Remember these perfect Giuseppe Zanotti sandals (left) Shoesense blogged about?

Here is a case of designer shoe deja vu gone utterly and completely wrong. Structurally, the Giuseppe Zanotti and Steve Madden sandals are alike. That is where the similarities end. While the Zanotti sandals are in full bloom and a picture of grace and simplistic beauty, the Steve Madden sandals have dried out and wilted.

The king of copycat designer shoes does not stop there. He also has an inspired version of the famous Balenciaga lego shoes. Compared to the Steve Maddens, Balenciaga’s shoes are actually starting to look slightly normal.

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I think I’m the only one in the world left who actively likes Gwyneth Paltrow. And dagnabbit, I like her sense of style, too! Not always the most flattering, this is true, but she shops outside the lines, and in a way that I usually think looks great on her. So, seeing her out and about for her Iron Man publicity tour has been fun for me. And boy, has she been parading the insanely high heels lately!

But the pair that grabbed my fancy has much more to do with the gladiator sandal trend.

Because how can you not love these Giuseppe Zanotti shiny gold sandals?

(photos from Just Jared)

If you have the cash and want to shell out for these pretty puppies, a very similar (though not identical, despite what other sites seem to say) version is available at Endless for $650.

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It’s been a while since I’ve read or seen anything on former Oscar winner, Gwyneth Paltrow. However, recently the internet is abuzz with discussions not on Gwyneth’s latest movie (Iron Man) but her choice of stilleto stunners. They are quite the antithesis of what you would expect from the soft spoken actress, wouldn’t you say?

Reader Mike asked us to ID these 7-inch booties which were seen on Gwyneth.

Photo via JustJared.com

Originally, I thought they might be a hybrid of one of these shoes from the John Galliano Fall 2008 collection, especially due to the tassels, platform, and the bondage and outrageousness of the shoe, but I was incorrect.

Shoesense (thanks!) discovered that the Sun had identified them as being heels made by designer Guiseppe Zanotti. Apparently, they were so high that Gwyneth required support to help her balance and walk properly. Gwyneth has quite the gams to show off, but the mere thought of how painful these might be should, logically, deter any rational human being from getting anywhere close to these shoes much less shell out major bucks for them. Wrong again on my part. There is a wait list for these shoes now. Sigh.

Other sky high contraptions for pain seen on Gwyneth include (from top to bottom): Givenchy peep-toe boots, Burberry boots, and the more easily identifiable Christian Louboutins.

Photos from ThisIsLondon.co.uk

For more on Gwyneth’s crazy shoe selections, visit ThisIsLondon.co.uk.

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I was sighing over the perfect Zanotti rose sandal a few weeks back; in the meantime, I’ve discovered that it also comes in blue, wanna see?

Yep, still pretty, still out of my price range at $550.

But! Never fear! Rose seems to be a popular sandal flower this season. Poetic Licence has issued this pretty version that’s selling like hotcakes (plus, it’s double the rose!):

The red version is $80 at Piperlime or Endless, $88 at Anthropologie; and if you want it in gold, Zappos is barely holding on to their last pair in a size 8.

Anthropologie also has this pretty-pretty raffia rose sandal, for $188:

Then there’s this adorable French Sole “Serenity” sandal, $202 at Zappos (also comes in a black/cream raffia combo):

But wait! There’s more! How about this darling Moschino sandal, available in yellow or red? ($354 at Zappos):

My, my, roses are really in season this spring, aren’t they? Go grab a fresh one while they’re still in bloom!

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Sometimes, I stumble upon footwear that is so oxymoronic in nature that all I can do is … stare. And scratch my head in hopes it will directly massage my brain in order to warm it up for this type of stylistic gymnastics:

Sheer mesh booties. Yes, for grown-ups. They do exist.

I have to say, they’re on a par with these rabbit fur sandals (by Zanotti, no less):

See, that’s reason no. 1,423, 204th to love shoes, right there: they expand immeasurably your “Who would have thunk” mental catalog.

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