I think the Betsey Johnson Nina in cream is super-adorable, yet sophisticated, with its contrasting stripes and studded bow.  There was also a very appealing red, black and white version available at one time that appears to be sold out online.  You can get the best price on the cream pair at Heels.com, where it is on sale for $176.99 with free shipping, but few sizes are left.  Shoes.com also has them for $251.99 and coupon code MSAVE takes an additional 20% off, making them $201.59.  While this isn’t an outrageous amount of money, it’s still a big chunk of change for many of us and not always doable on a tight budget.

Enter the Not Rated In LA, which offers similar stripes - just in different colors - and a studded bow.  If given the choice (i.e. free reign to spend as much as I want), I would opt for the Betsey Johnson pair because they look higher in quality overall and I prefer the color scheme, but the Not Rated pair is definitely a cute alternative at a much lower price.  You can get this style in black or yellow at Shoes.com for $50 and the 20% off MSAVE code reduces them to $40 with free shipping.  There’s also a blue/white/red version available at Endless.com for $49.99 with free shipping.

Speaking of Not Rated, I saw this promo photo on Endless and had to find out which shoes were featured here:

And, you guessed it, they are from Not Rated as well (of note, Not Rated shoes are made by the same company as one of my fave brands, Naughty Monkey).  This is the Not Rated Inked:

These pump-boot hybrid shoes clearly look hot with boyfriend jeans and they’re nicely affordable too.  You can get these in black or cream for $60.95 (most sizes) with free shipping at Endless.  However, Shoes.com has them for $60 and the 20% MWAVE code drops them to $48 with free shipping.  They also have the yellow pair, which is now sold out at Endless.  Coupon expiration is unknown.

It’s a big holiday weekend and you know what that means: shoe sales!  If you’re looking for your own shoe savings right now - perhaps for a nice little Valentine’s Day gift to give yourself (why not?) - here’s a list of all of the shoe sales I’ve seen going on for the holiday weekend.  Get your shoe shopping on at these stores:

6pm: All Naughty Monkey shoes are on sale for $14.95 or less until 2/15/10.

American Eagle: Extra 30% off clearance shoes using coupon code 49816637 until 2/14/10 and free shipping on any order until 2/15/10.

Bluefly: Extra 20% off select shoes until 2/15/10.  The discount is reflected in the sale price.

Heels.com: Extra 20% off shoes using coupon code WeHeartHeels until 2/14/10.

Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular, sale and clearance women’s shoes using coupon code PRES until 2/16/10.

Macy’s: Get 25-50% off shoes during their President’s Day Sale and an extra 25% off clearance shoes until 2/15/10.  The discount is reflected in the sale price.

Shoemall: Get 20% off shoes using coupon code IHEARTU until 2/14/10.

Shoes.com: 25% off all sale shoes using coupon code 25SALE until 2/15/10.  For regularly-priced items, use coupon code VISA for 20% off until 6/30/10 (may require Visa payment) or CUPID for 15% off until 2/28/10.

Shoesteal: Select brand-name shoes for $69.99 or less for a limited time, plus another 20% off with coupon code STEAL20 until 2/21/10. 

Torrid: Get an extra 50% off clearance shoes until 2/15/10, including brand names like Dollhouse, Fergie and Jessica Simpson.  The discount is reflected in the product price.

If I see more sales over the weekend, I’ll add them here.

I’m definitely a fan of Naughty Monkey and their line of fun and unique shoes.  One new style I’m craving right now is the Naughty Monkey Me O My pump, which has that classic combination of black and white along with edgy details like studs and snake print.  I tend to wear a lot of black, grey and white, often mixed with a pop of bright color, and I imagine this pair would really add some extra flair to that kind of look.  You can get these at Shoemall for $69.95 and get another 15% off with coupon code NEXJUMP, making them $59.46.  They are also available in yellow or blue.

Update: I noticed a better price for this shoe at Nordstrom.  Get it on sale in white or blue for $34.90 and use coupon code SHOES at checkout for free shipping.  The sale price expiration is unknown, but the coupon expires 4/12/10.

I’m also crushing on the super-hot Naughty Monkey Fiesta.  In contrast to the ‘Me O My’, this shoe would be perfect for adding that pop of bright color to your outfit and I’m loving the reptile print on the platform.  I also have a weakness for extra-small baby studs, especially the ones along the heel, so I’m seriously coveting this pair.  My favorite is the yellow version, which is sold at Endless for $80.95, but it also comes in brown, black or purple.  If you like the purple, Shoemall has it for $79.95 and you can use the above coupon for another 15% off, making them $67.96.  Update: Get this pair in black or purple at Shoemall for $55.97 using coupon code MISSU30, which takes 30% off until 3/21/10.

Update: Endless is almost sold out of the yellow Fiesta, but you can also get it at Nordstrom for $79.95.  Get free shipping using coupon code SHOES until 4/12/10.

Coupon expiration is unknown.

6pm has over 160 styles of Naughty Monkey shoes on sale up to 75% off and all are under $25 (except one boot priced at $33.75).  Some shoes are as low as $8.49.  Get a cute spring wedge with the Naughty Monkey Tri It in three color options for just $18.75 (regularly $74.99).  You’ll pay $6.95 extra for shipping.

Here’s another cute wedge, the Naughty Monkey Sucker, for $22.50:

Sale ends 1/24/10.

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