If The Shoe Fits

2010-01-01T14:40:00.003-06:00

Hello! I have not dropped off the face of the planet. An odd thing happened last year that I have not had the heart to tell people. It's really sort of a tragedy. Well, the truth is, I lost my shoe mojo. How did this happen? Dead grass caused it.

You see, the grass in our front yard around the weeping willow died. It didn't just die, though, it died in a ring around the willow. So, I decided to do something about the yard, something different. We also had this weedy looking vine all over the yard that was planted to fill in some beds and I didn't like it. I figured I could just dig it up and plant stuff I did like. Oh, and we had ivy, which harbors roaches, so it had to go, too. Now, if you know anything about trying to dig up vines, you know that it is next to impossible. But I kept trying. And trying. And then I decided I needed some Wellies to wear while doing it. So I bought six pairs. This is not surprising, is it?

As I kept attempting to dig out the vines that were taking over our beds, I started to do a little research on what to plant there instead. The more I researched, though, the more I wanted to know. And the more I found out, the dirtier my Wellies became. And the dirtier they became, the less I wore anything else. Even now, as I sit here next to my heater typing this post, I am wearing Wellies. I was, after all, just planting some ornamental grasses outside. So anyway, back to why this has taken away my shoe mojo. So, as my priorities shifted from all that is pretty in molded form, I started to realize that I was more concerned about the things growing under my feet than the things adorning my feet.

I guess the true test came when I realized that instead of lovingly cleaning my shoes with special cleaners and lotions I was hosing them off with a garden hose. And, my Ferragamos and Kenneth Coles were dusty. Yes, dusty. They simply did not belong in a dirt war and I was doing nothing but waging that battle against invasive species and trying to kill the rest of the grass. Oh, why did the grass die in a ring? because the previous owners of this house poured concrete under the willow in an attempt to keep it from getting into the pipes. Yes, I am serious.

So, for now, I will soldier on with the perpetual war against ivy suckers and mud tracked through the house and hope my shoe mojo comes back. Maybe it will. I did get some fabulous Sperry Wellies the other day.

Hey, nobody said gardening had to make you ugly.

Shoe for the day:

Donna Karan

2008-08-16T12:43:00.004-05:00

Fabulosas! Loooooooooooooook! My favorite Ebay seller has another pair of Kenneth Cole Milkshake boots! If any of you are a size 5 1/2, you must get them. This is the seller who sold me my pair of Milkshake boots that I wear and wear all winter. You must get them and be fabulous like me.

I've been neglecting all of you and this blog for an unusual reason, my dear fabulosas. It will shock you to know that I have been struggling with my devotion to couture lately. I was having trouble reconciling the amount of money spent on couture and the lack of food children in Africa receive. Yes, I know it is not the same thing, but it was bothering me nonetheless. It will not be surprising to know that I have found a brilliant way to justify our love of couture: Since the clothes/shoes/bags you would buy that are not couture are often at least partially made in sweatshops or with slave labor, it is far more ethical to buy couture. You are doing the right thing by paying more to ensure that your clothes/shoes/bags are made by people who are paid a living wage. Oh, the beauty of that argument, it does stun me!

There is simply no reason to buy things that are cheaply made and not fabulous. We have a duty to the rest of the world to ensure that we consume in a conscious, ethical way and the only way to do that is to buy from designers who use craftsmen and women to make their fabulous pieces of pretty. Truly, if you're not buying couture you're not a very nice person. You don't want to be a mean person, do you, fabulosas? I don't think you do. Besides, who wants to be mean while wearing cheap shoes? That's just tacky.

Be a better person: buy couture.

Today's favorite shoe:

Giuseppe Zanotti

2008-07-17T08:24:00.007-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Oh, fabulosas, I have been neglecting you more than usual. I have been oddly uninspired lately, but I promise I have not forgotten you. Luckily, I have some shoe loving students this semester who are helping to feed my shoe adoration needs; perhaps they will help inspire me.

I went to the mall the other day with Shelley to see a movie and, naturally, shop. I knew I couldn't really shop because I had had to cancel my credit card (I only allow myself one) after I had trouble canceling an automatic bill pay item. But I had brought $100 with me for the movie and lunch and thought I would be wise with the rest and save it for the week. Sometimes I lie to myself.

As Shelley and I were passing the Steve Madden store, I spied an adorable pair of flips (on sale!) and I knew the saving of the money was not going to happen. But really? How could I have passed these pretty little things up? I was fortunate enough to wear them the next night to see Eddie Izzard on stage. Much to my chagrin, he was not wearing heels. Don't tell Mr. Fancy Pants, but I'd leave him for Eddie. A straight man who loves heels as much as I do? How could I not? Anyway, I think I did the right thing with the weeks' money, don't you? After all, fabulous new shoes are the point of having money in the first place. It would be illogical not to have spent my last cash on shoes. Right?

OHMYGOD. Remember the Madden black mules my stupid dog chewed up? Remember the subsequent hunt all over Dallas for a new perfect pair? As I was looking for the picture of the cute new flip I noticed that he is making them again! He heard the call! I think I may have to go cry tears of happy fortune, now.

I promise, no more neglecting you, fabulosas. I am back; I will be updating this blog and sharing my brilliant shoe insight far more often. Regularity, after all, isn't just for bran muffins.

Today's favorite shoe:

Emilio Pucci "764972"

2008-05-17T21:27:00.002-05:00

Oh fabulosas, I have some very important information to impart to you. This information will hopefully save you from making the same mistake I made a month or so ago. Put on your serious faces and let's talk about home finances.

I decided that in an effort to curb my spending I would give up pedicures and start doing them myself. How hard could it be, right? I had bought an Ped Egg after staring at it for 15 minutes in line at Bed, Bath and Beyond and had good results with it. The calluses just came right off! It was so easy! so efficient! I was starting to think that my idea of home pedis was going to work.

The next time I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond I spied this home spa. It has an electric skin remover thing and I thought, if it's good manually, surely an electric one will be better. That makes so much sense! It would be so easy to just hold my dainty foot out and let the electric magic of the heel scraper go to town on my dainty heels. I also didn't realize that the electric thing was attached to the spa and not removeable. I was hoping I could put a different attachment on it and use it on my face. On second thought, that probably wasn't the brightest idea.

Today was the day I decided to get the spa out of the box and give it a go. It turns out, I had a profound misunderstanding of my pedicure abilities. Not only did the electric magic simply not happen, it was far more trouble than it was worth. After filling up the footbath and carrying it to the living room to lounge in my comfy chair with a book (something that was not exactly easy to do), I turned it on. The wonderful heating thing was more of a tepid buzzing; the electric heel scraper only took off little bits of skin, leaving my heels ragged and in need of manual work. Wasn't the thing I was trying to avoid? I ended up getting the Ped Egg out and using it rather vigorously on my heels; worked much better. So much for the magic of electricity and heel scraping technology. The other problem I had was a distinct lack of patience in filing my toenails into a nicely rounded shape. Did you know that painting your toenails into the shape they should be does not work all that well? Yeah, skin and nail, two very different things.

I chose a weirdly metallic shade of pink that I bought at the dollar store about a year ago as a gag gift for some welcome baskets. It's ok, but not something I would probably buy again. Still, it worked better at the pretend nail shaping than I assume a lighter shade would. After all of these failed experiments, I did eventually get my feet and tootsies into something akin to respectable shape. Who knew pedicures were not the easiest thing to give yourself? And here I was, thinking pedicures were not a necessity but a luxury! What a silly idea.

I may have grossly misunderstood my pedicure ability, but I will never misunderstand my ability to choose the most fabulous shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Giuseppe Zanotti

2008-05-08T22:18:00.002-05:00

I am a bad, bad shoe blogger. I have been neglecting my beloved fabulosas in favor of writing about other things on my other blog. Oh, it is so wrong! The shoes, how they suffer without me! I shall force myself to touch a pair of Crocs the next time I am at Nordstrom's. But only with my pinky finger and only for half a second. I've been bad but not that bad.

One of my former students was walking through some city and came upon a sight that horrified him: it was an entire store devoted to Crocs. Naturally, he stopped and took a picture for me with his cell phone. I purposely did not save it, for obvious reasons. The question I must ask is, how is it possible there is an entire store devoted to the hideous foam monstrosities? Have we lost our minds? The answer must surely be, yes! we are, as a nation, batshit crazy.

It is often a sign of a diseased mind when a person begins to prefer the lower arts, or lesser artists. If you walk into someone's home and see a copy of a Thomas Kincaid painting, aren't you a little bit sure that there is some simple mindedness going on? Do we really think of the Lawrence Welk types as anything but doddering old fools? If we know someone who regularly sends us "inspirational" and sappy as hell emails, aren't we also sure they are avid Hallmark Channel viewers? Two words, people: Danielle Steele. Two more words: Hee Haw. Save the righteous indignation for lesser mortals; you know I'm right.

It is the same for our support of Crocs and their take over of American feet; we are entering the twilight of our sanity as a nation and starting our rapid descent into the great nursing home of history. There simply cannot be any other explanation for how it is possible that Crocs are not just worn, but popular. We have passed the age of reason, in this country. We have started wearing diapers made of foam because they're just more comfortable and convenient. We have discovered the "joys" of jello colored shoes. We are combative and refusing to do what is best for us, long past caring that we are wearing curlers in our hair in public and not minding it when people see our skid marked undies hanging on the line of ugly that stretches across this country. We are the slovenly crazy lady you see at the store buying bags and bags of cat food, kitty litter, and gin. Quite frankly, we smell.

Je refuse! I refuse to be associated with a country who eats supper at 4:00 p.m. and wears those funky sunglasses you get at the eye doctor's office after your eyes have been dilated. I refuse to live in a county that thinks that foam is something you wear instead of something you use to wash your hands. Je refuse!

And people wonder why other countries think we're tacky!

Today's favorite shoe:

Bettye Muller "Ekland"

2008-04-09T20:20:00.003-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know it has been way too long and I have missed my beloved fabulosas. I hate to admit that I have been uninspired. Yes, it's true, reality as we all know and love it has been altered. Think happy thoughts for inspiration to remain with me, fabulosas.

The thing that brings me back is a dream I had last night. In this dream I was having a discussion with some nameless person about whether or not god exists and if he does, if he is benevolent in nature. I won't bore you with the details of this dreamy argument, for it was long and meandering and had a strange way of being about cats and jello. In the end, I won the argument with a very simple, true, and good statement: God could not be benevolent if he exists, otherwise high heels would be comfortable. Anyone with two neurons to rub together would see the wisdom, the superiority, the sanctity, nay the necessity of that argument.

We must never forget that we are fabulosas, and as fabulosas we dream, and when we dream we dream of shoes. For, what else is there?*

Today's favorite shoe:

Emilio Pucci "764970"

*Paraphrase of a line by David Mamet

2008-03-19T21:51:00.000-05:00

Fabulosas: I need a small break but I will be back. I promise.

2008-03-08T21:19:00.002-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Oh la, fabulosas, I had such a full shoe day on Wednesday. I met my mother at Northpark for lunch at P.F. Chang's. I am constantly bugging Suz with my love for their Mongolian beef. I think I could text her "Mongolian beef, mmmm!" from someone else's phone and she'd know it's me. But enough about food, it isn't the point.

After we had lunch we headed to Nordstrom's for their 33% off sale. The racks were relatively empty and nothing I liked fit. My mother, however, managed to find two pairs of shoes and was smart enough to listen to me and buy them. As I was perusing the couture racks and talking with my mother and the salesman a very nice looking and nicely dressed woman was sitting nearby and smiling at us. I commented on how much I liked her dress, she smiled and thanked me and we all continued to bask in the glow of the shoes. The atmosphere was replete with good will and the euphoria you feel when you're surrounded by the love of well made shoes and the people who appreciate them.

We wandered around the rest of the shoe department, stopping to try a shoe on here and there. As the salesman was leading us over to some Nina's, we passed two twentysomething women trying on heels. They asked the salesman's opinion, he told her both pair; I told her which one was actually the best. She ignored me completely which would lead anyone with sense to the conclusion that she was just not that bright. Bless her heart. We left the simple woman to wander some more, stopping here and there, but I was not having any luck. It felt like the world had tilted off its axis and all that was noble was suddenly relegated to a shoe box in the clouds. Don't ask me what that means, I'm being lyrical.

Finally, the salesman led us to a pair of blingy sandals which he then convinced me to try on. They were definitely not my thing but my mother convinced me to get them. They have a heart and crystals and they're pink. I like pink, I like crystals, I kind of like hearts, just not all together. I'll be taking them back tomorrow. We headed over to check out and I collapsed in the closest chair. It was then that I realized I was sitting next to the Crocs display. I threw up a little bit in my mouth and needed a mint.

My mother took an inordinately long time to check out and as she was doing so two women walked up and said they were holding some packages for them. Imagine my surprise and extreme envy when three salesmen walked out with seven bags of shoes! Can you imagine? My pulse quickened, my mouth went dry, my pupils dilated and I just managed to croak: can I come home with you? They laughed, I smiled weakly and hoped they knew I wasn't kidding. I shed a tear of regret as I watched them leave the store with all of those shoes. I can only imagine what joy they were feeling as they loaded the bags into their car and headed out into their destiny of shoe wonder. Oh, la.

When I got home and took out the shoe box to show Mr. Fancy Pants the shoes, he said, oh lord! here we go! He humors me pretty well when I come home and show him my new shoes. He nods and mumbles something about them being nice then turns back to whatever it was he was doing. It isn't much but I'll take it. I don't actually expect him to get all gooey with wonder at my new shoes; that's Suz's job. I usually call her from the store to tell her what I'm seeing and trying on. She does the same for me. I had to increase the minutes on my cell phone plan. It was worth it.

There is one more thing to report from my full shoe day: Nordstrom's at Northpark is participating in the Soles 4 Souls campaign now through March 19th. You can bring your gently worn or new shoes to Nordstrom's and they will send them to Soles 4 Souls. I heartily endorse this charity and hope that you all choose to send them the shoes you no longer wear. You know we've all made shoe mistakes in our lives and forgotten to take them back. God knows I have more than one pair that felt like they fit in the store but betrayed my feet when I wore them; what a fantastic solution to that problem! You get rid of the shoes that are mocking you with their inadequacy and someone who needs shoes gets a pair that fit and protect their feet. This is a fabulosa worthy idea.

Here's a tip: if a shoe has pink bling and you are above the age of five, don't let your mother talk you into getting them; she's just trying to pretend that you're not all grown up.

Today's favorite shoe:

Sergio Rossi "Blanka"

2008-03-05T20:58:00.002-06:00

HURRY! FABULOSAS! HURRY!

Several of you have asked me where you can find a pair of Stuart Weitzman "Give Me Fever" pumps. They are simply nowhere. But I found a pair today at Nordstrom's at Northpark Mall... size 6 medium. Go! get them! HURRY!

2008-03-04T20:10:00.003-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Mr. Fancy Pants and I were driving down the freeway on Saturday night and talking about how a privileged upbringing can sometimes cause one to miss out on the simpler pleasures in life, like parking lot carnivals and paper plates. As we were passing a store that advertises all shoes $9.95 Mr. Fancy Pants blurted out, "Why don't you shop there?" It was all I could do to not push him out of the speeding car.

I've never been to that particular shoe store; I think it's obvious that they would have nothing for me. I can get down with a cheap pair of flips and I can get down with a cheap pair of tennies*, but I fail to see how a shoe store that has any self respect at all would willingly advertise their cheap nature. They might as well slap some proverbial hot pants on and proverbially give the milk away for free. Needless to say, I will not ever be gracing that store with my presence. I buy my organic milk at a premium. Could be the privileged upbringing; or, it could be that I have good taste.

Back to Mr. Fancy Pants: What to do? I find myself questioning who this man is and why I married him. I recognize that I couldn't have found my, ahem, solemate in male form if I wanted to marry a heterosexual, but I thought I had taught him more than to even consider stringing cheap shoes in a sentence with my name. I think I might have to invent a class that teaches husbands, boyfriends, and butchy lesbian lovers how to truly appreciate a fabulosa's clear entitlement to fabulous shoes. I'll call it, Liesl's Introduction to Wants Superseding Needs class. That works quite nicely!

In my class you will learn that shoes are universally valuable above all other a priori concepts.

*As long as you aren't using them for exercising. Oh, wait a minute! they aren't for anything else and we do not wear them outside of the gym or street race. Never mind!

Today's favorite shoe:

Giuseppe Zanotti "E7020"

2008-02-25T19:07:00.002-06:00

Told you so.

Furthermore, I've seen it claimed, though not documented, that Cody helped design the shoes, knowing full well what they were. I knew it was all about her edge cred. Lame.

2008-02-24T19:33:00.005-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I now formally kick Diablo Cody out of the fabulosa universe. She is dead to me. To read why, here is an excerpt from her latest blog post on Myspace:

"I'm actually really pissed about this, now that I think about it. They're using me to publicize their stupid shoes and NOBODY ASKED ME. I would never consent to a lame publicity stunt at a time when I already want to hide. I'm sorry if I sound like a party-pooper, but Jeebus."

Party pooper? She wants to hide? I'm sorry, did someone force her to write Juno and then force her to sell it to a producer or studio to be made into a movie? Is someone forcing her to go to the show and sit there in all of her tacky faux leopard print glory? No? then stop with the faux Garbo shit.

Lame publicity stunt? Because, you know, she's such a private attention ho-less person. There's nothing wrong with asking for the attention of every pair of eyes in the room by taking your clothes off, but let's not kid ourselves that strippers are the hide away in the dark types. I suspect Diablo Cody just thought she would no longer be considered edgey if she wore the Weitzman shoes and therefore garner attention for something other than her body or wit.

We are, of course, talking about the Stuart Weitzman "Cinderella" shoes. I am not a huge fan of this year's offering, but they are Weitzmans and are therefore special. Diablo Cody should thank her lucky stars for having the opportunity to be in the same room with Stuart Weitzman, much less wear his shoes. She could only hope to touch his greatness with the very tip of her pinky toe.

As expected, Stuart Weitzman was class itself when interviewed by the AP:

"Weitzman later said he made the cost of the metallic beige T-strap high heels -- more than $2.5 million, including parts that were not used in the final pair -- clear to Cody when he met with her. He blames the stripper-turned-screenwriter's behind-the-scenes team for not fully communicating the value of the shoes to Cody.

"I'm just embarrassed that she wrote what she wrote," he told the AP during a telephone interview Saturday night.

Even so, the designer says he wouldn't change his decision to give the ultra-expensive heels to Cody."

That, Diablo Cody, is what class looks like. You can't buy it, you can't steal it, you can't even pretend to have it. It doesn't come with birth or status or accomplishment. Ex-strippers can have it, but not if they act like whiney babies with entitlement issues.

I don't care who you are or what you've done, Stuart Weitzman deserves more respect than a bitchy rant on myspace.

Today's favorite shoe:

Stuart Weitzman "Por Favor"

2008-02-21T18:48:00.002-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I am not happy. I was finally able to wear the gorgeous fuschia Pliner's I bought a month ago and they killed my feet. They are, dare I say it? too small. I knew that stretching spray wouldn't work since they are silk, but I headed over to Deno's, my favorite shoe repair store, anyway. The instructions for the spray are for leather or reptile, not man made fabrics. Oh! wait! the shoes are silk! that's natural, right? I mean, it comes from worms, which are so natural they are icky. Dare I try it? What do you think, fabulosas?

Anyway... I found a fabulous product at Deno's: Killer Kushionz by Foot Petals. These incredible sticky cushions are supposed to keep your feet from sliding in their shoes. Can you imagine? We all know what it's like to slip around inside our shoes to the extent that we look like we're walking on ice on a perfectly hot day. While it might be amusing to watch, it is not amusing to experience. These pads come in all different sizes and can be added to any kind of shoe. You have to love a company that claims "one size fits fabulously." Oh! how cool are these Strappy Strips for those straps that won't stop digging into your perfectly pedicured pes? Yes, it's a word.

This product exploration, while fun, has me wondering how it is that I didn't know about these products before now. I feel a tiny bit betrayed by my hyper extended shoe sense. I suppose I can't know everything. Wait, this is me we're talking about; of course I can and do know everything. Now.

Since we've established that I know everything now, why not just go ahead and put me in charge of the world? It would be infinitely prettier.

Today's favorite shoe:

Kate Spade "Gerry"

2008-02-17T18:23:00.002-06:00

Liesl, 7N

When I am out and about without my husband and he happens to call me on my cell phone which I just happen to have with me and turned on, I always answer, "I'm not shopping!" Three fourths of the time that isn't true, but what we doesn't know won't hurt him. I'm usually able to hide the evidence before he gets home and only rarely am I busted. Maybe it's more true that Mr. Fancy Pants is in a deep state of denial.

I met the man who has the website again on Friday. He just had to meet me at a Barnes and Noble that was next to a DSW. And I just happened to get there an hour early after my lunch with my gorgeous friend Erika ended. What's a shopping addict to do? Um... shop? I picked up a cute pair of Rampage sandals with bling on the toe hole and not much else and a cute pair of flips with pearls on the straps. The flips were something like $4 and you can never have too many flips for tooling around the garden, house, pool, or discount shopping. Remember ladies, nice shoes for nice stores.

This time the fault was truly not mine for the shopping. Truly. No one could expect me to pass up shoes when I have time to spare and vast availability. No one. It would be like someone blaming a crack ho for smoking crack when it was handed to her for free. Or, blaming a gambler for betting on a game that was a sure thing, like the Patriots versus the Giants. Wait, that one doesn't work. The point is, I am not to blame for this one; I took one for the team of people everywhere who have their addictions thrust on them against their will. It wasn't my fault! Stop looking at me like that!

Addiction may be too strong of a word for what I have; let's call it an undying need to pretty up the place.

Today's favorite shoe:

Casadei "3891"

2008-02-12T00:46:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Squeeeeeee! a wedding in the fabulosa universe! I am so excited to announce that my beautiful friend Jenni is marrying my less beautiful friend Huan. It's not that he's not beautiful, but he's a man. You get that, right? Jenni told me tonight of their impending nuptials and I am so excited I think I teeteed a little bit.

I love weddings. I watch wedding shows and I take Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. Weddings are the time we are supposed to be at our best and the time people are supposed to love us so much that they buy us ridiculously complex and expensive mixers. But fabulosas, let us not forget the most important part of any wedding: the wedding shoes. I am getting flushed at the thought.

We've talked about special shoes before and what they mean to us, but let's talk specifically about wedding shoes. As we prepare to cross the threshold into a new life and a new family, shouldn't it be done in our most special shoes? Yes, I do believe it should. Your wedding day is the most important shoe day of your life. Even if your dress will cover your shoes the entire time, it doesn't matter; you will still know that your most fabulous asset for the day is your shoes. Walk into your life on happy little pillows of joy!

Something borrowed, something blue, something old, something new, something fabulous in shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Vera Wang

2008-02-05T15:38:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Oh, fabulosas, fabulosas, fabulosas! Looooook! If one of you doesn't get those shoes I will be very upset. They are GORGEOUS and they are such an amazing price! I've mentioned that that is my favorite ebay seller, right? I've bought Pliner and Kenneth Cole from them and they are so wonderful. But those Kenneth Coles are simply to die for. Oh my god, I want these so, so badly. I promised Mr. Fancy Pants that I wouldn't go crazy on ebay, though. My life is so hard.

Is it a boudoir slipper or a fabulous slingback? You decide! I have some of these in a half boot and they are killer. They look incredible with jeans. You should get them. And these. You realize that if you are a size 10 you are morally required to get these, right? Who doesn't need a pair of red ankle boots? Or strappy sandals?

I'm not an enabler, I just know what's good for my beloved fabulosas.

Today's favorite shoe:

Isabella Fiore "Revolver"

2008-02-01T15:18:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Oh, Donald. Donald, Donald, Donald. There is no featuring of Crocs on fabulous shows. You have just made The Apprentice the bitch of foam made hideousness. I don't care that Crocs is donating shoes to people in need! If they truly wanted to do something good they'd donate a fabulous pair of shoes for every Croc someone turns in as a way to make up for the ugly they have spread around the world. It would be like those turn in your gun programs, only better.

A very smart man contacted me recently and asked if I would be interested in writing for his website. I met with him today and have agreed to write the content on his site. When we get it up and going I will be sure to link it here so that you all can bask in my displayed glory. This means, of course, that I get to go shopping even more. Woe, my life; it does pinch.

Here's my bargain with all of you: for every pair of Crocs you send me that I can destroy I will donate $5 to the Autism Society of America.

Today's favorite shoe:

Ralph Lauren

2008-01-28T14:26:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I am extremely and irretrievably offended. I feel like my honor has been trampled upon and my name is now as muddy as a country doctor who hides an assassin in bad shoes. What, you ask, could cause this ultimate offense? There is a loafer named Liesl. And darlings, let me tell you, it is not good.

Of all the shoes they would name Liesl, they chose that monstrosity?? Look at the stitching! Look at the material! That shoe does not deserve my name. I heartily object to my name being anywhere near that shoe and I think we need to start a petition to rename it. Let's say, something like... Mabel? or how about Agnes? Lucretia? Here's the problem: I can't find out who makes this very un-fabulous loafer. Anyone?

My name is worth far more than cheap materials and bad stitching.

Today's favorite shoe:

Givenchy "574936"

2008-01-22T11:03:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I had the worst nightmare I've ever had last night. I had gone to see my doctor and he told me that I had to start wearing orthopedic shoes. I was excited at first, thinking, new shoes! When he took me to the back wall of his office and showed me the shoes, I shook my head, screamed no, and started to have a panic attack. The shoes were a cross between running shoes, men's oxfords and cardboard boxes. My doctor told that I would lose my ability to walk if I didn't wear these shoes. In other words, my life was well and truly over.

I haven't been able to shake the feelings from that nightmare this morning. The horror of seeing the abomination they were calling a shoe and the agony of hearing that I would have to wear it... it is too much for my fragile psyche. In the dream, I chose the wheelchair over the horrific shoes. Naturally.

Life isn't worth living in bad shoes. You present yourself to the world in your shoes and if you don't care enough to present yourself as fabulous, you might as well resign yourself to mediocrity. And who wants that?

If dreams were reality I'd be Christian Louboutin's best friend and all the world would be better for it.

Today's favorite shoe:

Alessandro Dell'Acqua "719032A"

2008-01-16T15:15:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Did you watch Tuesday's Oprah? You seriously missed it, if not. She was supposed to have on Christian Louboutin but he came down with bronchitis. Instead, she had on one of his representatives and, more importantly, his shoes. I whimpered. He called shoes "life filled art objects." Have I mentioned? he completes me.

I had never seen a picture of the God of Shoes, so I was a bit surprised to see this little man tooling around Paris on a scooter. But then I realized, he couldn't possibly have lived up to my expectations. No man is Leonidas, Achilles, Hector and Odysseus all rolled into one with a massive helping of shoe perfection. Still, the God of Shoes will always be more than enough man any woman would need. You know, because of the whole completing thing. And the shoes.

This is why Christian Louboutin is the God of Shoes:
I am crying tears of salty purity over those shoes. Those shoes are the cat's meow after good sex and the bees knees after a run through a field of poppies. Those shoes are sublimity in material form and delicousness in satin and bows. Those shoes simply are.

I think we should all launch a thousand paper ships of fabulous in honor of Christian Louboutin.

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Louboutin, of course.

2008-01-14T18:20:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I saw an old friend yesterday who I hadn't seen in twelve years. He reminded me that I had helped him pick out a suit for his rehearsal dinner and that he still had it, still wears it. His mom told me that they had looked everywhere for a suit that looked good on him and that would last through the fads and were amazed all those years ago that I had been so successful in finding that suit. My husband smiled and said that I've always had sartorial elan. My response? Well, duh.

This is yet another example of why you all should really trust me and my sartorial sense. I have also decided that you sweet things might benefit from my other tastes in all things pretty. Here's your first tip: two words that should never, never, never, never, never, never go together? faux fireplace.

Two other words that should never, never, never, never, never, never go together? Foam shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Manolo Blahnik

2008-01-09T19:07:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

A friend recently told me a story about a friend of hers. Apparently this friend of a friend bought what she thought was a Dior purse online. When she the lining ripped a year later she took it to Dior to have it fixed. Their response? We don't fix knock offs. Not only did the friend lay out a couple hundred dollars for a knock off, she was duped into thinking it was real, and she was seriously dissed at Dior. I can't imagine a worse fate.

I'm ok with shoe inspirations. I'm ok with buying a pair of shoes from Target that approximately resemble a pair of Manolos. I do not think it is ok, though, to purchase cheap shoes that have a couture label on them. No, I don't care about sweat shops and child labor or fair trade; that's all immaterial in this issue. I care that the original piece of art is being seriously misrepresented. As if Gucci would indulge in plastics.

The moral of this entry is this: if it smells like a knock off, if it looks like a knock off, it costs less than a mortgage payment, it's not worth your time. You have to pay for true art.

You will never find truly fabulous shoes in a trash bag wielded by an Asian man on Canal street.

Today's favorite shoe:

Hollywould "Gertrud"

2007-12-28T10:35:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Miss me? Yeah, I know, I know, life was empty. Never fear, AT&T finally came through with internet access.

My sweet neighbor just brought over a present for me: bunny slippers. I adore bunny slippers! Actually, I adore slippers in general, but bunny slippers seem to add that extra bit of specialness to already special, luxurious footwear. My neighbor gets me.

My cousin called me the other day to tell me how much he liked this blog. Did I mention he's my favorite cousin? Anyway, he said that years ago he had a friend who told him that if you looked at a person's shoes you could tell a lot about them. As you all know, I agree with this. I've mentioned this before and even shown how this is true; it's so true, in fact, that it bears repeating.

What do you want your shoes to say about you?

Only the tacky die young:

Nun in street clothes:

I've gone to the bad Christmas place:

Still trying to relive the days when it was cool to roll around on the floor in a lace wedding dress:

Dude, they stopped touring when Jerry died:

Oi! they stopped touring when Sid died:

Hi! my name is __ and I idolize Minnie Mouse and nuclear radiation created colors!

My shoes say a lot about me in French and Italian.

Today's favorite shoe:

Giuseppe Zanotti "I70133"

2007-12-22T15:12:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I am sorry to report that we do not have internet access at home thanks to the unbelievable incompetence of several AT&T employees. I bet they wear Crocs, too. Anyway, I'll be back as soon as we find a new internet provider. In the meantime, go buy some shoes! Shop! Go!

Oh, and happy holidays, darlings!

2007-12-09T19:34:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I am sorry I've been neglecting the blog again. I promise to be more diligent in my shoe commentary duties. I know you lovely people can't do without me and my amazingly wise words.

I would like to point out that there are certain things that you should not do, even if someone does step on your shoes. Shooting someone in the back is just one of those things. I realize that people should be extremely careful when they're around fabulous shoes, but we must be moderate in our responses.

I think the man who had his shoes stepped on should have responded in this way: "Pardon me, I believe you have just trod on my shoes. Please be more careful as they are fabulous and worth more than your life. Just kidding! ha ha! I won't shoot you in the back! ha ha!"

I realize that shoes trump most things, but you must remember that if you do something that will result in your imprisonment, you will have to wear Croc-like shoes. Is it worth it? No, no, not at all. Please do remember your priorities, fabulosas.

I used to know an opera singer who shot himself in the foot to avoid service in Vietnam. I don't know which is worse, his cowardice or his willingness to sacrifice fabulous shoe opportunities for his life.

Today's favorite shoe:

Givenchy "574920"

2007-11-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

My husband and I went to the symphony last night for our anniversary. We were drinking our pre-symphony champagne in the lobby and commenting on how people were dressed when I remembered a woman who used to attend every opening night of every Opera Colorado performance in the 80s with her husband. We called her the princess because her outfits were always way over the top and she always wore a tiara. I found out years later that she made every single one of those outfits and planned them all year in anticipation of opening night.

We made fun of her back then but I think we were wrong. Good for her for putting that much care and work into what she wore! We could all do with a little bit of the princess in us. When you see people wearing ditch digging clothes to hear Beethoven, there's just something wrong. Great beauty should be respected with more beauty. Comfort is simply not as important as beauty. Clearly.

I met the princess at the opening of one of the Central City operas. She was, well, not very bright. She seemed almost simple minded. But she was sweet and she loved her clothes and she loved to dress up when she had the chance. I think we could all learn something from that simple, gaudy woman: it doesn't take brains or common sense to know that putting care into your clothes is a good thing.

There's nothing wrong with slapping a tiara on your head and calling yourself fabulous.

Today's favorite shoe:

Etro "3023"

2007-11-17T12:03:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I came very close to having a crying, screaming hissy fit at Nordstrom's yesterday. They are having a sale, and even though I had not planned on shopping, I had to look. As I perused the 6-7 racks I was stunned to find that there was nothing on the racks I wanted. This was, to say the least, distressing. I circled those racks several times, hoping my usual shoe eagle eye had failed me. By the third trip around women were fleeing from, sensing a seismic event. It was on the fifth trip around that a pair of Dolces in the couture department distracted me; that old shoe eagle eye was working! the Dolces where across the department.

On my way to the Dolce's I noticed the couture sale rack. I usually try to avoid the couture rack because I generally can't afford the sale prices and it makes me cry. Audibly. Yesterday I just couldn't help myself; I paused at the couture rack and found a pair of brown and lack suede leopard print Weitzmans that I had to try on. Surprise, surprise, they fit. Whew! Everyone at Nordstrom's was spared a huge scene.

On another note, I am feeling generous enough to share. Baby did another bad, bad thing this morning when I noticed my favorite ebay seller's new items. Or, I noticed a pair of fuschia Pliner slides I had to have. As I was perusing this ebay seller's store, I noticed some amazing deals. For example: beautiful Etienne Aigner boots, cute Pliner mules, gorgeous Pliner pumps, sublime Weitzman sandals, remarkable Kenneth Cole lace ups, adorable BCBG pink sandals, and my favorite of them all, fabulous Fornarina suede boots. Go! Buy!

There is nothing wrong with circling the sale racks at Nordstrom's as if they were a wounded zebra ready for the kill. Faster pussy cat! shop! shop!

Today's favorite shoe:

Dolce and Gabbana

2007-11-13T16:26:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Yesterday one of my students said he is sure Crocs are the same shoes they issue prisoners. As you all are aware, the United States has a retributive justice system; now, I've never been to prison or anywhere near a prison, but I imagine that if they issue prisoners Crocs as part of their uniform, they do it as part of their punishment. Can you imagine being trapped in a small space and having to see everyone around you in dayglo foam shoes? I shiver at the thought.

If my student is wrong and they do not issue Crocs to prisoners (and I doubt they do), then perhaps we should start a fund to do just that. I think it would be a good deterrent for young people who might think a life of crime is the way to go. Instead of telling youngsters stories about being abused in jail or losing your freedom, all we'd need to do is show them the shoes they would be forced to wear. I predict an instant drop in crime in the United States.

Then again, we are supposed to adhere to the constitution in this country. The 8th amendment clearly states that we shall not have "cruel and unusual punishment." I'm afraid that forcing prison inmates to wear Crocs would fall into the cruel and unusual category. Waterboarding might be bad, but forced to wear Crocs? that's a fate worse than being made to be the bitch of a large man known as "Tooty Pants."

Innocent until proven guilty only applies to people who know better than to wear dayglo shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Marc Jacobs "673949"

2007-11-05T23:33:00.001-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Two posts in one day! While tooling around Manolo's blog I came upon his current Build the outfit contest. As I was putting an outfit together I was getting frustrated because the outfit just didn't match the shoes. I realized that I don't like the shoes, so the outfit wasn't going to be good for the shoes. What is a fabulosa to do? Choose different shoes and post here for the benefit of all of my darling fabulosa readers:

Picture this jacket:

This shirt and tie:

This belt:

This skirt:

These boots:

These earrings:

This bracelet:

I love a good black outfit with a splash of color. I love this outfit and think you all should go right out and buy it or copy it.

Go!

Scoot!

2007-11-05T18:16:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I want to remind everyone that if you find a pair of couture shoes you love, be sure to check on them online every other day. When I have gone back to see if certain shoes are still available I've been amazed at how low the prices go when they go on clearance. You can score a pair of Manolos for close to $100! What an incredible deal!

Manolo pointed me to a new blog that I think is brilliant. This is so true: "Only the rich can afford cheap shoes." Do you know why that's true? because the rich have enough money to pay for the damage cheap shoes do to your feet. When we know that our feet must last because they carry us through our lives, for better or worse, why would we even consider buying anything from Payless or, perish the thought! Walmart? I think my toes just curled up at the thought of such a thing. Do you really think the people who made those shoes in China care about your feet? Whereas, the people in Italy who make my shoes imbue them with love and care and kisses and hugs. Clearly.

I kiss them back.

My feet will carry me through life because they are loved and cared for by men named Guido and Giuseppe in Vigevano.

Today's favorite shoe:

Giuseppe Zanotti "I6629"

2007-11-01T20:12:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I wish I had written this: "When I see people wearing Crocs, I know immediately that we have nothing in common, and that we could never be friends or have any meaningful kind of relationship... The only thing that goes with Crocs is social ostracism."

Be still my beating heart. Seriously, my heart is aflutter and I am feeling a bit weak in the knees. Is it the fabulous shoes I am wearing? No, I don't think so because I am used to that sort of excitement. Is it the lack of shoe shopping this week? No, that can't be it since I did receive my fabulous Kenneth Cole boots a week ago. Is it a lack of oxygen to my brain from the excitement of reading ultimate truth? You know, I think that's it.

Do a thought experiment with me, fabulosas: Picture yourself on a romantic night where you are with your lovah and you both look as good as you can look. Now, scan down your body to your feet. Do you see Crocs? If you do, admit it: the mood just went from romance to a bad acid trip involving clowns and Minnie Mouse. You know I'm right.

Anyone who hates Crocs as much as I do has to be brilliant.

Today's favorite shoe:

Emilio Pucci

2007-10-30T10:50:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I had dinner last night with my mom and her friend Chantal. Chantal is French and always looks fabulous because she appreciates fashion as all of us should. Anyway, we were talking about her brother in law, the wonderful Carlos Falchi. She told me that he had designed shoes years ago but stopped because they were more trouble than they were worth. I lost my appetite at that thought.

Making shoes is expensive, I realize that. There is a good reason behind the lack of narrow and wide and extra large and extra small shoes: the cost is not defrayed by the consumer. This is why I am personally endorsing a product that has saved my feet more than once: Shoe Stretcher Spray. I tend to buy shoes a size or half a size smaller and stretch them to fit my dainty feet. The only problem is when I am out of the spray and just received my new Kenneth Cole boots and can't wait to wear them. I had to take them off at Bed, Bath and Beyond the other day because I couldn't feel my feet. My life is so hard.

Still, wouldn't it be wonderful to go into Neiman's or Nordstrom's and be able to put on a pair of couture heels and have them fit perfectly? I wonder who the people are who can do such a thing. Who are these "average" sized women? Or, average foot sized, anyway. I really think someone needs to put up the capital so that Suz and I can start a shoe line. Fabulous shoes for all foot types. Can you imagine? Oh, we would rule the world because you can do anything if your feet are in fabulous shoes and they fit correctly.

The Equal Rights Movement had it all wrong; if they had only focused on shoes women would be running the world by now.

Today's favorite shoe:

Isabella Fiore "Marina"

2007-10-23T19:00:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Baby did a bad, bad thing. I was looking at old shoe pictures on the blog and feeling sadder than sad that I had missed these boots. When I went to buy them last year they were already gone. Imagine my surprise when I found them a year later on ebay. Still, I had no business spending the money for the water bill on fabulous shoes.

Actually, that's not entirely true; water isn't as necessary as a fabulous pair of Kenneth Cole boots. I don't think my husband will agree, but he will learn to live without water for a few days when he sees how fabulous those boots truly are and will be on me. I wonder, though, whether he will feel that way when I sacrifice the gas bill money for a pair of Charles Davids? We could always huddle under a gigantic pile of my shoes and bask in the warmth of their genius. Natural gas versus tanned and processed leather? No contest.

I'll never sacrifice the mortgage payment for a pair of Louboutins; after all, the house houses and protects my shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Casadei "4036"

2007-10-18T10:02:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Something amazing happened in class yesterday: one of my students told me that he had heard that if you are stranded in the wilderness and you're wearing Crocs you can boil them and eat them. I think my head may just have spun around. Let's examine all that is wrong with this statement:

1. You're wearing Crocs? Nothing else needs to be said about this one.
2. Why on earth are you in the wilderness wearing Crocs? They have holes in them for twigs to poke through and scratch your feet. Not to mention the fact that they would undoubtedly scare away the wildlife you might be hoping to see. Have you ever seen a bunny run in fear? You would if you wore Crocs into the wilderness.
3. You would even consider eating Crocs? Wearing them is bad enough, but putting them in your mouth? God help us all.
4. Crocs are important enough to have their own urban legend? I think we should start a new one: Did you hear about the new gang ritual victimizing women in malls? Croc wearers are stomping on fabulous shoes with their so not fabulous Crocs to gain entrance to the Ugly No Good Kicks Evilly Making People Tinkle gang. Unkempt, for short. *shiver*

Did you hear about the woman who was thrown out of Neiman's for fondling shoes? Oh wait, that one isn't an urban legend...

Today's favorite shoe:

Delman

2007-10-12T21:57:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I still haven't been shoe shopping since my last post. I'm starting to get shaky and it seems like I keep seeing this white light appear in the distance. I've been too weak to blog at the lack of shoey goodness and the smell of new leather. Perhaps if I can just make it to Nordstrom's I'll be able to recover my strength.

Woe, woe is me. Cursed am I who cannot afford to indulge in the life sustaining activity of buying shoes. I suppose I will have to go to Nordstrom's and lovingly stroke the shoes just to get a contact high. I am just afraid that the sight of all of the fabulousness after so long of an absence might be too much for me. I wonder if I should put the paramedics on alert? Do they do that?

I've been sniffing the pages of the latest Vogue in an attempt to at least hang on to life for a bit longer. Somehow, the smell of ink on paper just doesn't do it for me. I need the real thing and pictures of them aren't going to keep me alive for much longer. Perhaps one of our faithful readers should organize a 5k saunter for my benefit. We could call it the Saunter for the Shoes. How long is a 5k and can it be done in a mall?

Some people power walk in malls; I power saunter.

Today's favorite shoe:

Angeleigh Anastasio "Aurora"

2007-10-03T22:16:00.001-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I haven't been shoe shopping in weeks. I am feeling a little weak and pale from the lack of time under shoe store lighting. Some people need sunshine; I need bad overhead spotlights.

I have to report a crime against humanity. This makes me sad to report because it involves one of my dearest friends, Shelley. Shelley is fortunate enough to have a mother in law who gives her truly fabulous shoes. The latest shoes she gave Shelley were some Prada thigh high python boots. Can you imagine? I think I just teeteed a little at the thought. All I get from my mother in law are pajama bottoms from Target. But I'm not bitter. Much.

OK, back to the crime: Shelley's MIL has given her Dior and Chanel and Prada. While Shelley and I were shopping a few weeks ago she told me that, and here is the crime, she never wears them. I'm queasy.

What other more horrific crime is there? Having those fabulous pieces of art and letting them get dusty in your closet?? And the worst part? She's considering selling the python boots on ebay! Tears where streaming down my face when she told me that last fact. I had to gently place the Pliners I was holding down and run screaming from the store. The store owner called the police who wanted to arrest Shelley for her crime, but she managed to convince them to let her remain at large. Something about borrowing something starting with an M and ending with an O. Who knew the police were so corrupt in Dallas?

I'm not sure my friendship with Shelley will survive this blow. I think I might have to take a xanax before I see her next in case she decides to tell me she pawned some Louboutins. Or, some Weitzmans were shoved in between her Candys and Keds. oops, here comes the queasiness again.

A crime against fabulous shoes is a crime against humanity.

Today's favorite shoe:

Charles, by Charles David "Mini"

2007-09-23T21:33:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I would like to point something out. Over the last few months I've noticed a certain type of shoe in the local department stores. I would like for you all to scroll down to my entry for November 16, 2006. This is the shoe so many didn't like and the one I am seeing everywhere. I called it. You all really should listen to me.

I had a horrible experience the other day. I was with my friend Jen and she pointed out a pair of flip flops and said she didn't hate them. I agreed and said, as utilitarian flip flops go, they weren't awful. I mean, they weren't appropriate for wearing wherever we were (Target?), but they weren't offensive. That's when Jen informed me that they were, dare I say it? Crocs.

I debated with myself over admitting this horror and possibly losing my friendship with Suz forever. In the end, I knew that I couldn't allow the shame to eat away at my soul so I decided to admit it for all to see. I'm a giver.

I'm such a giver I'll even allow people to wear the flip flops of doom to the pool.

Today's favorite shoe:

Steve Madden "Giddie"

2007-09-22T10:07:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

It is a tragic time in the McQ household. My shoes are feeling the tragedy acutely and I am suffering in such a huge way. Woe, woe is me. What is causing this tragedy in our home, you ask? My mother has stopped paying for my pedicures. Alas, I must acknowledge that pedicures will now be few and far between. Cry.... cry for me.

As any self respecting woman knows, if my feet don't look their best then I must refrain from wearing sandals. I've thought about digging out my husband's dremel to work on my feet but I think he has hidden it from me. For some reason, he doesn't want dead skin stuck to his dremel.

So, here I sit, in pedicure-less hell. My feet are rough, my toenails are painted but not perfectly, and my heels have the dreaded dead skin cliff that I abhor so much. Oh, what did I do to deserve this?! I curse my fate and the person who transferred my mother's pedicurist to their other store. I cannot change my pedicurist as she is the only one who knows how to correctly cut my toenails. I am in closed toe shoe purgatory. It's so not fair.

Eat, sleep, pedicures. Not necessarily in that order.

Today's favorite shoe:

Luciano Padovan "6029-Dec"

2007-09-09T22:23:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Yes, we've both been neglecting the blog lately. Life gets in the way, though it should never, ever supersede shoes. evereverevereverevereverever.

Have you noticed the prevalence of stripper shoes in mainstream shoe stores lately? What's that about? You know the ones I mean: the ridiculously high heels and the inch platform under the vamp. Not to mention the shiny factor. Are women truly supposed to wear those things shopping? I want to know who started this trend. I suspect it was a designer who either hates women or wants them all to be sluts. (not that strippers are all sluts, this is just a perception thing and I am not getting into any further because I don't have to) When did those pieces of ick become popular? Where was I... distracted by the Croc hate?

Stripper shoes are not fabulous. They are made a certain way because many men think they make women look sexy and they highlight a woman's upturned tush. Why, in the name of all the cheap lace at Fredericks of Hollywood, are women wearing these things to the mall? Have we learned nothing in the past thirty years? Did the ERA movement not teach us that we can demand to be fabulous unapologetically and unequivocally? Fabulous shoes can be about many things, to be sure. They can be about looking sexy, looking classic, feeling wonderful. But they should never be about someone's mistaken idea that women should buy into the notion that they are nothing more than a hooha on heels. No, ladies. Take those shoes back and demand something truly fabulous in return.

I'm a hooha with a brain in heels.

Today's favorite shoe:

Jimmy Choo "Hardy"

2007-08-15T17:50:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

As you all know, we just moved into a new home. I knew this home was the perfect home for us when we walked in the first time we saw it. I had no idea that we were buying the house from a visionary, an angel and a true fabulosa.

The couple who owned our home before us are a bit younger than us, but not by much. We liked them as soon as we met them and I knew I would like her after seeing her shoes when we toured the house. When we took possession of the house and walked around the empty rooms we were amazed at how well the home had been taken care of and how clean it was; the couple who lived here had cleaned it after they moved out. How nice is that? But wait, there is more; there is a reason I am calling the lady of the house a visionary, an angel, a true fabulosa.

She left the shoe racks in the closet. This young woman understood on a basic level the most important and sacred part of the house and she left me the gift of that sacredness in all its white metal goodness. Not only that, she left two shoe racks. I think she may just be my new best friend, my friend in shoes, my friend who just gets me. She had me at shoes.

I love my husband but Christian Louboutin completes me.

Today's favorite shoe:

BCBGirls "Popiul"

2007-08-06T14:41:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

We moved this week into a lovely new home that suits us so perfectly I am starting to believe I imagined it and made it real. Now, if I could just do the same with my own shoe line. Anyway, as we removed the guest bed from the guest bedroom we discovered an under the bed box we had forgotten we had. After I stopped freaking out about one more box that needed to be gone through and moved I opened it; it revealed something sublime. I think we all have this object of sublimity, either packed away or in our closets, perhaps not in our main closet, but somewhere out of the way, like an old memory you fleetingly grasp when a color reminds you of something.

I am talking about a pair of special shoes you wore only on the most special of occasions. The shoes I found are just those shoes for me. They are a pearly off white peau de soie with a small bow on the top of the vamp. I wore these shoes to two proms and to my debutante ball. They are so special that I almost can't find the words to describe them or how they made me feel to wear them. After I unpacked them and oohed and aahed over them, I put them on and wore them around the house, showing MFP just how important they were and are. I delicately walked around the boxes explaining all the while that sometimes there are shoes that transcend all we know of utility and money and the ground we walk on; some shoes allow us to float through our days or night.

When I was a teenager going to proms and later to my debutante ball these shoes took me through those times with a feeling of specialness, sublimity, and beauty. I have saved these shoes all these years, wrapped in tissue and preserved to remind me of a time when I wore the most special shoes I have ever known. I hope everyone else has a pair of shoes that they can put on and remember a time of excitement, newness and special occasions. Every day can't be a special occasion and it's nice to have tangible reminders of times when we felt beautiful and loved and the center of the universe. If you don't have a pair of shoes like that, get them. Wear them somewhere special and take someone special with you. Then, wrap them in tissue and put them away to be discovered some other time when you most need a reminder that there was, at least once, something ultimately special on your feet.

Special is as special does and there will never be anything special about dayglo shoes made of foam.

Today's favorite shoe:

Guiseppe Zanotti "I6325"

2007-07-25T20:24:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

We just received this in email from "Peter Haskins" who appeared to want us to learn about a newspaper in Iowa from the subject line (not quoted here, obviously):

"to learn how those

Hello. What's up? Email me at ork@linkmailmessage.info only. I am girlie. I would like to share some of my pics.
"In the current environment where is not obliged to discover discretion in relation"

Well Peter, I hate to tell you this, but we're not interested in "girlies" or your "pics." Also, we wonder what your discretion is in relation to as you seemed to be interrupted mid-sentence. Did you need to go place an ad in that Iowa newspaper? did you need to take more pictures? Or did someone walk by wearing some fabulous shoes? I hope it is the latter; if it is indeed the latter, maybe we''ll be a little more interested in your pictures. But only from the ankles down. Mmmm'kay, pumpkin?

Also: Beckie, Melissa, and Roslyn? We're sorry you're bored. Have you considered shoe shopping as a way to pass your time and alleviate your boredom? We think that if you have time to take all of the pictures you mentioned you might have enough time to find that perfect pair of 4-inch peep toes. It's a win/win situation: you get some fabulous shoes and you alleviate that awful boredom that seems to be a huge affliction for young internet users. We're here to help.

Now on to something far more important: I am calling for a boycott of BMW. I saw a commercial yesterday that showed a woman bringing home a new pair of heels with red soles; you know who that is supposed to represent. Anyway, she takes the right shoe and cuts the heel most of the way off so that she can drive her BMW with more room.

I ask you now to stand with me against something that horrible. I ask you to pledge not to buy a BMW until they issue an apology for such a gross misrepresentation of humanity. I ask you to destroy the BMWs you already own and send their scarred and damaged carcasses directly back to the people with black little souls who made that car. I ask you to send the makers of the evil car an email and express your outrage over their heinous 30 second ad for all that is base and evil in humanity. Write them. Tell them how wrong they are and demand a public apology, as I have. Make them feel your wrath in the tips of their toes that are probably shoved into very bad shoes. We must stand together against the tyranny of the base and priorityless.

I'd feel sorry for their bad shoe state at BMW if they hadn't encouraged people to desecrate all that is good in life.

Today's favorite shoe:

Via Spiga "Woo"

2007-07-15T11:09:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

We all do it. We do it when we're out in public; we do it when we're home watching TV or playing online; we do it when we're at work; we do it when we're in school. We do it with impunity, we do it without guilt, we do it because we can and because it is simply our nature. What is it? We judge others.

They say that women dress for other women, not men. It's true. You can usually tell the difference in women who dress for men and those who dress for women; we have a tendency to call the women who dress for men slutty dressers. Don't deny it, you've at least thought it. Last night we saw a woman in a pair of tight jeans and a tank top who looked like she had balloons in her shirt. I've never seen someone push their breasts up and out THAT much. My husband even said, "she has to be a stripper." Were we wrong? Would you have tut tutted us for taking a second look and thinking that she looked ridiculous and tarty?

We write this blog in critique and adulation of shoes. I admit, the love of shoes can be seen to be shallow if that is all you love. But there is nothing wrong with loving pretty things and stating that love for everyone to see. There is also nothing wrong with pointing out fashion dos and don'ts to try and spread beauty around you. No one is making a character judgment on people who practice fashion don'ts. OK, maybe we are on Crocs wearers. But aside from them, if you get caught going to the store in your PJs and people judge you as sloppily dressed, we're not saying you're a bad person or in need of personal violence. We are only saying that you are a fashion don't and you don't look your best. So, if you ever get caught in a fashion don't, don't take it personally, just correct your ways and it will all be ok. We're here to help, not harm.

Of course, if I judge you, you should get down on your knees and thank me for bestowing my fashion knowledge on you and helping you to become a better person.

Today's favorite shoe:

Dolce and Gabbana

2007-07-08T01:03:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I was reading a relatively old People magazine today and came across an interview with Sarah Jessica Parker. As we all know, SJP is a fashion icon, especially when it comes to shoes. I love her ideas for her new line of clothes and I love that nothing is over $20. I do believe that fashion should be affordable and I also believe that you can look fabulous on a limited budget if you have some creativity. But that all strays from the point; I was devastated to find that SJP herself has fallen off of her pedestal made of shoe boxes and is now residing in the land of easy comfort over style. She lets her son wear Crocs.

Et tu, Brute? Why? Why would she betray us so? She knows the value of wearable art in shoes! She knows! Oh, cruel SJP, you have wounded me forever. No longer will I watch my beloved Sex and The City complete set DVDs in the pink case with the knowledge that you understand, both professionally and personally, the importance of fabulous shoes. Henceforth, I will replace you in my mind's eye with someone more worthy of my esteem, like Heidi Klum, who clearly doesn't count because she's a model and therefore has to know these things and live them, unlike the rest of us, even actresses, who know these things because we are just that smart and fabulous. Maybe I will replace you with Oprah. I know she has a bajillion dollars and probably doesn't do a lick of shopping herself, but damn it! I'm desperate!

Fate, tragedy, comedy, philosophy, shoes, the whole crazy thing called life. What is it for? I ask you! Is it worth living when the icons of all that is good and fabulous in this world betray our trust and allow the very unfabulous into their lives? Shall we all throw ourselves onto our divans and mourn the loss of style and class in the world? No, I say we fight it. Fight for the shoes and fabulosity of women everywhere. In fact, let's start a shoerrism movement. Some people might throw red paint on fur coats; we'll throw bunion remedies on people who wear Crocs. They might as well announce to the world that they have them, right? Instead of stocking a bunker with canned goods and survivalist knives that do everything from skin a frog to plunge a toilet, we'll stock up on the latest in fabulous shoes. Oh yes! we will fight you! And we will win! Why? Because we're fabulous. Duh.

I can get down with a fringe movement that focuses on shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Salvatore Ferragamo

2007-07-05T00:22:00.001-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I was sitting on the balcony of my mother's condo tonight watching the fireworks and talking to her friend Chantal when they topic inevitably turned to shoes. We were talking about the lack of closet space in older homes and lamenting the fact that if you want a home with character you need one that has an extra bedroom for a closet for shoes. I have to wonder if women in earlier eras didn't have the access to fabulous shoes that we have today.

Anthropologists and archaeologists will tell you that you can often discern the history of a person by their shoes. I think that is true today. For example, if you see a woman walking down the street who is dressed to kill except she has on tennies, you can know she is going to work. After all, she wouldn't be wearing tennies into a restaurant or store or museum when she's dressed well. You can't change your shoes just outside, so she's clearly going to work. She isn't wealthy enough to have a driver, so she's working class. See how easy it is?

If you see a woman walking around in Crocs and she is not on her own property gardening, you can be sure that her history involves some sort of final defeat between her pride and her willingness to put comfort over all else. There's nothing wrong with being comfortable, but do we wear our PJs to the opera? Do we wear them to the upscale mall? No. Wearing Crocs is the same thing and shouldn't be done.

One more? when you see a woman strutting herself like she knows she's fabulous in 4-inch Manolos, you can be sure she knows the value of beautiful, well made shoes. While this can't tell us anything about her social status, it does tell us about her intelligence. She must have above average intelligence to be able to recognize true art in its wearable form. She clearly cares about how she looks but doesn't shove it down your throat with branding laid bare; only those in the know will know which label she is wearing. This woman is the woman we should all aspire to be: chic, intelligent, sophisticated and fabulous. In other words, she listened to Suz and I and benefited from it forever.

There is nothing wrong with judging a person by the shoes they wear; how else will you know if they are someone you wish to allow into your life?

Today's favorite shoe:

Roberto Cavalli "J6708"

2007-06-26T18:28:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

My mother was at it again today. She told me she had been to Nordstrom's and seen the most beautiful shoes she had ever seen. That isn't the problem, of course. The problem was that she told me this while I had a mouth full of crispy beef taco and she didn't want to go straight there once I swallowed.

Who is this woman? Little girls often fantasize that they are secret princesses and that someday our true family will come and get us and restore us to our throne and crown. Well, I fantasized about that until I left for college; by then I had to admit that my secret royal blood was going to have to remain a secret since my secret family was allowing me to go off into the world without their acknowledgment. Cold bastards!

The point remains, I think I was on to something all those years ago; I cannot believe the woman who claims to be my mother would not see the wisdom in immediately putting down our forks and heading straight to Nordstrom's to see these beautiful of all beautiful shoes. Clearly, she was the wet nurse who somehow got saddled with my blue blooded fabulousness. It's not unlike a fairy tale with a more realistic ending: the fairy princess is forced to suffer the slings and arrows of fate in Dallas with a limited budget and the misunderstanding of the people who are supposed to love and understand her. Let's face it, fabulosas: the only royalty in my life are men who have a fondness for interior design and fabulous hair.

If you think you might be my royal family, send me shoes. I've suffered long enough.

Today's favorite shoe:

Valentino

2007-06-22T21:07:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I am the professor you wish you had in college. I use shoes to illustrate my points in class many times and I have found they almost always apply. Just yesterday I used the example of couture shoes to express the difference in the Dasein and in synthetic judgments. I realize that I am mixing my philosophers, but it still works for me. German for German, value for value.

It went something like this: the fact that we exist in space cannot be changed and is something we know, but all the things we know about a thing are added, a posteriori, synthetic. It pained me to say it, but, the value we put on Manolo Blahnik shoes is absolutely made up by a certain group of people. Why should we allow them to attach what is utterly synthetic to a thing itself and call it valuable over all else?

Because they can and should. We are human and we define ourselves by our art and culture and there is nothing wrong with declaring one thing prettier and better than other things. Otherwise, I'd have a so called masterpiece in the museum and a Kandinsky on my wall because it would not have value beyond the value I chose for it at that moment. That's the other thing about the desire to take away value: it forces value to be something unattainable, transitory and utterly beyond our grasp. Part of the reason we value things is to be able to achieve them. After all, we strive to achieve and count it one of our nobler qualities because we value things or ideas. That's a good thing.

Shoes embody value and all that is right and noble in our species.

Today's favorite shoe:

Manolo Blahnik

2007-06-13T07:46:00.000-05:00

Suz 10N

And people wonder why the rest of the world laughs at us

From The Manolo's Shoe Blog:

http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/06/12/impeach-him/#comments

I don't know what to say. I really don't. Not only is he wearing crocs, but he's wearing them with Presidential Seal socks.

Fellow Americans I plead with you to wear good shoes. The photo clearly illustrates how wrong crocs are. Worse yet, with socks. Also, don't wear socks with pictures on them. Even if you are the President and the picture is the Presidential Seal. Just. Don't.

Speaking of being international and all, I just returned from a whirlwind trip to London. I looked at lots of shoes. Sadly, I did not buy. The exchange rate is TERRIBLE. I was relieved to see only one person wearing crocs while I was there, and I suspect they were American.

It's been a long, long time since I traveled overseas. Imagine my surprise when I cleared security at Heathrow only to be thrust into a giant duty-free shopping mall! There were shoe stores everywhere. Including one my favorites - Ferragamo. I went in to look around. The salesperson was lovely. I explained I could not buy, but oh, how I loved the shoes. She very kindly allowed me to peruse the offerings at my leisure, and politely ignored my little gasps and moans as I caressed a particularly fine pair. It was such a pleasurable end to my trip.

I can guarantee you she would not have been so accommodating had I been wearing crocs.

Today's Shoe:

Salvatore Ferragamo Salut 1 Python Pump

2007-06-08T21:07:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Lookie, lookie, two days in a row. I just couldn't pass up sharing these amazing deals:

For the lovely and chic lady who might have some ass kicking to do.

A previously highlighted pump perfect for a day of shopping in the city.

A nice pair of shoes for a first date with that scrumptious new man.

A sturdy pair of pumps for your day in court. How could just not prevail in these?

For a ladies lunch by the sea. Have a crab cake for me, darlings.

For that night of S&M fun and games.

For the stoll through the Victoria and Albert museum.

For a night at the opera. Just don't see anything new, it might be too a-tonal for these fabulous shoes.

Another previously featured shoe. This would be good for a day of flea market shopping.

Lastly, a pair that is so cheap you would be a fool to pass it up.

Remember: endless.com gives you $5 off every pair of shoes and free overnight shipping. Really, you can't pass up these deals.

Today's favorite shoe:

Costanca Basto "Majda"

2007-06-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I had breakfast with my mother today and she told me an interesting little tidbit of a story: when I was three years old we were having Thanksgiving dinner with some friends. As we went around the table and said what we were thankful for we got the usual responses of good health, happy family, Scotch, those sorts of things. When it was my turn I said the thing I was most thankful for was Elizabeth Taylor. I was born to love style.

My mother also said something unbelievably cruel to me today. In fact, I get weepy just thinking about it all these hours later; when I asked her if she wanted to hit the Nordstrom's shoe sale she said: "You don't need any more shoes." I know, I know, ice water runs through her veins. I, of course, told her that need had nothing to do with it. I am now even more convinced that I sprung from the oyster colored 4-inch heels of life rather than from my mother. Clearly. Otherwise, how could she think such a thing and be even slightly related to me?

Shoes are like food: delicious and and utterly necessary for continued existence.

Today's favorite shoe:

Magnolia "Arcadia"

2007-06-03T19:08:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

My mother recently reminded me of a trip we took to Paris about 15 years ago. I had forgotten one interesting little tidbit about the trip: I was utterly obsessed with buying two pairs of shoes. I don't remember this because it was a micro example of a macro obsession; however, my mom has never forgotten it.

The part my mom can't remember is if it was two particular pairs of shoes or if I just wanted two new pairs of shoes from Paris. Clearly, if you are in Paris you should buy shoes, right? It's Paris, for heaven's sake! It's not as if you are in Cincinnati. My mom remembers this because I was so adamant about it and she was probably really annoyed at my single minded devotion to the idea buying shoes. You'd think she would have gotten used to it by then. Now? she just rolls her eyes and goes along with it, knowing there is nothing she can do short of distracting me with... yeah, I can't think of anything that would distract me from buying shoes.

I honestly can't imagine going to Paris or New York and not buying shoes. I was once in an elevator in a hotel in New York with all of my shopping bags when two older women got on and struck up a conversation. It went something like this:

Them: I see you've been shopping!
Me: Oh yes! I can't come to New York and not take advantage of the shoe selection.
Them: Oh. Well, we are here to see museums, not do something like shopping, something you can do anywhere.
Me: Sucks to be you, I guess.

Some people have a screwed up idea of good priorities.

Today's favorite shoe:

Jimmy Choo "Margo"

2007-05-30T22:39:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I saw something today that made me do a double take and therefore crash into a wall. A brisk paced walk and a double take do not a good idea make. So, after I crashed into the wall and went on my way I started to get a little peeved. Was I peeved to have "mall beige" paint chips in my hair? No. Was I peeved to have looked like an ass in public? No. I was peeved because I had seen a tween wearing brand new for spring Tory Burch ballet flats.

I am not an envious or even jealous person by nature. However, when I see a kid who can't possibly know the true value of fabulous shoes wearing shoes I can't afford, something just seems wrong in the world. The world is upside down, as it were. Yes, I know it isn't the tween who can afford them since we are in Dallas, not L.A., where many teens make more than their parents, but still! I was wearing my, albeit fabulous, black mules of the moment and I felt somehow less.

Am I saying that only those who can appreciate fabulous shoes should have them? Yes, yes I am. Would you hang a Pizarro in pool hall? OK, maybe you would, but I would not. There are too many things that harm art in pool halls, bad taste being one of them. Oh, was that out loud? Anyway, I think there might be a need for a test before being able to buy fabulous shoes. My test would have one question: how do the shoes make you feel? A true shoe lover will be able to give a dissertation on how the shoe makes them feel and will therefore deserve the shoes. I suspect if I had asked the tween why she liked the shoes she was wearing she would have told me, if she were honest, that they were in style. That is simply not good enough. After all, jellies are in style.

I am not advocating a class system for shoes. I, like many fine people, believe that art belongs to the masses. That does mean that we should sell off the Guggenheim's collection of Warhol at basement prices. We put these things in museums for a reason. While there is a shoe museum, it isn't practical to force us all to go to a museum to see shoes; after all, they are meant to be worn. I just think that the people who love shoes for the little pieces of fabulous that they are (me) should have them and everyone else should wait until they understand the true meaning of fabulous shoes. In other words, fabulous shoes always deserve appreciative feet.

Fabulous shoes should not be wasted on the young.

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Louboutin

2007-05-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

Suz 10N

I was watching the news this morning, luxuriating in my newly laid-off status. Oh, to loll around with my coffee in the morning, instead of getting up at 4:30 AM to maintain my girlish figure! It's fabulous! Well, not really. I can't afford to buy any shoes at this time. I must wait until I am gainfully employed once more.

I have had to refrain from even looking at the Nordstrom and Zappos sites. I must pinch pennies. I must not buy more shoes. I must not think bad thoughts.

This poses a dilemma, of course. I was just getting ready to purchase my spring/summer footwear when I was rudely ejected from my place of employment. Ok, they weren't rude, they were very nice and gave me a good package, so I really can't bitch too much.

But my spring/summer footwear is...last years! The HORROR. Thank God Liesl gifted me with a lovely pair of pink patent leather peeptoes with a kitten heel as an early birthday present or I would be sunk.

Did I mention I was watching the news this morning? Yes I did. I failed, however, to tell you about the story that caught my eye. Dear friends, it is an amazing tale. It's almost too good to be true. If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it.

Are you ready? Are you really ready? Are you sitting down? Better yet, are you posing in a pair of sassy Manolos? You are? Good.

Saks is opening a new shoe floor. With 10,000 pairs of shoes. The size of an entire New York City block. In fact, faithful readers, this floor will have it's own zip code. 10022-SHOE. Yes! Our government has finally done something right! A zip code dedicated to shoes! It's no coincidence that the Democrats have taken over the House and the Senate, and now we have a zip code dedicated to shoes. They know what they're doing.

Today's Shoe

Dior Point Toe Pumps

2007-05-24T11:54:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I was walking through Northpark the other day and I was thinking about how much fun it would be to do a shoe tour of Dallas. That gave me the idea for this post: Liesl's Extra Special Dallas Shoe Tour. Join me, fabulosas!

I pick you up in my Lexus at 10:00 A.M. I chose that time because it is a civilized time and it gives you enough time to get up, have your scones and coffee and get ready for our fabulous day. Please be advised: fabulous shoes only in my presence. Off we go! Shall we open the sun roof? Let's! Can you feel the wind in your hair and sun on your face as I whiz down the freeway? Aaah, refreshing!

Our first stop will be at Fossee's where we will spend two hours meticulously looking through the racks and on the floor for some fabulous shoes. It takes two hours because they often have shoes in other sizes that are mismarked and fit us. Sometimes the staff can hover, in a nice way, but we will take our time. Savor the dream of finding a perfect pair of kitten heeled pumps. As we search and search we will find at least three pairs of shoes we cannot live without. Time to pay! Isn't it lovely when our total is less than we expected because the prices are so good?

We leave Fossee's and head to Northpark. We park on the north side of the mall so that we can stop for lunch at Kona Grill. The Macadamia Nut Chicken is to die for. After we have sated our appetite for food, we head off to try to sate our appetite for shoes. We head west in the mall toward Nordstrom's. At Nordstrom's we spend two more hours delicately stroking the shoes and trying on as many pairs of fabulous shoes as possible. The salespeople at Nordstrom's are wonderful and they will treat us wonderfully. I will choose three pairs of shoes that I simply must have and I will pick our four for you. If you are smart, and I know you are, you will buy them. It's time to move on.

We now head south in the mall toward Neiman's. Before we hit the shoe floor we stop and take some refreshment at The Mermaid Bar n the ground floor. We will have an assortment of cakes and sweet tea. We will also be able to see some early examples of art by Bjorn Wiinblad who used this particular shoe girl as the model for his angels when she was a baby. Little known fact, don't you know.

After we have refreshed ourselves we head upstairs to the shoe department. By now you've probably spent a fair amount of money so I will only pick out one pair of shoes for you. As we reverently gaze at the gorgeous pieces of art in the shoe department we happen upon that perfect pair of Ferragamos that you simply must buy. You cannot leave the store without them in your bag. Oh, heaven!

It is finally time to leave Northpark and head to DSW. Now, I realize we are going from the sublime to the just plain pretty, but that's OK; we need to bring ourselves down a bit before we go back to our normal lives. As we head into the store we will immediately find two or three pairs of casual shoes we can't live without. We limit ourselves to five pairs since it is getting late and we are close to exhaustion. We manage to make it through the whole story and find six pairs, which we think we will go ahead and get since the prices are too good to pass up.

As we make our way back to your house with a trunk full of shoes we will know that we had a remarkably successful shoe tour. As I drop you at your house and you collect all of your packages, savor the moment as I must dash off into the night, never to return, to help other fabulosas with their shoe needs. I am as the wind, gone in an instant, leaving behind the smell of fabulous shoes.

My tour should be in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most fabulous.

Today's favorite shoe:

Salvatore Ferragamo

2007-05-21T23:09:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Oh, News 8.... what have you done? I was driving home from shoe shopping today and happened to hear a teaser for a story on our local news. What could this teaser promise that would cause me to DVR the news, you ask? A story about Crocs. I thought, surely! Dallas news, the place of pure news fluff and high fashion would have on a true story of foam gone mad. But no. It was all about how wonderful and comfortable the little pieces of pure ugly were and how popular they remain.

The medical claims that the manufacturers of Crocs make are bogus. A shoe cannot cure diseases or conditions; shoes can only make you happy. With that in mind, can you see how Crocs have absolutely no value? There is no way madness made real in foam can make a person happy. No one is made happy by garish Minnie Mouse shoes with holes in them. Any happiness you think you feel is akin to the feeling you get when you think your true love is Brad Pitt and you happen to meet a man who kind of resembles him and who tells you that he wants you to climb his big ol' Himalaya.

Come on people, let yourself be happy for once. I know we all grow up and acquire baggage (ugly Samsonite baggage) that makes us think we don't deserve happiness. Is this where the Croc fad comes from? Are you all wearing your insecurity on your feet? The truth is, we all deserve happiness and we can only get that happiness from fabulous shoes. Trade in your Crocs and your ugly Samsonite baggage for some Louboutins and Diane Von Furstenberg luggage. Why not have Brad Pitt instead of the cheap knock off? Don't you see? as long as you wear those hideous shoes you will believe that you do not deserve better in life. But you do.

If love is a great beautifier, can you imagine how much love you would feel in fabulous shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Luciano Padovan "7011"

2007-05-17T14:31:00.000-05:00

Brief addendum to my last post: I cannot multitask. Between my haste to get out the door to drive by more houses that might someday have the pleasure of housing my fabulous shoes, trying to email Manolo about Proust (a writer more self absorbed than me? nuh uh!), and singing along to Cole Porter songs at the top of my voice I managed to publish a post with numerous grammatic errors. Should it be grammatical? Anyway, I do humbly apologize.

2007-05-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I've noticed a trend that seems interesting to me: African American women tend to wear really fabulous shoes. If I look at a group of women and there is just one pair of fabulous shoes among them, nine times out of ten they will be worn by a fabulous African American woman.

Do I think this has anything to do with the amount of melanin a person has in their skin? of course not. I do think this fabulous shoe trend has everything to do with culture. This thought inevitably led me to wonder about the role culture plays in a true love of shoes.

Is there a shoe culture? As I have stated previously, you can tell when a woman truly loves shoes when you compliment her on her shoes. I compliment women on their shoes all the time and I am always amazed by the women who don't really care about their little pieces of fabulous. Then there are the ones who clearly do love them. I complimented a woman yesterday who launched into an expository speech about why she can now wear heels since she is dating a tall man. She also told me she wished she were short so that heels would do even more for her. That's my kind of woman: a woman who sees value in herself and her attributes through her shoes. That woman was definitely part of the shoe culture. I am part of the shoe culture. Are you?

Like all good cultures, we need an icon. I nominate Manolo.

Today's favorite shoe:

Gunmetal "1606"

2007-05-14T17:34:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

We have been casually looking at houses lately and I have found myself assessing the fitness of a house based on the closet space. The front runner is a 4 bedroom in need of some love that has given me visions of making one of the bedrooms into a closet. That way, I might have a proper place for all of my shoes. The challenge will be in convincing my husband to buy a fixer upper in a neighborhood that is surrounded by some not so good neighborhoods.

The house that I love, as I mentioned, is in need of some serious love. It was built in 1968 and hasn't had any updating nor has it been maintained. It is architecturally designed (so important) and needs someone like me to love it back into fabulousness. Here's the thing: the master bedroom has a bathroom attached which is also attached to another bedroom. Clearly, that other bedroom is meant to be my closet. I have decided that I will have spot lighting in that closet to highlight my shoes. Can you picture it? Warm light bathing my fabulous shoes in a room designed just for them; the thought is too delicious to contemplate.

I need help convincing my husband that this fixer upper is the way to go. Email him with your excellent arguments here: mr_gonzo at hotmail dot com. Come on fabulosas! do it for the shoes!

Today's favorite shoe:

Donna Karan "864824"

2007-05-10T10:49:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I had a small crisis on Tuesday. I've been so upset about it since then that I haven't even talked about it to Suz. I went shoe shopping with my friend Jen and found a gorgeous pair of ribbon sandals. They fit well and they were just so luxurious and pretty. I carried them around the store with me as we looked at the rest of the shoes. As we were getting ready to pay and leave I decided that the ribbon sandals were impractical and I put them back. After I had put the shoes back I realized what I had done and had a small break down. It was the first time I had chosen not to buy shoes because they were impractical. It was then that I reached for the Xanax.

Let me make this very clear: there is nothing wrong with buying impractical shoes. In fact, I encourage it. Impractical shoes remind us that life isn't about utility and has some unexpected, beautiful, impractical yet fabulous elements to it. Isn't that wonderful? What's practical about music? What's practical about the Mona Lisa? What's practical about 4-inch heels? But it doesn't matter because they are all fabulous. If we all wore only practical shoes we'd be wearing tennies everywhere. *shiver*

I ended up searching for another pair of shoes to make up for the ribbon sandals. I found a very cute pair of leopard print slides that are by the same designer who made the black slides I found a month ago. I am slowly replacing all of the Madden slides the dogs chewed up. I felt much better after finding another pair of fabulous slides and avoided the Xanax coma I would have induced to get over the horror of utility I had enacted. To hell with practicality!

Darling fabulosas, there is nothing practical about a leopard print.

Today's favorite shoe:

Manolo Blahnik

2007-05-07T12:54:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I had another shoe dream a few nights ago. I was at some market type place with lots of booths of different things to buy, sort of like the antique fairs I love so much. I found a booth that was selling Louboutins at cut rate prices. I think I teeteed myself a little bit in the dream with excitement.

Here's the odd part: my mom was there and she bought a pair of neon pink cowboy boots for $105. While it's odd that my mother would buy a pair of pink cowboy boots, the truly odd part is the idea that Christian Louboutin would make pink cowboy boots. I have nothing against cowboy boots, they have their place. If you are going to a John Travolta retrospective that is featuring Urban Cowboy, for example. Or, if you are going off to find yourself on a "dude" ranch for a week of brushing horses and severe indigestion from camp food. I will never understand how dirty horses and beans can lead to some sort of soulful epiphany, but then, I don't venture off the pavement onto the unbeaten path where you could get bitten by horse flies.

Anyway, after my mom left with her ridiculous boots I tried on a pair of 2-inch pumps that not only fit perfectly (think Cinderella made real) but were more comfortable than any shoe has ever been or will ever be. Now for the injustice of the dream: they were $400. I was furious, I mean, furious that the stupid cowboy boots were affordable and the ones that I needed were the ones I couldn't afford. I was so distraught I momentarily considered buying the pink boots, but then realized that that wouldn't do me any good since I wouldn't ever be on that dude ranch or sitting in the audience at a John Travolta retrospective.

I honestly believed that not being able to afford the perfect Louboutins was a great injustice. I even woke up crying. I suspect the shoes in my dream were a metaphor for another injustice I suffered recently and to be perfectly honest, the thought of not being able to afford the perfect Louboutins was far more traumatic. Shoes trump everything else. Clearly. I want those damn shoes!

The greatest injustice I have suffered in my life is not being able to afford an entire closet full of Louboutins. Life can be so unfair.

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Louboutin, of course.

2007-05-02T23:16:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

This weekend is the weekend of hats. You know what I'm talking about! it's Kentucky Derby weekend. I love seeing the coverage of the ladies in their fabulous hats every year at the races; they are always so colorful, bodacious, glamorous, and good old fashioned fun. All of the coverage of the hats got me to thinking: why isn't there an event that is all about shoes?

I've decided to designate an event as the event where women wear fabulous shoes and we all take notice. Not that I think we shouldn't do that everyday, but you know what I mean. I've thought long and hard about the perfect event; I considered opening night at the Met, opening night of fashion week, Burning Man, and the Sag awards. None of those events truly could do justice to shoes, though. I finally decided that the perfect day for a national shoe event is April 26th.

Follow along. Did you know that there is a patron saint of shoemakers? There is! saint Crispin. Now, as some of you may know I am a big fan of Shakespeare. Some people say that you can find whatever you need in life in the Bible; I feel that is equally or more true of Shakespeare. If you've ever read Henry V then you know where I am going with this:

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

I think we can all agree that this speech is a fine example of what it is to be human, to be good and to recognize all that is dear in life. Shakespeare (Edward de Vere, ahem!) recognized all of those things and made them real and fine in words. Who better to celebrate in our celebration of shoes? The master of fine art and the ultimate creation in art!

I propose an international Shakespeare/Shoe event every April 26th; Shakespeare will be performed in fabulous shoes and the women in the audience will attend in fabulous shoes. Oh, I think I just had a small stroke at the thought of it! Think of it: all that is good in life in one place! Shoes, art, Shakespeare, me. Oh, it is too delicious to contemplate.

All that glistens may not be gold but all that is fabulous belongs to shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Charles David "Forecast"

2007-04-27T23:46:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I was at Northpark again today and had the opportunity to sit and watch women shopping in J. Jill. I noticed a woman walking around who was probably around 60. Keep in mind that I live in Dallas where plastic surgery is queen so you never really can guess a person's age. Anyway, this woman was carrying a black patent leather oversized bag with bling and studs on it, wearing a pink top with khaki capris, pink floral high heeled slides with a big ass bow and she had bright red polish on her toes. Does the woman own a mirror?

I know this woman thought she looked put together and even cute, but ladies! mixing seasons and clashing colors and too young for you styles is so wrong. It's spring! leave the black patent leather anything packed away in tissue for next winter. Then again, oversized and blingy patent leather purses should probably be lovingly packed away in the garbage can. But the shoes! Christ on a bike, step away from shoes that have both a gaudy floral pattern AND a bow. Step away, now! Step away especially if you are over the age of fifteen.

Fabulosas, please! It isn't hard to take a quick look in the mirror to see how the total package comes together. If you can acknowledge that any part of your anatomy is hosting something you might have seen in Seventeen magazine, take it off. Unless you are, in fact, seventeen. The capris this woman was wearing were cute; all she needed was a new purse and new shoes to look fabulous. How hard is it to compliment yourself with the right shoes? Not hard at all. If you can't figure out how to do it, email me and I'll help.

Act your age, mama, not the shoes you wore in high school.

Today's favorite shoe:

Isaac Mizrahi "Ariane"
Very much on sale, by the way.

2007-04-23T23:17:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

How much shoe talk is too much? Or to be more exact: is there ever a time when shoe talk is inappropriate? I have a feeling many of you know where I am going with this; yes, fabulosas, I am talking about noticing the shoes in the stall next to you in the restroom.

Here's the deal: I was, you know, the other day at Target and I happened to notice the thongs the lady next to me was wearing and I really, really wanted a pair. I sat there for a moment (because, you know, where was I going to go?) and decided against asking her through the stall walls. The conversation in my head went something like this:

Shoe Whore Liesl: Well, those shoes ARE really cute and they look new! If I ask her where she got them I might be able to get some, too.
Tactful Liesl: Yeah, but you'd have to first get her attention. What are you going to say? hey lady! the one next to me with the fabulous thongs and the interesting sounding bathroom experience?
Shoe Whore Liesl: Yeah, but once I got her attention she'd be happy to share the information with a fellow bathroom goer.
Tactful Liesl: Dude! no one wants to talk to you when they're in the bathroom praying to Jesus for relief!
Shoe Whore Liesl: Shoes trump all. ALL, I tell you! a quick question won't be weird.
Tactful Liesl: Yes, it will. Suck it up and realize you can't have every pair of fabulous shoes you see. Besides, do you really want to walk around in shoes that remind you of stinky tee tee? No, you do not.

At this point in the conversation I realized that in sitting there debating with myself my legs had fallen asleep. I had to sit there stomping my feet and trying to get the blood back into my legs. I noticed that in doing the stomping everyone in the bathroom curiously left in a bit of a hurry. I had missed my opportunity. Curse propriety!

If I had to choose between taking toilet paper to a deserted island and Jimmy Choos, I'd choose the Choos.

Today's favorite shoe:

Jimmy Choo

2007-04-21T21:19:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Would you wear used shoes if they were fabulous? I ask this because I have been going back and forth on this issue over the past few days. I was looking around on Manolo's blog and I came across a section of links for the latest fabulous ebay listings for fabulous shoes. I lost my head a little bit and bid on a pair of used Louboutin flats. Now, y'all know that I love Louboutin more than all others and that I also do not own a pair. The idea of owning a pair went to my head and I almost had them. So close. I was outbid and that turned out to be OK. Though, I really must have these. Oh, there I go again! Bad, Liesl! Bad!

Here's the thing, though: I wouldn't even consider buying a pair of shoes from a thrift store. Why? because the thought of wearing shoes someone else has worn and then cast off is squicky. It seems different when you cast them off to the Goodwill and when you sell them on ebay because they are still worth wearing. Right?

I think the real issue is that I want the shoes all to myself. If I am going to own and wear couture I want it to be all mine, as if it was made specifically for me. I can clearly imagine the entire process my Ferragamos went through to get to my feet. I don't even think anyone else tried them on before they fabulously found their fabulous way onto my fabulous feet. They were made for me and they are my soulmates. No pun intended because I do not joke about shoes or love. They really are just that important. In the end, I've decided that since these shoes made me whimper and weep, I should get over it all and get them. No! Bad Liesl, Bad!

A pair of Louboutins of my very own? Good, Liesl! Good!

Today's favorite shoe:

Casadei "5240"

2007-04-18T22:43:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

My day was utterly ruined first thing this morning. I got dressed and went looking for the shoes I wanted to wear; trouble is, I couldn't find them anywhere. I still can't find them. I ended up settling for some ballet flats but they didn't feel right after I had decided to wear my fabulous black slides. As I was walking across campus and feeling not quite right and a little grumpy I realized that it was my bad shoe luck this morning that ruined the rest of my day.

Some people might consider that silly but shoes are our daily foundation. We use them to do everything else during our day so having a bad shoe day is far worse than having a bad hair day or an I got dressed in the dark, clearly, day. Your shoes hold you up; they are the wind beneath your pencil skirt (unless you're Suz); they are the rock and the island and all the fish in the sea. A bad shoe day makes for a very bad day, indeed.

I'll find my shoes tomorrow; after all, tomorrow is another day.

Today's favorite shoe:

Rene Caovilla "C3917A"

2007-04-14T16:26:00.000-05:00

Suz, 10N

I am feeling pissed off and bitter today. I hate that feeling. I end up with such a knot of rage in my gut, that I want to scream. Primal scream. OK band, weird psycho babble trend in the 70's.

Anyway, back to why I'm pissed off and bitter. As those of you with hard to fit feet know, it's not easy to find pretty shoes. So it's particularly insulting when a company who likes to brag that they have shoes available in your size, ends up only having ugly shoes in your size. What up with that?

The company I take issue with is Naturalizer. I just received the latest catalog in the mail. Full of lovely, pretty shoes that I can afford. One glaring problem - their lovely, pretty shoes are available only up to size 9N. Why would they not take that one extra step and stock them in size 10N? Do they think that 9 is the cutoff and that women with size 10N (or larger) feet don't want to look fabulous? Seriously. What the hell is up with that?

So I wrote a letter. I encourage all of you who share my predicament to do the same. I know there are lots of you out there.

I am writing to express my extreme frustration with your sizing. I just received my latest catalog, and yet again, I see that all your cute and pretty new shoes are size either in M or W only, or worse yet for me, N to size 9. I wear a size 10N. I prefer to wear pretty shoes. I would shop from you far more if you just took that one extra step and carried your most attractive styles in my size. Frankly, I don't want to buy much of what you offer in size 10N. To put it mildly, they are ugly. I wouldn't be caught dead in them.

So, until such time as you decide to offer your pretty shoes in my size, I'll continue to do the bulk of my shoe shopping at Nordstrom and Zappos.

PS: I buy at least one pair of shoes a month.

Today's shoe:

Manolo Blahnik Toe Ring Flat

2007-04-12T20:32:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I was shopping for shoes the other day at Fossee's, one of my favorite shoe stores, when I overheard a woman telling another woman that a shoe salesman at Saks had told her that designers were no longer making narrow shoes and she had to just get used to it. I found that to be utterly reprehensible. How could that ass expect anyone to just get over being able to wear anything but tennies because fabulous shoes no longer fit?

This was brought to mind tonight when I was watching one of my all time favorite movies, Once Upon A Time In The West. In a particularly brutal scene Henry Fonda asks Claudia Cardinale if there was anything she wouldn't do to save her skin. She replies: nothing. There is another character who desires nothing more than to see the Pacific ocean before he dies; he is willing to anything to get there. The Charles Bronson character will sacrifice himself just to get revenge for the murder of his brother. And the last major character, played by Jason Robards will do almost anything for money.

All of this exposition on OUTITW is just to ask this one question: what wouldn't I do for fabulous shoes? Oh, you know what? maybe I shouldn't write that down where people can read it. Um... never mind.

I wonder if Christian Louboutin takes souls in payment for his shoes?

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Louboutin, "Yo Yo Zeppa 3"

2007-04-07T22:20:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I recently bought a pair of Jessica Simpson shoes that miraculously fit well and were quite fabulous. After I bought those shoes I went to the jewelry counter and bought a pair of Jennifer Lopez earrings. I was a bit embarrassed about these purchases because of the pop culture connection and it got me to thinking about celebrity products; should the puritans of fashion indulge in them?

I've been fairly impressed with the Jessica Simpson line of shoes. I assume she doesn't design them but does make the final decision on which ones to make. Many of her shoes are cute and stylish. Jennifer Lopez always looks fabulous so why wouldn't we assume that her products will also be fabulous? yet, I really was embarrassed and even told the salesman that I couldn't tell anyone I had purchased Jessica Simpson shoes.

I've decided that that is silly. After all, no one has proprietary control over fabulousness. I am not particularly brand conscious, I just like what I like. What I like generally happens to be Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and the master, Manolo. However, that does not mean that I won't be the first to point out fug in any of those designer's lines. Remember the Burberry ugliest shoe on the planet? I like Burberry, as a rule. In the end all that matters is whether the product contains its requisite amount of fabulousness. Who cares whose name is on it if it looks fabulous on your fancy feet or perfectly proportioned ear lobes.

If I were a celebrity my line of shoes would be worshipped like a child worships Barney: with abandon, passion and the knowledge that you are more right than right in your love of something purple and fabulous.

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Lacroix "973985"

2007-04-03T18:26:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Yay! Suz is back! I believe this blog lacks something when she is not able to post as often. We often disagree on shoes which makes for a richer blog experience. Now if I can just get her to say no to Led Zeppelin...

Spring is here! I have been walking around in my new sandals for several days and feeling like I have been set free. As much as I love boots I miss the carefree days of summer and spring and the freedom of the air on my tootsies. With spring I feel the need to remind everyone that it is imperative to start getting pedicures. I get them all year round but I don't expect everyone else to be as vigilant. I would like to do a refresher of the pedicure/sandals rules.

1. A french manicure on your toes looks ridiculous. It is made to mimic the way our idealized fingernails would look if they were perpetually clean and young and long. Who wants to mimic long nails on your toes? That's just gross.
2. Don't wear pink shoes with red nail polish on your toes. They clash and cause the rest of us to have momentary confusion over who you are... scintillating seductress or immaculate innocent. the combination of the two is disturbing and results in an immaculate seductress who confuses everyone.
3. If thy nail polish chips, thou shalt repaint. Always.
4. Smelly feet do not belong in sandals. Ever.
5. If the sandals you are wearing have a huge flower on it, it is way out of fashion. Way, way, way out.
6. Flip flops are for the pool or beach, not lunch with the ladies.
7. After wearing sandals all day remember that your feet will get dirty. It's best to wash them before you get into bed.
8. Slides that flip up when you walk should make minimal sound. Otherwise, it sounds like you are walking along gently farting with each step.
9. Band aids and sandals do not go together. No one wants to see a loose band aid flapping around underneath your sandal or hanging off the side of your foot. Ew.
10. The most important rule: No Crocs, ever. I realize they have flip flops and you might be tempted to wear them to the pool or beach, but they should not be worn. Can you imagine all of that sand in the holes? Crunchy!

I hope this refresher has been informative. Remember to tip your pedicurist and to treat her well; she deals with the most important part of your body, the part that gets to wear the portable art that we call shoes.

If you walk into a pedicure salon wearing Crocs and the women who work there are predominantly "foreign," assume they're laughing at you in their native language.

Today's favorite shoe:

Anne Klein

2007-03-30T18:48:00.000-05:00

Suz, 10N

I know, I know. I haven't been here in MONTHS. What can I say? The winter did me in. I hibernated in my cave. I mourned the months of wearing boots and practical shoes for slogging through slush.

Now here I am - like a bear coming out of her cave (OK, that's not a very flattering analogy) um, let me see. I know! A butterfly coming out of its chrysalis. Yeah, that's it.

So anyway, like a butterfly coming out of its chrysalis as the weather warms, so do beautiful shoes start to appear on the feet of my fellow commuters. A peep toe here, a darling little ballet flat there, and some fierce stilettos being worked down that snow free street with glee. Oh, it does my heart good. It really does.

Woe to the woman clomping down the street in practical shoes! She is the most unfortunate of the unfortunates. She lacks the style gene. She lacks self-awareness. She lacks awareness of the season. She just...lacks.

My shoe of the day (or perhaps month at the rate I've been posting):

Manolo Blahnik Leopard Print D'Orsay Sandal

2007-03-29T11:42:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

If you read the comments on my last post you will see that a lovely young lady in Israel has been asking for advice on shoes for a young lady living in the land of the Crocs wearers. I feel so terrible for this young lady, having to see so many of those things everywhere she goes! It is my ethical duty to help her.

In my search for shoe sites that ship to Israel, or anywhere in the middle east, I was astounded to find that none of them do ship to the middle east. I am dumbfounded! It's not like the middle east is populated with only poor people. Hello? oil? Shoe sites are seriously missing the boat on this one. If I had the ability I would start a site that ships to the middle east, and I'd rake it in. Hey, this is MY idea! Don't go stealing it!

Back to ethical duty. As you all know, I believe it is my duty to rid the world of bad shoes and to educate the women and men and children who wear them. I was thrilled to be asked for advice by a young lady of obvious good taste. It got me to wondering, as all things do, if I really should force people to be educated about shoes. I mean, it's not like I would be doing a bad thing, right? Benefit would come out of this force! And no one ever called someone as sweet and chic as me a fascist. I think I would be doing the world a great service in forcing them to see true shoe reason.

Maybe I should start a "church": The Church of Shoeology.

Today's favorite shoe:

Bruno Frisoni

2007-03-26T21:27:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

Suz will be coming back to the blog someday, I promise.

I have been putting off writing about the Balenciaga exhibit at the Meadows Museum because it requires a great deal of thought and introspection. I went to the exhibit over a week ago and haven't been able to get it out of my head since.

The clothes were, in a word, sublime. Seeing that exhibit drives home the point that true style is timeless as many of the dresses, hats and shoes were from the 50s. When you see a gown like this you know that there is such a thing as style that never ends or dies. Some people say love never dies; I say that is equally true of style.

This all got me to wondering if fashion and fabulousness were akin to love. I know some people will scoff at the notion but they are not seeing beautiful fashion as it should be seen: necessary. Think of how boring and cheap our world would be if our only options were the latest styles from Tommy Hilfiger and Jessica McClintock. I just threw up a little bit at the thought. Think of it this way: if we can describe love popularly as a many splendored thing, can't we use those same words for fashion? What you get from a pair of Louboutins is entirely different from what you get from a pair of Weitzmans; however, the love of both is equal insofar as it is valid and necessary for a happy existence.

There is this popular belief among people who study aesthetics that sublimity only comes to mankind when we view something in nature, or when we view art that reminds us of the power of nature. I heartily disagree. Sublimity is man's attempt at finding their soul through art and touching the outer limits of the beautiful. If you accept that contention then you must accept that shoes fall into that category; shoes are, to be precise, little pieces of art made so that we can have art, beauty and sublimity everywhere we go. We walk through our lives knowing that we are sublime; we are beauty; we are indelibly linked to all that is beautiful in life.

Do you want to challenge my love/fashion/sublimity assertion? Remember this: I know shoes better than you do and I can argue until paisley comes back in style. I can argue until pill box hats come back in style. I can argue until Nehru jackets come back in style. I can even argue until acid washed jeans come back in style. You understand that means forever, right?

Now go get a pedicure and be worthy of sublimity in its material form.

Today's favorite shoe:

Jimmy Choo

2007-03-23T16:19:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

My quest for the perfect black slide continued today. I met my mom at Nordsrom's to see a pair of shoes she had seen featured in an ad in the paper; they were too utilitarian for me but I decided to try them on anyway. They really weren't for me but the salesman brought out another pair by the same designer. I tried those on, and... I bought them.

Have you ever been seduced by a comfortable pair of shoes? I know I don't have to ask this question about fabulous shoes because those shoes need very little seduction to land in your shopping bag. You know how it goes: you see them, they flirt just slightly, pretty much ignoring your existence but still allowing themselves to be viewed; they somehow manage to find their way onto your feet and onto your Neiman's InCircle card. Wham, bam, thank you Mr. Louboutin.

No, what I am referring to is, trying on a pair of not so fabulous shoes because the salesman brought them out and you can't believe how comfortable they are and how good they feel on your feet. You know what you're thinking: "They really are not my style and they look old lady-ish but ohmyfreakinggod, they are so comfortable. I could walk in these for days and my feet would never hurt!" I think we've all done it and, more often than not, regretted it.

I did it today. I am ashamed to admit that I bought these shoes in black. I am going to take them back, not to worry. But I swear, they are so unbelievably comfortable. I just don't understand why these people who make comfortable shoes also don't seem to have even a vague sense of style. Do comfortable shoe designers sign some sort of pledge that forces them to only design ugly grandmother traipsing through Italy on a package tour shoes?

In the end, we went to one of my favorite shoe stores, Fossee's. They have left-overs of mid range designer shoes for reasonable prices. I can't find the two pairs of slides I bought online but I did end up getting a black pair. They aren't exactly what I was looking for, they're better. And all was not lost at Nordstrom's; I did manage to get a fabulous pair of Anne Klein slides for a steal. I like slides. A lot.

There is nothing wrong with being free with your virtue if it gets you fabulous shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Tory Burch

2007-03-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I am looking for the perfect pair of black slides. You know, the kind of shoes you will know as soon as you see them? I went to DSW the other day and was perusing the sandals when I heard a man near me chuckling; I glanced up to see a nice looking salesman looking at me and giggling. When he noticed me looking at him he told me that he couldn't help but laugh because I was concentrating so hard. He said I looked like I was involved in some very serious business. He was right; I was looking for the perfect pair of black slides.

Sadly, I didn't find those slides that day. I went to Northpark today with my mom to try and find them there; no luck. I went to two department stores and several small shoe stores and could not find a pair that fit. They were all way too wide. It also happens to be the big sale at Dillard's and Nordstrom's and guess what? all of those shoes were too wide, too. OK, not all of them; I did get these boots (first pair, second row) for a ridiculously low price. Score!

A funny thing happened on the way to the Nordstrom's shoe department: I ran into a student who took one of my classes last summer. She asked me what I was doing there and then immediately said, oh, you're shoe shopping, of course. As you can infer, there isn't a person who knows me who doesn't know that I have mad shoe love. She also told me that she would take any class I offered because she loved my class so much. She is a good kid.

The best teachers are the ones who have fabulous taste in shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Louboutin

2007-03-13T09:38:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

I was sitting at the airport two nights ago when I saw a woman who was wearing bright yellow patent leather peep toe pumps, carrying a bright yellow bag, and she had her hair pulled up in a plastic heart barrette. This woman was probably at least 30, by the way. As I was sitting there staring at her (yes, I know it's rude) I wondered if I had the moral duty to tell her that she was violating so many rules of fashion and taste? She obviously didn't know better and I know how embarrassing it can be to look back on past fashion indiscretions; should I have helped her? Would it have been helping her? The reality is, she would not have taken it in the spirit it was offered and probably would have tried to kick me with her horrid pumps. Ah well.

I still have to wonder, though, if we should help our friends in this way? We were at the airport to meet two lovely ladies, friends of ours, who had a layover. One of these lovely ladies was wearing Crocs. Now you know I had to kid her about those shoes, especially since I was wearing fabulous flats (of course), but I wonder if I should have dashed back to the car and grabbed some better shoes for her to wear? Some people keep spare tires in their trunk, I keep spare shoes. I know she would have felt like a better person if she had been wearing any shoe other than Crocs.

The question remains: where does our moral duty lie? I feel morally obligated to talk Suz into getting the fabulous shoes she has talked herself out of; I feel morally obligated to talk Jen out of the boring shoes she's talked herself into; I feel morally obligated to wear fabulous shoes as a beacon of all that is good in shoeland. Maybe I should also be obligated to comfort and educate the bad shoed masses, too. The world would be a kinder, gentler, prettier place. That settles it! from now on, I will help educate the masses about their poor shoe choices.

Don't be alarmed if you don't hear from me for awhile; heels hurt when they land on your shins but I must soldier on for the good of women everywhere.

Today's favorite shoe:

Emporio Armani

2007-03-06T09:56:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I was listening to one of my favorite shows on NPR yesterday and they were interviewing the director of the Meadows Museum here in Dallas. They are having a Balenciaga exhibit (more on that in another post) at the moment and they were talking about the need to make the mannequins and the dresses have "movement." When I was a teenager and taking pictures for a portfolio, one of the things I heard most often was that my pictures implied movement and that was a good thing. Now, this topic is not just a brag on how gorgeous I used to be; I want to talk about when we take this movement thing too far.

For your consideration, there is this picture. I'm a fan of Spanks; I was raised to never leave the house without lycra on my thighs, but come on! That picture is just silly. Who poses like that? And how weird is it that it a picture of 4 disembodied legs? Creepy! At least the shoes are fabulous.

The moral of the story? Movement is only good when it implies natural movement or pretty movement; not weird tippy toe movement by leg monsters from Mars. And what does this have to do with shoes? As I said, leaving the house without lycra on your thighs is only for supermodels.

I'm going to tippy toe out the door with my thighs encased in lycra, now.

Today's favorite shoe:

Faconnable "Charlize"

2007-03-02T21:15:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

You have to love a woman of action. You have to love a woman of action who has her priorities straight even more. Did you know that Dr. Ruth Westheimer was an Israeli sniper? It's true! The wee sex goddess sniped as a teenager and she always kept her priorities intact. In talking about an incident on her 20th birthday in which her legs were almost blown off from a cannon ball she had this to say:

"The strangest thing was that all I could think about was whether there might be some blood on the brand-new shoes I had just gotten for my birthday, and amazingly there wasn't even a drop on them, which was all I cared about in some kind of strange denial." http://www.snopes.com/medical/doctor/drruth.asp

Now, I don't think she was in denial; I think she had her wits about her and was displaying her famous composure in the face of shocking and stimulating situations. Our little Dr. assessed the situation and saw that her precious shoes were safe and she knew that she was going to be OK. See? shoes can even be the beacon of all that is right in our lives in the face of great danger. They are, quite simply, multifaceted pieces of fabulous.

On a not entirely unrelated note: Suz and I were just IMing and she had talked herself out of these shoes. I managed to talk her back into them and now she is the proud owner of a gorgeous pair of silver Linea Paolo flats. What are friends for if not to lead us down the path of fabulousness?

Have shoes, will travel.

Today's favorite shoe:

Bettye Muller "Linley"

2007-02-26T18:36:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

The Oscars were once again on TV last night. I watch them every year and every year I feel cheated. This year was no exception; once again they left the shoes out of the fashion parade. So, so wrong.

Those fabulous dresses would be nothing without the fabulous shoes holding the fabulous beauties up! Come on, people! give the shoes a little love. They showed Jennifer Hudson's Manolos only because they showed her trying them on in her shopping for Oscar fashion segment. It was a tease and it was not enough and I am pissed about it. I don't care who had what done to their eyes or boobs! Show me the damn shoes! I am the female Cuba Gooding, Jr. bellowing about shoes instead of money.

They didn't even show the Stuart Weitzman Cinderella shoe. Really, that shoe cost $500,000 and they don't even show it? Who are these people? I'm not going to watch next year. Do you believe me?

They should hire Suz and I to comment on the shoes on the red carpet. We would be so fabulous.

Today's favorite shoe:

Stuart Weitzman "Give Me Fever"

2007-02-22T16:44:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Oprah had Colin Cowie on her show the other day and he allowed her cameras into his home to see how and where he lives. I was struck by something he said as he was showing Oprah his kitchen: he always sets a beautiful table, even when he is dining alone. That struck me as a truly elegant way to live your life and it, of course, got me to thinking about how we think of shoes.

Let me backtrack a bit; in 1989 I lived in France for a summer and I spent my weekends in Paris. The thing I thought was so funny about the French was that if you were wearing tennies, especially white ones, you were stared at with disdain. Now, I am all for live and let live but I think the French were on to something. We live in a fast food, comfort driven society now. We have universal remotes that do everything but walk the dog for us so we expect a lot of comfort from the things we put on our bodies. That's fine; but why can't we also have style when we are being comfortable?

There isn't a fashion rule that stipulates that high style must be painful or uncomfortable. On the contrary, fashion is not just about looking good, but feeling good. The challenge seems to be in accepting the easy option rather than looking for comfort in a stylish or pretty product. There is no reason we need to wear tennies for anything other than exercise. (obviously I make exceptions for people who have medical issues) Flip flops? They're made of foam and you get them at Walgreens. What are you thinking, wearing those things anywhere but the pool or beach? The point is, there is no reason not to live as Mr Cowie suggested, with something beautiful always informing your life. Your shoes can be a direct example of this credo; they are your foundation, after all. If you choose your shoes based on comfort try to also introduce some snazz into the mix.

Honey, there is nothing sophisticated about shoes bought at a store named after a compartment built to hold sweaty gym shorts.

Today's favorite shoe:

Manolo Blahnik

2007-02-17T18:36:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

When you shop for shoes do you walk around the store or department and pick them out or do you allow the salesperson to show you what they think you might be looking for? As you all know, I enjoy browsing shoes, fondling them, and then walking away from them. Most of the time when I am doing this the salespeople don't approach me. However, when I walk in with the intention of purchasing shoes, they always seem to know and approach me.

I went to Neiman's yesterday to look at shoes. I didn't think I had the intention of buying but I must have since a very nice saleslady named Susan (fate!) approached me and offered to help me look. I told her I was looking for flats in a size 7 narrow. She immediately directed me toward the Ferragamos, a wise move. I love Ferragamos and they do come in narrow sizes. Here's what surprised me: I picked up a pair that I loved and she picked one up that she ostensibly loved for me and I tried them both on. Turns out, she had picked the better shoe. That made me wonder if perhaps we should accept help from people who know shoes and feet when we shop for those very important parts of our lives. And should we do this for all beautiful things? I wonder this, also, because I then went to Nordstrom's to look at jewelry and had the exact same experience: a saleslady convinced me to try on a necklace that I initially thought was too sparkly but turned out to be utterly fabulous. I think this all boils down to the fact that I happened upon two very competent salesladies from the old school of shopping.

Stanley Marcus made his salespeople go through training on how to treat people and how to be a conscientious salesperson. The people who worked in the different departments were supposed to know that particular product well enough to help people shop, not just to check them out when they were finished. This has become a rare thing in shopping now and I think we have suffered for it. When the only people we have to see for fashion advice are distant and unavailable to us personally (people in magazines) how else are we to learn about the products we buy and about what is right for us? Even I, the supreme lover of shoes and veteran shopper, needed help.

When was the last time you found a truly knowledgeable person in a store? Why would they be there when the pay can be so low? I worked in a bookstore 15 years ago and I was amazed to find that most of the people who worked there didn't actually read books. Can you imagine? It was just a job. This is my point (finally): we have lost much of the access to expertise and we have lost much of the pride that comes with that expertise in every day life. It's a shame. If you find a salesperson that really knows their stuff, tell them how much you appreciate them and then tell the rest of us so that we can go appreciate them for ourselves.

Unless they tell you to buy Crocs. Don't tell us about them, we don't want to know.

Today's favorite shoe:

Constanca Basto "Caradoc"

2007-02-13T21:04:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Imagine my surprise as I was browsing salon shoes at Nordstrom.com when I came across this shoe. White pumps? Really? Not just white pumps, but patent leather white pumps?

There are not words strong enough to express my disapproval. White pumps do not look good on anyone. No one has feet that can pull off white pumps. White pumps are wrong. Morally wrong. Philosophically wrong. Fashionistically wrong. More wrong than wrong. Wrong in every way. Wrongest of the wrongest.

I, however, am never wrong.

Today's favorite shoe:

Bruno Frisoni

2007-02-10T21:42:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

As I was bending over to pick up my water bottle out of the vending machine at school the other day I noticed the shoes on a student standing next to me. First of all, she had on a short, short skirt and her fat feet were hanging over the back of her flower sandals. Now, I am not a fan of dressing in skintight clothes and short, short skirts and shorts if you do not have the body to support such clothing. But I am fairly live and let live about those things. Muffin tops? yeah, tacky but not the end of the world.

However! I draw the line at the shoes. If you are going to wear sandals, even really ugly sandals, don't wear ones that are two sizes too small. Her feet looked like ham hocks hanging off of a lily pad. Yeah, it looked really bad and really silly. The kicker? it was snowing. This young woman violated so many rules when it comes to shoes; I should have tackled her and forced her fat little feet into snow appropriate shoes. Ew, then I would have had to touch her feet. Ew, nevermind.

I should teach a class on shoes, don't you think?

Today's favorite shoe:

Giuseppe Zanotti

2007-02-04T13:24:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Happy one year birthday, shoe blog! One year ago today Suz and I were IMing each other and we had the inspired idea to create this blog. A lot has changed for both of us in the past year but two things remain true: we are ever closer friends and the shoes we love are still fabulous.

Kick up your heels today in celebration of fabulous shoes. Superbowl? Superbowl of shoes, maybe! I think we should all go out and by blog birthday shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Manolo Blahnik, were it all began.

2007-02-02T16:33:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Et tu, Oprah? When I see you with your fabulous Louboutins sitting in your studio I think, now there is a woman who appreciates true worth in shoes. I notice her shoes every time I watch her show and I am always happy to see her fabulous shoes.

WHY Oprah! WHY? Why would you showcase Crocs and Croc charms on your show? You know better. I must only assume that Gayle convinced you to do it because she seems to want to give everyone a chance, bless her heart. Remember this, Oprah, best friends don't always have the best taste in shoes.

Oprah, I still love you, girl.

Today's favorite shoe:

Luciano Padovan "3015"

2007-01-25T17:34:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

The search for the perfect pair of slippers. Who knew that would be so trying? As I have stated many times before I have tiny, tiny feet. So, most slip on slippers tend to fall off of my feet. I do still wear a pink fluffy pair but I end up shuffling around, which isn't stealthy when you're trying to sneak up on someone or some cat.

I recently found a pair of Isotoner slippers from Kohl's that are doing the trick, but they're hard to get on. I admit that a part of me wants to wear something like this slipper and pretend I am Mae West. But the hard truth is that those slippers don't do much for cold tootsies. Also? they'd be like walking dog and cat toys.

I suppose I will just be happy with my fugly Isotoner slippers and continue to search for the perfect combination of tootsie warming fabulous slippers.

Yes, I am scraping the bottom of the barrel with this topic.

Today's favorite shoe:

Sergio Rossi "Raquel"

2007-01-19T19:26:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I was recently reminded of my all time favorite youtube video. This video is simply perfect. "Those shoes are mine, bitch!" Yeah, I can get down with that.

OK people, and by people I mean designers, let's stop with the fugly shoes already. I was fondling the pretties at Nordstrom's today and ran across this shoe. I think this one may even be worse than the previously described fugliest shoe ever (Vivienne Westwood for Nine West). Honestly, it looks like two shoes you retrieved from the dumpster at the Goodwill and glued together. FUG. Fug for $450, mind you. If I ever saw a woman wearing these shoes I think I would be morally bound to do an intervention.

Dare I say it? I think they may be worse than Crocs. Why? because they are so ridiculously expensive without an actual benefit. When you pay a high price for couture you should expect to be buying something beautiful. What if your personal shopper brought these to you, already charged on your Nordstrom's card? Wouldn't you feel totally ripped off? Now, if they brought you a fabulous pair of Chanel slingbacks you would likely not feel ripped off because they are just perfect. The moral of all of this? Designers sometimes need to stop sniffing the shoe glue.

These Louboutin's would be worth every penny:

Christian Louboutin

2007-01-12T23:16:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Do shoes really ever go out of fashion? I've addressed this before in the timeless post about shoes, but it has taken on new meaning lately when I've posted shoes that people really love and want to buy but can't because they are no longer available. I realize that it would be impractical to make every pretty shoe you've ever designed, but why do they last such a short time?

I have chosen a pair of shoes from Zappos for this week's favorite shoe because I know that if I don't use it, it will disappear. Pretty shoes should be available for longer, I think. It's not like they spoil with time or we'll look back on them with shame in 3 months. Pretty shoes will remain pretty and we all deserve the chance to own the ones we fall in love with.

Expiration dates are for food, not shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

N.Y.L.A. "Courtney"

2007-01-08T12:18:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

This blog entry is dedicated to my friend Tabitha. Tabitha is an incredible inspiration not just to me, but to many. I won't go into detail about her health concerns since that is truly not my story to tell, just rest assured that Tab is an amazing person with some very difficult challenges in her life. Tabitha asked me to showcase some comfortable shoes, so that is what I am doing.

In last month's StrokeSmart magazine there was an article about women who can no longer wear their favorite shoes because of the strokes they've suffered. The article focused on younger women, not your stereotypical stroke survivor. One woman would surround herself with her fabulous shoes from Nordstrom's just to feel like she was still connected to her shoes. I get that.

It's very unfair when something we cannot control takes away our passion; passions like shoes. There are some local craftsmen out there who are trying to make cute shoes for people with things like drop foot or mobility issues, but really? they are more about comfort than fashion. I think those two things could go together if someone with some design sense would design those orthopedic shoes. Come on designers! step up to the plate for people who love shoes but can no longer wear their old fabulous shoes! People with disabilities deserve some little pieces of fabulous, too, damn it!

Tabitha! this one's for you:

Chloe Ballerina Flat (Hey, I never said it would affordable!)

2007-01-01T17:05:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Do you make new year's resolutions? I half heartedly do; half way because I never keep them and I try to look at life as a work in progress. I realize the two are not mutually exclusive, but it's a good excuse.

Just because I don't make resolutions, though, does not mean I cannot help everyone else out with their resolutions. I think you all need to resolve to do or not do these things for 2007:

I, state your name, will not wear white pumps. Ever.
I, state your name, will never wear stockings with open toed shoes or sandals.
I, state your name, will not attempt to wear strappy sandals in a snow storm.
I, state your name, will always have a pedicure before wearing open toed shoes of any kind.
I, state your name, will never, under any circumstances, wear shoes made of foam.

And now, repeat this last mantra: I will love my shoes. I will love my shoes so much that I will keep them away from the dogs who like to chew up my shoes. Oh wait, that's mine. OK, try this: I will love my shoes. I will love my shoes so much that I will not do the aforementioned things while wearing my fabulous shoes. I will treat them with respect and dignity and, when I find a pair that needs to be added to my collection, I will gladly buy them. I will also come to Liesl or Suz for shoe advice because they know best.

Here's to another year of fabulous shoes!

Today's favorite shoe:

Nine West "Chitty"

2006-12-29T22:37:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

It will shortly be 2007, a time of renewal, of promise, of rebirth and throwing away of the old. What better opportunity is there to renounce the one thing that we could have all done without in 2006? CROCS. It is time, ladies, to say buhbye to the monstrosities of foam.

You've had your fun, you've dressed up your shoes with charms. You've worn the foam ickies everywhere from the opera to the gym. Now, let go. It's ok, you can do it. There is no shame in admitting that you wore them at one time; forgiveness is a beautiful thing. I will forgive you; Suz will forgive you. Throw them away. Now.

Don't you feel better? Yes, I knew you would.

Today's favorite shoe:

Lambertson Truex "Carlota"

2006-12-23T15:06:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

"Sex is in the heel."

I just watched the most wonderful movie, Kinky Boots. Yes, it is about shoes. The truly inspired story is set in Northampton, England in an old men's shoe factory that is about to go out of business. Instead of letting that happen the owner decides to find a new niche market to corner. Which niche? why, the fabulous drag queen market, of course! This got me to thinking: can men be fabulous in so called women's shoes?

Honey, if you can wear it, you can work it. If we tell women that no matter what size their feet they will look fabulous in fabulous shoes, why not men? Now, do I think MFP would look fabulous in a pair of Dolce's? No. Why? because he doesn't appreciate them for what they are: little pieces of fabulous. A drag queen, however, would probably appreciate the shoes, love them, and do right by them. It must take a lot of effort to find your true identity in a bit of glam, a bit of chiffon, a bit of leather, and a bit of lace. And what a fabulous identity that is to find! So I say, hell yes! men can be fabulous in fabulous shoes. The right men. The chosen men. The lovely men.

I wonder if this shoe comes in extra large?

Jimmy Choo

2006-12-17T10:49:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Suz and I highlight fabulous shoes in this blog; often shoes that very few people can afford. While we do love these shoes and will continue to highlight them, it is often nice to stop and point out that there are some shoes that are fabulous because of what they do for the world. I would like to highlight just such a shoe company today: Toms Shoes.

For every pair of shoes you buy from Toms Shoes, he gives a pair to a child in need. It's that simple. It's as if you were to go out and buy two pairs of shoes and give one to a child, it is really that direct. I love shoes, this we all know; however, I love the spirit of generosity and giving even more. It seems like such a simple idea: buy one, buy a pair for a child. Why don't more companies do this? Can you imagine? Buy one turkey for your holiday meal, one turkey goes to a family in need.
Buy one toy, a toy goes to a child who does not have toys. It's such a simple, elegant idea. I know it is impractical for most businesses to operate this way and we look to the Blake Mycoskies ("chief shoe giver for Toms") of the world to do it for us; it's just a beautiful dream.

In this holiday season, may you give more than you receive and may you feel the benefit of a light heart, made so by the knowledge that you have eased another's suffering. Happy holidays, everyone!

I'm going to start a campaign to get Christian Louboutin to donate a pair of shoes for every pair bought.... to me.

Today's favorite shoe:

Carlos by Carlos Santana "Reckless"

2006-12-12T12:20:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

My friend Jen and I frequently shop together and we always laugh over the fact that we have such completely different taste in fashion and style. I was at her house the other night she happened upon the picture of the Louboutin shoe I featured last post and she told me that she didn't care for it. My first reaction is always shock since I can't understand how anyone could not care for the shoes I love, but then I remembered that it is Jen and we have very different taste. I teased her recently by telling her that I liked a very tacky shoe that cost over $1000. She believed me because she hated it. Well, even she gets it right every now and then.

I actually like the fact that Suz and I have different taste in shoes. It gives life a richer texture when there are such variations in beauty. I don't happen to like Monet but I do love Pollock. And you know what? that's perfectly fine. There is a philosophical school of thought that believes that tastes cannot be disputed. I think that may be taking things too far. If that were the case, then a child's hand print in purple paint would be as worthy of the Met as a color splashed Kandinsky. That is unfair, isn't it? So, the question remains: how do we decide who gets to decide what is good and what is not good?

I have a simple solution: let's do it by love and passion. If you love and admire velvet paintings, you get to decide which ones are good. If you love and admire shoes and your name is either Liesl or Suz, you get to decide which ones are good. When Suz and I disagree we can call it the difference between preferring Picasso to Renoir; they are both masters, both worthy of adoration, but they don't appeal to the same people. That's a good solution. So, are you a Lieslist or a Suzist?

How much do you want to bet Jen doesn't like these shoes:

Dolce and Gabbana

2006-12-05T15:03:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I was at Northpark, yet again, yesterday and as I was noticing the shoes women were wearing to shop in, a question occurred to me: should we wear nice shoes to buy nice shoes? The majority of the women you see at Northpark Mall are dressed very well and have on nice shoes that compliment their nice outfits; every 10th woman, however, will be wearing tennies or flip flops or some other "comfortable" shoe. Do we expect to try on fabulous shoes with sweat pants?

I am of two minds on this issue: I want to be comfortable when I am shopping so that I can devote all of my attention to the important and life renewing task at hand: choosing shoes. However, I also want to be dressed well enough to be able to see those shoes in their natural environment, on me looking fabulous, before I take them home. How can this be accomplished in sweats and gym socks? There seems to be some sort of odd mingling of sweat and fashion when you combine tennies with a trip to Better Shoes at Neiman's. Dare we walk among the couture with our feet stuffed into heavy, white socks and sensible running shoes? I think perhaps the Manolos and Choos and Louboutins would shudder just slightly at the sight of their bastard cousins of foam and rubber.

Besides, you don't want the shoe salesman (yes, man) to touch your sweaty socks, do you? You do? Perv!

Today's favorite shoe:

Christian Louboutin

2006-11-26T10:03:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

Whenever I update this blog I put the picture of the shoe I featured in my Delphiforums signature. I do that because we don't update on a schedule, just when the fancy strikes, and I like to remind people to check out our fabulous blog with fabulous shoes. I generally get several, "Oh! I must have that shoe!" comments and a few, "Fugly!" comments as well. A few weeks ago when I was featuring the purple Will's Fancy shoe one of my friends told me her son was sure the shoe was a butterfly. This post is dedicated to little Kevin. :)

I think the thought of shoes as naturally beautiful as something like a butterfly is a good one. I can't think of something else in nature that so ably describes a shoe: what starts out as raw, often ugly material turns into something so breathtaking we hesitate to touch it for fear of spoiling its beauty. This is true of butterflies and shoes. To have a butterfly land near you and let you see its beautiful markings feels as special as finding that perfect pair of pumps; it's a bit of luck mixed with a bit of nature and a bit of ingenuity. If you sit still long enough the butterfly may stick around for a bit; if you try on enough shoes you may find that perfect pair. It's all in what you make of it.

When nature and art collide the result is a fabulous pair of shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Emporio Armani Suede Butterfly

2006-11-21T12:02:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I would just like to mark this day as a sad day in the McQ household. Robert Altman, pioneering film maker, has died. What Manolo Blahnik did for shoes, Robert Altman did for the character driven film.

We salute your genius, your style and your abiding class, Mr. Altman.

Today's favorite shoe:

Charles David "Surprise"

2006-11-16T09:40:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I had the opportunity to people watch the other day so I, of course, looked at their shoes. There was woman who walked by who really caught my eye; I know that was her plan, to catch the eyes of people around her, but not in the way that it actually happened. She was 60 if she was a day and she was wearing a tight fitting sweater, a short, short miniskirt and platform hooker heels. She also had bleached blond big Texas hair and pounds of make up on. For a moment I thought I was back in L.A. looking at Angelyne. This woman and her outfit got me to thinking about age appropriate fashion, er, shoes.

Aside from the obvious constraints of age and heels, should we ever stop wearing a certain kind of shoe? If you can still wear 4-inch heels when you're in your dotage should you be forced to parade around in sensible flats? I think the answer is no with a caveat: if the word "Candy" is anywhere in the brand or name of the shoe it should not be worn past the age of 15. And that's pushing it. It's not that we expect women to become boring but we also don't expect them to look like they are advertising the latest Tag body spray. People age, things change, gravity will out. Isn't that wonderful?

You cannot step into the same fashion age twice.

Today's favorite shoe:

Kenneth Cole New York, "Boxed In"

2006-11-10T16:11:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

I went to Northpark again today. I met my mom at Maggiano's for lunch; it doesn't hurt that the restaurant is right next to Dillard's, which has a fabulous shoe department. What else could we do but browse through the shoes and try some on? A woman remarked on how lucky I am to be able to walk up to the display shoe and try it on. Did you know that retailers usually put out the smallest size they have in the shoes they display? I guess they think the smaller sizes make them look more attractive.

I wanted to go to Dillard's today to try on the new Cole Haan heels. I am a big Oprah Winfrey fan and when she talks about something being good on her show I will invariably check it out on my own. Cole Haan has teamed with Nike to create what they think are comfortable heels. Oprah agrees with them and she asserts that they are, in fact, comfortable. Obviously, I had to try on these heels. I chose a relatively nice looking pair of 4-inch heels and slipped my tootsies into that concoction of leather and padding. The result was not pleasing.

When will shoe designers realize that you can put a mountain of cushioning in a shoe but it doesn't mean diddly squat if you don't also support the foot? Yes, these shoes had more cushioning and were a smidge more comfortable than your regular heels, but they wholly lacked any kind of support. How could that ever be comfortable? Someday Suz and I will have our line of fabulous yet functional shoes. I swear it!

I have a pair of Cole Haan/Nike loafers that the dogs chewed before I ever got to wear them; sensing a pattern there?

Today's favorite shoe:

Isaac Mizrahi "Varana"

2006-11-02T10:47:00.000-06:00

Liesl, 7N

My friend Stacy posed a challenge for us to discuss on this blog. Here is the challenge: The shoes in that link are fine Italian, technologically advanced marvels. Can a self professed shoe lover love such a shoe? It is superior to most other hiking shoes out there, the design is based on many years of refinement. The materials represent the latest and the greatest. The comfort factor is extreme. The likelihood they will wear out or fall apart is remote. They are amazing. However they will not flatter you calves, make your feet look dainty or make most men say ooh la la. (My hubby loves the way I look in hiking boots-heh) So here is the question: do "shoe lovers" love all shoes that represent fine craftsmanship and engineering or do they really only love dainty stuff that makes your feet hurt?

I think I have an answer: form and function are not equally important in shoes. We're not trying to convince anyone that 4-inch heels are comfortable or even practical; we're also not trying to convince anyone that comfortable shoes are always unbecoming. However, when it comes to true shoe love, form will always win over function. Does that mean we eschew all functional shoes? No, of course not. However, given the choice between the two for everyday living? A true shoe lover will go for form over function every time. Now, if we are talking about hiking in the outback, yeah, function will win. Big ass snakes don't care if your feet look dainty or cloddish, right?

In the end, the Aristotelean mean will always tip to form for shoe lovers. Which means that we should overshoot toward more and more fabulous shoes just to reach that golden mean. I can get down with that.

Today's favorite shoe:

Will's Fancy "Celeste"

2006-10-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

Liesl, 7N

MFP and I met a friend at Northpark again last night. We parked by Macy's so we entered the mall through the store and as we entered the store I inhaled deeply. I couldn't help but think: I love the smell of Macy's in the evening. I do love the way department stores smell, as well as shoe stores. I am most attached to my sense of smell because I tend to really love certain smells. Is it weird that I pick up and smell new shoes?

We met our friend Jen and her very smart son Braden. Braden is the one that yells "NO CROCS!" and tries to run away from them. Braden was allowed to pick out clothes for his build a bear and he went straight for the fabulous shoes; unfortunately, as we were walking around the mall he lost one of the shoes. What were we to do? We looked for it but couldn't find it; we did the only thing smart shoe people can do: we bought another pair. Whew, that was a close one!

Even teddy bears need fabulous shoes.

Today's favorite shoe:

Arche "Grigou"