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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Dsquared2 Shoes for Canada Day

Happy Canada Day!

Holiday wishes from all of us at Shoeblog  to our readers living ‘next door’ .

And, as usual, your clever Canadian twins Dan & Dean Caten have your patriotic soles covered (gratuitous pun is wholly intentional) with a maple-leaf Maryjane-esque appliquéd sandal.

Dsquared2 Maple sandal (was 584.95) now $321.72  via  Endless.com

The Ce Ce Chin ‘Signature’ Collection

Ce Ce Chin is the main creative mind behind 80%20 footwear, a brand I’ve discussed a couple of times this week.  The main 80%20 brand combines casual silhouettes with modern styling that seem perfect for urban gals on the go. These styles are meant to be wardrobe workhorses.

In contrast, the recent (April 2010) launch of the Ce Ce Chin collection website is all about classic influences and old-world elegance – all wrapped up in a fabulous  statement-shoe package. Even better is that it’s all been offered at an accessible, if not exactly inexpensive,  price point.

Originally revealed at the Project Tradeshow, these shoes are stunners.  The heels were inspired by classic glass perfume bottles and the uppers are made of satins, lace overlays,  and soft leathers.

What’s not to love?

80%20 Ce Ce Chin Collection.

More styles are available through boutiques whose locations and contact information are available at the Ce Ce Chin website. But, the gorgeous princess oxfords shown above are available at Karmaloop right now – and they are all on sale for under $130 (0riginal retail was around $175-190).  Shoe deals don’t come much better than this.

Which leads me to a dirty little confession. I buckled and ordered a pair before I finished writing this post. I apparently didn’t trust that a pair in size 7.5 would be left for me once our readers got their eyes on these.

Of course, I might be wrong about that, but why take the chance?

Related Links:

Karmaloop Lookbook.

Daily Candy interview & Sneek Peek.

Moxsie guest blogger (MISS) interview.

MISS Sneek Peek.

Venuszine interview.

Design Glut interview.

Riffin’ interview.

Finding a balance with Irregular Choice

I have heard that Irregular Choice shoes can be very comfortable. But, I have never felt the urge to test whether this is true based on many of the past designs made by the brand.

After all, it’s with good cause that the extremely funky styles offered by Irregular Choice have more than once made their appearance in ‘Ugly shoe’ blog posts across  the interwebs.  Originality is a fantastic quality, particularly in shoe-land where runway copies run rampant most seasons. But,  there is such a thing as too much going on – and Irregular Choice often seems to let its exuberance and excitement take a front seat to good taste.

With any artistic endeavor – from painting to sculpture to wearable fashion and shoes – it helps if we understand that editing is key. Know when to stop and time to put down the pen, paintbrush, or fabric swatch.

Edit, edit, edit.

Finally, I am finding shoes from Irregular Choice that are benefiting from this basic concept. Someone, somewhere in the Irregular Choice hierarchy is learning how to edit;  the ‘less is more’ theory of design.

Have they lost their originality and funkiness?

No.

Have they perhaps mellowed to become to become accessible to a wider audience?

Well, ‘mellowed’ isn’t the right word.  But, there are currently a number of funky-yet-modern styles being offered by Irregular Choice; styles which, thankfully, lack any of the crafters-gone-wild excesses of past styles offered from this brand.

Let’s take a quick peek so that you can decide for yourselves.

Irregular Choice ‘Spit Spot’  boot $340.95 at Endless.com

I love these. They are still funky, but wearable for seasons to come. I know that I would make excuses to wear them.

Okay, less commentary, I promised you more shoes:

Irregular Choice ‘Aslan’ $295 at Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice  ‘Women’s Wicked’ side-laced boot $194.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Atomic Apple’ $190.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Brooklyn Beauty’ $149.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Pap Papps’ $130.95 at Endless.com

Irregular Choice ‘Flick Flack’ $103.96 at Endless.com & Spat Attack $146 at Irregular Choice

(Two more personal  faves; my obsession with mixing stripes and polka dots is evident here.)

Irregular Choice ‘Crystillina’ $125 at Irregular Choice

Irregular Choice ‘Shimmmmy’ $120.95 at Endless.com

Oh, and for those of you who liked Irregular Choice’s over-the-top tendencies of seasons past?  Never fear,  a trip to the Irregular Choice website still has the plenty of the funkiest styles for the more daring shoenistas:

I’ll admit, most of these last styles are too much for my taste. Although the embroidered bootie is quite a thing and I’d be tempted to get the kitty boots just for wearing at Halloween each year.

Related forum discussion thread located here.

Tough Love: Rock & Republic’s Alayna

I ran into these shoes months ago and instantly loved them. Yet, somehow, I’ve not managed to write about them here on Shoeblog.

*Yet*

How remiss of me!

I ran into these again last night on a Zappos shoe-browse break and determined to share them with you this morning.

Et Voila!

Rock and Republic ‘Alayna’ $302 at Zappos.com, $298 at Rock & Republic, $297.95 at Endless.com. The Alayna is also currently on sale for $208.60 in the pewter color over at Shopbop.com; the black version is still at full price.

How sweet is that ankle wrap? Not quite an ankle strap, not quite an anklet, very non-traditional, and totally feminine – way to take a rocker-chic detail and make it uber-sexy and playful!

What is better?

More colors. These R&R’s  also come in gold and pewter:

And better yet, they not only come in 3 colors, the ankle chain strap also reverses to double as a decorative swag on the back of the shoes.

These are fabulously, incredibly, hot.

I love it.  Shoes so sexy, they deserve their own jewelery.