Ask the Shoeblogger: Alejandro Ingelmo Pony Boots

Hi there- if you guys could possibly help ID these shoes, I would greatly appreciate it!!! I saw these amazing platform boots on the Bergdorf website- a model is wearing the shoes in the Haider Ackermann Bonded Leather Leggings posting but I can’t find the shoes anywhere on the site. The shoes can be found here.

Thank-you!

Best,
T

Hi T!

It took a little bit of research, but I’m pretty sure I’ve found your mystery boots (shown in the center column between the two original model shots that started this shoe hunt).

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Shoe Review: Very Volatile Wedges

I have been wear-testing the following ‘Very Volatile’ wedges for roughly the last month.

Volatile USA’s ‘Nobu’ ($74.99 @ volatileusa.com; the Nobu is also available at shoes.com, Zappos & Endless)

They are a great spring-summer sandal in one of this season’s more popular colors – turquoise. These also have an appealing organic design that really works with a spring wardrobe; particularly if you are like me and have a lot of cooler tones in your wardrobe.

These sandals are available in whole sizes 6-10 B US sizing (37-41 EU). Sizing was my first challenge. As a size 7.5 medium who prefers a lot of toe room, the choice on whether to try a 7 or 8 is the first challenge I encountered.   So, I actually tried a size 7 in the turquoise, and a size 8 in black suede.

The good news is that both sizes adjust fairly well in that the buckled slingback and suede material allow for a lot of fine-tuning and comfort on the initial fit. However, the size 7 had more than enough space to accommodate my anything-but narrow size 7.5 feet.  And, while sometimes slingbacks feel like the strap is about to slip off your ankle, these stayed secure through multiple wearings.

How comfortable are they? Well, they did have a brief breaking-in period of about 2-3 wearings of 2-5 hours each.  Each wearing was successively more comfortable than the last; there were no blisters thanks to the soft suede and roomy shape, but I did get a bit of a workout re-learning how to walk on a platform wedge; these have an almost 1″ lift under the toe and about a 4″ overall lift at the heel.  The footbed it lightly cushioned, and after several wearings, this padding started to form to the shape of my arch – an absolute necessity if you have a higher arch like I do.  If you are not ‘blessed’ with high arches, you may have little or no break-in period with these.

Here are some pictures of how these bamboo-wrapped wedges actually look on the foot:

(Yes, I need a pedicure – fast!)

The turquoise color really is fabulous!

You can see here that the size 7 in turquoise is definitely roomy enough for those of us who normally wear a 7.5. And, while it looks like my pinky toe is trying to escape, it never has. The straps and cutouts are placed perfectly to avoid that happening on my feet.

You can see in this next picture that the size 8 is super roomy. I would definitely think someone who is an 8-8.5 would have no problem with this size working for them.

(If you feel the need to put on your sunglasses to view these, I understand – I really am quite naturally pale.  My hubby has joked that since I don’t tan, I actually bleach in the sunlight. But, I digress).

If I have piqued your interest at all, you can find many other styles of  ‘Very Volatile’ shoes at volatileusa, zappos, endless, and shoes.com.

I have to admit, that although Volatile shoes are a well-known regional brand in the areas such as the Southeastern United States (A ‘go-to’ for wedges, flip-flops, and animal prints), I was unfamiliar with them before I stumbled across them several months ago.

As a brand, Volatile has competitive pricing, current styling, and reasonable comfort.  This is particularly remarkable in the current climate of ridiculously rising shoe prices. This makes Volatile shoes a nice value, particularly for ladies on a budget.

And, if you can get both comfort and style on a reasonable budget, I’m all for that.

Spring 2009 Shoe Trends: Natural Textures

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): (more…)

Prada Floral Stiletto Knock-offs

I’m fairly confident that I’m not the only gal who fell in love with these Prada shoes last year:

So breathtakingly gorgeous!

These Prada lovelies retailed for $590 last spring. If you were lucky, you were able to find them on clearance in your size for about $300. Long since sold out everywhere (except for a few pricey pairs that surface occasionally on ebay), you now have a chance to own an ‘inspired’ near-duplicate knockoff made by Pelle Moda:

Pelle Moda ‘Holly’ $101.50 $145 at Shoes.com

If these babies are still too rich for the budget-conscious, there is yet another lower-end alternative via the Newport News website.

Newport News Patent Pump with Floral Detail $49 $39

This one is not nearly as successful as either the original or the Pelle Moda copy. But, it will fit in most budgets. I actually wouldn’t mind the purple color variation, but I am horribly distracted by the excessive plastic-entombed glitter of this molded heel. These would have been much better off had somebody (anybody!) resisted the urge to pick up the glitter stick.

So, How was your Holiday?

Here’s hoping that Christmas was wonderful for all of our readers. Did you get the shoe of your dreams? Or, maybe you just had some great time off with your family over the holiday.

As a grown-up who generally budgets & makes her own purchases, Christmas is definitely more about family togetherness & keeping up the Santa mystique for our kids.  Sure, I wouldn’t say ‘No’ if Santa put a pair of double-platform Louboutin’s under the tree, but I’m not disappointed when reality steps in.

So, what did I get for Christmas?

1. A very generous gift certificate to Amazon.com (Which my hubby is trying to convince me to use on actual books rather than shoes, Go Figure. I’ve gotten some of my best shoe deals at Amazon. Really.)

2. A box of Frahlinger & James salt water taffy from back East. Childhood memories in a box. Yum.

And

3. The Harajuku Lovers 5-scent gift-pack with a freebie promotional charm bracelet featuring each of the Harajuku girls (Love, Angel, Music, Baby, & G).

Yes, I am a shoe-obsessed gal who happens to be a HL fan-girl.  Sure, I loved No Doubt. Then I loved seeing Gwen using the Madonna handbook to pop-stardom. But, of her fashion lines, I seriously love those cute little Harajuku Girls & the HG branded perfumes, watches, handbags, and shoes.

Of course, I was going to get around to shoes.  Harajuku Lovers is the casual alternative to the Lux L.A.M.B. line. Given my on-going attraction to graphic-styled shoes, an interest in this brand shouldn’t really be too much of a surprise.

So, what styles are have drawn my attention? 

There’s always the Gwen-favored Rasta colors, but they really don’t match anything else I own. So, not these:

Harajuku Lovers ‘Dub’ Kogal Low-Tex $64.99

Well, this one has ‘my girls’ on it, but it’s just so …. PINK. Still not quite me.

Harajuku Lovers ‘Be Mine’ High Tex $75.00

Ok, subtle it ain’t, but I don’t own any Rainbow-colored shoes. These definitely shout out ‘Fun’.

Harajuku Lovers ‘Rainbow’ Kogal Low Tex $65.00

These little high-tops have the Varsity Juku girls and would match a snap-front sweatshirt hanging in my closet. Definitely tempting.

Harajuku ‘Harajuku High’ Kogal Hi Tex $75.00

But, I am also really liking the Harlequin diamond-patterned low-top with just ‘G’wen. A little throwback to Vans patterning from – well, let’s just say it’s been awhile.

Harajuku ‘Harlequin’ Kogal Low Tex $65.00

So tough deciding . . . I also really like the signature black and white stripes on this final pair. A common touch to the interior of L.A.M.B. shoes and handbags, it’s nice to see the stripes on the outside, for a change.

Harajuku ‘Train Stripe’ Low Tex $51.99 $64.99

I am most tempted by the final two pairs. Of course, the last one is also on sale … and that is almost like Christmas for a  bargain-lover like me.

So, how about you, was your Christmas shoe-filled and joyous?