As we bid a final adieu to 2008, it’s appropriate to summarize the most notable shoes for this year.  In no particular order,

• All Hail the Heel: Decorated heels proved to be a huge shoe trend in 2008 with heels that mesmerized our eyes and some that raised our eyebrows in sheer incredulity.  And judging by the Spring 2009 runway, we’ll continue to have interesting heels to look at in 2009.

• Shoe of the Year: YSL’s successor to the Tribute, the Tribute Two,  was THE shoe to be seen in on the runway. Need further proof?  Red Carpet Fashion Awards shows you all the stars in the shoes, who were the early adopters of the shoes, and the late bloomers too.

• A Year for Political Shoes: From French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s chic flats, Obama’s worn out soles, Palin’s Naughty Monkey pumps, and finally the angry shoe directed at Bush, no other accessory topped the political headlines more than shoes.

• Hello [Shoe] Lover: The long awaited release of the Sex and the City movie sparkled a quick shortage of the Dior Extreme Pumps and girls everywhere sighed a big “awwwh” at Carrie’s ‘Something Blue’ shoes from Manolo Blahnik.

• Shoe Designer of the Year: Christian Louboutin’s red soles continued to dominate the red carpet and empty out women’s wallets everywhere with shoe prices that skyrocketed as tall as the heels themselves. Wisely, the signature red soles have now been copyrighted.

Christian Louboutin 5″ MultiBuckle Sandal; $1495 at Saks

• High Heel Celebrity of the Year:  Although Victoria Beckham knows how to rock in heels better than anyone, the celebrity high heel wearer of the year goes out to the Gwyneth Paltrow instead.  Gwyneth was credited for further sparking the skycraper heels in her stunningly tall stilletos during Iron Man promos.  From cute, sweet, and demure (remember her in the angelic pink Oscar dress?) to sexy vixen in short skirts, she surprised us all.

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I have Christmas on the brain. Most holidays affect me this way. Of course, it doesn’t help that everywhere  that I go (except for my car where there is the ‘All Nickelback All the Time’ local rock station) I am surrounded by Christmas music, Christmas decorations, and Christmas advertisements. 

Just this weekend, we put  up our Christmas tree and wrapped the kid’s presents - so that they have time to really get excited about the upcoming holiday. (Did I say excited? They’ve been sleeping by the tree!)

Anyway, all ham dinner and pumpkin cheesecake plans aside, my attention has also turned to shoes that are so dolled-up that you will feel like they are gift-wrapping for your feet. 

Well, here ya go. Ribbons & Bows galore:

 

Type Z Noel $74.56 - $77 at Zappos in Bronze, Red, or Gold

(Appropriately named, don’t you think?)

 

 

Marciano Alida $204 @ Zappos

(What to say? These are simply stunning.)

 

 

Stuart Weitzman Romance $199.12 at Zappos 

(Romantic? And how!)

 

Stuart Weitzman Solitaire $234 - $273.60 @ Zappos in Fuchsia, White or Black

(A pink Marilyn dream.)

 

 

Betseyville Genna  $71.90 at Endless, $75.20 Zappos/$89.99 Heels.com

(Unwrap your inner Barbie Girl)

 

 

Betsey Johnson Rally $150 @ Zappos.com/$104.97 @ Endless

(Also available in pink with black ribbon. No secrets here; I love these.)

 

 

Coloriffics Sierra $66.50 @ Zappos (Several colors)

(Conservative with a touch of Glam, not an easy achievement.)

 

 

 

Martinez Valero Coca $106.16 - $117.97 @ Zappos on Red or Black, you can get the Coca in limited sizes of Black or Tan at Endless for $76.42.

(The perfect dare to the love of your life: ’Unwrap this.’)

 

 

Paris Hilton Destiny $89.95 @ Endless / $93 @ Zappos ; many color options.

(With that wrap-around bow this doesn’t even need a box; just pop it under the tree.)

 

 

Vaneli Puppy  $88.90 @ Zappos

(I’m seeing more of these structured loop-bows lately; honestly, they’re growing on me.)

 

 

 

 

RSVP Rhea $58.50 in Navy @ Zappos, other colors are $69-$74

(Simple, Sexy, and Day-um do I love the Sapphire color on these.)

 

 

!

Kate Spade Gali $247.24 for the Forest Green, other colors are $347.95.

(Sweet, classic and Christmas-tree green.)

 

 

RSVP Afton $58.40 - 68 in four colors at Zappos.

(A sweet and slightly glitzy half-bow in Holiday Red)

 

 

RSVP Judith in red for $60.80 at Zappos; bone and black are $58.40

(Another Pretty as a Package ribbon-wrapped style)

 

 

Gabriella Rocha Heaven in red for $50 at Zappos, other colors $39-$50.

(The polka dots are super cute. I love the wrap-around effect over the top of the hidden platform -

plus it also comes in a silver version that is quite adorable)

 

 

Type Z Kat  $89 at Zappos; in three colors.

(What can I say, it’s 12 degrees outside, boots were going to wind up in here somehow.

 Plus how cute are those little bows?)

 

And, now that I mention ‘Little Bows’ I can’t forget this style by Moschino:

Moschino CA16108C1P  RS0 $624 at Zappos.

(Come on, don’t they make you smile just a little with that itty bitty gift box on the vamp?)

 

 And finally, not a bow, but So Perfect:

Beverly Feldman Fireball $92 @ 6pm.com.

(This one is not ribbons and bows, but how incredibly ‘Holly and the Ivy’ can you get?

 These babies just scream ‘It’s Christmas! Where’s the eggnog?’)

 

Gosh, now I’m wishing it was time to open up some presents!

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Jumping off from Shomore’s earlier Ed Hardy/Tattoo trends article, I wanted to share some of the Gucci 2009 Cruise collection styles with all of our readers.

As a brief peek at some of my previous postsmight indicate, I love graphics trends on shoes whether they are subtle or over the top. A recent encounter at another website where a poster stated ‘Ed Hardy is So Last Year’ (and by extension, tattoo flash and graphic adornment) had me wondering whether such a declaration was perhaps premature. Of course, it twas not that long ago that fashion forecasters were also gloomily predicting the yet-to-materialise decline of the wedge heel. 

Both of the above positions are firmly contradicted by Gucci’s current offerings.

There is actually a lovely relaxed quality to many of the shoes in this collection; a certain femininity noticeable in a  variety of styles and silhouettes that are likely to please a diverse set of tastes.  Given my love of graphics, it is no surprise that my current favorite is the tattoo-inspired ‘Heart Slingbacks’ and ‘Heart Wedges’; I am a sucker for such playful styles.

I find these tan shoes to be stylish, feminine and just a touch edgy without bowing completely to the trend. No small feat, and the resulting shoe is one that will remain wearable when the tattoo-flash fashion heyday has played itself out.

This style also comes in a signature print for those who love the logo look. I’m not sure that these are quite as sexy as the tan simply due to the busier background, but the grey contrast is actually a very nice contrast against the rose artwork.

 

And, if you happen to be one of those shoe-lovers who is also more than a bit fond of handbags, the rose-detailed purses Gucci is offering will certainly round out your  accessories options for indulging in this trend.

Definitely on the funkier side, the Heart wedges don’t give me the same timeless feel as the slingback stilettos; yet they nevertheless have an undeniable sense of quirky fun that will be just the thing for the gal who isn’t shy about showing her personality.

For the more conservatively minded, Gucci’s tortoise-detailed stilettos, platforms and wedges are still plenty tempting, and, let’s face it, divine.

I absolutely love the tortoise stiletto. Simply sexy and sophisticated.  While Gucci is certainly not the first to add the tortoise detail at the heel, they have definitely done it right with these Sophia High Heel pumps. These are definitely a great excuse not to wear white after labor day (though if that bothers you, it also comes in black).

For a bit of a younger look, any one of the more casual tortoise styles will do the trick. The warm brown tones paired with black are certainly timely with the black and brown combinations that we have been seeing in recent handbag fashion.

And yes, for those of you who actually don’t mind the occasional matchy shoe-handbag indulgence, the Gucci Hysteria Clutch and Hysteria Medium Hobo also come in a matching tortoise finish.

These are certainly some of my favorite styles from this collection. Of course, this is by no means is the a comprehensive list of the 2009 Gucci Cruise shoe and handbag styles currently available, but a girl’s got to start somewhere.

Styles shown on this page:

Gucci Tattoo Heart Slingbacks (Tan) $695 
Gucci Tattoo Heart Slingbacks (Grey) $595
Gucci Joy Medium Boston Bag $695
Gucci Tribeca Medium Shoulder Bag $1395
Gucci Babouska Large Tote $1250
Gucci Tattoo Heart Wedges $780
Gucci Sophia High Heel Pumps $645
Gucci Grease Platform Sandals $775
Gucci Kotao Wedges $1125
Gucci Swing Vitello Vernice Wedges $575
Gucci Sunset Thongs $475
Gucci Hysteria Clutch $1250
Gucci Hysteria Medium Hobo $1360

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Have you ever found yourself enamoured of a particular style or trend while simultaneously finding yourself at a loss as to how to make it work within your own wardrobe and personal style?

Alas, that is my predicament with so-called ‘Spats’-styled boots; those boots with an add-on ankle cuff, or more commonly, an extremely extended cuff that falls all the way to the instep to ‘break’ at the top of the instep.  The cuffs on this second style of boot are rather distinct and work just a touch of trompe l’oeil trickery that suggests either an actual removable spatted cuff or an illusory pant-leg that appears to be floating over the boot itself. I am definitely put in mind of the Givenchy ‘Gaiter’ boots from Jitterbugbaby’s (Fall 2008) Paris Runway Roundup post from earlier this year. And, since I have yet to encounter any naming consensus among shoe sites and fashion blog as to a definitive title for this type of boot, I have decided to stick with ‘Spats’ - it has a certain evocative appeal and works for me.

In my case, the first real example of this style that I encountered (outside of old black and white movies) was the now sold-out LAMB ‘Crowther’ which was available last fall.  This was in fact a classic pump with a separate spat attachment. And, while I loved the look and convertibility of the shoe, I could not justify the purchase of this altogether adorable shoe. A year later I am still trying to find reasons that I could wear this and have almost come to turns with the fact that this shoe simply does not work within my personal wardrobe and everyday style. More’s the pity.

If you fancy this particular detachable ‘gaiter’ style, you can also purchase individual ‘Gaiterettes’ from LesFrivolities at Etsy.com. These are spats/gaiters that can easily be added to shoes or ankle boots that you already own. Prices range from $55.00 to $155.00 per handmade pair.

Next is a more casual offering, the LAMB ‘Zeyn Tex’ ($179.95 at Shoebuy.com). While I am not really a fan of this particular boot, it clearly illustrates the idea of the boot incorporating the actual  trouser cuff or pants-leg as an integral part of the boot shaft itself. 

 

What I now present to you is the result of several months of squirreling away these styles one-by-one into their own special favorites folder as I periodically encountered them online.  For your inspection and in no particular order: Spats, spats, and more spats.

Zucca Black Buckle Tall Boots $1422 at Creatures of Comfort

Delman Suede Knee High Boots $595 at Saks.com

Marc Jacobs Nappa Leather Boots in Grey or Black $640$578 at Yoox.com

Botkier ‘Xenia’ $715-$725 at Endless.com and Piperlime.com

Chie Mihara ‘Saigon’ $695$409.99 at Piperlime.com (Size 9/39 only).

Tahskent by Cheyenne ‘Osgood’ $760 at Shopbop.com, on sale for $439.99 at Piperlime.com

Materia Prima by Goffredo Fantini  Style # ‘4M4753′ $484 $228.85 in size 8/38 only.
(This is my size and is right up near the top of my list of most drool-worthy uber-spats.)

Jessica Simpson ‘Mazzey’ Boot $138.00-$140 at Zappos.com, Endless.com, Piperlime.com and Shoemall.com.

London Underground ‘Bit of Romance’ $164.99 at Shoes.com.
Confession time: Whatever the reason, I love this boot truly, madly, deeply.

T.U.K ‘Cara’ $85 $70 at Zappos.com (size 7 only).

Naughty Monkey ‘Belly Up’ $119.95 at Endless.com and $131 at Zappos.com.

These last two ankle boots are also really turning on my positive, feel-good vibes.  I think it has something to do with the split, buttoned cut of the cuff that also conjures to my mind the Alfred Noyes poem ‘The Highwayman’; Such a romantic and dashing image that these boots conjure up in the imagination.

I’m thinking that with the right pair of brown Spats, and a warm wool Kinsale cloak, I might just have the perfect thing to wear during a long, cold winter.  Maybe the key to Spats (at least in my case) is to embrace my anachronistic fashion tendencies and mix some period styles in with my modern wardrobe. 

Of course, I still need someone else to guide me on what to wear with the LAMB Zeyn boots. That challenge continues to elude me.

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Next fall, Christian Louboutin will be introducing 8″ inch platform shoes to adoring fans around the world. According to Louboutin, “I hear they can be painful but women keep asking for them.”

Even Manolo Blahnik, of SATC fame, is designing heels in the upper stratosphere. While most of his heels stand tall at the 3-4″ inch mark, reports are that Blahnik’s 6″ inch heels, which were newly introduced this year, already make up 30% of his business (Note: I’m somewhat doubtful of this. I cannot find ANY 6 inch Manolos on Saks and Neimans and I suspect these two department stores account for much of his sales).

Now, I have a hard time walking in shoes with 3+ inch heels and maybe 4 inchers if the shoes sit on a platform. When I do wear high heels, I am not hiking great distances as I’m trying to look good, not run a marathon. I’m willing to endure for the sake of beauty and fashion. But, these ridiculous heel heights are where I draw the line. I will not risk an embarrassing fall, endanger my body, or wear something so utterly impractical, even if it will make me stand as tall as a model.

Readers, let me ask you. Would you wear 8 inch stilettos? Or have you also seen the peak of shoe heights and, like the stock market, think what goes up will come down too? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Before you weigh in, for a little perspective and visualization purposes, these stunning and sexy Louboutin Altadama Pumps ($995 at Saks) in exotic watersnake have 5 1/4″ heels.

And all my shoe sympathies go out to this poor model who fell not just once but twice (make sure you catch the end of the video) in a span of 24 seconds.

Sources: WSJ and TheAustralian

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