What if you can’t wear heels, though? What if a stiletto is simply not in your future due to a disability or some other circumstance? What if you’re klutzy or your feet are too big? Whatever the case may be, women who can’t wear heels often feel left out and limited. It’s a high heeled world out there and the rest of us just walk flat-footed in it.

I was able to wear chunky heels all throughout high school and college. Not well, mind you; I was always stumbling and tripping everywhere (I have the scarred knees to prove it!). It was a mess. After college I realized that I couldn’t wear them at all and begrudgingly resigned myself to flats. At the time there weren’t a lot of stylish flat options out there and I found myself panicking at the thought of wearing Birkenstocks for the rest of my life.

Today is a different story. Designers have caught on that heels aren’t the only shoes most essential to a wardrobe. Flats have inundated the fashion industry; even Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo are offering more grounded designs. Some might argue that flats are so popular they’re giving those high-hovering pumps a run for their money.

If you’re a brand name whore like me you’ll be relieved to know that there are plenty of major designers out there creating adorable and most importantly, wearable options, such as: Burberry, Dior, Chanel, Tory Burch, and Juicy Couture. In fact, Burch’s signature flats are so trendy and easy-to-wear, that’s what people predominately recognize her for.

If you’re one of the many women out there who can’t wear a 5-inch heel or even a kitten heel, you’re going to be okay. There are plenty of charming shoes just waiting for you to drop your hard earned cash on. Walk on, pretty ladies, and continue to do so fashionably and comfortably.

Whether or not this matters to you is personal issue and I’m in no way implying that anyone should or should not look a certain way. I believe everyone is entitled to their own unique style; their own artistic face forward. Personally, I like to take risks in fashion. I thrive off the feeling of leaving my house every morning knowing that I stand out from the crowd.

While taking a few risks in life is typically a good thing, how far is too far when it comes to fashion? The other day I was surfing the internet and came across a pair of Nicholas Kirkwood, Alice in Wonderland, heels that were made for Parisian department store, Printemps (in honor of Tim Burton’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland). Take one look at these gorgeous, densely decorated, shoes and it’s obvious they’re not meant to be worn but I’m almost certain that not everyone sees it the same way.

Some people pride themselves in wearing completely outrageous, over-the-top shoes. There’s a market out there and to prove it, I’ve scrounged up some of the most unique looking heels that I’ve ever had the pleasure of admiring. Aside from the fact that most of them are teetering so high that even Rupaul would have a hard time walking in them, they’re also just completely impractical. Where would one wear a pair of lace-up boots with no sole and a claw for a heel?

From Alexander McQueen’s space-like, jeweled booties to Marc Jacob’s reverse heel and Prada’s gold winged platforms, regardless of whether you’ll ever purchase a pair like these, they’re amazing eye candy. I have to admit, though, I’m slightly partial to the Desquared spine heel. They’re completely out there and yet at the same time, oddly wearable.

]]> http://www.jessicapritchett.com/the-artsy-shoe-wearable-or-strictly-eye-candy/feed 0 http://www.jessicapritchett.com/shoe-history-202-japan http://www.jessicapritchett.com/shoe-history-202-japan#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:41:58 +0000 Stacy http://www.jessicapritchett.com/?p=1020 Japanese culture is a complex, yet fascinating phenomena that tends to revolve itself around one main goal: harmony. Even in today’s street style, cutesy Hello Kitty items are paired with punk, masculine pieces to create some sort of complicated balance. One of my favorite Japanese street style blogs, which I stumbled upon on Jane Aldridge’s blog Sea of Shoes, is DropTokyo. It’s certainly edgy and captures the essence of Japanese style on a daily basis.

If you take note at the footwear, you’ll notice that no matter how ordinary or extraordinary the shoes are, most of the time the subjects are wearing platforms or flats of some kind. In fact, Japanese footwear in general tends to follow this mantra; the foot is always, for the most part, level so pressure is applied evenly to both the heel and ball of the foot. It’s spectacular to witness the usage of something rooted and conceptual as harmony in something so functional as footwear, and somehow it always seems so fashion-forward.

Rei Kawakubo (founder of Comme des Garçons) and Junya Watanabe are both Japanese fashion designers that have reached all corners of the world with their forward-thinking collections. You’ll find that within their design there is a heightened sense of complexity and simplicity working together in each garment. In addition, their footwear seems to follow. Heels are never steeply high nor are they thin; rather they are chunky and grounded.

Another designer who has crossed worldly boundaries is Yohji Yamamoto. A Japanese native, he is based out of both Paris and Tokyo. A few years back the Yohji Yamamoto Fund for Peace was created with the China Friendship Foundation for Peace to improve relations between both countries. His clothing is similar in design to Kawakubo’s and Watanabe’s—yet, his shoe collaborations are what get him noticed. Collaborating with footwear companies such as Adidas and Doc Martens, Yamamoto incorporates Japanese fundamentals to mainstream sportswear lines.

It seems that not only have these designers kept in mind their culture in each design distributed worldwide, but they have also married the past, traditional aesthetic with a modern, futuristic one as well.

Having got caught red handed and mid-drool on several occasions, I know how awkward it can be when the owner notices she has an admirer. In situations like that, though, I always smile and say, “I adore your shoes!” All is forgiven. But what happens when you’re staring for the exact opposite reason? What happens if you can’t tear your eyes away from a pair of shoes because they’re the most God-awful, horrendous looking things you’ve ever seen? Unfortunately, that happens more often then I’d like.

Having bared witness to some pretty ugly shoes over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are some popular styles out there that should never have seen the sketch from a designer’s pencil, let alone made it on to somebody’s feet. Below, are a few examples of shoes that have made me scratch my head and ask, “What were they thinking?”

Any shoe ever constructed by Ed Hardy:

Ed Hardy has become somewhat of a household name and hugely popular amongst people who love the idea of getting tattooed in theory, but instead choose to wear t-shirts and accessories that resemble them. To my complete and utter astonishment, his skull-drenched, Ugg-wannabe boots and converse knock-offs are being snatched up in stores across America. It’s nothing short of tragic when I see a pair of these puppies walking down the street.

Vibram Five Fingers

With so many comfortable shoe options out there, why would anyone resort to a shoe resembling a foot? If we wanted to look at feet all day we’d walk around barefoot, which would ultimately still manage to look better than these monstrosities.

Crocs

If you’re not a medical professional or a gardener, there’s no real justification to own a pair of Crocs. This is a working shoe; a shoe meant for somebody who spends all day on their feet and is required to wear scrubs or a green thumb.

Sketchers Shape-Ups

Sketchers Shape-Ups are good for their owner’s fitness but terrible for the eye health of anyone having to witness them parade down the street. Whatever happened to throwing on a regular old pair of Adidas for a trip to the gym? Instead we have to watch people bounce around in these unsightly sneaker-platforms.

At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own taste. Critics have completely lambasted Uggs for being ugly and yet, I wear my amazingly comfortable, pink suede pair, every day when I walk my dog, Rufus. The entire planet could laugh at me as I walk by and I’d still wake up every morning and throw them on over my Juicy sweats. The moral of the story: to each their own…unless, of course, “your own,” includes any of the aforementioned.

Xoxo Jules

Westwood has been deemed the Queen of Punk due to her critical roll in the materialization of Punk Rock in the 1970’s. In the early 1980’s she gained international notoriety for her Pirate and New Romantic look. Even those who don’t closely follow fashion know her bold and original work. Her popularity is unwavering; she continues to influence and spread her creative wings across generations.

On the topic of spreading wings, Westwood’s Spring/Summer women’s shoe collection features some intriguing sandals such as the Anglomania Wing Shoes. These sandals are100% recyclable and were designed for eco-friendly brand, MELISSA. The design showcases a wing shooting out at the ankle, a whimsical and artsy touch that will certainly crane necks with interest.

While not all of her S/S line is decorated with unusual flight-like accessories, peep toes, lace-ups and neutral tones paired with vibrant tights hold a steady presence. The more conservatively dressed may not be the first in line to purchase a pair of Westwood’s pink, slouchy, cowboy-inspired wood heels with open-toes, but will undoubtedly appreciate their distinctiveness from afar.

Not too long ago the De Young hosted a retrospective exhibit on Vivienne Westwood. I remember feeling illuminated with excitement as I strolled through one miraculous outfit and accessory after the next. There were several moments where groups of visitors would stare up at a cluster of mannequins and collectively sigh in awe. That’s what her work does to people; it brings them together for a glorious collective gasp.

xoxo Jules

Recently, designers are getting spectators to look downward to view an architectural masterpiece of a shoe wedge rather than upward at a skyscraper; although, truthfully, it’s hard to categorize them as a wedge. Just like a building, these structures are both beautiful and functional as they continue to defy all notions of gravity. They need not be overly ornate or complicated as the sleek designs are just as dramatic as any incredibly detailed adornment.

Whether it is the outlined wedge of Guiseppe Zanotti (which, in turn, inspired the more affordable Jessica Simpson version), or the Nicholas Kirkwood heel-wedge intersection, it’s obvious that these simple lines create classic shapes that will always be a prized possession in any woman’s closet.

It’ll take a bit of courage to walk in these puppies, but you’ll find that most of these styles are pretty sturdy and comfortable due to their carefully calculated structures. Sure, you might tower over everyone like a skyscraper, but just imagine the sense of wonder and excitement when spectators are standing around looking at you.

When searching for fashion inspiration, conventional icons can include celebs, stylists and models. But, after a long search through past photo editorials and the archives of what seemed like hundreds of fashion blogs, every photo, styling and pose just started to seem like an ounce of water in the same ocean. In the spirit of Andy Warhol, I started searching through photographs of ordinary figures we see everyday that wouldn’t necessarily be seen as fashionable, edgy or modern at all and tried to make sense of it in my wardrobe. In a way, I was almost searching for the exact opposite of whom or what a fashion icon should be, stumbling upon my end result: the Rabbi.

After accepting the fact that it might not be the best idea to don any sort of beard (which is a lot harder than it seems), I started to pick up on the elements that gave this icon the essence that attracted me to it in the first place. In this case, there’s just something about the crisp white and black garments tailored to perfection. Simple, utilitarian accessories and shoes are both classic and functional.

Nowadays it’s such a privilege for women to gain both flawless tailoring with sweeping, feminine draping all in the same garment. As homage to the Diamond District Rabbi—who always gives you a great deal on a beautiful rock—add some simple specs and diamond-inspired accessories. Adding irony to any ensemble always gives it any outfit a Marc Jacobs sort of feel to it; smart but not overly serious.

Just by raising the hemlines a bit, twisting some fabric, and adding some heavy metal hardware, the Rabbi is now a full-fledged fashion icon!

Like Jimmy Choo, Blahnik gained considerable notoriety after being featured several times in the series Sex and the City. The most memorable episode where Blahnik was mentioned was when Carrie Bradshaw came face-to-face with a mugger and instead of keeping quiet she begged him to leave her shoes. “You can take my Fendi baguette, you can take my ring and my watch, but don’t take my Manolo Blahniks.” She pleaded with him but to her dismay, her cries were ignored and he ran off with her precious sandals.

This episode is indicative of how Blahnik owners feel about their beloved heels. They’re cherished, revered and worshiped. Justly so, Blahnik’s accomplishments are vast; he was named Accessory Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 1990 and 1999, and has earned a myriad of other recognitions and awards over his years as the official, “sultan of slippers.” Hollywood can’t seem to get enough of him; celebrities looking to stand out will often be seen strutting regally down red carpets or on the streets of Melrose in his artisan creations.

According to designmuseum.org, Blahnik works alone, no apprentices and no assistants. He is single handedly responsible for every one of his designs. He sketches, chisels, moulds, and then personally oversees the production of his collections. Knowing this makes his success and remarkable achievements seem even more impressive. He’s sitting prettily on top of the shoe kingdom he’s created with his own two hands.

While I wouldn’t suggest arguing with a mugger, I can definitely see how Carrie wanted to put up a fight. Not only do they carry a robust price tag, but owners become palpably attached to their Manolos. If you’re walking the city streets in your most delicious, brag-worthy pair, make sure you stay out of those sketchy neighborhoods.

Every shoe-loving woman across America has run in to the “problem” of owning one too many pairs of shoes. Most of us will admit that we have a heaping closet full of stilettos, ballerina flats, gladiator sandals, boots and sneakers, most of which don’t see the light of day but once a year (if we’re lucky); we have nowhere to wear them. What do we do about it, though? I for one, have no desire to give away my favorite pair of crimson holiday heels that I wore once, three years ago, just because they’re collecting a little dust.

As I sat around my apartment last night getting caught up on So You Think You Can Dance, I gave this topic a little more thought and pulled out my trustee laptop to do some web surfing. As I resisted one shoe-enticing temptation after the next, I eventually stumbled upon some groundbreaking material.

Ladies, the answer to your shoe-hoarding ways is the, Hello Stiletto Shoe Club, a free social club for people who adore footwear. Hello Stiletto puts on events in various cities and at a wide variety of venues for the sole purpose of showcasing those adorable shoes chilling in the depths of your armoire.  It’s a chance to mingle, nibble and imbibe; what more could you possibly ask for out of an evening?

The club sprung out of Boston in 2004 and has since grown to over 10,000 members. Joining takes only minutes and once registered, you’ll be privy to all sorts of shoe related news, shopping events, and parties happening in your area.

Don’t even think about throwing away those amazing wedges. Give it some thought before you consign those impractical five inch, spiked peep-toes. Stop. Think. Wear. Party! You now have a great excuse to keep them around for at least another year. Don’t own a pair of event-worthy shoes yet? Do a little shopping online; every girl should own at least one pair of favorites.