Selfridges' Shoe Fiesta

There is a place, shoe addicts, that is a bit like nirvana for people like you and me. I was there a few months ago, and the experience was overwhelming, exciting, and humbling. I am talking about the shoe gallery at Selfridges in London. This is a shoe shopping mecca like none I've ever seen. There are over 4000 shoes on display, and over 55,000 pairs in stock at any given time. Now, if you ever have an opportunity you must go see it, but in the meantime here's a couple of the shoes they carry. They don't do online international ordering BUT you can call your order in to them and they will deliver to Canada that way....

Kurt Geiger - "Aurora" Court Shoe £90

Givenchy - "Grames" Ankle Boots £595

The Art of Shoes at Irregular Choice

I've mentioned Irregular Choice shoes in this blog previously, of course. I would venture that they are pretty much on the cutting-edge of shoe design (and occasionally perilously close to that edge and about to drop off into the abyss of "unwearable shoedom"). Recently they held a design contest with the London College of Fashion, and the lucky winners were able to design shoes that are now available through Irregular Choice. Now, these aren't necessarily shoes I'd wear, but they are definitely "shoes as art", which is an intriguing category all by itself, really...

Irregular Choice "Rosanna", £240

Irregular Choice "Rosy" £240

Irregular Choice "So-Yeon Sarah" £345

Dream Shoes

Alright, I'm no shoe snob. I am, however, not blind. There are some shoes that I doubt I will ever actually own but that I love to look at - and, well, I might have even tried a pair or two on recently while in London. One of my favourite drool-worthy shoe designers? Christian Louboutin, of course. Louboutin does good shoe, fellow addicts. Not cheap shoes, but good, good shoes. Sexy shoes. That red sole? It makes me go all quivery...

 Here are three pairs I love...

Deroba Denim Wedge, Neiman Marcus, $595 USD

Salsbourg Suede Sandal, Neiman Marcus, $1095 USD

Crystal Encrusted Suede Pump, Bergdorf Goodman, $3095 USD

Fab Espadrilles in Unexpected Places

As I've explained I'm not a shoe snob. If I can buy a great looking shoe cheap I will, and even if it will only last one season. You see in my opinion a shoe that lasts TOO long is a problem because then you feel guilty about buying new shoes. If you wear your shoes out then you NEED new shoes and no guilt is involved. So while a quality shoe is great so is a cheap shoe that lasts a few months and then is tossed, making room in your closet for new shoes!

I was amazed to find these sweet little espadrilles at Old Navy online. They only cost $26.50, and if you order more than $50 shipping is free! So, you can get two pairs of espadrilles for just over $50 - what a deal! I own these and get so many compliments. A gentleman friend called them a "provocative" shoe, and a female friend called them "sweet". Any shoe that can get compliments of that range is a great, great shoe!

Old Navy Wedge Espadrille

"Abigail's Party"

Carnaby Street in London, England has long been associated with fashion that is avant-garde and unusual. It seems this is still true, as I discovered on a recent visit to that incredible city. My daughter and I were wandering around Carnaby when I spotted what appeared to be a shoe store - but a shoe store of a different sort. Irregular Choice is an extraordinary store indeed, and many of the shoes are not for the faint of heart - but what amazing shoes! Designer Dan Sullivan has a very unique take on fashion, and his shoe designs quite frankly blow my little provincial Canadian mind. One in particular has caught my fancy, and this is it. This is Abigail's Party, available at Irregular Choice for £69.99 (about $105 Canadian), plus shipping and taxes/duties. This shoe is available in several different fabrics, as shown below. There is also an Irregular Choice store in New York should you be lucky enough to visit that city....

You can also find Abigail's Party at my favourite online shoe dealer, Schuh.  Schuh carries this shoe in other fabrics, and they sell for £80 (about $120) plus $15 shipping (and your taxes and duties, of course). That is incredibly cheap shipping from the UK, fellow shoe-addicts!

I ordered this pair from Schuh and am completely delighted with them. I purchased some hot pink ribbons for them as well, which gives them a totally different and very spring-y look!

Finally, this is the Abigail's Party I bought on Carnaby Street. All I can say is holy smack, what a shoe! An absolute traffic-stopper - I can't even count the compliments I've gotten or the number of times I've been asked where I found them. I actually found them still available online at Phix Clothing for £85 plus shipping, taxes, and duties. Worth it? Oh yeah, baby, oh yeah.

The "Knautical Cork"

I am not a shoe snob. There are shoe addicts who think only Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin can make a great shoe. I am not one of those addicts. Some of my favourite shoes come from some surprising sources - like these, from Payless Shoes. The "Knautical Cork" comes in several colours, and is quite a sexy little shoe for very little money. Available at your local Payless Shoes for about $35!

Black

Denim

White

Multi

The "Bellevue DeVere"

I first heard of John Fluevog Shoes decades ago, and have been a fan ever since. I recently purchased these boots on a trip to Vancouver, and they are sure-fire attention-getters. I wore them recently in my small northern Alberta city and was asked several times where I got them. One woman looked at them and said "That is one sexy boot". Yes. Yes it is. Available at Fluevog for $325 Canadian plus shipping and taxes...

Also available in brown leather for a still amazing but slightly less show-stopping look....