$1,265 Louboutin’s vs. $12 @ GoJane.com

These pups are from the Philip Lim Spring 09 show, the flat version from post “Ruffled & Rosey Louboutins for Philip Lim’s Runway”

Like a lot of designers, I first got to really know Matt Bernson while at Vogue. Judging from the lone PR sticker on the sole of the sandals, you could tell immediately that it was a small and rookie footwear company. As an intern, you learn to avoid those shoes because that means there is an awkward call to the PR rep, verfiying of addresses, and lots of logistics to get the precious sandals back to the showroom (easily be avoided by snagging a pair of Louboutins to return instead). So - when I saw Urban Outfitters selling, and Rachel Bilson wearing - I knew it had made it. Although these pups go for over $100, I love - love - love the trendy/biker/grecian/hippie embellishments (studs, grommets, zippers), and the wearability. One pair of these gladiators and you’re set for the summer, unless you’re going for the green patent there’s really no way you can clash. And, if you do - hell, it’s summer time!

15% off Matt Bernson - use the promotion code: PRAY4SUN

Apparently Balmain is back. I’m not much for disregarding design houses - especially those French in origin and with Edith Head-esque credentials (Balmain did a lot of Hollywood costume design), so the vicious fashion cycle strikes again. But - Balmain comes out on top with new design head Christophe Decarnin (formerly of Paco Rabanne), who is leading the the label in staging a movement towards an edgy, sultry and complicated boho genre - very far off from the original Pierre Balmain’s uncluttered and pure styling.

Although I’d love to see a bit more of Pierre in these shoes - I won’t lie, I’m definitely more cluttered than uncluttered, and I love a heavy metal shoe that I can wear with everything. I kind of think Balmain is the alternative answer to the somewhat retro and polished showings on the runways recently, more specifically the Balenciaga Fall 08 that we never had this year! Although Christophe is going against the grain with the house’s aesthetic, he’s doing what’s best for the label in the end - a fresh, young, and Bergdorf Goodman worthy collection to bring the name out of couture and into closets.

$125 @ Aldo.com

$22 @ GoJane.com

Buy the real thing, $1,950 @ LuisaViaRoma.com

Just picked up these adorable satin, gingham wedges from Payless - for $38 bones! I’ve been in a little rut when it comes to Payless outside of New York. I sometimes wonder if people are even aware of how fantastic it is - and if the buyers out in Topeka, Kansas (yes I’m serious) would plan an assortment correctly for a city outside of NY - we might all spend a lot more money there. Here in Austin, there are about 5 Payless’, only 1 of which carries the designer collections - so when I was reading up on the new styles that were in the 34th street store in Manhattan, it was about 4:55 and I bounded out of the office on my way to pick up some serious spring shoes. Unfortunately, they had about 1/3 of what I was expecting, but I did manage to snag the Lela Rose wedges above - they had such a distinct 40’s feel to them, very romantic - like the Notebook! So, my beef with this story is that Payless needs to realize that Austin is not West Texas and give us a better assortment. There are fashion forward girls outside of NYC and perhaps they’d know that if they weren’t based in Kansas.

Shop Lela Rose “Caruth” check wedges $38 @ Payless.com

There are a lot of things I want to do in life, and walking on air is not one of them (you are most likely DEAD). Crazy Jessica Simpson might be my un-fashionable nemesis. Don’t get me wrong, I love the look of the cream faux python - I just picked up a pair of Dolce Vita white snakeskin pumps - but really?! It would be tempting to run to my closest tween infested mall, or tourist infested 34th street - to try these out though!

Shop Jessica Simpson at Bakers Shoes

Louboutin rarely does anything wrong - case in point being these shoes.  Rosettes first started popping up in editorial in Fall 05 - I had this class called “Creative Fashion Presentations”, which I know doesn’t sound entirely intense, but it really was because our final was putting on a runway show (models, clothes, venue, dj, etc).  Regardless, in this class I had to keep a faux editorial portfolio, updating it every week with trends and making it a collage with copy, a theme, like an art director at a mag.  And so, I focused on rosettes and the big feature were the Marc Jacobs off shoulder velvet dresses with the rosette decolletage. At the time I didn’t realize it was an absolutely fantastic use of my time, but as I can’t afford to live off of the below poverty level salary most mags dole out to socialites anonymous - I now live vicariously collaging this way.

Tangent aside, rosettes are one of my favorite embellishments because they’re so absolutely girly and read a little couture.  Shoes alone tear at my heart strings, specifically a statement shoe, and what is kind of hot about these is that they also do great things for your legs.  I am a firm believer in top of foot interest when it comes to a great pair of shoes.  I rarely ever wear straight pumps - I like the look of a gladiator strap, a chain, a zipper - whatever it is - leading up from toe to ankle.  These Louboutins lengthen even with a closed toe, and Philip Lim clearly fell hard by putting multiple colorways on multiple looks in his Spring 09 show.

View the complete Philip Lim Spring 09 slideshow at Style.com

One of my great friends here in the dirty south is getting married! She is not your Tiffany obsessed, tiara toting, bridezilla type though - and because of that she’s having a hell of a time finding a normal pair of shoes for the big day. When one chooses not to have a princess dress and a cathedral wedding, the shoe is really important functionally - it should be able to withstand grass, sinking, and just nature in general. Happily, I’ve been able to consult as clearly this blog is overrun with shoes - and she just emailed me asking my opinion on the site “Hey Lady”. Hey Lady speciliazes in comfortable bridal shoes you can dance in and wear all night, as well as what they call the LWD (Little White Dress), which is a very forward approach to the modern wedding reception.

I was so impressed with this site - the kitchsy style names “Pre-Nope”, “Straptease”, “Heel, Boy” - as well as the girly and ornamented collection, that I just had to indulge in the guilty pleasure that is weddings! There is even a section on the site that educates you on the anatomy of a heel so that you know why and how these shoes will be the most comfortable option for a night of dancing. You can even kill two birds with one 3 carat stone and get a blue shoe! The best part of it, for me at least, is the whimsical attention to detail, the pearl & crystal embellishments, the atypical silhouettes, and the fact that these shoes aren’t that awful dyable satin that is so dated! And although the price tag is pretty steep - the great thing about being a bride is that you can get away with it (correct me if I’m wrong, clearly not a bride) - but I would totally spend way more than normal and play along with that whole bridezilla mentality, rather than be stuck with ANYTHING from the likes of David’s Bridal.

Straptease $360

Champagne Goggles $240

Yes Ma’am $260

At Tiffany’s $340

Shop the entire collection of Hey Lady shoes at ShopHeyLady.com

At two different, ridiculously cheap price points this time!  Really, it comes down to whether you’d like two layers of fringe or one - or if you want to stick to the replica brown suede, or head in an evergreen, berry, or black direction (available in both twinsies).  Booties like these go well with not only tights and a boho dress, but a pair of Levi’s skinny jeans & a skimpy top - I’m talking rocker skinny, where it’s essentially a legging in denim form.  I can’t stand where the jean starts to get baggy around the knee - when it’s tight around the knee that’s when it looks Baby Shambles - esque.  And when wearing below fringe booties - this is all the fringe you need.  I often have to choose between my fringe bag and shoes when putting together an outfit, and no matter how difficult it is to choose which to highlight, they should always be kept separate to avoid that Stevie Nicks aesthetic.  Totally unfortunate.  What’s also unfortunate is that I’ve been seeing various forms of this studded fringe ankle bootie even before the Fall 08 Gucci show.  I love the looks and it was a huge movement for Fall, but this is definitely a trend that moved from the streets to the tents, which a lot of designers have really been identifying with (i.e. Marc Jacobs and Murakami, Stephen Sprouse).  So - at least we can all think we have a little bit of an impact on the world of fashion by just being ourselves.

Shop Forever 21 bootie $36.80 & Ami Clubwear bootie $19.99

As I was stuck traveling most of the day yesterday, I was able to stick my nose even further into the depths of the IPhone by shopping online until my battery reached 10% - died - and then went onto using the beau’s to stave off boredom. While doing so - I sadly came upon the leftovers of a sale Saks was holding online, featuring the Tory Burch Reva ballet flats for only $58 - that’s a little over 75% off!

The rude awakening that is missing a sale then hit me when I read the little red letters “out of stock”. Mild silent freak out ensues - but because I was so P.O.’d about missing out on this, I’ve gone hunting and found a pretty decent deal at Neiman Marcus - $94 a pair for the usual $195, and in an array of colors not yet picked over.

I’m really not much of a flat girl, or one for obvious labels - but when I saw how dirt cheap they were I thought for a split second, hey - if I was going to get a pair of flats I may as well get a pair that could very well be a novelty in a few years. I like to think of my closet kind of like a museum - and what would any 20 something museum be without this flat? Beyond that, you won’t blend in with the crowd of the early adopters as long as you stay out of the country club and stay in colors like fuchsia or tangerine. If there’s going to be a huge gold emblem on your toes - it may as well be countered with a vivid shade - that South of France mixed with a bit of East Hampton that Tory Burch is all about.

Shop the Tory Burch Reva ballet flat sale @ NeimanMarcus.com

Definitely for the daring at heart.  I know I can’t resist any pyramid stud, no matter what the capacity.  These are very specific - but for that price it’s completely reasonable to have but not wear all the time.  Sometimes I buy pieces I don’t wear for years - I just know that I need to have them and there will a perfect time for them in the future.  And, if anything, these shoes are definitely futuristic.

Shoe $34.99 (orig $55) at Payless.com