Steal Her Style: Alexa Chung

Alexa Chung has become a style icon in her own right and with a rocker boyfriend to boot; she is the envy of many girls. Famously Mulberry named a bag after her which became the ‘It’ bag of last season. Her style mixes vintage, high street and designer.  A good thing about her style though is that it is easy to emulate with alternatives popping up all over the high street after they have been spotted on her.

Her look here is fairly casual but she still manages to look stylish. Alexa tends to opt for fairly expensive shoes, with one of her favourite designers being Chanel. Women’s designer shoes can be pricey but the plus point is that they last you much longer than any bought on the high street, as long as you look after them. Here Alexa wears a simple pair of ballet pumps; which seem to be on trend season after season. These simple pumps from Daniel Footwear are a great match. Ballet pumps can be dressed up or down, on this occasion Alexa has chosen to pair them with some cut off denim shorts. These ones from Topshop are a perfect match for the ones Alexa is wearing. If you want a cheaper alternative however you could cut off some old jeans to make them into shorts.

Here Alexa has chosen to show support for her boyfriend by wearing an Artic Monkeys tour t-shirt. You can pair your shorts with any band t-shirt however for a rock and roll vibe. This one featuring the Rolling Stones lick would do the trick. If you want to complete that rock star look don’t forget your sunglasses. These ones from Rayban are a firm favourite with the stars but you can pick similar ones up in places like H&M.

Alexa is carrying a simple satchel style handbag which has been replicated many times by a number of different designers and designers for the high street. There are a number of good places to pick up a bag of this style but the best place would be in a vintage shop, you can often get a great deal on them too.

Program Recycles Flip Flops to Build Community Playgrounds

A recycling company called TerraCycle is partnering with Old Navy and running a free flip-flop recycling campaign during April for Earth Day!  What a perfect opportunity to clean out your worn out flip-flop collection in time for new summer styles AND save the environment at the same time.

Starting April 22 (Earth Day) and running through May 21, 2011, Old Navy shoppers can deposit their used flip flops in colorful collection bins found inside any Old Navy store.  TerraCycle will then recycle the flip-flops into four playgrounds which will be donated to communities around the country.

By bringing in these hard-to-recycle products to any Old Navy store in across the U.S., consumers help keep waste out of their community landfills.  TerraCycle is an international upcycling and recycling company that encourages consumers to rethink waste and makes it easy to have a positive impact on the environment.

WHEN: April 22, 2011 (Earth Day) through May 21, 2011

WHERE:  Old Navy stores across the U.S.

ABOUT TERRACYCLE: TerraCycle, Inc. is an international upcycling company that takes difficult to recycle packaging and turns it into affordable, eco-friendly products.  Founded in 2001, TerraCycle (www.terracycle <http://www.terracycle> .net) is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste.  TerraCycle works to collect used packaging and products that would otherwise be destined for landfills.  The waste is collected through TerraCycle’s Brigade programs, which are free fundraisers that pay schools and non-profits for every piece of waste they collect and return.  For information on TerraCycle please visit www.terracycle.net <http://www.terracycle.net> .

Jennifer Hudson ROCKS Jimmy Choo “Maria” Platform Pump

Looks like Jennifer Hudson is sporting more than a new body, she’s also a Jimmy Choo fan!  While wearing the Jimmy Choo “Maria” suede platform pump with crystal hell to the 4th Annual Essence “Black Women In Hollywood” Luncheion, Jennifer looks dazzling!  You ROCK girl!!

Buy a Shoe, Build a Community With New Shoe Company Bucketfeet

NEW SHOE COMPANY BUCKETFEET LAUNCHES!
With the company’s motto, Buy a Shoe, Build a Community, BucketFeet aims to raise funds for children’s charities around the world while promoting new artists.

New shoe company, BucketFeet, announced their official launch today in the Windy City.  The brands motto, Buy a Shoe, Build a Community, helps raise money for children’s charities while bringing awareness to new artists.  The brand launches with the simple vision to design and sell awesome one-of-a-kind shoes and help build communities.

BucketFeet exemplifies individuality and confidence while building communities that support the arts and help kids worldwide.  The company’s goal is to help consumers “get involved” in the community by contributing a portion of each sale to one of three innovative, children-focused, non-profit partners; MAGIC (world-class stringed instrument program for kids in the Woodlawn community in the South Side of Chicago), love.futbol (devotes financial resources to help build more safe soccer fields around the world) and Children Mending Hearts (provides resources to arts programs and workshops for homeless children).  Based out of Chicago, founders Aaron Firestein and Raaja Nemani have been building their dream one continent at a time.  Both avid travelers, the two met while volunteering with children in an impoverished area of Buenos Aires.  Since college, Aaron had been using shoes as an unconventional platform to show his art and Raaja became an instant fan and begged Aaron to make him a pair the minute he spotted them on his feet.

“As a creative person, it is amazing to see an artistic passion of mine become real. If you had told me five years ago that I would be launching a full-blown sneaker company, I wouldn’t have believed you.” – Aaron Firestein

“Selling awesome sneakers for a living is cool, but being able to use that to try to make a difference in the lives of kids around the world is a dream come true.” – Raaja Nemani

BucketFeet shoes will be sold direct to consumers through an online e-commerce storefront, thereby eliminating retailer markups.  The inaugural BucketFeet collection features original artistic designs from founder Aaron Firestein.

Shop for your shoes and help build a community at www.bucketfeet.com.

Wine, Women & Shoes Event to Benefit YWCA Tulsa

March 4th & 5th, 2011  |  Tulsa Convention Center

For fun, it’s a shoe-in — three months earlier than last year!

The YWCA Tulsa’s only and most anticipated event of the year … Wine, Women and Shoes!  They are stepping out with a new concept for the Friday evening Patron Party on March 4th — an event not-to-be missed! Delight in style, fashion and fine foods while sipping on wines poured by West Coast vintners — sensory stimulations galore!

The Signature Event follows on Saturday, March 5th, with a luncheon, fashion show, and shopping with top shoe and accessory retailers (many who aren’t otherwise available in Tulsa). And of course – wines poured by winery representatives!

Sponsorships Now Available
Learn More

Just want to come to the Signature Event on Saturday?
Check out our new Girlfriends’ Packages

Honorary Chairs:
Joe & Darcey Moran

Retailers:

Artemis Boots, Coye Nokes, Cunningham Fine Jewelry, Falchi Handbags, J. Cole Shoes, Jenna Doughton Shoes, Lisa Mackey, Moxie Shoes, Nattie Bleu, Saks Fifth Avenue, Shannon Britt, Sole Mates, and Diana Kelly.

Vintners:

B Cellars (Napa), Chateau Ste. Michelle (Washington), Hahn Family Wines (California), The Gabrielle Collection (Napa), Miner Family Vineyards (Napa), Ca’ Momi Wines (Napa), Oyster Bay (New Zealand), Rocca Family Wines (Napa), Sokol Blosser (Oregon), StableRidge Winery (Oklahoma), Villa San Juliette (California) and Zahtila Vineyards (Napa).

Made possible by:

George Kaiser Family Foundation, Patti Johnson Wilson Foundation, Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation

Call (918) 587-2100 or visit our website to make reservations!

Tips On Spotting Fake Designer Shoes

We know we are preaching to the choir when we say fakes are never in fashion, but besides the fact that fakes are never trendy, did you know that the sale from counterfeit shoes not only take away from the designer, but they also contribute to serious global crimes?  Harper’s Bazaar’s  Fakes Are Never In Fashion™ initiative has been working for years to expose the criminal activities connected to the sales of counterfeit products. The sales from these fake products fund child labor, sweat shops, drug cartels and even terrorism. American companies also lose an estimated $20 billion from the counterfeit goods industry.

Tips to spot fake designer shoes:
•Location – Luxury designer shoes are never sold by a street vendors, flea markets or low end stores. Buy from authorized retailers. These can easily be found on the brand’s website by looking at the locations the product is sold.

•Inspect The Bottom – Many fake shoes come with a thin plastic film attached to the bottom of the shoe. No luxury designer would put out a product with plastic covering.

•An Inside Job – Many counterfeit boots are created with cheaper interior materials. Instead of the shoe being lined with suede or leather, the fakes are lined with a much more noticeable, cheaper fabric.

•Seams & Stitching – Crooked, poor stitching or messy seams, on Sheepskin boots for example, are signs of a counterfeit product.

•Packaging – If a certain luxury brand packages their shoes in a logo box or with a dust bag and these items are not included with your purchase, your shoes are fake. Also be sure to look for flimsy, poor quality or different size packaging.

•Holograms – Many brands are incorporating the use of holograms on their labels. Do some research to find out if the shoes you are trying to purchase normally come with a hologram. If you don’t see one, it’s a fake.

•Price Cuts – If the shoe you are trying to purchase retails for $1,000 and it’s on sale for $200, it’s a fake. Discounts like these do not exist with luxury goods. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The bottom line is, do you homework before you buy. Your best bet is to buy directly from the designer or if you cannot afford it, ask your friends and family for gift cards this holiday season. For more information on Fakes Are Never In Fashion™ please visit www.fakesareneverinfashion.com or @NeverFakes on Twitter.

Koolaburra Introduces New Line of Sheepskin Boots

Premium and luxury sheepskin footwear brand Koolaburra recently announced the launch of its newest innovation The Modern Classic boot style. The Modern Classic incorporates the best features of existing styles while updating the functionality, fit, performance and look of the classic sheepskin boot. Koolaburra’s Modern Classic not only redefines the omnipresent classic style; more importantly, it incorporates features found in athletic footwear, addressing the negative impacts that the more common sheepskin boot can have on one’s feet and posture. In effect, the Modern Classic is a sheepskin boot that provides the luxury of a sheepskin boot without damaging one’s health and posture.

Each new style sports a sleek and feminine silhouette and accentuating curves while providing a snug fit thanks to an inner zipper. But the real innovation takes shape between the foot and the sidewalk: a tri-density athletic construction consisting of a 100% rubber outsole for added traction and durability, an EVA mid-sole, and a removable, anatomically molded EVA foot bed for arch support, stability and comfort.

“A proper update of the classic sheepskin boot has been long overdue on many levels and our approach to this challenge was simple,” observes Kris Zacharias, Chief Product Officer of Koolaburra. “Without departing too far from our heritage we wanted to create a fresh and sleek Modern Classic sheepskin boot inspired by our coastal environs and culture while improving upon the comfort and durability—all with a Koolaburra twist. Thanks to a tighter fit, ergonomic insole and traction tread sole, the Modern Classic is intended to be worn for extended periods of time. We expect the Modern Classic to be a cornerstone of the Koolaburra line and represent the evolution of sheepskin boots for a new generation.“

Three styles make up the introductory offering: the short style Cassidy and tall style Marissa keep the look simple and accessible to a broad consumer audience, while the fashion forward Micah takes the short shape and adds a front-foot lacing system to form a snug fit. All three styles incorporate 100% Grade-A Australian twinface sheepskin and are offered in the traditional basic colors as well as metallic and patent treatments.

Koolaburra’s Modern Classic is sold in more than 350 department and specialty stores for Fall 2010 for MSRP $198 – $265.00US. The collection will be launched at existing Koolaburra key retailers and it will expand to include traditional classic sheepskin boot-style retailers, as well as www.Koolaburra.com. Replacement in-soles, recommended every six months to prolong the life of the boot, will be available in Fall 2010 for $25.00 at www.Koolaburrra.com. Look for new styles of Modern Classics throughout the 2010-2011 season.

shuzsociety designer spotlight ~ Koolaburra

New Online Auction Site – Sell, Swap or Shop For Shoes!

Going Once, Going Twice… Soles Sold!

Do have Blahnik taste on a Wal-Mart budget?

If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit, the auction site for shoe lovers, was created to remedy that problem… and so much more. This is a new online auction site designed to help shoe lovers buy and sell fabulous shoes without having to wade through other merchandise. It provides individuals and businesses with a simplified, low cost solution to selling shoes online.

The site is tailored to people who love shoes and everything that goes along with them. If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit has categories for shoes and all shoe-related items: Footwear that would satisfy everyone including the funky fashionista, the star athlete, and even the shopper who wears the unusual size shoe. Sellers can offer shoe supplies and accessories as well; shoe clips, and laces, and polish, oh my!

Buying and selling shoes at online auction sites is nothing new, but an auction site that sells ONLY shoes is!! Forget plowing through UFO detectors and shrunken heads (yes, those things have actually been auctioned off online!). There are no distractions to take away from the focus on shoes and shoe accessories on If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit. Distractions on other sites may mean spending more money! No need to worry about stumbling upon a digital camera or a new phone when the desire is for a pair of Uggs.

If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit was designed to simplify life for the online seller and their business. The fee to list shoes for sale on the site is $1.00…that’s it. Pay a dollar, post the shoes. Sell the shoes, keep the money. There are no final value fees, no fees for photos, bolded headlines, highlights or gallery listings. It’s simple and affordable.

The site is ideal, easy enough and within the means of the casual seller; there’s even a video to walk new sellers through a listing step-by-step How to List Shoes. Perfect for the gal who runs out of space in her closet but can’t bear the thought of throwing away her forgotten footwear; she can make some money and buy new shoes! She can spend a dollar at McDonald’s and get two apple pies, or she can spend a dollar on If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit and turn enough profit to buy two pairs of candy apple peep-toe pumps instead.

Different and unique is the opportunity to swap shoes on the same site. Without ever having to leave the comfort of home or step out of pajamas, shoe lovers can connect with people who share their sense of style and shoe size. And listing shoes for swaps is FREE!

The site’s quick and easy registration process is a step in the right direction for shoe shoppers and shoe sellers. To sell, swap or shop for shoes, If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit is the perfect place!

Gisele’s Glitzy Glide in Jimmy Choo “Jigsaw” Platform Sandal

Gisele glides down the catwalk of Fashion’s NIght Out, the Show at Lincoln Center in New York, in the glitzy Jimmy Choo “Jigsaw” platform sandal.

For star-studded evenings, look no further than this decadent disco shoe in metallic suede with Swarovski crystals.   Retail – $1,250.  Available at JimmyChoo.com.

Tamara Mellon Selling Jimmy Choo?

NYmag.com published this today … Tamara Mellon Might Sell Jimmy Choo? Well grab your checkbook … you could own your own footwear and handbag,  shoe lover!

Tamara Mellon is considering selling Jimmy Choo, which is worth around £500 million, or roughly $800 million. The former fashion editor, who is president and CEO of the company, is “sounding out investment banks about ’strategic options’ for the business,” according to the Telegraph. Since she owns one-fifth of it, she could stand to bank up to $160 million from the sale. According to the Telegraph, “The company’s shareholders may appoint an adviser to help work on a ’strategic review’ for the sale,” set to possibly happen by the end of the summer.

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