Brian Atwood ‘Harrison’ pumps

Happy Monday, folks.

Summer hit here hard last week in my part of the country, if a day late temperature-wise. Which has me personally shopping my closet for alternatives to the boots that still litter my none-too-organized wardrobe’s floor.

And, of course, wishful thinking brings me to engage in online window-shopping as well. Which is a bit masochistic when I am on a budget-healthy, shoe-restriction.  But what’s a shoe lover to do?

Anyway, I go peeking over at Saks and what do I find? Boots, boots and more boots for Fall 2010, coming into stock now.

Argh!!!!

No, I will not show you any boots today – no matter that they are trickling back into retailers in anticipation of the fall retail season. I won’t do it. Not today.

Today, I am going to indulge in more of an  all-seasons, dinner-date to club-vibe of a shoe.

Brian Atwood ‘Harrison’ chain-trimmed pumps $1050 at Saks.com

These are subtle statement shoes. Yes, that is a bit of an intentional oxymoron. These are coy at first glance with a bit of an edge expressed in the heel.

These are …dare I say it? … a bit like a mullet …. business in the front, but party in the back.  Luckily, these are much prettier than any mullet I’ve ever seen.  I particularly like how the chain is integrated into the corset-styled lacing – just the thing to hint at your exotic side.

What to you, our readers think?

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Mihai Albu’s Over-the-Top Shoe Confections

Have you seen, read,  or heard about Mihai Albu’s architectural shoes? The styles are, for the most part, imaginative, extreme, crazy, wild, wearable-art pieces.

In other words: Statement Shoes.

Via the  Mihai Albu website:

Mihai Albu TT 103-SW  [1199 RON/$350 USD] *

Okay. I know this first shoe isn’t really all that over-the-top or statement-y. But it is available for purchase online, so I thought I’d include it anyway. For the real show-stoppers, I thought I’d leave them as a surprise after the break.

Are you ready?

(more…)

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.

Designer Shoe Deja Vu: Giuseppi Zanotti vs. Vince Camuto

Sometimes you encounter a style and just know you’ve seen it before.

Compare this:

Vince Camuto ‘Wendy’ Sandal $118.95 at Endless.com & $120 at Zappos.com

To this:

Giuseppe Zanotti I90265 $750 $357 at Zappos.com & $412.50 at Endless.com

The differences between these are minor, but noticeable when comparing them side by side.  Which ones do you prefer: the originals from Zanotti, or the near-copies from Camuto?

Also, how do you feel about designer inspired styles that are near-knockoffs of higher-end designers?  Such styles are legal at this time as long as no trademarks from the original design are copied onto the lower-end style – but should we demand more creativity from mid-end brands who can probably afford to invest in more original design talent rather than resorting to being runway copyists?

*I should note that a lot of Camuto designs are not so imitative. I love the brand, in fact, because they have been some of the best-fitting heels I have found for my arch height and shape.

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. ‘