The Fourth of July spawns more eye-crossing, headache-inducing fashion faux pas than any other jubilee, if you ask me.  Sure, certain people don matching symbols for every holiday.  Christmas-time brings reindeer monstrosities, the return to school signals the return of pencils and crayons as decorative motifs, and don’t even get me started on Halloween. But when the carefree summer attitude combines with our especially busy flag design, disaster strikes for many would-be Independence Day divas. Remember:  everyone else knows it’s the Fourth of July. Your shirt does not have to remind them of that fact.  Still, I appreciate wanting to be in the holiday moment– I used to be an elementary school teacher, after all.  And so, I bring you a few tips for making sure your Fourth of July outfit isn’t a dud.

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Although unusual and outlandish shoes have always been a sign of wealth, the recession has retailers scrambling to offer more affordable footwear options. As Stephanie Rosenbloom recently reported in her New York Times News service article, “Retailers switch how they do business,”* high-end stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks are offering more mid-priced merchandise. Furthermore, in a shocking turn away from his typical mortgage-payment prices, Jimmy Choo recently announced that a pair of his shoes will be available for as little as $55 in H&M stores in November. (I never thought I would write “retail” and “Jimmy Choo” in the same sentence.)

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Have you heard of these new shoes yet? The ones that supposedly tone your calves and backside as you walk? The shoes are flip-flops called “Fit Flops” and are, apparently, a growing craze this summer. And with a marketing promise to firm your buns on the run, why wouldn’t they be? Though, I came across a telling news report today that uncovers the shoes might not be worth every penny you’re paying for them.

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Forget the rainbows; give us clouds! This sort of approach may represent the future of men’s fashion.    A recent New York Times article offered a simple messge from Miuccia Prada’s latest show: in men’s fashion, gray is the new black. In her article, “Prada’s Gray Elegy,” Suzy Menkes writes that Ms. Prada “turned the dullness of gray, from dove to anthracite, into a shaded palette.” I have often felt that the economic meltdown has turned the whole world gray; nothing is black and white anymore, it seems.  All the more appropriate, then, that men’s fashion designers would choose to show how beautiful gray can be.

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The quandary is inevitable. You’re attending (or in!) a wedding on the beach — sometime, somewhere, somehow –  and a reception with dancing in a ballroom is scheduled to follow. Now, of course, you realize the dilemma. Your pair of Joy Chen pumps that perfectly compliment your stunning black cocktail dress are not exactly beach-friendly. At the same time, the fabulous flip-flops you’d normally wear in the sand aren’t exactly going to cut it on the dance floor. Great. What now?!

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The news of Michael Jackson’s death has traversed the world with unequivocal speed, leaving many people shocked and saddened. Already, loyal fans have begun paying tribute to Jackson’s legacy – his music, fashion, and controversy – yet, amidst everything he’s known for, few knew that Jackson was also an innovative shoe designer, of sorts.

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Yes, I know we’re only halfway through summer, but talk of what’s going to be hot next season has already begun. The Boston Globe recently interviewed fashion director Julie Gilhart on what she anticipates to be “the shoe” of the fall season. Her answer? Keep reading…

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Everyone has that pair of shoes they love to wear all the time. You know the ones — a tad weathered but ultra comfy and still stylin’. It’s that pair of shoes you wish would last forever, but sadly (unless you had enough foresight to buy six pairs), they’ll eventually wear out and end up getting the boot, so to speak. At the same time, don’t we all have that pair of shoes we’ve made a significant investment in? The ones we hardly ever wear but tread on like they’re made of glass when we do? With all our soles inevitably wearing thin, how do we maximize the life and investment of our shoes?

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Shoefly recently launched the new men’s designer shoe department on its web site. Shoefly Guy carries only the hottest styles of shoes, featuring designers like Camper, Pawelks, Ryan Rowe, PF Flyer, and many more. To celebrate the new addition to Shoefly, here are a few of my personal favorites so far: Read the rest of this entry »

On these long summer days, it’s imperative to have versatile footwear.  After all, you never know when a Tweet or Facebook status update will clue you into a super-hip after-hours event.  Rather than carry around your clubbing shoes, why not marry work and play in a single pair of kicks?  I have a few tips for finding the perfect pair of shoes to transverse your roles as laborer and party animal: Read the rest of this entry »