I’ve got a shoe crush on a new arrival at Endless and, lucky for me, it’s not waayy out of my budget this time (I’ve been drooling over too many high end pairs lately).  The object of my affection right now is the Two Lips Epic platform sandal, which is available at Endless for $99.95 with free overnight shipping.  It actually reminds me a lot of the $850 Sergio Rossi Scalloped Booties I mentioned before, but this pair offers a hefty dose of sparkle with all-over rhinestone studding and another detail we’ve seen a lot lately (and one that I always appreciate): a lace-up, corset-like back.  Let’s take a look at that:

Now, for me, it’s just a question of black or beige, beige or black.  Decisions, decisions…

Also of note: This shoe qualifies for the 25% off $100 discount Endless is currently offering on select styles.  Since it’s a mere 5-cents away from the minimum (grr), at least one more item from this selection of shoes and accessories would need to be added to the order to get the savings.

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I spotted Claire Danes in head-to-toe Valentino while browsing through the latest US Weekly and I had to take note of how gorgeous she is here.  Claire, who donned this look while in Paris to attend the Valentino show, is wearing a romantic, ultra-feminine ruffled dress and she toughens it up just a smidge with these shoes:

The Valentino Studded T-Strap Pump is a sophisticated pump with a nice dose of edge courtesy of the pyramid studs, which look like small spikes.  This is a great way to apply to current spike trend we’re seeing everywhere, including on shoes, in a much more subtle way for those times when a more elegant look is in order.  You can splurge and get the Valentino pair for $895 at Nordstrom (currently on pre-order), but we also have some similar, less expensive shoes as an alternative:

The Boutique 9 Zola in grey or black for $150 at Nine West.  Shipping is free on $50 or more for a limited time.  Or, get them at Endless for the same price with free overnight shipping.

The Charles David Techie for $138 in champagne or $115 in black (MSRP $230) at 6pm.

The Pour La Victoire Danya in whiskey on sale for $104 (list price $285.95) at Amazon.  This pair doesn’t have spikes, but the t-strap design and raised pyramid studs make it a viable option.  It’s also available in black or red and the price depends on the color/size combination selected.

Image from peoplestylewatch.com

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Season 3 of The Rachel Zoe Project premiered on Bravo this week.  Did you guys catch it?  It was definitely a must-watch for me, but O-M-G the drama was on a whole ’nother level straight away this season.  We all know that Rachel’s long-time employee, Taylor Jacobson, is no longer with the company - she said on her blog that she left to style on her own, but other sources say she was fired.  So, the situation certainly had to be addressed in the season opener and, according to Rachel and hubbie Rodger, she was fired. 

Taylor we'll miss ya!

Rachael did seem genuinely upset over what went down, but I must say that the accusations against Taylor were flying, even going as far to allege that she fudged her expense reports and failed to give back designer samples (the samples, however, were shown returned intact later in the show).  I’ve always liked both Taylor and Rachel, so it’s hard to pick a team or know who to believe.  But, I do think that Rachel’s camp could’ve taken a different approach for when the cameras were rolling, like briefly explaining what happened, wishing her the best (even if they don’t mean it), and not throwing her picture into the fireplace or accusing her of stealing on national TV.  Maybe that’s just me, but somehow it didn’t seem right since Taylor wasn’t there to defend herself (she did say a few things in response to TV Guide though).  It’s a bit sad how things played out, but the show must go on and this is a shoe blog after all, so I’m here to talk about the fashion.  Luckily, we have some fabulous footwear to check out from the very first episode, most notably from Demi Moore in the behind-the-scenes look of her Harper’s Bazaar shoot.

The shoot had a whimsical fantasy theme, utilizing props like an oversized chair, a live giraffe, a dollhouse and a beach filled with red ballooons, so the shoes had to be just as fanciful - and they were.  Let’s take a look at the designer shoes she wore, along with some less-expensive alternatives:

In the dollhouse shot, Demi wears red crystal Christian Louboutin heels.  I could only find a similar pair on eBay (I believe Demi’s was a closed-toe style) for a whopping $2,835:

But, I also found a less expensive, red sparkly alternative: 

The Bordello Violette-14 is a red pump covered in rhinestones, rather than glitter as we normally see with shoes inspired by the Louboutin crystal pumps, and they are available for $123.95 with free 2-day shipping at Endless.  Other color options include pink or iridescent.

While sitting in the oversized chair, Demi wears the Fendi Cinderella, which is similar to this one except in a cream/taupe color:

These appear to be sold out everywhere online, but I think this pair is a nice option for much less:

The Topshop Wisteria Chiffon Wedge in blush for $135 at Topshop.  It’s also available in red or black.

Then there’s this amazing shot of Demi, a giraffe and those iconic Alexander McQueen armadillo heels:

These shoes are obviously in a league of their own, but if you’re going for a safari look like Rachel did when she styled Demi for this shot, I think these shoes would work well:

The Jeffrey Campbell So Smart in tan, khaki, natural or black canvas for $99.95 at Solestruck.

Finally, we have Rachel, who admits she never wears flats and had a hard time walking on the beach for the shoot in her triple platform Casadei boots, which were identified on Bravotv.com as the shoes she was wearing.  She had to be carried over the sand and stood on a wooden board, which was pretty amusing.  Her boots look like they are similar to this pair, although these only have a double platform:

The Casadei Suede Knee High Boot for $1,271 at Farfetch.

For something comparable, try the Steve Madden Calgarry for $104.97 at Steve Madden and get free shipping with coupon code SMFREESHIP at checkout.

Of course, let’s not forget that shoe collection in Rachel’s studio, which they showed several times during the first episode.  Rows and rows of hot shoes…it’s shoe heaven!!

Let me know what you think of the new season sans Taylor and the shoes!

Photos from Bravotv.com, Harpers Bazaar and Everyday Minerals

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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!

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The Ash Lovely is the kind of shoe with the edge factor built right in.  This dramatic studded wedge can be slipped on with with even the most basic of outfits - black leggings, skinny jeans or anything else you can come up with - to add a nice dose of fierce to the look.  But, while they aren’t over-the-top expensive, these bad babies will still set you back $239.95 if you get them at Nordstrom, where there’s still a pretty good selection of sizes left (other online stores that have them for less are practically sold out).  That’s quite a splurge in my world, but there is a similar option for less:

The Luichiny Pass Ive is like a fraternal twin of the Ash pair: not identical, but definitely related.  It essentially comes down to a preference for the brand and details - like the color of the heel and studs - and, of course, the cash flow.  You can get the Luichiny pair in black at Endless for $68.36 with free 2-day shipping or at Bakers for $59.99 with $4.95 shipping.  Endless also offers the camel or grey versions for $54.29 and Bakers offers purple, cognac, grey and camel for the same price as black.  But, the lowest price for the camel and grey is from Amazon, where they are each $49.20 with free shipping.

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I’ve noticed plenty of shoes in the news lately, so I thought I’d gather up some of the latest, most interesting things I’ve seen, mix ‘em up real good and have a little Shoe Buzz roundup.  We’ve got a new Hollywood flick about shoe addicts, “granny” footwear having a fashion moment, a Dolce Vita budget line and more.  So, what are we waiting for?  Let’s dig in:

As a shoe lover, I get giddy when I hear about a new movie that’s all about the shoes.  Especially when the lead actress is none other than Oscar-winner Halle Berry, who is set to star in the movie Shoe Addicts Anonymous.  The film, which will be out in Fall 2011, is a comedy based on the book of the same name by Beth Harbison.  Apparently won’t be much of a stretch for Berry, who “loves shoes” according to a producer.

Dolce Vita is the latest company to collaborate with Target on an affordable fashion line, which is fittingly called Dolce Vita for Target.  There’s a selection of five different styles available at Target’s website, most of which are very menswear-inspired, and all at much more budget-friendly prices than the usual Dolce Vita fare.  The Dolce Vita for Target Buckle Ankle Boots pictured above are $34.99, which is the highest you’ll pay for any of the shoes available right now.  They are expected to be in stores by August 22.

My very cool mom, who is always on the lookout for shoe-related info for me (thanks Ma!), let me know that Worishofer shoes were just featured on the CBS Today Show.  The German-made line of “granny” shoes (their description, not mine) are well-known for providing a high level of comfort.  Ruthie from Styleite.com was on hand to provide tips on how to wear them without looking, well, geriatric.  One shoe featured was the Worishofer 583 lace-up sandal (pictured above), which was paired with jeans and looked pretty cute.  Apparently, the “sandals so ugly they’re stylish” (again, their words) are a celeb fave and the brand, which has been available in the U.S. since the 1970’s, has been enjoying a nice surge in popularity in the past couple of years. You can find Worishofer at Endless from $42 - $75.

Seen on The Cut: You can combine a love of pretty shoes with a love of smelling pretty with the new fragrance called Beyond from Anna Dello Russo, who is currently Editor at Large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan.  The almond and vanilla scented perfume will be housed in a golden shoe, which I imagine would be a nice little decorative keepsake once the fragrance runs out.  It will be available by the holidays.

Is there a correlation between an economic downturn and an upturn of heel height on shoes?  Apparently so, as this New York Times article explains.  During a recession, we typically see higher heels, like the over 5-inch heel on the shoe pictured above, which was created by Salvatore Ferragamo during The Great Depression.

There’s a new trend for au naturel, prehistoric-inspired shoes, like the one pictured above which will be available at a store near you this fall.  Ok, I’m kidding…this is actually thought to be the world’s oldest known leather shoe that was recently discovered perfectly preserved in a cave in Armenia and estimated to be 5,500 years old.  These are considered to be very high quality for the time and were likely very expensive.

Finally, we have a resource for buying and selling shoes online.  I received an email from Ellen at If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit, which is an auction site where people can sell, swap or shop for shoes.  She let me know that there’s a coupon code SOLES for two free listings and you can also use coupon code SHOES to get five more free listings (expiration unknown).  Update: The SOLES coupon is available indefinitely, while the SHOES coupon is good for 12 months. 

That’s all for now, but have a happy Wednesday!

Halle Berry image from People.com.

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Ever since doing my post on multicolored shoes for spring featuring the Charles David Tangier (pictured above), I’ve been trying to justify spending $215 on a pair of rainbow sandals that are super-cute but not all that practical or affordable (I still wanted them).  Unfortunately, I couldn’t fit them into the ‘ol budget and I’ve since watched the price go down - they are now $140 at Amazon or $147 at Endless - but I’ve also watched as availability went down even futher, essentially to sold-out territory;  i.e. if you’re a size 5.5, you’re in luck, otherwise not so much.  However, I seriously didn’t expect to see a Charles David Tangier lookalike while casually browsing the shoe selection at Bakers and I was absolutely shocked (read: excited) to see this similar pair for much less:

The Bakers Bonita sandal is basically a replica of the Charles David pair with a much smaller price tag.  You can get it on sale for $39.99 (regularly $79.99) in the multicolored version and they also have a turquoise option for $49.99.  Shipping adds $4.95 or get it free on orders of 75 or more.  Tempting, I say, very tempting.

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