By Michelle A Heath, on 06.18.10 | This week’s pick of the week brought to you by my new favorite shoe site, EndlessShoes.com. I love this online shoe store because 1) free overnight shipping on new styles (i.e. get it wicked fast), 2) they have awesome styles and selection (i.e. look wicked good) and 3) their brands are a step-above Zappos (i.e. no offense zappos but a girl needs variety).
The city girl’s dilemma is always looking hip and stylish while walking the cobblestone-studded streets riddled with subway heat vents, gutters and sinkholes. Wearing your gorgeous stilettos in this urban footwear minefield can often result in the oh so famous twisted ankle or better yet, the broken-off heel of a well-made shoe. What’s a girl to do? Well, crocs (gasp) are certainly not an option and sneakers are so 1992 and flip flops, which I love, can get old after a while. So, I’ve been on a hunt for a stylish pair of flat sandals to walk to and from work and where ever else I need to walk in the city. They are the “walk to work and then change in to your fancy shoes” shoes.
Alas, I have found them.
The brand is Ziginy and these sandals have the delicious balance of, dare I say, comfort and style. Every style has it’s own bling. Studs, chains, rhinestones, beads. It’s all in there. You decide how much. Now, you need to know that I do not buy shoes for comfort. If a pair happen to be comfortable, it’s like getting an extra scoop of icecream for free or finding a $20 bill in your pocket. It’s lucky. (I know, there’s probably a support group for that too.)
Well, regardless of whether you’re looking for a stylish sandal to parade around town or a comfy sandal to chase after the kids, the Ziginy brand delivers on both. FTW!
By Michelle A Heath, on 05.27.10 | I thought long and hard about this title. I tried titles that were a bit simpler like: Rubber shoes FTL or Rubber shoes, who would wear ‘em? I even tried a title that would fit on one line. But then I wrote down what I really feel and this, my friends, is how I feel every time I see some middle-aged white guy strolling through the North End in multi-colored rubber shoes. There is a reason for the Facebook group: I don’t care how comfortable Crocs are, you look like a dumbass. You do.
Okay, so then the folks at Crocs come out with their new Spring/Summer line of shoes. I will say that as a marketer, it is brilliant. Someone at Crocs WHQ probably said, let’s expand our market and go after the people who won’t wear the rubber shoes because they look ridiculous. Yeah, you know the other zillion Americans that will wear rubber shoes that kinda look like shoes? Yeah, yeah. Let’s make the ugly rubber shoes look more like real shoes! Maybe it will double our revenue?! Wicked smart.
The problem is they are a) still rubber and b) still ugly.
Then, one of my fave sample sale sites, Ideeli, had a sale today for Melissa Shoes. The brand is new to me and, I will say, they give the Crocs new line a run for it’s money. While the Melissa shoes are still rubber and still ugly, they at least try to look more like something a somewhat stylish person would choose to wear. The Crocs people talk about “fusing comfort and style seamlessly” and “wearable hugs.” I know not of either of these nirvanas and know that, if they did exist, they certainly would not come in rubber.
Christopher Muther at the Boston Globe recently wrote a very funny post about how he became a Crocs “convert”, well sort of. I appreciate his candid quote where he says, “…but I’m not ready to part with my “Friends don’t let friends wear Crocs’’ T-shirt quite yet.” Well said, Mr. Muther.
I keep coming back around to a few main issues. First, rubber shoes make your feet sweat. There’s no way for those things to breathe – I don’t care if they have holes in the top and are made of super-special rubber technology, feet sweat, especially when it’s 90 degress out and feet encased in sweaty rubber is just gross. Second, they look like you chose comfort over style. There, I said it. Everyone I talk to about this subject says, “They are so comfortable!” Not one person EVER says: “They look so great!” And, lastly, well, I hate to say it, but it makes you look like you couldn’t spend the time to go to a normal shoe store, try on some normal shoes and actually make an effort to make footwear a part of your wardrobe. For this last unfortunate issue…I quietly shed a tear.
So, my rubber shoe wearing friend, what say you as to why I should embrace the rubber shoe bonanza and make it part of my wardrobe? I anxiously await your rebuttal. For those of you who agree with me, I welcome your non-rubber support. 
PS: I think this is the most times I’ve written down the word “rubber”. Ever. It is a weird word. Okay, that is all. Talk amongst yourselves.
By Michelle A Heath, on 02.22.10 | “A Rage in the Cage.” Do you remember it? Circa mid 80’s. J. Geils Band of “Freeze Frame” and “Piss on the Wall” fame (my parents’ favorite). Everything in the mid 80’s was ripped, stripped, tattered and torn. Well, it’s happening again, as these things tend to go and it’s all about the “caged shoe” for Spring.
 Yves Saint Laurent Cage Ankle Boots $1500 I wish that I could take credit for coining the term but I have a feeling someone at the House of Prada or Chanel beat me to it. So what is it, you might ask? The caged shoe is like a sandal and a shoe bootie combined. They were all over the runway and most have a leather design that looks like, well, a cage. Some more straight lines. Others geometric shapes. Most of what I saw on the runway and in the early Spring previews are stilettos and va va voom! Some teetering at over 5 inches (for those damsels who walk gingerly to their limo or sit at the club but do not stand or walk) and others more runway than run to the mall (see YSL $1500 beauties). As for the rest of us, there’s just about every style, fabric, color and heel height to choose from. I’ve seen everything from a super-slinky gold to a super-hot fuchsia suede by Linea Paolo (which I had to have).
 Linea Paolo 'Jacadia' Sandal You may wonder, what in pete’s name do I wear these caged beauties with? Here are a few wardrobing ideas. First, start with a pair in a more neutral color so you can wear it with more (black, cream, browns, tans). Yes, it’s kind of boring but, let’s face it, they go with everything. The great thing about these shoes is that you can wear them with just about everything – and I don’t say that about everything. Everything. (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
The Stylish Eye caged shoes outfit ideas:
Outfit #1: Fitted dress with a wide belt.
Outfit #2: Pencil skirt, silk blouse, same wide belt.
Outift #3: Straight-leg jeans, same silk blouse or funky tee.
Outfit #4: Skinny jeans, flowy top or funky tee and shoe.
Outfit #5: Shorts (yes, I know but everyone in New York is wearing them out at night), funky tee and shoe.
 Nine West Kentaro The thing I love most about this shoe is that, depending on the color, you can wear them pretty much year round. Yes, I know my darling, we live in the North East along with snow, sleet and rain. The life of a sandal is typically limited to June-August. These are different. Because of the “shoe” form of these lovelies, they can stand up to patterned or opaque tights. Blasphemy you might say. I know. I already told you that I am not a big fan of tights with open-toe shoes but you also know about my obsession for Wolford hosiery, which are in a class all their own. These shoes typically have a zipper or significant buckle which makes the pairing of the tights a much better fit than a simple sandal or peep-toe. I see this style taking you right through Fall, which is why they are an excellent choice.
What’s the rage in your cage? Share your caged shoe ideas. I’m cooking up my Spring must-haves and this one is on the list!
Go forth and be caged.
PS: Since I posted this I came across fellow fashionista, Sabrina, who put together this amazing list of caged and cutout shoes! Enjoy!
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