The first vestiges of Fall are breaking on the horizon, and, seeing them, we want to cling to every last available trace of summer… What more represents the spirit of summer than the versatile, ubiquitous flip-flop? Once a rubber embarrassment relegated to a place on the drugstore shelf, there are so many inventive and stylish variations on the market nowadays that the subject deserves it’s own exposition.
Do you enjoy walking barefoot in the grass? Then (L) you would love these new grass flip flops designed by Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (?!?) . They take about three weeks to grow, and if cared for properly, can last as long as four months. The flip-flops at (center) are made by PaperFlops. Each pair takes approximately 1kg of old newspapers, and other materials include root from old palm trees, coconut shells, and 100% natural rubber. Their catalog is located at http://www.ecoenthusiast.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PaperArtStudios2011.pdf . The elegant gold flip-flops (R) are made by Pluggz…Each pair contains black plugs made from a custom carbon and rubber compound that sit under a weight bearing part of the foot, ensuring electrical contact between the wearer and the earth. These plugs are designed to conduct a flow of free electrons from the earth to our bodies. Feel the vibe?
OK, so you’re at a resort…you’re in your loveliest bikini, and you don’t want to be bothered with a bag, or wallet, or anything that will ruin the tropical feel. To the rescue comes Reef Stash Sandals (L), with a secret tray in the sole that is just right to carry some cash, a room keycard, and some plastic for extra coverage. Getting a spray tan? Getting ANY tan and you don’t want any tan lines on your feet? Meet Sticky Sandals (center), the original topless sandal! Don’t be fooled…the adhesive is UBER-tacky and will keep your soles covered while the sun bronzes your tootsies. Too cute to be missed, Ashiato flip-flops for children, designed by the Japanese brand kiko+, leave footprints of cats, monkeys, or dinosaurs in the sand!
The bottom line? There are so many ways to go with flip-flops that they will continue to be fashion barometers for years to come. Get a cool pair, get a pair that will do double duty, either way they won’t set you back much, and they’ll carry you to that last day of Indian summer looking like a beach goddess
I was recently looking up the designer of a lovely pair of sandals that had peacock feathers as their inspiration. I soon realized that, wow, there are a LOT of peacock-inspired shoes! From boho sandals to elegant evening pumps, the peacock influence struts it’s stuff, exotic and intriguing.
L to R, Martinez Valero "Carla", Fendi Shoes, Ellie Shoes "Mardigras"
No matter where they are placed, the peacock accents lend a sumptuous grace to each component of a shoe.
L to R, Jonathan Kayne, Chivalrous "Peacock", Wild Rose "Peacock"
(L to R) Christian Dior, Brian Atwood, Ellie Shoes
Summer 2012 has some of the most beautiful sandal offerings we can recall. First case in point, the color blocked sandal. Just because there’s less real estate to decorate doesn’t mean color blocking can’t be stunning. Christian Dior compliments graceful Mondrian-themed swatches of tangerine, seafoam and royal blue with black patent outlines, and sets them atop a fine stiletto heel and modest hidden platform. Brian Atwood scoops together melon, lemon and lime patent on a chunky platform and sturdy tower of a heel. Ellie Shoes shows their color blocking entry in “Elaine” , a dramatic, strappy, onyx and tomato red patent platform on a graceful, tapered heel.
(L to R) Sergio Rossi, Christian Louboutin, Pleaser
Embellished sandals add “bling” to an outfit in an interesting way, and are like jewelry for pretty feet. They come in a diverse array, including this Sergio Rossi piece in laser-cut black suede, outlined in rhinestones and poised atop a fine, straight stiletto. Christian Louboutin’s “Isolde” is a vision in gold, with studded ankle and instep straps, peep toe, a pave platform, and towering stiletto heel. From Pleaser comes “Delight”, a modern take on the gladiator, with black, rhinestone-encrusted, buckled straps from toe to ankle and a nicely-proportioned platform and tapered heel.
(L to R) Pleaser Day & Night, Giuseppe Zanotti, Versace
Small girls? Average girls wanting to be tall? Tall girls wanting to be Amazons? Platform sandals get you up there (without having to be a ballerina) by decreasing the angle of the footbed for more comfort. Check out “Deluxe”, a sculptural peeptoe t-strap by Pleaser Day & Night, in nude patent and camel suede, with intriguing cut-outs in the platform and heel. Giuseppe Zanotti’s blush patent sandal sports a heel that would be impossible without its robust platform, with delicate criss-crossed ankle straps and graceful heel cup. This white Versace is a knockout, with gold-studded starburst details and lazer-cut front strap, lined with airy mesh and perched on a lucite platform.
It seems that everywhere you turn right now, there are so many spectacular sandals that feature one or more of these details, it could make a girl dizzy! Let’s go out and “get ‘em while they’re hot”!
Top Left: Chopine; Top Center: Japanese Geta; Top Right: Salvatore Ferragamo, 1938; Center: Vivienne Westwood; Bottom Left: Candies; Bottom Right:“Deluxe-637″, Pleaser Day & Night
Platform shoes — seems like they’re everywhere nowadays, from strappy sandals to thigh-high boots. So, do you think these height-boosters made their debut during the Saturday Night Fever era? Think again! Ancient Greek actors would wear them to elevate their appearance for important roles, and the Romans followed suit, calling their version “kothorni”. The Japanese “geta” is technically a platform shoe, and Europeans wore (rather Gaga-looking) “chopines”. Both were probably a practical adaptation to protect the wearer when walking on dirty surfaces. Platform shoes as we know them made appearances throughout the 20th century, but most notably during the 1970′s, when manufacturers such as Candies made them iconic. If Tony Manero ever became a politician, we all know what platform he’d run on…or in. Platform shoes have enjoyed a resurgence since the 1990′s when designer Vivienne Westwood dusted them off and breathed new life into the style. Naomi Campbell may not have enjoyed their resurgence, however, as it was in a pair of 9″ heels with 5″ platforms that she took her infamous catwalk tumble (the blue ones in the center of the image above). Here at Leather Lust Footwear you’ll find a wide variety of platform shoes, sandals and boots to lengthen the look of your leg and give you supermodel height, even if you weren’t born with supermodel DNA!
If a mermaid could wear shoes, we think these would be a likely pick…Sergio Rossi’s Mermaid Crystal Bootie ($1,670.00) is right on trend with its cut-out “scales” and crystal embellishments. Want to be able to pay your rent this month and get the same look? Pleaser “Day and Night” collection’s FANTASIA-1015 will give you even more glam, with a sexy double platform and encrusted heel. Don’t miss FANTASIA’s 05/21/2012 debut here at LeatherLust Footwear — be the first to get your pair and make Daryl Hannah shoe-envious!
Have a closet full of shoes? OK…close your eyes and pick a pair. Now…can you remember the last time you wore them? The shoe advocates at Shoeperwoman have a challenge for you: wear every pair of shoes you own within the space of a year — or lose them.
Hello there shoelovers! By now you’ve noticed we’ve had a makeover here at Leather Lust Footwear…this blog is one of the new features! We hope you’re enjoying the new appearance and instant access to the 10% Club discount for new members (register here). Please let us know if there is anything else you would like to see here because YOU are Leather Lust. We want your visit to be a satisfying and pleasant experience.
By the way, your existing store login is all you need to join in the conversation here…if you haven’t already registered, now is a perfect time to do so! It’s hassle-free, saves you money, and lets you participate here to share your passion for hot footwear!
Now, just a few things I’d like to mention.
First of all is the sizing issue. We want your shoes to fit the first time, and yeah, sometimes that just doesn’t happen. But it CAN have a better chance of happening if you heed the notice that many of our styles run small! The overwhelming majority of returns are for shoes being too small, even though we try to help you guys out with a note on all of the affected products. SOOOOOO…PLEASE measure your feet and email us with this information if you are in doubt about what size would be best for you, including the style in question (NOTE: there is a link on every style page to do this so we know which style you are interested in and how it fits.) The best way to determine your shoe size is to measure your largest foot, while standing on it, in centimeters. (It also helps to do this at the end of the day if possible…your feet expand as the day progresses.) This provides a more accurate measurement as all manufacturers tend to have slight differences in their sizing. Remember, nobody sees the number inside of your shoe, so the goal here is fit. Since these are exclusive shoes, we need you to give us your personal foot measurements to ensure a comfortable and stylish outcome.
Next, if you haven’t already liked us on Facebook, and followed us on Pinterest, take a minute and do it! We will be posting exclusive offers and new styles even before they are available on the site. We know you are the dedicated part of our clientele, and want to give you the jump on items that may become available in limited quantities.
Also, our newsletter will deliver the latest additions and happenings here at Leather Lust Footwear to your Inbox, so please subscribe. Now and then we will be including special eCoupons in the newsletters that will not be offered anywhere else. And don’t worry; we won’t clog your mailbox because we only publish news when we have some BANG ready for your buck.
Finally, to the nitty gritty for us shoe addicts…take a look at this daring new offering…you’ve seen it on the runways and on celebs like Lady Gaga (below, left)…the heelless platform! Not really as new as you might think, Andre Perugia actually pioneered them back in 1937(below, lower-right.) I guess it gave the sexy benefits of toe shoes to us non-ballerina types. We have several styles both in stock and coming soon, including Bettie Page Pinup Shoes’ “Cora” (below, upper-right.) I haven’t tried them yet, have any of you? Please enlighten us…if you have to put down your crutches to write, we can wait
Clockwise from left, Lady Gaga in Ellie's "Sarah", Bettie Page Pinup Shoes "Cora", Andre Perugia's heel-less shoe, circa 1937
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