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Welcome back to the Shoe Store Spotlight. Today’s feature presentation is a fairly new addition to the online shoe world, SoleStruck.com. Launched in 2004, SoleStruck (per their bio) is a small and independent store and they always want to keep it that way. That exclusive attitude helps keep the store’s offerings centered (and that means that if you like their shoes, you’re going to keep liking them, even as they add new styles).
SoleStruck offers $5 pre-paid returns for any unworn items for up to a year! Have you ever had a pair of shoes you meant to return but due to a busy schedule, laziness, whatever, they just got pushed further and further into back of your closet until you completely forgot about them? Well, whereas that would mean posting them for sale on eBay or Craigslist if purchased from some stores, with SoleStruck, you could still return them! (that is, if you at least clean out your closet once a year… P.S. it’s time for spring cleaning). The other feature of their site that I find essential is Live Chat… it’s so much easier to ask questions immediately on the computer so I’m glad they have that option.
You’ll definitely want to check out SoleStruck’s blog too. Although it is generally promoting the shoes they have for sale (obviously), they do have some unexpected entries that you can search through via their list of categories on the right side of the blog. Seriously! Shoestruction, Gross Injuries, Eco-Impact, and Fab Friday Giveaways are among the topics.
One tiny bummer is the Trends Of The Season page. I love the idea of it; it’s hard to search for a find a bunch of shoes with lucite heels (one of my weaknesses) or just neon colors, so grouping hard-to-find characteristics together is awesome. But, sadly the page is not updated and a lot of the shoe pictures are missing (sold out?). Granted I did have to do a little digging to find it, but keep that page updated and I’d have to give this website a 10!
In honor of SoleStruck’s red shopping background, here are some great picks from their website:
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 Jeffery Campbell Mel - Featured in April's Teen Vogue |
 Sam Edelman Erica - I have these in black, way comfy! |
 I wish you could see the cute rainbow elastic across the toes in this pic |
 Oh Deer! Strata - Almost Identical to a pair by Alaia that costs over $1,000! |
Here’s another trend that’s a bit under the radar right now. Whatever you want to call them: sandal booties, sock sandals (my preference), thong boots, etc., these shoes are so fun! Apparently, the style was spotted briefly in Buenos Aires last summer and the comments back then were fairly split, but I have a feeling they’ll be totally embraced this season.
You may notice as you scroll down, that designers were influenced by both past and recent trends. These sock shoes take the previously prolific full boots with peep toes and make the style way more wearable. The new sandals are also a spin on the gladiator trend that is still going strong for the spring/summer season and they are a slight variation on ankle cuff sandals.
I actually have really sensitive skin so I often make due with moleskin and band-aids (ah, suffering for fashion), but these new sock sandals look like heaven! I mean, I’ve certainly never had a sock attack my foot (although there has been some crazy static electricity a few times – that’s the real reason you shouldn’t wear socks with Uggs, btw). Ok, so check out the cream of the crop below and let me know what you think of them this year.
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But, if the sock sandal seem like too big a leap from your usual shoe style, you might want to try bib sandals first. Like that essential accessory for dribbly droolers and those who’d rather wear their meals on their faces, these sandals drape across the front of the ankle with some tapering foot coverage. Bib sandals are a baby step into the sock sandal trend and there are tons of variations. A few great examples by Liz Claiborne (not just for moms all the time!), Calvin Klein, Nine West and Corso Como are below for you.
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I just found these Converse high-tops designed by Kettle Black covered in rows of pyramid studs and I thought they were really cool, why didn’t I ever think of doing that! And I look down to add them to my shopping bag and see they’re selling for $550!? And yes, regular Converse brand Converse. The shoes are fantastic and I’m sure each pair was studded by hand (which does take a while, especially when you’re trying to create straight lines).
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 pictures from Singer 22 where you can also buy these shoes |
But… unfortunately, there’s no mention of these being for some sort of charity fundraiser or anything that might make you say, okay, I can maybe fathom paying that much for a pair of $40 shoes with some $5 studs on them. I hope I am missing something here. Until then, I recommend you get some plain Converse canvas sneakers (come on, you probably already have a pair or two in your closet), some regular pyramid studs, a pair of pliers, an free weekend or two, and get ready to dodge the paparazzi.
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P.S. I’m also totally loving this idea to transform a pair of old ankle boots into a brand new Prada look! Changing up the look of the items you have is a type of recycling, especially if you would have thrown out the shoes otherwise.
Even if you don’t have young relations dragging you through the toy aisles, you may have heard that Monday is Barbara Millicent Roberts’ (aka Barbie) 50th birthday!! I know, I know, she looks like she’s barely aged a day (or does she?!). My shoe-conscious readers will likely have heard about this event because Christian Louboutin was snagged to design the shoes for the Barbie runway show held during February’s New York Fashion Week – in addition to their selecting 50 different designers to each do an outfit for the show.
Louboutin made the shoes, pictured below, in Mattel-owned Pantone Pink 219 (I still find it strange that some companies can own colors, like Tiffany’s blue). But honestly, I’m a little disappointed with his design. When I think of Barbie shoes, they’re pumps (although, yes, I know there have been many different Barbie shoe styles manufactured). I also understand creative variety and giving the shoes a fresh taste for her 50th anniversary, but he decided on plain d’orsay peep-toe heels with an ankle strap. He should have either used the iconic Barbie pump style or made something way less basic. There’s just nothing special about these shoes.
So I decided to look for some alternative directions Louboutin might have taken (besides the obvious option of just adjusting the color of his Very Prive pump to Barbie’s trademarked Pantone pink – you couldn’t fault him for using his own classic shape) and I also searched to find some suggestions for you (if you want to join me on March 9th, I’ll be in hot pink 
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My 3 suggestions in the first row by Payless, Davis by Ruthie Davis and Dior are a classic Barbie homage done right. I am completely in love with the flash of yellow on the front of the Davis platforms, but I wonder now if I’m biased because all my Barbie dolls were a product of the neon 80s, haha. Anyway, even something simple like a not so ordinary fabric, as in the velvet fuchsia Kate Spade slingbacks in the second row, can be enough to re-invent a classic style and make it your own. A bit of ruffled frill like that on the Poetic License t-strap heels also works.
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And now for those creative deviations I was talking about before. A few of the guest clothing designers made some questionable Barbie outfits for the runway (the bondage-inspired bathing suit comes to mind) but at least they tried to show their own interpretation. So, with that in mind, my favorite not-so-basic and totally fabulous real-life Barbie shoes are these pyramid studded wedges by Betsey Johnson and these cut-out bootie sandals by Givenchy. I’ll try to remember to have my camera out on the New York streets on Monday – wear a pair of Barbie inspired shoes that speak to you and make me proud!
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I just stumbled across this, it’s not a New York event, it’s actually to benefit the MUSC Children’s Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, but it’s such a great idea, I had to post it. It’s called the Stiletto Stampede.
The Stampede is a 100 yard dash but all participants must wear heels at least 3 inches tall (and they have to still be attached to your feet by the end of the race). And the winner gets a $10,000 prize!! It’s composed of $5,000 cash, a $5,000 gift certificate to Gwynn’s, a designer department store, and a year of free pedicures from Stella Nova. Wow. Start training, the run is March 21st! There is also a $1,000 prize for best costume presented by Charleston Magazine (I hope they post the winner’s picture online).
I hope someone decides to set something like this up in New York, I bet it would be huge. I think we’d have to make the minimum heel height at least 4 inches for New Yorkers though, since you know some of these girls live in their 3 inch heels
Showing Some Love