Psst… Hey You… Get Your Liberty Nikes Over Thisaway

Remember a couple days ago I told you about the limited edition Liberty Nikes?  Remember how you were going to have to order them from Liberty’s website (where they are now all completely out of stock)?

Well, for those of you who still want to snap up a pair, head over ASAP to Opening Ceremony’s new e-tail site and snag a pair for $100 (only one of the three patterns is there, but they’re adorable).

Here, I’ll even give you a direct link.  Because I’m an enabler like that.

Liberty of London, Meet Nike

For those who don’t know it, Liberty of London is a luxury store that’s been around for almost 150 years now.  They’re best known for their patterned fabrics, and had much to do with crafting the Aesthetic style in London in the late 19th century.  For more, check out here.

And why am I mentioning this now, you might reasonably ask?

It’s because they’ve just done a big makeover of the store and the website and everything.  Re-branding themselves (or at least, updating their brand) for a new luxury market.  The new face of Liberty opened up today in London with Freida Pinto (from Slumdog Millionaire) doing the opening honors.

Now, perk your ears up, shoe-lovers.  Here’s where it gets interesting.  Nike is releasing a very limited edition of sneakers in Liberty print fabrics.  And if you can’t get into the store to grab yourself a pair, there’s going to be a VERY limited amount sold online starting tomorrow (aka Monday) at 10:00.  That’s 10:00am, Greenwich Mean Time, which means if you’re in the USA and want a pair of these, it’s time to set your alarm for sometime in the middle of the night, since that’s 5:00am on the East Coast, and 2:00am on the West Coast.

Tempted?

More tempted now?  The ones that are all one pattern are £70, and the patchwork ones are £85.  Set your alarms as necessary.

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? 

FitFlop Booties

Well, to be honest, they look more like FitFlop slippers to me, but it’s true.  The company that made a name for themselves with a fancy-dancy, super-duper (although as-yet-unproven-to-me) method of giving you a workout just by walking has expanded from their initial flip-flop design to the rather exclusive limited edition gladiator sandal to the current offering: booties.

Yes, folks.  Welcome the Billow.

This is an indoor-outdoor FitFlop that can either be worn as a cozy slipper (it’s shearling lined… I’m clearly craving the sweet fleeciness of shearling these days, huh?) or as a warm bootie that’ll work your leg and butt muscles while you walk outside in the snowy cold.  Roll the cuff down (as shown), or keep it up to get some ankle warmth.

The Billow comes in 4 different neutral colors.  And, if I may be frank here (and I may, because, after all, I’m sitting here writing, aren’t I?), they all of them have the same lack of style and clunkiness.

If this doesn’t bother you, though, you can pick up a pair near you with FitFlop’s where to buy page, or here’s one site that’s selling them for about $125.

Cool Kicks

Sneakers (or trainers, as they say on my side of the Pond) get a bad rap way too often.

Think of all those giant clunky white ones that have no style and way too much substance.

Or the image of the professional woman walking to work in some great-looking suit, well-dressed head to… oh wait… not toe, because she’s wearing a truly unfortunate pair of kicks.

There’s no reason for this bad reputation, of course, because there are TONS of trainers out there that are comfy and stylish at once.

Case in point, Creative Recreation, which is an LA-based brand with a name that really couldn’t be simpler.

This is a line of sneakers that will never leave you with that blah feeling about your footwear.

Feeling like a hi-top?

There are bunches of great color and pattern combos to choose from.  Personal faves include this blue/white/gold Cesario and this pleasingly vintagey Gallow.

Low-top kinda gal?  Then there’s an adorable gingham and patent version of the Gallow or a grapey, stripey, corally version of the Cesario.

But really, they’re all funky and cool.

And there are plenty of options.  So peruse and pick the one you like, and you’ll always be that awesomely cool woman walking to or from work with your snazzy suit and equally snazzy sneaks.

(Psst… they make men’s shoes, too.)