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A ton of money goes into ad campaigns as the fashion industry tries to convince us to purchase their product. The US fashion industry alone spent $144 billion on advertising last year. Several lines have released some of their ads for Spring and Summer 2010. Some are great, some are not. Let’s have a look.
I am weary of the pouting, leggy girl, wearing nothing more than lingerie, heels and a come hither look, sitting or laying on a sofa/chair, with soft focus. Virtually every shoe, handbag, fragrance, lingerie, and cosmetic advertisement features at least three of these components. Snore.
Alexander McQueen’s ad is visually striking. It took me a while to find the shoes, then the girl. It’s a great ad, but the only thing I see is snakes.
Humor in ads almost always attracts me, which is why this Giuseppi Zanotti is one of my favorites. I can’t decide which is cuter, the boy or the shoe.
If the product is not attractive, such as the Alexander McQueen or Balenciaga shoes, then a striking advertisement will make no difference. I’m not buying it. With the Paciotti and Choo shoes, the ad is tiresome, but it does let me get a look at the shoes. The Zanotti ad is able to feature a shoe and not annoy me. That boy is SO cute. It does it’s job. Which ads work for you, which ones don’t?
Update: Here’s Chanel’s Spring 2010 which was shot by Karl Lagerfield.

A walk past the Giuseppe Zanotti store at Madison and 67th revealed that they were selling these flashy studded white cutout sandal boots, which can be purchased online for $1250.
I personally love the minimalist white sandal with just one strap and the black and red heel. This is not the exact same shoe as it has a skull on the big toe (so many skulls on shoes lately!), but the price is the same: $485. Whew!
But these blinged-out babies? I’ll pass. They’re $675.
Some other pretty summer sandals shined from the window. I can’t wait for spring!
One thing I can say for him is he’s hardly ever boring!

The differences between these are minor, but noticeable when comparing them side by side. Which ones do you prefer: the originals from Zanotti, or the near-copies from Camuto?
Also, how do you feel about designer inspired styles that are near-knockoffs of higher-end designers? Such styles are legal at this time as long as no trademarks from the original design are copied onto the lower-end style – but should we demand more creativity from mid-end brands who can probably afford to invest in more original design talent rather than resorting to being runway copyists?
*I should note that a lot of Camuto designs are not so imitative. I love the brand, in fact, because they have been some of the best-fitting heels I have found for my arch height and shape.

I don’t buy shoes because they are in fashion or stylish, per se. I simply like them –
and if I think I will still like them seasons and years from now, I may be willing to
spend higher prices for that – as I perceive it – value. But, if I can find that same
shoe a little bit later at a discount, that is like a double-win.
As a result, I love YOOX. You can find fabulous after-season shoes at some great
discounts. As I slowly shape up my budget, I will definitely be visiting YOOX with more
regularity. As it is, my YOOX dreambox(wishlist) is almost always full.
So, here are a handful of Renee Caovilla sandals that I have been eying over at YOOX but
have not yet decided whether to add to my YOOX dreambox.
Rene Caovilla Women’s beaded ankle-wrap sandals $590 $355
I like these almost as much as the floral versions shown here. But, the price on these
beaded sandals is accessible, if not exactly cheap; giving them more than a slight edge
over the $835 floral version…and doesn’t that base price rising from $590 to $835 show
us just how much prices have changed over just a couple of years?
Renee Caovilla pailette platform slides $550 $385
These are cute, but I’m a little leary of slides. I’m occasionally clutsy on my feet, so
I generally like to have a slingback or ankle-strap to protect me from my occasionally
betraying ankles. Plus, my pants inevitably get caught between my heel & the top of the
slide. Annoying. But, if you want a different way to indulge current trends while clog
styles are still extra-hot on the fashion scene, these are refreshingly different. And,
once the current fad for clogs die down, they’ll still be an adorable pop of color.
Rene Caovilla platform demi-wedge sandals $570 $342.
Okay, here’s one of those YOOX downsides. I love how different these sandas are while
still being crazy-cute and sweetly-sexy. But there are currently no pairs in my size.
These are a possible dreambox entry anyway, just to remind me to keep an after-market eye
-out for these.
Rene Caovilla crystal sandals $590 $395
Ah, bling – always a great place to start on shoes. Yet again, my size is not available.

Say hello to the latest addition to my shoe collection. She is called the Gucci Brehat ballet flat. Here’s what I love about my Brehat. She’s comfortable, has a very slight 1/4 inch heel to support my arches, is easy to pair with most of my casual outfits, and although there is a slight Gucci signature striping on the heel and GG logos on the fabric, they aren’t screaming Gucci to anyone that glances at the shoes. The final point is key, I prefer not to be a walking advertisement to any company. The best part about my Gucci Brehat flats? They were on sale at 60% off at Nordies which brought my purchase down to a little under $150. The sole negative for me is that the upper material is fabric which means these shoes may get dirty and be difficult to clean. The silver color should mask some of the dirt and I intend to take them to the cobbler to see if there is any special sealant/protection I should apply beforehand.
Gucci white GG coated ‘Brehat’ ballerina flats are $300

British fashion company Mulberry is best known for their iconic Bayswater handbag. In 2008, they added a shoe line to the brand with Bayswater pumps that matched the material of their handbags. For summer 2010, they put their best foot forward, so to speak, with new additions to the footwear line and called the shoes Moccasin (pictured above), Betty Bow, and Cookie. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Moccasin, but in all fairness moccasins have never been my cup of tea. However, this picture of the dog wearing the moccasins and a Mulberry collar is so adorable, it deserves an honorable mention.
You can purchase the Mulberry Moccasin on sale at Mulberry.com for £206.

Have you seen, read, or heard about Mihai Albu’s architectural shoes? The styles are, for the most part, imaginative, extreme, crazy, wild, wearable-art pieces.
In other words: Statement Shoes.
Via the Mihai Albu website:
Mihai Albu TT 103-SW [1199 RON/$350 USD] *
Okay. I know this first shoe isn’t really all that over-the-top or statement-y. But it is available for purchase online, so I thought I’d include it anyway. For the real show-stoppers, I thought I’d leave them as a surprise after the break.
Are you ready?

Can I get an Ooh La La?

That, boys and girls, is what happens when you take lowly cap nuts (screw-back fasteners) from the local hardware store and elevate them into the realm of art.

Shoes ase wearable art is one of the reasons I find shoes to be so irresistible. I love the emotional reaction that I get when a shoe is both wearable and artistic.

And, Ruthie Davis is always looking for a way too bring color, art, and drama to her shoes while never forgetting the wearable aspect of the wearable art/art-to-wear equation.

Back to the shoes. Or more precisely, these shoes. The nuts are a lovely alternative to the more common round or pyramid studs that are saturating the market right now…as seen on sandals, boots, and even flip-flops just about everywhere we turn.

These are just original enough that you will want to make occasions to wear them long after the current studded-everything trend has finally decided to die down.

Here are the versions I have been able find available for purchase online.

The afore-shown boot also comes with a furry cuff. It’s called the STONE, and it will be $209 when it comes out along with the rest of Joss’ line at the end of August.

As you can see below, there is a small flower imprinted on the shoes. These flowers are inspired by Joss’ tattoos. She has flowers tattooed behind her ear, on her feet and across her body. So Allard saw them as subtle talismans to add to the shoes to give it the Joss spark, and Joss agreed.

The OSOJOSS is $149 and will be available in black and brown.

Below are the Creative Director of Nine West, Fred Allard (left) and Joss. Joss was oh-so-very-charming in person, in case I didn’t mention. She charmed us all with her grace and easy, carefree spirit.

But wait, before you go! You should know that though the collection comes out at the end of August, it will be available online in mid-July for pre-orders. We’re not sure of the exact date yet, but if we hear, we’ll be sure to holler. Until then, keep your eye out for these luxe, gorgeous, boho shoes and the contests and promotions that will surely come!