We're still a long way away from flip-flop weather here in the northern hemisphere, but when balmier days finally do arrive, I think I'll be finding it hard to resist these 'Jangla' flip flops from Faith, which are £40 and covered in diamante. Yes, they're probably a bit too "blingy" for some people, but I think they'd look great on a lightly tanned foot, and just imagine how they'd sparkle in the sunshine! A good choice, too, for anyone planning a beach front wedding, because these manage to be dressy and casual at the same time.
Related: Funky flip flops | Dorothy Perkins silver sequin flip flops | Grecian formal flip flops
Pink shoes are everywhere at the moment, but if you can't quite stomach the thought of wearing the kind of shoes even Barbie would reject as being "too girly", dusky pink can be a good compromise. These shoes are feminine without being frilly, and the rainbow trim around the edges adds a fun element to the design, while the banana heel brings them up to date. They're by Paul Smith, and are £385.95 at Zappos.
Related: Pink satin rose peep toes | Manolo Blahnik pink feather trim d'orsay | Hot pink heels
There's only so much you can do to make a standard court shoe more interesting, but I think Oasis have done a pretty good job with their 'Conchita' court, which comes in tan and black. The curved vamp and half d'orsay style of the front of the shoe makes it sweet-but-sexy, while the bow on the back manages to look cute without being too fussy. These are £50, and would be good work shoes, which will also scrub up for an evening out.
Related: Oasis metallic ribbed tights | Oasis bow detail sandal | Oasis high wedge boot
Here's a trend right off the Autumn/Winter catwalks... We've talked a lot recently about how sheer tights are making a comeback this year, and lots of designers have been using patterns in their Autumn/Winter shoes, with the Just Cavalli collection being one example of that.
These 'Dirk' tights by Transparenze use a floral pattern over a black, cream or nude background. While I quite like them in black, I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of patterns on nude tights, though, which can make the wearer look a little like the pattern has been tatooed directly onto their legs. If you like this look, though, you can buy these at TightsPlease for £10.95.
More socks and tights
Ginham is such a summery fabric that even although it's still blowing a cold, miserable gale right now, these simple flats from Gap are making me think of warmer days, trips to the beach and pretty cotton sundresses. They're also available in equally-appropriate-for summer floral print, baby blue and yellow candy stripes, and although the cotton uppers won't make them appropriate wear for another couple of months yet, they're the kind of shoes you could find yourself wearing all summer long. They're $39.50.
Related: Pierre Hardy shoes for Gap | More Gap love | Gap sale flip flops
Ballet flats are ten-a-penny but Nine West's 'Lommit' shoes have a cool heel panel that sets them apart from their balletic brethren. It gives them a bit of an edge and it contrasts wonderfully with the red patent uppers and what's more they're reduced to $59.99 which is bargainous. I think they'd be just the thing to add some zip to a pair of jeans.
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Wild horses couldn't drag me away from a pair of brogues and Shelly's heeled two-tone pair are pretty special and what's more they will set you back a mere 45 quid. The aged part of the shoe stops them from looking too pristine and the patent finish is a nice touch. With the lovely round toe and stack heel they'd be perfect for daywear with a pencil skirt for a cute retro look.
Related Stories: Carvela patent brogue heels at Kurt Geiger l Brogue Fever l Irregular Choice brogue heels
There’s no doubt that wedges really do make walking with your heel 4” above the ground a little easier, but what if the shoe is called Danger? These Kors by Michael Kors Danger patent wedges definitely look fierce, with the shiny leather and the cut out in the wedge. Other than that it’s a great shoe to take from day to night, question is how long can you balance in the 115mm heel? Either way, would you pay £163 for them?
Related: Michael Kors and the Case of the Baffling Mini-wedge | Kors by Michael Kors yellow patent half-d'orsay wedges
Isn't it amazing how much of a difference you can make to a pair of shoes, just by making the strap thicker and the buckle rounder and larger than usual? These black patent ASOS Mary Janes jumped out at me immediately, purely because of the aforementioned details, and I also love the almond toe and narrow stiletto heel. At £30, they're inexpensive, and they're also available in a navy blue patent, which will work well with this season's nautical trend.
Related: D-Havs at ASOS | ASOS Mary Janes | ASOS knot front shoes
Well, who would have thought! We know that fruit has been appearing on clothing and accessories for some time now, but it seems that Hunter are keen to lead a veggie trend instead! Embellished with radishes, peas and what looks to be a lettuce, they’re apparently reproduced from a vintage Royal Horticultural Society print. More a pair for serious gardeners than fruit-and-fashion-friendly feet, they’re best worn with a shovel, pitchfork and a garden plot waiting to be planted! If you'd like to get down and dirty this weekend (in your garden, and in an entirely eco-friendly way, of course!), they’re just $60 from Hunter.
Related: Pink Ribbon Hunter wellies | Red fleece welly warmers from Hunter Boots - never have cold feet again! | Gwyneth's Glasto wellies
The Christian Dior catwalk this week was a colourful affair, with lots of pinks and purples, and the odd splash of white mixed in. Square toed court shoes dominated, all with metallic 'Dior' badges on the toes and matching heel panels. The pink sandals on the bottom left of this picture, meanwhile, have a silver sequined effect, not only on the toe, but also on the inside of the heel. I actually like the black courts on the bottom right best of all of these shoes, although they look like they could be just a little too small for the model wearing them!
More new shoes
Shoe designers may like to make a boot out of anything, but it doesn't mean we'll like it!
Last week's Yay or Nay - a sandal-boot of sorts - didn't go down too well, with some of you loving them, more of you hating them and a few of you sitting on the fence! If you couldn't wait to get your hands on a pair of the architectural oddities, they're called 'Sambuka' and you can pick them up for
£110 from Faith.
This week's offering is classed as 'dressy', but their deconstructed style make these look more rough than your usual evening styles. But what do you think of them? Are they ruggedly riveting or scandalously studded? Yay or Nay and why?
[Don't forget to vote at Trashionista, Bridalwave, Hippy Shopper, Corrie Blog, Catwalk Queen, Kiss and Makeup, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
This is yet another shoe for the "looks almost as good from the back as it does from the front" files. It's Versace's ankle strap wedge , and actually, I'd argue that it almost looks better from the back, with that super-curvy heel. This is the kind of ankle strap I love: one that sits low on the foot, below the ankle bone, so it keeps the shoe on but doesn't create an unflattering line across the lower leg. These are $810, and I notice that Versace have been going with red soles on their shoes lately - cheeky!
Related: Blue Versace sandals | Versace wedges | Versace velvet pumps
Given that the narrow strip of elastic which holds the shoe on at the back is nude coloured, these Marc Jacobs pumps look like they'd give the illusion of being about to fall off your feet at any moment. I'm not so sure that's a good thing, but they are very unusual, with Marc Jacobs creating a completely new shape simply by removing the heel of the shoe. They're currently available to pre-order at Saks, where they're $580.
Related: Marc Jacobs metallic mouse flats | Marc Jacobs lace-up three-tone shoes | Marc by Marc Jacobs two strap pink glitter shoes
We've seen a lot of different items used to decorate shoes over the years, but I think this must be the first time we've seen the skeleton of a fish added to a t-strap. These are by Giuseppe Zanotti and the fish bones in question are made of silver metal encrusted with crystals. The tail is hinged (although for what purpose I don't know) and there's also a chain mail strap for your ankle. Now, I personally find these pretty creepy, but then I'm not a big fan of the things that live in the sea, living or dead. What do you think of them? If you love them, they're $850 at eLuxury.
Related: Giuseppe Zanotti's rose bud satin mules in fuschia and red | Giuseppe Zanotti goes bold with his sling-back peep-toes | Would you dare to wear Giuseppe Zanotti's architectural wedge sandals?
Topshop have once again collaborated with Julia Lundsten, a talented Finn who designs under the name Finsk. The product is this fabulous range of shoes which are reassuringly simple but would subtly add a little je ne sais quoi to your outfit. My two favourites are the lilac and black flat sandals and the cutaway heels, I'd gladly have them in my wardrobe!
They're a bit pricey, with the flat sandal retailing at £175 and the lemon and grey heels retailing at £190 but if you want to treat yourself to a very special pair of shoes these are just the ticket.
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If jumping over towering puddles and dodging raindrops at super-speed sounds like your kind of wet afternoon, then some Cartoon Hero wellies might be your perfect match! With fabulous pop-art graphics reminiscent of vintage comic strips, they'll certainly add a splash to your look on a rainy day! If you love your footwear kitsch and cosy, they're by MIA and are a bargain $59.99.
Related: MIA's Sabrina flats | MIA's 'Fierce' brown suede pull-on boot with Western cut and high heels | MIA's 'Venice' blue and white striped heels are just begging to be bought and taken on holiday!
Converse celebrates their 100th anniversary this year, with the iconic brand marking the 100th anniversary of the invention of the All Star trainer in 1917. "Converse is the footwear company that was first in sports and first in rock 'n roll, and we will continue to be the brand that inspires originality for the next 100 years," says Jack Boys, Converse CEO. In celebration, the brand has launched a Converse Century footwear collection with new variations of timeless classics and new styles that will blend modern designs with old favourite. They will include special designs created by current and past Converse collaborators with the Converse Century at their usual retailers, department stores and online at www.converse.com throughout 2008. Check out some images from the collection here.
Do you have a favourite pair of "Cons"?
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We had quite a mixed response to yesterday's post about how Oscar winner Diablo Cody refused to wear Stuart Weitzman's $1 million shoes to Sunday's Oscars, with some of you applauding Cody's integrity and others arguing that she could have shown a little more grace over the matter.
Having read Stuart Weitzman's side of the story, I think I'd personally have to agree with the latter camp. It seems that Cody was involved in the design of the shoes, which makes her "nobody asked me" comment seem a little strange. Weitzman told TMZ: "I have been making a special pair of shoes to be worn at the Academy Awards for a number of years. This year - more so than in any previous year - the lady who was given the opportunity to wear it was quite involved in the design process. Diablo Cody sent me examples of the type of shoes she liked and actually did the final selection herself, choosing a three-inch retro style T-strap as well as a changeover pair of ballerinas."
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We're pretty fond of patent here at Shoewawa; and when it's metallic patent? Just you watch us empty our bank accounts! Fortunately, this pair is a Bargain Tuesday offering, so we'd have to buy multiples in every colour to send us broke. With its mini-peep, nice high heel and teensy bow on the toe, we love them right down to the £20 price tag! Grab your pair(s) at New Look!
Related: Bargains win the house cup every Tuesday!
Time for another dose of Play the Shoe Stylist results! This week we were playing with Sugar's tartan court shoes, so let's see what kind of outfits you decided to wear them with. The outfit above was submitted by Lian, and you'll find more after the jump...
Lian's outfit: tee; jeans; bag; jacket ; earrings
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As the warmer weather approaches, so does the season of weddings, which is when satin shoes come into their own. These pink 'Cannex' peep toes by Faith would be perfect for bridesmaids, mothers-of-the-bride or guests, and also come in a versatile taupe shade. Then again, they'd make beautiful party shoes for any other occasion, too: I love the jewelled detail on the toe, which gives these shoes an opulent, expensive look. They're £85.
Related: Faith's red heart stilettos | Faith's bow detail t-bars | Faith's 'Clat' peep toe platforms
Actress Chloe Sevigny recently launched the first collection from her own label, Opening Ceremony, and these shoes, which are part of that collection, are now exclusively available at Shopbop. These are standard patent bow courts, but the bow is actually removable, so if you're not a bow person, you don't have to be. The slightly vintage style of these shoes is very reminiscent of the style of their creator, and if it appeals to your sense of style too, you can pick these up for $330 at Shopbop.
Related: Beige satin ballet pumps | Guess Arabella pumps | River Island's animal print pumps
I think it's pretty obvious which is the designer shoe and which is the high street offering in the above photo, but just in case it isn't, on the right we have Dorothy Perkins' black patent shoe boots (£25), while on the left it's Gucci's 'Newton' boots ($850), which we featured back in January. You'll notice just a few similarities between the two pairs, but Dorothy Perkins are certainly the winner when it comes to price, with their offerings coming in at just a fraction of the price of the Gucci originals.
Related: More High Street V. Designer
What lovely pair of pumps and what a nice price at £18, Topshop know what we need for the spring. Slip these on with a pair of ankle-skimming jeans and a nice shirt and you've got yourself a cute but casual outfit for the spring. The rope detail is mega cute and I like the combo of stripy and plain fabrics for the most nautical shoe I've seen so far this year.
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We first saw this fabulous graphic print on Eley Kishimoto's S/S08 catwalks waaaay back in September and happily it's now hit the stores! In a more enticing package than the low-heeled courts, these Mary Janes are seriously sexy. An incredibly flattering shape (see the model pics for proof!), they're a definitive statement shoe. Pair with white if you're feeling mod, or black if you want all eyes on your feet, they're an investment £160 from ASOS.
Related: Mary Janes rule on Mondays!
Although I haven't bought into the trend as yet - more to do with the hot summer in the Southern Hemisphere than anything else - I must admit that I'm quite partial to Victorian influences, particularly when it comes to boots. These wedge-heeled boots by Charmone are particularly charming, utilising the victorian-esque strap and button detailing without looking like a costume reproduction, and with a nice military feel at that. In a mix of beautiful deep green shades, they're perfect right down to the pretty patterned lining! If you'd like to step your look up a notch, they're $255.49 (on sale) from Shoes.com.
Related: Naughty Monkey go Victorian with their ‘Get Up’ boots | Bargain Tuesday: Faith's 'Most' Victorian-esque lace-up boots | Show your Victorian allegiance with these boots from Miss Selfridge
According to a survey by Olay, women in the UK are spending over £33,000 in their lifetime on shoes . Surprised? I'm not, particularly. Bear in mind that this is a lifetime figure: per year, it seems a little less astronomical, and given that lots of people spend hundreds of pounds per year on things like DVDs or other entertainment, I reckon that as long as people aren't getting into debt over it, what they spend their money on is up to them.
What did surprise me is the breakdown of the figures. The survey reckons that the "average" woman owns "44 shoes, including eight pairs of boots, nine pairs of trainers and 12 pairs of flips flops". Nine pairs of trainers? I own significantly more than 44 pairs of shoes, but only two pairs of trainers, which are strictly for exercise purposes.
What about you? What do you spend on shoes, and do you think £33,000 is too much?
More shoe news
She may have won Best Original Screenplay for Juno, but we're all about the shoes here, so our main concern during last night's Oscar ceremony was the thorny issue of what Diablo Cody would wear on her feet.
She was supposed to be wearing the $1 million dollar Stuart Weitzman shoes pictured on the left of the picture above, but Cody had other ideas, writing on her MySpace blog: "I'm actually really pissed about this, now that I think about it. They're using me to publicize their stupid shoes and nobody asked me. I would never consent to a lame publicity stunt at a time when I already want to hide. I'm sorry if I sound like a party-pooper, but Jeebus."
Instead, she turned up at the ceremony wearing the gold flats shown above. A good choice, do you think?
[Images: Getty}
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It must get hard, having to constantly dream up new ways to reinvent the Mary Jane. In this case, ASOS have done it by giving the shoe a cage front rather than a closed toe, and by making them in this lovely combination of cream, gold and baby blue. The effect is slightly vintage looking, and is definitely eye catching: these remind me of old-style dance shoes, and the colors make them perfect for spring. They're £40 at ASOS.
Related: D-Havs at ASOS | ASOS red patent bow tie shoes | ASOS leopard print courts
Yellow has been hanging on grimly in the style stakes since last winter, which is a little surprising given the mixed feelings so many people seem to have about it. This summer's trend for brights means that there's going to be even more of it around, though, and River Island have just released these flat dolly shoes in the sunniest of colours. These are £19.99 and will actually be pretty easy to wear, looking great with cropped jeans or summer skirts.
Related: Yellow 'Chip' pumps | Top five yellow shoes | ASOS yellow wedges
Don’t these heels look frighteningly high? They measure in at about 3.75” plus a 0.75” platform. That makes then 4.5” tall. And they’re not even fabulously beautiful like a pair of Louboutin’s or Manolo’s. They actually scare me quite a bit, reminiscent of the feeling I get when I see clear plastic hooker platforms. Which these Forever 21 Plush Patent Platform heels ($20.80) could act as with their high gloss patent leather look pumps with eyelet detail around the toe. It features two straps to help keep the foot in, but it really doesn’t help make them more appealing. What do you think?
Baby blue is a colour I for one tend to associate with Spring, rather than with the Autumn/Winter season, but Marni clearly disagree, as this patent Mary Jane was part of their latest collection at Milan Fashion Week last week. The thick leather strap contrasts with the shiny blue shoe, and these were worn with thick blue and white striped tights, which created a bit of an 'Alice in Wonderland' feel. Not particularly wintry, but at least they make a change from the usual cold weather collections.
[Image: Getty]
Related: Marni elasticated ballet flats | Marni three coloured pumps | Next Spring's shoes
I've just chosen these shoes for an outfit pick on Catwalk Queen, they're climbing up my top picks for summer shoes. They remind me of a pair of Dries Van Noten shoes from last summer that I spent a significant amount time coveting. The simplicity and canvas uppers have that fresh summer vibe while the heel gives it a bit of va-va-voom. They're £39.99 from Schuh.
Related Stories: Yves Saint Laurent's Tribute canvas leopard pumps l Plaid Canvas Converse l Pretty flower-front canvas flats by Rocket Dog
River Island's chunky heel is pretty classic apart from the criss-cross strap; it's a great way to wear a higher heel without sacrificing comfort. The wood effect heel and brass buckle are nice touches and make it worth the £49.99 they'll cost you. Wear them with cropped jeans or layer up some socks and team them with a skirt for a cool spring look.
Related Stories: Fendi's chain heeled strappy sandals continue the trend for decorated heels l Dorothy Perkins do Marc Jacobs with these cut-price strappy patent sandals l Topshop's chunky platform sandals in cobalt blue - are you a fan?
Oh, my! While it might sound like a joyous occupation, looking at shoe after shoe, day in and day out; it can make one's heart numb to footwear that others might coo over. This is why you know a pair is extra special when it can still make that numb ol' heart do little flip-flops in your chest! These heels from Dune are exquisite. From the 'coral' colour to the beautiful leather rose on the toe, I love them right down to the unusually shaped heel detail! The ultimate feminine shoe for spring, they're £65 - a fair exchange for such loveliness!
Related: Mary Jane Monday - Dune's 'Khloe' wedge-heeled MJs | A Very Shoey Christmas Countdown: Dune's 'Woochie' | Dune's bronze 'Elaine' sandals
I can't quite make up my mind about these shoes. Ribbon ties like these aren't the sort of thing I would normally wear (and that rounded toe is just a little bit too rounded for me, too), but on the other hand, there's something about them that appeals to the part of me that would still quite like to be a ballerina when she grows up. So I don't know. The shoes in question are by Stuart Weitzman, and are down to $114 at Bluefly. What do you think of them?
Related: Poste Mistress Leopard-print ballet pumps | Beige satin ballet pumps from Accessorize | Anusha's soft gold leather floral ballet flats
The man behind popular American brand 3.1 Phillip Lim – Phillip Lim – has teamed up with Tatami to created a collection Navaho-style shoes for men and women this spring 2008. With 13 styles for women and 7 for men, the collection is made up of shoes featuring soft suede fringing, multi buckles and patent leather accents. "Tatami and 3.1 Phillip Lim are a great pair," Lim explains. "I've always worn this type of sandal growing up, so they have always been part of my life. I love the fact that they are comfortable, easy, classic and extremely versatile for all occasions. They are like the white T-shirt... Perfectly designed."
Fans of Birkenstock sandals can expect to fork out from £95 to £170 at the Birkenstock store in London's Covent Garden this March.
Related: Phillip Lim for Birkenstock? Let me at 'em. | 3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2007
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Barking Dog Shoes pick some favourites from The Walking Company sale.
Heel Candy finds some enchanted flats from Poetic Licence.
HighHeels shows us how to dress like Elle McPherson. Or how to steal her shoe style at least...
The Manolo is all about the beautiful, girl sandals (like the ones pictured, by Beverky Feldman)
Miss Meghan has moved - update your bookmarks!
Sole Shebang finds some pretty flats.
Shoeaholics Anonymous discovers some sandals designed for yoga.
And finally, there's still time to enter Shoe Blog's contest to win a pair of Nota Bene shoes!
Pick of the Shoe Blogs
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