Leather Shoes

Whenever I wear a pair of pointy-toed shoes or boots, as I did this past weekend, my husband is prone to making comments along the lines of “Well, I can see which boots you’ll be wearing on Halloween.” This type of none-too-subtle witch reference is not lost on me. There are even those who categorically hate all pointy-toed shoes and use the phrase ‘Witch shoes’ dismissively. As for me, I simply shrug off any negativity regarding this classic style - as would anyone who has ever been lulled by the siren call of the perfect pair of pointy pumps. That perfect pair of witch pumps works its own spell on you so that you are unable to resist their particular charm.
Here’s to being the best-dressed witch in the neighborhood.
Manolo, Armani, and Weitzman, Oh My.

Manolo Blahnik Buckled Bootie $765 at Neiman Marcus

Manolo Blahnik Buckled Mary Jane $775 at Neiman Marcus

Manolo Blahnik Bow Pump $735 at Neiman Marcus

Georgio Armani d’Orsay Bootie $745 at Neiman Marcus

So many sweet pretties. *Cackle*
Okay, now that I’m back to Earth and off my broomstick, my Never Pay Retail budget tendencies are kicking in. So, here are a few somewhat more affordable alternatives for those of you currently situated in more of a bargainista than fashionista mode.

OK Ladies (and the odd gentleman), who loves Christian Siriano? Let me hear you! Who is fascinated by how his maniacal fashion mind works as he manages to succeed in an industry that often crushes new designers and an economy that crushes everybody else? Me! I am!
I got a chance to talk to Christian at the Fall Release event for Payless at their showroom in Manhattan. I will admit that most of the information in the interview is paraphrased (hey, I had a notebook, not a tape recorder). But these are the facts. The cold, hard facts.
Part 1: Memories….la la la la
So we all remember the runway versions of Christian Siriano’s soon-to-be-ready-to-footwear. They were…aspirational. Celebrities starting wearing them even before they tripped lightly down the runway at his Fall 2009 show. Needless to say, the question of how those 7-inch stunners would be modified for a population who walks farther than runway–>limo–>premiere–>limo was foremost in my mind. Here’s a reminder of what the runway versions looked like:

Cute, but Ouch!
Part 2: Here comes the love
First of all, let me say that Siriano was the picture of graciousness throughout the Payless event. He chatted with all the journalists who were milling around, smiling and posing for photos. My Payless contact told me that he had come in on a red-eye flight that morning, but you certainly couldn’t tell by looking at him. After exchanging greetings, I dove into the interview.

So, this message was left on my Facebook account by a desperate friend:
OK shoe queen…I want these shoes in a 7.5, 8, or 8.5.   I don’t care help me find them!
 

To add insult to injury, she had apparently placed these in her Piperlime shopping cart - but for some reason waited until the morning to buy them…and by then, it was too late!
So far, I have had no luck finding these in anything other than a size 6, and she is a 7.5 but is willing to go up or down a half size.  In fact, I have actually only found a couple of retailers that are even still carrying this shoe (DSW, Famous Footwear & Shoes.com).
Please, if you see these online or in a retailer near you, let us know so that we can help her to find these retro ankle boots.