Shoes can be hard to get rid of. Not only because we get so oddly attached to them, but because charity shops don't always want them unless they're in reasonable nick. There seems little point in dropping off a pair of flimsy old sandals that will probably fetch no more than your bus fair to the shop...
But Brantano have an excellent campaign on at the moment that allows you to donate your old shoes to Tommy's, the children's charity simply by bringing them into one of their stores, and they'll give you £10 to spend on any pair of Brantano shoes worth £50 or over.
As a fun way to raise funds for Tommy's, Brantano have also asked a host of celebs to create footprint paintings, which are being auctioned off on Ebay for the charity. Shown here is Mel C's design which has just gone on auction here. Why not donate today?
Irregular Choice celebrated the first birthday of its Carnaby Street store yesterday, with a fizz-fuelled party for fans of the unashamedly kooky brand. With plenty of styles new and old on offer and the chance to catch a glimpse of next season's shoes, it was well worth popping along for a look at what's new - and for the discounts!
When I caught up with Irregular Choice's designer Dan Sullivan (top left) at the event, the first thing I wanted to know was what we can expect from the forthcoming range. After all, it's not easy to predict what direction a brand that does not usually bow to the whims of mainstream fashion, will take. Dan told me that IC will be going 'back to its roots' for s/s '10, focusing on the more cutesy, lighter and more fun designs that the label embraced when it was formed nearly 10 years ago.
I have to say I was pleased to hear this: Irregular Choice had taken a 'darker' turn around 2003/4 and I always prefered the more whimsical styles. There's certainly plenty of whimsy to go round if the preview I've seen is anything to go by: shoe charms with pom-poms and baby dolls stand out alongside teddy-bear print pumps in a very pastel-dominated colour palate.
That's not to say that the old styles we know and love will be disappearing: Dan was eager to point out that many of the classic IC shoes will be staying on as long as their die-hard fans want them. Now, I just can't wait to see the rest of the new range, which promises to be a bucketfull of cute!
Related: Irregular Choice opens first UK store on Carnaby Street | Irregular Choice gold winged sandals
I don't know a huge amount about men's shoes. I like pretty shoes and functional boots, but trainers and loafers don't really come into my shoe repertoire too often.
However I am quite excited that Redfoot, the genius designers behind the fold up shoe I recently wrote about, have created a range of shoes especially for men.
Whilst the range is still quite limited, I can see a good market for it. For instance, I can imagine it being popular with gym fans who want something compact and comfortable to change into for work. They're a great product for holidays too as they're lightweight and won't take up half your luggage allowance. So you can use the room to stash your GHDs instead...
The Redfoot Superlight loafer have a leather design with stitching
detail and the split sole feature that the female versions also have.
It comes in a nylon case that looks a bit like a camera case, and you
can get the shoes in brown or black.
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If you're a fully paid-up 'Grauniad' reader, you'll already be quite accustomed to taking the newspaper's advice on fashion - usually via the charming Jess Cartner Morley (whose videos we're incidentally loving at the moment). And now, you can take the step of actually buying clothes, shoes and accessories via the paper's new retail site: the Guardian Fashion Store.
I've no doubt that this news will prompt all manner of snarky comments about Guardian readers and their hippy organic hemp moccasins, but there are plenty of fashion treats to be had here, with top brands including Matches, Whistles, French Connection, LK Bennett and All Saints, where I found these 'Tansy' cage sandals, available on the site for £90
As we recently reported, Christian Louboutin has teamed up with Mattel to create his own collection Barbie doll. The collaboration features the Barbie-pink, red-soled Louboutin heels that debuted in Barbie's birthday runway show during New York Fashion Week in February.
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With Barbie the toast of the town earlier this year, Christian Louboutin is the latest designer to makeover the pint-sized plastic icon.
Only the famed shoe designer is planning some adjustments to Barbie's shape, in particular her ankles because... wait for it... they're "too fat."
Erm, I'm stumped! Cankles and Barbie certainly never went together in my mind.
Louboutin will create three dolls, one of which is due to be released in time for Cannes International Film Festival. "They're completely wild and even come with mini Louboutin boxes for the shoes," said Louboutin's spokesperson.
[Photo: PicApp]
Related: Video: Christian Louboutin's film directing debut | Whose shoes? Louboutin dash in the rain...
Salvatore Ferragamo, the genius brand responsible for these rather gorgeous shoes on the right, are attempting to push the boundaries of fashion a little further. They've recently announced a collaboration project with artists Blue and Joy to celebrate the start of the Frieze Art Fair. The project will involve the showcasing of a variety of their work, including a unique piece made from 35,000
vintage Ferragamo buttons measuring 2.30 by 1.5 metre.
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