Shoes
Buy One Get One 1/2 Off At Payless
The Deal: Payless: Buy One Get One 1/2 Off Everything
The Lowdown: Buy one and get one at 1/2 price off on everything at Payless.com. Valid from October 31 through December 1, 2009.
Our Picks:
Parker Tailored Peep-Toe Bootie, $29.99.
Sasha Ruffle Bootie, $34.99.
American Eagle Ghillie Pump, $24.99.
Shop: Payless
Listen In: Kathryn Chats With Meghan Cleary About Her New Shoe Line on ShopNBC
Click on the player below to listen:
I recently chatted with Meghan Cleary (aka Miss Meghan), the uber popular TV personality, author, and creator of Shoe Therapy, who is debuting her line of affordable shoes on ShopNBC this week.
Dubbed as “America’s Shoe Expert,” Meghan obviously knows a thing or two about shoes and this super affordable collection (all shoes are priced under 50 bucks!!!) are not only gorgeous but super versatile and built with us women in mind (hello, we need comfort). Listen up as the entertaining Miss Meghan shares the scoop about her own shoe obsession and how excited she is for the launch of her dream line.
P.S. The line is set to debut at ShopNBC and on ShopNBC.com from October 28th-October 31st. I for one can’t wait to score my own pair of Miss Meghan’s purple booties, gorg!
Meghan Cleary’s New Suede Shoes
What: She has authored books and made countless appearances on TV, and now “shoe expert” Meghan Cleary is coming out with her very own line of designer footwear, too. The new collection, dubbed Miss Meghan, will include suede ankle booties when it debuts at ShopNBC and on ShopNBC.com on October 29th. However, Cleary says she plan to expand the brand with a line of ballet flats, a clutch purse, and platform pumps, in time for the holidays in December. Even better—Cleary says almost the entire line of shoes will be priced under $50 a pair.
What WWD Says:
“For the last several years, I’ve done a lot of appearances and women always come up to me and pour out their shoe stories,” said Cleary. “I’m able to incorporate all of that knowledge into my shoe line and a lot of the pieces are about things I’m looking for as well.”
What We Say: Suede booties are a hot fall accessory, so we’re excited at the prospect of being able to pick a pair—or two—up for under $50. Not only that, but based on what we’ve heard so far, Cleary has really taken comfort into the equation in the design of the shoes as well, giving us yet another reason to tune in on October 29th to buy a pair of booties for ourselves.
Premier Comfort Plus Cushion Insoles: Product Review
What: Marilyn reviews Premier (brand) Comfort Plus Cushion Insoles $3(also available in double thickness for $5-6). You can find them online for as low as $.98.
The Lowdown: Maybe it is the onslaught of Fall and hard shoes after a summer of bare feet, sandals, and sneakers, but I am addicted to these. I like every step to be cushioned. Moreover, I have a narrow foot and I like a snug fit. Even narrow shoes can stretch and widen a bit.
I was delighted to find these at a shoe repair shop. (I am delighted to find shoe repair shops, for they are dying breeds.), because they come in sizes that match your shoe size. Most varieties sold in drugstores, Target, etc. come in one size and you have to trim it to fit.
Of course, I also get all of my shoe soles skimmed in rubber (unless they already are rubber). This costs about $22/pair, but it gives my shoes extra more cushion. helps them to last longer, and prevents slips. I’ve broken two (both) feet in the past 2 years and that is enough.
Women Suffer for Fashionable Footwear
What: If you’ve ever suffered while wearing a pair of too-tight stilettos, you’re hardly alone. According to a new study by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, nearly four in 10 women say they buy shoes that they know don’t fit, while 37 percent of women admitted they’d wear uncomfortable shoes if they were fashionable. Unfortunately, these “killer” heels can cause lingering health problems, including ingrown nails and corns.
What They Say:
“Many of us find it hard to resist a bargain and the latest fashion must-have, but it’s important to remember that by buying ill-fitting shoes, you’re not only going to end up in discomfort, but you are also putting your health at risk,” said Lorraine Jones, of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists.
What We Say: Who hasn’t squeezed into a pair of heels that were super cute but way too small? While it’s important to be fashion forward, it’s more important to take care of your health. Wearing high heels on a regular basis can cause back pain, corns, and ingrown nails—to name a few ailments. We’d rather pick up a cute pair of flats that actually fit than a pair of heels that make our feet. What do you think?
Rollasoles Remedy High Heel Pain
What: The excruciating pain from walking home in heels after a late night out might finally be a thing of the past. Or at least that’s the hope of a new UK shoe company called Rollasole, which has produced a rolled-up ballet flat sold in vending machines at bars across England for just $8. The shoes aren’t for sales in the States just yet, but the company’s founder says he plans to start stocking the flats in Los Angeles nightclubs sometime in September.
What They Say:
“He [Rollasole founder Matt Horan] came up with the idea after one too many nights out which finished with him giving his girlfriend a piggyback home to save her soles.”
What We Say: We’re fans of anything that promises to save our feet from pain, and the $8 price tag makes Rollasoles an even better deal. The shoes themselves don’t look too bad either, although we can’t help but wonder: Would you wear shoes that came out of a vending machine?
Zappos Bought by Amazon
What: One of our favorite online retailers - Zappos.com - has just been purchased for more than 800 mil (mostly in stock) by Amazon.com. Apparently, the company will still operate independently.
What They Say:
“Zappos is a customer-focused company,” said Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive officer of Amazon. “We see great opportunities for both companies to learn from each other and create even better experiences for our customers.”
What We Say: Interesting. We’re not sure what this means for us - we adore Zappos’ huge and diverse collection of apparel; it’s not all about the shoes! But we love Amazon’s shoe site,Endless.com, selection of clearance priced shoes. So we’re hoping not all that much changes for us! Perhaps the inventory will grow on both the sites? Word on the street is that Zappos is pretty darned hesitant to give up any ounce of control, and we think that’s probably true - which is good news for all its fans.
Your thoughts?
Jimmy Choo for H&M This Fall
On November 14, British accessories brand, Jimmy Choo will bring its international glamour, coveted shoes and bags to about 250 H&M stores around the world. To celebrate the collaboration, Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision to create a women’s clothing range for H&M that will complement the accessory capsule. Additionally, this exciting collaboration will include a men’s collection of shoes, bags and accessories.
$1 Old Navy Flip-Flop Sale
“THIS SALE HAS ENDED”
Old Navy is having a big sale on flip-flops- with it’s entire selection for $1 on Saturday, May 23rd ONLY. Please resist the urge to wear them as sandals…
Fashion Trend: Floral Print Heels
What: Apparently, everyone’s adding a little spring to their step - with floral print heels.
What We Say: Floral prints in general tend to come and go, whereas floral print heels are a bit more timeless. They go with just about everything, though we suggest pairing them with solids, not other patterns. The rule of thumb is- the busier your shoes, the simpler the rest of your outfit should be - and vice versa. For those who are a little weary of this seasons’ floral print trend, flowery heels are a great, subtler alternative to printed blouses and dresses. We’ve got some affordable options for you, ranging from retro to church-ready.
Get It:
NaNa Emiko Keels, $19.99, Fashion Lives Online
Retro Floral Heels, $32, Electrica Clothing
Burgundy Floral Peep Toe Platform Heel Pump, $14.99, AMICLUBWEAR
Reviews of the Faith21 Plus Size, 20% Wedges at Piperlime, 30% Off Mother’s Day Jewels, and More
A disturbing new find: LuckyMag via Bella Sugar reports that available on eBay now is…do-it-yourself Botox. Ack! Don’t get any ideas, guys…
Forever21’s plus size line, Faith21, has hit the web! Amongst the many bloggers who are sharing their opinions: Style It Less gives us a peek of all the dresses, and Clutch Magazine is a fan, too!
Need some new summer wedges? Click over to Shopalicious, for 20% off espadrilles from Piperlime - shop before May 11th to get in on the deal.
One more fantastic thing about warm weather - spring and summer fruits! Strawberries and many other yummy treats are great for healthy skin. Get the full list of healthy foods that work wonders for your skin complexion from Pretty by Nature.
Makeup Bag picks out a sturdy, stylish summer sandal that lasts miles and miles - and is available for only $24.50 at J.Crew!
Wal-Mart Shoe Recall
What: Did you buy shoes from Wal-Mart in January or December of 2008? If your answer is “yes,” watch your step. Black, grey, and purple “sling-back, pointed-toe shoes sold under the George brand” may cause a fall, due to flimsy/easily breakable heels. So, take them back to Wal-Mart
, get a full refund, and shop for a sturdier pair.
What They Say:
“Consumers should immediately stop wearing the shoes and return them to the nearest Wal-Mart
for a full refund.”
What We Say: Better late than never, Wal-Mart? It’s been more than a few months since these 200,000 shoes were sold and we’re guessing someone somewhere has stumbled - and that someone probably didn’t think much of it. After all, they only paid $13 for these things.
Is there such a thing as too cheap?
LuckyToes.com - The Shoe LookBook
Luckytoes.com is a lookbook community, where photos of shoes appear on the front page after being handpicked for trendiness, with info on where to buy the shoes. LuckyToes.com is exactly like Mopshots.com (see: our review of MopShots.com); both are sponsored and powered by CitySearch.com. That means clicking the “go there” button next to the shoe’s store location launches the CitySearch.com page with location, directions, and large database of store reviews.
Site Basics: Like Mopshots.com, LuckyToes.com allows you to upload a photo of cute shoes and where you purchased them. Their staff of judges, called The Dictators, pick shoes for the front page based on how much they like a look. Once a photo makes the front page, any viewer can vote on whether they like it, too - the most popular shoes become TopToes.
The Community: The community is still small, and a large percentage of comments are by The Dictators themselves. Still, we hope that shoe lovers everywhere will appreciate a LookBook dedicated solely to shoes. It is a fun place to be inspired and show off your own collection.
The Information: However, the store information provided with each shoe photo seems less helpful than the information provided by Mopshots.com for hairstyles. A very determined fashionista can likely find a shoe with only a brand name, but wouldn’t the name of the shoe, rather than simply the brand, be more helpful? We suggest that Luckytoes.com partner with a shopping search engine (see our top 15 picks of comparison shopping sites) so we can find a shoe online, rather than only in Houston, Texas, for example. Also, since shoes, unlike hairstyles, aren’t available forever, wouldn’t LuckyToes.com benefit from partnering with an image comparison engine (such as Like.com) that can track down similar styles? We know that many buyers don’t know the name of the shoe they buy at a store, and therefore wouldn’t be able to upload that information into LuckyToes.com - thus, a partnership with an image comparison website would be even more beneficial.
The Search: Feeling inspired by this site? Say we want to be inspired by the looks in our area, only. Special shoe-specific search options want to help narrow down exactly what we want: Seychelles in Los Angeles. We’re not sure why we want to browse the tiny selection of shoes on LuckyToes.com, unless all we want to see are photos and we are not looking to purchase. If all we care about are photos, then why are we looking only in a certain area? Mhh, the mind boggles.
Moreover, the search options are still riddled with problems. For example, a random drop down menu exists between “Color” and “Look”: “Hayden Harnett” is chosen, and we can choose nothing else. Another random drop down menu between “Material” and “Season” is “Other” - which can also not be changed, and similarly seems to serve no function. Additionally, the options under each search category are very limited, since the database is still small. The search options appear to take a cue from only the LuckyToes.com submissions that have already appeared on the front page, rather than from a larger editor-created list. (For example, under “Material” we cannot choose cork, pleather, rubber, and under “Shoe Style” we cannot choose “lace-up”, as no such shoes have been uploaded.) Unfortunately, auto-generated search options aren’t accurate: for example, the “Brand” search doesn’t differentiate between BCBG and BCBG Max Azria, while a human fashionista would know better. For now, the drop-down menu for cities only has 11 locations - San Jose is not included, even though some of front page shoes hail from San Jose. (San Jose shoes are listed under “other cities”.)
The Verdict: LuckyToes.com has some growing to do. It needs to fix its search options, and re-think the usefulness of the store location information. However, there is a lot of potential for a lookbook dedicated to solely shoes to blossom into a fun and inspirational community.
Shop the Sale at Endless.com
“THIS SALE HAS ENDED”
The Deal: Shop the Sale Selection at Endless.com and Save
The Lowdown: Whether you’re in the market for thongs sandals, platform pumps or a pair of comfy sneakers, don’t miss the recently-updated sale rack at Endless. Despite the long list of store-closings this season, online sites like Endless.com are thriving with designer brands at low prices. Here’s what we found on a recent roundup in the sale department:
Some cute pink PUMA sneakers reduced to $47.90, originally $69.95; some chic Mia Women’s Davis T-Strap for $54.12, reduced from $69.95; and these party-worthy Michael Antonia Aissa Dress Sandals for only $40.52, reduced from $59.95.
Shop: Endless.com
Okabashi Reveals New Feel-Good Flip Flops
What: Okabashi, which specializes in comfortable, everyday, “grandma” shoes, has announced new, ultra-comfy and ultra-cheap flip flops for men and women. Look, if Hush Puppies can become stylish, why can’t these shoes?
What They Say:
“The new 2009 Okabashi Splash and Surf flip flops feature a new, curved heel for fashion and summer fun versatility - accenting everything from beach wear to casual wear - while retaining the uncompromising comfort, support and a massaging feel that customers expect from Okabashi.”
What We Say: Some of us live in flip flops all summer, and even try to get away with wearing them in the winter, so it’s important that a) they feel good and b) they last a long time, or go for real cheap so we can buy lots of them. At $14.99, these Okabashi flip flops may just cover all fronts. Plus, what other flip-flop brand offers a two year warranty.
Have you donned Okabashi shoes before? If so, what’s the verdict?
Yea or Nay: Ugg Rainboots?
To Ugg or not to Ugg: The greatest question facing our country in the new millennium.
You know, I’ve been on the fence about Ugg boots for a while now. On one hand, they’re comfy, easy to wear, and warm. On the other hand, they’re crazy expensive and look like a cross between moonboots and house slippers.
Now the folks at Uggs just released a line of hideous rainboots with prices… wait for this…. in the $150-$230 price range. Do the folks at Ugg know we’re in a recession? Yes, the boots are lined in short-haired sheepskin, which makes them comfy and warm, but couldn’t you just buy a pair of sheep skin liners at your local Menards or Fleet Farm (you midwesterns know exactly what I am talking about) and put them in a pair of $19.99 rainboots from Target?
Maybe I am looking at this the wrong way… What do you guys think… Ugg Rainboots: Yea or Nay? Vote or comment after the jump…
Sale Items 50% Off at Charlotte Russe
The Deal: All Sale Items 50% Off at CharlotteRusse.com
The Lowdown: It’s been a while since we’ve seen much in the way of sales at Charlotte Russe, but since the prices are really reasonable, we don’t usually complain too much. Still, we’re always happy to save more (particularly when we know the quality isn’t exactly job one), so half off sale items sounds good to us.
Fit can be an issue at Charlotte Russe (and of course their range of sizes is woefully limited), we’d avoid the pants—but for the top half, we found some items that will actually work both now and into the next season like this bold color patch dress, $14.49. And looking ahead on the footwear front, we’re thinking a pair of, oh, purple python stilettos might just be the perfect way to bridge the seasons—seriously, why not?—for just $11.49 (assuming you can navigate safely through all those pesky thaw puddles).
Shop: Charlotte Russe
Up to $100 Off Shoes, Handbags at Endless.com
The Deal: Save up to $100 on select designer shoes and handbags
Shop: Endless.com
The Lowdown: With the economy as it is, it seems big sales on designer goods are becoming the rule rather than the exception. Which is great, but only if you are lucky enough to have some dough to spend in the first place.
Assuming that you do Endless.com is offering up to 100 bucks off select designer shoes and handbags, and we have to tell you, with Spring fashion on our brains, we are zeroing in on the Betsey Johnson sandals, like this Foster slingback wedge, on sale for $70.20 (regularly $164.95), or this Mariana Wedge Sandal, on sale for $80, regularly $180.90. We know, it’s not nice enough to wear them outside just yet, but we’ll warm up just staring at them in the box on those frigid winter nights.
Take an Extra 40% Off at Steve Madden
The Lowdown: Umm, note to Steve Madden: the way to a budget fashionista’s heart is an extra-off-already-reduced-clearance sale, so you are officially our Valentine. You can pick us up at 8.
A note to the rest of you—Steve Madden is one of our fave shoe sources for hot, on-trend pieces. For an extra 40% off clearance, we might treat ourselves to something decadent (but still wearable through spring) like this Justyne peep-toe t-strap pumps (1) for $69.99. Or this Maddiee snakeskin sandal (2) for $69.99. Or this Rager platform patent t-strap (4), also $69.99. Or this Jiingle t-strap heel (3), $59.99. Okay, we’re stopping now.
Shop: Steve Madden
Save on Sale Shoes at Endless.com
The Deal: Shop the Sale Selection at Endless.com and Save
The Lowdown: At so many retailers, a “sale” means you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel style-wise, so you have to be selective to find a real value (and not just something “cheap”). That being said, after searching through the sale options at Endless.com , you won’t have to look too hard to find something inexpensive and fashionable.
To make life easier, we always organize our search by price (low to high), and stop looking when we’ve reached our budget limit. There’s a bit of flotsam to wade through (we’re really not in the market for clear plastic mules, sorry) but we found enough to make it worth the rummaging. Our picks under $50:
1. Nine West Women’s Heech Sandal, $44.65
2. Nine West Women’s Jiogasa Dress Pump, $49.47
3. Nine West Women’s Olavera Sandal, $49.47
4. AK Anne Klein Women’s Christa Pump, $43.42
Shop: Endless.com
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