6pm.com is having one of their brand-clearance specials today. This time it’s on the Gabriella Rocha brand.

Prices on some shoe are as low as $4.95 - you can’t even beat those prices at Payless!

Many styles are on sale:

Juliette $7.95 $43

Glori $7.95 $65

Chill $4.95 $81

Mindola $7.95 $61

So, frugalistas: Go forth and shop

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Is it designer shoe deja-vu when it is high-end borrowing from high-street and/or alternative fashion?

I have seen a lot of online rants over copycat and designer-inspired fashion. Certain consumers hate the idea of brand-dilution that they perceive to occur as trends spread out into the general populace. Others love the opportunity to get a designer look or similar style at a fraction of the runway price.

Interestingly, I rarely see discussions on brand-dilution or concerns over intellectual property when this situation  occurs in reverse. 

I’m also curious when this style-borrowing happens at the haute-couture level.  At what price range and perceived quality level do shoes move from being outrageously stripperlicious (thank you jitterbugbaby for adding that word to my vocabulary)  and instead transform into glamourous, runway-quality, high-fashion objects?  If these styles were made by anyone other than shoe-royalty, would women be lining up to own such styles?

Today’s case in point:

Christian Louboutin’s ‘multi-buckle sandals $1495 at Saks.com

This hybrid sandal boot is straight out of the ‘more buckles, more skin’ school of footwear-as-lingerie. Heck, if you are a size 6, you can get a very similar look on clearance  over at 6pm.com; and at a fraction of the above price:

Report ‘Diaz’ $87.75 $175 at 6pm.com

I actually prefer the Report boot over the current season Louboutin version. I like that the Report boot has a softer feel due to its natural leather upper and its more-rounded cut-out styling.

Anyway, I’m of the opinion that fashion is cyclical. High-fashion borrows from low and low-fashion borrows from high; this back-and-forth cycle helps keeps fashion feeling fresh and dynamic.

Here’s a question:

What type of consumer criticisms might have occurred if the Report shoes had appeared the season after the Louboutin’s instead of before?   I’ve seen enough folks cry ‘Copy!’ ‘Get your own designs!’ over the appearance of a plain black platform pump that I have to admit to being curious to the answer on this one.

I welcome your thoughts and observations.

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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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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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Not that it isn’t obvious from my blogging history, but I can’t seem go for more than a week without checking my favorite bargain sites to see what is new and affordable (comparatively speaking).

So, after a quick window-shopping hop over to 6pm.com, I wanted to share a few of the many Stuart Weitzman styles to be had at at this shoe-discounter extraordinaire:

Stuart Weitzman ‘Yeti’ (perfectly named!) $292.50 $575, in lama (shown) or black suede.

I am not completely certain how I feel about the recent proliferation of fuzzy-shafted knee boots. But, with snow predicted - Again! - this week, I am drawn to anything halfway sexy that also looks toasty warm. Plus, the platform on these is reminiscent of styling seen on shoes from Giambatista Valli (though this is a less extreme platform) , which are anything but drab.

Stuart Weitzman Ribbon-tie ‘Charleston’ sandals $146.25 $285 in Red or Black.

I have difficulty wearing styles with a separate D’orsay toe style due to the width of my foot at the instep. Nevertheless, I am continually drawn to these oh-so-sexy open and strappy styles. This sandal is just so feminine that it will never truly be out of style. Ribbons are such a classic and flirty touch.

Stuart Weitzman ‘Sashay’ $143.91 $285 in Blue Degrade Patent.

What can I say? This is a classic peep-toe in a stunning electric-blue ombre. The ombre/degrade color shift is just the thing to match every piece of blue in my closet. Lovely.

And really, where would I be if I didn’t mention Oxfords? I know there are folks out there who hate the current Oxford trend. I, on the other hand, continue to look for Oxford variations with which to stock my closet. For, one thing I have learned: If you love a trend, it is better to stock up on styles that you love and will wear - while they are still around - than live with regret for 15 years wating for the style wheel to spin its way back around again.

Stuart Weitman ‘Valleygal’ $135.72 $265, in Linen/Black Cayman Croc (Size 9 0nly). 

Let’s just say this is not your innocent schoolgirl’s Oxford. The croc-patterned leather gives this a nice touch of grown up minx for either work or play.

Stuart Weitzman ‘Hartford’ $153.27 $305,size 10 only.

This is an Oxford bootie that has just a touch of Mod appeal in it’s reverse-spectator styling. Too bad they no longer have this graphic cutie in my size.

So, 6pm.com currently has a great range of styles available for any Stuart Weitzman fans out there. As always, have fun browsing…or buying, as the case may be.

Happy Saturday, folks!

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