’t really diamonds -- but, check out the awesome!

Rene Caovilla Satin Platform Slingback $1295 at Bergdorf Goodman

Rene Caovilla Asymmetric-strap Sandal $995 at Bergdorf Goodman

After seeing these glitter-soled beauties over at Bergdorf Goodman, I find myself happily humming Paul Simon’s ‘Diamonds on the soles of her shoes‘ and pondering the deeper meanings of the song.

(a-wa) o kodwa u zo-nge li-sa namhlange
(a-wa a-wa) si-bona kwenze ka kanjani
(a-wa a-wa) amanto mbazane ayeza
She’s a rich girl
She don’t try to hide it
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

He’s a poor boy
Empty as a pocket
Empty as a pocket with nothing to lose
Sing ta na na
Ta na na na
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

People say she’s crazy
She got diamonds on the soles of her shoes
Well that’s one way to lose these
Walking blues
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

She was physically forgotten
Then she slipped into my pocket
With my car keys
She said you’ve taken me for granted
Because I please you
Wearing these diamonds

And I could say oo oo oo
As if everybody knows
What I’m talking about
As if everybody would know
Exactly what I was talking about
Talking about diamonds on the soles of her shoes

She makes the sign of a teaspoon
He makes the sign of a wave
The poor boy changes clothes
And puts on after-shave
To compensate for his ordinary shoes

And she said honey take me dancing
But they ended up by sleeping
In a doorway
By the bodegas and the lights on
Upper broadway
Wearing diamonds on the soles of their shoes

And I could say oo oo oo
As if everybody here would know
What I was talking about
I mean everybody here would know exactly
What I was talking about
Talking about diamonds

People say I’m crazy
I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes
Well that’s one way to lose
These walking blues
Diamonds on the soles of your shoes

(Lyrics from songmeanings.net)

Sigh. It was just a few years ago when you could buy a strappy Rene Caovilla for under $500. What’s a shoe-lover to do?

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Faithful Shoeblog readers may remember back in May when Shoesense posted about the new shoes-only zip code at Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Well, what’s the good of living near such a shoe lover’s Mecca if I don’t go check the place out now that it’s been open for a few weeks.  So that’s what I did for a part of Saturday afternoon.  And for all you shoe lovers out there who want to live vicariously through my trip, I come bearing pictures.  Come walk with me in Shoeland.

More below the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

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I’m ssspeechlesss!

(Photo SHAUN CURRY/AFP/Getty Images)

From the press release:

A real life Egyptian cobra guards a pair of ruby, sapphire and diamond sandals by designer Rene Caovilla at Harrods department store in central London, 10 September 2007. The sandals valued at 62,000 sterling pounds (approx 91,234 euros/125,872 USD) feature a cobra-jewel with eyes made of striking rubies and wears a brilliant-cut, 3.5-carat diamond and crown on its head. Its body is studded with round-cut, pave-set sapphires for a total of 20.60 carats.

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The colorful butterfly appliques on these Rene Caovilla sandals may be a bit over the top, but I’m in a whimsical mood. I can’t think of a better shoe to help celebrate the new season (yay, I’m actually looking forward to the dog days of summer!). They’re enough to make my heart go aflutter.

Rene Caovilla Butterfly Sandals are on sale at NM for $664.

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