“When you walk, it is almost on tiptoe,” Mr. Berardi said. “You look really dainty.”

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Killer designed boots

The New York Times was at Paris Fashion Week, and I particularly liked one of their articles on the most daring heels. As they described:

“The appearance of so many shoes that were either ingenious, architecturally marvelous or potentially murderous gives credence to what some designers have predicted is a fashion movement away from the It bag, since there are now so many self-proclaimed It bags that no one can really keep track of what It is any longer.

So now comes the It shoe, more insider-y, more daring for consumers to pull off. And Paris offered some of the most breathtaking (as in, how would you ever wear them) examples of the season. At Chloé, the heels were inverted triangles, ending in a sharp point, as if the wearer were standing on a shark’s tooth. At Nina Ricci, heels curved inward like thick bear claws. Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy offered gladiator styles that laced to the knees, in sandal and stiletto variations. Alexander McQueen included a pagoda shoe in his show that elicited applause for the model who wore them without falling; and Antonio Berardi showed a high heel on an elongated platform at the toe that actually had no heel”

I almost like some of these designs, but I confess I am not sure I would ever wear one of them! Except of course for a red carpet event, or somewhere where I don’t actually need to walk …. But to be honest, it would not help me grocery shopping Read the full article here.

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A sneacker love story

Matt Halfill is passionate about sneackers. In 2006, he decided to capitalize on that passion and started a blog called NiceKicks. Today, it brings in enough traffic and ad revenue to support both him and his family in Austin, Texas, as well as a staff of four. The blog, which runs ads from Nike as well as McDonald’s and the Dish Network, is also a primary media outlet for any sneaker company looking to cultivate a cool image. For the past several years, sneackers marketers have been chasing informations among bloggers like Matt Halfhill who are known as “sneakerheads.” They’re ones who will wait in line for days for “the” new shoe, and are considered the primary vehicle for building buzz. Read the full article here.

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Eco-friendly footwear helps a country go from aid to trade

SoleRebels was founded in 2004 by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, her husband, and brother. Their  idea was to put a unique spin on the traditional Ethiopian shoe called a “barabasso” or “selatel” which uses a recycled tire sole. In Addis Ababa, they created this place where people came to work, and thus moved the area from a culture of aid to trade. Ethiopia’s lack of resources has forced citizens to cherish what they have and recycle, or create things that they need. SoleRebels is being “green by heritage (…) and not because some marketing whiz told us to be.”  Read the full article here.

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Cool Interview: Elton Brand & The Converse EB2

After a tough first season in Philly, Elton Brand is looking forward to a year of change. Luckily, he has new team jerseys, a new head coach, and also a new pair of Converse signature shoes to be excited about. For the second year in a row, Converse will be releasing a signature Elton Brand sneaker, dubbed the Converse EB2, and it will be available exclusively at JC Penney stores for just $65. Read the full interview here. Another cool design at a great price, sneackerheads have to react quick on this one !

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If you want Megan Fox in your movie  you might think first of shopping for shoes

Megan Fox, 23, said she was turned on to the movie Jennifer’s Body by the screenwriter’s shoes. And given that screenwriter was the enigmatic hot young property Diablo Cody, 31, those shoes could have been quite eye-stopping. Fox said: “She was really shy and really nice and she had on these six-inch pair of clear high heels, like the kind that strippers wear (…) I loved that in Hollywood here she was walking around in stripper shoes. It’s what swayed me to do the movie.” If you are a screen writer, you know what you have to do !

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