FLAT SHOES BACK IN STYLE

Flat shoes are back in style
6:50 AM, Apr. 2, 2011

NEW YORK — Flat-heeled shoes have stepped up their game to emerge as a hot fashion trend for the spring-summer season.

The detailed and embellished ballet flats, sandals and peep-toes have been elevated to become a serious alternative to the high heels that some women still feel are needed for dressy or business occasions.

In fact, the flat-shoe shape might be a better complement to this year's longer, more languid fashion silhouette.

"Flats are one of the cool ways to wear spring outfits," said Paola Venturi, creative director of Via Spiga. "I like to see a bronze-colored T-strap in a bronze color with a dress in a bright color — maybe a carrot or tomato red — and I love a graphic-print, black-and-white dress with a granite version. For the '70s influence that's everywhere, I think a thong is really sophisticated."

She sees a peasant blouse, wide-leg trousers and thong with rhinestones, influenced by vintage belts she found in an Italian marketplace, in her future. The jewel details "makes it feel like a city shoe," Venturi said. "It's not a casual pair of flip-flops."

With longer hemlines — and especially the tricky mid-calf pencil skirt — higher heels can throw off proportions, said Lauren Dupont, creative director at Jack Rogers, a brand best known for its thick, leather stitching, popularized by Jackie Kennedy.

The shorter shoe "grounds" the outfit, Dupont explains. The shoe doesn't have to be completely, perfectly flat, but a shoe with just a bit of heel creates an easy line from the leg, she said, and, if there's an ankle strap, you've just ramped up the sex appeal.

Choosing a black heel or sole instead of, say, a more casual natural wood color adds refinement.

Even Jimmy Choo, a brand synonymous with strappy stilettos, has several flat options, including a zip-back sandal "perfect for lazy days spent poolside," according to its website, and a glamorous, beaded tribal-style option.

While company co-founder Tamara Mellon is always photographed in heels, flats are an equal partner in her wardrobe. That's what she wears for the "every days," when she's going to the office or on an errand with her daughter.

The flat shoe is a safer place to introduce some of the bold, bright colors that are another must-have for spring. Just a swath of yellow, blue or violet across the band of a sandal is an easier adjustment for the eye than four inches of that color on a heel.

"Flats give you a chance to play — whether they are pointy at the toe or they're a Mary-Jane style, but personally I would play with color," said Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, chief merchandising officer.

In styling their fashion shoots, she said Gilt will use patent leather or embellishment to make a daytime outfit dressier, but cocktail or evening looks usually get a metallic leather.

Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy can be role models for fashionable flats — and Katie Holmes, too. Maybe these tall women are the ones who've helped bring low heels back into the zeitgeist.

"They bring a broad awareness to anything they wear," stylist Robert Verdi said. "They've OK'd the shorter heel and put their stamp of approval on it."

With a skirt or skinny-leg pants, heel height and wearer's height don't matter, Dupont said, but with a fuller trouser, a tall frame helps. (Her hint for the more petite set is a platform.)

"The shoes had been getting crazy high — unbearable," said Kelly Golden, owner of the Chicago-area boutique Neapolitan, who reports selling many pairs of platform-style flats even before the snow had melted. A Derek Lam version was the first shoe she's ever sold out of.

"People are happy to see lower-heel options," she said.

Still, Verdi said, women need to realize when and where flats are the right choice — and not rule out heels.

"Women feel incredibly sexy when they wear heels, not because of the heels themselves but women feel confident in them. They're an empowering tool," he said.

"But heels aren't for the grocery store — this isn't 'Sex and the City.' You're not wearing high, high heels in the most ordinary places of life, but you don't have to sacrifice style."

He adds: "The flat shoe, not a sneaker, says 'I'm put together.' It's that middle ground where you need to be most days."

MY THOUGHTS

You do see the 'flats invasion' everywhere.  With the worsening traffic, more and more people have resorted to walking.  Beautiful flat shoes provide the comfort without sacrificing sense of style and fashion.

STRAW SNEAKERS

ECO STRAW SNEAKERS
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bio-mituri

Designed by HoDung Sung, the Bio Mituri is an eco hybrid piece of footwear which combines the traditional with current technology. The Bio Mituri is eco friendly considering the fact that it biodegrades fifty percent faster than other shoes and also uses water-based cement for glue.

The Bio Mituri holds onto its traditional sole, while using new technology to remain a step ahead of the competition. See what I did there? Check out more at the links below.

Oct 28, 09 • Score: 3 • References: and yankodesign • Filed in: Eco.

MY THOUGHTS

I wonder how it can withstand water?

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR STRAP

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLOR STRAP
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chuck-taylor-strap-hi-leather

The Converse Chuck Taylor is looking sexier than ever in the new leather Converse Chuck Taylor Strap Hi Leather.  Featuring double velcro straps, metal grommets and leather detailing, this Chuck is perfect for the pubs and the clubs.

The addition of the ankle straps on the Converse Chuck Taylor Strap Hi Leather is part of a larger trend in high top sneaker fashion. Worn loosely laced with the velcro undone, sneaker companies like Supra Vader, Adidas and Puma and Nike are all featuring straps in their current and 2011 high top sneaker lines.

Jun 13, 10 • Score: 8.2 • References: zappos and sneakerfiles • Filed in: Fashion

MY THOUGHTS

Her's the pic -

BEST RUNNING SHOES FOR BOYS

On the run: Best running shoes for boys

By Lori Calabrese, Yahoo! Contributor Network Apr 1, 3:25 pm EDT This article was produced by a Yahoo! Sports user. Submit a story.

As the mom of two boys, I can attest to the fact that boys are always on the go.

A recent Harvard University study even states that, "By school age, the average boy in a classroom is more active than the girls — even the most active girls don't seem to express their energy in the unrestrained way characteristic of most boys." Running is an excellent way for boys to stay active and healthy and that's why it's imperative that as parents, we help them select the proper shoe.

Buying a shoe designed for the sport your child will be participating in will deliver peak performance, but also protect them from injury. When looking for the proper running shoe, it should provide maximum shock absorption, control the way a child's heel strikes the ground, and fit your child's specific arch type. Shopping for the best running shoe can seem like an impossible task, but you can start with some of the best running shoes on the market.

The Nike Air Max+ 2011 iD Running Shoe

Boys will eat up The Nike Air Max+ 2011 because they're customizable. There's an array of color options, but parents can rest easy, knowing it delivers serious support. Nike used Fuse technology, a ground-breaking process that blends three different layers of material to create a nearly seamless one-piece upper.

Although it's probably at the top of most families' price range, you know the saying, "You get what you pay for." This shoe is available and can be customized at Nike.com for $195.

New Balance Big Kid 993 Running Shoe

The New Balance Big Kid 993 Running Shoe has received high marks because it has a wider width than most children's running shoes. Scotchlite reflective detailing reflects even low light and a performance-tested outsole delivers the same traction and performance as grown-up running shoes, ideal for physical education classes.

This shoe can be purchased from most shoe retailers, but you can also find it on Eastbay for around $60.

Stride Rite Calyx H&L

Some parents swear by Stride Rite shoes and they have long been a staple in children's footwear. This running shoe for boys is a great option for those children who don't like to tie laces, since it has easy Velcro straps. The shoe has a lightweight sole, ventilation holes, and parents will love that they're perfect for hard to fit kids as it's available in extra-wide. Boys will be drawn to the bright colors.

You can purchase this shoe at Shoebuy.com for around $45.

Adidas Big Kid MicroBounce FH08 Running Shoe

Just as the name suggests, the Adidas Big Kid MicroBounce is all about bounce, something that will help propel your boys forward as they run. Equipped with a shock system in the heel and ball, it cushions the foot while your child runs. The synthetic leather upper is lightweight and comfortable and offers super ventilation, keeping feet dry and happy.

These shoes can be found here on Amazon for around $70.

Reebok Zig Energy -Grade School Boys

My boys love the look and feel of the Reebok Zig energy, and it's unique zigzag-shaped sole propels your child forward with every step. These shoes seem to be very durable, and are easily cleaned. A synthetic mesh upper gives your child comfort, fit and durability while cushioning panels help reduce heel stress. Boys will love that they can customize their look, ensuring they'll get exactly what they want.

Available at most retail outlets and on Eastbay for $69.99

ASICS Little Kid/ Big Kid GT-2140 GS Running Shoe
ASICS' renowned GEL Cushioning System allows these shoes to be worn all day with optimum comfort. Parents and kids alike choose ASICS for comfort and performance when running, making this shoe ideal for the child who is running in track or playing sports on the playground.

Available on Amazon.com from $24.99-$60.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

MY THOUGHTS

Parents have to be really careful when choosing boys' shoes.  They can, indeed, be handfuls.  Sometimes I can't believe the amount of energy that oozes out from those small frames. 

BEAUTIFUL SHOES FOR LADY GAGA

Lady Gaga Given £25,000 Wizard Of Oz Shoes For Her Birthday
She receives ruby slippers for her 25th...

By David Renshaw on Friday 1st April 2011

Lady Gaga was given a birthday present of a lifetime this week when she was handed the ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard Of Oz for her birthday.

Gaga celebrated her 25th on Monday and partied in a Los Angeles restaurant after performing a concert in the city.

The famous slippers, which date back to the year 1939, were handed to Gaga as a present by her management before she went on stage at a concert on her birthday.It is believed they cost somewhere in the region of £25,000.

There are only 5 pairs of the slippers in the whole world. The last time a pair were sold was in 1988 when they made £93,000 at auction.

MY THOUGHTS

I was intrigued.  So, I looked for the shoes.

(from sonoma.com)

WILL YOU WEAR AN UGLY SHOES?

Step right up for ugly shoes
Hannah Sung | Columnist profile | E-mail
From Saturday's Globe and Mail
Published Friday, Apr. 01, 2011 12:00AM EDT
Last updated Friday, Apr. 01, 2011 1:01PM EDT

This spring, putting fashion’s best foot forward could get ugly. The meta-trend of inexplicably hideous shoes continues apace with the introduction of Prada Creepers, $795 (U.S.) men’s-style brogues set atop several layers of multicoloured soles, one of which is raffia, like an espadrille. The fashion press is calling them “flatforms.” I call them educated-clown chic. On vacation.

These shoes are so coveted, though, that there are waiting lists for them at Prada stores across North America. For those who can’t get their hands on them (or afford the hefty price tag), there’s no need to worry. Knockoffs abound.

But who would want these?

Leandra Medine of the popular satiric fashion blog ManRepeller.com is one enthusiast who has already ordered a pair. “The Prada flatforms are a great example of the manipulative power that designers have over the industry and the consumer,” Medine says. She stresses, though, that she does not consider Creepers ugly.

“Fashion to me is more about wearing art and it so happens that intriguing and [many] complex shoe styles are considered conventionally ugly.” To Medine, wearing supposedly unattractive shoes sends a strong message. “They say, ‘I wear what I want.’ ” And that is the message fashion is supposed to send.”

Ken Thomas, an economist and the hobby blogger behind UglyShoes.com, agrees that such footwear can also be fashionable.

“What is the purpose of fashion?” he asks. “It’s to attract attention. Lots of the shoes we feature as being ‘ugly’ are very unique. You may not like them but they are attention-getters.” The only negative feedback he gets, Thomas says, is from readers who disagree when he deems a shoe they like ugly. “Ugly is in the eye of the beholder,” he laughs.

But it isn’t just high-end, high-cost shoes that challenge our notions of taste and aesthetics. At first, Uggs looked odd; Crocs did, too. Both, however, have become mainstream hits. Even Birkenstocks, considered the height (or depth) of Deadhead schlubbiness, circled back from their uncool past to hit runways in recent years.

My own arguably ugly shoe purchases for spring include clogs from Sweden and Warishofers, best described as orthopedic granny sandals, from Germany. Neither pair would win pretty points in a pageant. But I love them for their comfort and, yes, their fashionability.

In truth, the only really ugly shoes are shoes that are irrelevant, like your white workout sneakers or the wacky statement shoe that references or appeals to nothing.

Picking the “ugly shoe” of the season is participating in the fashion game. Wearing them says you’ve embraced an alternative to gravity-defying high heels, to jacking your foot, heel and posterior, as flattering as that may be.

Of course, Uggs are notoriously bad for feet and some clogs are as high as stilettos, but they are the exception. With many ugly shoes, the comfort factor may be the most stylish thing about them.

MY THOUGHTS



Here's the 'ugly" shoes -

Would you wear it? It's Prada?  And it's $795.

SNEAKERS MAKE DIGITAL MUSIC

Sneakers make digital music
Published: April 2, 2011 at 3:30 AM

PARIS, April 2 (UPI) -- Adidas said people visiting interactive installations in France can test a new shoe allowing dancers to create digital music with their foot movements.

The company said the shoes, created by French designer Didier Brun, create digital music when wearers tap their toes or heels, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

Brun said the shoes use tiny sensors in the soles to translate movements to music.

"Generating live music requires very low latency, and creating a shoe-wearable wireless system was a real challenge," Brun wrote on his blog.

"The dancers that operated on the video clip did train a lot to succeed in synchronizing to play the actual song," he said of a video released by Adidas.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2011/04/02/Sneakers-make-digital-music/UPI-99981301729400/#ixzz1IN4szFpf

MY THOUGHTS

That's nice.  I can't wait to see the actual pair.