BEAUTIFUL SHOES FIGHT BACK

BEAUTIFUL SHOES GO TO COURT AGAIN

The Louboutin Case Goes Back to Court on Friday
8/18/11 at 6:00 PM
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2011/08/louboutin_case_court-ysl.html

As promised, Christian Louboutin's lawyer is fighting tooth and nail against YSL's push to have the red-sole trademark canceled entirely. After Judge Victor Marrero ruled in favor of YSL's right to create and sell red-soled shoes last Wednesday, YSL's lawyer David Bernstein said that he would pursue a summary judgement to repeal Louboutin's trademark. He'll face Louboutin's lawyer Harley Lewin before Judge Marrero again on Friday to argue whether the motion can continue.

Judge Marrero will mostly likely side with YSL again. In his initial ruling last week, he stated that "Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection," since "in the fashion industry color serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition." He also would have anticipated YSL's move cancel the trademark, as it's a logical next step from his decision to deny Louboutin's injunction.

What's also clear is that Louboutin's lawyer will "fight like hell," as Lewin stated himself. He's already appealed the judge's ruling, and vowed to appeal any forthcoming decisions endangering the trademark. Susan Scafidi, director of Fordham University’s Fashion Law Institute, tells WWD:

    Louboutin’s nightmare is that every fast-fashion retailer will begin stirring up vats of red dye because it believes the trademark is officially canceled or is about to be ... Louboutin stands to lose so much. This is identity theft for him. Those red soles are almost as recognizable as his name.

But retail consultant Hana Ben-Shabat presents a valid counterpoint:

    At the end of the day, what makes a Louboutin a Louboutin is the fact that the shoes are beautifully made and beautifully crafted. And those who want to be associated with the brand want to be a part of that.

Earlier: Christian Louboutin to Appeal the Judge’s Decision in the YSL Red Sole Case
Related: Read a step-by-step guide to the case in this week's Fall Fashion Issue. [NYM]
Louboutin, YSL to Appear Before Judge [WWD]   

MY THOUGHTS

In my earlier post, When Beautiful shoes Go to Court, http://beautifulshoesinlaguna.blogspot.com/2011/08/when-beautiful-shoes-go-to-court.html we learned about the judge ruling in favor of YSL.  Of course, Louboutin will not just give up the fight for his beautiful shoes.  I feel for the man.  Why do people have to be copycats?  Infuriating!

Do You Own a Beautiful Pair of Jimmy Choo Shoes?

These Choos are NOT made for walking: The £425 designer shoes that look old and tatty after one day’s wear
By Joanne Hegarty

Last updated at 4:19 AM on 14th August 2011

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2025689/These-Choos-NOT-walking-The-425-designer-shoes-look-old-tatty-day-s-wear.html

They are more than just beautiful shoes. It’s the fantasy they evoke that has intelligent women joyously handing over small fortunes for a pair.

Ever since Carrie Bradshaw and her glamorous friends strode through Manhattan balanced perfectly on their Jimmy Choos, the designer heels have been the height of aspiration for millions.

Last month I, too, happily succumbed. Of course I didn’t really believe that if I bought a pair of Jimmy Choos all my dreams would suddenly come true, but I did think they would add a bucketload of fairy dust to my wedding day. And, given the £425 price tag, I confidently expected I’d be able to enjoy them at lots of future occasions.

When I saw them in Selfridges, it was love at first sight. A pair of  kitten-heel Oslo sandals in antique cream with shimmery flecks of gold and thin leather straps, they were exactly what I wanted – elegant and understated. I didn’t even bother trying on any others.

As my big day approached, I excitedly confided in a couple of close friends that I had ‘Jimmy Chooed’ for the occasion – emailing pictures of my new beauties – and was rewarded with gratifying oohs and aahs.

My wedding day left me with lots of wonderful memories but, shockingly, what I don’t have left is a pair of gorgeous shoes.

The next morning I was bitterly disappointed at how they looked.  I had spent most of the day indoors, apart from a short time standing on a lawn talking to guests. But my Jimmy Choos looked old and tatty, as though I’d been wearing them for weeks, not one day. And the soles needed replacing.

When I took them to my local cobbler and handed over £20 for new soles, he astonished me by telling me that I should have brought them to be re-soled before wearing them.

‘I see lots of expensive shoes like this and I always tell people they should have them re-soled as soon as they take them out of the box,’ he said. ‘Otherwise, it’s like going out in the rain without a coat.’

To make matters worse, the cobbler put plain ugly soles on that don’t go with the elegant design of the shoe.

So the sandals that I have now  simply aren’t the same ones I fell for in the store, where the shop assistant didn’t say anything about them needing re-soling before wearing or being unsuitable for outdoors.

Nor is there any such warning in the care booklet, although it does tell you to avoid ‘rain and direct contact with heat, oil, grease, alcohol and other abrasive products’.

I complained about my Jimmy Choo experience to friends and, to my surprise, two said they had suffered exactly the same problem.

Dyane, a TV presenter, was bought a £450 pair of Jimmy Choo as a  first Christmas present by her boyfriend. ‘He took me to a boutique and told me I could pick any pair  I wanted,’ she said. ‘I spent three hours trying shoes on before I chose Jimmy Choo’s black Clue design with a diamante buckle.

‘After I bought them, the shop assistant did quietly warn me that I would have to get them re-soled before wearing them. I couldn’t believe it. I loved the cream leather sole – they were what had attracted me to the shoe.

‘I decided to ignore her. They were £450 shoes – how could they need to be re-soled? But I wore them the following weekend and after only an hour the sole was damaged. The next week I took them to be re-soled. The new soles were black. What’s the point of putting on a nice cream leather sole if it’s so fragile it has to be covered up straight away?’

Another friend, Emer, an advertising executive, splurged on Jimmy Choos for her wedding in March and she, too, said hers were battered and worn-looking after one day.

‘I hadn’t planned to splash out on shoes but I went shopping with a friend and saw these amazing silver strappy sandals,’ she told me.
My beautiful Jimmy Choos looked as if they’d been worn mountain-climbing.

‘They were the right height, looked sturdy enough for walking around in all day and they were Jimmy Choo. Perfect! My friend loyally recited the mantra needed to justify the £350 I didn’t have: “You’ll get loads of wear out of them.”

‘I wish I could tell you they delivered on that promise but I can’t. I took them off in the early hours of the morning to discover the peep  toe was stretched and the soles destroyed. My beautiful Jimmy Choos looked as if they’d been worn mountain-climbing.’

Could it just be the three of us?  I posted my grievance on Mumsnet, the community website for mothers, to find out. Within 78 seconds, Tillyscoutsmum replied: ‘I also treated myself to some Jimmy Choos for my wedding. By the end of the day, the front of the sole had come lose and was flapping around.’

Another reader posted: ‘Apparently you are supposed to get them re-soled if you are expecting to wear them outside. Bonkers as conkers.’

And Worldgonecrazy wrote: ‘If shoes have leather soles, they should really have something more sturdy applied before wearing them outside. If you weren’t told this when you bought them, take them back and complain.’

Dexter  73 summed up the whole situation: ‘What is the point of them, if you can’t wear them outside?’

Last week I returned to Selfridges to buy another pair of Jimmy Choos to conduct our test (see below) and spoke to the same shop assistant. This time, I was more sceptical and asked her whether they would wear well. At first she said: ‘We sell these to lots of women and they don’t complain.’

I asked whether I could wear them outside. She replied: ‘Yes – they are perfect for garden parties,’ before conceding: ‘I won’t lie to you, they are delicate shoes and after a couple of wears they will look worn.’

Last night, a Jimmy Choo spokeswoman said: ‘Every Jimmy Choo product is made with the finest quality materials and created with expert craftsmanship. With luxurious and delicate materials our products must be treated with care, as such they are subject to wear and tear.

‘We pride ourselves on customer service and aftercare at Jimmy Choo and are always more than happy to offer support and advice concerning any of our products.’
Life and sole of a pair of sandals

We gave model Gail Shuttleworth, 36, three pairs of shoes to wear for  a day, from 10am until 10pm – a  £450 pair of Jimmy Choo ‘Demure’ sandals, a pair of Miss Dior pointy-toe pumps (£370) and a pair of open-toe black leather sandals (£58) from High Street shop Office.

Gail says:‘The first shoes I wore were the Jimmy Choo beige patent sandals. When I slipped them on, I felt incredibly elegant.

'I did notice that the leather sole felt rather thin but it would never have occurred to me to have them re-soled.

‘After picking them up at The Mail on Sunday offices, I walked 200 yards to High Street Kensington Underground station in West London and caught a Tube to Hampstead where I live.

I walked down the hill to my local Tesco, spent 35 minutes browsing the aisles then walked 400 yards home.

‘I spent the next four hours at home, doing odd jobs and preparing my dinner. Then I walked to my local pub 300 yards away to meet a friend and walked home again.

'You couldn’t say it was a gruelling day for my feet but when I took off my shoes that night, I was surprised. The soles were badly worn down, especially at the front. There was a little crack as well as two little tears on the heel. If I’d had these on for a full week, they would have been wrecked.

‘The second pair that I tried were the Miss Dior pumps. I wore them driving from my boyfriend’s home near Sheffield to the town centre and walked around the shops for two hours. I later walked in them for 20 minutes down a pathway.

‘I spent the rest of the evening cooking and watching TV.

'If anything this was a tougher day for my footwear but, though the leather soles had some wear-and-tear marks on them, they were not as worn down as the Jimmy Choos and the heel was still in good condition.

‘Finally, I tried the Office sandals. I spent three hours running errands in Sheffield then drove to my boyfriend’s home.

'I spent the afternoon doing chores at home and watching TV. At 7pm, I went to a restaurant, a ten-minute walk.

‘That night the rubber soles had some scratch marks and the heel was a little worn down. But because they started life with a thicker sole, I won’t need to take them to the cobblers any time soon.’

MY THOUGHTS

That's really sad.  I used to envy the Carrie Bradshw for the beautiful Jimmy Choo shoes she seemed to enjoy so much.  Those shoes really look beautiful.  Now we know better and take caution when we buy them.  I won't mind paying that much for a beautiful pair of shoes.  But I would want my money to go a long way.  Any pair of beautiful shoes won't be worth it if I need to have it re-soled as soon as I take it out of the box.

When Beautiful Shoes Go to Court

Lawyer: Ruling steps on shoe designer's toes
By Stephanie Gallman, CNN
August 11, 2011 -- Updated 2323 GMT (0723 HKT)

(CNN) -- French shoemaker Christian Louboutin is seeing red -- and will likely be seeing a lot more of it -- after a judge in Manhattan denied an injunction that would have kept fellow designer Yves Saint Laurent from selling shoes with red soles.

The lawsuit, filed in June, takes issue with four specific shoes from YSL's Cruise 2011 Collection: the Tribute, Tribtoo, Palais and Woodstock models, claiming the shoes violate Louboutin's trademarked "lacquered red sole."

"Everyone sees the flash of red and associates the red with Louboutin," attorney Harley Lewin said Thursday about his client.

In fact, Louboutin's red soles have graced many a red carpets, adorning the feet of celebrities Oprah Winfrey, Heidi Klum and Sarah Jessica Parker. In 2009, Jennifer Lopez wrote a song about them, "But it's the last time, I'm movin' on, I'm throwing on my Louboutins."

In his decision Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero acknowledged that in choosing a red sole for his shoes, Louboutin had "departed from longstanding conventions and norms of his industry," to create a product, "so eccentric and striking that it is easily perceived and remembered."

However, Marrero went on to say that, "Louboutin's claim to the 'the color red' is, without some limitation, overly broad and inconsistent with the scene of trademark registration."

"This was a trademark that never should've been issued," David Bernstein, attorney for the defendant, Yves Saint Laurent said.

He adds, "YSL has been using red since the 1970s, other designers have used red on the soles of their shoes. They aren't doing so to confuse people, but because it's a design aesthetic."

Lewin thinks the judge went too far.

"This is no longer about the case," he said.

Judge Marrero's decision drew parallels between painters and fashion designers, calling them both members of a creative industry where no one should be barred from using color to achieve their aesthetic. Doing so could, "interfere with creativity and stifle competition."

Berstein agrees. "No designer should be able to monopolize a color."

There have been cases when companies have copyrighted color.

Owens Corning, for example, has the trademark for pink fiberglass. Marrero said industrial products are different because the application of color is simply to distinguish one manufacturer from another.

Lewin says his client "separated his shoes from everyone else's by using a red sole."

Lewin said he's never had such an outpouring from his fellow attorneys, law professors and members of the fashion industry, telling him, "This [verdict] is an abomination. Tell your client to appeal."

On August 17, both sides will meet for a case management conference, and Lewin says he will announce his plans to do just that.

"This is not over," Lewin said, "Not by a long shot."

MY THOUGHTS

Crazy, don't you think.  But then, the business world can be just that-crazy.  Personally, I think YSL did copy.  But I agree that no one should be able to monopolize a color.

TONING SHOES

TONING SHOES

Did you fall for those expensive toning shoes?  Here's an excerpt from the article "The Craze Over ‘Toning’ Shoes Is, Well, Over" by Brad Tuttle publshed on July 28, 2011.  If you want to read more, click this link - http://moneyland.time.com/2011/07/28/the-craze-over-toning-shoes-is-well-over/#ixzz1TT90c1L3

"A year ago, consumers eagerly handed over upwards of $200 for each pair of special fitness “toning” shoes that, thanks to designs featuring padded, wobbly, uneven soles, would supposedly tighten buns, thighs, calves, and abs. Nowadays, amid widespread claims that they don’t come close to working as advertised (and may even be dangerous), toning shoes are more likely to be selling for $50 or less, and shoemakers are unloading millions of them at a loss.

Sales of hot new toning shoes from the likes of Reebok, Skechers, and Avia rose 400% in 2010. But almost as quickly as consumers hopped on board with a gimmicky product that promised quick results through less effort, doctors, fitness gurus, and consumer advocates expressed deep skepticism amounting to something like: “Come on, who are you kidding?”

A study released last fall from the American Council on Exercise concluded:

    “Across the board, none of the toning shoes showed statistically significant increases in either exercise response or muscle activation. There is simply no evidence to support the claims that these shoes will help wearers exercise more intensely, burn more calories or improve muscle strength and tone.”"

MY THOUGHTS

So, you see, it pays to wait a little while before jumping onto the band wagon.  Expensive and branded beautiful shoes do not always mean you'll get your money's worth. 

UNWANTED SHOES

Gardena man's nonprofit turns unwanted shoes into needed clean water
By Melissa Evans Staff Writer

Gardena resident Scott Kjos and two others recently started a nonprofit to help combat the world's clean water crisis.

But they don't want money. They want shoes.

"Old shoes, new shoes, worthless shoes, heals, pumps, slippers," he said. "Bring everything and anything, except socks. We don't want socks."

His organization, Soles for Life, will collect donated shoes Saturday at the Pacifica Open Air Market in Gardena. The shoes - he hopes to collect enough to fill a semitrailer - will be donated to another nonprofit, Edge Outreach, which sells them by weight to an exporter.

The exporter resells the shoes to vendors in developing countries, who sell them to people at a low cost. Edge Outreach then uses money from the exporter to buy inexpensive water purification systems, which produce 10,000 gallons of clean water per day in places where it's needed most.

Thousands of people die each year in developing countries due to dehydration and disease spread through unclean water, Edge said.

The water systems, which clean well water, are made using a 12-volt battery, salt and a purification pump. The cost is extremely low, those involved say.

"It's really a win-win-win for everybody," Kjos said. "If there ever was a good thing to do, this is it."

None of the donated shoes will wind up in landfills, he said - everything is used, even old shoes that can't be worn.

He and others are hoping to collect up to 10,000 shoes at Saturday's event, enough to eventually fill a semitrailer that holds 25,000 shoes.

Several churches also are involved in the effort, including Journey of Faith Church in Manhattan Beach, along with the Easter Seals and a handful of local businesses.

melissa.evans@dailybreeze.com

MY THOUGHTS

Such a great idea.

KATE WEARS BOAT SHOES

Deck-ready Duchess: Kate leads renaissance for boat shoes
By Kate Melhuish

Last updated at 12:18 AM on 21st July 2011

No longer the preserve of sea dogs and Sloane rangers, boat shoes — or deck shoes, in nautical circles — are experiencing a renaissance.

Similar to a loafer, but more casual, this no-frills footwear works perfectly with the season’s pared-down fashions.

On traditional boat shoes, the laces were made of leather or rope, but this summer’s high-style varieties come in a dazzling array of jaunty hues and finishes.

And, best of all, as they were originally designed to be a non-slip shoe to sport dockside you can guarantee there won’t be any embarrassing slip-ups during the unpredictable British summer in a sturdy pair of these.

Fashionable yet sensible? Sounds good to us.

 HOW TO WEAR

    Keep it casual — team your deck shoe with a pair of cotton shorts, T-shirt and a chunky knit to keep you warm in the evening.
    Wear them with a pretty floral dress for a tomboy take on a girly look.
    Team with cropped trousers, rolled at the ankle, and a pretty blouse.


MY THOUGHTS

I love them. Period

500 pairs of shoes needed

500 pairs of shoes needed
July 14, 2011
Love INC seeking help to put shoes on homeless kids feet

Stephenie Livingston Suwannee Democrat

Live Oak — A first grader was living in a truck with his mother and two other siblings. On his first day at a Suwannee District school this past school year, his jeans were too big, “falling off” were his teacher’s words, and his shoes were in bad shape.

Suwannee teachers report throughout the school year that homeless students don’t have adequate footwear. Some shoes are missing laces, others soles. Some homeless children even come to school barefoot.

Now a local nonprofit is seeking the community’s help.

Love INC, a Christian organization that assists families in need, is challenging local churches, agencies and civic groups to collect 500 pairs of new tennis shoes for homeless children in Suwannee County beginning July 15 and ending August 15. The tennis shoes can be any size for children kindergarten through 12th grade.

Love INC will collect the shoes at their facility at 609 5th Street SW Suite 5 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. daily. Shoes can also be dropped off at the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce in Live Oak at Old City Hall on North Ohio Avenue from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“While a lot of students will have a cool Harry Potter or LL Bean embroidered backpack on the first day of school, these children just want underwear and a clean pair of socks and new shoes,” said Sherrie Anderson, fundraising coordinator for Love INC.

She said the community must understand the extent of the issue and how far reaching homelessness is in Suwannee County in order to combat the problem. In June of last year there were over 360 homeless students in Suwannee County schools. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines “homeless children and youths” as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”  This definition is broad enough to include “the hidden homeless,” including children and youth that are temporarily doubled-up in housing because they cannot afford a place to live. It also includes those who sleep in a shelter, or a car, park, abandoned building, substandard housing, or low-budget motels.  Those classified as Unaccompanied Homeless Youth are young people who lack safe, stable housing and who are not in the care of a parent or guardian.

Many homeless children in this county are shuffled between family members, according to Anderson.

“I want the community to know what a huge issue this is,” said Anderson. “We as a community need to do something.”

Eventually, she hopes the organization will be able to provide new complete outfits for homeless students. To do that, she said it will take involvement from the entire community.

For some of these students, the first day of school is a dreaded experience. Sometimes, children do not show up because they lack shoes or are embarrassed by their clothes.

For this particular shoe driver, the organization asks that only new shoes be donated.

“We want them to feel special. On the first day of school, as they look at the student to their right and to their left, with a totally new outfits, at least they will have new shoes,” said Anderson.

It’s so very important that these students have necessities, like shoes, she said. “I don’t feel like five hundred pairs is unrealistic.”

Love INC is providing other ways the community can help students meet their basic needs for the new school year.

There are currently nine homeless students in summer school at Suwannee Elementary. Five of them don’t have enough clean underwear, according to Anderson. Love INC is also hosting an outreach program called “Stuff the Bug”. They are working along with local churches to gather underwear, socks, deodorant, toothpaste, and other things of this nature.

The finale will be held at Walmart on SR 129 on July 30 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Homeless advocate for Suwannee County Schools Melanie Buchanan said there are approximately 232 active homeless students currently in the District and over 310 entered the program during the 2010-11 school year. When students enter the homeless program, they are given two new outfits and one pair of shoes. The younger students are provided with crayons while the older students are given calculators.

With budget cuts to special programs and stimulus money drying up, Homeless Liaison Lisa Garrison said the funding they are getting is essentially needed for medical care and counseling. She said the community is helping to provide necessities, and their program needs that help to continue.

However, it's not just about getting them in a school five days a week and making sure students are clothed and healthy. It’s about how much self-confidence a new pair of shoes can give.

Anderson told a story of a student who was constantly acting up in class. Teachers couldn’t understand what the problem was. Why was he acting out? Then one day the child opened up to a faculty member that other students were teasing him about his worn, generic tennis shoes, and told her that’s why he acted out. Wanting to help the student’s feelings, the faculty member bought the student a new pair of shoes.

“Teachers saw a huge improvement. New shoes made all the difference,” Anderson said.

Often, all that is needed is a little self-confidence or something to make them feel special.

“It is unbelievable what it does for a student to have a new pair of shoes on,” said Garrison. “It doesn’t seem that important to some of us, but I get emails from teachers and grandparents saying how it changed the child and gave them some self-confidence. Just because of a new pair of shoes.”

The first grader, living in a truck with his mother and siblings, was given a new pair of jeans, shirt, shoes and a used jacket that had been donated to the school’s homeless program. His teacher thanked the program’s advocates, “You have made one little boy very happy! It’s amazing how a new pair of jeans, shirt and jacket can completely change an attitude.”

She added, “..The jacket is a little small, but he won’t take it off. He loves it.”

MY THOUGHTS

Great idea!  I hope they get all the shoes they need.  And I hope I'd get the guts to start something like this.