If you’re on the hunt for your latest pair of cute shoes, it’s definitely a good time to shop while many stores are having shoe sales for Columbus Day.  There are plenty of ways to save while shoe shopping this weekend and I’ve gathered up some of the best bargains I’ve seen so you can keep your feet fashionable and your wallet happy (which is always a win).  Plus, I’ve thrown a bit of interesting shoes news in for good measure.  Here’s what I found:

DSW was offering a free purse with a $39.95 or more order as of yesterday, but unfortunately they have already sold out.  The good news?  They are now offering $10 off a purchase of $10 or more using coupon code 7921DSW at checkout (exp 10/12) instead and you can stack it with their 920 code for 10% off and SHIPR for free shipping on $35 or more.  That cuts the price on the Moda Spana Chase Pump in leopard pictured above from $54.95 to $39.46 shipped.  All of these codes require signing into your DSW account.

Lord and Taylor takes 15% off your order using coupon code CDAY or, if you pay with a L&T credit card, CDAYPLUS (you get another 10% off that way).  They are also having a boot sale that takes 25% off one pair or 30% off two or more automatically at checkout.  When you combine the two offers, you definitely have the potential to save big.  The military-inspired Nine West Donley pictured above is normally $129.95 and drops to $96.75 in cart after 25% off, then to $82.24 after the CDAY code.

Macy’s is also having a buy more, save more sale on their selection of shoes.  Their Great Shoe Sale takes 15% off one pair, 20% off two or 30% off three or more when you enter GREATSHOES at checkout.  Shipping is also free on $99 or more.  You can find the biggest savings in clearance shoes, which are already reduced an additional 25% right now and are also eligible for the extra savings with the coupon.  For example, the Dolce Vita Cadiz mesh bootie above is marked down from $70 to $52.50 (retail $100) and is further reduced to just $36.76 after coupon.

Nine West is taking an extra 30% off select shoes and boots during their Columbus Day Sale.  The New Balance for Nine West Celestina lace sneaker above is way too cute and you can get it for $62.30 instead of $89 after the discount.  Shipping is also free. 

Shoes.com takes an extra 25% off sale shoes with coupon code 25SALE until 10/11.

At Payless, buy one and get 50% off your second item during the last few days of their latest BOGO sale (exp. 10/11).  Get another 20% off your order with coupon code 30526 (exp. 10/31). 

Guess takes 50% off select shoes and shipping is free.

Get an extra 25% off clearance at Aldo through 10/11 and free shipping.

Now, on to some shoe news:

A Mariah Carey shoe line is coming soon.  The singer is working with HSN on a collection of jewelry, footwear and perfume with a butterfly theme, which will be available at the end of November.

Steve Madden bought out Betsey Johnson and there’s also talk of a Katy Perry Steve Madden partnership in the works.

The world’s largest shoe department - in both physical size and the number of shoes offered for sale - opened last month at Selfridges in London.  The Shoe Galleries displays over 5,000 pairs of shoes.

She plays the ultimate shoe lover as Carrie on Sex and the City, but Sarah Jessica Parker tells In Touch magazine (in the October 4 issue) that she only owns seven pair of shoes.  If true, she must do a whole lot of borrowing from the designers for all of her fab red carpet looks (and who knew she was such a minimalist?).  On the other end of the spectrum, Kimora Lee Simmons admits to having “thousands” of shoes and closets all over the country to house her collection.

That’s all for now.  Have a great weekend!

Mariah Carey photo from People.com

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Everyone knows that the MTV Video Music Awards are just as much about the fashion as they are about the music - the two literally go hand in hand. After finding one of the shoes Chelsea Handler wore while hosting the show, I’ve continued to check out more shoe styles seen on celebs at the event. Of course, Lady Gaga had to outdo everyone in the most outrageous way possible by wearing a dress and shoes made of real meat:

This is definitely a statement-making choice (to say the least), but one that I doubt anyone will want to emulate for themselves.  If you do want to get the look, see this MTV Style article for details on how they were created and consult with your local butcher (and, please, send pictures!).  In addition to wearing beef, Gaga wore the iconic Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes (pictured, top), the same style featured in her Bad Romance video, which won Video of the Year.

There isn’t anything quite like the McQueen heels, but these Senso Neve shoes in snake are a real-life alternative to get that edgy, Gaga-esque style for less.  They are also a look-alike for the Acne Admire, as I found on Nitrolicious.  Get them on pre-order for $199.95 at Solestruck.

While I do enjoy watching Gaga and her wild fashion choices, there were other stars wearing much more wearable shoes that we could all potentially rock in real life - that is, if we have the cash flow for the pricey designer brands they opt for.  That’s why I’ve also found some similar, but less expensive alternatives for those who love the looks seen at the VMAs, but need something more affordable.  Let’s check it out:

Selena Gomez wore a gorgeous silver dress and kept the metallic theme going head-to-toe with her silver Brian Atwood Kendall shoes.  I can’t find these available for sale online, but here are a couple options for less:

Charles by Charles David Risque (left) for $47.25 at 6pm and the Chinese Laundry Fire It Up (right) for $49.99 at Dillards.

Hayley Williams of Paramore wore the Miu Miu Spectator Pump, available at Bergdorf Goodman for $650.  Save some money and get a similar look with these shoes:

Samanta Amay for $199.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.

Audrina Patridge opted for the Balmain Metallic Rhinestone Pump, which is available at Barneys for $2,300.  Get something much less pricey with these shoes:

Michael Antonio Reza for $98.95 at Shoebuy.  Coupon code EMLFALLKICKOFF10 takes 20% off for a limited time, making them $79.16 with free shipping.  But, there are a few sizes at Amazon for only $47.98 with free shipping.

JWoww of Jersey Shore sported a more toned-down look than usual, which looks good on her, and I’m definitely loving the shoes.  I think these are Jimmy Choo, although I couldn’t locate the exact pair.  But, here’s a sparkly option for less:

Enzo Angiolini Merryann for $79.95 at Nordstrom.

Update: It looks like she could be wearing the Jimmy Choo Crown, which is $695 at Saks:

Or, possibly, the Enzo Angiolini Sully for $88.95 at Nordstrom:

Here’s another lookalike without a peep toe, the Enzo Angiolini Smiles, which is also sold at Nordstrom:

Twighlight’s Ashley Greene and singer Kei$ha both wore closed-toe black patent pumps to the VMA’s.  I’m not sure of the designer for either of these shoes, but here’s a similar pair for an affordable price:

Aldo Moos for $80 at Aldo.com.

Any more shoes from the VMAs you want to know about?  Let me know and I’ll do my best to find them!

Images from MTV.com and Style.com.

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Labor Day is all about having a nice 3-day weekend to spend with family and friends, but it’s also a great time to get your shoe shopping on for less with all of the holiday sales.  If you’re planning to shop for shoes this weekend, there are plenty of ways to save big.  But, you have to know where to get those savings, so I’ve gathered up some of the best bargains I’ve seen to make it a little easier.  Let’s take a look:

Aldo: Extra 30% off clearance sandals and free shipping through 9/6.  The discount is already applied to the prices shown.

Bakers: Buy a pair of shoes or a bag and get 50% off a clearance item through 9/6.

Bluefly: Extra 25% off select shoes through 9/6.  The discount is already applied to the prices shown.

Calvin Klein: Extra 30% off at checkout through 9/6.  Shoes in the Final Sale section have the biggest savings.

Famous Footwear: Buy one pair of shoes, get 50% off the second and get an additional 20% off with coupon code LABOR20 through 9/11.

Guess: Extra 50% off sale shoes at checkout and free shipping on $150 or more with coupon code LABORDAY150 through 9/6.

Kenneth Cole: Extra 40% off select shoes at checkout through 9/7.  Eligible styles are marked.

Macy’s: Extra 25% off clearance shoes and free shipping on $99 with coupon code LABORDAY through 9/6.  The discount is already applied to the prices shown.

Payless: Buy one pair of shoes, get 50% off the second and get an additional 20% off with coupon 36093 through 9/6.

Shoemall: 20% off regularly-priced shoes with coupon code LABORDAY through 9/6.

Shoes.com: Extra 25% off sale shoes with coupon code 25SALE through 9/7.

Steve Madden: 30% off your purchase, including clearance shoes, with coupon code SCRATCH30 through 9/10.  Some styles are excluded.

That’s all for now, but if anyone knows of another great sale on shoes for Labor Day, let us know in the comments.  Have a fun weekend!

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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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I received an email from fellow shoe lover Rebecca, who is on the hunt for a lower-priced version of the Jimmy Choo Quinze, which can be found for $1,795 at Nordstrom in nude and for the same price at Jimmy Choo in black.  This is an absolutely gorgeous shoe, but it’s definitely a toughie to find anything that compares to it and I had to put my magic shoe wand on full throttle to find anything that even comes close.  So, are there inexpensive alternatives for the Quinze?  Unfortunately, after doing an extensive search I didn’t see any mesh, crystal-adorned booties for less.  That doesn’t mean we won’t see an inspired-by version at some point (I’ll update this post if I see one), but if anyone knows of something similar, please help Rebecca out.  In the meantime, I’ve found some shoes that incorporate at least some of the same elements of the Quinze and are viable options, at least for the time being:

There’s no mesh in sight, but the Badgley Mischka Forrester has a string of bling across the vamp that reminds me of the Quinze.  Get these for $215 with free overnight shipping at Endless.

Similarly, the Pelle Moda Favilla has beads and crystals running all they way up to the ankle strap.  Endless has this pair for $188.95 with free overnight shipping.

The Steve Madden Fanfair comes in black or blush and features plenty of jewels in various sizes along the t-strap.  Get it for $99.95 at Stevemadden.com with free shipping using code SMFREESHIP or for $89.96 with free shipping at Zappos.

The Boutique 9 Denya doesn’t have jewel or rhinestone detail, but it is a mesh bootie adorned with pretty flowers.  Get it for $129.95 at Shoebuy and 15% off with coupon code FIFTEEN for a limited time.

Get some serious sparkle for much less with the Celest Hana-08 for $28.50 at Urban Originals.

To get an even closer lookalike for the Quinze, you may have to take matters into your own hands…literally.  Get a plain mesh bootie, like the Aldo Schade (pictured above) for $44.98 or this super-cute tie-back mesh heel from Americlubwear for $27.99.  Add some super glue and loose rhinestones and go to town on the black piping for a creative DIY project.  I’m not quite sure how this will turn out, but it might just work for the crafty among us.

Any more suggestions for Rebecca?  Let us know in the comments!

Update: Here’s a pretty close lookalike for the black version: the Mojo Moxy Venus Pump for $79.95 at DSW.

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We bid farewell to the cast of MTV’s The Hills this week during their final episode and the after-show The Hills Live: A Hollywood Ending, which brought together the entire cast - even Lauren Conrad, but not Spencer and Heidi, who disappeared off the show earlier this season with no real explanation of where they went (besides Crazy Town, that is).  But, it was quite bittersweet for the show to be over and I, for one, actually liked the ending - the final scene where Brody and Kristin are saying their final goodbyes to each other after Kristin decides she’s moving to Europe. 

The background - which appeared to be a real outdoor locale in front of the landmark Hollywood sign - was pulled away and revealed to be a backdrop in the lot of a studio.  Then the cameras pan out to show all the behind-the-scenes action of the show: the cameras, the crew and the breaking down of the last scene.  Apparently, some people didn’t like the ending, but I appreciated the unexpected nod to all the speculation on whether the show was real or fake and the acknowledgement that it wasn’t all reality.  I think most viewers knew it was scripted - at least to some degree - and, let’s face it, a little drama engineering does wonders for the entertainment factor.  Of course, another part of the show’s appeal was checking out the fashion.  So, for my last The Hills shoes post, I’ll be checking out what designer shoes the ladies wore to the aftershow and, in the spirit of this blog, find lookalikes that cost much less.

The cast looked gorgeous at the finale and I had to notice that it was actually the dresses that took center stage this time around - no statement shoes that stole the show for the most part - but they wore the kind of shoes every girl should have in their closet: sexy platform heels in go-with-everything neutrals that serve to complement, not compete with, the entire look.  Let’s start with Kristin Cavallari:

I absolutely love Kristin Cavallari’s dress from The Hills finale, which is by Zuhair Murad and she paired it with Christian Louboutin Turbella 120 silver pumps, which were available at Net-A-Porter, but are now sold out.  I don’t see them for sale online anywhere else, but get a similar look with these: 

Nine West Every in dark or light silver for $29.95 (MSRP $78.95) at 6pm, plus 7 more color options (prices vary). 

Aldo Debellis for $75 at Aldo.  Coupon code 175926112 takes 10% off and shipping adds $5 unless your order is over $75.  The expiration of the code is 7/31/10.

Lauren “LC” Conrad may have exited the show before the final season, but she was back to celebrate during the finale and rumor has it that her taupe suede pumps are Aldo, specifically the Aldo Fawson for $49.98 at Aldo.com.  These are already affordable but, not surprisingly, close to being sold out in this color.  For more neutral suede heel options, check these out:

Nine West Marray for $88.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.  Spend at least $100 on qualifying back-to-school styles (this pair qualifies) and get an extra $20 off for a limited time.

Steve Madden Ultamit in taupe with berry colored sole on preorder at Steve Madden for $79.95 with free shipping using coupon code SMFREESHIP at checkout.

Whitney Port left The Hills for The City, but she definitely had a statement to make at the finale…with her shoes, that is.  Whitney nixed neutrals in favor of a bold and colorful cage style that had Jimmy Choo written all over it.  It’s the Jimmy Choo Quito multicolored snakeskin bootie and it appears to be sold out everywhere online.  These more affordable pairs convey a similar look:

Michael Antonio Jeana for $55.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.

Aldo Storino on sale for $64.98 (regularly $90) at Aldo.  Get 10% off using coupon code 175926112 and shipping adds $5 unless your order is over $75.  The expiration of the code is 7/31/10.

Pour La Victoire Bethanie 1 in teal for $137.17 with free shipping at Amazon.

Audrina Patridge dared to bare plenty of skin at the finale in her tight purple cutout Boulee Ciara dress, which you can preorder at Singer22 in fuschia or black for $198 (she’s actually wearing it backwards), and her black peep toe pumps.  Her shoes are identified by Coolspotters as the Brian Atwood Wagner, but I can’t find the exact pair online.  However, we always have more black peep toe pumps on the market and here’s a couple that I like for less:

Steve Madden Flawwles for $98.95 with free shipping at Shoebuy.  Get 20% off with coupon code SUMMER at checkout (expiration unknown).  Update: There’s only a couple sizes left, but 6pm has this pair on sale for $39.98 (sale price expiration unknown).

Paris Hilton Sashay in black for $69.30 at 6pm.

Lo Bosworth looked fetching in her white dress and her Christian Louboutin Mille heels completed her sophisticated look.  Get the exact shoes at Barney’s for $895 or spend less on something similar, like these:

Boutique 9 Disco for $79.99 at Nine West or for $96 at 6pm.

Stephanie Pratt pairs platform slingback YSL Tribtoo heels, similar to this one from Saks that is now sold out, with her skintight Herve Leger dress.  Here’s a lookalike option from Bebe:

Bebe Neve in black, blue or pink for $149 at Bebe.

Another option is the Zigi Project Pumped heel in blue or black at Bakers for $79.95.

Holly Montag wore a pretty white feather dress and closed toe black patent heels.  I’m taking a guess on her shoes, which could be Christian Louboutin, Miu Miu, the Pour La Victoire Irina or none of the above (it’s hard to tell).  However, this pair is a nice option for less:

Aldo Moos for $54.98 - $75 depending on option selected.  Coupon code 175926112 takes 10% off and shipping adds $5 unless your order is over $75.  The expiration of the code is 7/31/10.

So, with that, we say goodbye to the cast of The Hills and all of the rumors, the drama, the black mascara tears, the boyfriend stealing, the name calling and cat fights, the voodoo crystals and plastic surgery, the lingering facial expressions, the ending and beginning of friendships - all of it - and, of course, the shoes.

Photos from MTV.com

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*Update: This post is from 2010.  Check out 2011 4th of July shoe sales*

It’s 4th of July weekend and time for plenty of fun, but it’s also a great opportunity to save some dough all-American style, especially right now while we’re starting to see big markdowns on summer merchandise.  Independence Day sales are literally everywhere and there are definitely some great shoe sales that have already started, so I thought I would round them up into one big list for anyone who might be shoe shopping this weekend.  I’ll also be updating this list over the next few days anytime I come across more sales and coupons.  So, without further adieu, here’s the rundown of what I’ve seen so far:

American Eagle is having one of their awesome clearance sales right now that also applies to their selection of clearance shoes.  You get an extra 30% off automatically at checkout for a limited time, but then you can also apply coupon code 32944527 to get another 20% off (expiration unknown).  That makes for some super-low prices on their selection of flats, flat sandals and sneakers, like the AE Grommet Sandal (pictured above) that’s on sale for $19.95 and drops to just $11.17 after the code.  Availability can be limited for some styles, so it’s best to shop by size in the top right to narrow it down.  Shipping adds $7, but it’s free if you buy 3 or more items until 7/5/10.

Guess.com is also having a sale on a sale and it takes an additional 50% off already-reduced items.  Browse their women’s sale shoes and, if you see something you like, you’ll see the price slashed in half at checkout.  I like the femininity exuding from the Guess Journ, which features eyelet cutouts and a corset-like lace-up detail on the back.  It’s available for $89.99 in black or white, but the price is reduced to $45 after the discount.  If you spend $100, get free shipping with coupon code FREESHIP100 for a limited time.  The sale expiration is unknown, but it’s likely for the upcoming holiday weekend only.

If you’ve got your mind set on a pair of Chinese Laundry shoes for less, shop Chineselaundry.com and get 30% off any sale shoes when you apply coupon code CL30SALE at checkout.  Make a dramatic statement in the Chinese Laundry Slippery Slope, which has a mix of exotic patterns.  They’re marked down to $69.99 (regularly $119) in black or brown and, after the code, they’ll be yours for $48.99.  The code expires 7/12/10.

80’s Purple offers cutting edge shoe brands like 80%20, Dolce Vita, Industry, Report and more and you can get an additional 25% off your purchase with coupon code fireworks during their Red, White & Purple Sale.  The Dolce Vita Niko wedge in black or brown is priced at $172, but it falls to $129 after the code.  The sale expires 7/5/10.

Shoemall is having a Fourth of July shoe sale and it takes 20% off your purchase via code JULY4.  It applies to regularly-priced items only and shipping is also free.  If you’ve had a gold glitter pump on the brain since Sex and the City 2, you might like the Steve Madden Caryssa platform pump.  It’s $129.95 before the code and $103.96 after.  The coupon expires 7/6/10.

Steve Madden is taking 40% off clearance shoes when you apply coupon code 40CLEARANCE at checkout.  Get a nice price on a clog with plenty of edge, the Steven by Steve Madden Durann, which is so on-trend and marked down from $149.95 to $99.99.  After the coupon, get them for $59.99 in black, brown or red.  The coupon expires 7/11/10.

Koh’s has a new coupon that takes 20% off any purchase, including shoes.  Enter TOPSECRET during checkout to get the discount, which you can even apply to Skechers Shape-Ups (just tested it and it worked).  The Skechers Shape-Ups Action Packed High-Performance Shoes are on sale for $99.99 (originally $109.95), but they are $79.99 after the code, which expires 7/4/10.  Update: This code is now expired, but use code JULYSAVE for 15% off until 7/11/10.

Bloomingdales is having a sale that takes 25% to 40% off select items, including women’s shoes.  On top of that, get another 15% off when you use coupon code SAVE15 in the shopping cart.  I checked it the sale and there’s definitely plenty of low prices going on, but one in particular is the Corso Como Notable studded wedge.  It’s already marked down from $159 to $59.62, but it goes even lower to $50.68 after the coupon, which expires 7/5/10.

More sales & coupons for shoes:

Lord & Taylor: Buy more and save more on select sandals: 30% off one pair, 35% off two and 40% off three.  If the shoes you want don’t qualify for this discount, get 20% off regular, sale and clearance items instead with coupon code JULY4 until 7/5/10.  Some exclusions apply.

Shoebuy: 20% off with coupon code JULY4 and free shipping.

Macy’s: Extra 25% off clearance shoes (prices reflect discount) and free shipping on $99 or more with coupon code FIREWORKS until 7/5/10.

Shoesteal: Extra 20% off with coupon code JULY4 until 7/5/10.

6pm: Select Gabriella Rocha shoes for $19.95 or less and more brand sales.

Nine West: 50% off select styles, plus an additional 20% off if you buy any 2 pairs.  Discounts show at checkout.

Kenneth Cole: Select shoes get an additional 40-50% off at checkout.  Eligible items are marked with the discount amount.  The sale expires 7/8 at 3 am ET.

Aldo: Extra 20% off women’s sale pumps, shoes and boots (excludes sandals).  The discount is already applied to the product price.

That’s all for now, but be sure to check back for more shoes sales for the 4th!

American flag image courtesy of PatriotIcon.org