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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.

Thirteen Thursday: 13 Killer Eggplant-Colored Must-Haves

Colleen — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:02 +0000

It’s no surprise that retailers across the country are attempting to lure people into stores with splashes of color. The economic and climactic winter have some designers playing it safe with black, gray, and white, but that can’t last for long–color is just too much fun. Macys’ windows here in downtown Portland proclaim, “Welcome back color,” and feature color schemes of black, white, and one punchy color, like tequila sunrise orange. My favorite grouping shows a lovely swirl of cerulean blue, black, and eggplant. That touch of dark purple eggplant is perfect for the present economic environment—it’s not as irrationally perky as pink or orange, but it still allows a sense of style and mystery into the otherwise basic spring color schemes. And so, in hopes that in some small way this post will lead more designers to feature dark and dusky eggplant tones, here are thirteen examples of hot new eggplant-colored fashion.

1. Nina Ricci’s Eggplant Swirl Gown at Paris Fashion Week.
In his last show for Nina Ricci, designer Olivier Theyskens showcased an amazing eggplant-toned swirling gown of geometric delight. Check it out at FabSugar.

2. Oscar De La Renta’s Dip-Dyed Embroidered Skirt at New York Fashion Week.
De La Renta was one of few color-thriving designers at NY Fashion week this spring. His flowing, vibrantly purple skirt smacks deliciously of spring, don’t you think?

3. Jimmy Choo Erica Ankle Boots.
How the heck did Jimmy Choo know that I love eggplant, shooties, and diagonal stripes? This shoe looks like what the next great intellectual, artsy hipster will wear. As She steps into the vacuum left by Andy Warhol’s departure, lesser beings will ooh and ahh at her powerful, plum-perfect shooties.

4. United Nude Fold Hi Shooties.
A single strip of elastic-comfy material makes up this shootie. I love the Seventies-style array of lines against a woven texture. This shoe is for the eggplant-color lover on the go.

5. Belted Faux Leather Satchel
This bag is so purple punk, I can’t get enough of it. I think this is what Catwoman would take with her for a night on the town.

6. Converse Sequin All-Star Ox Sneakers.
I’ve been waiting for these shoes my whole life. At last! Now that I have the right shoes, I can launch my career into alternative rock superstardom!

7. Vans No Skool 2 sneakers.
Sometimes deep blues and purples are a little too dramatic for sneakers, but the addition of black and eggplant crosses on the sides of these Vans make for a chill overall effect. And all of those little plus signs can only have a positive impact on your mood, n’est pas?

8. Flower Burst Ring from Forever 21.
Say what you will about Forever 21, but they have some downright good deals. This is one of them. Priced lower than a big mac meal, this flower burst ring will perk you up every time you look at it. A mood lift like that is priceless.

9. Eggplant Pearl Wrap Bracelet by Chan Luu.
On the other end of the price scale is this lovely bracelet from LA designer Chan Luu. I love that it wraps up to five times around the wrist, and those gold touches make for a regal effect.

10. Coach Op Art Dot Ponytail Scarf.
I bet you didn’t even know your ponytail needed a scarf! This wrap isn’t meant to keep your precious locks warm—instead of holding heat, it holds attention. All eyes will turn to follow this perky piece of hairwear as you trot happily down springtime avenues.

11. Hand Painted Silk Skull Scarf at Etsy.
Purple and pirates go together like peanut butter and jelly, right? Love it.

12. Cutie Flats by Jeffrey Campbell.
Another joyful union: purple and suede. The adorable side of purple.

13. Purple Elastic Strap Flats by Dorothy Perkins.
The charming shoe story of how Sporty met Eggplant, Grape, and Alice in Wonderland.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Top photo by Robyn Gallagher.

How Shoes are Made

Colleen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:45:21 +0000

Yesterday, I encouraged all thrifty fashionistas to visit the cobbler to make your favorite shoes last longer. Today, I’m going to take you inside the world of the cordwainer, or shoe maker. The world’s top shoe making school may be Cordwainers Technical College, now a part of the London College of Fashion. Alumni include Emma Hope, Patrick Cox, and Jimmy Choo. Cordwainers Technical College has been around for more than 100 years–long enough to see the transition from hand-made to manufactured shoes. Cordwainers worked in a specific area of London, which came to be known as the Cordwainers ward. The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers is the organization that still sets the standards for shoe making professionals.

As you can see from the video above, shoemaking can be a long and tedious process. Shoemakers formed materials like leather, rubber, plastic, and jute around a mold called a last. Lasts are now made of plastic, although they were traditionally made of iron or wood. Sometimes a different last is used for the right and left foot. Watch the video to see where it goes from there.

Although I’m a big fan of handmade goods, I’m glad we have access to manufactured shoes. After all, the industrial revolution certainly increased the variety of shoes on the market. I don’t think the delicate, elegant shoe I’m featuring today, Sparktacle by Kenneth Cole Reaction would have been available before manufactured shoes– certainly not at the current super low price of just $35!

Jimmy Choo Opens School of Shoes in Malaysia

Colleen — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:17:48 +0000

Jimmy Choo doesn’t do things halfway. The son of Chinese immigrants announced today that he will further contribute to shoe fashion excellence by opening a school for shoe design in Malaysia.

The iconic shoe guru, whose designs wooed Sex and the City viewers, says this will be the first of a string of academies spanning the globe. Mr. Choo explained his grand branding plans, telling the Star, “Once it is established, the academy can be licensed all over the world under the Jimmy Choo label.”

The web is already abuzz with the little news that has been released about this network of “Couture Shoe Academies.” Mr. Choo certainly knows how to attract the right fans; he was recently honored when Mrs. Obama wore a stunning pair of Jimmy Choo Glacier pumps to her husband’s inauguration ceremony. No stranger to fame, Mr. Choo recently stated that Katie and Tom are two of his favorite clients, because they send hand-written thank you notes. I can only wish it were that easy for me to obtain Choo beauties.

Who is Jimmy Choo?

Shoeflyer — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:08:54 +0000

Whenever I log into the Shoe Bunny blog to see what celebrities are wearing on their feet, I more than likely find at least one celebrity wearing a pair of shoes by Jimmy Choo. I know quite a bit about Jimmy Choo designer shoes and agree that they are gorgeous shoes. However, I must wonder, why is everyone wearing them? Of all the designer brands out there, why Jimmy Choo? What does Jimmy do that Kenneth, Charles, Cynthia, or Sam (etc.) can’t do.

From Jessica Beil and LeAnn Rimes, to Britney and J-Lo, celebrities are loving Jimmy Choo’s shoes; and priced upwards of $500 per pair, I can see why red carpet walkers are wearing them the most.