Supermodel Liu Wen's Shoes Off and On the Runway

If you don't sit around watching FTV late at night when you can't sleep (like I do), you may not be familiar with the name, but Miss Liu is currently one of the most-booked runway models and is considered by many to be one of the new breed of supermodels. Born in Yongzhou, China, the former tour guide became part of fashion history by being the first Chinese model to walk the Victoria's Secret runway. She's set to become the face of Estee Lauder, making her the first Asian woman to achieve this. Vogue has recently named her as one of the people who influenced fashion in the year 2010. Now that's something to put on a resume!

Wen (her last name is Liu) has more than just good looks and great clothing - she has fantastic taste in shoes! Having walked the runways of Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Martin Margiela, Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, Louis Vuitton, Chloe, and countless other purveyors of haute couture, she's had plenty of chance to test-drive the latest shoes out on the luxury goods market. For her first ever Vogue cover (for Vogue Portugal), she wore a pair of smokin' hot Christian Louboutin Fifre ankle boots in fire-engine red. When I saw these boots, I figured that if I could only buy one pair of shoes for the entire fall season, I'd probably invest in a pair of these boots: they channel military style with a sexy edge, thanks to gold-tone buttons and loop fastenings, a 4.5 inch heel and a concealed platform, and of course, the signature red sole. Pair them with anything and you can go anywhere. Lucky, lucky Liu!

A self-confessed shoeaholic, Wen's favorite song is "September High Heels." However, Wen often wears flats and boots, especially when she's out running around doing errands or heading to appointments and shows. Her black leather Jimmy Choo York motorcycle boots are nearly flat, with inch-high heels, and are generously embellished with gold and silver-tone studs and rivets. These boots look seriously tough, and Wen rocks them like she's supposed to, in a grunge-meets-high street ensemble consisting of a tailored jacket, plaid shirt, and black skinny jeans. Wen has also been photographed sporting awesome trainers by Jeremy Scott x Adidas. They're trainers… with wings!

I'm going to have to add the entire contents of Liu Wen's shoe closet to my list of celebrity shoe collections I wish I had!

Alexander McQueen’s Armadillo Shoe

Armadillo shoes 

Sometimes, couture shoes can be just plain spooky for the faint of heart. These days, shoes are becoming more and more edgy, not to mention their heels are also towering more and more. The weirdest/most beautiful shoe that has ever graced our planet is the Armadillo shoe. Count it on the late great McQueen to make the most eye-stirring, heart-pounding, killer shoes that might just literally kill you too.

The lobster-heeled Armadillo shoe made its debut on McQueen’s Spring /Summer 2010 collection and instantly got a flurry of attention. More than the typical “oohs and aahhs” heard on the rows of an Alexander McQueen runway show, fashion-forward enthusiasts scurried to find out what on earth this new creation was. Were these a gift sent by the avant-garde gods of fashion? Is this Lady Gaga and Madonna’s baby? Nope, they are simply Alexander McQueen artwork.

Only a few bold/bordering-crazy people have been able to walk in these shoes. Of course, Lady Gaga is on top of the list. Demi Moore was also photographed wearing them for a cover of Harper’s Bazaar. Note that she was just “photographed wearing them” and we don’t really have evident proof she was actually able to walk in them. Lady GaGa, on the other hand, was even able to dance like crazy in them for her Bad Romance video.

The aptly named Armadillo shoes are not readily available for those interested. It isn’t mass-produced, you see (fortunately). If you have spare $10,000 though, and willing to wait (years), then maybe you can have your own pair too (I wouldn’t count on it).  This obviously impractical footwear is impossibly hard to walk in and equally impossible to get unless you are a popular celeb or an iconic plastic doll – Barbie. Yes, she owns a pair too.

“Love” The New Ballerina Flats From YSL

Yes, that blissful sigh you just heard did in fact emerge from your own throat. Yves Saint Laurent has expanded their Love Ballerina line just in time for the holidays – wise for them, diabolical for the friends and family of shoeaholics. Originally, the flat only arrived in the standard black and beige, but now a multitude of unconventional yet subtle shades have been added to the lineup, including fuschia, salmon, indigo and forest green.

Made of patent leather to give it a sheen, YSL brings back the true meaning of the shoe with a square toe like traditional ballerina flats. Subtly incorporating the brand's quirkiness is the oversize logo on the insole and the tiny heart cutout on the toe box. With such cute details,  even staunch supporters of the heel would be tempted.

There are now twelve new flavours in the Love Ballerina collection, available at YSL boutiques for $485 a pop. Try to limit yourself to just one, or know how it truly feels to be a man and blow three months salary buying up every colour.

Coleen Rooney Opts for Louboutins

Style icon and footballers wife Coleen Rooney showed off her peep toe Louboutins at the annual Christmas bash for designer boutique Cricket. The fashion hot spot Cricket boutique is located in the heart of Liverpool and it’s regularly frequented by local celebs wishing to stock up on their designer labels.

Coleen opted for her classic Christian Louboutin No Privé 120 patent leather sling backs. The fabulous footwear offered a chic edge to her outfit with the signature red soles providing the perfect anecdote to Coleen’s muted colour palette.

Thank goodness Coleen is back on track in the shoe style stakes after being photographed wearing a less than flattering pair of studded toe cap boots last week it’s refreshingly reassuring to see that she has come to her senses  and is once again heading the fashion pack in her trusty Louboutins.

And Mrs Rooney isn’t the only celebrity opting for Louboutins; right now these shoes seem to be flavour of the month with Heidi Klum sporting a pair at an Astor cosmetics promotional event and Gossip Girl Blake Lively stocking up on multiple pairs whilst attending an invitation only sale in New York City.

Teva Takes A Second Stab At Reinvention

If you're into that kind of thing...

Known for their velcroed sports sandals, Teva is desperate to reach new markets. Remember that puke-worthy stiletto that they had the gall to charge $330 for? Perfect for the kind of girl who goes mountain hiking in a Vivienne Westwood dress.

That particular collaboration with Grey Ant received no love from the fashion or the sporting community – it even got skewered on the Conan show. A dismal failure, but it did get people abuzz about a brand that was pretty much on the brink of obscurity. Bad publicity is better than no publicity, I guess.

Now that the world is eager to pounce on whatever they come out with next, Teva has introduced the “Gnarkosi.” It's a mash between two of their existing shoes: the Gnar, a closed-toe sandal, and the Syrkosi, a water resistant slip-on that resembles a wetsuit for your feet. Though the company have made closed-toe shoes before, never have they done an actual, proper sneaker. With the sudden aggressive reinvention of their look, the brand seems to be targeting affluent city living professionals, wanting to abandon what they call a “granola” association.

Perhaps this was Teva's plan all along; to hustle us into paying attention to them with a feint, then rolling out a shoe that actually makes sense when we're all watching. It's still not the prettiest sneaker, arriving in some pretty garish colours like ultra violet and bright turquoise.  The Gnarkosi will probably cater well to their market, even if they are trying to reach less hardcore outdoor enthusiasts. According to Teva's Marketing Director, Joel Heath, the Teva sneaker is “aimed at people who live in urban areas and but takes advantage of public parks or other green space. The Gnarkosi was designed to be a shoe that transitions from athletic activity to street or workplace without sacrificing style.”

The Gnarkosi by Teva will be in stores February 2011 and retail for about $100.

The World’s Most Expensive Shoe

Hear ye, hear ye shoeholics! A great treasure has been found – Stuart Weitzman’s Rita Hayworth Heels. Now, I’m sure several other designers retail their shoes at a high price but nothing could beat this mother of all shoes. Stuart Weitzman’s Rita Hayworth Heels are currently the most expensive shoes and it is worth, drumroll please… a whopping 3 million dollars and it’s not even that pretty. Sorry to burst your bubble Mr. Weitzman.

So what makes this otherwise plain satin shoes seem so invaluable? Well, they were created around the earrings of legendary red-haired “Love Goddess” Rita Hayworth. The 40s movie-star icon was known as a great sex symbol and one of the top actors of her time.

Stuart Weitzman crafted the satin peep-toe stilettos with the infamous earrings laden with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Only one very lucky woman had the blessed opportunity (and guts!) to wear them. Kathleen Bird was an Oscar nominee back in 2006 and she wore the treasured shoes and paired it with the same color satin dress. I personally think her dress didn’t do much justice to the precious pair of shoes. The unbelievably expensive shoes now belong to Hayworth’s daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan.



Wietzman has been known to make over-the-top shoe creations that cost more than a house mortgage. Another diamond-laden Weitzman creation that’s 2nd to the list is the “Cinderella Slippers”, priced at $2,000,000. They are set with 595 carats of diamonds, with one shoe having an amaretto diamond that’s alone worth $1,000,000.
Talk about price tags! These shoes are not just foot-candy, they are walking museum art! Anyone who wears them will sure be guarded by a whole bunch of CIA’s, making sure no one gets near those diamonds. And please for the love of God, don’t trip in them!

Gaga Appears to Have Forgotten her Heels...Again!

In the fashion stakes Lady Gaga has never been a shrinking violet; in fact the more whacky the better as far as this artist is concerned. And it isn’t just her outfits which express her whacky taste Lady Gaga also has a penchant for rather crazy footwear.

The pop star was recently spotted out and about in Milan sporting yet another pair of insane shoes; the black ankle boots had studded soles but yet again they were missing that vital shoe ingredient...Heels! But Gaga, who has been seen in similar heel free footwear throughout the year, seemed to find her balance and walked around the Spanish city with relative ease.

It appears that this bizarre style of shoe is a definite favourite of the Gaga. The heel free platforms were created by Japanese designer Noritaka Tatehana and are inspired by the Japanese historical shoe Kan Pokkuri which is basically a clog that was traditionally made out of cans.

If you’re feeling the Gaga vibe and can see yourself in these heel-less creations then be prepared to pay for the privilege; the shoes are available direct from Noritaka Tatehana’s website ranging from $2,500 to $4000 per pair. Yikes!

Blake’s Louboutin Blowout

sharing her love of Louboutin

Gossip Girl star and all round fashionista Blake Lively is no stranger to spectacular shoes and her love affair with Christian Louboutin’s creations is nothing new. The shoe maestro previously created a shoe style which he named after the rising TV star.

But now Blake appears to be sharing her love of Louboutin with her friends and family. The Gossip Girl was recently spotted stocking up on her favourite footwear in New York City. Miss Lively was invited to an exclusive sample sale for Christian Louboutin and she made the most of her invite spending an estimated $9000 on shoes. Although Blake insisted she was buying Christmas gifts for her sisters and girlfriends the star later admitted that she couldn’t resist picking up a few pairs for herself...Naturally!

Oh and if you’re reading this Blake I would just like to put myself forward as your new best friend or adoptive sister...I am a shameless shoeaholic.

Ruby Slippers

‘Tis the season to be jolly; so get festive and take a tip from the fashion pack by slipping your feet into a pair of red shoes.

‘Dorothy Heels’ are hot to trot and they will give any outfit instant style cred – this is vital with party season coming up – change up that little black dress with a pair of red heels and accessories.

Or wear your red shoes in an unconventional way; you don’t always need to dig out the sexy and sophisticated garments from your wardrobe, mix it up by going casual. Red shoes look particularly divine paired with dark denim.

The pick the ruby shoes includes; Red Velvet Suwalki Boots by Manolo Blahnik [they’ve been out in blue and pink but are now available in a fabulous deep berry red] and red patent peep toes by shoe master Jimmy Choo.

If you fancy something flat check out Valetino’s red pointy toed sandals that have a studded t-bar and ankle strap, as well as studs all the way around the foot.

If you’re not brave enough to surrender completely to red shoes why not take a leaf out of Miss Beckham’s book and choose a pair of heels with red embellishment or details. VB tweeted “Obsessed with these Prada shoes...” (@victoriabeckham) and I can see why.

So go and be bold – get yourself some ruby slippers.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Her Swedish Hasbeens

Sarah Jessica Parker and Her Swedish Hasbeens

Yet another celebrity shoe trend is born: Swedish Hasbeens. These clogs have recently been seen all over Hollywood, with Sarah Jessica Parker leading the pack of clog-loving celebs. She wore a couple of pairs in the most recent Sex and The City movie and it immediately got noticed by the public. SJP has been revered as a great fashion icon ever since the Sex and the City series. Carrie’s love for designer shoes radiated to the screens and the show’s audience. The result was a rise in the popularity of designer shoes Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and of course, the Cosmopolitan cocktail drink. We all know how the SATC girls love their shoes and their cosmos.

Recently though, Sarah seemed to have traded her designer shoes for the more subtle clogs. The Swedish Hasbeens are environmentally-friendly clogs that are made of wood and natural grain leather. It has a cute story behind it too. It all started when designer Emy Blixt found hundreds of pairs of wooden clogs in an old factory in Sweden. They brought back the clogs and created the brand Swedish Hasbeens. The name sounds kind of funny, I know, but it totally narrates the story of the clog since they used to be all the rage a few decades ago. The shoes are still handmade in the same factory in Sweden to preserve the history of the clogs. Prices start at $175 and go up to $703 for the knee-high boots.

Clogs have made a big comeback lately and vintage fanatics are loving the trend.  From the high-fashion runways to the streets of Hollywood, these chunky wooden shoes have stormed its way back to the fashion world once again. With SJP acting like an endorser/spokesperson for the brand, I’m sure it will reach even higher heights and spark a bigger Hasbeen revolution.

Kobi Levi's “Real World” Designs

There is such a thing as shoe art, and it spans much farther than your prized red patent Louboutins. Taking inspiration from many decidedly unfabulous elements of the real world, designer Kobi Levi has used these as the blueprint for his unique line of footwear. The epitome of tongue-in-cheek, freelance designer Kobi acknowledges that his creations usually end up as quite “humoristic with a unique point of view about footwear.”

One simply needs to see them to believe them. One of his latest designs, the “XXX Pump,” was aptly named. From the front, it looks like a perfectly respectable shoe, but from the back... oh my! Wear these, and any who follow behind you will be blushing. Similarly, “Blow” is a nude colored shoe with glossy red “lipstick” on the peep toe, and its heels are a pair of shapely legs. Kobi was obviously in a frisky mood when he made these, but his other designs have all of the same playfulness but with a whole different look.

“Dog,” “Miao,” “Market Trolley” and “Banana Slip-On” (there's no need in trying to explain them – with Kobi's designs, everything looks exactly how you think they will) are good examples of the kitsch factor present in many of his shoes. Optical illusions like “Double Boots” to how-do-you-wear-those “Rocking Chair” and “Tulip” will have you making the hard decision of whether to put them on your feet or on your mantle! Not all of his shoes are too wacky, though. Some are just new takes on old classics (“Androgyne,” “Two-gether” and “Twist”) and some are just downright cool and wearable that you have to wonder why no one's done this before. Notably, “Chewing Gum,” which looks like a run-of-the-mill oxford, but has a heel fashioned to look like a string of pink sticky chewing gum stuck to the sole.

Calling them “wearable scupltures” that are alive with or without the foot or body, all of Kobi's designs can be stared at in wonder at his website.

Hot This Season: Over-The-Knee Boots

As the temperatures dip, the boot lengths get higher. This Fall, the one item you must pick up is the over-the-knee boot. Dabbling in a comeback last Winter, they're thirsty for even more time in the limelight and are now back in full force. Unlike the thigh-high boot, which makes a serious statement and can be intimidating to wear, over-the-knee boots are sexy but still adaptable to any outfit, even just your skinny jeans and a sweater. Celebs everywhere are being spotted in this hot trend, including tween starlet Ashley Tisdale and everybody's favorite reality star, Kim Kardashian.

Filming her new reality show in Tribeca, New York, Kim spared no expense when it came to glamour. A wide-brimmed floppy hat, fur coat, and these over-the-knee boots courtesy of Brian Attwood were the benchmark of lavish opulence.

An exterior of luxurious suede calfskin, these stand at a full height of approximately 23 inches. The special detail is in the metal chain on the back of the boots that start at the thigh and run all the way down to the tip of the stiletto heel. Meant to give a formfitting look, these boots will be your second skin, and will make your legs look like they go from here to the West coast with a generous 5½ inch heel and 1½ platform.

Though Kim Kardashian's boots are, well, in a Kim Kardashian kind of price range at $2,900 at Neiman Marcus, over-the-knee boots are flooding the shops at prices that you can manage. If you're simply dying to have a pair like Kim's, a good look-alike is this pair by GUESS at Endless.com.

Stripper Heels Hot or Not?

You would think that a celebrity who rakes in millions a year would steer away from stripper shoes, but nooo. Surprisingly, the celebrity I'm referring to isn’t Lady Gaga, who actually prefers strange heel-less contraptions that only she and trapeze artists can balance in.

During a trip to London, Beyonce was photographed sporting a pair of Lucite fishbowl heels. You know the kind - spiky 8 inch heels and massive Lucite platforms. The kind of shoe that screams "Tip me!" The incredible thing is, unlike Taylor Momsen who once admitted during an interview that she gets her stripper heels from actual stripper stores, Beyonce's plastic-fantastic footwear was made by Fendi.

Helen Mirren has also stated in an interview that she loves platform heels and used to buy hers from stripper shops because, back then, they were the only places she could get them. Taylor Momsen is evidently a sensible stripper shoe shopper (alliteration is always fun) as, instead of shelling out big bucks for designer stripper heels, she's getting them from actual stripper shops like Helen Mirren used to.

Taylor Momsen, pictured, impudently toeing the line between "sexy" and "illegal in most states" in jar tip stripper heels. Her shoes feature a plastic platform emblazoned with the word "Tips" n using glow-in-the-dark paint. There is also a convenient slot for bills and change.


Far be it for me to judge another woman's taste in shoes, I have to say that I'm more or less unaffected by the stripper heel craze, despite the fact that Fendi, DSquared2, and Prada's valiant efforts at making the stripper heel classy and elegant. Prada took the humble stripper shoe and tried to convert it into something a non-exotic dancer would allow herself to be seen in. No towering Lucite platforms for Prada: Lucite straps, embellishments, and slim transparent heels actually make their shoes wearable out of a bedroom or brothel setting.

The trick to wearing stripper heels, it seems, is to avoid wearing them with a flashy, revealing outfit. The heels are sexy and outrageous enough on their own; no need to call in the artillery with low-cut mesh tops and denim hot pants. It might also be wise to avoid going into strip clubs or the X-rated section of your local video rental store wearing stripper heels, unless you want to attract a lot of attention. With towering transparent platforms and 6 to 8 inch heels, attention is something you'll definitely get.

Vivienne Westwood's Iconic Shoes

You have to love Vivienne Westwood. Excuse me, I meant Dame Vivienne Westwood, as she was made a dame in 2006 by the Prince of Wales in classic Vivienne fashion (she accepted the honour wearing no underwear and sporting a pair of silver horns).

Anti-establishment, imaginative, innovative, a little crazy - Vivienne Westwood is a fashion force to be reckoned with.

In an age where there's so little fun in fashion, Vivienne Westwood manages to come up with crazy designs such as winged platforms and foot-shaped shoes. And the surprising thing is, people love them. Or maybe it's not so surprising, seeing as our collective thirst for a little uniqueness, a little avant-garde, has led to the birth and subsequent popularity of Lady Gaga and other acts that capitalize on their outrageousness.

Dame Vivienne Westwood was a former punk rocker who made her start in the fashion world as the designer and part-owner of a punk clothing boutique on King's Road. Initially called Let It Rock, then changed to Sex, then changed once again to Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die, one more time to Seditionaries, and finally, World's End, the boutique sold bondage-inspired clothing of Westwood's own design. The one-time schoolteacher's designs were then primarily influenced by punk, and she helped turn the humble safety pin into a must-have fashion accessory for punks, bikers, and members of other sub-cultures.

You can still see the punk influence in Westwood's designs today, in their utter disregard for convention. You would think that her shoe creations are too quirky to be wearable, but celebrities are frequently spotted wearing them. Kate Moss and Sienna Miller are just two of the celebrities who love Vivienne Westwood pirate boots.

At £350.00, Vivienne Westwood pirate boots are not cheap. However, you could argue that what you're paying for isn't just a pair of shoes, but a wearable work of art. Her pirate boots, with grey suede uppers and 100 percent leather soles, are the most popular shoe style that Vivienne Westwood has yet produced.

Vivienne Westwood's shoes run the gamut from whimsical to biker-tough to quirky or a combination of all three. Case in point, her black Anglomania Wing II rocking horse shoes, made of PVC, and features ankle straps adorned with outstretched angel wings. The result: equal parts whimsy and gothic sex appeal.

Hasbeens Try To Make The Transition Into Fall

The Swedish Hasbeens were one of the fondest memories of summer, kind of like that weekend at the beach house. Trendy and yet a clog no less, the biggest names in fashion were snapped wearing these wooden-soled wonders.

With a thick, stable high heel, they were the “Uggs of summer,” for being so super comfortable during a season where our shoes usually pinch, blister, and make our poor feet generally ache.

Now that the colder season has arrived, we can't be showing off our toes anymore, but that doesn't mean that the Hasbeens are content to sit at the back of your closet! Hoping to ease into Fall, they have introduced their knee-high boots made of natural leather. The same thick wooden heel that made them famous is still there (in the “super high” format of 3.5 inches), but the look is generally just a regular clog in boot form.

They would otherwise be a total yawn if not for their fun color selection. There's black and brown for conventional types, but those who want to try something fun can choose mustard, turquoise, black and white stripes, or the very Life Savers candy-esque rainbow stripes.

Not quite sure how well they'll fare in the autumn boot market, which is already saturated with much better looking options. What are your thoughts? Loving the look, or are these hasbeens a neverwas?

Azzedine Alaia and the Women Who Love Him… And His Shoes

Azzedine Alaia is a Tunisian designer who shot to fame in the '80s for his clinging, skintight dresses before fading into relative obscurity in the '90s (except for a brief mention of his name in the Alicia Silverstone teen flick Clueless). In 2000, he resurfaced and signed a contract with the House of Prada, and although he's been able to buy back his brand name, his shoes are still produced through the fashion monolith.

Although Alaia became famous in the '80s for his sexy dresses, it's safe to say that Alaia is currently better known for his fierce footwear designs. Alaia got an ounce of extra fame when a photo of Lindsay Lohan in a pair of his sexy gladiator boots surfaced in magazines and on the Net. Some people thought the boots were a horrendous crime against fashion, while some argued that the gladiator boots were smoking hot and a good way to wear boots even in summer. Everyone agreed that the boots would have looked better if Lindsay's little toe wasn't sticking out of one of the cutout holes.


Recently, Alaia got even more publicity when First Lady Michelle Obama wore a dress of his design at a NATO dinner (I have no idea what shoes she was wearing, though). Michelle Obama, judging by the number of times she's been photographed wearing Alaia designs, is a huge fan.

Alaia's shoes usually look like they belong on the feet of a vampy supermodel with legs that go on for miles.


Other celebrities have been seen out and about in Azzedine Alaia shoes. Sandra Bullock, Claudia Schiffer, Leighton Meester, Hilary Duff, Rebecca Romjin, and Zoe Saldana are just a few of the celebs that have been seen rocking Azzedine Alaia heels, boots and booties. Azzedine Alaia's shoes are downright covetable, and the only downside is the extremely steep price tag. A pair of Azzedine Alaia cutout booties will set you back around $2000. Definitely not chump change by most people's standards.

Since it's probably going to be a while before I get rich enough to be able to afford authentic Alaia heels, I'll settle for cheap but chic alternatives. But if you want Alaia shoes and you can afford them, go ahead. Alaia shoes are works of art in their own right, and will probably end up becoming classics.

Celebrities and Crocs

Nearly everybody I know hates Crocs, and to be completely honest, I find them to be quite ugly myself. I admit that I own a pair, but I only bought them when our yard got flooded because of a broken water main and I had to wade through mud every time I left the house. I haven't worn them since. Comfortable shmortable: my feet are plenty comfortable in a nice pair of brogues. No need to wear anything as hideous as Crocs just to give my feet a break.

Neon-colored foam affairs that look like a cross between a clog and a perforated chair back, Crocs are almost (read: almost) universally hated, despite the fact that they're comfortable and inexpensive.

Crocs have been banned in some hospitals for safety reasons, and Japan had once ordered Crocs, Inc. to redesign their shoes when numerous incidents of children having Crocs-related accidents on escalators surfaced. Some medical reports have suggested that wearing Crocs all the time can cause fallen arches and that the comfort of the soft foam resin used in Crocs does not equate adequate foot and leg support. Crocs aren't green: the foam resin used in Crocs is non-biodegradable and will end up lying in landfills for hundreds of years, although it is true that Crocs has a recycling program wherein old, donated Crocs are turned into new Crocs made of 20% recycled material. But what happens when even the most die-hard Crocs fan doesn't want to wear Crocs anymore? Apparently, all this isn't enough for Crocs to be erased from existence. Today, there are so many different styles and colors of Crocs that it's mind-boggling. Who are wearing these hideous, hideous shoes?

The answer: celebrities. 

Heaven knows why. Even Rihanna, who usually never appears unfashionable in public, has been spotted wearing a pair of gray Crocs to match her sleek black slacks. 

The only explanation I could think of to explain this horrendous fashion faux pas is that Rihanna's other shoes must have all been stolen by a crazed shoe thief, who was kind (or mean-spirited) enough to leave her a pair of Crocs so she wouldn't have to go barefoot!

Classic Comfort meets Innovation: Keds for Opening Ceremony Sneakers

Opening Ceremony, a company that's known for its unique business philosophy of collaborative design, has teamed up with Keds to create a line of shoes that take inspiration from various cultures unique to a specific country. To date, OC has released four Keds collections: two for Britain, one for the US, and one for France.

Opening Ceremony and Keds: a match made in heaven or a match destined for a quickie divorce? Although there wasn't a lot of hype over the release of the Keds for Opening Ceremony line of shoes because it was overshadowed by other, glitzier Opening Ceremony collabs, these sneakers definitely have staying power and the potential to be shoe closet staples.

According to Opening Ceremony's creative director Humberto Leon, the first thing he and his team thought about at before embarking on the Keds and OC sneakers collaboration was the fabric they were going to use. The first Keds for Opening Ceremony collection is inspired by classic Americana, and the fabrics used were mainly denim and chambray. The sneakers are in primary colors, with shoelaces with a decidedly nautical feel. These Keds for OC sneakers are equally perfect with designer jeans or faded Levi's.

These unisex sneakers in unapologetically patriotic hues are All-American and oh-so-cute. These would look perfect with a short, floaty summer dress for Fourth of July picnics.

Next up, Britain-inspired Keds! Keds for OC has two collections that take inspiration from British punk culture, circa 1970s. The sneaker style used for the Keds for OC Tribute to London collection was the classic Keds Champion shoe. This collection features the Keds Champion sneakers done up in three wild animal prints: zebra, cheetah, and leopard. Instead of canvas, the shoe's are crafted from real pony hair, giving the print a unique texture and making these sneaks rocking enough to wear to wear on a night out on the town. Needless to say, these aren't the comfy yet humdrum Keds you would normally wear to buy groceries.

The second British-punk inspired collection takes inspiration from '70s-era neon-colored punk hairstyles. The sneakers come neon shades bright enough to stop traffic. The shoe style used for this line-up is the old stand-by, classic low-top Pro-Keds. The sneakers are available in three eye-blistering colors – neon royal pink, neon royal yellow, and neon royal orange.

The third collection (my favorite one) is inspired by France, and makes use of "toile de jouy" prints and embroidery. Yes, that's right: embroidery. Artist Richard Saja, who's been putting his own twist on classic toile prints for several years now, is in charge of the fabric design on the Keds for OC French edition sneakers, and they have him embroidering designs for use in the French edition of Keds for OC (the sneakers also come in printed embroidery). Richard Saja has a whimsical sense of humor, as is evident in his creations for Keds for OC. He likes inserting random doodles into the toile print, such as placing colorful cartoon monsters in the middle of idyllic pastoral scenes or putting bunny ears on a French matron's head. The end result is kind of like what would happen if an imaginative child took a marker to Granny's toile print wallpaper, with surprisingly pleasant results.

The Keds for Opening Ceremony selection is my favorite Opening Ceremony collaboration to date, with Betsey Johnson Archives curated by Opening Ceremony a close second. Keds and Opening Ceremony certainly did a bang-up job on these fantastic kicks. I can't wait for the next collections, inspired by other countries and other cultures, to arrive and rock my socks off!

Many celebrities have been pictured wearing Keds, including Kristen Stewart.

Say Goodbye to Uncomfortable Rubber Flip-flops and Hello to Gurkee's Rope Sandals

I've never been a fan of rubber flip-flops. They don't really feel all that comfortable, when I walk they keep slapping against my heels with an irritating thwacking sound, and the designs used on flip-flops are too loud and colorful, and not in a good, Vivienne Westwood- Betsey Johnson kind of way. 

I found these amazing sandals through Opening Ceremony, and they seem to be a great alternative to flip-flops. According to the Gurkee's Sandals website, Gurkee's rope sandals are made from rope spun from carpet fiber which is then heat-welded. The result: incredibly comfortable and sturdy sandals. Every step feels like you're walking on carpet! As an added plus, they're available in a ton of colors and styles. I particularly like the Neptune rope sandals in white. The ropes are twisted together, giving the sandals a nautical feel: Perfect for a holiday in Nantucket or just schlepping off to the corner bakery for a muffin.

Gurkee's Neptune Rope Sandals

The Montego rope sandals are definitely nice enough to wear in public. Two bands composed of heat-welded individual ropes plus an adjustable back-strap ensures comfort, as well as ensures they won't go flying off your feet as you're running down the beach.

Gurkee's Montego Rope Sandals

Gurkee's sandals are water and chlorine-resistant, but if you do get them wet, make sure you dry them completely or else they'll smell just like wet carpet (eew). They're machine-washable, so getting them clean is quick and easy. Gurkee's rope sandals are 100 percent made in the USA, and a pair goes for less than $40. 

These rope sandals are perfect if you want to give your feet a break from your four-inch platforms, or if you're heading to the beach and would rather wear something a little more stylish and comfortable than rubber flip-flops. 

The Mind of Manolo

It is one thing to analyze what a shoe theoretically says about its wearer. It’s quite another to analyze what a shoe does to its wearer, what it literally brings out in them. For Manolo Blahnik, the man behind heels of brazen height, shoes bring a sensuousness to a woman’s walk. “Your body sways to a different kind of tempo,” he has said referring to the change his towering shoes effect on a woman’s body. Blahnik believes wholeheartedly in the innate transformative power of a good shoe.

The Spanish born heel genius was directed by Diana Vreeland back in the 1960’s to only design shoes, a prescient direction from the thenl Editor-in-Chief at American Vogue that has paid off many times over. It is advice that he still adheres to today with few exceptions.

The New York Times recently published a story by Elizabeth Hayt regarding the technology that goes into crafting shoes of such great heights. Stiletto height has been increased dramatically by Blahnik and collegues over the past few decades, although Blahnik will not make heels higher that 115 millimeters for fear of compromising “grace and femininity.”

His shoes, like others, rely upon Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene as the strong, malleable base of the shoe, a “martini glass” ring of screws at the heel, steel rods that run thoughout the shoe, and several layers of purposeful padding at each place of the foot. Such technologies make the shoes balanced, wearable, and durable.

Back in 2008, Blahnik voiced his shock over the prices that people will pay for designer shoes as well as his dismay at what it costs to create such luxe products using as crocodile. The only to turn a profit it, he attested, was to create a better shoe than his competitors with less opulent materials. It is well known that the prominence of his shoes on Sex and the City have only fanned the fire of demand for Manolos in America.

The article portrays Blahnik as a self-proclaimed tradtionalist, still designing his coveted heels himself, checking for balance with a compass and a ruler only, in contrast to the digital design software several of his counterparts have adopted. In a story in The Independent by Carola Long, Blahnik’s niece reveals that in the factory her uncle often tells giddy, imaginary stories about the women who will wear each of his shoes and the escapades they will have in them. His niece notes how his artistic mind constantly jumps all over history, cinema, art, and ideas and asks him if he ever thinks in a straight line. He replies, “Straight line, what is a straight line? I don't like them.”

He may draw inspiration from all over, but he has been wise to stick to designing shoes only as opposed to branching out to other areas and spreading himself and his team too thin. This narrow focus, enveloping creativity, and attention to the female body are surely responsible for his success.

Anouck Lepere wears...

Belgian model Anouck Lepere is classic supermodel gorgeous. I know, I know there’s no such thing as supermodels anymore. But if there were, she would be it. She’s absolutely lovely, demonstrates believable emotions and moods with her face and body, and above all she is innately glamorous. Although there is nothing old about 31, she looks remarkable younger than her age. In a spread for Marie Claire back in September, she reminisces on her time spent at university studying architecture and muses that her appreciation for the study has helped her enjoy her world travels more and stay grounded.

While I suppose there’s no point analyzing what she wears when she’s on the job, because either she didn’t pick it or she’s naked. However, it is interesting to peer into her after-hours life to see what one wears when one has seen and worn all the newest, most beautiful styles as soon as they debut. What does Anouck Lepere wear when she’s enjoying some downtown, romping around exciting cities all over the world?

In this photo Anouck struts around in Gucci Helena Cutout Boots, a shoe that has also been seen on Angelina Jolie and Karlie Kloss. Kloss was recently followed around by Vogue during Fashion’s Night Out. This is a sublime boot for transitioning from autumn to winter-- exciting enough for red carpet, edgy enough for club hopping, and versatile enough for a smattering of events in between. They are fierce without invoking Halle Berry’s Catwoman, as some unbalanced black leather boots do.

Tight Situations...

The laddering of a pair of tights can truly ruin my day! There is simply nothing worse than finding the perfect outfit, enhanced with a pair of 60 denier Opaques and after strutting into the office, discovering a ladder the size of my credit card bill marking its

way further down my leg.

“Use clear nail varnish to stop the ladder spreading,” a helpful colleague suggests. Please can someone introduce me to someone who is organised enough to carry a bottle around with them, just in case a tight emergency occurs?

With the seasons focus being on tights, then perhaps I should consider purchasing my own “in case of an emergency bottle of clear polish”.

With legs like mine, which would not look out of place attached to an elephant, tights have always been a fashion-God send to me.

Never been a fan of the stocking as the suspender belt offered all sorts of complex problems, not to mention the unmentionable breeze one would get waiting at the train station!

But with tight designs coming straight off the catwalk and into the high street, it seems I can have my cake and eat it, or have my stocking and wear the tights!

Inspiration taken from Henry Holland’s designs for Pretty Polly offer the warmth and practicality of a pair of tights with the glamour and sexiness of a pair of stockings as the design incorporates both.

But if you think that design might be a bit much to rock up to the office in, a whole range of tights are just waiting to be plucked off the shelves at any number of stores. The lace design tights are huge and will offer some warmth, but beware, one snag and that pair is only destined for one place: the bin.

Coloured tights are all over the place and lift an outfit depending on which shade you opt for.

Diamond and heart tights are cute and a perfect finish to your Christmas party outfit and for anyone aiming to incorpate that 1940s feel to their legs, then the backseam tights are the ones for you.

This particular pair of tights have surely been bought out to prevent women all over the world asking their friends to marker pen a wobbly line down the back of their legs.

The best thing about purchasing a brand new pair of tights is that they are relatively inexpensive and can really change an outfit. The only thing is any respectable wearer must stay away from cats, long nails and Velcro!


Perhaps stockists should start throwing in a bottle of clear polish with every pair bought? Just a thought…

The Playful Reinvention of the Ankle Boot

Although ankle boots have never ranked high on my list, I am joining the rest of the world in falling softly in love with booties and the updated version of ankle boots that have taken to the streets and runways in droves. The real charmers are those that sneak low in the front and rise around the ankles and heel.

The reason they have one up on ankle boots is that they do not chop one’s leg off prematurely. The dip in the front allows for a flash of skin that elongates the leg. They are sexy and lovely, refined and witty. They are playful and ambitious, reminding me of dusky afternoons playing dress up in vintage clothing with my college roommates. Although traditional ankle boots are still on the market, I vote that these new ones make a marked improvement.


Those that survived the evolution of the ankle boot but are without the dip in the front are still way hotter than their predecessors. Showing up all over the world on various lovely badasses such as Gwyneth and Heidi are these cunning Christian Louboutin Loubout Ankle Boots. Check them out on Jenny McCarthy, they are low enough to bare just a bit more leg, while still being completely gorgeous and autumnal.


Case in point: I call your attention to this picture of Karolina Kurkova and Georgina Chapman which features Karolina in taller, more traditional ankle boots and Georgina in Louboutin’s updated version. Now, whose legs are actually longer? Karolina’s, of course. But whose legs look longer? That would be Georgina. I rest my case.

The Wingtip: Traditional and Defiant

Recently, The New York Times released an article stating that wingtip shoes have once again become stylish. The classic profile with expansive double arches over the toe are obviously classic and traditional, but are they now edgy, as well?

Until reading this article I had no idea how utterly complicated wingtips can be. There is an entire world and history of wingtips fans who have developed all sorts of specific terms to describe the smallest nuances, like how many tiny perforations there are in the arch.

I think the wingtip is a very clever shoe. It is simultaneously traditional and defiant. It bucks the common sloppiness of modern style. If retro-edge was a word, that would be the perfect way to describe their swing back into the good graces of popular culture.

The wingtip, or brogue, is above all a debonair shoe. It does not matter whether some nubby hipster is wearing them with his skinny jeans or if they’re spotted cozying up to the hemline of a well-tailored pant leg. The pronounced and pointy tip leads the way to articulating a refined, purposeful profile. The wingtip is no everyday, Sunday School dress shoe. It is the best friend of the gentleman, the pilot’s favorite wing man, the first crisp flush of winter wind, the clink of ice in a glass of scotch. Purchasing a pair could be the perfect way to embrace a new phase in life, guiding your footsteps in the direction of civility.

Lingering in my mind from my time in college not many years ago is the memory of a dashing Honduran with long black hair. He was cavalier and poetic. In the beginning I often spied him serenading girls with his beat-up guitar, sitting on an Indian blanket, his hair hanging long and his eyes and mouth dripping with the kind of romance only Latin men know.

Later, he became more serious about his studies and his personal style transformed slightly. He maintained a vagabond hippie air, but his hair was pulled back in a pony tail and clacking below his tapered black pants were a pointy pair of black wingtips. Back then I thought little of this interesting choice in shoes, but having watched his life take shape over the years-- he now teaches classics-- I realize his wingtips were an alarmingly accurate indicator of the new purpose he had found in life. Somewhere between crooning Spanish love songs and reading Heidegger he had discovered a new resolve, simultaneously traditional and defiant.

What Shoes Grace the Feet of Kristen Stewart?

Simple Shoes Women’s Retire: In Twilight, Kristen’s character Bella can be seen wearing these cozy, eco-friendly Simple Shoes. The soles are recycled rubber and nothing terrible went into their production, i.e. no animal products or things a vegan couldn’t eat.

Keds Champion Canvas Sneaker: The same laudable character can be seen wearing the classic lace-up sneaker made famous by Keds. Subtle costume touches like these shape Bella into a nonchalant character. Even subtle shoes say something; shoes never say nothing. Even off the set Kristen runs around in a black version.

Converse All-Stars: Because there’s no better way to say, “I don’t give a flip what you think about me. I like these shoes.” Seriously.

Brian Atwood Maniac Pumps: During a night out, Kristen adeptly chose a slender heel with a hidden platform to give her typically slouchy, sweatshirted posture a little boost.

Christian Louboutin Decolzep Pump: For a shocking counterpoint to a leather motorcycle dress in a magazine photo shoot, Kristen wore electric blue Louboutins with a metallic silver heel that completely stole the show.

Burberry Riveted Court Shoes: Paired with a spicy red mini dress from Herve Leger by Max Azria, Kristen’s studded, shiny black heels kept the outfit grounded and energetic.

Giusuppi Zanotti Satin Red Peep Toes: Another brilliant dress-up choice by Kristen that not only lends excitement to her slight frame and short dress, but the hidden platform efficiently brings her up an additional 1/2 inch.

The Verdict: Kristen Stewart’s shoe choices are pretty simple to predict. Comfy and reliable, but not sloppy, sneakers by day, and chic, sassy pumps for the red carpet. You will not see her mix the two up. You will not see her romping around in the lastest trending shoe. This is a young, mysterious-at-times woman who knows what she likes when she likes it.

Stop the Birken-Hate

Fashionistas and shoe-bloggers are prone to get way too worked up over their bitter feelings toward Birkenstocks. What gives? It is as if they feel that a day in a comfy sandal will utterly banish them from wearing snappy slingbacks and cat woman-type boots ever again. This is ludicrous. Adding a shoe to your wardrobe is simply adding a shoe to your wardrobe, i.e. you can wear a slouchy Birkenstock today and don your Manolos again tomorrow. Birken-hate seems plain insecure. And, while this may not be a universal truth for everyone, I think if Mary-Kate says it’s okay...it is okay.

Birkenstocks generally stick to the classic recipe of cork, rubber and leather. Yum! They have been adapting to their owner’s unique foot shape and stride since 1774. Besides being reputable for hundreds of years, Birkenstock is also pretty green. The cork in the soles is made from the wine industry’s left over, unused cork. Birkenstock helps ensure that no bit of harvested cork is used wastefully or thrown out. They also mindfully recycle bits of leather, latex, and other leftover materials.

House of Harlow 1960

Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960 line has impressive lasting-quality. She and jewelry designer Pascal Mouawad have churned out really interesting collections since teaming up in 2008. While some shoe lovers are saying House of Harlow shoe designs are only luke-warm, my vote is that there is a special niche for them in the hearts of super cute girls who will keep the brand successful for many years to come.

Not filled with the typical fluff products produced by many celebrities, House of Harlow has a unique, vintage aesthetic that is very self-possessed. This brown leather Tessa Boot is hot. The Native American inspired tassels could have turned costume-y had it not been for the long, sexy profile of the knee-length boot. The shoes in the Fall 2010 line are rustic and earthy while maintaining every ounce of sophistication you would expect from the all-grown-up Richie. House of Harlow 1960 has accurately been defined as bohemian-chic from sources everywhere.

And who has been spotted running around in House of Harlow gear? Well, obviously Richie wears it constantly. And Kim Kardashian because has/wears everything cool ever made. While moseying around the internet I discovered a clan of fairy-type people who love her flats. Also, Miley Cyrus , Claudia Schiffer, Lindsay Lohan, and Christian Aguilera. Who could be wearing House of Harlow 1960? Well, I could. And you could, because her shoes fall in the $100-$350 range.