Clogs: Yay or Nay?

True story: The only pair of Dr. Scholl's "original wood exercise sandal" or whatever I owned lasted me approximately four hours. That's how long it took me to hobble to work, feverishly working my toe-grip muscles to unsuccessfully attempt to keep the damn things on my feet, look casual-cute at my desk for a few hours, and finally fall out of them on W. 53rd Street at lunch. Those things are the devil in shoe form. So unassuming-looking, and yet IMPOSSIBLE to walk in. For me, anyway. I'm guessing that wooden shoes + mules = no go, even several years later, but oh how I wish I could rock some of this spring's luxed-up clogs. Hippies never looked so good, people! Here are a few of my favorite clunkers:





Swedish Hasbeens are SO NOW (hardie har har)! Four-inch heels, people. This is the Braided Sky-High model in sweet pale pink, $242 with shipping from Sweden.







Swedish Hasbeens peep-toes, $219 with shipping. Love these!







The Jeffrey Campbell "Charli" clog, $126. This is a really luxe-looking clog. And yet it's five whole inches of heel, slightly mitigated by a one-inch platform. I can only imagine myself attempting to walk down to my work cafeteria, nevermind five blocks to the subway. Danger! Danger! It's stunning in black, and I love that you can move the strap to make it a slingback.







Funkis closed-toe clogs, $149. These are handmade in Sweden AND have staples holding them together, so you know they're authentic (right?).







No. 6 clog boots were all the rage this winter, at least here in New York. Their clogs are custom-made for you and come in a slew of colors and several styles. This is a T-strap for $230.







If I were to join the cult of clogs, I might just go for Maguba's DIY option: design it yourself! I just can't figure out what color combo I would get...purple and black? Purple and yellow? Black and yellow? So many options!

















Maguba "Barcelona" clogs, $141.



If actual clogs are just too scary for you, there are a whole bunch of clog-inspired sandals out there. A few studs in the right spot, and bam! Hot semi-cloggy action.





Nine West "Eddisha" sandals, $79.







Miz Mooz "Hazel" sandals, $99.95.







And another: Kensie Girl "Taylor" sandals, $63.







Finally, these are on eBay and only applicable to size 7.5s, but, just, wow. Sigerson Morrison clogs, a Buy It Now steal at $105.99. Such a uniquely feminine (yet still cloggy) take on the style.



Happy stomping!

Cutie Bootie Alert At Nine West

($59.98, Ninewest.com)

Just when I decided I'd try to start being so good about not buying stuff, this Nine West blue and black suede "Bobbit" bootie gives me the come-hither stare. Then its half-off status tries to give me sex lips. Ugh. Fine. You win.

Also, FYI, donate $1 or more in store or at NineWest.com to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, and you'll get a coupon for 20% off any purchase in January.

Fall Footwear Trend: No Toe!

Is it going to be absolutely impossible this fall to find a pair of shoes that have actually managed to escape the drawing board with their toes intact? Peeptoes have moved from sandals to pumps to boots and Oxfords to like EVERY SHOE EVER, and I'm not all that sure I'm feeling that. Observe:

($175, Corso Como, Piperlime)

Why? I just don't get it! Is it that hard to go the extra 1.5 inches and cover the toe? You're not gonna be wearing these in 90 degree weather!

($405, Claudia Ciuti, Shopbop)

Why? What? NO!

($59, Steve Madden)

So tacky, Jackie!

($109, BCBGirls, Nordstrom)

These wold be totally otherwise cute(sy-ish), but again, WHY the no toe!?!?!?

($99, Nine West)

I actually like these, because they have a sort-of cool vintage look and don't just look like an otherwise regular pair of contemporary shoes that happened to get their toes sliced off. And I love the heels.

($110, Jeffrey Campbell, Shopintuition.com)

Like these for the same reason.

(Apprx $83, Topshop)

These, however? WAY too much going on here.

($96, Jeffrey Campbell, Nordstrom)

Of course, not as what's going on here. (What the FUCK IS going on here!?!?)

($249, Pour la Victoire, Nordstrom)

Oh my Lawd Gawd. They're not inexplicably open-toed, but there's still no excuse. Soooo New Jack Swing-era. Gah.

Remember: random peeptoe = just say NO!

Sales Sales Sales!

A few NYC sample sales, but a few onliners too!

1.) Nordstrom is holding her annual Anniversary Sale Beauty Exclusive with over 100 beauty brands participating. The sale lasts July 18th through August 3rd, but you can preorder -- check out all of the available items here. Items ship July 18. My faves? MAC's Colour Form sets in bold primary colors:

($49.50, MAC, Nordstrom)

2.) eLuxury.com is also holding an anniversary sale -- take 15% off all sale items between June 25th through June 27th. What would I buy? Since you asked...

($239, 3.1 Phillip Lim, eLuxury.com)


($625, 3.1 Phillip Lim, eLuxury.com)

($475, 3.1 Phillip Lim, eLuxury.com)

3.) Piperlime is having a "tag sale," if you will, with savings of up to 40% off their summer styles. A few choice picks -- some of them aren't on sale, so, sorry for lying!

(Was $79, now $54, Nine West, Piperlime)

So gorgeous and fun, and they look really sturdy and not painful either!

(Was $132, now $89, Vince Camuto, Piperlime)

Subtle bondage vibe over here.

($450, Bettye Muller, Piperlime)

These are actually from Piperlime's Fall preview. Normally I hate Mary Janes, but I'm all over these like Amy Winehouse on her first cigarette out of the hospital.

($335, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Piperlime)

I'm inexplicably drawn to the contrast of blue patent leather and burgundy suede. It's about as much patriotism as I can handle.

4.) Nutty Rice Sample Sale:
Monday June 23rd - Thursday June 26th
10am - 6:30pm
530 7th Ave #1009
Between 38th and 39th
Brands: PF flyers, Sugar shoes and cosmetics, Alternative Apparel, Gravis, Five Crown, Bread & Butta, Mr. Chips

5.) Ethan James Group Pop-Up Sale
Wednesday June 25 - Sunday June 29
12pm to 8pm

Openhouse Gallery

201 Mulberry St.
New York, NY 10012
Brands: Love YaYa, Aflalo, Staerk, Moon Katz, Fluxus, and The Smooth Company

6.) Ananas Pop-Up Store
From the press release:
"Ananas Collection, the best selling line of handbags from New York, is opening a pop-up store at 52 Canal Street in New York’s Lower East Side (BAMBI) for 3 weeks only! From June 24th to July 15th, the space, called “Ananas at fifty-two”, will be open with exclusive, limited-edition products as well as offering select styles from the fall ’08 leather & eco collections- these styles won’t be available outside of the store until August! Jennifer Lagdameo, founder and designer of Ananas, is thrilled with the opportunity to present her loyal customers with an entire Ananas shopping experience."

212-219-7641
Monday -Wednesday, 12:00 -8:00, Thursday - Sat 1:00- 9:00, Sun 12:00-7:00pm


OKee! Now go forth and spend! Especially you, Europeans -- come over here and spend some cash! It's like everything's 50% off! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to bed. I've got a big day of work and the premiere of The Baby Borrowers tomorrow!

Random Hump Night Binges

Y'all, first of all, my sincerest apolomagies for not Binging as hard or efficiently as I have in the past. I've been blogging my ass off for work, and while my heart remains in the Binge, work, well, pays the bills. Ah tries mah hardest to come up with some fun, semi-thoughtful and cohesive, subject-driven posts with lots of fun shit to look at/ buy/ dream about, but that's the Type A-er in me. At the risk of creating Bingeorexia and leaving you starving without much Binge at all, perhaps I should try being more Type B and just throw some shit up there? Your thoughts in the comments -- less frequent posts with more ZING or more frequent with less ZIP, if you will?

Okay, that said, here are three random Binge wants on this Hump Night (the night OF hump day, and not, to say, a night during which I'm humping, because I'm not, because I'm blogging. Ew. "Humping" is gross but funny!)

($99, Anthropolgie)

Oh, Anthro, you heartless, overpriced little bitch. Your sales are hardly even. Yet you keep drawing me back in.

($140, Nine West)

My ongoing love affair with grey heels continues. These are perfect summer shoes (with easy warm-to-cool seasonal conversion capabilities!) and almost have a Chie Mahara feel. But cheaper!

($175, Brian Bowie, Refinery29)

This messenger bag is supposed to be for guys (which fulfills one of my Type A goals of doing more men's stuff on the bolg), but I'd rock dat. Each bag is handmade by designer Bryan Bowie (best last name ever!!!! besides Rockwell) and thoughtfully comes with a detachable laptop case. Noice! They're supposed to be available at Bowie's site, Nostalgiecloth.com, but that site looks like it's slightly busted, so yell at Refinery29 and not me, k?

Already, I Am Sick of Gladiator Sandals...

And it's barely even Spring!!! Seriously, unless you're actively involved in battling bears or guys who look like Russell Crowe, you do NOT need to encase you foot in a leather cage. Please. DON'T!

Some particularly egregious offenders:

($98, Jeffrey Campbell, Urban Outfitters)

If you're concerned that your cankle areas (for lack of a better term) are going to be chilly, MAYBE IT'S TOO COLD OUT FOR SANDALS! But you really truly do not get to do both.

($28, Urban Outfitters)

Dudes, fringe is not for shoes. Fringe is for jackets... no wait a second. Fringe is NOT FOR ANYONE outside of Branson (and I'm sure several of Branson's fine citizens don't even wear it). Don't ever wear fringe EVER. (One exception: you are Dolly Parton and/or 1967 Dennis Hopper.)

($57, Naughty Monkey, Karmaloop.com)
Seriously? What the shit??

($79, Nine West)

We get it. The American economy is in the shitter, so we're supposed to buy bright things to make us forget. I love bright things, but that's no reason to let the sandal equivalent of Bill Cosby's Coogi sweater creep up your foot.

($125, Urban Outfitters)

As if someone sent a perfectly okay jazz shoe through a paper shredder.

You get the point. So now, some lovely warm-weather footwear alternatives to the scourge of gladiators:

($48, Urban Oufitters)

Not my all-time favorites, but definitely not bad at all. At least there's no covered heel or ankle nonsense.

($105, Dolce Vita, Piperlime.com)

Perfectly reasonable, sweetly (note: not barfily) trendy metallic peep-toe that says "I'm a grown-up, and I'm perfectly mature about keeping MOST of my foot consistently -- not schizophrenically covered."

($105, Sam Edelman, Bloomingdale's)

Love both of these. (Very similar, cheaper ones here, BTW.) Wedge-y but not towering, which is more than I can say for these:

($29.50, Alloy.com)

Holy hell. Anyway, back to better spring shoes:

($175, Cole Haan, Bloomingdale's)

Rarely do I see white shoes I'd actually wear, but these are great (both versions!) all-purpose sping/ summer heeled sandals that completely do not suck or offend.

($365, Chie Mahara, Sodafine.com)

Sweet, sweet design. Sweet, sweet desire. It's like the Golden Gate Bridge found a happy home on your foot (minus the congestion and the jumpers.)

($375, Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale's)

The price is a bit ridick for a bit of rope, and sure, they're a bit campy, but they're still fun in a WASPy sort of way. (And Ha'shem KNOWS I'm WASPY!) Though I'm not sure why you wouldn't just opt for Kinos -- Key West classics -- instead:

($11, KinoSandalFactory.com)

($11, KinoSandalFactory.com)


($41, Steve Madden)

It's not much, but it's right to the point and WORLDS better than the much-aligned flip-flop. HELP US HELP YOU!

Also, Steve Madden promo code:
$10 off: SML963BF1E (Not sure if this is a one-hitter or what.)

Finally, if sandals aren't your thing (and I get that), I like these ridiculous (and ridiculously priced!) Nikes:

($79, Nike, Alloy)

Do I offend???