Valentine’s Day is coming up and I, for one, am already feeling the love - the shoe love, that is.  When it comes to what you wear on the day, anything goes, but it’s one of those holidays that tends to bring out our romantic side.  For shoes, that can translate into anything from sweet and girly to fiercely seductive - depending on the desired effect - but with plenty of feminine details.  And if you really want to get into the V-day spirit, you wear the classic team colors of pink and red.  That’s why I’ve gathered up a selection of shoes that I think are perfect for the day.  But, before I get into that, you’re probably wondering about the shoes pictured above, right?  An image of these dramatic platforms popped up in the shopping results while I was doing a search on Google and I had to post the pic because they are just so…heart-tastic.  Then I found out they are sold by a site that specializes in selling shoes for dancers (ok, strippers).  But if you want to know where to get them, they are sold for $199.95 at a site appropriately called Booty Cocktails (lol) and they are actually hand-carved and custom made with each order.  Admittedly, I think they are pretty cool, but obviously very extreme.  If you want to express your Valentine’s Day cheer in a much more subtle way, here are some more options:

The Paris Hilton Senorita in red with rhinestone bow for $89 at Macy’s.  Or, get the red patent version without rhinestones for $95 at Shoes.com.  Coupon code VISA takes 20% off to drop the total to $76 with free shipping (exp. 6/30, may require Visa payment).  A soft pink version is for sale at 6pm for $53.37.

The Chinese Laundry Hot Hot glitter heels in a whisper-soft shade of blush for $69.95 with free shipping at Zappos.

Poetic Licence Dance All Night in red for $104.27 with free shipping at Zappos.

Jessica Simpson Ely in powder for $98 with free shipping at Piperlime.

Steve Madden Propperr in red for $99.95 at Steve Madden.  Coupon code rmn15f takes another 15% off and adds free shipping, making them $84.96.

The Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Melissa Lady Dragon IV in pink on sale for $126 at 6pm.

Sam Edelman Jewel for $99 with free shipping at Shoes.com.  Coupon code VISA drops the price to $79.20 (exp. 6/30, may require Visa payment).

Charles by Charles David Froth for $125.95 with free shipping at Zappos.

For something more casual, there’s the Comme Des Garcons Play Converse with heart, available for $105 at Tobi.

Finally, you have to check these out just for fun: The Minimy Lipstick Bootie features a heart buckle and a heel that looks like a tube of lipstick.  Alberto Guardiani did something similar that retailed for around $400, but these are just $19.98 at Amazon, marked down from $59.99.  Few sizes are left.

Update: Here’s another pretty pair, Qupid Gaze chiffon heels for $36 at LuLu’s.

Here’s to plenty of shoe love for Valentine’s Day!

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I wasn’t really planning on talking about Christian Louboutin crystal heels again today, as I did in my last post, but after catching up on the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on DVR over the weekend, I was inspired by Lisa VanderPump, aka “Pinky”, and her pink Christian Louboutin shoes, which she was lucky enough to get signed by Mr. Louboutin himself (the shoes are pictured above in a screen shot from the episode).  Even though it’s only the first season for the Beverly Hills cast, we already know that Lisa is a Louboutin darling - we’ve seen her wear Louboutins in previous episodes and she even had some pink Louboutins made out of chocolate - and we also know that she has a strong affinity for the color pink (I can relate).  I couldn’t find these particular shoes, which are fuschia satin with a crystal-encrusted heel, anywhere online.  However, as I pointed out in my last post, the crystal Louboutins are typically much more expensive (even for Louboutin) and I’m guessing this pair is likely in the $2,000-$3,000 range.  If you have the funds, you may want to inquire about this shoe at a Louboutin boutique, but if you want something pink and sparkly in your life for much less, you might try one of these shoes:

These shoes are still quite a splurge and much lighter in color, but I have to admit that I melted a bit when I first saw them - total princess shoes.  This is the Giuseppe Zanotti E16130 “Barbie” pink glitter pump and you can get them at Endless for $550 with free overnight shipping.  Update: This is a less expensive style to check out: the Chinese Laundry Hot Hot in blush for $69.95 with free shipping at Zappos.

Here’s a similar pair for a bit less, the Butter Cleo pump in pink glitter.  It’s $286 with free shipping at Amazon (in most sizes).

Go for a bolder shade of pink with the Betsey Johnson Iridescence, which is $150 with free shipping at Zappos.

Keep the shine contained to the heel like Lisa’s pair with the Martinez Valero Ozzie, which have a look-alike pattern on the heel from another Louboutin pair, the Christian Louboutin Eugenie.  Get these for $129 at martinezvalero.com.

The Bordello by Pleaser Violette-14 is pink, covered in rhinestones and available for $123.95 with free 2-day shipping from Endless.

A final option that I found is the Lauren Jones Zinger pump, which has a more exaggerated texture that almost looks like confetti.  Endless has this pair for $109 with free overnight shipping.

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I’m a self-proclaimed addict of the Real Housewives franchise on Bravo, so naturally I’m tuning in to the latest addition to the series: the Beverly Hills cast!  I’m pretty convinced that Bravo isn’t going to stop until we know just how every well-to-do woman lives, spends her money and catfights across every major city in the country (or the world, for that matter), but so far I’m along for the ride.  Of course, I could get all analytical and talk about how the show highlights the fact that money doesn’t necessarily bring happiness and security - these ladies all have their share of problems, let’s face it - but I’m much more interested in talking about the shoes.  Like previous housewives, the latest crop of ladies love their Louboutins - and who can blame them?  In the last episode, “The Art of War”, I spotted two housewives wearing the brand on the show and I had to find the shoes, along with some lower-priced lookalikes.  Let’s check it out:

Lisa VanderPump is an early fave of mine when it comes to the Beverly Hills cast.  She’s the posh, but likeable, housewife whose dog, named Giggy the Pom, blogs on Bravotv.com and has his own Twitter page - you know, just your average pooch.  While searching for what to wear to the premiere of Kelsey Grammer’s play La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway, we see Lisa wearing this shoe while trying clothes for the event:

This is the Christian Louboutin Poseidon and it was once available for $1,195 at Saks Fifth Avenue, but now appears to be sold out everywhere online.  For a similar look for less, try these shoes:

The Miss Me Jocelyn-22 for $59.95 sold by flyJane via Amazon or the Miss Me Nitron for the same price directly from flyJane.

The Carlos by Carlos Santana Pleasure in pewter for $54.45 with free 2-day shipping from Endless.

The Stuart Weitzman Avalon in natural python for $199 (regularly $398) at Jildor or in Buff Mica Python for $200 at 6pm.

Then there’s Camille Grammer, who is primarily known for being the wife of Kelsey Grammer (and we all know how that turns out), but is already making a name for herself on the show because she’s perfect for stirring up a little drama.  She vamps it up for Kelsey’s premiere in these hot pink satin Louboutins, which add a nice splash of color to her LBD (emphasis on the “L”):

This appears to be the pink version of the Christian Louboutin Greissimo, which I could only find on the UK site Cricket Liverpool.  But, here are some shoes that are very Camille and much less expensive:

This is the Bebe Lola in pink, available at Bebe.com for $149.

There’s also this feisty pink pump, the Martinez Valero Carolina for $81.75 with free shipping at Zappos.

By the way, if you found yourself seriously tempted by the chocolate Louboutins Lisa bought in an earlier episode, check out the chocolate shoes (sans red sole) over at Gayle’s Chocolates for $40 - $45 a piece.  It’s definitely a nice gift option for any shoe lover friends you might have.  Or, you know, for yourself.

Real Housewives photos from Bravotv.com.  Camille Grammer photo from Zimbio.com.

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If you haven’t signed up for Zappos VIP program yet, now is a good time to do so.  You can feed your shoe loving tendencies even more by getting free overnight shipping for life, which will make anything you order from Zappos - already known for quick shipping - delivered even faster.  It’s basically the closest thing you can get to instant shoe gratification in the online shoe shopping world.  Zappos only offers open sign-up once in awhile, so be sure to secure your free VIP membership by 11/26/10, the deadline for this go-around, to get your free overnight shipping for all eternity.  Sweet!

I love a shoe that is completely romantic and feminine, which is why this Badgley Mischka Olaf mesh bootie immediately caught my eye while browsing the footwear at Nordstrom.  It’s a bit pricey at $200, but I can totally imagine these paired with tights in a contrasting color, which would allow the large floral lace detail in the mesh to really stand out.  Plus, it’s topped off with a large satin bow and shiny trim - what more could a girly girl want?  In addition to the nude version pictured above, it also comes in black:

You can get either color at Nordstrom for $200 and apply coupon code SHOES for free shipping on your order until 10/25.  It’s also available in black at Piperlime for the same price or at Zappos in black or nude for $204.  Shipping is free at either store.

Did you guys catch the MTV VMAs last night?  I did, and there was definitely some amazing performances, loads of celebs in attendance, and plenty of fashion to check out.  At the helm of it all was host Chelsea Handler, who I must say looked sizzling hot in her LBD and t-strap platforms in black and silver during the opening act of the show.  As an added bonus, Chelsea clearly shows that it’s always possible to defend yourself just fine, even when wearing 4+ inch heels:

You’ve gotta feel for the little red man on the receiving end of that kick.  

You can get Chelsea’s fierce Gucci Keira shoes for yourself by heading over to Neiman Marcus, where they are available for $775.  For something far less expensive, here are some more black t-strap sandals to pick from:

Fergie Joust in black for $41.24 in most sizes (prices vary based on size) at Amazon. 

Nine West Graceymai on sale for $29.99 at Nine West.

Steve Madden Glitsi in black for $39.98 at Amazon.

Nina Ulrica for $99.95 at Zappos.

Photos from MTV.com and Zimbio.com

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Giuseppe Zanotti is a luxury brand that is highly coveted for it’s modern, sophisticated styles, but anyone with these shoes on their must-have list must get past their price tag first.  Case in point: the Giuseppe Zanotti E00330 pictured above, which retails for a hefty $695.  Luckily, we’re in the midst of end-of-season sales right now and you can get this pair for just $209.32 at Amazon (in size 6 or 9 only, as of this posting) or for $334 at Zappos.  That’s quite a reduction, but there’s a similar option for those who want to spend even less:

This is the Steve Madden Charmmer and it’s clearly a lookalike for the Giuseppe Zanotti pair, although there are a few differences - particularly in the heel - making it more of an “inspired by” version than a true knockoff.  But, there is quite a difference in price: the Steve Madden version is $109.95 at Stevemadden.com and your total gets even lower when you apply coupon code rmn20f to get 15% off and free shipping.  That adjusts the total to $93.46 shipped and it comes in black or olive.