Best Foot Forward (with EXCLUSIVE video footage!)

(This lovely little ditty was published in the Boston Globe on July 31st, 2008! Click here to see the abridged version.)


It makes perfect sense that the world’s largest footwear tradeshow is held in Las Vegas twice a year. Shoe collections and “Sin City” have quite a bit in common. Both are full of seduction and intrigue, and oth have an element of risk, with the possibility of a huge payoff.

With shoes, as it is with Vegas, the difference between mere survival and utter dominance, is preparation; and of course, an inside informant to help you beat the house. And though you may have fall items on your current shopping list, it’s never too early to plan your thaw-out ensembles.

Danny Ocean knew there was power in numbers, so here are five sure bets that will hit the jackpot for Spring ’09:

Hole-ier Than Thou: Perforation isn’t just for notebook paper; it’s stylish, too. “Texture is a big deal,” says Rory Mitchell of Asgi Shoes. “It adds another level of luxury. This shoe is high fashion with lots of texture and the luxury of being comfortable.”

Pump It Up: “I think we’re going to see a return to the classic pump, but in a whole new way,” admits Iesha McTeir from Boutique 9. She suggests trying the traditional style with a platform. “It’s a great update to a look women are familiar with.”

Look on the Bright Side: Dull can feel so last season, so don’t be shy. “Nothing says ‘spring’ better than color,” says Nicole Smith of Katheryn Amberleigh. “It’s the best time to have great standout shoe.”



Square Deal: If you’re ready to venture away from a rounded toe, this could be your chance to get edgy. “Stronger geometric shapes, like squares, are going to be very popular,” says Jennifer Staples of Velvet Angels, “especially on the toe and heel treatments. They add lots of drama”



Cut It Out: “Cut-outs are going to be huge, especially for spring/summer boots,” predicts Annette Tang from Michael Antonio. “It’s a strong trend, yet really fun and playful. Year round boots aren’t just for California girls anymore!”



A KoS Exclusive! Check out the trend report video...you deserve to know!

¡Te Extraño, mi fashionista!

Was the last post really on july 15! I can't believe its been that long! Please know that my absence has nothing to do with my lack of things to say, or the lack of things that need to be commented on!

Honestly, the pask couple weeks have been a blur, and the great wall that was built between my blog and I can be attributed to 4 things:

• 1) My birthday!!!! And I had friends in town, so I was running around playing hostess.
• 2) More preparations to move into my new place!
• 3) My trip to sunny Las Vegas to attend WSA (more on that very very soon!
• 4) No wi-fi in my apartment!

But, I'm back and a little more settled... and writing this from a cozy seat in my neighborhood Panera! (If only I could link into this network from home! The signal here is amazing!)

So if you've been checking in faithfully, please accept this lowly and sincere Mea Culpa. I'll try not to let it happen again anytime soon!!!

Kiss and make up?... I knew you'd understand!!!

More to Come....

Bend it Like Brontë: the return of the Victorian boot

Fashion is always re-inventing itself by taking inspiration from other eras and depositing little bits of the past into our closets of today. I'm generally thrilled when antique and vintage style has a modern resurgence (though, if you ask me, people were a little too eager to pull their stirrups out of hiding), but I was super excited to see many Fall '08 footwear collections showing oodles of looks that hearken back to the late 1800's!

The Victorian age was complicated. Women were looking for new avenues to express themselves in a male-dominated world...as long as it didn't mean showing any ankle skin. Today, almost 90 years after women's suffrage, we've made progress: pay is getting better, choices are actually choices, hemlines are all over the place, and even our toes have cleavage! Even so, conservative tones and silhouettes have returned to runways and showrooms, and romantic footwear could be your fall accessory of choice.

Keep an eye out for these fantastic boots in a month or so, and you'll be feeling like a dramatic character from Wuthering Heights in no time!



Briana by Anyi Lu
$495

Icarus by Taryn Rose
$895

Jeana by Pour La Victoire
$325

Feminine by Poetic Licence
$195

Couture & Cream

After two summers of the industry's obsession with the chic simplicity of wearing pristine "Oh God-please-don't-let-your-kid-touch-me!" white, I am happy to see another round of moody cream-colored pieces filtering onto store racks.

The color oracles at Pantone have spoken, and white as we've come to know and love/fear it is moving over to make way for a new generation of the timeless neutral. For Fall '08 and spring '09, off-white returns as the new black. In their fall collections, labels like Max Mara and Chloé are showing delectably creamy items with varied undertones that combine well with the seasons heavier hues of greenish-blacks, muted browns, ochres, and purples.

Because of their versatility, a great way to start upping your off-white and cream collection is by way of accessories. I snagged a great Miu Miu tote during the current Barney's sale (if you haven't been been... GO NOW!). For my footsies, I bought the Delman "Cruise" ballet flats, in a soft quilted leather with gold-tone stud work. So yummy. Both pieces are appropriate now, and will work just as well with my fall wardrobe.


I enjoy the standard pure white, but it was beginning to make me a little paranoid and compulsive (ex: no chocolate or make-up, carrying moist towelettes with me everywhere, standing instead of sitting). With this seasons creams, I feel like I can relax... at least a tad. Finally, I can fully enjoy hugs from my 4 year old God-daughter without thinking about my dry cleaning bill. Life is good.

MFT catalog #2: Evian Brumisateur

I hate to be the whiney type, but this whole summer heat thing is getting to me. The recent spikes in humidity have been pushing me and my handy wall-mounted barometer toward a breaking point.

My only saving grace as we creep closer to the half-way mark of this hot-and-sticky solstice, has been good old fashion H2O...and by "old fashioned," I mean imported from France and shoved into an aerosol can!

For years, the Evian Brumisateur has been the go-to beauty product for savvy women worldwide who like to beat the heat while nourishing their skin. As if general consensus and the illustrious name of "Evian" weren't reason enough to add this item to your shopping list, here are a few more:

• The spray's ultra-fine mist allows the skin to absorb important minerals along with pure clean moisture.

• To quote my 7th grade science teacher, "Evaporation is a cooling process." That's how the light mist instantly combats perspiration and refreshes, as the moisture soothes and rehydrates sun-exposed skin.

• For multi-seasonal bennies, you can use the spray daily before applying your facial moisturizer to improve hydration by up to 14%, combat aging and help your skin look younger!

Added bonus: the Evian Brumisateur comes in 3 different sizes so you can chuck a travel-sized one in your purse, and keep your larger ones at home (...which is way more appropriate than forcing a 14 oz. can into your handbag like moi)!

So if you need me, I'll be napping in front of a fan trying not to sweat, hosing myself down with canned mineral water, and dreaming of autumn with all of its fabulous sweaters and boots! Only 83 days til the equinox!!!

Bidding goodbye to Louis V.

If you love scouring the internet for the best prices on designer handbags, your way of life could be experiencing a few changes, thanks to Lady Justice and some killjoy corporate folks at Louis Vuitton.

On Monday, a French court handed down a decision ordering eBay Inc. and eBay International to pay LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton and 4 other companies a total of 38.9 million euros ($61.3 million) for allowing the sale of counterfeit goods and for the unlawful sale of authentic fragrances (Christian Dior, Kenzo Parfums, Guerlain and Parfums Givenchy also took part in the suit). The decision comes after 2 years of legal battles between the luxury goods companies and eBay, and marks the highest fine ever awarded against eBay in Europe.

LVMH, of course, was pleased with the decision, with hopes the ruling will help preserve their name and the status of the brand. The folks at eBay... not so much. To quote the website's rep: "The decisions today are not about the battle against counterfeiting. In reality, it's a matter of a wish by LVMH to protect its commercial practices excluding all competition."

Booyah. Take that Frenchie.

This battle is far from over. eBay has already announced its intention to appeal, though in the meantime, we'll see if they continue to sell the products (and pay the additional $79,000 daily fine if they do!), or if the popular items disappear from their loyal auction-addicted public.

I am not an eBay couture hunter... but I know some people who are going to be pretty hot (not haute) about this one!

Bangs: a multi-cultural approach

More to come....