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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Some of you may recall that I liked the Gucci Cruise ‘09 Heart Slingbacks quite a bit when they were available for sale last fall.

These displayed more than a little echo of Christian Audigier / Ed Hardy styling without being terribly over the top. Plus, I’m a sucker for slingbacks that make my feet look all pretty and disguise flaws while still having a bit of sassy peek-a-boo appeal, so I was double tempted than had these merely been pumps.

Alas, I passed on purchasing them since they were not in my cash-flow plan at that time.

…As a side note, I have actually managed to stick to my attempts at a budget  – for the most part.  I’m only human and things do come up – but, over the last year I have declined to make any shoe purchases over $200, and at that,  rarely.  In fact, my last shoe purchase was back at the end of February, so self control for me has been generally successful, even if it is all about staying on the cold-turkey wagon and keeping my mindset on the task of  new shoe-finds for our readers here on Shoeblog to vicariously fill my shoe needs.

Anyway, I keep reminding myself that  paying down my debt is one of my most important goals for 2010.   The road to financial stability is worth it, but temptation arises in unexpected ways.

This Martinez Valero Gucci-twin is one of those temptations.  These are copies, not counterfeits, and therefore legal; they make no claims to being an actual Gucci product. But, comparing these two products, the source shoe  is unmistakable:

Martinez Valero ‘Onaway’ $159, on sale for $55.98 at Smartbargains & $96.22 at Endless.com

I had written the Gucci’s off as an ebay aftermarket hunt for sometime in 2011, after my bills are paid off, if at all. Now temptation rears its ugly head.

Should I feel bad that I am tempted by these Valero’s? I am still undecided on the whole legal copies issue, which is much more complicated than initial observations might suggest.

Maybe my weird mental guilt issues would be calmed if I mini-splurged on the black rather than the tan since I don’t recall that color being offered by Gucci?

Or, am I over-thinking this?

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We all have said disparaging things about flip flops.  When R5daughter was in 8th grade she wore nothing BUT flip flops.  (She tried to wear then in London in February – something we still tease her about.)  She is now enlightened and wears them more appropriately.  Like it or not, the flip flop is here to stay.  Here are some new events related to flip flops.

Havaiana’s has designed a limited edition world cup series of flip flops that commemorate the 2010 FIFA series that starts in June.   Since Havaiana’s are from Brasil,  this makes sense.  I was looking at them, and wondering which of the 17  team I would purchase.   They are available exclusively at Us.havaianas.com for $24.

Jamie Kreitman is expanding her flip-flop line for the summer.  She is  introducing the Cleo  $76, available in black and coffee. 

Kreitman’s Spring ’10 Champagne Wishes collection draws inspiration from vintage jewelry. Each flip-flop is embellished with a unique brooch and will sell for $55 to $65.   Here is a link to JK boutiques.

  Family Jewels $63 at Jamie Kreitman.com

Grazie is introducing its first season of flip-flops. The young  label, launched in February, offers 15 styles for summer.  They offer colors such as plum, jade and pewter with materials of faux crocodile, snakeskin and printed calf hair.

Grazie Vicenza $48 at Collections 

Flip Flops….I feel a rant coming on.  I just went to the wedding of a silly 18 year old, who had a silly 36 year old mother.  The bride wore these:

  The mother of the bride wore these:

It was not a beach wedding.  It was at a country church where the nearest beach is a 350 miles away.  WHY would a bride want to wear flip flops for her wedding shoes???!!!  Ugh. There are so many pretty shoes available.  Sparkle flips as wedding shoes are not original, not pretty, not funny.   The mother of the bride also wore those wax lips that you get at dime stores. She considers herself quite the jokester. 

Here’s the thing.   While a wedding is a festive event, it is also something that should be taken very seriously.  So these stupid touches just cheapened the seriousness the wedding should have had.   <shudder>  I am glad I got that out of my system.

WWD

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Kenneth Cole will have 56 candles on his birthday cake today.   I am fairly impressed with Kenneth Cole Productions.  It was founded in 1982 by Kenneth Cole. Wanting to preview his line of shoes at Market Week at New York’s Hilton Hotel, but couldn’t afford the purchase of a hotel room to display his items, Kenneth asked about parking a trailer two blocks from the Hilton Hotel. When told that permits for trailers were only granted to utility and production companies, Cole changed the name of his company from Kenneth Cole Incorporated to Kenneth Cole Productions, then applied for a permit to film the full-length film, “The Birth of a Shoe Company”. In two and a half days, Kenneth Cole Productions sold forty thousand pairs of shoes, while chronicling the beginning of the company on film.  Since then he hasn’t looked back.

He and his wife Maria Cuomo are very supportive of several charities and organizations and has been very public in his support of AIDS awareness and research since 1985.   He is known for his socially concious and provocative ad campaigns from his “We all have AIDS” campaign to the current “We all walk in different shoes.” campaign.

Kenneth Cole shoes are mid priced and for their price, they are a fairly good buy.  Here are some Kenneth Cole shoes for today.

Gentle Souls - Sole Lace $210 at Kennethcole.com

Gem nastics $70 at Zappos

Fish n Chips  $70 at Piperlime

And my favorite.  Is this the best color in the world?

Rocky Canyon $107 at Endless

To celebrate I am going to put the above shoe in my Zappos shopping cart.  I may even buy them.  Does anyone else do that?  Put a shoe in the cart and let them sit a while?

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I love St Patrick’s Day because nobody wears green, except on March 17, and it is such a wonderful color.  Everyone assumes I have an Irish ancestor, because of the red hair thing, but the red hair comes from a Scottsman.  Anyways, I have been planning my Irish meal for a week, and have been planning my green outfit for a couple of days.  It’s true, I have no life.  I have no green shoes, either. 

I would LOVE the Gaultier shoes from his Fall Couture line, but that isn’t going to happen.

So I decided to see what endless had for a substitute.

Miss Mooz Full House Sandals $95 at endless.com 

Moda Spana Pamper $75 

Moda also had a green platform pump that was made of the same green leather.  They are really cute.

Harajuku Lovers Avallon $100 

Isn’t the little heart on the heel adorable?

John Fluevog Pearl Hart $208

Fluevog always offers a funky taste to his high quality shoes.  I love them.

For those who just can’t bring themselves to wear a REALLY green shoe, here is an olive green boot that is nice. 

Eric Michael Soho $130

The following is what I ordered.  I hope they fit properly because I really need a green shoe for next year.

Miz Mooz Waverly $95 at endless 

So if you are going out, have a pint of green beer.  I am staying home and will be serving a Guinness Beef Stew and Irish Soda Bread. (We had corned and cabbage last year.)   Dinner is at 6:30, so come by.

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