This morning, I plopped myself on a bench at my train station forsaking the God-awful hour I had to wake up. Then, I say a girl giving the strangest sideways glance at me. As she passed, she simply smiles and says, “I like your shoes!”

I couldn’t help but laugh to myself because: A) I could have sworn she was thinking something terrible (talk about giving people the benefit of the doubt) and B) These Michael Kors shoes aren’t even mine, they’re my mom’s.

Maman, as I often call her, happens to be a giant fan of Michael Kors— by fan, I mean she would stalk him if she knew how. She’ll buy anything as long as there is a MK somewhere on it, and these sexy platform sandals, which happen to be too big for both of us, are one such purchase.

However, I’m not complaining. Not only did I choose to wear the unbelievably cute, not to mention tall, sandals, but I was complimented on them within the first 30 minutes of use. Think of all the compliments I’ll get in 12 or more hours of wear!

Michael Kors, I salute you, for adding to my vanity and making amazing clothes and accessories.

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Today, I’m officially 21 years old. In terms of partying, I did nothing spectacular this weekend— I’m not that kind of girl. I actually worked the last day of Lucky Shops on Saturday. If you live in the Tri-State area and missed it, shame on you, but there’s always next year to experience so many amazing discounts, all under one roof.

Today, was simply relaxed— well, sort of. In the morning I sipped mimosas with my family, then my parents took me shopping for— get this— MY VERY OWN PAIR OF CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES (the capital letters are very necessary)!

I felt like a kid in a candy store, and truly didn’t know what to do with myself. However, I managed to control myself and realized if I’m going to spend an obscene amount of money on shoes, I’m going to get a pair I can wear with anything, anywhere, and at anytime, so, I ended up with the black ‘Bruges’ platforms in kid skin leather.

As soon as I slipped them on, I knew they were the ones. They aren’t as feisty as some of the other Loubs I tried, but they’re surprisingly comfortable, all 4½” of them. They are most definitely the perfect pair of black pumps.

Now, I’m going to get back to dancing around my room in my new shoes while listening to Owl City’s song, “Fireflies” on repeat and watching re-runs of Criminal Minds.

I always go boot shopping and end up getting nothing because I feel my legs look strange in boots, but whether I like it or not, it’s boot season and over-the-knee boots are on everyone’s list of must-haves. Lucky for us,  Via Spiga and Shoe Hunting have come together to give one lucky ShoeHunting member a pair of over-the-knee boots, and all it will cost you is a couple minutes of time for signing up for ShoeHunting and picking your favorite boot.

Here’s how to enter:

1. Sign in or sign up on Shoehunting.com using our login form or the Facebook Connect button located in the header.
2. Chose which pair of Via Spiga boots you prefer, the ‘Nevin’ or the ‘Malory’. This will take you to the boot’s page on ShoeHunting.
3. In the comments section below the boot, tell them: 1) Why you prefer this boot over the other, and 2) What you would wear with it.

The contest ends on November 15, 2009 at Midnight EST. Click Here for all the rules.

Yesterday, as I passed the same Payless store I always pass on my way home from my internship, I saw something slightly unexpected. Instead of wondering when I was going to see some Alice + Olivia or Christian Siriano behind the freshly cleaned glass, right up front for all of 8th Avenue to see was none other than Christian Siriano’s line of shoes and accessories for the budget friendly store.

When I first heard about the Christian Siriano for Payless collaboration, I was beyond stoked at the prospect of having the “Fierce” platforms he sent down the Fall 2009 runway available for wallet-friendly prices. I should have, then, realized the über-platforms I was lusting over would only be inspiration and the heel would be scaled down for the proletariat.

Needless to say, the Christian Siraino for Payless shoes aren’t as amazing as I dreamed, but still awesome enough to make me stumble a bit as I passed them while walking by the Payless store window.

One of the most memorable stories my mom has told me about her high school years— which were cut short due to the fact that she’s pretty much a genius and graduated at 16— is a story about a jealous giant girl intent on pummeling my 5′2″ mother after school, some silly jock who was lusting after my mom, and a pair of Charles Jourdan heels.

If I were a cinematographer shooting this story, I would pan up from the floor showing my mom at her locker in red Charles Jourdan heels, Jordache jeans, and a tucked in white tee. The boys across the hall are checking her out, when Big Bad catches “her man” ogling Little Miss Madre. Big Bad storms across the hall threatens my mom with certain pain after school. [Time Slows] “Why wait?” says my mom, the shoes slide off as my mom leaps into the air, and miraculously the bully ends up face down. [End Scene]

So, when I read Charles Jourdan will be relaunching this fall at the Premiere Classe exhibition during Paris Fashion Week with Alexandra Neel at the helm, I practically squealed with excitement. According to Elle.uk, the designs are being kept hush hush, but Neel did say, “I try to do something very different for stiletto addicts who are looking for something other than [the] usual.”

What does that even mean?

I feel like CJs were my mom’s generation’s version of Loubs, and I’m eager to see what Neel will bring to the table to revive this brand of legend.

Photo Credit: Charles Jourdan Shrine

I was slightly concerned for my sanity when I realized the shoes I had just been gawking at were from Paris Hilton’s footwear line. Not that there’s anything wrong with her. It takes a smart person to hoodwink others into paying said person to act dumb. I may respect her business prowess, but her personal style— not so much.

After about an hour of being confused at my taste in shoes, I realized that I don’t have to be ashamed of my fondness for some of the shoes in Paris Hilton’s footwear line for two reason: 1) Paris didn’t actually design the shoes she probably only nodded at a picture of the shoes she liked— if that— and 2) these shoes are eerily similar to a lot of shoes I’ve seen from other designers making them unoriginal, but infinitely cheaper.

All that being said, the red soles make me uneasy. I may not have a problem buying “inspired’ shoes, but sporting shoes whose soles are deceptively similar to those of by Christian Louboutin just seems… WRONG!

These Christian Louboutin platforms, designed for the Autumn/Winter 3.1 Phillip Lim collection, have caught my eye and my heart and don’t seem to be letting go anytime soon.

The platform, the gold grommetted toe, the bi-tonal coloring, there isn’t one bad thing I can say about these shoes.

I know I’ve said I’ve been smitten with this shoe or that bag before, but this is the real deal. I am currently on the hunt for a way to acquire these babies so I can make it official. Who says money can’t buy happiness?

Photo Credit: NYMag.com ]]> http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/06/10/is-it-illegal-to-marry-a-pair-of-shoes/feed/ 3 http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/03/20/shoe-chat/ http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/2009/03/20/shoe-chat/#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:45:14 +0000 Chelsea Rae Simmons http://pinkrockcandy.net/fashion/?p=867

Giuseppe Zanotti platform sandals – $798.95, Zappos.com

Christian Siriano is almost everyone’s favorite Project Runway winner either because his designs are actually appreciated or because his snarkedelic attitude never fails to amuse. Siriano’s Fall/Winter 09-10 runway show was Christian through and through with lots of ruffles, the skinniest of skinny pants, and wonderfully structured blouses and dresses. However, it’s the shoes that are getting my attention.

It isn’t that any of the footwear designs are groundbreaking— to be honest, they are vaguely reminiscent of the horned heels Christian Louboutin designed for Rodarte two seasons ago— the most exciting part of the gold cone-shaped heels and spiked toes is that they will be sold at Payless for between $25 and $45.

I’m not sure if those shoes are the exact shoes that will be sold or if Payless will be creating cheaper versions made of lesser quality materials— it’s quite hard to tell whether the leather is real of fake in the photos. No matter the quality, I’m completely willing to sacrifice a toe or two for fashion and these shoes are quite delightful, considering most Payless shoes.

Not only is Siriano designing shoes for Payless, but according NY Mag, the other accessories, i.e. bags, he sent down the runway will also be available at Payless in fall 09 when his line hits stores too.

p.s. Siriano totally looks like he’s getting into that snap. He almost seems like the ferocity is so extreme he’s about to topple over. I’m with you Christian!

Photo Credit: NYMag.com

Yesterday, history was made. US citizens elected Barack Obama, a man who happens to be black, as president, but I have a haunting memory running through my head. Imagine, you’re trying to leave a putrid public bathroom, when suddenly your escape is blocked by a group of indistinguishable girls wearing a uniform of a baggy sweatshirt and medium-wash jeans tucked into the basic short Ugg. I felt as if I was in a movie about sheep-herding body-snatchers or something.

I know Uggs have been around for what seems like ever— too long if you ask me— but, the shock of seeing such homogeneity is still unnerving.

Furthermore, instead of being adversely affected like the rest of the economy, Ugg Australia has actually showed a 130% increase in yearly sales, reports Telegraph.co.uk.

How does something like this happen? You would think that after, numerous men and women scoff at the visual offense that is an Ugg boot, people would stop buying them. Not only are they expensive, but the Telegraph article also says the “flat soles leave the arches limp and can cause painful tendon conditions [...and] the flimsy sheepskin casing makes a weak ankle cushion.”

So what exactly is the appeal? Comfort? Warmth?

Mama always said beauty was painful. Comfort is a non-argument, and if you want warmth wear socks. I’m adding mine to the thousands of other pleading voices, if the US can support ‘change’ why can’t Ugg wearers around the world?

It always makes me cringe when models fall, or even wobble a bit, so you can imagine the sheer horror that came over me when I heard not just one, but multiple models either wobbled a tad or took a tumble at the Spring/Summer ‘09 Prada show in Milan yesterday, due mostly to their extra-high Miuccia designed footwear.

First of all, I have to mention that these shoes are amazing— I mean beyond fatal, no pun intended. I’m swooning more and more over any shoes with straps and these platform mary-janes are just dandy in my opinion, but there are some people, as in most of the world, who just do not have the ankle strength to wear über-tall and presumably heavy platform shoes— not to mention the odd ruffled-footies all the models are wearing under the shoes.

Perhaps, along with perfecting their runway walks, models should also work on strengthening their ankles. Is their actually an exercise for that? If there isn’t, I vote Naomi Campbell to head the committee that will figure out an good ankle exercise— considering the fall she took at the Vivienne Westwood show during her early years was one of the worst I have ever seen.

I guess the other logical thing for designers to do is send practical heels down the runway, but when are practical shoes ever fun? Personally, I like my flats comfortable and my heels as high a I can stand them. If that means I have to take a taxi instead of walking then so be it!

See a video of one wobble video and a couple of eye-witness, slip n’ slide pictures from NY Times’ The Moment Blog photostream after the jump.

It was My Fair Lady meets Nirvana. The FLDS meets crack. There was tartan and dark florals. There were layers and simplicity. There was bustling, corsets, harem pants, and bangles. And, then there were these. These odd raffia-wedge, slightly deconstructed, mid-heeled shoes almost ruined my entire Marc Jacobs S/S ‘09 collection for me, almost.

Marc, what kind of fuckery is this? You can’t get me high with your mishmosh of a spring collection, and then, as I scan down some of the outfits, I see these wack job sandals. Actually, that’s an insult to wack jobs. These shoes are just monstrosities and should never see the light of day.

Unfortunately for me, I happen to know Marc does whatever he wants and could give two shits what I or anyone else thinks about his designs— that tends to be the common stance taken with most geniuses. Meaning, this spring, these atrocities will show up on at least a handful of famous feet, and I’ll gently weep to myself in a corner.

Good job on the rest of the collection though Marc. I’m utterly smitten!

Speaking of the rest of the Spring/Summer 2009 Marc Jacobs collection, I couldn’t bring myself to rant about the imaginary love of my life without actually showing you something awe-inspiring.

That awe-inspiring something is the exact opposite of those hideous sandals.  They have a fanciful, architecturally gorgeous heel, lots and lots of sparkles, and the perfectly chic gold buckle— I want, I want!

The heels on each pair of shoes are similar in shape, and considering the collection is quite the jubilee of ideas and inspirations, I can see why it may seem okay to have such vastly contrasting shoes, but the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach when I see each of these two shoes makes me sad.

On that note, I’ll leave it to you. What do you think of the two shoes, the S/S ‘09 Marc Jacobs collection, or any other S/S ‘09 collection, for that matter?

Photo Credit: Style.com

Dear Santa,
I know this is a bit early seeing as September just started, but I’ve been a really, really, really, majorly good girl this year— for the most part. I just wanted to give you a heads up, because since my parents seem to think tropical vacations are good Christmas presents, you might want to ask those cute little elves of yours to start collecting lots of sequins and invest in a good pair of magnifying glasses because these Miu Miu pumps will be a bitch pain to embellish.

Scratch that, just save their poor eyes and buy the Miu Miu Paillette embellished pumps from Net-A-Porter.com, though I’m not sure if international delivery includes the north pole.

If in fact you do find it in your jolly, potentially-over-stressed-due-to-weigh-problems heart to put these Miu Miu pumps under my festively decorated palm tree, I promise to thank everyone who compliments me on them and juxtapose their diva flair with jeans and a cute top just to make people scratch their heads. Don’t worry though, I’m sure there will be an amazing New Year’s Eve party wherever I end up so I can them with an equally glam dress, though I can’t promise it will have sequins too— that might just be too much.

Oh, I also promise to leave you some piña colada or margarita, whichever you prefer, in a chilled glass and some insulin for all those cookies those other suckers little angles are going to leave you.

I’ll be waiting!
Chelsea Rae

p.s. It would be even better if you could just send these babies with the Great Pumpkin for halloween, though I’m not sure if shoes are covered in the ‘treat’ in trick or treat. If so, I might even throw in some rum balls and a nice hot toddy come December 25th.

Its a commonly know fact that without inspiration its hard to even string a couple words together to make a sentence, much less an entire post. This is usually referred to as writer’s block and the cure is unknown. I guess I could have caught a case of what the guys from Gym Class Heroes call “biter’s block,” but that’s just no fun, so I waited and waited and shopped— then, suddenly, I knew what I had to write about. I bought a pair of new shoes that my mom and apparently, everyone in the New Haven area, hate.

They’re cute, in my opinion, gray, crinkled leather oxfords from Michael by Michael Kors called the ‘Panama’ Oxfords. I saw them at DSW a couple weeks ago, but decided if I still wanted them in a few weeks, which I did, I’d by them— so, now they’re mine! I wasn’t sure they’d still have the shoes in my size, but I think I’m the only person around me that bought these oxfords, leading me to believe that A) I’m completely crazy for liking these shoes, or B) everyone in the New Haven, CT area have a boring taste in shoes.

Even though answer ‘A’ isn’t really my favorite answer, my entire family seems to think it’s the correct one. My mom thinks they’re ugly and too butch. After showing my dad, he raises his eyebrows and says, “You like these… OOKKAAYY!” and my sister has decided they may “have to grow on her.” Thanks for the love and support family!

I get it! The shoes are super chunky, and really hard to pull off with a bare leg, but let’s think to the future. I only paid $48 for the shoes, though I could have paid only $37 at Nordstrom.com (though I guess shipping would have evened the tally. They’re super comfortable, even though they’re a bit high. Not to mention, I could wear these all fall with pants, tights, the black thigh high socks I plan to buy from American Apparel, the options are limitless, and I personally think they don’t look terrible with this outfit (notice the bare legs), though I’m slightly biased.

So I’m going to throw it to you dear readers, am I crazy for liking these oxfords? Should I take them back ASAP? Or, am I just a misunderstood shoe fanatic in a little, suburban Connecticut town?

You love uber-high heels, but have to walk 50 blocks everyday, or at least it feels like 50 blocks. Your high school senior class voted you most likely to have a stiletto related death, or at the very least still be wearing stilettos when you’re 95 and nearing death. Not only that, but you know you’ll never be a foot model, because some of your favorite shoes have scarred you for life, yet you still wear them. Last but not least, wearing high heels from 6th grade on has caused your arches to be so high, wearing flats, the shoes that are supposed to be comfortable, is more painful than any of your 5″ heels. Sound familiar?

Such is the life of those of us with an affinity for artificial height and the high arches to match. We’ve tried it all, kitten heels, small wedges, arch supports, and no matter what our poor feet still scream “What the fuck? Let’s add another couple inches!” Our best hope was that Dr. Scholls would come out with an arch support for super high arches, but the good people at the Dr. Scholls think-tank came out with something better.

Actual shoes!

Dr. Scholls…SHOES? Just the sound of it makes me envision something my 90-year-old great-grandmother would wear, but after sifting through the childish jellies and the Crocs look-a-likes, an acceptable and comfortable pair have been found. The black and silver ‘Boa 2′ ballet flats are really cute and give a sort of shabby chic feel with the stencil silver flower pattern. If you don’t tell people who made them, they could pass as normal non-Dr. Scholls flats, or you could spill and receive awed ‘REALLY!?’s, like yours truly has done the last week or so.

The only downfall is their price— its a bit on the high side! On the Dr. Scholls website they cost $60, but at DSW, they were priced at $45 which is less but still substantially more that the $20-ish you could pay at Target, Forever21, or Charlotte Russe for a pair of ballet flats. But, after testing these flats out while walking around NYC and speeding around a restaurant with drinks, receipts, and whatever else, its safe to conclude these shoes were worth the extra $25.

How do you feel about shoes made by the corn, bunion, and jellin’ experts?