6pm is having a Betsey Johnson shoes sale today, which takes 60% or more off a selection of over 100 pairs.  Prices start at just $37.50.  Get a Valentines-ready red satin heel for less with the rhinestone-adorned Betsey Johnson Cristie, which is marked down to $50 (MSRP $200).  It’s also available in black, brown or leopard.  The sale ends today, 2/4/10. 

Here are some more shoe sales of note:

6pm is also taking 75% off A. Marinelli shoes and offers a selection of Donald J. Pliner shoes for $100 or less on 2/4/10 only.  Get 75% off or more on Exchange by Charles David shoes until 2/7/10.

Macy’s is having their Wear Red Sale, which takes 25-30% off women’s shoes, plus you get an extra 20% off via coupon code WEARRED until 2/7/10.  The discount applies to your choice of regular, sale or clearance items, although some brand exclusions apply.  If you plan to shop in-store, be sure to wear red in order to get the savings.

New Lord & Taylor coupon code FINAL takes 15% off regular or sale items and 25% off clearance items until 2/9/10.  Again, some brand exclusions apply, but you can apply the code to their selection of women’s shoes and get the biggest discount on their clearance shoes.  A printable coupon is available on the homepage if you prefer shopping in-store.

Get 20% off sale shoes at Shoes.com with coupon code 20offsale until 2/8/10.

My site was down for most of yesterday due to hosting technical issues - always a fun thing, let me tell you.  Luckily, all seems to be corrected and I, for one, am ready to talk shoe sales.  It’s January, a month that never experiences a shortage of discounts, so let’s take a look at some of the sales we’re seeing so far:

Buy more and save more at Macy’s during their Add It Up sale.  Their selection of women’s shoes are already reduced by up to 65% off and you get an additional $5 off $25, $10 off $50, $15 off $75 or $20 off $100 at checkout.  The moto-inspired Rebels Bell Boot is on sale for $31.60 (originally $79), but drops to $26.60 at checkout.  Sale expires 1/7/10.

Today only at 6pm, get Faryl Robin shoes on sale for 75% off with prices from $23.75.  The Faryl Robin Tall Boy boot in blu violet or bronze is marked down from a retail price of $228 to $57.  Also at 6pm, get Miss Sixty shoes on sale for 60% off and Cole Haan shoes for 60% off until 1/10/10.

At Guess.com, get an extra 50% off sale shoes at checkout until 1/7/09.  Sizes are limited for many styles, but there are still several options left for the Guess Pettis, which is $51.50 after discount.

Shoemall is having an End of Season Blowout shoe sale, which takes up to 65% off, and coupon code 15AMAZON takes another 15% off.  One good deal is for the Naughty Monkey Risky Business pump, which is on sale for $41.99 (regularly $84.95). After coupon, you can get them for $35.69 with free shipping.

Shoes.com still takes an additional 20% off sale shoes with coupon code WINTER.  I’m not sure when that code expires, but you can use it on the $73.60 Betseyville Larina in black or pink.  After coupon, get them for $58.88 with free shipping.  Or, head over to Shoesteal, the clearance site for Shoes.com, to get up to 75% off and an extra 20% discount with coupon code BUBBLY20 until 1/10/10.

Happy shoe shopping!

Happy New Year’s!  With 2010 mere hours away, it’s that time of year when everyone thinks about the upcoming year and what it holds.  Of course, we also like to take a moment to look back at 2009 and all of the crazy, interesting and otherwise memorable events that happened throughout the year.  Shoes are no exception.  There’s always something new going on in the world of footwear and we definitely had plenty to talk about in the past year.  So, before we jump into 2010, let’s take one more look at some of the notable shoe news of 2009.  I’m also going to share a few of my own shoe purchases.  Each can be classified as a high or a low, as you will see here:

High: The number of survey respondents that reportedly remember their first pair of shoes over their first kiss, reported by Telegraph UK.  92% off 1,000 women say they remember the first shoes they bought with their own money, but less than 2 in 3 (which I guess would be around 67% or less) remembered the name of the person they first smooched.  Personally, I’m a bit skeptical.  As much as I love shoes, I’m a little vague about the first pair I bought.  I had a part-time job at 16 and, back then, I often had the luxury of devoting entire paychecks (albeit small ones) to clothes and shoes.  I think it may have been these brown leather MIA platform sandals that I loved and wore and wore until I could wear them no more, but I’m not certain.  I definitely remember the name of the person I first kissed though, so I must be in the minority on this one.

Low: The amount Titan Industries Inc. reportedly paid to buy shoe company Penny & Kenny Shoes LLC, who filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.  There was a motion filed to sell all company assets for $150,000, including the Penny Loves Kenny trademark.  While that’s a lot of money for the average individual, it seems like a bargain for Titan, whose mix of brands include Betsey Johnson, L.A.M.B., Bebe and Badgley Mischka.  Penny Loves Kenny will provide a “purely juniors” brand to their lineup, something they lacked before.

High: Despite a struggling economy, people are still buying shoes.  There are a few theories on why we’re still seeing strong sales in this area: shoes are generally considered more of a necessity than things like new handbags or dresses, they are often more moderately priced and have a lower cost-per-wear than other purchases and they can instantly spruce up an older outfit.  Of course, they also make us feel good and women “get an emotional lift from shoe shopping in a way they do not when trying on jeans and cocktail dresses.”  Eileen Lewis of Zappos also notes that many consumers are purchasing shoes in bright colors like red and yellow, which can provide an uplifting boost.

Low: The infamous Barbie cankle comment made by Christian Louboutin, who has partnered with Mattel to “serve as a yearlong godfather to Barbie, not just rethinking her fashion wardrobe and physical attributes, but also art directing her in different lifelike situations”.  Actually, I don’t think he ever used the word “cankle”, but a Louboutin spokesperson said “He found her ankles were too fat,” which sparked a frenzy across the net.  Many Barbies laughed it off, but unfortunately one Barbie didn’t react so well to the news:

Her beau Ken wasn’t too happy either…

Louboutin later clarified, saying “…fat ankles she didn’t have, she just could have had thinner ankles.  That’s all.” and Barbie was somewhat consoled.  Luckily, all was completely forgiven when she saw the Barbie shoes he designed and the ultra-pink pair he made for real-life dolls, the Christian Louboutin Claudia:

High: Speaking of Louboutin, I’d say the shoe of the year would have to be his Bridget Strass:

It’s been seen on a multitude of celebrities, featured in the upcoming Sex and the City 2 movie, worn by Kandi on The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion and by Jennifer Lopez in the AMA and MTV Music Video Awards performances of her song “Louboutins”.  This shoe is definitely hot, for good reason. 

Update: Check out the Christian Louboutin Bridget lookalike shoe that I found.

Low: J.Lo’s said new song “Louboutins”, which I’m not really feeling.  Theoretically, a song about Louboutins could work, but the execution of this one seems a bit off.  All I seem to hear is ”part-time lover” mentioned a few times, followed by a repetitive string of “Louboutins” - 45 times to be exact.  It’s the type of song with the potential to get hopelessly stuck in your head.  Apparently, Christian Louboutin loves the song and was flattered to hear about it, but I have to wonder - was this song simply born out of Lopez’s love for the shoes or was it a brand placement deal struck between her and Louboutin?  After all, having a song featuring his brand name would serve to further entrench his shoes into pop culture, thus furthering his quest for world domination:

Yes, I’m totally speculating, but you never know.

High: The buzz generated by Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 shoes, which had to be the most talked about shoes of the year.  I’m sure it’s hard for designers to continuously come up with new and different shoes that stand out, but these certainly did.  Although they don’t seem very wearable in real life, it’s no surprise that extreme dresser Lady Gaga was one of the first to don them, in her video for “Bad Romance”.

High: The number of celebrities jumping on the shoe design bandwagon.  Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (Olsenboye for JCPenney and Elizabeth and James), Dinah Lohan, Fergie, Nicole Richie and more celebs either started shoe lines or announced them in 2009.  Plus, Britney Spears promoted for Candies and designers like Christian Siriano and Jimmy Choo created lines for budget-friendly Payless and H&M, respectively.  Now we have news that Lindsay Lohan will be expanding her 6126 leggings label to include a full-line of apparel, cosmetics, handbags, jewelry and, yes, shoes.

Now, here’s a few shoes I purchased this year that I’d like to share:

Low: The price I paid for this Betsey Johnson Layla heel, which I adore.  They originally retailed for $225, but I happened to spot them on clearance at Victoria’s Secret, inconspicuously listed as “floral sandal”.  They were listed for $89.99 at the time and they had a 20% off coupon, which I missed, but they were later marked down to $79.99, which was much lower than I ever saw anywhere else.  I opted for the black version, figuring it would work with more outfits, but I still kind of covet the pink pair.  Unfortunately, it appears they are sold out everywhere online.

High: The amount of shoe love I have for this Naughty Monkey Resurrection heel, which I purchased in champagne.  I got a good deal on these as well because Shoemall briefly had a 30% off coupon, which reduced them from $74.99 to $52.47.  They are really pretty, particularly the detail on the back, and they are still available (sizes are very limited in champagne and red).  Coupon code 15AMAZON takes 15% off.

High: My neon yellow shoes from Wet Seal.  Ok, I admit it, I actually got these because I was inspired by an extra wearing a similar pair in the N.E.R.D. video “Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom)”.  I had a hard time finding anything like them at the time, but spotted this pair on clearance at Wet Seal for a mere $5, so I figured I had nothing much to lose.  I didn’t expect the quality to be high or anything, but the main issue is they are so, so uncomfortable, like right when you put them on.  I also tried them on with a few things and nothing seemed to look right.  Thus, I haven’t worn them at all.  So, why am I calling this a high?

There is one little shoe princess who has a penchant for raiding closets and happens to love this pair.  It tends to be the one she picks out nearly everytime she feels like dressing up, which I suppose is because they are super-bright and shiny and very yellow, which immediately attracts her eye.  Of course, she usually wears them for a very short time and abandons them after they slow her down a little too much.  But, I must say, it’s been priceless to watch her clomp around the house in them.

I happened to try them on with some black leggings and it finally worked.  Someday, if the right mood and occasion somehow meet, I’ll probably wear them…just as long as I’m not doing any walking.

I hope everyone has a fabulous New Year and here’s to plenty more shoe buzz in 2010!

I’ve definitely developed a serious addiction to The Real Housewives series on Bravo.  It started out innocently enough - I didn’t even watch the first OC season when it originally aired, but started catching up on re-runs and subsequent seasons, then started watching the Atlanta, New York and New Jersey seasons - and now it’s full-blown, can’t miss TV complete with in-between-season withdrawal.  Sure, there are plenty of situations on the show designed for maximum drama - like those frequent get-togethers with the cast, even those that don’t get along, just to see what happens (wig-pulling, table-toppling, that kind of thing) - and the ladies certainly play things up for the camera, but you get the sense that they are being pretty real and they definitely entertain.  Plus, they all love their fashion.  That’s why it was fun to see a recent In Touch article called In Their Closets, which gives a peek into the personal wardrobes of Teresa from New Jersey, Gretchen from Orange County and Kim from Atlanta.  They each have their own unique sense of style, so who do you identify the most with fashion-wise?

I think I’d have to say Gretchen Rossi, whose bubbly, effusive personality has really grown on me this season (lay off already Tamra!).  She describes her look to In Touch as “very girlie-girl, very bedazzled, very glamorous” and she proves her point by wearing a super-sparkly sequined mini dress in magenta, which she calls “fantabulous”.  She wisely pairs it with nude Christian Louboutin heels that are super-sexy, but allow the dress to shine.  They look similar to this pair:

Christian Louboutin Lady Claude in nude for $745 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Here are some lower-priced nude heels: 

Nine West Bonfire pump for $88.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless

BCBGirls Ariel for up to $89.95 depending on size selected at Amazon.

Gretchen also holds two of her shoes in the mag and I definitely recognized one of them right away.  It’s this pretty pair:

The Bebe Bella Lace Sandal, which is $149 at Bebe.com.  Buy 1 full-priced item, get 50% off a second item using coupon code GET50OFF until 12/20/09.  Or, get 15% off $100 or more with code 15OFF100 until 12/24/09.

The other pair is a black satin heel with a decorative rhinestone ornament on top.  I’m not sure of the exact pair, but these shoes have a similar look:

Badgley Mischka Elia for $200 with free overnight shipping at Endless.com.

Nine West Fancywork for $89 at Ninewest.com.  Get $20 off $75 with coupon code NWHOLD9 (exp. unknown) and shipping is free.

This pair looks like the shoe version of Gretchen’s sequin dress:

Betsey Johnson Kanata on sale for $152 (reduced from $200) at Zappos with free shipping.

Update: See the pair that looks like Gretchen’s ALDO boots from Watch What Happens Live.

Let’s move on to Teresa Giudice, who shows off a wide array of shoes in her closet.  Teresa has a sophisticated style, but she likes to keep up with the very latest in fashion.  She tells In Touch, “Lots of people buy classic items, and they keep them forever.  But I’m more trendy, so my stuff sometimes goes out of style.”  She also likes to keep things spicy - we see plenty of zebra, leopard and other animal prints in her wardrobe, along with plenty of bold colors and prints.  Here are a few shoes seen in Teresa’s closet:

Christian Louboutin Lace Bootie for $1,785 at Neiman Marcus.  I couldn’t see the back of the shoe, so it could be the leopard Christian Louboutin Bridget for $1,795 at Barney’s (only 1 size 10 left right now).  This is definitely the “it” shoe of the moment.  Update: Check out the Christian Louboutin Bridget lookalike shoe that I found for much less.

Pelle Moda Vino for $180 with $5 shipping at Jildor. 

Miss Sixty Callista for $75.60 at 6pm. 

Here are some shoes inspired by Teresa’s style:

Sergio Zelcer Covos Peek Toe Pump for $182.95 at Endless

Naughty Monkey Chiller in zebra for $74.90 with free overnight shipping at Endless.

Wet Seal Metallic Pink Heel for $24.50 at Wet Seal.

Two Lips Gypsy Lace Platform Bootie for $69.95 at DSW.  Members use code SNOWMAN at checkout for free shipping on $35.

Last, but certainly not least, is Kim Zolciak, who always goes all out with fashion and prefers a luxe look with plenty of bling and sex appeal.  She tells In Touch that she owns a whopping 1,000 pairs of shoes and that her favorite brand is, not surprisingly, Christian Louboutin.  She says, “They are so uncomfortable, but they’re so hot, so I love them.”  She likes to mix it up with other high-end names too - I spotted the same Louis Vuitton heel that Leighton Meister wore to the Met Ball, another Louis Vuitton tribal-look heel that may be this shoe from Spring 2009 Ready-to-Wear, her red and gold feather shoes (I think these are Louboutin, but not sure), the Louboutin glitter heels, and the YSL Tribute Platform Mary Jane, which is not available for sale online, but you can see a pic over at FabSugar.  Clearly, these are amazing shoes, but not readily available at prices most people can afford, so here’s a few “inspired-by” pairs:

Miss Sixty Jessica for $99 with free shipping at Zappos.

Martinez Valero Brit for $148.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.

Stuart Weitzman Avalon silver glitter heel for $355 at Zappos.

Pleaser Dolly for $39 at Amazon.

I’m looking forward to tonight’s episode, are you?

Show photos from Bravotv.com

Christmas is just around the corner and, if you haven’t put the finishing touches on your holiday shopping yet, there’s no worries.  Many retailers are still offering guaranteed shipping by the big day as the final countdown to Christmas begins, plus some nice discounts and sales to boot.  Here’s a rundown of some of the best ones I’ve seen so far, along with the shipping deadlines you’ll need to know to get your order delivered by Christmas:

6pm: Up to 55% off Steve Madden shoes, Fitzwell shoes for $7.95, 55% off Ulu footwear, 60% off AK Anne Klein shoes, 55% off New Balance, all Nine West shoes for $29.95 and more until 12/27/09.  Get free shipping on $100 or more until 12/1/09.  The deadline for standard shipping has passed, so get expedited shipping if you need your order by Christmas.

Bebe: Buy 1 full-priced item, get 50% off a second item using coupon code GET50OFF until 12/25/09.  Or, get 15% off $100 or more with code 15OFF100 until 12/24/09.  Shipping is also free with no minimum for a limited time. For standard shipping, order by 12/21/09 at 12 pm PST for Christmas delivery.  Otherwise, you’ll pay extra for express or overnight options.  Update: Bebe is offering $10 flat-rate overnight shipping for orders placed by 12/22/09 at 12 pm PST (3 pm ET).

Endless.com: Order by 12/23/09 at 5 pm PST for delivery by Christmas on any item that qualifies for overnight shipping.

Karmaloop: 20% off any order and free shipping on $50 or more with code STARDUST (exp. 1/1/10).  Or, check out their selection of Secret Sale shoes, which are reduced 30% using code SECRET at checkout.  They are offering a free 2-day shipping upgrade, no code required, until 12/22/09 at noon or use code 30HAM to get 30% off and the free 2-day shipping upgrade.

Onlineshoes: 20% off select regularly-priced items with coupon code 9CHEER at checkout.  Most shoes and gifts will arrive by Christmas using free standard shipping by 12/21/09.  They are also offering 3-day shipping for $2.99 or 2-day shipping for $5.99.

Payless: 15% off with coupon code 30241 until 1/2/10.  The deadline for holiday delivery using standard shipping has passed, but place your order by 12/20/09 at 8 pm ET using expedited shipping or by 12/21/09 at 8 pm ET using rush shipping for Christmas delivery.

Shoebuy: 20% off with coupon code SHOP and free shipping.  Expiration is unknown and Shoebuy does not mention holiday shipping deadlines on their site, so it may be best to pay extra for faster shipping at this point.  Update: Coupon code EXPRESS will upgrade your shipping to express shipping for items in the Last Minute Gift Shop.

Shoemall: Free upgrade to 2-day shipping on any order when you select standard shipping at checkout.  Order by 12/21/09 for holiday delivery.  Also through the 21st, get 20% off slippers using code SLIPPER or 20% off accessories using code COLDXMAS at checkout.  There are more coupons listed on the homepage.

Shoes.com: 20% off with coupon code HOLIDAY20 until 12/21/09 or ENJOY09 until 12/31/09.  They are offering free guaranteed holiday delivery through 12/21/09 at 3 pm CST.

Steve Madden: Free express shipping on all orders, plus an additional 30% off orders of $59.95 or more using coupon code COUNTDOWN30 at checkout through 12/21/09.  It looks like you can order in-stock items through the 21st for holiday delivery, which takes 2-3 days, but see their shipping information for more details.

I will be adding and updating this list during the week, so be sure to check back for more!

The 40% off Black Friday sale may be over at Betsey Johnson, but you can still get 30% off.  Just enter coupon code FF2009 at checkout.  There isn’t a wide selection of shoes left right now, but the 30% off makes for great savings on what’s available.  It even applies to sale items.  The Betsey Johnson Kareas ankle boot in black or grey is $225.  After code, you’ll pay $157.50.  Expiration: 12/7/09

Note: If you like the Glitter Polly, they are $86.49 right now at Amazon.

The final episodes of both The City and The Hills aired on MTV last night, along with a live finale after show special.  There were plenty of highlights from the shows, like Whitney Port making a sales presentation to pitch her fashion line to a panel of high-powered Bergdorf Goodman execs by herself after boss Kelly Cutrone bailed on her (I actually felt nervous for her), Olivia and Erin’s work tension at Elle finally coming to a head, Kristen Cavallari deciding to take the plunge into a “serious” relationship with Justin Bobby (just don’t mention the word “boyfriend” around him) and Audrina going back once again to discuss her ex-relationship with said Mr. Bobby, only to be hurt yet again when he tells her they were never together in the first place.  Sigh. 

But, we were left with plenty of questions too and it looks like some of them won’t be answered right now.  Case in point: Will ice-queen Olivia win the Battle of Joe Zee by defying Erin’s authority (and generally not working) at Elle or will Erin triumph with the years of effort she’s put into the magazine?  After all, people don’t always get to the top by being nice and cooperative and working really hard (unfortunately).  But, Erin issued Joe an ultimatum - it’s either her or Olivia.  Since Joe was personally affected by Olivia’s poor job performance this time around, I honestly thought she’d get the axe (and that smug look wiped off her face).  But, alas, the credits rolled and we were left hanging until next season.

However, we do have some shoes to discuss, most notably from the live aftershow that followed the final episodes.  If you loved the shoes worn on The City or The Hills, here are some shoes inspired by the styles we’ve seen:

We’ll start with Whitney, who glammed up her ultra-long gams with a gorgeous pair of gold and black ankle strap heels.  It was hard to see these during the show, but you can see them better in the show photos at MTV.com and the backstage shots.  I haven’t been able to locate the exact pair, but if you love the look, you may like these:

Jessica Bennett Luca for $166.95 at Shoebuy.  Coupon code EMLFRIENDS09 takes 25% off until 12/3/09, making them $125.21 with free shipping.

Betsey Johnson Nora on sale for $100 at Heels.com.  Coupon code INSTYLE09 takes 20% off, making them $80 with free shipping.  The coupon expires 12/31/09.

When it comes to men, Audrina seems to be looking for that tricky combination of edgy, bad-boy who also has a romantic side, which can be a hard thing to find.  That same theme carries over into her personal style, but it’s way easier to achieve when it comes to fashion.  She wears a pretty silk pant suit, but pairs it with a multi-strap zippered wedge that adds a rocker-chick vibe.  Here are some similar pairs:

Bebe Karen multi-strap wedge for $159 at Bebe.  Save 15% off $100 with coupon code 15OFF100 until 12/24/09.  Another option from Bebe: The Delaney heel for $99.

Jeffrey Campbell Polish for $169.95 with free shipping at Solestruck.

Nine West Bolero for $74.21 with free shipping at Endless.  Another option from Endless: the Miss Me Garnet for $34.25.

Roxy Olin pairs her sequin top and mini with a pair of black suede over-the-knee boots.  You can achieve the look with these boots:

Restricted Vamp Over-the-Knee Suede Boot for $89.95 at DSW.  Shipping is free for members on $35 with coupon code SNOWMAN until 1/4/10.

Steve Madden Shakiraa for $119.95 at Steve Madden.  Get 30% off and free shipping with coupon code MADDEN30 until 12/7/09. 

Kristen Cavallari didn’t appear to have much chemistry with supposed boyfriend Jusin Bobby at the finale, but she wears her sexy black platform slingbacks well.  If you want this look, try these out:

Brian Atwood Taro for $535.99 at Bluefly

Bebe Zahara for $149 at Bebe.  Get 15% off with coupon code 15OFF100 until 12/24/09.

While we’re at it, let’s look at some more look-alike options for Whitney’s cage shoe in the show opener.  I’ve covered this shoe before, but here are some more options:

Steve Madden Brande for $69.97 at Steve Madden.  Get 30% off and free shipping with coupon code MADDEN30 until 12/7/09.

Colin Stuart Cut-Out Lace Up Bootie for $65 at Victoria’s Secret

The City and The Hills will both be back for another season, so until next time, here’s to the shoes.

Show images from MTV.com