April 2008 Archives

So, it's almost May..which means the Sex and the City Movie will be opening world wide in 30 days! But where is the debut? We thought NYC, right? I mean, it makes complete sense--due to the fact that that the series was based there. According to People Magazine, the May 12th premier will occur in London with all major cast members except Chris Noth (Mr. Big).

A studio rep played down the decision to have the premiere away from the traditional Sex and the City stomping ground of Manhattan, explaining, "London will be much smaller. The whole cast isn't even going. It was simply a question of logistics and scheduling. We're still planning the big premiere to be in New York."

The New York premiere will take place on 27 May at the famous Radio City Music Hall and will be followed by a reception at the Museum of Modern Art.

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Retro....Vintage. Both are words we would use to describe these lovely Louboutin Wedges. We can't think of anything we could wear with these, but it makes us want to hit the local vintage shops--looking for a throw-back miniskirt.

These Christian Louboutin Platform Wedges retail for $1,100, but you can find them listed at Downtowngal Shoes for $699.00.

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"Louboutins are a total drug and there is no methadone." stated Barney's Creative Director Simon Doonan in a recent interview with WWD. The comment came in response to Louboutin sending gouache sketches for the invitation to his personal appearances at Barneys. "Christian's shoes are like the circus coming into town," gushed Doonan, lamenting that he doesn't own a pair. In anticipation for the appearance, Doonan had the sketches blown up and will put them in the windows of the New York and Beverly Hills stores starting today.

For those in Manhattan and LA, Louboutin will be on the fourth floor of the Madison Avenue flagship on May 1 and in the Beverly Hills store on May 7.

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The last 4 years have allowed designer, Tory Burch to successfully build a brand and business of nearly $200 million annually. And all amongst stiff competition from entrenched luxe brands like Prada, Gucci, and others--she has quickly managed to set her designs apart.

This Fall will see a new logo introduction from the designer utilizing the words "BR" which pays tribute to Burch's father, Buddy Robinson, who died last year. Burch said the new logo will be an addition to the company, and will not replace the brand's popular double "T" logo. However, the original logo will be seen less on the clothing and accessories — which is part of the brand's effort to become known for the design, not necessarily the brand name.

Stay tuned as the logo makes its debut in early Fall on select accessories.

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Looking to add another pair of high heels to your collection? If so, follow the advice of Edmundo Castillo (Sergio Rossi's Creative Director):

1. Change the heel heights several times a day. Feet and legs shouldn't be allowed to mold themselves to any one shoe shape.
2. Shoes are an emotional accessory; hurt your feet, hurt your feelings.
3. Befriend a salesperson who will tell you if a shoe will actually feel as good as it looks.
4. If you feel all the weight in the front of your foot, then the heel is literally your arch enemy.
5. Your foot needs to "sit" in a shoe. If you can wedge two fingers between your sole and the shoe---bye-bye!
6. Platforms should be no more than one-and-a-half inches high--or your dangling off a cliff.
7. Think Cinderella: A heeled shoe must fit perfectly. Faking it with the wrong size will get ugly.
8. Don't shoe shop with swollen feet--e.g, when it's hot or right after exercise.
9. To elongate your legs, ankle straps should sit above the ankle bone.
10. Still wobbling when you walk in your heels? Practice!

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Ok, we have to give major credit for the folks at the StyleHive Blog for uncovering the news. What's the news? Well for those of you in love with your red-bottomed Louboutin's...and who cringe every time the signature red sole gains a new scratch, scuff or stain, pay attention to this next line from StyleHive.

"By the end of 2008 every pair of Christian Louboutin shoes will come with an extra red sole".

Yes, it seems as though the "Wizard" himself listened to his faithful followers and made his shoes even more desirable. It is such a simple concept--with major implications for the market. Will others follow in his footsteps and implement changes based on customer desires? Who knows--for now we are brimming with the idea of two extra shiny red soles in every Christian Louboutin box.

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When we know exactly what we want, we love to shop online. Unfortunately, for the un-educated shopper, shopping online can come with a few "gotchas". Thanks to Desiree Simpert's column at about.com, we have included a few simple guidelines to help you separate the bad from the good.

1. Stick with major retailers and sites. All too often places claiming to have shoes or handbags "styled" after a certain designer's wares are not selling the actual label, but a cheap knock-off.

2. Learn about the retailers shipping and return policies before purchasing. Items should be in stock and ready to ship within a few days. You want to be sure you'll receive your order when you need it.

3. Return policies should also be of utmost concern. Most reputable sites will allow returns of unworn shoes within a certain time period, and several top shoe sites will even offer free returns. If the shoes aren't returnable, look elsewhere, or know you're taking your chances.

4. Stick with official sites of the designer; sites that have been recommended to you by a friend; or sites that you already know. New shoe sites are popping up all the time, and some of them may be great - but it's best to check them out by asking around before placing an expensive order.

TOP SITES FOR DESIGNER SHOES

• Zappos Couture
• Foot Candy
• Neiman Marcus
• Bergdorf Goodman
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Net A Porter
• Downtowngal Shoes

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41 Days until the Sex and The City Movie Premier...we can't stand the wait! If you want an easy way to keep track on the weeks remaining or have the trailers and videos at your fingertips, click the "grab" button above. You can easily add the "widget" to your Google, Yahoo, Facebook, and MySpace pages or add as an event to your calendar.

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We just love the exotic coloring and lambskin texturing of these Stuart Weitzman Zoom Bootie Sandals. Perfect for our daily sidewalk lunches and window shopping outings!

You can find them for $285 at Neiman Marcus Online.

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There are so many fashion blogs, and so little consensus around which are the most influential or the most interesting. A successful blog is more personal than an online shopping center or another style magazine it reflects the character, taste, style and quirks of its creator. What follows is a sampling of sites that offer a pointed take that goes beyond what to buy and where to buy it.

Fashion Is Spinach (fashionisspinach.com) is authored by Ms. Spinach, aka Betsy Lowther, a freelance writer and editor. Her witty, photo-filled site featuring idiosyncratic clothing and design obsessions (a recent post sang the praises of Marshmallow Fluff packaging) was selected by Chanel in 2007 as one of the most influential fashion blogs in the world.

The Sartorialist (thesartorialist.blogspot.com) stalks New York City's well-dressed. Each day he posts photos of people seen on the street who simply incarnate elegance. His real name is Scott Schulman, and he's a onetime showroom owner previously employed by Valentino. His popular site attracts a mix of insiders and know- nothings, and the comments are as fun as the photos are envy- inducing.

Daddy Likey (daddylikey.blogspot.com) was started in 2006 by the irrepressible 'Winona' and doles out sage advice on such dilemmas as which outer layer might be safely paired with a long, sleeveless dress or which warm boots might serve as Ugg alternatives. 'I felt like fashion blogs were going the way of fashion magazines and selling women short,' she wrote in a recent entry. 'So I decided to start my own.'

I Am Fashion (iamfashion.blogspot.com) is the creation of two contributors, 'Barneys Girl,' who pegs herself as a 'Ditzaholic based in Chicago,' and 'Harrods Girl,' a self-described 'fashionholic based in London during school term and in Hong Kong other times.' Their goal: to translate runway and celebrity trends for a more youthful audience."

(Via Dailyme.com.)

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We love Tod's for their classic style and comfortable sensibility. Unfortunately it has taken us a while to finally understand their sizing conversions. As such, we have created a handy little sizing guide for our Tod's fans:

Tod's Women's shoes tend to run true to size for loafers and flats, meaning a US 9 is a Tod's 39. Some Women's Tod's shoes have a EURO size, like a 38 or they also could have a US size 8 listed on the shoe, they are equivalent.  Tod's heels can run about a 1/2 size smaller. Tod's never have a width size listed for Men's or Women's shoes, but they tend to run medium width.

Tod's size      35/5  36/6    37/7     38/8    39/9   40/10    41/11     42/12
USA              5        6          7         8         9        10         11         12      
Japan            22      23        24        25      26       27        28          29 
Germany       35       36       37        38      39       40        41          42
Italy              35       36       37        38      39        40        41         42    
France          35       36       37        38      39        40        41         42
U.K               3        4          5          6        7          8          9          10
Latin AM      35       37       39        41      43        45        47         49
Australia        3         4         5          6        7           8         9          10

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Here at Shoeflair, we spend a great deal of our time combing the web, talking with sources, reading, and going to fashion shows so that we can bring you the latest and greatest news about women's designer shoes. Not only are we seeking information, but we tend to hear from our readers that yes, they love to get the latest designer scoop--but more importantly they want to know where they can find them for the best price.

For us, part of our daily routine is checking our inbox for the daily "sale mail" email from the folks at Shop It To Me. Shop It To Me, a free online service that allows you to select your favorite designers and sizing info...and then simply wait for their matching software to output your custom email (daily, weekly, etc)--full of yummy deals with excellent photos.

Since we have been using the service for the last few weeks, it has made the job of providing you, our readers, with the some of the best online deals for distinctive designer shoes so much easier! I only wish we had known about this incredible service much sooner.

You can sign-up for Shop It To Me's free service here

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While we are on the comfortable topic (see yesterday's post), we thought we would share a little find for those into ballerina flats. For one of the most complete selection of Ballerina Flats on the planet, head over to www.prettyballerinas.com. A U.K. based company with a history that dates back to 1918, they have fantastic colors and collections that are sure to satisfy the little ballerina in anyone.

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We love the heels--don't get me wrong, but sometimes our feet need a little break from the demands of the urban jungle...especially in Summer. And as long as it is Summer, we love bright colored hues and simple-yet functional designs found in a few of this seasons flats.

• D&G Dolce & Gabbana Round-Toe Flats: Available in fuchsia, pistachio (green), turquoise, or violet satin. ($485.00)
• Ras Satin Opera Skimmers: Available in mustard (yellow) or petrol (teal) satin. ($215.00)
• Christian Louboutin Sequined Ballet Flat: Available in pink or silver all-over sequins. ($880.00)
• Christian Louboutin Suede Ballet Flat: Available in fuchsia or navy suede. ($690.00)

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