The Ce Ce Chin ‘Signature’ Collection

Ce Ce Chin is the main creative mind behind 80%20 footwear, a brand I’ve discussed a couple of times this week.  The main 80%20 brand combines casual silhouettes with modern styling that seem perfect for urban gals on the go. These styles are meant to be wardrobe workhorses.

In contrast, the recent (April 2010) launch of the Ce Ce Chin collection website is all about classic influences and old-world elegance – all wrapped up in a fabulous  statement-shoe package. Even better is that it’s all been offered at an accessible, if not exactly inexpensive,  price point.

Originally revealed at the Project Tradeshow, these shoes are stunners.  The heels were inspired by classic glass perfume bottles and the uppers are made of satins, lace overlays,  and soft leathers.

What’s not to love?

80%20 Ce Ce Chin Collection.

More styles are available through boutiques whose locations and contact information are available at the Ce Ce Chin website. But, the gorgeous princess oxfords shown above are available at Karmaloop right now – and they are all on sale for under $130 (0riginal retail was around $175-190).  Shoe deals don’t come much better than this.

Which leads me to a dirty little confession. I buckled and ordered a pair before I finished writing this post. I apparently didn’t trust that a pair in size 7.5 would be left for me once our readers got their eyes on these.

Of course, I might be wrong about that, but why take the chance?

Related Links:

Karmaloop Lookbook.

Daily Candy interview & Sneek Peek.

Moxsie guest blogger (MISS) interview.

MISS Sneek Peek.

Venuszine interview.

Design Glut interview.

Riffin’ interview.

8020NYC: Urban. Casual. Modern. Boho. Chic.

I showed you a pair of 80%20 wedges earlier this week. And, while I am still undecided on how I feel about that pair of shoes, the 80%20 brand deserves a closer look:

The 80%20 goal is clearly stated on their website:

The concept behind 80%20 came from Ce Ce Chin’s observation that we tend to wear our favorite 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time. The smallest percent has the greatest impact. The ratio of knowing your life, your style and your aspirations.

80% life, 20% shoes=100% love.

It’s a lovely vision statement, you have to admit.  As for the shoes? The current line reminds me a little bit of Irregular Choice, when that brand actually manages to practice restraint – or even Marc Jacobs from last year’s runway.

Some examples:

80%20 Marlee Tea Party Floral Shoe $52

80%20 Ellorie Open Toe Bootie $69

80%20 Jordan Open Toe Wedge $135

80%20 Molly Open Toe Hidden Wedge (black) $165

80%20 Molly Tea Party Hidden Wedge (Floral) $116

80%20 Sadie Seersucker Cork Wedge $98

While some of these are outside my own particular fashion comfort zone, they are both quirky and unique. The gal who falls in love with these may indeed find herself adding them into her own 80/20 fashion rotation.

Finding a balance with Irregular Choice

I have heard that Irregular Choice shoes can be very comfortable. But, I have never felt the urge to test whether this is true based on many of the past designs made by the brand.

After all, it’s with good cause that the extremely funky styles offered by Irregular Choice have more than once made their appearance in ‘Ugly shoe’ blog posts across  the interwebs.  Originality is a fantastic quality, particularly in shoe-land where runway copies run rampant most seasons. But,  there is such a thing as too much going on – and Irregular Choice often seems to let its exuberance and excitement take a front seat to good taste.

With any artistic endeavor – from painting to sculpture to wearable fashion and shoes – it helps if we understand that editing is key. Know when to stop and time to put down the pen, paintbrush, or fabric swatch.

Edit, edit, edit.

Finally, I am finding shoes from Irregular Choice that are benefiting from this basic concept. Someone, somewhere in the Irregular Choice hierarchy is learning how to edit;  the ‘less is more’ theory of design.

Have they lost their originality and funkiness?

No.

Have they perhaps mellowed to become to become accessible to a wider audience?

Well, ‘mellowed’ isn’t the right word.  But, there are currently a number of funky-yet-modern styles being offered by Irregular Choice; styles which, thankfully, lack any of the crafters-gone-wild excesses of past styles offered from this brand.

Let’s take a quick peek so that you can decide for yourselves.

Irregular Choice ‘Spit Spot’  boot $340.95 at Endless.com

I love these. They are still funky, but wearable for seasons to come. I know that I would make excuses to wear them.

Okay, less commentary, I promised you more shoes:

Irregular Choice ‘Aslan’ $295 at Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice  ‘Women’s Wicked’ side-laced boot $194.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Atomic Apple’ $190.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Brooklyn Beauty’ $149.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Pap Papps’ $130.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Flick Flack’ $103.96 at Endless.com & Spat Attack $146 at Irregular Choice

(Two more personal  faves; my obsession with mixing stripes and polka dots is evident here.)

Irregular Choice ‘Crystillina’ $125 at Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice ‘Shimmmmy’ $120.95 at Endless.com

Oh, and for those of you who liked Irregular Choice’s over-the-top tendencies of seasons past?  Never fear,  a trip to the Irregular Choice website still has the plenty of the funkiest styles for the more daring shoenistas:

I’ll admit, most of these last styles are too much for my taste. Although the embroidered bootie is quite a thing and I’d be tempted to get the kitty boots just for wearing at Halloween each year.

Related forum discussion thread located here.

Art-to-Wear by Studio Jellyfish

Last month I had a short telephone call with Courtney and Philip Mason, the owners of a young art-to-wear brand named ‘Studio Jellyfish’.  Call it  a mini-interview, if you wish.

And, despite the writer’s block that has been for some reason confounding me on this article (this is at least the 3rd draft I have worked on thus far), I am determined to finish this today.  Luckily, the hand-painted artwork of these shoes and handbags is striking enough to speak for itself, so I’ve decided to start with a few images to ‘get the conversation going’.

These painted ladies all have their own personality – and names.   Names like ‘Golden Goddess’, ‘Blueberry Girl’ and ‘Bubblegum Girl’.  You won’t find any generic style numbers here.

Of course, with every pair carefully embellished by hand, would you expect anything else?

Per Courtney, each ‘girl’ has been designed prior to appearing on a shoe or accessory, and is then free-handed onto the fashion canvas using a paint pen medium. The handmade nature of the creative process makes each pair of shoes subtly unique.

When asked if she had a favorite, Courtney answered without a bit of hesitation, “Bubblegum Girl, and some new ones that are in the works.” (Bubblegum Girl is on the second row at the left.)

According to Philip, one of their goals is to bring fine art into everyday accessible fashion. “all day, every day”.  And it looks like they have a growing consumer fan base that agrees.  In fact, in the just over 4 months that they have been operating their various websites (online shopfront & etsy.com), they have had orders ranging from the United States to Ireland, London, and Saudi Arabia.  They also have plans in the works to expand into more mainstream fashion which will include denim and shirts and will continue to feature their signature ‘girls’.

So, who are their favorite designers or other influences?  Ferragamo was immediately mentioned for classic appeal and style. When I mentioned how much their visual style reminded me of the bold simplicity of Patrick Nagel’s works – but with a hint of Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Girls, Philip agreed, saying, “You pretty much nailed it on the head.”  He also noted in a separate comment that “We have twelve years working as graphic designers. We love what we do. We wanted to do something for ourselves and it seemed like a natural transition to move that onto shoes and fashion.”

Oh, and about the name; why Studio Jellyfish?

(Politely interrupting each other)

“That goes back to when we first met. We both loved, still love the ocean.  There was this South Beach hotel with a jellyfish tank in the lobby. It reflects our love of the sea and has a lot of our past and memories in it.”

So, writers block defeated.  Plus, there’s even a small positive to come from it;  Studio Jellyfish is now holding a spring sale which ends on March 30th.

Want a closeup of those thigh-highs?

Meet “Sassy Sally“:

If you are one of those (not me) tall gals who can wear high boots, these won’t be around forever. Truly a statement shoe if ever there was one.

Related news/information:

944.com, Fashiontrendsetter, TheGloss, Trendhunter, & Shoewawa.

Stiletto Fetish Shoes in Royal Oaks, MI (Website under construction).

Fratelli Rosetti Spring Preview

In early January, Jack Minuk head of the shoe division of Nordstroms told Footwear News that, “The decline of the footwear manufacturing industry in Italy that operates mainly outside the designer segment was one of the low points of this past decade.”   I am just discovering just how nice non-designer Italian shoes can be. One of the largest Made in Italy shoe lines is Fratelli Rosetti shoes. 

 Fratelli Rossetti footwear was founded in 1953 by Renzo Rossetti and his brother Renato in Parabiago, Italy.  They have been producing shoes for over 60 years.  All Rossetti shoes, including the Fratelli Rossetti ONE collection, are entirely crafted in Italy.

Here is a sample of their spring shoes.  I really like this wedged sandal.

 When I look at the Rosetti website, men’s shoes may be their favorite.  Lots of their women’s shoes have a menswear feel to them.  While these are not my favorite, I like a lot of the menswear shoes for women on Zappos.

Fratelli Rossetti are available through Zappos and Fratelli Rosetti Boutiques throughout the world.