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Flip-Flops: Deadly Footwear? Seriously?

Colleen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:00:30 +0000

Time to start writing the Shoeflyer post for today… I’ll just take a look around the web for shoe news… ho-hum, blah-de-blah—WHAT? FLIP-FLOPS ARE DEADLY? That’s right. Take a turn around Google News for yourself, and you’ll find no less than nine articles on the insidious danger of thongs for your feet, one titled “Warning: Flip Flops Can Kill You.” Local news stations across the country are dedicating hard-hitting journalists to this silent pedi-threat. Why are flip-flops so dangerous, you ask? Well…

1. They are open to the air. Remember, air can be lethal because it can carry bacteria. Wearing flip-flops leaves you open to diseases, especially if someone sneezes on your foot. Actually, just avoid air whenever possible. Stuff yourself into a performance-boosting wetsuit and be confident that you have a saving layer of man-made polyurethane between you and all that pernicious air.

2. They can carry disease. That’s right– the Staph bacteria have been known to live inside your flip-flops. So you should only wear them to places that have been designated Staph-free zones. And keep your eyes open– if a purple alert is posted, deadly flip-flop viruses are thinking of going on the attack.

3. They aren’t connected to your heel. Henceforth, that slapping sound will no longer be the shoe soundtrack to summer. Instead, the menacing flip-flop sound will serve as the death-knoll to your foot health. Flip-flops leave your feet open to dry air and dust, which can suck the moisture out of your skin. Even worse, they provide no arch support and force you to scrunch up your toes when you walk, which can lead to ugly hammertoes. When will people learn that the human foot has actually evolved to be shoved into damp, warm, constrictive shoes? (Just stick yer fingers in your ears when you hear about the benefits of going barefoot.)

Okay, enough with the facetious sarcasm. Sure, flip-flops can hurt you– if you don’t take care of yourself. I won’t deny that flip-flops can carry disease, dry out your feet, and cause soreness if you wear them all the time. So take care of yourself. Moisturize, exfoliate, and nurture your feet. Don’t force them into the same pair of shoes every day. And don’t let your flip-flops become caked with foot gunk– wash them once in a while. But don’t deny yourself the pleasure of slipping into a pair of sandals and strutting around town with your tootsies out in the fresh summer breeze. Check out Shoefly’s selection of sandals today.

Top photo by {meagen}.

Early Fall Shoe Trends: Ornaments, ruffles, and sequins, oh my!

Colleen — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:00:08 +0000

Glitzy sandals: Vyper by Report

Welcome to the second installment of Shoeflyer’s exploration of fall shoe trends. Yesterday, we welcomed back booties. Today, we’re glitzin’ it up with ornaments. I, for one, couldn’t be happier that glam rock seems to have invaded the shoe world. This is another trend that will stretch past this summer. Sequins, feathers, bows, and ruffles are here to stay, at least for one more season. To get in on the glam, look for luxurious, Moulin Rouge-esque materials and eye-popping heels.

Chanel may have debuted the eye-poppingest heels yet. As Sharon Clott recently wrote for New York Magazine’s Pre-Fall Shoe feature, “From heels that look like Russian palaces (upside down) to furry white boots to rhinestone-encrusted pumps, Chanel’s shoes were all over the place. And we want more.” Gothic lines combined with velour, rhinestones, and platform toes? Yes, please.

I mean, as long as I can actually walk in them. And they will go with the rest of my wardrobe. And I can afford them. Hmmm. As is often the case, I find that I probably wouldn’t actually wear most of these catwalk-featured shoes in “real life.” Still, I will use them for inspiration as I shop. To translate the glam shoe trend to the street, look for shoes with one special feature, like rhinestones. Try to include too many glitzy pieces in one outfit, and you’ll end up looking like a Las Vegas showgirl. And that won’t do at the office, now will it?

Shoefly has some subtly fabulous shoes to make your inner glam-puss purr. Take a look:

1. Marigold by A. Marinelli–save over $50 off of list price, thanks to the Shoefly 30% off sale!

2. Rose by Nude– go acid glam, and save over $50 off of list price!

3. Yuki by Faryl Robin–high couture meets comfort in this silvery sensation. Save over $100 off of list price!

Rollasoles: Dance Club Rx for your Tootsies

Colleen — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:00:31 +0000

Every once in a while, a new idea changes the way you think. Today, I’d like to feature one such idea: Rollasoles. As the video here shows, Rollasoles are shoes that can be bought from vending machines, mostly in dance clubs. Matt Horan, the 27-year-old inventor of Rollasoles, came up with the idea after noticing the intense pain his lady friend suffered from dancing in stilettos. Like a true knight-in-entrepreneurial-armor, he designed a pair of flats that can fit into your purse. Okay, by his own admission, he was mostly spurred by his girlfriend’s complaints, but still, I imagine that quite a few damsels-in-footwear-distress have been saved by Mr. Horan’s invention.

Stick around $8 into a Rollasole vending machine, and you get a pair of comfy flats, complete with a mini shoe box and a bag for your fierce heels. (The full Rollasole package appears at right.) For now, Rollasole distributes mostly in the UK, but machines are slated to be brought to New York and LA this fall. Until then, Rollasole ships to anywhere in the world, so you can head on over to rollasole.com to scout out a pair for yourself.

Were they available in my favorite clubs, I would definitely venture out in more daring heels. And until I have my own pair of easy-to-tote alternashoes, I’ll stick to my current approach: choose comfy heels or wedges for dance extravaganzas. Here are a few Shoefly options that fit the bill nicely. Enjoy, and keep on dancing!

AU13417 by Audley: Moonshoes for the dance floor.

Yuki by Faryl Robin: The shine that enchants as you dance.

Garland by Sam Edelman: Conquer the dance floor in these gladiators.

Learn more about Rollasole shoes at www.rolasole.com.

The Power of Shoes: Shoes for Your Next Showdown

Colleen — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:30:46 +0000

Yes, it’s an audacious title, but it’s true. Shoes are incredibly powerful, especially these days. Sexy stilettos convey cat-like confidence (and given today’s towering designs, you’d better be as nimble as a feline). Luxuriously shiny loafers immediately mark a man of power. Where does your first impression begin and end? At the feet, if you’re like me. Given the power of shoes, it’s no surprise that people are searching for new ways to wear wield them. In his last show, designer Eric Tibush turned the fashion world on its head by sending his willowy models out on the catwalk with heels as hair accessories. No, seriously. He somehow strapped stilettos onto those poor girls heads. Here’s the strange thing: the models made it look totally fierce.

Still, I don’t think this is a look that we’ll be seeing on the streets anytime soon. (The philosophical implications alone boggle my mind… Would someone get hat shoe hair from wearing these? If someone wears the same shoes on the top and bottom, does that make them a shoe sandwich?) If you’re hoping to feel as cocksure as those models, slip into a pair of these powerful Shoefly kicks instead.

1. Power 5259 by Charles David: A solid four-inch heel means you’ll feel confident strutting circles around your competition all day long in these.

2. Maggie by Joy Chen: This is the soft power pump. It sends the message that you have it all together; you’re suave, likeable, and intelligent. This is the Grace Kelly of powerful shoes.

3. Theodora by Charlotte Ronson (shown at top). A stacked heel, subtle crocodile texture, and bow make this powerful pump stylishly feminine.

With footgear like this, your every step will be confident and fierce. Harness the power of shoes– browse Shoefly’s collection today!

Shoe Buyers Flock to Vegas for WSA Convention

Colleen — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:00:35 +0000

Ever wonder who gets to choose which shoes appear on store shelves? Those lucky individuals are called shoe buyers, and a whole flock of ‘em will descend on Las Vegas for the World Shoes Accessories show from July 29th through August 2nd. How I wish I could be there! Here’s my daydream itinerary for a fabulous WSA weekend:

Friday, July 31st: Wander the convention center, jaw permanently open in awe at the variety and quantity of shoes. After a couple of hours of shoe-joy overload, remind yourself that you still have two more days of shoe shopping. Keep repeating that to yourself as you get lost in 6000 brands of shoes from 90 different countries. Take a class or two on everything from how to sell shoes online, to hot colors and trends for the next year. Around 4, decide a trip to the pool is in order– complete with pedicure and Malibu Shoe cocktail.

Saturday, August 1st: Be dazzled by The Collections at The Venetian. Like a shoe show within a shoe show, The Collections at WSA is where luxury shoes reign supreme. Write a string of blog posts from the floor of the Venetian, outlining what’s hot and what’s not for the next year. As Michael Cohen, Chief Industry Analyst for the NPD Group says, “There are designs that emerge from the design studios, from many of the brands, but until it comes to this event, no one really knows if it’s hot or not.”

Sunday, August 2nd: Buy a new suitcase to fit my Imelda-sized array of new shoes!

What would you give to be able to wander through Sin City that weekend? Daydreams aside, the WSA is a powerhouse professional event for footwear industry professionals from across the globe. Ed Habre, CEO of Shoe Mill, explains the value of attending the show, saying, “When you see one line at a time, it doesn’t give you the same perspective as when you see an overview of what’s available in the industry from a competitive standpoint.”

If you’re going to a convention this summer, you’re probably looking for a pair of comfortable shoes that will keep your feet happy even when they have to walk on convention-center concrete. Here are a few shoes I would pack for the long, delightful days at WSA– if only I could go!

Chapora by Puma-- with magnetic inserts for holistic benefits.

Garland by Sam Edelman-- a gladiator for the true glamor-puss.

Mollie by Joy Chen--elegant height without extravagant pain.

Top photo courtesy of The WSA Show

Shoe Retailers Offer More Midpriced Merchandise

Colleen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:43 +0000

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.)

Many fashionistas will scoff at such developments. After all, brave style warriors have long braved thrift and vintage stores, garage sales, and clearance racks to scout out killer, affordable shoes. Here at Shoefly, you can find a wide variety of divine pairs for only a few clams. Here are a few of my favorite screamin’ deals currently available at the Shoefly site:

1. Judy 07009 by All Black – $35

2. Twins Bombay by Camper, $48 (only available in Euro size 35)

3. Lola by Report, $13 (only available in size 9)

4. Audrey Ballet by 80/20, $19

5. Tristan by Report, $20 (only available in size 10)

The bottom line: As long as you’re willing to do a little legwork, you can find killer deals on killer shoes– now get out there and shop!

Top photo: Dusty by Andre Assous, $35

*Longtime Shoeflyer readers will be surprised at the lack of a link for this source. I googled this article to to no avail. Apparently, the New York Times News Service is one of the last bastions of paper-only news. I found this article printed in the Oregonian.

Celebrate Your Fashion Freedom with Fabulous Footwear

Colleen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:20:52 +0000

An excellent article on fashion in Baghdad has me feeling blessed to be able to express my inner diva. In their article, “What Not to Wear, Baghdad-Style: Fashion Rules Begin To Change,” Timothy Williams and Abeer Mohammed provide an excellent overview of just how much has changed in Baghdad in recent years. After the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, clerics set strict rules about how Iraqi women could dress. Women who did not wear body-covering, full-length abayas were threatened, kidnapped, or even killed by armed militia members. As one woman interviewed in the article explained, “Militias did not want women’s bodies to be visible, because they thought it might charm men.” Even women who wore full-sleeve shirts and long slacks were targeted by militia, so women across the city erased themselves into cloak-like abayas. Thankfully, as the city has stabilized in recent months, a small group of young women have been brave enough to exchange their abayas for styles of their own choosing. Mini-skirts and Mary Janes are appearing across the city.

I thank Mr. Williams and Mr. Mohammed for their reporting. Their article helped me remember that freedom of fashion expression is a precious thing. Sometimes we fashionistas focus so much on the the hottest new styles that we forget how many people are not able to choose what they wear. Gratitude for my freedom has helped me recognize that the slight ache of foregoing the latest marvelous Monolo is nothing compared to what women in Baghdad endured for years on end. I feel so lucky to live in a place where I get to decide how I dress.

And so, in celebration of fashion freedom across the globe, I’m featuring my favorite pumps. There is no feeling quite like stepping into a pair of killer heels– and I hope every woman has the freedom to experience that high-heel elation whenever she chooses.

Turn It Up by Naughty Monkey

Top photo by Peter Klashorst.