There were many looks to like and not like at the 2010 Academy Awards held last Sunday (March 7) at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, but only a few really stood out from the sea of ruffles, chiffon, and crystals.

In this two-part list are 10 of the most standout dresses – 5 in a positive way in this first part and 5 that are, well, not as successful in the second part.

As much as we want to identify each pair of shoes these ladies wore on the red carpet, unfortunately, long gowns with sweeping hems mostly covered these celebs’ pampered toes. So instead, I’m going to pair the extravagant dresses with equally extravagant shoes that can be worn with each look, all below a not-at-all-extravagant price of just 100 dollars.

Let’s start with the 5 best dressed:

#1 Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana in Givenchy; Charles by Charles David Mineral pump

The “Avatar” star matched the top-grossing movie of all time’s record and also hit it out of the ballpark with this gown from Givenchy Couture. She wore the exact look on the Givenchy runway, down to her t-strap heels. Zoe is a clear frontrunner for Best Dressed at the 2010 Oscars.

The riot of purple on the hem of Zoe’s dress deserves a similar deep violet color like on the Charles by Charles David Mineral peep toe pumps. Any lighter and the shoe will clash with the dark purple hue. $99.99.

#2 Demi Moore

Demi Moore in Versace; BCBGirls Holmy Pump

Demi Moore’s May-December relationship is doing her good and it shows in this glowing picture of her from the red carpet arrivals. Demi wore a strapless silk organza gown from Atelier Versace and satin platforms also from Versace.

This blush tone on Demi’s dress is difficult to match but I did find these metallic camel-hued pumps. This shoe is the Holmy Pump from BCBGirls, on sale at $91.79.

#3 Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez in Giorgio Armani Privé; A. Marinelli Terrific sandal

It’s been a while since we last saw Jennifer Lopez’s dangerous curves and she brought them out for the 2010 Oscars evidently still in top fighting form. Jennifer’s figure-hugging lavender gown is Giorgio Armani Privé, worn with Ferragamo satin pumps.

These satin sandals encrusted with rhinestones from A. Marinelli would bring out the pale lavender on a gown like Jennifer’s. A. Marinelli Terrific sandals are $96.00.

#4 Amanda Seyfried

Amanda Seyfried in Giorgio Armani Privé; Nina Electra peep toe pumps

Amanda Seyfried, also in Armani Privé, was the belle of the ball. Her pale pastel green gown may have been made of the same material as Jennifer Lopez’s, but the sculpted bustier and full skirt made it a completely different dress.

Amanda wore Brian Atwood Katie Bis pumps with this dress, but these pale mint green Nina Electra peep toe pumps would match with it as perfectly. $89.95.

#5 Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus in Jenny Packham; Lumiani Aida strappy sandals

And last but not least, Miley Cyrus. Miley is taking the right steps in her red carpet style evolution. Looking elegant while still looking youthful is a challenge for most young Hollywood red carpet walkers, but 17-year old Miley passes that test with flying colors in this sparkly champagne-colored Jenny Packham gown. Miley makes it to this list for achieving that perfect balance.

A simple and delicate sandal like the Lumiani Aida would complement a standout dress like Miley’s. Now only $78.75.

In part 2 of 2, we’re going to cover the 5 worst dressed at the 2010 Oscars. You might be in for a surprise – it’s not always the glaringly obvious who’s the worst dressed!

I’m going to be completely open-minded about this because although Sanuk’s Tube Flop looks like it’s asking to be scrutinized, it is undeniably a unique product. Sanuk was the first company to market their loafer-style shoes as NOT shoes BUT sandals, and that bit of creative genius from Sanuk was a huge business and marketing success.

Clicking on this picture will take you to where you can buy Sanuk footwear

So what about their latest invention, the Tube Flop? It didn’t receive as warm a welcome as their first product, that’s for sure. Maybe it has to do with the general consensus that sandals with socks is a total fashion faux pas, maybe wearing them makes you look confused about whether you’re really feeling hot or cold, or maybe because it looks like this:

I mean, was this old curtain design one of the top choices for sock prints, really?

They also come in plain black, stripes, and in the fun, bright colors above, but did they really have to use mesh fabric for the socks? (Look closer at the picture).

It seems making the sandal + sock combination look cool wasn’t enough of a challenge for Sanuk so they decided to add other fashion crimes into the mix to make it more um, interesting.

Even though these tube flops seem like they won’t catch on with the public as well as the Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers did, we’ve got to hand it to Sanuk for thinking out of the box. They’ve already gotten people talking about it (although they’re talking more about how bad it looks than anything else), they already have the video ad campaign filled with hot chicks, so all they really need to do is add a few tweaks here and there to make the product more appealing.

The first thing they could do is get rid of the gold chevron print and get more cool prints. They did it for the Sidewalk Surfers, so why not for the tube flops? They could also try detaching the sock from the flip flop because (1) it would make cleaning them easier and (2) I don’t even know why they thought of permanently attaching the socks.

Thirdly, if Sanuk’s going for fun and funk, then perhaps they can take it a step further and go in the direction of totally funky Japanese-slash-ballerina fashion. They could make the socks really baggy, out of cable knit material, or in pretty pastel colors:

Sanuk Tube Flop sock ideas

They could also get rid of the ugly, shiny plastic flipflop and use better-looking rubber flipflops.

Oh and even though Sanuk founder Jeff Kelley said in a Transworld Business interview that he didn’t want the tube flop to become a “teeny bopper, 12-year-old item”, I have to disagree with him and say that tube flops should come in kids sizes. If there’s anyone who would look cute in tube flops, it would be kids.

Do you think Sanuk’s Tube Flops can actually be cool? Purchase them for $29.95 at Zappos.com.

Alexander McQueen was not only a brilliant designer and showman, but he was also a non-conformist; a rebel; a radical; and a visionary of sorts.

Before his unfortunate passing, he made this all the more clear by presenting outrageous and ridiculously life-threatening shoes in his 2010 Spring Collection. I am of course, pertaining to none other than the jaw-dropping 10-inch Armadillo shoes, which by the way, looked more like (forgive me for saying this) eerie alien claws from the movie “District 9” (sorry, these shoes don’t seem like lobster claws to me).

Alexander McQueen Armadillo Shoes

As expected, anything McQueen always made quite an impression because right after the show, Lady Gaga booked the shoes for her “Bad Romance” video. Other celebrities who were courageous enough to wear the Armadillos were Daphne Guiness  and Kelis (who went all out in a spiky cat looking costume).

Lady Gaga wearing the Armadillo shoes in her “Bad Romance” music video

Daphne Giuness

Kelis

In a way, the Armadillo was McQueen’s highlight, but there were other equally interesting pairs presented in his collection that most people overlooked.

I am talking about the mechanical-heeled Titanic Ballerina, and the Necromnomican-inspired Alien heels:

Alexander McQueen Titanic Ballerina

Alexander McQueen (Alien) Necromnomicon Inspired Heels

Probably not as high as the Armadillo shoes, but still shockingly astounding to look at,  don’t you agree?

If you’re a collector, or you intend to collect any of these shoes, purchasing one will cost you between US$3,900-US$10,000. Good luck in getting a pair though, because these Mcqueen runway shoes come in limited number.

So then comes the question, if you had the chance to wear one of these alien-driven fantastical McQueen footwear for FREE, which pair would you wear for fashion’s sake (reason and logic aside)?

Titanic Ballerian – Necromnomicon – Armadillo

If your answer is “none of the three”, then you may shop for more down-to-earth Alexander McQueen shoe styles at Zappos.com. Here’s a peek at the latest:

Alexander McQueen Paint Splattered Clip Toe Boots

Alexander McQueen Lovely Lips Sandals

Alexander McQueen Smiling Skulls Ballet Flats

Here’s what we’ve covered so far in this Caring for Your Ugg Boots series:

• How to Remove Stains from Your Uggs
• The Best Way to Clean Bearpaw and Other Sheepskin Boots
• How to Dry Your Wet Uggs

In this blog post, we’re going to delve into the proper way of taking care of your ugg boots.

One of the good things about ugg boots is although its fashion is always questioned, it never really goes out of style. The shapeless almost unflattering silhouette is what keeps the ugg boot always on top of trends, its “stylelessness” rallying against the fads that come with every season.

So far, the ugg boot has proven that it’s more than just a passing phase. It has become something of a wardrobe staple for many people. So if you’re one of those people, then it’s a good idea to keep your ugg boots in tiptop shape if you’re to wear them in the years to come. The following are 10 tips on how to take care of your uggs so you get the most wear out of them:

1. From the moment you take your ugg boots out of the store, treat them with a water and stain repellent immediately. Doing this even before wearing your uggs will prevent any initial staining and will keep dirt from seeping into the boot’s material.
2. Never let your uggs soak in water. Doing so could wrench your boots out of shape and weaken the boots’ adhesives.
3. Never place your ugg boots under a direct heat source. A radiator, an electric heater, and especially the sun will fade the color and could make the suede/leather/sheepskin materials dry and brittle.
4. When cleaning your ugg boots, put the cleaning solution onto a sponge or a cloth first. Never put the cleaner directly onto the boot.
5. Use a soft-bristled suede brush when brushing your ugg boots. A coarse or a wire brush will get of the dirt but will also leave scratches on the boots.
6. When drying wet ugg boots, let the boots dry fully before storing. If you hasten the drying process and put them away in a closet immediately, molds could form on the boots and cause damage.
7. As tempting as it is, ugg boots aren’t really meant to be worn in the rain, in the snow, or on a hiking trip. Avoid wearing your ugg boots to places that could scratch, scuff, or dirty them unnecessarily.
8. Wearing socks with your ugg boots is a good way to keep odors from developing. If socks with uggs isn’t your thing, then make it a habit to religiously treat them with odor absorbers. A powder mix of baking soda, corn flour, and a few drops of essential oil will work effectively.
9. Stuff your boots with plain paper or a towel when not in use. This will help the boots retain their shape.
10. When in doubt about how to remove a certain stain or how to clean your ugg boots, bring your boots to a professional cleaner. The added stress from failed home remedy attempts is never worth it.

Here are 4 products that you can use in taking proper care of your ugg boots, whether they’re from UGG Australia, EMU, Bearpaw, Minnetonka or any other brand:

UGG Sheepskin Water and Stain Repellent, $7.95

UGG Sheepskin Cleaner & Conditioner, $7.95

Already comes with a freshener, a spot eraser, and a sheepskin brush: UGG Sheepskin Care Kit, $18.00

Keep your boots from creasing and deforming: Booty Shapers JY2011 Small (3 Pairs), $33.45

Check out the shoe stores in your local area, or browse through online shopping websites like Shopbop.com and you will immediately notice that open-toe booties are the hottest must-buys for the season. At Shopbop.com, they even have a tag line for it called “Open Season”.

Open-toe booties, otherwise also known as clip-toe booties, are hot this spring because of two major reasons:

One is the more obvious; it is hot because the influencers of fashion say so. Just who are these fashion movers? Think high-fashion designers and strong fashion industry figures (i.e Vogue’s Anna Wintour, etc). Of course, these movers need their shakers (i.e. style icons, fashion editors, celebrities, etc.) to basically spread the word. And before you know it, mass market brands are knocking off the style and you see it everywhere.  

The second reason for the clip-toe bootie’s popularity is a lot better to digest because it is more functional in nature. Clip-toe booties are hot this spring because these shoes give you a good excuse to wear boots (accessories that are more appropriate for fall/winter)  during a season that calls for open-toe wedges, sandals, and flip-flops. Although in this case, in order to adapt to the season’s weather, the tip of the bootie’s vamp is clipped off to reveal the toes and allow the feet to breathe. Well, at least now we can say that whoever masterminded the clip-toe bootie was indeed brilliant; going against the norm by working around it instead. 

Of course, this goes without saying that clip-toe booties are stylish, spunky, and full of personality.

If you don’t own a pair of clip-toe or open-toe booties yet, you can visit Shopbop.com for the latest signature styles. A few of our recommendations are the following clip-toe booties from Alexander Wang and Dolce Vita:

Alexander Wang Freja Open Toe Laced Zip Bootie, US$635

Alexander Wang Mirte Laced Zip Flat Bootie, US$595

Dolce Vita Lana Collar Thong Bootie, US$298

Dolce Vita Lee Thong Open Back Bootie, US$298

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were seen last February 22 sashaying down the red carpet of the Elle Style Awards 2010. As they were there to receive their Style Icon award, both twins were out in full couture force, wearing who’s who of fashion from head to toe:

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen pose with their Style Icon Award at the Elle Style Awards 2010

Mary Kate wore a Lanvin dress while Ashley was in customized Christian Lacroix. Both accessorized their long see-through gowns with Bulgari jewels.

Both girls look very deserving of their Style Icon Award, but I am particularly enamored with Ashley’s dreamy Fendi heels. Here’s a clearer picture of Ashley’s shoes with all of the tulle out of the way:

Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen + clearer view of Ashley’s heels

I went searching high and low for a copy of Ashley’s shoes, but no one makes them quite like Fendi. I found one from Rocawear in the same color palette and although it gives the illusion of a wrapped shoe, it doesn’t have the fabric ankle ties like Ashley’s. At least it’s on sale at $71.99:

Rocawear Haydin Pump, $71.99

Here’s one that does have the ankle ties and even the clear platforms of Ashley’s Fendis, but it doesn’t have the same classy appeal. On the plus side, you can change the ribbons on these Pleaser USA Kiss-295 heels with any of the other interchangeable straps. You also don’t have to wear the ties that high up the leg:

Pleaser USA Kiss-295, $59.20

I ended my search with these Tashkent by Cheyenne The Sanchez Linen Sandals on High Heels. They’re the same khaki color and the same ankle ties, but because the fabric is linen, it’s more casual than formal:

Tashkent by Cheyenne The Sanchez Linen Sandals on High Heel, $485.00

Here are the real Fendi Wrap Lycra and Plexi Platform Sandals by the way:

The Fendi heels  in khaki and in yellow on the runway

On second thought, these heels aren’t that spectacular in product view and I daresay the lycra fabric looks kind of cheap on the yellow color. Maybe these heels only gets all of its tantalizing power from Ashley? Then perhaps the not-so-lookalikes I found have the potential to look as stunning as the Fendis on Ashley Olsen… Aah, such is the power of a style icon.

Leave a comment if you find a better lookalike of Ashley Olsen’s Fendi heels!

]]> http://www.yournextshoes.com/2010/03/the-search-for-ashley-olsens-fendi-heels-lookalike/feed/ 0 http://www.yournextshoes.com/2010/03/beyonce-basketball-and-brian-atwood-pumps/ http://www.yournextshoes.com/2010/03/beyonce-basketball-and-brian-atwood-pumps/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:00:54 +0000 Erika http://www.yournextshoes.com/?p=290 Beyonce, Basketball, and Brian Atwood Pumps is a post from: Your Next Shoes

Kesha is everywhere these days. She attended two events while she was in London for the past week, namely the Shockwaves NME Awards and the 2010 Brit Awards.

I’m not really a huge fan of the clothes she wears on the red carpet, but I do like her shoe choices. I liked the T-strap platform gladiator sandals she wore in the Grammys, and I am quite fascinated with the woven platforms she wore in the two London-based awards (as seen on the pictures below).

Kesha at the 2010 Brit Awards

Kesha at the 2010 Shockwaves NME Awards

If you look closely, the shoes appear to be a hybrid or blend of sorts, like a cross between the T-strap, the bootie, and the sling-back, all mounted on thick gold angular platforms and high heels.

I did some research to ID the shoes but unfortunately I found no information on it…yet

Now to get the look, I was able to find a couple of woven platforms from Heels.com, nothing exactly like the one on Kesha, but somewhat similar:

GUESS Karaoke Heel

Chinese Laundry Bounty Heel

Tell me if you are feeling these shoes I’ve picked out or not. Feel free to give me your suggestions as well. Or better yet, make my day by helping me ID Kesha’s shoes so I can go and get a pair myself.

Some of these shoes look like normal shoes when viewed from the front, but once you turn around or to your side… it’s like going down the rabbit hole. Not to say that they’re hideous, but let’s just say that this list contains the mullets of shoes: all business in the front, party in the back.

These shoes will surely get other people looking – no, gawking at your feet the whole time. Here are 10 pairs of shoes with really weird heels.

Let’s start with something simple, to ease you into it:

#10 Stuart Weitzman Chicpump

It looks like a grandma pump up front, but that wide, narrow heel placed right at the end of the sole probably isn’t the best thing for arthritic feet. $275.00.

#9 Stuart Weitzman Peepers

These are actually fabulous but imagine catching the hem of your dress on those pavé crystal-encrusted heels. $460.00, down from $575.00.

#8 Proenza Schouler 0E9018

What a handy cork remover! Over 50% off – originally $1,099.00, now only $515.00.

#7 BCBG Max Azria Mayda

Architecture meets mudflaps. Amazing. These shoes with slightly too-big stacked heels are now only $213.71, marked down from $395.00.

#6 Marc by Marc Jacobs 694996

The fat heels are apparently called “martini heels”. Original price was $550.00, now available for $324.41.

#5 Marc Jacobs MJ13268-00874

The metallic silver color, the upturned clog-like toe, the hold-ridden heel – this Marc Jacobs shoe is mind-boggling, but it still only made it halfway up this list. $450.36, down from $699.00.

#4 Calvin Klein Collection Katia

It’s not even the metal, the mesh, or the cage heel. It’s the way the shoe doesn’t fully lay flat on the heel that makes me question the designer’s motives. This shoe is quite out of place for the usually minimalistic and wearable Calvin Klein collection, isn’t it? $705.00, down from $1,679.00.

#3 Costume National 1215249-22095

You might get stopped while going through airport security in these. Your best defense? Tell them that the heels may be made of metal, but there’s really nothing else to hold them up. Really. $326.97, down from $969.00.

#2 Emilio Pucci 794943

These shoes almost had me fooled. They look like regular wedge heels in the thumbnail version. Once I clicked to enlarge, what I thought was a full platform heel is nothing but a piece of fabric. Yep, the famous Pucci print is printed on a webbed high heel. Oh and the name of the color of this shoe is “black beaver”. $502.20, down from $774.00

#1 Proenza Schouler OE9007

So what would beat a webbed shoe? How about one that looks like it was left unfinished? Your screws and steel braces are showing… $615.00, down from $1,354.00.

All shoes on this list are available at Zappos Couture. Which ones can you still wear and which ones are too weird?

So, remember the Spring 2010 Dries Van Noten Woven Raffia Bootie I was raving about last month in this blog?

Dries Van Noten Woven Raffia Bootie (Remember this beautiful shoe?)

Well, I guess it isn’t a surprise to see that other brands are also doing the woven trend for shoes this coming season.

Bottega Veneta and Donna Karan are keeping a more country-looking flavor by using the  organic raffia on spring wedges:

Donna Karan Raffia Wedge

Bottega Veneta Paille Raffia Wedge

While Charlie My Love (which by the way offers this really cute pair of Woven Flat Oxfords) and other brands like Cynthia Vincent, Donald J. Pliner, Stuart Weitzman and even the really affordable Jessica Simpson, are doing their own interpretation via woven and braided leather materials.

Charlie My Love Nico Woven Flat Oxfords, US$264

Charlie My Love ATM Knotted Woven Bootie, US$384

Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Coco Woven Flat Sandals, US$250

Stuart Weitzman Woveme, US$325

Donald J. Pliner Alita, US$260

Jessica Simpson Cane, US$69

Even men’s shoes are going with this trend. Check out this pair from Johnston and Murphy:

Johnston and Murphy Purnell Woven Cap Toe, US$165

Either way, we really can’t ignore the fact that anything woven will be hot for spring and summer, so why not give your wallet a run for its money by purchasing these wonderful shoes?