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.

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Steve Madden is creating quite a buzz on Wall Street.  Several years after starting his company in New York City, Steve Madden pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering in 2001, was in prison until 2005.  Investors forgave him and he returned to Steve Madden Ltd in 2006 as the creative and design chief. He has been the driving force behind it’s designs and has been helping recreate their business model. They made it quick on its feet. The ingenious way it introduces new designs puts them way ahead of the marketing curve.

They call it “test and release.” The company makes models at its Queens, N.Y., headquarters, where it has a mini-factory that can turn a concept into a shoe in less than a day. They then sell and monitor shoe models in a select number of its New York stores and on its Web site to determine fashion and inventory risks. After several weeks of observation, they decide whether a model can go to China for mass production and be distributed in retail stores. This “test and release” method allows them to put shoes in mass production on about 12 weeks, where typically it takes a footwear company about 5 months to release shoes.

Steven Madden Ltd has license agreements with Fabulosity, Elizabeth and James, l.e.i. for shoes, and for handbags and belts with Betsey Johnson and Daisy Fuentes. With this licensing, Steve Madden Ltd is in stores that cover the entire spectrum from Walmart (l.e.i.) to Bergdorf Goodman (Elizabeth and James) and it’s paying off. Steve Madden raised its 2009 per-share profit target in late April from $1.85 to $1.95, well above the $1.47 analysts had been expecting.Revenue grew 7%, also topping estimates.  It’s stock is regarded as a good buy. I am watching to see how it does the next few quarters.  Maybe I will put more than Monopoly money on it.

l.e.i. shoes from Walmart.

The Nessa $20

The Monical $17

The Whitley $20

Steve Madden Shoes

Coraline $70

Lonndon $50

Hanaa $70

Pandita $170

Elisabeth and James should be in stores this fall.  Nordstroms is pre-selling items, but none of the other websites have any shoes listed yet.

Luella $325 at Nordstroms  Presale

OK, this wedge is part of the Elizabeth and James line that Nordstroms was pre-selling for about $325.  By the time I could get things posted they had sold out.  No wonder. It is adorable.  It will show up later on in the season, so I will have to wait.

So, shoes offered by Steve Madden LTD range from $17 to 325.  These designs are what we are seeing virtually everywhere else. They are meeting the demands of the general public, which is the name of the business game.  I am disappointed there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual or outstanding.  I am going to have to go somewhere else for that.

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For those of you here in the United States, I wish you a thoughtful and safe Veterans Day.  To all those who have served, past and present, I am taking this moment to say Thank You.  Your willingness to put yourself at risk for your fellow citizens as well as for the ideals of honor, duty, and freedom makes this former military brat proud and thankful for your commitment and sacrifice.

And, for all of our Shoeblog.com readers, I proudly unfurl my own flag-inspired favorite that I reserve just for patriotic occasions:

Steve Madden Lejune at Zappos.com

Wear your colors proudly and with honor.

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Test your knock-off knowledge here.

See if you can identify the manufacturers of the following shoe styles.

I’ll give you a hint.   

They are not: Marc Jacobs, YSL, Dior, Prada/Miu Miu, Gucci or Givenchy.

Check your answers at the bottom of the page.:

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

6.)

7.)

8.)

9.)

10.)

Answers Below:

Read the rest of this entry »

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I feel like I need a pair of hip-waders just to get through my email this week. The basic theme flooding my inbox this week is this: Sales, sales, sales.

Here are a few, in no particular order:

• 1.) Nordstrom’s 40% off shoes clearance.

Personal sale picks:

The Gucci-esque “Boseda” snakeskin-embossed corset sandal by Boutique 9 ($79.90 after 40% off) or the equestrian/harness-vibe “Nobli” pump by Bally (334.90 after 40% discount). 

• 2.) Steve Madden shoes; Free shipping with purchases over $50.00:

Personal clearance pick:

The “Riley” oxford in leopard print for $49.00 or the Togga platform gladiator for $79.99.

• 3.) Shoebuy.com; Extra 15% off Sale items. (You may need to shop through this main link to establish the 15% discount.)

Personal pick:

Siren by Mark Nason “Fatinah” embroidered lace-up boot for $209.45 (after 55% sale price but before extra 15%  discount).  Keep in mind that if you decide to ‘register’ at shoebuy.com, you also receive another 10% discount in addition to the sales price and promotional discount. That would bring this boot to about $160.23 final pre-tax cost; a big drop from the original $475 retail.

What would your picks be? Please have fun browsing the sites & let us know if you score any bargains. I will keep an eye on my inbox to see what other shopping opportunities may be headed our way.

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