Great boot values at Smartbargains.com
Quote from galligator
I haven’t done any sale updates or shopping deals for awhile. So, today I swung by smartbargains.com.
What do you know? They have a bunch of new boot styles in stock to whet your winter appetite.
You all know the only thing I love more than shoes & boots is finding them at a stellar price. Of course, the one caveat that is always true with Smartbargains is that quantities are always limited – and when they’re gone, they’re gone.
So, here are my quick picks great fall style and value:
London Fog ‘Zoey’ in black or chestnut; $130 $79.99. This is a cozy, practical, cold-weather style.
Max Studio ‘Reunion’ in black or brown $260 $129.99. This has a rubberized sole – which I tend to find helpful in wet & icy weather.
Marciano Ellen $280 $99.99. Tread for winter weather and a high-heel; this is an interesting and sexy little loafer bootie – and it’s got a nice bit of tread on it as well.
Lovely People ‘Finley’ with faux-fur trim; $140 $79.99. A cute and warm-looking bootie; great for pairing with winter outfits.
Charles by Charles David ‘Pow Wow’ $165 $79.99. We haven’t seen the last of fringe yet. These are a nice nod to the moccasin-style inspiration without going too over the top.
Matisse ‘Sioux’ $188 $99.99 in black or brown. Yet another fringe style – this time with a tall winter/fall shaft.
Lovely People ‘Riddler’ $160 $79.99 in black, grey or cognac. A low suede style with a touch of the currently-popular metal-stud detail. Don’t forget to water-proof these!
Lovely People ‘Velma’ $160 $79.99 in grey, black or cognac. I love all the knotted straps on these. Plus, I have had a soft spot for grey, sueded boots for at least 20 years….. go figure.
London Fog ‘Foxy’ All-weather leather boots $135 $79.99. Can I just say ‘Wow!’. These are amazingly gorgeous – plus they’re waterproof. Sign me up.
Matisse ‘Brooklyn’ $175 $99.99. Another ‘I think I’m in love boot’…no particular reason. They just make me go *sigh*. A lot.
Other good news for frugalistas: Some of these boots are still in the ‘new arrivals’ category and are eligible for an additional 20% off at checkout (for a limited time).
So, is it time to go shopping yet?
This Week in Shoes
Quote from galligator
(AP photo @ Telegraph.co.uk)
- Christian LaCroix’ fashion house has begun Bankruptcy proceedings (c/o Telegraph.co.uk & thetimesonline.co.uk).
- In a contrasting bright spot of economic news, cobblers, whose numbers have been dwindling for lack of interest by the new working generation, are weathering the current financial downturn as customers turn to cobblers to stretch their shoe-dollars. (c/o jacksonville.com)
- The BATA shoe museum in Toronto, Canada, has opened a new exhibit: “On a Pedestal: From Renaissance Chopines to Baroque Heels“. The exhibit opened this November and will run through September 20, 2010. and features about 70 pairs of shoes dating from the 16th and 17th centuries with many on loan from museums in Italy, Britain, Sweden, Austria and the United States (c/o The Canadian Press).
Britney Webb’s softball prowess, including a .403 batting average, six home runs, 40 RBI’s and 55 stolen bases earns her this year’s Adidas “Golden Shoe Award“. (c/o the NAIA website)
- Victoria Beckham’s devotion to fashionable footwear comes at a painful price; bunion surgery is recommended. (c/o dailymail.co.uk)
(Image @ gallery at link below)
- Kim Kardashian goes shopping with Mom in NYC. Kim asks, “What do you think of those turquoise boots?” (c/o kimkardashian.celebuzz.com)
- A quick reminder: Jimmy Choo’s Project Pep “You, Your Shoes, and 72” is down to the last 5 days for accepting contest entries if you are feeling creative.
Shoe Showdown: Brian Atwood Lola Pumps
Whether or not you like super skinny Rachel Zoe, stylist to the stars, you have to admit Zoe has a pretty keen eye for dressing her clients. So it should come as no surprise when Zoe issued her first Zoe Report on Brian Atwood’s Lola Platforms, they would be a hit. Here’s what Zoe had to say about the Atwood’s shoes:
…Atwood consistently brings my sole fantasies to life—and he has outdone himself with the Lola Platform Pumps… sexy elastic detailing and high platform—I DIE. With fall just around the corner, these shooties* are a must-have transitional piece to help you segue through the seasons. That is, they’re relevant to your summer and fall wardrobe. To the wearer, the possibilities are endless. Lola’s eighties punk-meets-luxury aesthetic will bring your little black dress to life. The pumps are also perfect for upgrading a more casual look (think: dark skinny jeans, a tee and tuxedo jacket), so don’t be scared to rock them during the day.
As these celebrities demonstrate, this is one versatile shoe. I wonder if any use Zoe as their stylists.
Anyways, it’s time for you to vote in the latest shoe showdown. Who do you think rocked Brian Atwood’s Lola shoes the best – Katy Perry, Megan Fox, Jessica Stroup, or Brookyn Decker?
Shoe Showdown Poll: Which rocked Brian Atwood’s Lola Platform?
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Brian Atwood’s Black Lola Platforms are available at Saks for $680 or the purple version is at Net-A-Porter for $680
BTW, in case these shoes look familiar, Zoe Saldana worn a peep-toe version earlier this year.
Inspired by Marc Jacobs: Lace-up openwork boots
Some of you may remember that back during the Spring 2009 runway shows I developed a bit of a crush on these Marc by Marc Jacobs openwork granny boots. Something about them just clicked for me.
Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘693556′ lace-up sandal $384.97 at Amazon, $412.46 $549.95 at Endless.
Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘693185′ lace-up bootie $197.98-$495 at Amazon & Endless (depending on size/color combo)
Now, I have theoretically had time to gain some little bit of emotional distance from these shoes. After all, the Spring 2009 MBMJ runway show was over a year ago. Alas, granny-boot lover that I am, these have not lost any of their hold on me. Unfortunately, finding a way to actually purchase a pair of these will involve the moon and stars coming into the correct alignment along with positive shopping signs and portents evidencing themselves in my favor ….. or perhaps just continued careful budgeting, having good luck hold out on issues like car and home maintenance expenses, and a hoping that a size 7 1/2 will remain in stock until I can honestly say ‘this is the pay period it can happen’.
However, if my budget remains tight enough that the MBMJ’s remain an impractical splurge, I will keep the following shoes in mind as acceptable, affordable alternatives.
First we have these hardcore knock-offs from Type Z:
Type Z ‘Ritchie’ pump $81.50 $95 at Zappos.
No challenge figuring out where the inspiration for these came from…….
There are also some less literal (copied) interpretations of the openwork style that are also very cute. And, if they go on super-sale, they could become near-irresistible.
These ones are my favorite of the bunch…they are seriously vying to knock my MBMJ crush down to a number two slot. How fickle is my shoe love now?
Linea Paolo ‘Vie’ $86.90 $129.95 at Nordstrom.
I am totally digging on these and they are on equal crush footing for me on a strictly visual basis. They do have the MBMJ’s totally whipped on price, though, to this involuntary penny-pincher.
(If you like these but are not on a budget like me, you might also like these Cynthia Vincent ‘Maddox‘ sandals over at Endless.)
Other contenders for my attention are styles by Stuart Weitzman, Pour La Victoire, Dolce Vita, Type Z, and Elizabeth & James. But, I’m still liking the Nordies and original MBMJ’s the best … so, I will probably not be bookmarking these others.
Anyway, I suppose I will just have watch the sales – and also my budget…nothing new there
Shoes of the 2009 AMA’s
I am not much of a celebrity watcher. But, as might be expected, I am a shoe-watcher. So, despite my general cluelessness on who’s who these days in Hollywood, I love looking at the fashion photos of red-carpet events like yesterday’s AMA’s.
By the way, it drives me nuts that you can get fashion coverage of what folks wore, but they almost never mention the shoes as a part of this!!!
Am I the only person driven bonkers by this oversight?
Now I am left trying to wrack my brain in an attempt to remember who makes which shoe, etc. It’s enough to give a girl a migraine.
So, a quick rundown of some of the shoes seen on the AMA red carpet along with who makes them…in cases where my memory is actually serving me today. (Celeb photos are c/o Huffington Post & Popsugar)
Kristen Bell in Christian Louboutin:
Christian Louboutin ‘Archidisco’ $995
Colbie Caillat in what looks an awfully lot like a non-platform version of Louboutin’s ‘Ambro’ lace pump:
Christian Louboutin ‘Ambro’ $825
(A similar budget style is available here.)
Alicia Keys…I should know this shoe & it’s driving me nuts. Somebody help me since my memory has completely betrayed me on these brilliant blue sandals:
Rihanna, sporting the Marchessa cut-out dress we saw recently. Love it or hate it, these white ankle-strap pums paired beautifully with this dress. (No, I haven’t figured out the maker of these shoes yet, either.)
Leona Lewis in chain-bedecked booties.
While her boots are probably not the exact ones I am showing here, these are the closest I could find on at the moment to a match for her booties:
Bakers Shoes ‘Julee’ (Another similar style is ‘Flash’ by Dolce Vita)
And I’ll end this with another shoe for whom I can’t find the maker, but have found a few strappy-alternatives that I would be just as happy to wear.
Carrie Underwood:
If you like these uber-strappy sandals, maybe one of these would also tempt you:
Guiseppe Zanotti Strappy Leather Sandal
Passementerie Shoes
I first saw passementerie-embellished footwear on a pair of boots several years ago while browsing through one of those old paper Spiegel catalogs that used to arrive in my mailbox on a near-daily basis. Back when finding a catalog item on back-order was a normal course of events with mail-order houses and not an internet emergency requiring the thwarted buyer to immediately write a scathing site review; my, how expectations have changed. This was also before I knew how much other women were willing to spend on things like shoes and fashion and the then-$60 price-tag on the boots in question still fell firmly into my personal idea of ‘too-spendy’ to consider actually purchasing. Since then, I have seen passementerie-bedecked shoes arrive in stores at rare, irregular, and unpredictable intervals that easily defy my own, limited, ability to predict.
Anyway, on to the now – and Christian Louboutin’s recent forays into passementerie…which, since they have been out for more than five seconds, are pretty much sold out everywhere.
Oh well. If you, unlike me, are unable to resist the appeal of these sumptuously-styled pumps, now’s the time to grab the style….because Louboutin’s popularity makes anything he touches golden and therefore likely to be copied by other, less creative (or expensive) footwear brands.
Case in point:
Martinez Valero ‘Olivia’ passementerie pump. $107.19 – 160.00 at Nordstrom, Heels.com, Endless.com, Amazon.com and Myglassslipper.com – just for starters.
The ivory or white pairs are simply ideal for matching to a bridal gown. I am surprised that this isn’t more of a bridal-shoe staple.
So, if you like the passementerie style, you may not have another chance at purchasing anything like this for some time…the braided ribbon detail really doesn’t come along and visit all that often here in shoe-land.
Fun Shoe Slideshows from Haute Couture 2009
We have seen a few of the shoes that were a part of the Haute Couture shows last week. Newyorkmag.com put together a slideshow of couture shoes, including these beautiful heels from Armani Prive.
I love seeing what other people are wearing. Here are a few links that give us slideshows of what people were wearing during the Couture shows.
New York’s High Line Street Style from style.com.
So, New Yorkers, put your best shopping outfit on and hit High Line!
Happy Birthday Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein was born November 19, 1942, in the Bronx, New York. He was raised in the borough’s Mosholu Parkway section a middle-class Jewish community of first and second-generation immigrants. In 1968 Klein launched his own clothing company that was inspired by the style of New York’s urban youth. We can’t forget the uproar caused by his jeans ad with a 15 year old Brooke Shields.
Here are some Calvin Klein Shoes for fun.
From Calvin Klein Collection Zahra $670 at Endless
