So…obviously it’s been awhile since I’ve updated the site.  I didn’t intend to stop posting, but the demands of life got pretty intense for me over the holidays: A project at work that required a lot of extra hours and family stuff basically took over.  But, it seems things have calmed down a bit and I really want to get back to something I love: shoes!  And talking about them on this blog!  I plan to get back into the swing of things and I thought answering some shoe questions I recently received would be a good way to start.  You may have noticed the gorgeous Enzo Angiolini Thaddea in purple pictured above - it’s a shoe I loved the first time I saw it, but I also posted it for a more specific reason:  I had a request from Jasmine on Facebook to help find purple / eggplant wedding shoes, preferably with some bling.  These are one of my favorite fancy purple pairs of the moment - I’m loving the feather and gem detail, not to mention the color - and they can be purchased at Lord & Taylor for $129.  Apply coupon code FINAL to get 15% off, making them $109.65 with free shipping (expires 2/7).  They are also available at Nordstrom for $119.95 with free shipping. 

I really like the Enzos, but I also realize that every bride is different in what they envision themselves walking down the aisle in.  Thus, we need options, options, and more options, which works out well because I never mind checking out more pretty purple shoes.  I think the Poetic License Spectacle in purple is a sweet choice.  It has a more classic vibe, but the all-over texture adds extra interest and the bow is bedecked in rhinestones for added bling.  Plus, the heel is just over 3 inches, which is quite moderate compared to many shoes available these days and may translate to additional comfort - avoiding foot pain is an obvious plus on the big day.  The Poetic Licence Spectacle is available at Endless for $60.23, down from $98.  If you spend over $100 on eligible styles, including this pair, you get 20% off through 2/14.

Here are some more dark purple heels I found, in various styles that range from classic to a bit more over-the-top dramatic (or somewhere in-between):

Steve Madden Bitter for $129.95 at Endless.  Get 20% off $100 on this style at checkout through 2/14/12.

RSVP Ramona for $53.40 with free shipping at 6pm.

Badgley Mischka Lissa in purple for $245 with free shipping at Zappos.

RSVP Fleur for $48.30 with free shipping at 6pm.

Bourne Susie for $140.51 with free shipping at Endless.

Paris Hilton Crystal for $99 at Macys.  Apply coupon code RED to get 20% off no minimum and free shipping on $99 or more (expires 2/5/12).

Isola Tate for $66.99 with free shipping at 6pm.

After a nice dose of purple bridal shoes, we’re going to switch gears to something completely different.  I had an email question from Shadae about the shoes above, which were pictured on Tumblr, and where to find them.  I actually recognized them right away because, well, this is the kind of shoe you remember once you lay your eyes on it. 

This is one of Jeffrey Campbell’s latest naughty creations, the heel-less, totally spiked out Jeffrey Campbell Shadow.  It’s definitely packing some serious edge for the fearless fashion lovers among us and can be found in black leather or patent at Karmaloop for $264 (no promo codes apply at this time) or at Solestruck in black leather for $264.95.

On a related note, Solestruck also offers the Jeffrey Campbell Prickly, a mary jane heel-less style in beige or black, for $219.95.

Have a great weekend!

I love Halloween and it’s just around the corner, so it’s definitely time to think about placing an order if you plan to dress up and shop online for your costume and/or accessories.  I don’t dress up in costume every year, but I do occasionally like to go all out and wear a fun getup — my last one was Little Bo Peep with my baby daughter as the sweet little sheep.  So, while browsing around some of the online Halloween stores to check out the latest kids’ costumes, I had to divert over to the women’s Halloween costume shoes to check it out.  One that immediately caught my eye was this pair of teacup heels — too cute!  These shoes have a cup handle on the back of the heel and the back of the shoe actually looks similar to the shape of a cup, despite the open part where the foot goes in, so I think the concept works quite well as a whimsical, unique costume shoe for a Wonderland / Queen of Hearts type of theme.  Perhaps something along these lines, if you’re feeling extra saucy:

You can find the Teacup Shoes for $37.99 and the Queen of Hearts costume for $59.99 at CostumeSuperCenter.com.  Coupon code OCT40 takes 15% off $40 or more (exp. 10/31).  You can also find the shoes at BuyCostumes.com for $39.99 and coupon code TREAT15 takes 15% off through today, 10/6/11.

When I saw this spike studded shoe at LuLu’s, I had to take note, mainly because of the spike and stone detail on the back that is clearly inspired by a style we all know.  Yes, the Sam Edelman Lorissa officially has a knockoff.  But, I do use the term “knockoff” loosely, however, as the Qupid shoe does have quite a few differences, which could be viewed as positive or negative depending on the person.  First, it has a much higher platform, which I know some people wished the Lorissa had a bit more of in order to off-set the height of the heel (although the lack of a high platform has its own merits for a certain kind of look).  Also, rather than having the stones and spikes running all the way down the back of the heel like the Lorissa, the Qupid pair extends this detail down the side of the shoe, on the part facing outward.  While the Lorissa is made of genuine suede, the Qupid version is faux leather, or what they describe as vegan leather.  I do like the lace sole on the Qupid pair – it’s a nice touch:

Then there’s the price.  The Lorissa retails for $199.95 - although sale prices can be had — and the Qupid Brulee retails for $73 at LuLu’s.  If you’ve been wanting to try out the look of spikes, but you don’t want to invest too much in what might be considered a passing trend (but a very fun one to wear, I must say), then this might be a more suitable option.  Of course, it’s probably not the most opportune time to buy a white peep toe, if you follow the no-white-after-Labor-Day mantra (or just because we’re getting into the colder months of the year), but I did notice that there’s a black version of this style, as well as white, at Urbanog.com for $67.90.

For shoes with spikes at an even lower price point, check out the Liliana Angelina in black, brown, red, or tan at Endless for $40.25.  In this case, you have your spikes over the front of a pointy toe pump and round studs along the back.  If you spend over $100 on your order of eligible styles, including this one, you’ll get 20% off for a limited time.

Update: I came across another shoe much like the Sam Edelman Lorissa or the closed-toe Roza, the Wild Pair Carly, available at Bakers in black or tan for $94.99.

It’s Labor Day weekend, so it’s time to take a break from work (woo hoo!), give summer it’s last hurrah (um, wow, already?), and bring on the sales (score!).  Shoe sales for Labor Day are always pretty great because we’re in transition from one season to the next, so there’s definitely some rock-bottom prices on remaining spring and summer styles, but you can also snag a discount on those fresh new fall arrivals you’ve had your eye on.  So, if you’re ready for some shoe shopping, here are some noteworthy sales going on this weekend:

American Eagle is taking 40% off sitewide when you apply coupon code 28678011 at checkout.  That’s definitely a much bigger discount than we normally see from AE and you can even apply it to clearance shoes that are already as low as $9.99 before the coupon.  If you’re thinking ahead to fall, shop the latest women’s shoes, like the AEO Wedge Boot.  It’s $79.50 before the code and $47.70 after.  The coupon expires 9/5/11 and certain brands, like Minnetonka, are excluded.

Over at Steve Madden, get 30% off your order when you enter FALL30 at checkout.  This code doesn’t apply to clearance; however, clearance shoes do enjoy an additional 50% off right now (prices reflect discount) and I’m seeing a bunch of really low prices, even many options under $30.  One new style I’m checking out is the Steve Madden Stonned, which is $149.95 before the 30% off coupon and $104.96 after.  The code expires 9/11/11.

Shop the sale shoes at LuLu’s and get another 25% off when you use coupon 25onSALE at checkout.  The Jeffrey Campbell Foxy Fab in taupe floral is marked down from $129 to $87, then it falls to $65.25 after the code.  The coupon expires 9/5/11.

Famous Footwear is having a BOGO sale, where the second pair of shoes purchased is 50% off, and you also get another 20% off when coupon code LABORDAY is applied in-cart.  Of course, the 20% off can be used on one pair if desired, but you can definitely rack up the savings using the BOGO offer in combination with the code, especially since sale items are included in the offer.  For example, the Madden Girl Cleary in red is on sale for $49.99 (originally $54.99) and when you add the Madden Girl Cluelezz leopard colorblock pump, also $49.99, you can get both for $59.99.  Shipping is free on three or more pairs of shoes and the coupon expires 9/10/11.

More shoes on sale for Labor Day:

Macy’s: Extra 25% off clearance shoes (prices reflect discount), plus another 10% off with coupon code FALL through 9/5/11.  The coupon also applies to regular women’s shoes.

Shoes.com: Extra 25% off sale shoes with coupon code 25SALE through 9/6/11.

Lord & Taylor: 25% off clearance shoes and 20% off regular and sale shoes with coupon code LDAY through 9/6/11. 

Last Call by Neiman Marcus: 25% off women’s shoes and more at checkout, plus free shipping on $50 or more via code LABORDAY through 9/6/11.

All of these offers may have exclusions and are subject to change at any time.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

You may remember my mention of the Chinese Laundry Mod Squad awhile back and my admiration of the unique curvy heel, which you might describe as a teardrop-shaped wedge cutout.  Or, you might call it an “abstract heel”, which is how the shoe pictured above is described.  Whatever you call it, this heel style is now available in a different form: the Sole Boutique Tully, which can be found at Karmaloop.  With this pair, you get the very cool sculptural look of the heel, plus you incorporate one of the hottest trends for fall, which (in case you haven’t noticed) is leopard print.  It’s also nice that this shoe is very affordably priced: Get it for $45 at Karmaloop and score free shipping on new arrivals with coupon code FREERUN through 9/30/11.  More color options are available:

Sole Boutique Tully in black

Sole Boutique Tully in taupe

The Chinese Laundry Mod Squad in turquoise, black or fuschia is also still available at Chinese Laundry for $129.95 with free shipping, although the fuschia color is really low on size selection at this point.

Lord and Taylor is having a sale on a sale with their latest coupon and I’m seeing some extra-good savings on shoes already-reduced in price.  You can opt to get an extra 15% off regular or sale styles by applying coupon code STYLE at checkout, but the real bargains are found in the clearance shoes section, which enjoy an even higher extra 25% off discount using the same code.  As an example of the savings, the Elie Taharie Chelsea sandal (pictured above) retails for $398 and is marked down to $139.99, but falls even further to $104.99 at checkout after the code.  But, be forewarned that many of these shoes have few sizes left (the Elie Taharie pair only has three as of this posting), so you might want to pick your size at the top before browsing the options.  Here are some more shoes I found in the sale that still have a wide selection of size options:

The Steve Madden Minnii in blush for black retails for $129, is on sale for $49.99, and drops to $37.49 after code.

The Bourne Josephine in animal print or ivory retails for $238, is on sale for $89.99, and is reduced to $67.49 after code.

The Poetic Licence Exclusive Delight in red retails for $98, is on sale for $69.99, and falls to $52.49 after code.  It also comes in purple, but only one size is left in that color.

The Enzo Angiolini Romario in black retails for $89.99, is on sale for $34.99, and is reduced to $26.24 after code.  You can also get it in green or denim.

See the entire selection of clearance shoes for more options.  The coupon expires 8/22/11 and exclusions may apply.

As I mentioned in Part 1 of my Shoes Seen On TV posts, I have even more hot shoes from the small screen to talk about, so let’s just jump right into Part 2, shall we?  Pictured above, we have Rose Byrne, who went on Chelsea Lately wearing some statement-making stunners that Chelsea Handler complimented right away when Rose walked out.  I most definitely recognized the Kirkwood aesthetic going on:

Rose wore the Nicholas Kirkwood Lace-Up Lace Platform Sandal, which can be found at Bergdorf for a whopping $1,195.  These are ah-mazing, but definitely not a viable option for every budget.  To get a style that’s comparable, but much less expensive, check out this pair:

The Sole Boutique Sydney is certainly Kirkwood-inspired with the similar silhouette and crisscross lace detail in the front, but it differs with its trendy cutout platform and even higher heel: 6 inches (wowza) compared to the 5 1/3 inches on the Kirkwoods.  You can find these at Karmaloop for $50 and coupon code 10OFF takes $10 off for a limited time.

Moving right along to The Real Housewives, where my little eye can always spy some fab footwear — the New York reunion show was no exception.  Now, these reunions are all about stirring up a little controversy but, I must say, some of the “mean girl” behavior went a little far this time (I’m looking at you brunettes! Yeah, ok, Ramona too).  However, the ladies always play it nice when it comes to their reunion fashion and I particularly liked Jill Zarin’s look, which included gorgeous lace bow heels.  They appear to be this pair:

The Valentino Bow Trim Lace Pump is $885 at Nordstrom, but here are some similarly lacey options that come in at much less:

The Chinese Laundry Hotline in black, which is $70 at Bakers.

The Paris Hilton Senorita in lace for $94.99 with free shipping at Heels.com.

Now a final question: Have you seen any shoes on TV lately that made you swoon?  Do share!