Tiger's Got Some Brand New Shoes

A very curious thing happened towards the end of last year.

I'm a big believer in buying yourself grand presents. For your birthday, splash out and get that ring you've had your eye on. For Xmas bag yourself that fabulous piece of Arm Candy. When you get a promotion, get yourself those ridiculous shoes you've been lusting after.

Anybody who is honest enough with themselves knows that however great it is to receive....you always appreciate the things you worked for yourself...just a little bit more.

So pre-xmas, I decided I was going to get myself some astonishingly nice and serious budget busting shoes.

Off I went to the fanciest department store I could find with my heart set on some Louboutins.

The sales assistant was fantastic, some really old guy (who curiously seemed straight), but had the patience of a saint and the eye of an artisan.

So there I was prancing around in literally every single pair of Louboutins they had.


Kinda liked these, but I've got really skinny feet (who knew there was such a thing) and these just didn't sit right on me. Booooo.



Patent Pumps....simply, stylish, sophisticated, yes. But also, mind-numbingly dull for my shoe taste.



I love the satin D'Orsay pumps but I have seen them just a bit too much to actually want to own them. Can't help but feel it would be a little 'me-too' for my liking.


After all that prancing around I was quite disappointed to realise I didn't actually want any of them. Perhaps its because the autumn/winter collection is more than just a little bit dry and seems to be a not so dazzling array of round toe pumps, and I wasn' feeling the slightly S&M boots either.

Imagine that. After my many years lusting after Louboutins, I'm there all set to buy (FINALLY) and nada. Why is it when you can't buy something you constntly see what you want and then the secodn you'r ready to buy....there's nothing you want.

Anyway, I'll keep my eye on the Spring/Summer collections.


But on the plus side, I did discover another shoe designer that I fell in love with. Cynthia Vincent.

Hadn't heard much about her. I knew she had one of those so cool it hurts clothing labels, but shoes?

I LOVED THEM!

Californian born, Parson graduate that cut her teeth in the London fashion industry, Cynthia Vincent has maintained a low profile on a personal level while gaining critical acclaim and a very strong A-List following professionally.

She's a 'Contemporary Designer' as opposed to 'Premium Designer' which is just shop talk for her shoes being under $500.


Now these are some round toe pumps with a bit of personality. Love the subtle stripe detail on the side. $250.


Quite possibly a little too much personality going on here...but they would look fabulous worn to a wedding with a simple black or white shift. And one of those big kahuna hats. Or a fascinating fascinator. (I've got two very friends getting married this summer so closer to the time we'll be looking at a myriad of options for what to wear to weddings)>



I am in LOVE with these shoes. So much I think I might have to go back for them. Its in the subtle shimmer of the metallic silk, the d'orsay shape and the heel...just look at that heel.



And another view from the Cynthia Vincent Loreli from the side. $230.




And I saved my favourites for the last. The uberglam Marilyn's. And they've got the high quality crystal as these shimmer and sparkle. i was drawn to them like a complete magpie. And the bit at the front is really low so you only see a smidgen of your toes, which is a very retro touch, and one that is so damn sexy!

I LOVE these babies and yes, they made it home with me that day.

The Hotness - Pump Action

For what has got to be the first time in recent memory, flat shoes have made their way to the top of partywear footwear lists.

Flat shoes might seem to take some of the fun out of dressing up, but sometimes, just sometimes, its nice to have a little injection of comfort.

The party season is THE season for dressing up to the nines for no apparent reason so if you're going for flat shoes, make sure the rest of your outfit is the hotness. In my humble opinion, flat shoes by night work very well when worn with very short skirts and dresses. And they look better when work with tights too. It helps tone it down just a teeny weeny bit.

So a thigh skimming, barely covers your bum LBD or black sequinned mini, a bright pop of colour with the tights (www.tigerbites.blogspot.com/2008/11/bit-of-leg.html...and some spingly sparkly ballerinas. Cuteness.




And you just knew I'd say the more sparkly the better. Be the dancing queen in these fabulously sparkly little pieces of joy from
www.faith.co.uk £21.54


Or if you prefer you spingly sparkly shimmer and shine with a little more sophistication, go for these black ballerinas. BP Edie from www.nordstrom.com $49.95.


And why not take a delicate pirouette on the wild side with these calf hair leopard print ballerinas? Fabulous. www.nordstrom.com $49


Jewelled is the way forward. Love these. www.asos.com £15.

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Oh my, these Antik Batik are very sophisticated aren't they? There's something about black suede that is so much more sexy than black leather n'est pas? www.asos.com £100 now down to £80.


And last but not least, a good dose of girlie fabulosity. Dolce Vita metallic pink leather ballerinas from www.nordstrom.com $69.95

Bright, Pretty and Quirky Party Shoes

I've just found one of the most fantastic new shoe websites I've come across in a long time.

www.kitty-cooper.co.uk

Kitty Cooper Laura £240 now £120. You get a choice of three fabulously decadent brocade.




Kitty Cooper, Dina £235 now 115. You can choose from the luxurious looking dove blue silk satin, chesnut or wood smoke nubuck. And yes, they all come with that seriously hot pink heel.


Kitty Cooper, I love the Tamara for their quirky appeal. Cute and fun, quite possibly a bit more of a daytime shoe but it depends, as always where you're going. Is it just me or is the social arena awash with weddings this Xmas? If you're going to one, and intend to be the hotness, these shoes would work a treat. £230 now £115.


I'm in all types of love with the layout, look and photography on the site and they've even had the decency to put almost everything on sale...and that's on top of the VAT drop. The shoes are bright, pretty and quirky and are the perfect type of shoes to work by day, by night, by brunch, by lunch, by dinner.

And quite frankly in these hard economic times, while I do advocate buying less and buying better over the cheap nonsense that WILL fall apart from the cheap and cheerful retailers....you also need to make sure you putting your cash down for items that will work hard in your wardrobe.

The shoes are definitely very ladylike and a bit proper, but when you work your magic with the dress, the clutch, the gems.....you will be ....the hotness.

The Hotness - Work to Play Outfit

With the increased traffic and the rapidly increasing invitations, a lot fo women just don't have the time to go home and get changed before heading out to yet another hot party.

So this is where you need the perfect day to evening outfit.

And I'm in all types of love with this dress, from www.asos.com, down to £29.37


By day, wear it with cute ballet pumps, thick knit black tights and a chunky black cardigan if you're in wintery climes.

Faith Ayork £28.
If you're a tropical beauty, wear it with cute ballet pumps and a lightweight cardi.

Keep the jewellery to a minimum to keep your look fuss free.




By night, amp up your sex appeal with these glam glad inspired heels from Nine West.

Nine West Jamil Heels $89


Inge Christopher St Petersburg Clutch $230


Ateliette San Francisco Earrings $25

With this cute clutch and some fabulously seasonal earrings, a perhaps a wide gold cuff...and you dear reader, will be the office party hotness.

Enjoy.

xoxo

To Shooboot or not to Shooboot?

I love a new season and the new wardrobe additions we deem mandatory.

Next up on my list is the much coveted perfect shooboot.

They have a stylish versatility that makes them suitable for most climates buts I would say if you find yourself on warmer regions as the temperature drops elsewhere, if you're going to shooboot, go for one of those superstrappy options. There's always something a little strange about girls in tropical climates on boots.

For everyone else, the only question is....how's a girl to choose which shooboots for you?


Arturo Chiang's options are a fabulously wearable shade of grey (which is the colour for the season) and a bargaintastic $160.
http://www.overstock.com



Belle by Sigerson Morrison is an astoudingly popular offshoot of the main Sigerson Morrison line and these gorgeous $379 taupe suede shooboots are a must. I'm loving the cutaway side, perfect for skinny jeans or leggings. And yep, I love beige with black.



There's somethinga bout this mossy green that just screams Autumn! Cute boots from Chloe $585
http://www.net-a-porter.com




Ok, these aren't strictly speaking shooboots, but almost. And I love them and for $24.....the only question is which colour?
http://www.forever21.com



Gabriella Rocha is a new name to me but the hardware, colour, winged detail and slick design caught my eye. Love them. $119 from http://www.zappos.com



Or how about these L.A.M.B. Shooboots for a bold pop of colour? $429 from http://www.eluxury.com




Its the tinyiest touch of blue on these patent Marc by Marc Jacobs shooboots that really makes them stand out in the understated glamour. $455 from http://www.net-a-porter.com


Its taken a while for the Oxford Brogue inspired shoe to grow on me, and grow on me it has. I'm sure I'd pick a pair less serious than these black patent ones....but they are rather fab. Mia $470 from http://www.zappos.com


You see that skinny high, slightly curved heel on these? Love. Miu Miu $640 from http://www.saks.com



Loving the lace details on these Nine West Shooboots and at a bargaintastic $109, its an easy and effective way to rock the shooboot and lace trend with one key piece you're bound to wear to death.
http://www.ninewest.com



Peeptoes with a seriously boho luxe twist, these Sam Edelman shooboots are very very on trend. $169 from http://www.nordstrom.com



If I was going to pick one pair out of the bunch I think it might just be these. I love the way the black suede is all scrunched up on one side...fabulousness. Best worn with s pair of unbreathably tight skinnies or shiny leggings. Midory $149 from http://www.stevemadden.com



I've got a serious LoveJones for this brand. The shoes are just so unusual looking and these silver ones are a little space-agey, but worn with an all black ensemble, they'd look even more fab. 150GBP http://www.unitednude.com



Love, love, love these. The flattish heel makes them a great daytime option and I love the colour too. Jeffrey Campbell $78 http://www.urbanoutfitters.com



Steve Madden does it again...tropical climate women, this is the type that works for you. $120http://www.stevemadden.com

The Wonderful Wizadry of Cordwainers...Some Like It HAUTE!

NY fashion week is well underway, I'll do a fashion round up at the end of the week. So far, as usual, some good, some bad and some ugly.

The MTV VMAs happened over the weekend and the outfits were pretty much too boring to bother posting about.

So I found this fabulously sparkly little treat instead.

Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers seem to have slipped out of Kansas. The iconic shoes worn by Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz are being revamped by top designers including Jimmy Choo, Betsey Johnson and Sergio Rossi in anticipation for next year's 70th anniversary of the film.

Warner Bros and Swarovski invited 19 designers to envision what Dot would wear in the 21st century. No need to follow the yellow brick road to get your hands on a pair....they'll be auctioned off next year.

The shoes will be unveiled Sept. 4 at Saks Fifth Avenue to kick off fashion week, and they will be on display in Bryant Park during the runway shows. They will make additional appearances at the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation's Kids for Kids Family Carnival in New York City's Park Avenue Armory Building Sept. 20, at the Miami Art Week/Art Basel Miami Beach from Dec. 4 to 8 and other public viewings in 2009.

Yeah man, viewings and appearances for SHOES. Now you know that's some serious shizzle.


Abaete embodies the spirit of its designer Russian/Danish/Brazilian Laura Poretzky, capturing french femininity, Brazilian sensuality and American simplicity. The designers were granted unlimited access to Swarovski Elements, and Laura, did not hold back when it came to decking out her shoes in bling. But while her replica is all blung out, it remains true to Dorothy's classy, ladylike charm. Love it.



One of my favourite shoegods, Giuseppe Zanotti created this fabulous pair of red satin ballet flats studded with Swarovski crystals and decorated with an off kilter rose. Elegant yet playful, a very realistic modern day version of what little Dot would wear today.




SDMF. These look like superhigh end sexy stripper shoes. Like the Park Avenue Princess taking a jolly jaunt on the wild side. Love them. Stuart Weitzman has been in the business for over 40 years and clearly knows a thing or two about shoes.



As much as I love Tibi's clothes with their quirky prints...these shoes. Hmm.
The goal of Tibi designer Amy Smilovic, was to make Dorothy updated and current. "Right now fashion is all about mixing feminine with tough," she says. "She's a crazy girl in her gingham, so what better to off-set that look than a pair of crocodile spats? The red looks super chic, and the Swarovski ties are a nod to the bows on the front of Dorothy's slippers."



Roger Vivier replaces the traditional bow of Dorothy's slippers with his instantly recognisable oversized buckle for an edgier feel.


Now this is what I'm talking about. Lordy these are some seriously fierce shoes. Entirely inappropriate for Dorothy but totally appropriate for the moneyed women who will be plonking down the major moolah at the auction. Made of red and black python with a caged toe and lined with Swarovski Elements, Jimmy Choo's modern day replica of the shoes stays true to its roots. "The Wizard of Oz is a true classic," says Fern Mallis, senior vice president of IMG Fashion, "it will never go out of style; and who doesn't want a pair of ruby slippers?"



Sergio Rossi's interpretation wraps around the foot to buckle at the ankle, giving off a sultry vibe i.e. expensive stripper chic.

Rossi's version is an over-the-top answer to the question, "If Dorothy were living in the 21st century, what would she wear?"



Ever creative in a way that makes her seem like she permanently employs the use of some good Herba Buena Betsey Johnson included custom blue cashmere socks to accompany her sexy stiletto platform shoes. With complete creative license, some designers even went so far as to add accessories to Dorothy's ruby slippers. Love her style though, crazy cartwheels on the catwalk and all.



If one celeb is milking her famous style to maximum effect its Gwen Stefani. This sexy chic stiletto by L.A.M.B. 'portrays Stefani's unique personality and the Dorothy within each woman'. Her slot among the group of top designers further solidifies Stefani's status in the fashion community. Come on, PR team, try a little harder with those quotes.



I'm not biased because I have an astoundingly similar pair of shoes in bright pink, but I LOVE these. These ruby red satin round toes created by Rossella Jardini, creative director of Moschino, feature a four-inch heel, and each shoe has half of a bow that becomes complete when feet are placed side by side. How haute is that?



The last offering in this haute bunch is by A.Testoni. This animal print heel brings some spice to the ruby slippers and the classic pump. It is offset by a feminine bow with a heart pendant. Cute.


(FYI - Cordwainer being the very posh word for people who make shoes).

Ballerina Girl....you look so lovely

I'm on the lookout for the perfect ballet pumps. I bought the perfect pair many moons ago, blush snakeskin Pedro Garcia (before he got super popular and super expensive) and I swear they were the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. BUT, I've had them for ages and worn them to death and it broke my heart when the cobbler said they had to be laid to rest.


Ever since, I've been on the quest for the perfect pair. I've tried many but many have failed. The deal with flat shoes is comfort obviously and I don't know what's up with the shoes or my feet but the vast majority rub at the back and give me blisters....boooo.

Sadly Pedro Garcia don't seem to do anything remotely similar to my fabulous blush snakeskin pair. And I want leather...satin ones are cute but tap one toe in a puddle and they're done.


I found these Pedro Garcia pumps on www.eluxury.com. They're probably the closest thing to what I had that I've seen, but they're gold so I'm not a fan and they're $375 (down from $625)...and surely mine weren't that much. If I plonked that much moolah down on a pair of flat pumps I think I'd remember.



These are both supercute and from Pedro Garcia but they're fabric. And a little too cutesy perhaps.
The left pair in shimmery gold were $375 now 129 www.eluxury.com.

The right pair are a bronzey satin were $350 now 140 www.net-a-porter.com.



Now these are cute as well but somehow $395 for a pair of sequin covered ballet pumps just sounds like too much. And you know with time those sequins would start falling off. www.net-a-porter.com.




These sparkly ballerinas from www.asos.com. And at £30 I could suck it up with the satin.




Jessica Simpson's shoe collection is surprisingly good. Yes i did really just say that. These space age patent silver ballerinas with a slight wedge could work, I need to get up close and personal to decide on that. They're down from $75 to $45 on www.smartbargains.com.



This Steve Madden pair are supercute and the gold isn't too bling so they work. AND they're reduced to $18! www.stevemadden.com.



These snakeskin Eden from Nine West are supercute and I got them in bright pink and everywhere I go everyone asks me where I got them....but they're not that comfortable. Booooo. But they are a bargain from $69 they're now only $29. www.ninewest.com.



These Steve Maddens are great for work, they're quite proper and preppy which we like, and they've got a slight heel which is great for longer jeans.


Cole Haan has been pimping that Nike Air technology for longer than I can remember. I haven't tried a pair yet...any opinions anyone? But these are cute, quirky and preppy. From $195 down to $95 www.smartbargains.com.




These are a cute alternative to ballerinas. The slight wedge makes them great for longer jeans and work. Steve madden beatitt wedge moccasin $69 now 39 www.smartbargains.com.


And on my search, I stumbled upon Old Navy and holy moly they're got a great selection. I'm a little dubious about the comfort level of budget leather....but i might just give it a go anyway.

How fabulous are these? And at only $24.50 per pair!
I'm liking the beige on the left the most, but the taupe in the middle are more muted, then we've got the purple on the right which I would love if they were plain.
www.oldnavy.com.



And if that wasn't confusing enough now we've got the chocolate, earl grey and black pair to chose from too. I think I prefer the colours of the first set though. A little more cute and a little less serious.



Then we've got the Old Navy Patent Ballerina selection. I'm loving the Citrus yellow, but black and grey always work. And they've been reduced from $19.50 to $12.99 so why stop at one pair?
www.oldnavy.com.



Or Navy, Kelly Green or Black? How's a girl to choose?