Flirty Caovilla crushes at YOOX

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.

Giuseppe Zanotti’s Strappy Floral Sandals

Rain, rain, go away.

Is anybody else having weird spring weather? Rain one day, clear the next, then right on back to more rain?

This is not the weather one expects when living proximate to an area nicknamed, ‘The Palm Springs of Washington’.

Madame Nature needs to tell Old Man Winter to back off, already. After all, summer starts in less than a week. Most of the flowers I’ve seen are – sadly – attached to fast-growing weeds that have been thriving in this rapidly shifting weather.

So, here are  my consolation flowers for today:

Giuseppi Zanotti E90042 sandals $875 $411 at Zappos.com . . .  for one lucky size-10 foot out there &

$481.22 (size 8 ) at endless.com

Now, message to whoever is in charge of summer, ‘Hi. It’s  mid-way through June,and I’d like my flowers already.  Peep-toe appropriate weather would also be greatly appreciated. -G. ‘

Georgina Goodman’s playful pop of retro-80′s color

If you are young enough to have missed the last round of neon and ultra-brights the last time they visited the fashion scene (not counting the rave/club scene) , you are probably the perfect age to enjoy Georgina Goodman’s colorful and funky shoes.

And, with the resurgence of,  guyliner, 80′s reminiscent fashions from leggings to lace & underwear-as-outerwear, puffer vests, and multicolored/new new wave/emo mullets that would do Flock of Seagulls proud, such brilliant, neon colors feel entirely at home added to the mix.

One caution: If you, like me, are old enough to have rocked any (or heaven help us, all) of the above fashions for any length of time during your personal high school or college jaunt through the  80′s, there is a good chance you should not attempt to do the same today.

But, if you must imbibe of the fountain of the 80′s, these Georgina Goodman’s are a low-risk way to, rather literally, dip your foot into the water of memory lane….How’s that for painfully mixed metaphors!?

Georgina Goodman ‘Harlow’ $289.98 $725

Georgina Goodman ‘Elisha’ $211.98 $530

Georgina Goodman ‘Inga’ $235.98 $590

Georgina Goodman  Rowan $309.98 $776

Georgina Goodman ‘Jackson’ $555 $740

Georgina Goodman ‘Leon’ $920

Georgina Goodman ‘Pierce’ $875

Georgina Goodman ‘Noah’ $581.25 $775

I have to tell you. Those sandals with the color blocks of black, pink, turquoise, and yellow up there? They bring back fond memories of my first real ‘teenager’ outfit. Oh yeah.  This was no hand-me-down -  a common occurrence in a family with 4 older sisters. This outfit had not a single touch of little-kid frou-frou detail on it anywhere; it was just super-cool 1980-something goodness: a black button-down top with a turquoise collar, a just-at-the-knee colorblocked black, pink, and turquoise skirt, a pair of shockingly vibrant turquoise tights, and my first pair of ‘adult’ patent kitten heels with a bow over the vamp. Oh, baby.

I had those pumps for years.

Oh, yeah, good times & good memories.

These Georgina Goodman’s are just waiting to be made into somebody’s current fashion love and future fashion memory.

Let the good times start for both young and young-at-heart shoe-lovers.

Designer Shoe Deja Vu: Gucci Tattoo Cruise Slingbacks

Some of you may recall that I liked the Gucci Cruise ’09 Heart Slingbacks quite a bit when they were available for sale last fall.

These displayed more than a little echo of Christian Audigier / Ed Hardy styling without being terribly over the top. Plus, I’m a sucker for slingbacks that make my feet look all pretty and disguise flaws while still having a bit of sassy peek-a-boo appeal, so I was double tempted than had these merely been pumps.

Alas, I passed on purchasing them since they were not in my cash-flow plan at that time.

…As a side note, I have actually managed to stick to my attempts at a budget  – for the most part.  I’m only human and things do come up – but, over the last year I have declined to make any shoe purchases over $200, and at that,  rarely.  In fact, my last shoe purchase was back at the end of February, so self control for me has been generally successful, even if it is all about staying on the cold-turkey wagon and keeping my mindset on the task of  new shoe-finds for our readers here on Shoeblog to vicariously fill my shoe needs.

Anyway, I keep reminding myself that  paying down my debt is one of my most important goals for 2010.   The road to financial stability is worth it, but temptation arises in unexpected ways.

This Martinez Valero Gucci-twin is one of those temptations.  These are copies, not counterfeits, and therefore legal; they make no claims to being an actual Gucci product. But, comparing these two products, the source shoe  is unmistakable:

Martinez Valero ‘Onaway’ $159, on sale for $55.98 at Smartbargains & $96.22 at Endless.com

I had written the Gucci’s off as an ebay aftermarket hunt for sometime in 2011, after my bills are paid off, if at all. Now temptation rears its ugly head.

Should I feel bad that I am tempted by these Valero’s? I am still undecided on the whole legal copies issue, which is much more complicated than initial observations might suggest.

Maybe my weird mental guilt issues would be calmed if I mini-splurged on the black rather than the tan since I don’t recall that color being offered by Gucci?

Or, am I over-thinking this?

Gently Loved: Shopping Yoogi’s Closet

I was recently introduced to Yoogi’s Closet by one of my sisters who happens to share my interest in shoes.  She and I have widely different tastes in shoes and fashion, but we both appreciate a good value. And Yoogi’s Closet is all about getting value for your shopping dollar.

Their vision, in their own words:

All photos via Yoogi’s Closet website except where otherwise noted.

Yoogi’s Closet is a service for buying and selling authentic pre-owned luxury items.

• Widen the customer base for exclusive luxury brands by providing a trusted source for gently used luxury goods.
• Only offer items that were guaranteed to be authentic and could serve as an affordable alternative to replicas (yuck!).
• Offer a return policy that matched or exceeded that for new goods purchased from authorized retailers.
• Provide a way for owners to sell or trade-in their luxury items to a trusted source.

Yoogi’s closet is a favorite for Sis when she is feeling window-shoppy and doesn’t want the guilt & sticker shock encountered at full-retail websites (you all know the ones I’m talking about).  Of course, like anything else, if you are prone to BUI (buying under the influence), you might want to avoid Yoogi’s if you have already had a glass or two of wine and haven’t locked up your credit cards.

On the other hand, if you are currently in the market for new pair of shoes or designer bag, it’s worth your time to take a peek.

Here are just a few bargains to be had at the moment:

Jimmy Choo Beige Crystal Calf Boots size 11.5 $325

Louis Vuitton Damier Pony Hair Bowtie Heels size 9 $365

Yves St. Laurent Fuschia Vitello Platform Sandals size 9 $365

Christian Louboutin Red Patent Rolando Decolette Vernice Chic Platform size 5 $485

Yoogi’s Closet is easy to navigate and allows you to shop by size, color, price point, or designer. The stock changes periodically, so you never know what you will find.

My sister loves the site and recently took the shopping plunge.  Her shoes arrived within days and look fabulous.

Her purchase? A pair of amazing, green, Manolo Blahnik sandals:

Photo taken by L. W.

Unfortunately, I will have to wait awhile while I continue to reduce my debt load before I can do more than window shop here. But, that doesn’t have to stop any of you folks who are less contrained budget-wise than I.

Designer style that doesn’t leave you in the poorhouse is welcome at any time.