Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiered this week and I know a lot of people, including myself, were really looking forward to it after the popularity of the first season.  The opening episode, which aired Monday night, was definitely hard to watch given the recent tragedy of cast member Taylor Armstrong’s husband, Russell, taking his life after the season filmed.  That whole situation is incredibly sad and Bravo is now re-editing the show, but I’m sure it’ll still be pretty surreal for viewers to watch Taylor knowing what the future holds.  Plus, we have other serious situations, like the bitter ongoing fued between sisters Kim and Kyle, Camille getting some of her personal belongings unceremoniously shipped to her from estranged ex-husband Kelsey Grammer, and the addition of the Brandi Glanville, the scorned ex of actor Eddie Cibrian, in future episodes (judging from the previews, her arrival isn’t going to be sugar and spice and everything nice).  All in all, it’s hard to say where this season will to take us, but I have to say it’s looking a little bit dark so far.  However, there is something that may have lightened the mood, even if just a bit: The pretty shoes they featured worn by Adrienne Maloof and Lisa Vanderpump.  I know there are some people looking for these shoes, so here’s a rundown of some of the styles seen on the premiere, plus some options for getting a similar look for less:

We’ll start out with Lisa Vanderpump’s pink heels, which were shown near the beginning of the episode.  To be honest, I can’t see the shoes well enough to be absolutely certain on what they are, but I did find out that Lisa has shoe design aspirations and it involves something pink: Her Vander “Pump” (yes, she does have a perfect last name for this) is a style she created with designer Ryan Haber:

This glam pair comes in pink or black and it’s made in suede with Swarovski crystal detail.  For those of you that can handle the $902.10 price tag, it’s on preorder at ryanhabercollection.com.  If that’s totally out of your price range, but you’d still like to find a pretty pink pump with decorative detail, here are some alternatives:

The Steve Madden Party-R for $129 with free shipping at Shoes.com.  Coupon code 15OFF takes 15% off (limited time) and drops the total to $109.65.

The Paris Hilton Sarina on sale for $80.75 at Shoes.com with an extra 15% off using the code mentioned above.  Few sizes are left, but you can also get it at Heels.com for $94.99 with free shipping.

Lisa also wore these black pumps with large rhinestones on the top of the shoe and around the ankle strap.  We do see a red sole, indicating that these are likely Louboutins (plus, Lisa is known to be a huge fan of the brand), but I haven’t seen this particular style before — perhaps they were never available online or they might be custom made (or maybe I just totally missed them!).  If you like the look of the oversized rhinstones around the ankle, you might like this more affordable style:

The Nina Garima in black, ivory or silver for $114.95 at Shoebuy.com.  Use coupon code SHOEBUY to get 10% off (limited time) or get a better price in gold or silver at Endless, where they are on sale for $74.74 with free shipping.

On to Adrienne Maloof, who made a big splash last season when she wore sparkly Gianmarco Lorenzi heels.  For the dinner party she hosted on the premiere, this lucky lady got to reach into her highly enviable shoe closet for another amazing pair:

This, of course, is the $1,195 Christian Louboutin Lady Clou Spike (seen at Nordstrom), which now appears to be completely unavailable online.  But, I think this next pair is a super-hot — and totally available – option for less:

The Sam Edelman Lorna with spiked bow for $136 at Karmaloop.  Coupon code 15FALL takes 15% off $75 (exp. 9/30).  In addition to the Aged Metal color pictured, it also comes in nude and leopard.

That’s all for the shoes I spied in the first episode, but I also wanted to note that Adrienne Maloof just launched her shoe line and the collection is currently available for preorder.  You can find Adrienne Maloof by Charles Jourdan shoes at Isaay.com and they are priced from $195 for flats to $295 for crystal-adorned heels.  I definitely noticed some Giuseppe Zanotti inspiration going on; for instance, the Ivy Sandal is very much like the Giuseppe Zanotti E10079.  All of the options are really very pretty, but my personal favorite is the Veronica Platform (pictured above) in turquoise - love that color!

Happy Wednesday!

RH photos from Bravotv.com

It’s Labor Day weekend, so it’s time to take a break from work (woo hoo!), give summer it’s last hurrah (um, wow, already?), and bring on the sales (score!).  Shoe sales for Labor Day are always pretty great because we’re in transition from one season to the next, so there’s definitely some rock-bottom prices on remaining spring and summer styles, but you can also snag a discount on those fresh new fall arrivals you’ve had your eye on.  So, if you’re ready for some shoe shopping, here are some noteworthy sales going on this weekend:

American Eagle is taking 40% off sitewide when you apply coupon code 28678011 at checkout.  That’s definitely a much bigger discount than we normally see from AE and you can even apply it to clearance shoes that are already as low as $9.99 before the coupon.  If you’re thinking ahead to fall, shop the latest women’s shoes, like the AEO Wedge Boot.  It’s $79.50 before the code and $47.70 after.  The coupon expires 9/5/11 and certain brands, like Minnetonka, are excluded.

Over at Steve Madden, get 30% off your order when you enter FALL30 at checkout.  This code doesn’t apply to clearance; however, clearance shoes do enjoy an additional 50% off right now (prices reflect discount) and I’m seeing a bunch of really low prices, even many options under $30.  One new style I’m checking out is the Steve Madden Stonned, which is $149.95 before the 30% off coupon and $104.96 after.  The code expires 9/11/11.

Shop the sale shoes at LuLu’s and get another 25% off when you use coupon 25onSALE at checkout.  The Jeffrey Campbell Foxy Fab in taupe floral is marked down from $129 to $87, then it falls to $65.25 after the code.  The coupon expires 9/5/11.

Famous Footwear is having a BOGO sale, where the second pair of shoes purchased is 50% off, and you also get another 20% off when coupon code LABORDAY is applied in-cart.  Of course, the 20% off can be used on one pair if desired, but you can definitely rack up the savings using the BOGO offer in combination with the code, especially since sale items are included in the offer.  For example, the Madden Girl Cleary in red is on sale for $49.99 (originally $54.99) and when you add the Madden Girl Cluelezz leopard colorblock pump, also $49.99, you can get both for $59.99.  Shipping is free on three or more pairs of shoes and the coupon expires 9/10/11.

More shoes on sale for Labor Day:

Macy’s: Extra 25% off clearance shoes (prices reflect discount), plus another 10% off with coupon code FALL through 9/5/11.  The coupon also applies to regular women’s shoes.

Shoes.com: Extra 25% off sale shoes with coupon code 25SALE through 9/6/11.

Lord & Taylor: 25% off clearance shoes and 20% off regular and sale shoes with coupon code LDAY through 9/6/11. 

Last Call by Neiman Marcus: 25% off women’s shoes and more at checkout, plus free shipping on $50 or more via code LABORDAY through 9/6/11.

All of these offers may have exclusions and are subject to change at any time.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Some of you may recall those classic Sam & Libby leather ballet flats with bow that were all the rage in the late eighties/early nineties (if not, you can see one pair pictured here).  I can certainly remember a time when everyone had these shoes and they came in all kinds of colors (I had black and loved them to death).  When I first saw the Libby Edelman Kendra pictured above, it had me thinking about those shoes once again.  Of course, it’s partly because Libby Edelman is the “Libby” from Sam & Libby and this pair is from her namesake Libby Edelman brand, while her husband is Sam Edelman, whose namesake brand we all know so well.  But, it’s also because the Kendra has similar bow detail in the front, like the original, but with a bit of an update: it’s even larger and made of flouncy satin, plus the pink color contrasts so nicely with the cheetah print.  Totally adorable.

You can find these flats at Shoes.com for $59 with free shipping and coupon code SECRET20 takes 20% off through 7/5/11, but few sizes are left in cheetah.  You can also find the cheetah version at Piperlime for $59 or at Zappos for $69, both with free shipping.  Additional color options are available.

I had a request from my new Facebook friend, Laura, a bride-to-be who is looking for teal wedding shoes to match the absolutely beautiful dress (pictured above) that she picked for her big day.  Specifically, she wants to find teal satin heels from 3-4″ in a peep toe d’orsay style with knotted detail or a bit of bling on the front.  I’m happy to help out and I think teal is such a great color, but it can be tricky to find in shoes.  Here are some styles that match all or most of the criteria Laura is looking for, making them viable options for walking down the aisle in gorgeous style:

First, we have the turquoise satin Paris Hilton Suarey.  While it isn’t knotted in the front, it does have a pleated side bow that adds visual interest and you could always add something like these shoe clips (or perhaps these) for some added sparkle over the middle piece of the bow.  These shoes are $95 at Shoes.com and you can apply coupon code SECRET20 for an extra 20% off through 7/5/11.

Then we have another style from the same brand, the Paris Hilton Spelled in turquoise satin.  While it’s listed as the same color as the Suarey, this one strikes me as being more of a true teal shade, at least from this photo.  It isn’t d’orsay or peep toe, but has the knotted front and some pretty bling along the top of the heel.  Shoes.com has this style for $109 and you can get 20% off with the coupon code listed above.  For additional size options, try Amazon.com or Heels.com.

While the Paris Hilton shoes are nice ready-made options, it might be best to try custom bridal shoes to really fine tune the details.  My Glass Slipper offers a wide selection of designer shoes for brides, many of which can be dyed in your choice of the variety of colors they have available.  Its sister site BridalShoes.com is similar, but offers less expensive wedding shoes under $100.  The Pink Hot style pictured above, shown in teal, is priced at $89 with an extra $10 charge to dye it.  They have many more shoes to choose from at various price points, but here are some I found that have all (or many) of the features Laura is looking for and can be ordered in white and then dyed teal for $10 extra:

Stuart Weitzman Knotted in white for $289.  Note that some sizes won’t be available until September.

Benjamin Adams Salma for $199.

Paris Hilton Senorita for $120.  You can dye the bow and toe area one color and the rest of the shoe a different color if desired, which is pretty cool.

Liz Rene Saskia for $92.

Pink Saffron for $80.

Pink Kiss for $80.

Note that once shoes are ordered and dyed, they are not returnable.  However, they do offer Try-N-Dye, which is where you order the shoes to try them on and ensure they will work for you, then return them to get dyed (see site for details).  You can also order a swatch of your desired color for $1.

Congrats to Laura and hopefully this will help out!

I’m so excited because my birthday is this week and I definitely had something super-pink and totally spiky in mind as the perfect b-day gift.  I’ve been drooling over the Sam Edelman Lorissa for what seems like forever and, although this is a style that has been available in many color and pattern options, it was the hot pink pair that really won my heart.  Of course, my sweet hubby always knows exactly what I want (after I dropped a few not-so-subtle hints, that is), so now these bad babies are in my hands — and I am thrilled!

The pictures of this shoe really don’t do the color justice.  The pink is super-rich and vibrant and the suede is oh-so-soft.  Then there’s the pewter rhinestones and spikes on the back that really set it off and totally up the glam factor:

I am sooo loving these.  I also find that they feel pretty comfortable, at least so far.  I haven’t had a chance to wear them out yet, which is the true test, but some shoes can be uncomfortable right when you try them on.  I don’t imagine that these will be the shoes I wear when any serious walking is involved, but they feel pretty good for being as high as they are and they don’t strike me as being particularly heavy, which I’ve seen some reviews say.  All in all, this is one of my top shoe purchases to date!

I also had to mention this: My 5-year old daughter, who is a huge Mario Brothers fan, declared these “Bowser shoes” when she first saw them.  And, you know, she might just have a point:

Yes, I can totally see where she’s coming from.

You can find the pink Sam Edelman Lorissa on discount at Karmaloop, where the price is $200 and you can apply coupon code SAVE20 for 20% off and free shipping (exp. unknown, one time use per account).  Shoes.com also has them for $225 and coupon code SHOESAVINGS will take $50 off $200 (exp. unknown).  If you’re interested in other color options for even less, check out 6pm for black leather, white or denim for $139.97.

Whatever…stomping fools is my business! - Bowser

Update: I’ve had a couple questions about how these shoes feel when worn out.  I finally had the chance to do just that and I can’t call them comfortable by any means, but they felt much like many of my 4+ heels do after even moderate walking (which for me means I’m pretty much ready to get them off).  They don’t have a very high platform (only 1/2 inch) and I could feel a little more pressure on the lower area of my foot without that extra height in the front to help compensate for the height of the heel.  As far as the heavy back end of the heel goes, I did notice that the back of my foot would occasionally raise up just slightly while walking, but my foot never came completely out of the shoe and it only happened a couple of times.  I went half a size up, but probably could have gone with my true size.  I also haven’t had any problems with the studs and rhinestones falling off so far - they seem quite secure.  That being said, I love them and I definitely had fun wearing them.

Bowser image from mariowiki.com

If there’s one thing you can be assured of on Memorial Day weekend, it’s that there WILL be sales…and lots of them.  If your holiday activities include a little shoe shopping, you’ll probably want to know which stores are offering the best discounts so you can get your savings on.  That’s why I’ve rounded up a great big list of sales and coupons that’ll knock a nice chunk of change off your shoe purchase, making both your feet and your wallet happy.  Here’s the rundown of what I’ve seen so far:

Pour La Victoire recently launched their own online store and I received word from a company rep that coupon code LAUNCH will take an additional $50 off any order (expiration unknown).  While not specifically for Memorial Day, it’s still a sweet discount on must-haves like the Irina and their selection of bridal shoes.  Shipping is also free.

Aldo takes an additional 30% off women’s sale sandals (discount reflected in product price), but you can also apply coupon code GLAMOUR to get another 15% off at checkout.

Endless offers an extra 20% off select women’s shoes.  The discount is applied at checkout for all eligible items.

American Eagle takes another 30% off and applies free shipping when you apply coupon code 82934281 at checkout.  Use the code on their regularly-priced footwear or save even more on clearance shoes.

Macy’s reduces the prices on clearance shoes by 25% (prices reflect discount) and you also get another 10% off at checkout.  Items eligible for the extra discount are marked.

Bloomingdales is having a Big Brown Bag Sale that takes 25-40% off select styles and coupon code BIGSALE takes another 20% off these sale items.

Reebok takes another 40% off sale items when you apply coupon code SALE40 at checkout.

Payless has you paying less with 20% off coupon 47010 at checkout.

Famous Footwear offers coupon code FAMOUS20 for an extra 20% off your order.

Shoes.com has coupon code SECRET20 that gives an extra 20% off regular or sale items through 5/31/11.

Bakers Shoes offers free shipping with no minimum on any order.

Lord & Taylor takes another 20% off sale and clearance items when coupon HOLIDAY is applied at checkout.

Shoemall reduces regularly-priced items by 20% when MEMORIAL is entered at checkout.

Nine West takes up to 60% off select shoes during their latest sale and shipping is free on $75 or more.

Shoe Steal takes another 20% off orders when coupon code STEAL20 is applied at checkout through 5/31/11.

Unless otherwise noted, these offers expire on 5/30/11 and are subject to change.  Exclusions may apply.

Have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!!

American flag image courtesy of PatriotIcon.org

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I was just talking about red gingham heels from Naughty Monkey in one of my recent posts, but I had to bring up the brand again today because I’m just loving some of their cute new shoes for spring.  I find that Naughty Monkey always offers fun, playful shoes at affordable price points and, in particular, I’m crushing on the shoes that have the sparkle factor built right in, like the Naughty Monkey Shinner.  The teal and yellow versions give that bright burst of color we crave this time of year, plus they have a mesh, mirrored ankle wrap to add an extra dose of shine.  But, if you’d rather stick with a more neutral color palette for increased versatility, you can also find them in black and grey:

You can find the Naughty Monkey Shinner in grey or black on discount at Shoes.com.  Both are priced at $89 with free shipping, but 20% off coupon code BFF takes your total down to $71.20 (exp 4/30/11).  You can find the teal and yellow pairs, along with grey and black, at Endless or Zappos for $85 with free shipping.

Want more sparkle?  Be sure to check out the Naughty Monkey Hollywood, which has a wedge heel covered in sequins.  I like the silver pair pictured above, which is available at Zappos for $74.99 with free shipping, along with gold, black or navy.  Shoes.com has the navy version for $79 and the coupon listed above drops them to $63.20.  Note that all prices are subject to change.

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