In last night’s episode of Bravo’s The Rachel Zoe Project, shoe designer Brian Atwood made an appearance to meet with Rachel - who donned her signature white robe for him - and we learned that he’s always wanted to design a shoe for her.  It’s no wonder, since Rachel has long professed her admiration for Atwood’s shoes, namely in her very first Zoe Report.  Fast forward to one-year later and Rachel has her very own namesake pair to die over, literally, for the anniversary of her website: the over-the-knee RZ Boots she and Brian designed together.  We saw a bit of the creative brainstorming process during last night’s episode and, in the end, Rachel decided on an OTK platform boot with chain detail in the back and, of course, a “tranny” heel.  The boot is available for sale now, so let’s take a closer look:

I’m definitely feeling the chain detail (zoom in to really check it out) and it’s certainly a hot style.  We’ve seen Rachel in a lot of over-the-knee boots this season, so I imagine she wouldn’t have any trouble integrating this one into her fab wardrobe.  If it’s a must-have for you and you have $2,900 to spend, you can get the Brian Atwood Chain-Back Over-The-Knee Boot at Neiman Marcus.  (Update: The links I entered that go directly to the product page don’t want to work correctly for some reason, but I updated the link so it goes to the Brian Atwood page.  Right now, it’s the first shoe listed).  For those of us that don’t have 3K to spend (wowza), here’s a less expensive alternative I found that also offers plenty of dramatic detail along the back.  Like the Atwood pair, this boot is perfect making a statement, especially when walking away:

The Nine West Hobbs doesn’t have chains and it’s more like a corset boot with lacing all the way up the back, but the detailing is similar and it’s over the knee with a high heel and platform.  You can get it at Nine West on pre-order for $209 with free shipping.  It’s expected to ship by 11/23.

Photo from Bravotv.com

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I spotted Claire Danes in head-to-toe Valentino while browsing through the latest US Weekly and I had to take note of how gorgeous she is here.  Claire, who donned this look while in Paris to attend the Valentino show, is wearing a romantic, ultra-feminine ruffled dress and she toughens it up just a smidge with these shoes:

The Valentino Studded T-Strap Pump is a sophisticated pump with a nice dose of edge courtesy of the pyramid studs, which look like small spikes.  This is a great way to apply to current spike trend we’re seeing everywhere, including on shoes, in a much more subtle way for those times when a more elegant look is in order.  You can splurge and get the Valentino pair for $895 at Nordstrom (currently on pre-order), but we also have some similar, less expensive shoes as an alternative:

The Boutique 9 Zola in grey or black for $150 at Nine West.  Shipping is free on $50 or more for a limited time.  Or, get them at Endless for the same price with free overnight shipping.

The Charles David Techie for $138 in champagne or $115 in black (MSRP $230) at 6pm.

The Pour La Victoire Danya in whiskey on sale for $104 (list price $285.95) at Amazon.  This pair doesn’t have spikes, but the t-strap design and raised pyramid studs make it a viable option.  It’s also available in black or red and the price depends on the color/size combination selected.

Image from peoplestylewatch.com

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Bethenny Frankel from The Real Housewives of NYC and her spin-off show Bethenny Getting Married? (a question that is now, most certainly, a moot point) made an appearance on The CBS Early Show last month to whip up some summer cocktails.  I received an email from Johnette, who wants to know about the super-fab black patent sandals she’s wearing with her red, strapless dress.  Bethenny, who is now a bonafide hot mama after having her baby girl, is wearing the Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Platform Sandal (pictured above), which is available at Neiman Marcus for $760.  If you’re looking for a similar look, but want to spend much less, try these shoes on for size:

The Steve Madden Haylow in black patent for $79.95 at Steve Madden. It also comes in black satin, blush or platinum and you can get free shipping by applying coupon code SMFREESHIP at checkout.

The Aldo Vadenais on sale for $44.99 (regularly $80) in black or bone at Aldo.com.

Hope this helps Johnette!  And, don’t forget, if anyone else needs help with finding a pair of shoes, just let Fairy Shoe Princess know!

Photo from celebrity-gossip.net. 

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Drew Barrymore has always been a fave of mine.  She’s fun to watch on screen and seems totally cool off-screen too, plus she has a great sense of style.  Case in point: her recent appearance at the Nylon magazine party, where she opted for high-low dressing in her $25 vintage dress from a Texas thrift store and her YSL Tribtoo suede pumps in taupe.  I couldn’t find the exact shoes online, but they are similar to this $795 patent version at Bergdorf Goodman.  These are the kind of go-with-everything shoes that make a closet staple sexy, but those of us who can’t splurge on YSL might take a cue from Drew (and her affordable, fabulous dress) by trying out a less expensive style.  Here’s one that looks very similar:

The Zigi Soho Staple Pump in beige or black is a great alternative and you can get it for $59.95 at DSW.  If you have a free DSW membership, login and apply coupon code SHOECRAZY to get 13% off regularly-priced orders through today 8/13/10 (see, Friday the 13th can be lucky!).  That drops your total to $52.16.  You can also apply coupon SHIPR for free shipping on $35 or more until 9/12/10.  Now, if only I could score a dress like Drew’s for $25 at my local thrift store…

Photo from Peoplestylewatch.com.

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Season 3 of The Rachel Zoe Project premiered on Bravo this week.  Did you guys catch it?  It was definitely a must-watch for me, but O-M-G the drama was on a whole ’nother level straight away this season.  We all know that Rachel’s long-time employee, Taylor Jacobson, is no longer with the company - she said on her blog that she left to style on her own, but other sources say she was fired.  So, the situation certainly had to be addressed in the season opener and, according to Rachel and hubbie Rodger, she was fired. 

Taylor we'll miss ya!

Rachael did seem genuinely upset over what went down, but I must say that the accusations against Taylor were flying, even going as far to allege that she fudged her expense reports and failed to give back designer samples (the samples, however, were shown returned intact later in the show).  I’ve always liked both Taylor and Rachel, so it’s hard to pick a team or know who to believe.  But, I do think that Rachel’s camp could’ve taken a different approach for when the cameras were rolling, like briefly explaining what happened, wishing her the best (even if they don’t mean it), and not throwing her picture into the fireplace or accusing her of stealing on national TV.  Maybe that’s just me, but somehow it didn’t seem right since Taylor wasn’t there to defend herself (she did say a few things in response to TV Guide though).  It’s a bit sad how things played out, but the show must go on and this is a shoe blog after all, so I’m here to talk about the fashion.  Luckily, we have some fabulous footwear to check out from the very first episode, most notably from Demi Moore in the behind-the-scenes look of her Harper’s Bazaar shoot.

The shoot had a whimsical fantasy theme, utilizing props like an oversized chair, a live giraffe, a dollhouse and a beach filled with red ballooons, so the shoes had to be just as fanciful - and they were.  Let’s take a look at the designer shoes she wore, along with some less-expensive alternatives:

In the dollhouse shot, Demi wears red crystal Christian Louboutin heels.  I could only find a similar pair on eBay (I believe Demi’s was a closed-toe style) for a whopping $2,835:

But, I also found a less expensive, red sparkly alternative: 

The Bordello Violette-14 is a red pump covered in rhinestones, rather than glitter as we normally see with shoes inspired by the Louboutin crystal pumps, and they are available for $123.95 with free 2-day shipping at Endless.  Other color options include pink or iridescent.

While sitting in the oversized chair, Demi wears the Fendi Cinderella, which is similar to this one except in a cream/taupe color:

These appear to be sold out everywhere online, but I think this pair is a nice option for much less:

The Topshop Wisteria Chiffon Wedge in blush for $135 at Topshop.  It’s also available in red or black.

Then there’s this amazing shot of Demi, a giraffe and those iconic Alexander McQueen armadillo heels:

These shoes are obviously in a league of their own, but if you’re going for a safari look like Rachel did when she styled Demi for this shot, I think these shoes would work well:

The Jeffrey Campbell So Smart in tan, khaki, natural or black canvas for $99.95 at Solestruck.

Finally, we have Rachel, who admits she never wears flats and had a hard time walking on the beach for the shoot in her triple platform Casadei boots, which were identified on Bravotv.com as the shoes she was wearing.  She had to be carried over the sand and stood on a wooden board, which was pretty amusing.  Her boots look like they are similar to this pair, although these only have a double platform:

The Casadei Suede Knee High Boot for $1,271 at Farfetch.

For something comparable, try the Steve Madden Calgarry for $104.97 at Steve Madden and get free shipping with coupon code SMFREESHIP at checkout.

Of course, let’s not forget that shoe collection in Rachel’s studio, which they showed several times during the first episode.  Rows and rows of hot shoes…it’s shoe heaven!!

Let me know what you think of the new season sans Taylor and the shoes!

Photos from Bravotv.com, Harpers Bazaar and Everyday Minerals

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Fans of MTV’s The City will surely remember those standout Nicholas Kirkwood garbage bag shoes (pictured above) that were featured in the episode where Olivia Palermo helped style pop star Kei$ha for Elle.  While I’m not sure where these shoes can be purchased (or for how much), I couldn’t help but immediately think of them when I came across this pair:

The Petula Rose Platform Sandal isn’t what I would call a knockoff, but it certainly appears to be inspired by Nicholas Kirkwood and is presumably way more affordable.  There’s no mention of the floral accents being crafted from actual garbage bags, which unfortunately eliminates the ”green” recycled factor of the Kirkwood pair, but the frayed roses do convey a very similar look.  Plus, the neutral colors make this style much more wearable while still retaining the overall drama factor.  I’m loving it and, if you love this pair too, you can find the Petula at Topshop for $200.  It’s still a splurge, but definitely a fun one.  Shipping adds a flat rate of $15.

Photo from MTV.com

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I’ve noticed plenty of shoes in the news lately, so I thought I’d gather up some of the latest, most interesting things I’ve seen, mix ‘em up real good and have a little Shoe Buzz roundup.  We’ve got a new Hollywood flick about shoe addicts, “granny” footwear having a fashion moment, a Dolce Vita budget line and more.  So, what are we waiting for?  Let’s dig in:

As a shoe lover, I get giddy when I hear about a new movie that’s all about the shoes.  Especially when the lead actress is none other than Oscar-winner Halle Berry, who is set to star in the movie Shoe Addicts Anonymous.  The film, which will be out in Fall 2011, is a comedy based on the book of the same name by Beth Harbison.  Apparently won’t be much of a stretch for Berry, who “loves shoes” according to a producer.

Dolce Vita is the latest company to collaborate with Target on an affordable fashion line, which is fittingly called Dolce Vita for Target.  There’s a selection of five different styles available at Target’s website, most of which are very menswear-inspired, and all at much more budget-friendly prices than the usual Dolce Vita fare.  The Dolce Vita for Target Buckle Ankle Boots pictured above are $34.99, which is the highest you’ll pay for any of the shoes available right now.  They are expected to be in stores by August 22.

My very cool mom, who is always on the lookout for shoe-related info for me (thanks Ma!), let me know that Worishofer shoes were just featured on the CBS Today Show.  The German-made line of “granny” shoes (their description, not mine) are well-known for providing a high level of comfort.  Ruthie from Styleite.com was on hand to provide tips on how to wear them without looking, well, geriatric.  One shoe featured was the Worishofer 583 lace-up sandal (pictured above), which was paired with jeans and looked pretty cute.  Apparently, the “sandals so ugly they’re stylish” (again, their words) are a celeb fave and the brand, which has been available in the U.S. since the 1970’s, has been enjoying a nice surge in popularity in the past couple of years. You can find Worishofer at Endless from $42 - $75.

Seen on The Cut: You can combine a love of pretty shoes with a love of smelling pretty with the new fragrance called Beyond from Anna Dello Russo, who is currently Editor at Large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan.  The almond and vanilla scented perfume will be housed in a golden shoe, which I imagine would be a nice little decorative keepsake once the fragrance runs out.  It will be available by the holidays.

Is there a correlation between an economic downturn and an upturn of heel height on shoes?  Apparently so, as this New York Times article explains.  During a recession, we typically see higher heels, like the over 5-inch heel on the shoe pictured above, which was created by Salvatore Ferragamo during The Great Depression.

There’s a new trend for au naturel, prehistoric-inspired shoes, like the one pictured above which will be available at a store near you this fall.  Ok, I’m kidding…this is actually thought to be the world’s oldest known leather shoe that was recently discovered perfectly preserved in a cave in Armenia and estimated to be 5,500 years old.  These are considered to be very high quality for the time and were likely very expensive.

Finally, we have a resource for buying and selling shoes online.  I received an email from Ellen at If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit, which is an auction site where people can sell, swap or shop for shoes.  She let me know that there’s a coupon code SOLES for two free listings and you can also use coupon code SHOES to get five more free listings (expiration unknown).  Update: The SOLES coupon is available indefinitely, while the SHOES coupon is good for 12 months. 

That’s all for now, but have a happy Wednesday!

Halle Berry image from People.com.

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