I've become some sort of a big fat snob regarding shoe brands. When you spend so much time with shoes or writing about shoes or thinking about shoes as I have, it's inevitable. But rather than crave the high-end luxury brands everybody and their sister are coveting (Louboutin, Blahnik, Zanotti, the usual suspects), my lust wanders off the beaten path. I crave more obscure, though not necessarily cheap brands (in fact, almost never cheap), partly because for me comfort is the true luxury and a pretty good measure of independence in a woman.
These days I'm in love with these Trippen shoes:
<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/trippen1.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/trippen1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/trippen2.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/trippen2.jpg" /></a>
Trippen is a German company using the softest leathers and completely devoted to your walking in comfort AND quirky style. These molded rosette Mary Janes fit the bill and are SO me I'm not sure what's preventing me from snagging them right now. Oh, I know: it's the price tag (<a href="http://pedshoes.com/trippen/trippen.asp?sid=&productLineID=1&vendorID= 18&productID=333&colorID=999" target="_blank">$288 at Ped Shoes</a>)--less friendly to my wallet than the shoes would be to my feet. However, considering how unique and comfy these shoes are, it's not so bad.