*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

Don’t you just love a good Real Housewives reunion?  Host Andy Cohen always has his best game face on and the ladies are ready to rumble.  The recent Real Housewives of New York City Season 3 reunion special was no exception and there were plenty of theatrics to go around - and cute shoes.  The most noticeable shoes on the show came from feuding former BFF’s, Jill Zarin and Bethenny Frankel, who both hashed out their differences wearing brightly colored heels. 

Jill wore bright green shoes with a red sole, which we know is a sure sign that Christian Louboutin is in da house:

This is the Christian Louboutin Greissimo knotted pump in mint, which were sold at Barney’s for $895 but are no longer available anywhere online as far as I can tell.  You can still get the black version at Barney’s or at Bergdorf Goodman.  But, if you have your mind set on that pop of green in your shoe collection and you want it for less, try this pair:

The Aldo Orpin is a lookalike pair for the Louboutin Greissimo and it’s offered at a fraction of the cost.  Get it for $90 at Aldo and take another 10% off by applying coupon code 175926229 at checkout until 7/31/10 and shipping is also free for a limited time.

Glowing new mom Bethenny Frankel looked fabulous in her hot pink heels.  It was hard to get a good close look at these on the show, but I saw on Examiner.com that these are Alexander McQueen, specifically these patent platform pumps that were once available on Net-A-Porter.  But, I noticed in the Bravo reunion photos that Bethenny’s shoes are a peep toe style, so it appears that these are likely the pair she wore:

These are the gorgeous Alexander McQueen 216935 heart peep toe pumps seen at Zappos.  They are now sold out and I couldn’t find them anywhere else, but the same shoe in red is available at the Alexander McQueen website for $279.  For a much less expensive Alexander McQueen heart peep toe pump knockoff, try these:

These Heart Peep-Toe Patent Pumps are available at Frederick’s of Hollywood for $19.99, marked down from $39.  They come in red, hot pink or black.  Thanks to The Look 4 Less for the tip on those!

Photos from Bravotv.com

Think MTV’s The City and The Hills are all about the catfights and the drama?  Well, think again, because it’s all about the shoes, ladies.  Cute shoes make regular appearances on both shows and, if you’re like me, you like to watch just to see the latest styles the cast is wearing, both on-screen and off.  Need more evidence?  I’ve gathered some from the episodes that just aired this week:

Exhibit A: Kristin Cavallari shoes line Kristin tells those quirky kids, Dan and Jessi, on this week’s MTV Aftershow that she would love to have a shoe line and that she’s been looking into it, although nothing is set in stone as of yet.  But, here on Starpulse.com, she talks about life after The Hills, which is in its last season, and says that she is designing a shoe line and she also has plans in the works to produce three reality shows.  Sure, it is another celebrity doing the fashion thing, but Kristin has admitted to being obsessed with shoes before and she has an enviable designer shoe collection to draw inspiration from, so who can blame her for trying?  I know I would!

Exhibit B: Goth shoes & garbage shoes Over on The City, Olivia helps style pop star Kei$ha, who’s a fan of “garbage couture”, for Elle and outfits her in these Nicholas Kirkwood “trash bag” shoes that feature floral blooms made of actual garbage bags.  These are very cool shoes, but I couldn’t find any additional details about them online.  However, the real fun was watching Olivia scout for shoes at goth shop Trash and Vaudeville before she secured the Kirkwood pair.  I find Olivia best when she’s out of her element, like that time she played investigative reporter by hunting for counterfeit designer handbags on Canal Street, and this store was certainly not her usual stomping ground.  Here’s the play by play:

Olivia was initially gunning for a silver glitter platform pump.  But her idea was nixed and they made her try on a boot with bullets instead:

These are so un-Olivia and she refused to walk around in them, which some store employees found amusing:

After all of that, the shoes they picked at the store weren’t approved for the shoot, but the Nicholas Kirkwood pair Olivia found ended up being a hit.  While the Kirkwood shoes were the star of the show, we did see a cameo from another hot pair:

Exhibit C: JC Tick appearance It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment (sorry for the blurry pic), but the Jeffrey Campbell Tribal Tick isn’t the kind of shoe that blends into its environment, so I definitely recognized it in the scene that took place in the Elle accessories closet.

You can get the Jeffrey Campbell Tick tribal at Eilatan for $142.79.  Singer22 also has them for $264.  Update: You can get them again at Karmaloop now that they are back in stock.

Exhibit D: Whitney wears Payless Whitney Port of The City is being featured in People’s 50 Hottest Bodies issue and even though she’s normally spotted in expensive designer footwear, she dons a pair from Payless in the spread. 

It’s the Alice + Olivia for Payless Breckenridge bow sandal and I think it’s adorable.  There are only a couple sizes left online for $39.99, but you can always inquire in your local store for more availability.

Exhibit E: Olivia apparently goes cheap-chic sometimes too Our fave ice-queen Olivia made an appearance at the 2010 Institute for Civic Leadership spring benefit looking light and bright in her floral DVF top, shorts and the coral shoes pictured above (see the entire look on MTV’s Remote Control Blog).  Although Olivia usually favors high-end designers, her shoes appear to be these heels from Aldo (unless these are inspired by another pair):

This is the Aldo Starace in peach and it’s available at Aldo.com for $90.  Get another 10% off with coupon code 175926229 until 7/31/10 and shipping is also free for a limited time.

Photos from MTV.com

I love the butterfly silhouette on this Prada Perforated Platform Sandal, which was recently worn in black by Amanda Peet at the Sex and the City 2 premier in NYC and in nude by Scarlett Johansson at the 61st annual New Dramatist’s benefit luncheon.  You can get these pretty sandals at Barneys for $795, but there’s a similar look at Aldo.com for less:

The Aldo Secrest looks much like the Prada pair in shape and form, but it features laser cutouts rather than perforation.  It also costs much less at $90.  Here are some additional shades that are so spring-ready:

To top it off, you can get free shipping with no minimum at Aldo for a limited time, which saves $5.

P.S. Be my friend on Facebook!

In my last post on shoes from The Hills, I asked if there were any additional shoes from Season 6 of the MTV show that people wanted more information on.  I got an email from someone asking about the black triple buckle platform sandals that Audrina wears in the promo photo above.  I’ve noticed that Audrina likes her fashion in the same way she likes her men — with plenty of edge.  Ok, maybe Ryan Cabrera isn’t exactly what you’d call ”edgy”, but they did apparently break up and she definitely exudes her signature rock-chick look in these shoes:

They are the Gucci Iman and, unfortunately, it appears that they are completely sold out online.   But, I did manage to find some lookalike shoes that are well under the $1,275 retail price of the Gucci pair.  Here are some similar options for less:

Chinese Laundry Mercy for $89.95 with free 2-day shipping at Endless.  Get an additional $15 off $80 using coupon code STATMNTI for a limited time (see site for additional codes if your order is larger), which reduces them to $74.95.

Bebe Vania for $159 at Bebe.com.  Get free shipping on $150 with coupon code SUMMER10.

Guess Kenedora for $109.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.  Get an additional $15 off $80 using coupon code STATMNTI for a limited time (see site for additional codes if your order is larger), which reduces them to $94.95.

Black Strappy Studded Platform Heels for $24.99 at Americlubwear.

Aldo Taualii for $74.98 with free shipping at Amazon.

N.Y.L.A. Velvey for $63.30 in black at Endless (few sizes left).  It’s also available in brown or blue — see site for pricing.  Free 2-day shipping applies.

Any more shoes from The Hills that you want to know about?  Let me know and I’ll see what I can do!

P.S. Be my friend on Facebook!

Image from MTV.com

The sixth and final season of MTV’s The Hills is currently underway and, of course, we’ve already experienced enough drama and antics in the first couple episodes to last us well through the end of the show (and far beyond for that matter).  It’s a show that’s always straddled the line between fiction and reality, but this season gives us even more reason to ponder what’s real and what’s not: Drug rumors, uber-extreme plastic surgery, people literally losing their sanity, Ryan Cabrera on yet another reality show - yes, we’ve seen it all. 

Spencer: It boggles the mind

I have to admit I’m a bit sad that it’s almost all over, but maybe it’s time.  Clearly, we’ve come a long way from the innocent, wide-eyed early days of the show when Lauren Conrad was just trying to make her way in the world.  And if Spencer and Heidi really are as crazy and out-there as they seem, they probably don’t need a platform to exhibit it to the world any more than they already have.  Of course, we know they have a history of playing things up for the camera, so Spencer’s super-aggressive, controlling, crystal-toting tendencies and Heidi’s blank, passive tolerance of him (breathe, Spencer, breathe) could be just for attention.  If so, it still indicates a bit of craziness on their part, don’t you think?  I mean, who does that?  I must say, however, that Spencer might just have better acting chops than I would have guessed if it’s fake - those bulging neck veins we see displayed during his many angry rampages are pretty convincing.

The good news is that the girls are getting along relatively well, aside from those pesky drug-use accusations Kristin receives in the first episode after not hanging with the ladies one night in Miami.  Kristen and Audrina, who were prone to bursts of yelling and name-calling last season, are now practically BFFs and even go shoe shopping together in one episode.  I guess it goes to show that time - and shoes - heal all wounds.  Justin Bobby being out of the picture doesn’t hurt either.

Audrina and Kristin try on some noticably cute shoes together at Madison in L.A. and I happened to find some of them.  Since these girls tend to love their high-end luxe designers, I also found some similar shoes that cost a lot less for those of us not on a MTV-star budget.  Let’s check it out:

Kristin Cavallari tries on the YSL Criss-Cross Ankle Strap Sandal, available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $795.  For lower-priced alternatives, try these:

Bebe Stacy for $149 in black or brown at Bebe.com.

Steve Madden Averry in cognac, black, olive or orange for $89.95 on preorder at Steve Madden.  Coupon code FF25 takes 25% off and adds free shipping, which makes them $67.46.  The expiration of the code is unknown.

Audrina tries out Givenchy Open-Toe Ankle Boots, which you can get at Saks for $790.  Here are some similar, but less expensive options:

Aldo Goodsite in black or cognac for $59.98 at Aldo.com.

Dolce Vita Lee for $201.25 at 6pm.

BTW, Audrina wears tan Prada knot sandals with her peach dress while on the shoe shopping excursion.  You can find one size available at Shopbop, but I haven’t seen them elsewhere or any close lookalikes.  Her dress is the Amanda Uprichard Joan for $194 at Piperlime.

Kristen also tries on a pair of black platform sandals, which we’ve seen her wear more than once.  For instance, she wore these shoes on the MTV After Show with her black lace one-shoulder dress.  They are the Miu Miu Swirl Platform Sandal, seen here at Polyvore:

It looks like they are sold out online.  Here are some similarly swirly pairs that are available now:

Max Studio Soraia sandal for $118.95 at Nordstrom.

Jessica Simpson Genaviv in black for $46 or in cognac for $36.80 at 6pm.  Additional sizes and colors are available at Amazon for $72.90 - $88.95.

Update: The platform sandals she wears while shopping are the Jimmy Choo Nixon, which are available in limited sizes at Bluefly, My Theresa and the official Jimmy Choo website.

In a promo pic for The Hills, Kristen wears a metallic wedge heel that looks like this Seychelles Kick Up Your Heels wedge:

It can be found at Endless.com for $89.95 with free shipping.  Sizes are limited in pewter.

There’s also the Season 6 promo video for The Hills that features some of the cast hanging from puppet strings, as well as a pair of beige zip-front shoes.  These shoes look really familiar to me, but I couldn’t quite place them (or find them).  Update: These are the Christian Louboutin Zipette, which are sold out online.  But, here are some lookalike pairs:

Calvin Klein Elise for $99 at Lord & Taylor.  Apply coupon code BIG for 15% off at checkout through 5/23/10.

Jessica Simpson Gobow for $89 at Macys.  Get free shipping with coupon code JOURNEY until 5/19/10.

Steve Madden Nanciee for $99.95 at Steve Madden.  Use code FF25 to drop them to $74.96 with free shipping (expiration unknown).

Any other shoes from the cast of The Hills you’d like to know about?  Let me know!

Images from MTV.com and OK! Magazine.