So many shoes, so little time. Reflecting on the various fashion weeks, it seems to me that this season, with ever advancing economic issues affecting the fashion industry, clothing has been more wearable than it used to be (for the most part. We all know there have been some pretty significant exceptions. Trias, cough cough.. This is all well and good, but I think several designers tried to make up for it through the footwear they presented with their collections. Furthermore, the editrixes and general fashion crowd seemed determined to look better than ever while reviewing the collections. Is was as if they were trying to say: “Recession? What recession? So what if now I suddenly have to lower myself to taking taxis instead of having a waiting town car. So what if I am no longer permitted to purchased clothing and call it a “work expense.” So what if coffee stirrers have been cut from CondeNast’s budget? I am still a FASHION EDITOR. KOWTOW to me and my fabulous footwear. You WILL bow down!”

And here’s some more proof. I know I promised you the Cramazing footwear selection from the Worldwide Fashion extravaganza, and you’ll get it. But, you’l just have to hold on to the end of the post so we can wrap things up with a bang. To start though, here are a few odds and ends.

Know what I think will be in for Spring? Mandals. And Man Rompers (Manpers? Rompans? Mansuits?)

Yeah baby, check out those toes.

You know whose always in? Leanne Marshall. Can’t see her shoes (or her face), but one look at that skirt and you KNOW it’s her. And it was; I was just a bit far away.

You know who else was hot at NY Fashion Week? Are you guys ready for this? PAYLESS! We’ve featured Christian Siriano’s Payless collection on this blog several times, but we have yet to highlight the designer brand collaboration going on there that swept fashion week. Alice + Olivia designed a fabulous range of shoes for Payless for fall that popped up all over the place. They also have a new one a-comin’ for Spring. You guys will be getting a look at both collections very shortly!

Here are some shots of the shoes at Fashion week.

Unfortunately, the ones that were the most popular BY FAR are no longer available online, but I saw them on at least five people (and managed to snap two). They are Alice + Olivia’s New York Woman Boot.

Here’s a close-up look:

I suspect that they were modeled on something like these:

or these:

But these retailed for only $49.99 (which is like an $800 savings) and were a HUGE hit at fashion week.

1st runner up was also by A + O, the Robertson Jeweled Boot ARE still available. Huzzah!

Nicely done, Payless.

Other interesting boots at fashion week included these from the front row…

And these on a model waiting for a cab (how do they always managed to look so cute and put together when you KNOW they are running around like insane people? You KNOW! In NY, many of them get from show to show by BICYCLE and they still look fab!

Strappy heels are always a big hit. I don’t know a single woman who does have at least one pair. And in the modern era, they have multiple benefits: in addition to their having a strap (or several)  that actually physically keeps them tied t you foot, they look amazing over tights in the winter/fall. You have not known woe until you have tried to wear your favorite pair of pumps over tights and experienced the very unpleasant slippage sensation that comes from the lack of helpful strap.

With Mad Men inspiring women across the globe, this olde fashioned look was one of my favorites. Simple and classic, it really blew me away.

See if you can guess what’s unusual about this pair of legs:

I was so intent on crawling through people’s legs to get a shot of these shoes that I didn’t realize that the wearer was actually a man (with an amazing pair of legs). Way to rock those stilletos!

The weighted-ankle look (I don’t know the real word for it) was very popular too. These shoes have a wedge hell the just sort of seamlessly fuses into the rest of shoes creating the illusion of a boxy heel that somehow totally works:

Ok, ok - you’ve waited long enough. It’s time for Cramazing shoes…..oh wait - first a not from the weather channel:

Did you all know the New York Fashion Week was REALLY REALLY rainy? What does does a guy wear when he wants to be super fashionable, but not worry about the miserable weather? Break out your very own PlastiSuit. Don’t let the weather get you down! brighten things up with a fabric that keeps you dry and keeps onlookers happy at the same time! Available in Clear or the water friendly FishTastic!

Now back to our main story.

Zippers have really taken the fashion world by storm. They now bedeck basically everything. When used tastefully they can really make an outfit:

Oops. Wrong photo: I mean, When used tastefully, they look like THIS:

I Love Love Love these so much. This woman is so very lucky she got away from me with her feet fully intact. They have a bit of the vibe of those Louboutin for Phillip Lim sandals that are STILL being knocked off to this day, with a dash of that edgy zipper trend thrown in. Throw in that very now platfor and wider heel and they are a total win for me. Well, except that they are not mine. And I had to watch them walk away. And I maybe cried just a little…but that’s another story for another time!

This season’s Fashion week really turned up some amazing footwear. Here are a few more samples:

Geometry meets wooden heel. They produce offspring. It looks like this.

I do not agree with those Juicy Couture tracksuits being worn in public. I fully believe that one’s body should be dressed when on eleaves the house. One’s feet on the other hand might be a different story altogether.

Ooooohh! Tribal shoes!

Why yes, I did make this corset myself.What did I use? Electrical tape is the best invention ever! I use it for everything: boots, pants, wrist cuffs…

Simply amazing boots. Yes, they are open toed. Yes, they may have knee-high spats. But if you can’t wear your open-toed knee-high spat boots to fashion week, where can you wear them?

Remember SJP and her cloven-toed boots,

I bet you never thought you’d see a thigh-high version. The magic of fashion week is that, in the real world. This woman looks slightly nuts. But at fashion week she looks fantastic. And, truth be told, she appeared to be very comfortable and confident. In fact, I kind of wanted to BE her when I was shooting this look. I who have condemned this cloven-toed trend so vehemently in the past! Don’t get me wrong, if I saw her pushing cart at Gristedes in this ensemble, I might snicker. But this woman is a prime example of wearing exactly the right thing to exactly the right place. By the way, that sort of acid green/yellow color is really growing on me.

In closing, a special conversation:

Leather Jacket Girl: You know, I hate to tell you this, but you appear to have run afoul of some cobwebs on your way to the show today.

Cobweb Woman: I don’t know what you’re so uppity about, you appear to be wearing tights that were last seen paired with a pink tutu at a dance recital.

LJG: That may be, but at least I didn’t let the participants in said recital draw on my my arms with colored markers.

CW: Oh yeah? At least I left my black diaper at home.

LJG: Wait a minute, this is FASHION WEEK. Let’s play nice.

CW: Huh. That seems a litte counter-intuitive, but fine. You are wearing some pretty awesome booties. Even if you DID put them on over leaopard-print socks. And your jacket is pretty cute and looks buttery soft.

LJG: Thanks. You, er, hey that girl behind us is wearing florescent pink toenail polish! Look over there!

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Remember how - not too long ago -  we were anticipating the new Christian Siriano-Payless Shoesource collaboration?

Well, some styles are now available in-store an online.

So far, I am seeing 2 shoe-styles and 1 handbag online:

Christian Siriano for Payless “Slither” $49.99. Don’t expect these to go on sale anytime soon.

Christian Siriano for Payless “Sandstrap” platform peep-to $34.99. This is a cute and classy shoe.

Christian Siriano for Payless “Sassafrass” extra large hobo handbag $34.99. I wonder if that little inverted pyramid-thingy will be the Siriano trademark?

These are cute and I like the idea of supporting new designers - particularly when they are trying to create affordable fashion for the many folks who must stay on-budget every month.

But, online styles appear to be limited ….. Let’s hope there are more styles to be found in-store.

…Or, am I just being unreasonably greedy to get my hands on a pair of the edgy little chain-adorned numbers we saw on the runway?

Now I’ll just have to  try to get some time to go into town today to see if anything has shown up locally. Unfortunately, small-town living may not bode well for me in this instance.

ETA: Another new style just popped up on the Payless site (particularly useful to those who’s local stores never saw any September in-store stock); these certainly weren’t there yesterday morning - Brown snakeskin flats:

Christian Siriano for Payless “Saunter” $29.99

I suppose there’s some of that chain we have been mentioning in the comments below.

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Christian Siriano introduced his Spring ‘10 Runway collection at Payless Shoe Source in New York during Fashion’s Night Out.  Now, I don’t know if these shoes will be in my neighborhood Payless, or if they will make them less “runway” looking, or if these are a llimited edition for only New York.  Last year we saw Payless take his hot runway shoes and make them consumer friendly (average).

Here are the shoes introduced. 

These are what the model wore at the sneak peek.

Christian and the current display.

Payless Shoe Source is trying to make unusual shoes available to the lower end market.  They also have Alice+Olivia limited edition designs available.  We’ll see how well this line does in the stores.

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For the uninitiated, DIY stands for “Do it Yourself.” In fashion, it refers to people who take it upon themselves to modify or create their clothing to make it their own. No one has a more personal style than a fashion DIY-er.  It’s not easy to take a pair of scissors to a dress or write all over a pair of shoes if you haven’t done it before. I know. I used to think that the clothes were sacred! They were the way they were for a reason! This is clearly some mythic idea I concocted in my brain. It’s gone now. Payless has taken it upon themselves to make the first step easier by introducing the Friendship shoe.

This all-white shoe is sold with a package of three markers in order to give you the little push you might need to start scribbling on and personalizing your shoes. Originally, the idea came from kids. Remember, in school how important is was that EVERYONE in your class signed your yearbook or your cast (if you managed to break an arm)? These let you collect signatures with the need for tragic accident or the end of the year. But they don’t stop there. In addition to running wild with the pens that come with the shoes, you can also expand on the idea by adding feathers, paint, rhinestones, studs, fabric, or anything else in your craft arsenal. The possibilities are endless. The shoes come in both adult ($22.99) and children’s ($17.99) sizes and are available online as well as in stores in the New York Metro area (which includes New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania).

Did I mention that 100% of the proceeds from these shoes go to The Fresh Air Fund? This wonderful nonprofit program raises money to allow inner city kids to experience summer camp and outdoor activities free of charge. It literally provides kids with “fresh air.” Those of you who live in places that have large quantities of nature may not understand just how important this program is. I live in the center of Manhattan. On a regular day, it’s entirely possible that I may not actually see a tree, or anything else that grows. Kids in the city have little access to nature and little opportunity to run and play. This is an essential part of childhood and I cannot express to you how vital it is for a healthy childhood. I believe the Fresh Air Fund is providing children and families with a tremendous service.

To give you all some idea of the possibilities of the Friendship shoe, take a look at what our beloved Christian Siriano did with his pair:

That Christian has a way with feathers.

Another famous name, at least in the business of high-end athletic shoes and graphic design, also took a shot at the Friendship shoe. Jeff Staple has designed some of the most sought-after shoes in Nike’s history as well as limited runs for New Balance. He will be designing an entire collection of Airwalk shoes for Payless that will debut in Fall 2009.

So there you have it. The Friendship shoe gives you a chance to do some good, get some comfy kicks, and express your personality in one easy step.

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OK Ladies (and the odd gentleman), who loves Christian Siriano? Let me hear you! Who is fascinated by how his maniacal fashion mind works as he manages to succeed in an industry that often crushes new designers and an economy that crushes everybody else? Me! I am!

I got a chance to talk to Christian at the Fall Release event for Payless at their showroom in Manhattan. I will admit that most of the information in the interview is paraphrased (hey, I had a notebook, not a tape recorder). But these are the facts. The cold, hard facts.

Part 1: Memories….la la la la

So we all remember the runway versions of Christian Siriano’s soon-to-be-ready-to-footwear. They were…aspirational. Celebrities starting wearing them even before they tripped lightly down the runway at his Fall 2009 show. Needless to say, the question of how those 7-inch stunners would be modified for a population who walks farther than runway–>limo–>premiere–>limo was foremost in my mind. Here’s a reminder of what the runway versions looked like:

Cute, but Ouch!

Part 2: Here comes the love

First of all, let me say that Siriano was the picture of graciousness throughout the Payless event. He chatted with all the journalists who were milling around, smiling and posing for photos. My Payless contact told me that he had come in on a red-eye flight that morning, but you certainly couldn’t tell by looking at him. After exchanging greetings, I dove into the interview.

Twinkletoes: Can you tell me about the inspiration for your Payless collection?

Christian: My inspiration is the diva, Cleopatra, in Egypt. You can see in the colors palette that we have the browns of the sand and the blue of the Nile. The detailing also comes from Egypt; we have inverted pyramid zipper pulls and a blue hieroglyphic-like pattern. Even the curved, conical heel is an inverted pyramid. Also, the snakeskin-like fabric is totally Egypt.

T: Talk to me a little about how your runway shoes are different from the shoes that will be sold at Payless.

CS: The Payless shoes are definitely modified to make them more wearable, but they are very similar. I designed the runway shoes with Payless, so don’t think that the retail shoes will be inferior in any way. The Payless customer wants an everyday shoe, not something they can wear just once. You can see that the retail shoes are dramatic enough with the color and the details. They don’t need to be 7 inches high for drama. They have enough drama on their own.

T: I noticed that on the blue hieroglyphic bootie, the zipper is farther toward the front of the shoe than on most ankle boots. Was there a reason for that design decision?

CS: I was to democratize fashion a little and I love it when people take something and make it their own. With the zipper moved forward like this, the wearer can actually unzip it part way and fold over the top, making a whole different look. On the runway, the shoes actually had a double zipper so that they could be modified even more.

T: How was designing your collection for Payless different from designing your own collection?

CS: Well, first of all, working with Payless was wonderful. They have so many resources so there are a million different options. At the same time, when I design for Payless, the first this I have to think about is making my design wearable, then I add drama. It’s actually the opposite process when I design my own collection. With my line, it’s all about the drama. I want it to be fabulous. If it’s not, then my take is “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Let’s throw a poncho on her and call it a day.” Wearability comes later. I loved working with Payless though! And there are plans in the works for more collections! I am already working on a Holiday collection and a Resort collection and there will be a Spring collection as well. This is just the beginning.

T: Do you have a deep-rooted love of shoes?

CS: Actually, my sister has over 400 pairs of shoes! And they are dramatic ones, not everyday ones. I remember that when we were little, she would get a new pair of shoes every week, so that there were so many of them in all kinds of colors. She loves shoes. One of the perks of me designing, in general and for Payles is that I can send my shoes to her and my mom. So far, I haven’t heard any complaints from them. So it definitely comes from them.

***

Christian’s shoes for Payless are due out in August and they are very cute. He stayed true to the runway versions for the most part, bringing the heels down a notch and dropping a chain or a spike here and there.  There are also even some flats in the collection for the girl on the go. All the shoes will be priced below $50.00, which is true for all the designer collaborations at Payless. Detailed photos won’t be available until late summer, but ladies, get ready to pounce on Payless when those shoes debut. For a sneak peak at the collection check out this photo from Racked.com.

I just want to thank Payless for letting me talk with Christian so I can share his thoughts with all of you. There is more coming from the Payless event. They are a brand that has come a long way in the last several years, becoming more recognizable and more respectable. I will also be posting about their designer collaboration with Alice & Olivia and their eco-friendly line Zoe & Zac as well as some other tidbits. Stay tuned!

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