Live Every Week Like It's Shark Week

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  No, not Christmas, pffftttttttt. 

That's right, it's Shark Week on the Discovery Channel and it starts tonight at 9 p.m.

To celebrate let's remember these shoes from Jean-Charles de Castelbajac 2010.

And the whole nine yards.

Multi-Function Shoe

Have you ever been in a public restroom and noticed that your stall was out of toilet paper AFTER it's too late to switch stalls?  Have you ever thought to yourself, "Self, if only you had worn those heels with the superfluous amount of material instead of mocking them then you'd have something to use as make shift toilet paper"?

No?  ...yeah, me neither.  But in case you ever do, Rick Owens has you covered.

Don't worry if you're not keen on the color.  There is a simple, classic version in black.

Much more subtle, no?

Remember next time they call for a big storm, milk, bread, Rick Owens.

Katie LOVES Stationery

You'll have to excuse the poor quality cell phone photos but I'm too excited to wait till I get home and have a proper camera.

Earlier this month I placed an order for calling cards with the incredibly talented Evan Calkins of Hoban Press for this blog.  I knew I would love them for the mere fact that they're a beautifully clean letterpress, but more than that they indulge my love tom-foolerygeekery. The cards are printed 110 pound Crane Lettra stock using a 1902 Chandler and Price Letterpress.

My new cards hanging out with my desk calendar.

What blows me away was the incredible turn-around time Evan offered.  A short 15 business days after I placed my order I have the cards in my greedy (and slightly stubular) hands.  This is on par to the larger letterpress companies that have multiple presses and a large staff of designers manning them (and Hoban Press costs a fraction of the price!).

I work with letterpress companies almost every day in the bridal stationery business and though I could go through a multitude of albums with a discount I'm so happy I used Hoban Press instead.  The QR code gives these cards such a visual impact.

Knowing my friends as I do I did make one slight modification (forgive me Hoban Press!) and that was to do a very quick off set print of the url on the back of the card.  What can I say, some folks aren't early adapters and wouldn't know what to do with a QR Code if I held their hand through it!

I hated having to deface them, but it's the cost of "cutting edge." ;)

Hoban Press offers a wide variety of letterpress calling cards, you can order through the website here or on the Hoban Press Etsy page.

B Brian Atwood

Oh my, I have quite the shoe crush on today's sneak peak from B Brian Atwood.

While the other shoes that have premiered this week have been lovely, this is the first that made me audibly sigh.

I can't wait to see what Saks unveils to pre-order tomorrow!

Katie Likes Resort 2012

While we wait for the outcome of Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent, let’s look at some less controversial shoes that aren’t yet available for purchase shall we?

Here are a pair of gorgeous Jason Wu  heeled loafers that fit the menswear trend perfectly. 

Also following the menswear style are these cut out spectator pumps from Emilio Pucci. 

They would also be perfect for a wizard sorted into Hufflepuff (now I find them!).

A little bit more on the feminine side are these Alexander Wang pumps.

Don’t you just love the contrast of the white against the blue?  I’m usually not fond of Alexander Wang’s shoes (just not my bag) but these speak to me.

Speaking of feminine I absolutely adore these pumps from Stella McCartney.

The mixing of patterns is so current but the shape is classic and lovely.  My favorite part is the subtle pop of orange.

And perhaps my favorite, a pair of plastic YSL peep-toe sandals.  What is it with me and plastic shoes anyway?  I mean they hardly seem practical and I, of course, wouldn’t be caught dead in crocs, yet Melissa Shoes and now YSL in plastic gets my heart all aflutter.  Odd  (not even).

The taupe color really seems to work in the plastic.  It's like a real life Barbie shoe.

So there we have it, the shoes I cannot wait to see in the stores.   What are you most looking forward to when Resort hits the shelves?

And In This Corner...

US District Court Judge Victor Marrero heard Louboutin's motion for a preliminary injuction against YSL.   In Christian Louboutin SA v. Yves Saint Laurent America Inc., Louboutin claims YSL has infringed on its trademark by selling red sole pumps in the YSL Spring 2011 collection.  

On Friday, July 22 Judge Marrero said he would be giving his ruling "soon."

Louboutin brought the case against YSL on April 7, 2011 claiming that the YSL Shoes had outsoles identical to his.  Counsel for YSL argued that "The use of red-sole shoes by Yves Saint Laurent goes back long before Mr. Louboutin began using them."

Louboutin's counsel maintains, "This is the lifeblood of this company, the red sole.  When people see the red sole on the street they think Louboutin."

In 2008 Louboutin trademarked his red sole with the US Patent and Trademark office.  However, YSL argues, "We do not know what we are and what we are not allowed to do.  Even Mr. Louboutin does not know."  Further YSL questioned whether or not the trademark can even be considered valid.  "We are unaware of any case in which a court has upheld trademark protection to a mark consisting solely of a single color on a portion of an article of apparel."

Counsel for Louboutin claimed that the company was not "as YSL misleadingly argues, [attempting] to claim a monopoly over the color red... but when YSL ignores countless color choices, including other reds, and apes the famous signature of the Louboutin brand, [it destroys] the goodwill painstakingly built in the red sole mark."

Who are you putting your money on?

A Funny Thing Happened...

...on the way to the forum post office.

Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2011

Leather and Lace

Which are you? Leather?

1.  Michael Kors Ankle Boots
2.  Emilio Pucci Ankle Boots
3.  Balenciaga Ankle Boots
4.  Christian Louboutin Pigale Spikes 120 Studded Leather Pumps
5.  Pedro Garcia Chayenne Buckled Leather Pumps

Or Lace?

1.  Stuart Weitzman Evening Bowright Black Lace Covered Pumps
2.  Betsey Johnson Snappy Lace Peep-Toe Pump
3.  Valentino Black Floral Lace Peep-Toe Booties
4.  Jimmy Choo Faith Lace and Patent Leather Pumps
5.  Christian Louboutin Lace Peep-Toe Platform Pumps

Or maybe you're a little bit of both?

Valentino Platform Lace Pumps on blush colored leather.

Take us away Stevie!

A Talent Lost

Goodbye Amy.

The Local Buzz

I love my adopted home town.

It has so many great options for food, a decent art scene, and is well known for its Triple A baseball team and yearly film festival.


But most importantly for me and for my complexion?  My home town skin care hero.  Burt's Bees.

I don't know what I'd do without their Garden Tomato Toner.  I thought by the time I reached my 30s my face would stop erupting like Mount Vesuvius on methamphetamines, but apparently I thought wrong.  The toner helps to tame my bad skin days and smells fantastic.

I also never leave home without putting a tin of the famous Burt's Bees lip balm in my bag.

So, though I may run from bees when they buzz near me during picnics in the park, I sure love what they do for my skin.

Look, I Realize It's Hot...

...but there's no excuse for this travesty.

Because a strap across the top would just push you over the edge and into heat stroke territory?

I'd sooner use pantyliners, just slap the sticky side on the soles of your feet.

I call the trademark on "cool feet, period."

Menswear Inspired Heels

I am always reluctant to call menswear inspired styling a trend.  I feel it’s timeless and never really out of style.  This fall menswear inspired clothing is still going strong.  We already saw that Florsheim by Duckie Brown has a women’s line of oxfords and brogues coming out this autumn and, of course, heeled loafers are still au courant.

When I was a sophomore in high school I bought my first two pairs of heels.  They were for Mock Trial (what, it surprises you I was nerd?) so I could dress appropriately while in court.  Both were cheap pairs from Payless (pre-designer collaboration days) but they lasted a surprisingly long time.  They were both the “Highlights” store brand, a pair of black t-straps and a pair of brown loafers with a chunky high heel (90s).  

I loved those loafers.  They made me feel powerful and womanly.  The great thing about the menswear inspired heels is that they often have a much thicker heel.  This is great if you’re just starting out in heels like I was back when I was 15. 

These Prada Cherry Patent Leather Buckle Pumps are not new this season, but I have had them bookmarked in Firefox  for well over a year, so it’s time they get some blog love.

They also come in more muted colors but I’m partial to the pink myself.

Another brightly colored pair come from Anthropologie this season.

And those Swedish Hasbeens you’ve been wearing all summer?  Meet their autumn cousin.

But for those that require a slightly less colorful option, do not fret.  You are covered.

1. Vera Wang Lavender Talli Loafer Pump

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Loafer Pump

3. Diane von Furstenberg Rhiannon Heel

4. Tod's Leather Loafer Pump

5. L'Autre Chose Smoke Suede Platform Pump

6. Fendi Taupe Leather Tassel Loafer Pump

Happy loafing!

Haider Ackermann Heeled Sandals

I wish I didn’t have an aversion to thong sandals and straps around my toes because I’m sorta in love with these sandals from Haider Ackermann and they’re on sale at YOOX and in my size.

On the bright side that’s money in my pocket (instead of on my feet).  So if you're a size 37 go get you some sandals!

HORSES! Strike that, Kron by KronKron

Kron by KronKron are incredible shoes from the Reykjavik store Kronkron's owners Hugrún Árnadóttir and Magni Þorsteinsson.  Árnadóttir, a fashion designer and Þorsteinsson, a hairstylist opened KronKron in 2004 and the Kron by KronKron shoe brand was born in 2008.

The shoes are known for their whimsical designs and bright colors.

LOVE!

Imagine my delight in opening an email from Anthropologie and seeing Kron by KronKron for sale thus making trips to Iceland unnecessary to make shoe purchases (but who doesn’t want to go visit Björk’s homeland anyway?).  Plus Iceland has awesome ponies.  That’s right.  PONIES PEOPLE!  (Okay, actually they’re small horses, but whatever.  PONIES.)

You know you want to pet the ponies!

I suppose you could also order the shoes from KronKron’s online retail site or from the UK internet retailer, ASOS,  but let’s get real people, neither of those experiences come with ponies.

If however, like me, you like to try before you buy and you don’t have any plans to travel to Iceland in the near future, check out these beauties that you can buy at your local Anthropologie.

The colors make me melt into a Rainbow Brite puddle of nostalgia.

Ponies not included.

Shoe Inspiration from Avedon and Perugia

It should come as no surprise that one of my favorite photographs from the great fashion photographer Richard Avedon is this photo of a woman wearing a heel designed by André Perugia with the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Place du Tracadero, Paris, August 1948 by Richard Avedon

While much is known about Richard Avedon, outside of designer circles less is known about the French shoe designer André Perugia (1893-1977).  While he wrote a book entitled From Eve to Rita Hayworth getting your hands on a copy can prove to be near impossible.

A nod to Picasso.

Perugia opened his first shop in Paris 1909 selling handmade shoes.  He was known for his innovative designs including a cork screw heel and the first ever heel-less court shoe.

Perugia's heel-less court shoe

He later moved his shop to the famed Rue Faubourg St. Honore.  During his career Perugia worked with such designers as Paul Poiret, I. Miller, Charles Jourdan, Jacques Fath, and Hubert de Givenchy.

Stunning.

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know

I don’t know what is about Keith Richards that seems to inspire fashion, but I sure am thankful for it.

From Peter Lindbergh's triptych.

First we had the Louis Vuitton campaign shot by Annie Leibovitz.

His sitting fee for the advertisement was donated to the Climate Project and was not, in fact, used to snort anything into his nose.  Well played sir.  

And now we have Roger Viviers Fall 2011 Rendez-Vous collection.  Creative director, Bruno Frisoni was inspired by Peter Lindbergh’s triptych of Richards. 

“It’s mainly black and gold, black and metal, black and crystal.  So it kind of has a rock feeling and the inspiration comes from Keith Richards...”
~Bruno Frisoni

“The black jacket, strong hair, the arms with those chains...”
~Bruno Frisoni

“I start to imagine an actress like Fanny Ardant being Keith Richards in a way.  So you can understand this interiority of sexiness.”
~Bruno Frisoni

Rock-n-roll!

Borrowing From the Boys

In 1892 Milton Florsheim first began producing his shoes in a small factory in Chicago Illinois. Designed for “the man who cares” Florsheim married comfort, quality, and style.

In 2009 Duckie Brown, a mens fashion line known for bold colors and unique fabrics partnered with Florsheim creating Florsheim by Duckie Brown, colorful, hip shoes with Florsheim’s commitment to comfort and style.

Left to right:  Saddle Shoe in Bone and Chalk Pink, The Brogue in Yellow

And now this fall Florsheim by Duckie Brown will be debuting a women’s line.



How perfect would these look with casually cuffed trousers, a t-shirt and jacket?

How to Dress to Impress at Hogwarts

OH MY GOD Y’ALL. It’s Harry Potter time and you better believe we’re celebrating at KatieLikesShoes Central (aka my sofa).

Today’s post will be dedicated to shoes appropriate for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. No, I haven’t been drinking (any more than usual), why do you ask?

So you pour yourself a Butterbeer while I break out the trusted Sorting Hat.

First up we have the house of Godric Gryffindor.

“You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart.”
~The Sorting Hat

You would need the courage of a Gryffindor to wear these Christian Louboutin Alex Paw Pumps.


But oh what an impression you would make!

Too crazy for you young Gryffindor? How about these gorgeous vintage Roberto Cavalli sandals with the lion medallion?



You’ll be the belle of the Yule Ball in those sandals.

“You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,
And unafraid of toil.”
~The Sorting Hat

Wait, are you kidding me Helga Hufflepuff? The Hufflepuff mascot is a badger? What the hell kind of mascot is a freaking badger?

Fine, whatever. Google, don’t fail me now!

Well, my just and loyal friend how about this classic bowling shoe from Fantasy Shoes of England?

Hey! You know what Hufflepuff, I did my best.

Let’s see, maybe we can represent Hufflepuff by their colors, yellow and black. Perhaps these absolutely stunning Miu Miu Three Tone Wing Tip Boots.


The black and white is reminiscent of the wily badger and the gold is a nice nod to the house colors.

“Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you’ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind.”
~The Sorting Hat

The beautiful Rowena Ravenclaw was known for her creativity and cleverness. A clever beauty would do well in these Roberto Cavalli Feather Sandals.
But any Ravenclaw worth their Mensa membership should know that the undisputed king of feathered footwear is Valentino (you may disagree of course but you’d be wrong).

Lovely and clever like Rowena herself.

“Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You’ll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means,
To achieve their ends.”
~The Sorting Hat

Salazar Slytherin was an a cunning shrewd man with a desire for power. Shoes for a Slytherin need to reflect that powerful personality.

Roberto Cavalli is often known for using serpents in his beautiful designs. Shoes are no exception. Any Slytherin would look powerful and sexy in this these sandals.
But sometimes a heel conveys power better than a flat, and for that we have the Marc Jacobs Snake Sandal.
Woe be to the Gryffindor that crosses a Slytherin wearing those dangerous serpents round her ankle.

So there you have it. No matter what house you are sorted into you are ready to rock some fabulous footwear to represent it!