Tag Archives: latest news in footwear

S&C spotted–Keds comeback

Posted on August 5, 2009 by | 5 comments

Recent text message to Ms. S&C, from her younger brother:

“Hi. In Williamsburg [as in Williamsburg, Brooklyn]. You
remember Keds you wore way back when? Apparently
those are replacing Chucks amongst the hipster crowd…
Became too mainstream. Ha ha.”

Ms. S&C likes to tease her younger bro about being a hipster — mostly because he lives in Brooklyn, wears Chuck Taylors and skinny jeans, hangs with an artistic crowd, and insists that he’s not one. :-) Regardless, he was on to something when he spotted the Keds. They are popping up everywhere. And, I think I’m glad about it.

kedsKeds classic Champion style

Footwear News covered the Keds comeback in an article earlier this week. FN says the company is going after the 24-year-old man and woman with new adaptations of the classic Champion style (there’s an organic label and options to customize them), and will push to get them into premium stores (i.e. Barneys). Keds’ President, Kristin Kohler Burrows, went on to say, “We really feel like that consumer is a large part of the reason why [the country] is in a more optimistic era now. They helped usher in the new president, and this collective spirit is what their generation represents, and that’s what Keds represents.” Ms. S&C would agree that is a worthy demographic to capitalize on. It also helps when celebrities like Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame and singer Katy Perry have been donning the styles.

But, whose to say Keds are just for the optimistic 24-year-old? Washington, DC’s new man-about-town, Rahm Emanuel, was spotted wearing them at the Woolly Mammoth theatre over the weekend. But, he’s a little bit hipster, no?

Have you spotted the latest trend? Share it with S&C! If you are out and about and run across something spectacular, inventive, or delicious — email shoesandcocktails(at)yahoo(dot)com, or find us on Twitter @shoescocktails.

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S&C spotted–vintage shoes

Posted on April 22, 2009 by | Leave a comment

A friend visited New York City over the weekend and came home sharing pictures of a pretty awesome shoe display. These pictures inspired moi to start a new feature on the blog where readers can share their discoveries. Ala The Sartorialist‘s coverage of people-on-the-streets, but S&C-related. For now we’ll call it S&C Spotted.

So, the first edition of S&C Spotted brings you a window display of vintage shoes, including a spectacular pair of rhinestone peep-toes from Valentino. Don’t you love how the dominos are playfully scattered about? Makes you want to head to Monte Carlo, no? These shoes may be vintage, but you’ll be seeing more of this sparkly trend.

The display was spotted at one of the Housing Works Thrift Shops. Housing Works operates seven upscale shops in New York City, selling high-end vintage treasures for good causes. Even if you’re not in NYC, you can shop their shoes online. Choose from designers like Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Ferragamo at insanely low prices.

vintage-shoe-disply

vintage-shoes-1

Spotted! Vintage Gucci and Valentino Rhinestone Heels at a NYC Thrift Store.

Have you spotted something spectacular? Share it with S&C! Camera phones are ubiquitous these days, so if you are out and about and run across something awe-inspiring, inventive or delicious — email shoesandcocktails(at)yahoo(dot)com, or send us a TwitPic @shoescocktails. We’d love it!

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S&C alerts–red hot fashion and cocktails

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | 1 comment

Here are some of Ms. S&C’s favorite finds in the worlds of shoes and cocktails.

New York Fashion Week was last week. I’m always a bit overwhelmed and underwhelmed by fashion weeks. There’s always so much coverage, and I never know what to read. Plus, there’s the whole never-in-my-lifetime-will-I-ever-afford-this-so-why-bother aspect. Well, I’m happy to report two things:

  • Fashion Washington covered fashion week via their FW Runway Report blog. It is a great digestible collection of photos, runway reports, backstage stories and fashion commentary. Note to self: need to tone arms and shoulders — lots of one-shoulder looks and fur coming in the fall.oscar-de-la-renta
  • Footwear News also spotlighted designers shoes. Subscription access prevents us from seeing a lot of the styles, but it appears platforms, booties and exotic prints will be popular in the fall. I particularly like the pointy platform booties from Oscar de la Renta.

And speaking of digestible, in last week’s Washington Post Food Section, Gastronomer columnist Andreas Viestad, shared a very interesting dessert cocktail using chili peppers. The Hot and Cold Whisky cold-whisky-chili-granitaChili Granita is definitely a contender for the S&C test kitchen. You can change the flavor depending on the chili pepper and spirit used. For example–for a smokier flavor, use chipotle peppers and single malt scotch; for something sweeter, use bourbon. The Whisky Chili Granita is described as something that could “wake up” guests after a long dinner. Cheers to that.

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Light as a feather

Posted on December 4, 2008 by | 1 comment

feather-shoes

One likes a feather in a cap, why not on a shoe?  Feathers and other exotic embellishments are an emerging trend in footwear.  Tibi spread their wings and designed a couple of beauties.  Fashion Washington currently features the glorious plumage in their “Lush Life” section, which is where I found these make-me-weak-in-the-knees black pumps.  They scream, “Wear me with a little black dress!”  However, Mr. S&C would scream when he saw what it did to our bank account.  Details over at The Little Shoebox.

An equally gorgeous pair are these satin fuchsia sling-backs I saw at The Shoe Hive (although, The Little Shoebox has them in green — yes, please!).  If any of my craftier friends and readers would like to give it a try, this looks like a perfect do-it-yourself project.  And, Ms. S&C would gladly test them out on the town for you.  I think I could stop traffic.  Va va voom.tibi-shoes1posted by Ms. S&C

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Recession fierce

Posted on December 3, 2008 by | Leave a comment

The it-is-cool-to-be-cheap revolution continues!

Christian Siriano, winner of Project Runway Season Four, just announced a deal with Payless ShoeSource, reports the New York Post.

“I’m so excited to design and create with such an amazing brand that is all about fashion and trend but, most importantly, is also about affordability,” Christian said in a statement Monday.  He also went on to say, “I can’t wait to see how they will take the high-end shoes and bags I’m designing for the runway and turn them into pieces that everyone can buy.  I’m all about the runway and the sidewalks!”

His line of low-price shoes and handbags will debut at New York Fashion Week in February, and will be available in Payless stores and Payless.com in the Fall of 2009.  The designs are expected to range in price from $25-$45.

christian-siriano

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Recession chic

Posted on October 29, 2008 by | 4 comments

Out: the free-spending fashionista.  In: the thrifty recessionista.

Recessionista is the newly coined term for a style maven on a budget.  As a recessionista, you can justify your spending habits because discount brands are not only smart, they’re trendy.  The New York Times’ article summed it up, by saying it “spins the economic downturn as an attractive retail trend.”  I don’t know who’s responsible, but it is brilliant PR for retail, if you ask me.

Sigerson Morrison, Target, $39.99

I’m looking to exercise my inner recessionista.  I think I’m going to cave and get a pair of booties.  I’ve been utterly against them, thinking they’re too trendy, and won’t last after this season.  Well, after seeing Gwyneth’s, and this pair of Sigerson Morrison’s my co-worker friend, Ana, picked up at Target, I want a pair.  But, I don’t want to spend a lot of money (because, I won’t wear them a lot, and I still think the trend will only last one season, two tops).

Here are a few possibilities – any thoughts?

Nine West, Endless, $69.95

Aerosoles, Piperlime, $69.99

Aerosoles, Piperlime, $69.99

Jessica Simpson, DSW, $59.95

Jessica Simpson, DSW, $59.95

Worthington, JCPenney, $53.99

Worthington, JCPenney, $53.99

Twist, Payless, $34.99

Twist, Payless, $34.99

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S&C alerts–celeb spirits and shoes

Posted on September 18, 2008 by | 4 comments

Here’s our celebrity edition of shoes and cocktails news.

Spirits & Cocktails – I’ve got a bone to pick with Jason Wilson, Spirits columnist over at the Washington Post. When given the opportunity to reference “Gin & Juice,” Danny Devito drunk on limoncello, a teetotaling Donald Trump, and a drink called “Crunk Juice,” have some fun with it for crying out loud.

Yes, I agree that celebrities can endorse, design, and inspire some ridiculous sh#@. And, there is probably no chance in hell I’ll try Donald Trump’s vodka, or Snoop’s cognac (I just don’t like cognac all that much). But, I would consider Sammy Hagar’s tequila and Marilyn Manson’s absinthe. And, I won’t apologize for thinking those “Sex and the City” cocktails would actually taste good. Except maybe “The Charlotte” (who coincidentally is my least favorite SATC character). I’ve made similar variations of these drinks, and Campari and pomegranate juice is good.

Anyway Jason, don’t be such a buzz kill. And, when you’ve mastered your “palatable, sophisticated version of Crunk Juice,” let us know. In the meantime, friends, you can try out this version, courtesy of Drinkmixer.com.

Crunk Juice

8 oz can Red Bull energy drink
1 1/2 oz Hennessy cognac

Pour both ingredients into a cup or glass, stir slightly, and serve.

Shoes – It will come as no surprise that celebrities are shoe designers too. Kayne West revealed to Women’s Wear Daily in July that he plans to work with Louis Vuitton on a line of men’s shoes. They probably would have gone well with Cristal, until the company decided it was too good for hip-hop’s business. In other shoes, Miss Jessica Simpson has gotten some respect from Footwear News, for her line of shoes. Though awfully, awfully trendy, there are a few good finds, like these polka dots pumps sold at Zappos.

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S&C alerts–good, clean, fair

Posted on September 5, 2008 by | 3 comments

These are the tenets of Slow Food, and the theme for this edition of shoes and cocktails news.

Cocktails – Jason Wilson, in his Spirits column in the Washington Post, recaps the “slow cocktails” found at the Slow Food Nation conference in San Francisco. Slow cocktails, like slow food, are prepared in a thoughtful way. Basically, you think about where your ingredients come from and how they are prepared. Slow cocktails are craft-oriented, made from artisan producers, and free of artificial ingredients. The spirits used in slow cocktails are not always organic, (because there currently isn’t enough organic grain to make mass quantities), but distilleries should be sustainable. An article from thekitchn.com highlights Slow Food USA’s chairman, Allen Katz’s slow spirit picks and one of his recipes.

Slow Spirits:

  • Square One Cucumber Vodka (organic)
  • 4Copas Reposado Tequilla (organic)
  • Plymouth Sloe Gin (not organic, but made from berries using an old-fashioned process)
  • Maker’s Mark Bourbon (not organic, but sustainably produced)

Slow Cocktail: Long Island Margarita
for one cocktail

6 blackberries
10 fresh mint leaves
1 1/2 ounces 4Copas Reposado Tequilla
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ounce Long Island lavender syrup (Heat 6 ounces simple syrup in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add 2 tbs dried lavender. Allow to cool. Strain and refrigerate until ready to use.)

Muddle blackberries in a mixing glass. Add remaining ingredients and shake over ice. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with two additional blackberries.

Shoes – Awhile back we highlighted Natalie Portman’s vegan footwear, Té Casan. Some less expensive options, to go with your slow cocktails, can be found over in Zappos eco-friendly section and at Planet Shoes, the place where you can find these adorable pumps from Poetic Licence.

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S&C alerts–men’s sneakers, meat cocktails

Posted on August 28, 2008 by | 4 comments

We might as well call this edition the gentleman’s quarters. Below are some of my more masculine finds in shoes, cocktails, and things related.

  • Stylish sneakers are shoes you’ll be seeing a lot more of. The sneakers I like to call hipster sneakers are no longer just for hipsters. They have a place in every man’s closet. It is no coincidence that while promoting Kung Fu Panda at the Cannes Film Festival, Jack Black had a foot prominent in every photo. Yeah, it’s a kung fu move, but he’s also endorsing Ben Sherman’s Compton shoe.
  • Our carnivorous friends, Julie & Jerry, recently subscribed to a meat newsletter and passed on an article about meat cocktails. I’m not surprised to find that Chicago’s mixologists are also taking a shine to meat jus as a cocktail ingredient. There’s a Ham and Cheese with Hennessey, a Baconcello with granny smith apple, and naturally, a Bacon Bloody Mary. Looks like a contender for the S&C test kitchen. Maybe during football season.

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S&C alerts–shoe icons, shrubs

Posted on August 19, 2008 by | 1 comment

Below are some of my latest finds in shoes, cocktails, and things related.

  • S&C is a big fan of lists, rankings, critics’ picks, recaps, etc. Footwear News has another great slideshow highlighting the top 50 styles that have stood the test of time. We’re talking about shoes that are timeless. Classics. Icons. Make sure you check out the photo captions and find out a little more about Converse All Stars, Dr. Martens, Timberlands, and Manolo Blahniks, of course.
  • Be on the lookout for shrubs the next time you are ordering specialty cocktails. They are all over the cocktail/mixology blogs these days. Everyone is realizing that fresh, local produce (in this case, fruit) has a place in drinks too. Shrub is a vinegary fruit syrup that was commonly prepared and drunk during the colonial times. To make your own homemade shrub, bring 1 cup white or champagne vinegar, 1 cup sugar, 2 pints fresh berries, and up to a half cup of water to a boil. Stir. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and bottle. My good friend, JD, just gave me a bottle of raspberry shrub prepared locally in PA — glad that I now have some good uses for it. Here are a few recipes worth checking out:
    • A Dash of Bitters recently made a Cabana Shrub using Cabana Cachaça and raspberry shrub syrup, and blueberry-gooseberry syrup.
    • The Cocktail Chronicles made Apple Bramble Buck with blackberry shrub.

Shoes & Cocktails wants to know: What shoes/cocktails do you consider iconic? Post a comment below.

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