Lately I’ve realized that there’s a serious void in my closet for a pair of comfortable, casual shoes that also offer a bit of oomph - i.e. a heel.  If you haven’t already noticed from visiting this shoe blog, I definitely love my high heels.  Yes, heels do tend to be much more exciting (generally speaking) and I do have my fair share, but obviously we don’t go super-high for the sake of comfort - and, let’s face it, some occasions do not call for a high heel.  That’s why I’ve embraced flats much more than I used to, but there are still plenty of times that I need something in-between.  That’s why I’ve been looking around for a casual shoe with a low wedge heel to solve my shoe dilemma.  Of course, I tend to get distracted while browsing for something a bit more sensible, like I did at DSW with these shoes:

Oooh, sparkly!  And a big bow!  It’s the Moda Spana Chase pump in pewter, gold or black for $54.95.

Bright blue heels!  And triple platform!  The SM Adell pump in blue, black or pink for $89.95.

But, in the end, I think the Blowfish Hichi (pictured at the very top in brown and just above in black) is an option I’ll be considering for my casual shoe quandry and something that looks cool enough that I can still have plenty of fun buying it.  It has a wedge heel with just enough flattering height - 2.5 inches to be exact - and also comes in a heavy linen black version.  It’s priced at $59.95 and DSW offers coupon code FALLSHOP that takes $10 off $49, $25 off $99 or $45 off $149. That drops the price to $49.95, but there’s also code SAVE20 that takes 20% off a purchase of two or more items. Then there’s code SHIPR for free shipping on $35.  The good news?  These codes stack and DSW allows up to three per order, so I could get all three of the shoes in this post for $127.88 with free shipping instead of $204.85.  Alternately, I could remove the Steve Madden pair and buy the other two, which drops my total to $71.92 instead of $114.90.  A free DSW account is required for all of the codes except for SAVE20 and there are plenty of possibilites to choose from, so be sure to check out all of the shoes to save big on your own set of faves.

The FALLSHOP code ends 9/7, the SAVE20 code ends 8/30 and the SHIPR code ends 9/12.  Exclusions apply.

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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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We haven’t seen our friend Cheap Chick in awhile, but she decided to pop out of her shell today in the name of cute shoes that won’t break the bank.  If you’ve been to this site before, you know that Cheap Chick is the resident bargain-hunting birdie at this shoe blog and her sole mission is to find shoes under $25.  Sure, she looks pretty tame, but be warned: she gets downright predatory when it comes to low-priced shoes, especially brand name pairs that normally cost much more.  Here’s what she hunted down today:

Smartbargains is having a Shoe-A-Thon, which works out quite well for this Cheap-A-Thon because they have a selection of nearly 50 shoes from brands like Fergie, Carlos Santana, Franco Sarto, Matisse and Harajuku Lovers marked down to just $19.  Sizes and color options are limited for some styles, but I like the Harajuku Lovers Kalista pictured above.  It’s still available in a wide selection of sizes and comes in silver, black or brown (color availability depends on size selected, some are sold out).  The sale ends 8/14/10.

6pm has the Madden Girl Maci in black with zipper accents marked down to $24.95 (MSRP $54.95).

6pm also has the Not Rated Beadster wedge in tan for $23.99 (MSRP $39.99).  It comes in black as well, but it’s almost sold out.

Shoemall has the Yellow Box Biloxi flip flop marked down to $29.99 (originally $37.95) and coupon code BK2SCHOOL takes 20% off until 8/17/10 and that reduces them to $23.99 with free shipping.  The similar Yellow Box Fusion is marked down to $23.99 and the coupon drops them to $19.19.

Also at Shoemall, the Avia A5020W running shoe is marked down from $44.95 to $28.99. The same coupon code listed above will make your total $23.99 with free shipping.

Victoria’s Secret has the Colin Stuart Patent Platform Sandal marked down from $58 to $24.99.  It looks like gold and black are the only colors available at this point depending on the size selected.  Use coupon code FREEVSSHIP for free shipping on 8/12/10 only.

Victoria’s Secret also offers the Colin Stuart Studded Sandal for $24.99, reduced from $75.  It comes in natural, brown or black depending on size selected.  Use the above coupon code for free shipping today only.

6pm has the RSVP Erinn in black, fuchsia, navy or white for $20.25 (MSRP $75).

6pm also has the RSVP Nell with teardrop peep toe in red, black, navy or grey for $23.22 (MSRP $85).

Aeropostale is having their Friends and Family sale that takes 30% off your order when you apply coupon code FFAUG at checkout until 8/15/10.  They have a few flip flops and sneakers in their footwear section, but I like the slippers.  These Aeropostale Striped Rugby Slippers are $14.99 before the code and $10.49 after.  Five other color options are available.

Please note that prices on any of the above shoes can change at any time and availability may be limited.

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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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Fans of MTV’s The City will surely remember those standout Nicholas Kirkwood garbage bag shoes (pictured above) that were featured in the episode where Olivia Palermo helped style pop star Kei$ha for Elle.  While I’m not sure where these shoes can be purchased (or for how much), I couldn’t help but immediately think of them when I came across this pair:

The Petula Rose Platform Sandal isn’t what I would call a knockoff, but it certainly appears to be inspired by Nicholas Kirkwood and is presumably way more affordable.  There’s no mention of the floral accents being crafted from actual garbage bags, which unfortunately eliminates the ”green” recycled factor of the Kirkwood pair, but the frayed roses do convey a very similar look.  Plus, the neutral colors make this style much more wearable while still retaining the overall drama factor.  I’m loving it and, if you love this pair too, you can find the Petula at Topshop for $200.  It’s still a splurge, but definitely a fun one.  Shipping adds a flat rate of $15.

Photo from MTV.com

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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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The Jeffrey Campbell Tick is a shoe that has taken on a life of it’s own.  It all started with the solid leather black wedge bootie version that was reinvented with the addition of a thumbtack-studded heel and it has since kept going and going, changing and morphing into various forms along the way.  Ticksters now have even more ways to get their tack on with new styles, like the Jeffrey Campbell Why Stop (pictured above) for $164 in black or brown at Karmaloop.  Yes, why stop, when there are so many possibilities for this bold look?  We have many more Tick varieties to check out, each of which are all tacked up and rarin’ to go:

Totally Futuristic: The Jeffrey Campbell Robot with metal plating for $234.95 at Solestruck.

Freddy Krueger-approved: The Jeffrey Campbell Slash Low, a scaled-down version of the Jeffrey Campbell Slash TK (almost sold out), for $179.95 in white or black at Solestruck.

More slashed-up action: The Jeffrey Campbell Giggle Tic, which sold out quickly the first time it was offered at Karmaloop, is back for $200 - and almost sold out again.

Not shy: The nude Jeffrey Campbell Tick for $164 at Karmaloop or $169.95 at Solestruck.

Closed up shop: The Jeffrey Campbell Ticket (i.e. the Tick sans peep toe) in black/silver or black/gold for $169.95 at Solestruck.

Folded Over & Zipped Up: The Jeffrey Campbell South Street for $188 at Karmaloop or $159.79 at Eilatan.

Classic: The Jeffrey Campbell Tick in black leather or natural burlap for $150 at Karmaloop or in black, natural burlap or white for $169.95 at Solestruck.

Heavy metal: The bronze Jeffrey Campbell Tick for $150 at Karmaloop or $142.79 at Eilatan.

Wild thing: The tribal Jeffrey Campbell Tick for $150 at Karmaloop or $169.95 at Solestruck.  Update: We also have the cheetah and zebra Jeffrey Campbell Tick Fur for $179.95 at Solestruck.

One more: The Jeffrey Campbell Riddle Tack for $151.29 at Eilatan.  Update: There’s also the similar Jeffrey Campbell Tickle Tack for $122.39 at Eilatan.

Note: For purchases at Karmaloop, use coupon code CLINTON to get 20% off your first order and 10% off thereafter (expiration unknown) or code 15FAB for 15% off until 7/31/10.  Solestruck offers free shipping on $99 or on any order for repeat customers (requires log in).

Freddy Krueger photo from Wikipedia.

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