Huge Gabriella Rocha sale at 6pm.com

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

Museum Shoes … In your closet.

I was over at Amazon the other day and encountered the phrase “Museum Shoes” in one of their new fashion forums:

Definition:

Museum Shoes: Too beautiful to wear, but perfect to look at!

- Many thanks to princess-of-shoes for this very appropriate definition.

While I doubt that all women have a pair of  Museum Shoes in their closet, I must admit that I own my own fair share of these. They are a particular failing of mine.  These are shoes that are fabulous to look at but are impractical for regular wear. Some of them are simple fun while others literally take my breath away with their beauty. They all have a place in my closet because even though it is a challenge to find occasions and outfits to wear them, they are too precious for me to give up.

Here are my Museum Shoes…in a wide range of prices from bargain-bin up to Ouch!

The wedges and embroidered pumps find more actual wear-time than the enamel-heeled Maryjane or crystal pumps – although I only occasionally wear wedges since they can look clunky (all the more potential canvas!).  There are just not that many occasions for a soccer-mom living in a small town to get all dressed up – more’s the pity.

So, is it any surprise that part of the wall-to-wall bookcase plans that we are drafting for our home also tentatively include a corner curio for displaying some of my favorite Museum Shoes?

It’s certainly better than leaving them to gather dust.

Well, do you have your own Museum Shoe…or two?

I showed you mine. Show me your Museum Shoes here.

Thoroughly Modern Marni

If you are interested in styles that are modern and playful with few, if any, fru-fru touches, Marni‘s designs have been gaining fans steadily over the last several years. And, looking at some of the Marni styles, it is not too difficult to see why this is so.

The Marni vibe, to me, is a particular joining of the crisp lines of Art Nouveau with a bit of the spirit of the 60′s and 70′s (color-blocking, wedges & platforms). These combine in sometimes unexpected ways and shapes to keep Marni’s styles feeling fresh and modern rather than retro or recycled.

Here are some current examples of what Marni has to offer to us shoe lovers:

Marni Grey Leather Flat Sandal ($CAN 477 $795 at Monamoore).

I love the Art-Nouveau feeling of these.

Marni black & blue suede wedge ($CAN 537 $995 at Monamoore).

This is a slightly different nod to tribal styling than I have been seeing from other designers.

Marni black patent wedge ($CAN 537 $995 at Monamoore)

This would be Marni’s version of the now-ubiquitous gladiator.

Marni purple suede sandal with black platform heel ($CAN $597 $995 at Monamoore).

On-trend styling of worthy of any runway platform, matched with a solid heel and lovely color contrasts.

Marni  ‘runway’ black patent slingback with gray and purple suede detail ($CAN $995 $597)

These have a hint of the Giambattista Valli ‘Victoria’  silhouette we saw a couple of seasons ago.  But, the combination of flared stiletto and wrap-around Maryjane effect have me loving what Marni has done to make these their own.

Marni ‘runway’ nude, purple and red patent leather pumps ($CAN $945 $567) at Monamoore.

The color-blocking on this just makes me think of a Mondrian painting.  Sure, I don’t know quite where I would wear these, but they are simply fabulous.

Marni brown python sandal with wood platform ($CAN $1195 $717 at Monamoore)

I’m not sure what it is about this pair, but I think they are my favorite of the bunch.

With all of the imitators and inspired shoes out there, it’s just refreshing to see designers who really have a strong personal aesthetic. Marni definitely has a style all it’s own.

Oh, and as you can see, MonaMoore is doing a bit of promotional pricing. This is just an added benefit; I’m a huge fan of getting a great price whenever possible.

Counterfeit Christian Louboutins

Lately, all over the internet, on sites that strive for a good, honest reputation (Luxist and ShoeBlog included) banner ads for shoe sites such as LouboutinMall, LouboutinBox, and other Louboutin url derivatives have been popping up advertising “genuine Christian Louboutin pumps for only $150″. There has been a fair amount of discussion about these sites, including why the advertisements are showing up (for ShoeBlog, we rely on an advertisement network to serve up ads to pay for our costs and have little control on that gets added. We try to take down spammy ads but sometimes, to our chagrin, they pop up faster than we can remove them). The main question all of us have wondered is, are these sites selling authentic Louboutins?

Christian Louboutin as a company is not a publicly traded. So, Mr. Louboutin has full control over the product, marketing, and quality.He graciously turns down investors on a regular basis instead, focusing on sustainable profit, design, craftsmanship and his customer of which he has many loyal. He does not want to answer to investors; he has the luxury of serving his loyal customers, employees and complete design control.

Now, if he has turned investors down regularly because he wants quality control, WHY in the world would he flood the market, charging wholesalers $75, or even $100 for handcrafted high quality shoes? (Remember, wholesalers typically double their cost). We all know these are fakes. Pure and simple. I am not going to go into the moral aspects of the conditions in which these fakes are manufactured.  My issue is quality of your purchase.

Twenty four years ago my husband purchased a Louis Vuitton handbag after the birth of one of my boys.

It cost about $600. It seemed like a fortune to a young mother.  I have used the hell out of that bag.  It was a diaper bag for 3 children, it was a weekender bag, it is now a carry-on bag when I travel.  It has aged reasonably well.  Why?  It was made with real leather and superior craftmanship and it still looks wonderful.    Ten years ago I bought a Louis Vuitton fake for $40.  It looked good for about 2 weeks.  My granddaughter now plays with it in her dress-up box. When I buy something I always figure, “It takes me X days to pay for this, is it worth it?” So, is it worth 3 or 4 days worth of work to pay for something that will last six months at best? Will you have this fake 20 years later?  You will have the real deal 40 years later

Do you want a platform pump for about $150?

Dolce Vida Madison Steve Madden Slique

A maryjane?

Carlos Infinity Harajuku Lovers Infinity

Triple platform?

Steve Madden Triplet Enzo Angiolini

Are these exactly like Louboutin shoes.  Of course not.  Are they quality shoes?  I think so.  Are they counterfeit?  No.  I think the most touching posts I have read is by Islingback in ShoeBlog’s forums.  After hard financial times, she was able to buy a pair of desinger shoes.  Would she be as thrilled with a fake?  I don’t think so.

We want Louboutins because he has spent time, energy and money to make a shoe and a reputation as the best.  With a fake you will get neither, except pictures which have clearly been stolen from Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Ebay of authentic Louboutins.  As consumers, let’s be responsible with whom and how our money is spent.  I learned my lesson ten years ago.  It cost me $40.

Update:  From NYMag, here’s more confirmation from a Louboutin spokeswoman that the shoes are fake and also responses from the counterfeit sites confirming as well.

Naot Footwear

President Obama met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu today.  So to recognize that meeting, here are some shoes made in Israel.  While I don’t own a pair, Naot Footwear gets high rates from those who wear them.  They are designed for comfort and support. 

Ashley $139 from Zappos.  These are available in 15 different colors.

The Matai $162  These are available in 10 different color combinations.

The Pleasure $160  These are available in 6 different colors.

The Oyster $170 These are available in 3 different colors.

The styles are not cutting edge.  They don’t pretend to be.  You sure won’t have sore feet and legs if you wear them all day long.   Not every day can be stiletto day.