Shoe Me This

Arturo Chiang Gregory Jet in Spicy Red

For fall, it's time to put away the fire engine red and spice things up with deeper, richer hues. That's why I like the Arturo Chiang's Gregory Jet Pump. It is available in the shade aptly called "spicy red."

Especially desirable on this pair is the kitten heel - a comfortable 1 1/2 inches. What a relief the 3+ inches I've been wearing lately! The uppers are patent leather with a translucent trim.

From ladies I know who have been lucky enough to own these shoes for a while, I hear the durability is great too.

Fall 2008 Trend: Gray

Summer is winding down and soon the trees will turn shades of red, yellow and orange. On the other hand, our wardrobes will get darker with browns, blacks and grays. I have a lot of black shoes and several brown shades; however gray is completely missing from my shoe closet. Now that I have several pairs of gray slacks, it's time to shop for some gray shoes.

For the office, Franco Sarto never fails. Their Acre Open-Toe Wedge (above) is available in multiple colors, but I like their asphalt gray version best. The button is medal. The uppers are a combination of suede and patent leather.

What if you are looking for comfort to dash to your subway while looking trendy? Try Sketchers USA Bikers-Cage. It boasts a lush suede upper with ruched toe.

Finally, if you want a polished shoe to wear out on a first date, you may want a little sparkle. I recommend Nine West's Paulanne Pump. The upper is satin and the tapered heel measures 3 1/4 inches. The jewel toe sets this heel apart.

Madden Girl Poppyy Zebra Flats

On the plains of Africa, zebras have strips to blend into their environment. Wearing a zebra pattern shoe will assure the opposite affect in the city.

Madden Girl's Poppyy combines the comfort of a flat in a tweed print that lets you exude sassy flair.

Madden Girl's zebra print is a great way to walk on the wild side. My friend Karen purchased this pair a few weeks ago. She's a conformed high heel addict. Lately, she has had a difficult time finding fun flats. She raved about the how great Madden Girl felt -- which is exactly what I want to hear about cute shoes.

Karen found Poppyy in-store at DSW. I searched online and saw them at Zappos.

If you must get heels, you'll find that the zebra print is popular and many designers are using it, including Guess, Bandolino and Alisha Hill (below).

NY Fashion Week: Trend for 2009 - Fishnets?

Brace yourself. Fishnets are making a come back... again.

The New York Fashion Week is the perfect venue to catch a glimpse of what to expect in stores in the near future.

Sadly, I'm not one of the lucky ones attending NY Fashion Week's Spring 2009 showing. However, I am catching up online and I'll continue to keep you posted on interesting trends as I filter through the blogosphere from afar.

Today, fishnets have caught my attention. On ShoeBlog, you'll find some great coverage of the Baby Phat new looks. While there are some trendy dresses and colorful fall heels, the fishnets were distracting - as seen in the photo above.

Regular nude hosiery has been popular for the last few years. I'm a fan of the natural look because it leaves room to focus on the shoes. But could fishnets make a come back? If memory serves, they were popular again around 2000 and faded out after a year. I wore them two years, but that was when I was young and stupid.

I will say this in defense of fishnets, their durability is fantastic. I loath having to worry about snags.

But are fishnets right for the workplace? My opinion, based on what I've seen of Baby Phat, makes me think the workplace for these brightly colored pair is only advisable if you are working the streets.

UGHly Shoes: Patriotic Boots... Stripper or Wonder Woman?

It's finally here: Election 2008! Regardless of your party, we will all hear about the love of country and the glories of being an American between now and November.

In honor of our American heritage, some shoe designers get a little crazy. I couldn't quite laugh out loud when I stumbled upon this pair of patriotic platform boots. Mainly, I scratched my head. Stripper or Wonder Woman?

The heel is 5" and chunky to provide extra support -- which our nation needs! The platform and lace-ups look like they'd scare even Osama bin Laden.

If I had $52.00 to waste, I'd consider buying them as a joke to wear on election day... Speaking of which, am I the only one who'd love to see either Sarah Palin or Michelle Obama at the voting booth in this pair of shoes?

Audrey Brooke Billie Patent Leather Demi Wedge

Last week, I saw a friend with an adorable pair of zebra-print flats. They looked perfect for either winter or summer in sunny California. Apparently, she found them at DSW. I was not so lucky browsing online for a photo of them but I found this flat gem instead.

Audrey Brooke Billie Patent Leather Demi Wedge is available in several colors: red, blue, black and tan. All have bright white accents and a matching chain ornament.

I have not tried on this pair, so I cannot speak to the comfort level, but I do apprecate the demi wedge design offered by Audrey Brooke. The rubber demi wedge is only a 1/2" -- which makes it perfect for ladies looking for a little lift without the lower back pain. The peep toe will also show off fresh pedicure.

Bakers Suzie Q

Summer is almost over and I did some last minute shopping before a bachelorette party for something to wear with my denim skirt on a hot summer night.

Baker's Suzie Q appealed to me because of the high cork wedge paired with the canvas upper. The sole has a bandanna pattern.

When it comes to comfort, Suzie Q leaves a some cushion to be desired if you are going to hit the dance floor. The feel is 4 1/4", which looks great but places too much pressure on the toe to sustain for long.

If you are looking to show off your legs and you do not have a lot of walking to do, this is a great shoe.