Some of you may remember that back during the Spring 2009 runway shows I developed a bit of a crush on these Marc by Marc Jacobs openwork granny boots. Something about them just clicked for me.

Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘693556′ lace-up sandal $384.97 at Amazon, $412.46 $549.95 at Endless.

Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘693185′ lace-up bootie $197.98-$495 at Amazon & Endless (depending on size/color combo)

Now, I have theoretically had time to gain some little bit of emotional distance from these shoes. After all, the Spring 2009 MBMJ runway show was over a year ago.  Alas, granny-boot lover that I am, these have not lost any of their hold on me.  Unfortunately, finding a way to actually purchase a pair of these will involve the moon and stars coming into the correct alignment along with positive shopping signs and portents evidencing themselves in my favor ….. or perhaps just continued careful budgeting, having good luck hold out on issues like car and home maintenance expenses, and a hoping that a size 7 1/2 will remain in stock until I can honestly say ‘this is the pay period it can happen’.

However, if my budget remains tight enough that the MBMJ’s remain an impractical splurge, I will keep the following shoes in mind as acceptable, affordable alternatives.

First we have these hardcore knock-offs from Type Z:

Type Z ‘Ritchie’ pump $81.50 $95 at Zappos.

No challenge figuring out where the inspiration for these came from…….

There are also some less literal (copied) interpretations of the openwork style that are also very cute. And, if they go on super-sale, they could become near-irresistible.

These ones are my favorite of the bunch…they are seriously vying to knock my MBMJ crush down to a number two slot. How fickle is my shoe love now?

Linea Paolo ‘Vie’ $86.90 $129.95 at Nordstrom.

I am totally digging on these and they are on equal crush footing for me on a strictly visual basis. They do have the MBMJ’s totally whipped on price, though, to this involuntary penny-pincher.

(If you like these but are not on a budget like me, you might also like these Cynthia Vincent ‘Maddox‘ sandals over at Endless.)

Other contenders for my attention are styles by Stuart Weitzman, Pour La Victoire, Dolce Vita, Type Z, and Elizabeth & James. But, I’m still liking the Nordies and original MBMJ’s the best … so, I will probably not be bookmarking these others.

Anyway, I suppose I will just have watch the sales - and also my budget…nothing new there.

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Here’s the thing -

I am really interested in adding a cute, criss-cross, strappy pump to my closet. There are dozens and dozens of shoes that fit this description, yet I keep coming back to these shoes:

Shoes for Lovely People Bombshell $90 $126 at Zappos.com

I have been grooving on these shoes since spring. And, while I really like the black pair, it is the somewhat impractical, metallic red,  faux-snakeskin pair that keeps drawing me back in to see if these have gone on sale yet anywhere online (wow, they are now on sale at Zappos)….the gold ones just give me flashbacks to 80’s Solid Gold episodes - high heels and spandex, *shudders*.

Also, for some reason when I look at these, the phrase “Surrender Dorothy” runs through my mind….but in a fun way. But there’s no way you’re gonna get me to wear a blue-gingham checked dress with these.  More like a black cocktail dress or dark wash denim paired with a tailored button-down blouse.

I was expecting the siren call of these to fade as the months passed, but something about them won’t let go of me.  Perhaps I am subconsciously seeking a pair of my own iconic ruby slippers with all of their magical and transformative powers?

Or, maybe it’s more simple and  I’m just doomed to remain hopelessly, happily shoe-obsessed.

I can handle that.

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Sometimes email is just plain fun to open.

Case in point:

Note that Jimmy Choo is launching the “Project PEP” Collection in which 25% of the net sales will be donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Also note that you can preview this collection online now or at the 72-hour ‘pop-up shop’ - if you are lucky enough to be living or travelling in the UK and in range of the Jimmy Choo concept store located in Selfridges, London.

In my case, I’m pretty much stuck with the online preview of this very colorful Choo collection.

Here are my quick faves:

The ‘Pep Loop’ sandal ($975):

Or, this cute little wrist cuff ($245):

And, because I’m really more of a wristlet than huge handbag gal, this little ‘Filipa’ wallet:

Which one is your favorite?

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What can I say… These shoes are HOT!

Dsquared2 ‘Bloody Mary’ Vernice pump $1040 $751.50 at Zappos.com / $750.90 at Endless.com

(There’s also a knee-boot version and a sandal version of these - but they don’t make me swoon.)

I can’t even tell you just how much looking at these makes me forget to breathe a little bit - these are such insanely hard-core lust objects. (Even hubby thinks these are pretty fab, though he wouldn’t like the price.)

I have had mixed reactions to the great number of studded shoes that we have been seeing over the last 18 months or so. The Gucci Babouska’s had studs that were just too much, too over-sized, and too gold for my taste; the Rodarte’s - too pointy.

But these? I am surprised at just how much I love these. They are like that 3rd little bear with me as a darker-locked version of Goldilocks; these are just right.

Flattened silver-toned star-shaped studs.  Just a hint of Oxford appeal. Wrap-around double-buckle strap Maryjane reference. Mixed-leather textural contrast…..To steal a phrase “I die”.

I wonder if the “Bloody Mary” name is a tribute to the Louboutin ‘Mad Mary’ Studded pump sold a little while back?  I’ll probably never know the answer. Oh, well.

And, with Halloween just around the corner, I find these babies to be aptly named. Strap these onto your feet and even the terrifying Bloody Mary Worth of legend would think twice before leaving her mirror to come after you…unless it was in jealousy over being unable to own a pair of these amazing namesake shoes.

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It’s been an exciting season hasn’t it? From Christian Siriano’s claws to Vuitton’s tassels and McQueen’s futuristic snake shoes, we have seen quite an array of fascinating footwear. But wait! I think we’ve missed an entire demographic. Why that’s right, it’s time for Fashion Week footwear OFF the runway. The editors, buyers, and general fashion public really bring out the big guns when they do the Spring fashion season. It’s as if the entire year is just a lead up to these weeks when they can bust out their arsenal of couture footwear. Are you ready to see some candid photos of what illustrious industry members around the world wore as they took in the Spring collections. Yes, I think you are.

To get started, let’s go ahead and just do away with a common fashion myth. Who says you can only wear shoes on your feet?

Just kidding, but I love the photo!

There were several through-lines at the collections this year. Unsurprisingly, spangles, studs and spikes were all the rage. Several of these shoes can doubles as weapon. And why not? James Bond often carried weapons in his shoes. These just take it to the next level.

Level 1: Add a few studs to your heels or loafers. Look slightly dangerous.

Level 2: Have Maison Martin Margiela get out the hammer. “People will say you’re crazy. You’ve got nails in the soles of your shoes.”

Level 3: Take it up a notch with ankle weapons.

Level 4: Break out the steel-toed boots. Look angry.

Level 5: Get your shitkickers on. Take no prisoners.

Another popular trend was to add a splash of color or pattern through the footwear to make the whole outfit pop as demonstrated in the following exhibits:

Exhibit A: A gorgeous teal YSL Trip Too Platform heels makes this very on-trend bnw graphic combo pop!

…or you could go the other way and add a Black and White combo to an more understated look with the babies:

Exhibit B: Amerie slips into some leopard print heels to add another element to her gorgeous red/black/white dress:

Exhibit C: LOVE the dress, LOVE the bead, LOVE LOVE LOVE the amazing colorblock heels.

Hey and speaking of colorblocking, check these out. This woman was a model-wrangler. She had to physically move the models from one place to another for 2 consecutive hours. SHe was on her feet and in motion contiuously. She looked amazing and not once did I see her wince. She looked a bit like she might hurt you if you got in her way but…:

Color also showed up in girlier forms:

“Look, bitches, it’s SPRING. I will wear FLOWERS. Yes, I am aware that it is September outside, but inside this tent it’s APRIL! Ya get me?”

“So yesterday, I was trying to figure out what I should wear to Fashion Week. I got out all my old mags and brainstormed and though, ya know Miu Miu did some awesome stuff with sequins, so one if I did them one better and rocked out the rhinestones. So I got out my trusty Bedazzler and handy dandy glu gun (the thing is my BFF) and I WENT. TO. TOWN. Now who’s gonna rock tis town tonight? ME!!!”

In other news, leggings continue to reign in the fashion world and every season I like them better. Now they’re bejeweled, bespanglds, bedazzled, bestriped, beseamed, bespandexed, and bepatterned, (and beworn by, like, be-everyone):

Beseamed:

Bepatterned:

Bedazzled:

Be-everythinged:

Pretty cool, no? Wait a second there, you DID look at the shoes that are connected to those leggings, correct? Didn’t you? You didn’t? Well then REVIEW! They are most excellent.

Moving on, I’d like to open a category I’d like to call CRAMAZING  (crazy and amazing) footwear…

Actually, no, I have way too any photos. You’ll just have to come back tomorrow to check out the next installment of our Worldwide Fashion Week Wrap Up!

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