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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Smartbargains is having a sweet sandal sale and I couldn’t help but notice the bargains they are offering on Harajuku Lovers shoes.  That’s Gwen Stefani’s line of fun and funky footwear (and many other items) inspired by the street style in the Harajuku area of Tokyo.  I find that the brand is somewhat reminiscent of Gwen’s L.A.M.B. line, but the shoes are much more affordable, and I like the fun, girly details they have, like the heart-shaped buckles and pink sole found on many styles.  Right now, Smartbargains has a selection of Harajuku Lovers sandals marked down to $36.98 or less and you get an additional 30% off each pair if you buy two or more.  Do the math and that adds up to a max of $51.76 for two pairs, which is only $25.88 a piece.  That’s a great deal and the $36.98 Harajuku Lovers Karis (pictured above) is eligible, but let’s check out a few more styles:

Harajuku Lovers Kasi for $36.98 in red, black, blue, brown and natural.

Harajuku Lovers Kameryn for $36.98 in silver, brown or black.

Harajuku Lovers Dalle for $36.98 in black (red is sold out).

For more eligible sandals from a wide variety of brands, check out the entire shoe sale.  The expiration is 7/24/10.

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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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We bid farewell to the cast of MTV’s The Hills this week during their final episode and the after-show The Hills Live: A Hollywood Ending, which brought together the entire cast - even Lauren Conrad, but not Spencer and Heidi, who disappeared off the show earlier this season with no real explanation of where they went (besides Crazy Town, that is).  But, it was quite bittersweet for the show to be over and I, for one, actually liked the ending - the final scene where Brody and Kristin are saying their final goodbyes to each other after Kristin decides she’s moving to Europe. 

The background - which appeared to be a real outdoor locale in front of the landmark Hollywood sign - was pulled away and revealed to be a backdrop in the lot of a studio.  Then the cameras pan out to show all the behind-the-scenes action of the show: the cameras, the crew and the breaking down of the last scene.  Apparently, some people didn’t like the ending, but I appreciated the unexpected nod to all the speculation on whether the show was real or fake and the acknowledgement that it wasn’t all reality.  I think most viewers knew it was scripted - at least to some degree - and, let’s face it, a little drama engineering does wonders for the entertainment factor.  Of course, another part of the show’s appeal was checking out the fashion.  So, for my last The Hills shoes post, I’ll be checking out what designer shoes the ladies wore to the aftershow and, in the spirit of this blog, find lookalikes that cost much less.

The cast looked gorgeous at the finale and I had to notice that it was actually the dresses that took center stage this time around - no statement shoes that stole the show for the most part - but they wore the kind of shoes every girl should have in their closet: sexy platform heels in go-with-everything neutrals that serve to complement, not compete with, the entire look.  Let’s start with Kristin Cavallari:

I absolutely love Kristin Cavallari’s dress from The Hills finale, which is by Zuhair Murad and she paired it with Christian Louboutin Turbella 120 silver pumps, which were available at Net-A-Porter, but are now sold out.  I don’t see them for sale online anywhere else, but get a similar look with these: 

Nine West Every in dark or light silver for $29.95 (MSRP $78.95) at 6pm, plus 7 more color options (prices vary). 

Aldo Debellis for $75 at Aldo.  Coupon code 175926112 takes 10% off and shipping adds $5 unless your order is over $75.  The expiration of the code is 7/31/10.

Lauren “LC” Conrad may have exited the show before the final season, but she was back to celebrate during the finale and rumor has it that her taupe suede pumps are Aldo, specifically the Aldo Fawson for $49.98 at Aldo.com.  These are already affordable but, not surprisingly, close to being sold out in this color.  For more neutral suede heel options, check these out:

Nine West Marray for $88.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.  Spend at least $100 on qualifying back-to-school styles (this pair qualifies) and get an extra $20 off for a limited time.

Steve Madden Ultamit in taupe with berry colored sole on preorder at Steve Madden for $79.95 with free shipping using coupon code SMFREESHIP at checkout.

Whitney Port left The Hills for The City, but she definitely had a statement to make at the finale…with her shoes, that is.  Whitney nixed neutrals in favor of a bold and colorful cage style that had Jimmy Choo written all over it.  It’s the Jimmy Choo Quito multicolored snakeskin bootie and it appears to be sold out everywhere online.  These more affordable pairs convey a similar look:

Michael Antonio Jeana for $55.95 with free overnight shipping at Endless.

Aldo Storino on sale for $64.98 (regularly $90) at Aldo.  Get 10% off using coupon code 175926112 and shipping adds $5 unless your order is over $75.  The expiration of the code is 7/31/10.

Pour La Victoire Bethanie 1 in teal for $137.17 with free shipping at Amazon.

Audrina Patridge bares plenty of skin at the finale in her tight purple cutout Boulee Ciara dress, which you can preorder at Singer22 in fuschia or black for $198 (she’s actually wearing it backwards), and her black peep toe pumps.  Her shoes are identified by Coolspotters as the Brian Atwood Wagner, but I can’t find the exact pair online.  However, we always have more black peep toe pumps on the market and here’s a couple that I like for less:

Steve Madden Flawwles for $98.95 with free shipping at Shoebuy.  Get 20% off with coupon code SUMMER at checkout (expiration unknown).  Update: There’s only a couple sizes left, but 6pm has this pair on sale for $39.98 (sale price expiration unknown).

Paris Hilton Sashay in black for $69.30 at 6pm.

Lo Bosworth looked fetching in her white dress and her Christian Louboutin Mille heels completed her sophisticated look.  Get the exact shoes at Barney’s for $895 or spend less on something similar, like these:

Boutique 9 Disco for $79.99 at Nine West or for $96 at 6pm.

Stephanie Pratt pairs platform slingback YSL Tribtoo heels, similar to this one from Saks that is now sold out, with her skintight Herve Leger dress.  Here’s a lookalike option from Bebe:

Bebe Neve in black, blue or pink for $149 at Bebe.

Another option is the Zigi Project Pumped heel in blue or black at Bakers for $79.95.

Holly Montag wore a pretty white feather dress and closed toe black patent heels.  I’m taking a guess on her shoes, which could be Christian Louboutin, Miu Miu, the Pour La Victoire Irina or none of the above (it’s hard to tell).  However, this pair is a nice option for less:

Aldo Moos for $54.98 - $75 depending on option selected.  Coupon code 175926112 takes 10% off and shipping adds $5 unless your order is over $75.  The expiration of the code is 7/31/10.

So, with that, we say goodbye to the cast of The Hills and all of the rumors, the drama, the black mascara tears, the boyfriend stealing, the name calling and cat fights, the voodoo crystals and plastic surgery, the lingering facial expressions, the ending and beginning of friendships - all of it - and the shoes.

Photos from MTV.com

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I talked about some coupons that take further discounts on sale and clearance shoes yesterday, but we have another sale on a sale with even bigger total savings to discuss today.  You may know that Martin + Osa, which is owned by American Eagle Outfitters, is closing and they are continuing their Final Sale by taking steeper markdowns on their merchandise than we saw before.  This includes their selection of women’s shoes and it gets even better when you get a whopping extra 50% off your order automatically at checkout.  The selection of shoes is certainly getting limited at this point, but there’s still some great deals to be had.  Case in point: The Dolce Vita Ivory flat sandal in pewter (pictured above) is marked down from $130 to $59.95, but drops to just $29.98 at checkout.  I checked around and other stores that carry it still have it listed in the $125-ish range, so it’s definitely a bargain.  You can also get Havaianas Slims and other flip flops for $7.48 after discount, plus more styles from brands like Dolce Vita, Schu, Rough Justice and Dulce at super-low prices (none are over $30 after the savings).  Note that all sales are final and shipping adds $7.  The expiration, if any, is unknown.

Update: The sale expires 7/28/10 when the store will be closing its doors.

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Shoe shopping is always fun, but the holy grail of buying shoes comes when there’s a great bargain to be had.  When a sale goes on sale, it’s the best way to combine a love of shoes with a love of saving money - a total win-win in my book.  We have two such sales to talk about today: Shoes.com is taking an extra 25% off sale shoes, plus free shipping, with coupon code 25SALE and Steve Madden is taking an extra 40% off clearance with coupon code 40CLEARANCE.  There are tons of styles to choose from, but here are a couple of my picks:

I’m loving the Naughty Monkey Rave sandal in tan at Shoes.com.  It has cool details like the wrapped heel, a mix of leathers and metal studs holding it all together.  It’s on sale for $75.65, marked down from $89, but drops to $56.74 with free shipping after the coupon.  It also comes in black, but there’s only 1 size left at the moment.

I’ve also been checking out the Steve Madden Myddle at Steve Madden because it seems like the kind of shoe that would look much hotter on the foot than it does in the picture.  I like the woven pewter detail in the front and the silver/white combo, so I think they would definitely be a head-turning kind of shoe when worn (and, hey, it’s a wedge!).  This pair is on sale for $99.99, reduced from $139.95, and they fall to $59.99 after the coupon. There’s also a brown version with gold detail available.

The Shoes.com coupon expires 7/12/10 and the Steve Madden coupon on 7/11/10.

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