Missoni Loves Havaianas

In other collaboration news: Missoni has teamed up with Havaianas to create a capsule collection of flip flops (two styles of women's, one of unisex) along with one pair of espadrilles for the summer season.  It will launch in early May and prices will range from $60-130.  A little pricey for your standard, plastic thong sandal if you ask me; but you better believe that hoards of young women everywhere are going to jump at the chance to own something with the name Missoni printed on it.  Purchase will be available at Havaianas and Missoni boutiques, and online at Us.havaianas.com.  What say you?  Worth it for Margharita's stamp of approval on your shower shoes?

Source: WWD

Jesse Jo for Vans

The internet's been abuzz lately with news of Jesse Jo's collaboration with iconic skate brand Vans, so if you haven't seen one already, here's a sneak peak.  These are just my two favorite pieces.  You can view more at Nylon.

Ideally, the tennies would be in different colors, but the style is close enough to those infamous Prada creepers that who can really complain?  Plus, you can probably just switch out the laces and dye the canvas anyway, if your heart so desires.  As for the backpack (and I was just telling you about my newfound love for the carriers), there's nothing better than leopard print and Americana.  Putting them together?  Perfection.  The line launches April 1st and will be available for purchase in Pacsun stores and at Karmaloop online.

Please Stop the Shock Shoes

They were the shoes heard 'round the world: Alexander McQueen's spring 2010 "armadillo heels."  And when they first walked the runway a year and a half ago, I loved them.  At a staggering 10 inches high, the footwear was the perfect compliment to the late designer's otherworldly, underwater collection. Audience members gawked at them, and several models flat-out refused to walk the show in them due to safety issues (a valid argument, I would say).

Nina Ricci fall '09, Alexander McQueen fall '11, Mugler fall '11

Those were not the first outrageous shoes to teeter down the runway, though.  Oliver Theyskens sent a heelless pair out in Paris for Nina Ricci in the fall 2009 season (top, left) that caused a stir in the fashion industry. Different versions of sky high platforms have been seen often on the runways ever since.  However, anyone who has taken a basic fashion course has probably heard the old rule that, "All trends end in excess."  And that's what seems to be happening with these part stripper heel, part piece of art hybrids.  With the platforms getting more and more chunky, heights towering ever more high, you have to admit that many runway shoes are starting to look plain absurd.

The fact of the matter is, none of these heels will ever even make it to retail.  They make one appearance at show time, only to be taken immediately after and placed in some storage room for forever more.  Brands produce far more toned down versions for the buying public; and unless someone like Daphne Guinness or Lady Gaga decides that she wants a pair, they will never see the light of day again.  So what's the point?  Say what you will about artist license, but fashion shows are first and foremost a tool for designers to showcase their collections to buyers and editors.  These buyers and editors then serve the general public by selling or reporting on the newest fashions.  Sending out these monstrosities on poor girls' feet isn't doing anyone any good at this point.

And aside from that reasoning, I'm just plain sick of embellished platforms.  There's nothing exciting or fresh about them after seeing variations on the same version for five seasons in a row.  Thus, I would like to commend Nicolas Ghesquiere at Balenciaga and Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy for sending out the below gorgeous, sophisticated shoes for their fall 2011 shows.  After a relatively long absence from the runways, pointy toe pumps feel like a subtly sexy alternative to overtly sexual platforms.  These sleek designs exemplify that this style doesn't have to be boring; eye catching slits and statement making patterns can still keep things interesting without resorting to publicity stunts.

Balenciaga fall '11 (above), Givenchy fall '11 (below).  Images via the Cut

Metal Embellished Sandals

          

For this coming spring, there's nothing I want more than metal embellished sandals.  Above are a pair from Lanvin's spring 2011 collection, and a more reasonable option from Zara's spring line.

Theyskens x Theory Favorites

The Theyskens x Theory collection was released for sale yesterday, but I, unlike many others, was a little underwhelmed.  Yes the clothes really are good, but at their price-point it's hard to get that excited.  When I think of Theory, I just don't usually think of four-digit price tags.  Maybe I'm just bitter because I can't afford those killer midnight blue wedges.  At any rate, the best items from the collection, in my opinion, are definitely the Desta and Delia dresses, and the Ankle Strap and Pump platforms.

Kate Bosworth at "Another Happy Day" Premiere

Can we talk about Kate Bosworth's outfit here?  Her Chloe dress with the leather bodice is great, but what really stole the show were her Isabel Marant pumps.  I love pointy toes lately, and these are a perfect example of the style done right.  Even in the second photo displaying the cutout back, my eyes went immediately to her feet.

images via gossipcenter

The Golden Golden Globes, cont'd

Remember Olivia Wilde's dress at the Golden Globes? Let's all take a moment of silence to look at the shoes she was hiding underneath that gorgeous pile of Marchesa tulle...

Bluuudghghgllellll

 (that's the sound of my brain and heart melting at the sight of those Louboutin wonders)

HOW could she have kept those things hidden!? What was she thinking? It's a little disgraceful, really.

Katie

(Image from tumblr)

J. Crew Sale On Sale

Check it out:

J. Crew is offering 40% off sale items through tomorrow with the code "MUSTHAVE". I've been flipping through their sale section this morning and there's a lot of good stuff marked down pretty cheap already. If I hadn't recently adopted the unfortunate resolution to stop dropping so much cash on clothing, these would be just a few of the items on a priority shipping route to my dorm:

 From left to right:

Bonfire Cardigan - $118  $99.99

Weatherby Short Boots - $250  $199.99

Ultra-Knit Pant - $45  $29.99

And those prices above are without the extra 40% off.

I know I've sworn off impulse buys, but those Weatherby boots are almost too good to resist. Plus, I've had my eye on them for a few months now. Ugh, stupid resolutions...

Our Ballet Obsession Continues

If you keep up with Katie and me here at Les Deux, then you know that one of our recent inspirations has been ballet, largely due to our love for the movie Black Swan.  We've both been trying to incorporate ballerina-esque style into our wardrobes for the past month or so, and these would be the ultimate in helping us to perfect the look.  I've had practice ballet shoes for a few years now (you know, the super soft, flexible ones with the elastic strap across the top), and had momentarily considered buying pointe shoes because I think that they're so wonderful.  Alas, these J. Crew flats would probably be better alternatives; they're more practical and less costume-y, I suppose.

Jax

Lime Licorice

via Fashion Gone Rogue

Yummy Prada Spring 2011 shoes.  The best are the lime and black stacked espadrilles.

Jax

Current Lust

Kat Wooden Wedge from TENOVERSIX, Equipment's Hard Feelings shirt from Net-a-Porter, and a random geode lamp from Artemis London, just because I'm dying for a version of one.

Jax

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Yes, this is all of the women in my family wearing matching pajamas on Christmas Eve from Eddie Bauer.

Anyway, a belated merry Christmas to everyone.  Christmas is probably my favorite holiday, not just for presents, but because of the many traditions that my family shares as well.  Although I was ill for the duration of it this year, Christmas was still as joyous and memorable as ever.  That being said, I did get some really great presents that I am oh so thankful for, which I thought that I would share with you all.  So here we go, starting top left and going clockwise.

A men's Field & Stream watch with a leather band, from a local antique shop (this isn't the exact one, but it was as close of a picture as I could find).  I love bulky watches and this one is just the ultimate; great for stacking with bracelets, etc., or wearing alone.

Velvet ballet flats from the Gap.  I, like Katie, have been pretty obsessed with incorporating ballet themed clothes into my daily wardrobe.  So, I was extremely pleased to have received these perfect, go-with-everything shoes from my little sister.  Mine aren't the above purple color, but are a navy blue, which I like much better.

(IN)DECOROUS TASTE

Select interiors from your new favorite blog, (IN)DECOROUS TASTE.  Great interior decorating, and some of the furnishings are actually for sale.  Also, she makes accessories and some sick shoes that I've mentioned before.

Jax

High-End Hippie

JAX

People that know me well know a couple things about me.  First of all, I read the Cut obsessively.  Because of this, I'm often compelled to relay information that I read there straight to Les Deux, but generally I abstain.  Secondly, I wear the hell out of my Chacos sandals.  So, when I read on the Cut that White Lightning had reported on a nature shoe/high heel hybrid (that is actually made by Gray Ant x Teva, not Chacos, but same difference...), I couldn't really resist upon reporting.  I'm kind of torn on how I feel about these.  On the one hand, I'm totally on-board with heeled hiking boots; but, on the other, are these really necessary?

Killer Heels

JAX

 

1.  Tom Ford's new stilettos, via

2.  Original creations by Lauren Tennenbaum of (in)decorous taste

3.  Chanel's lightbulb heels, via

4.  Dsquared spinal heels, source unknown

5.  Vivienne Westwood 10-inch Anglomania heels, via

6.  Tove Jansson's chain shoes, via

7.  The infamous Chanel gun shoes, source unknown

Pretty Woman?

KATIE

 In fashion, there's a fence somewhere between classy and trashy that can sometimes be hard to find. When does a low-cut Dior gown go from being a work of art to being far too sexy? At what point does the underwear as outerwear trend become sleazy as opposed to edgy? There are often beautiful, tasteful trends on runways that, when thrust onto the sidewalks of the real world, are seen as skanky. In a way, it's kind of high fashion's job to try to transform trash into something beautiful. High fashion is more of an art than simply the selling of clothes. And so the clothes on runways, as fantastic as they may be, are often unrealistic for the real world. It's not very often that something is unrealistic in the high fashion world though.

Like, potentially, these $2,000 Brian Atwoods.

Just my opinion, but these Atwoods are trashy, in the real world and in the world of fashion. I've never been to a strip club (thank God), but I imagine that if I did go to one, all the ladies there would be wearing these shoes as they pranced around in nearly nothing.

Despite my bad thoughts toward towering lucite, it seems that some deem the idea of hooker-esque shoes as trendy. Taylor Momsen (not that I think she's well-dressed in any way) wore some with dollar bill tips in the platform of the shoe and even Prada jumped on board with their lucite-jeweled Spring 2010 heels.

 Momsen on the left, Prada on the right

So what do we think? Lucite heels: a fashionable, artful way to delve into new trend territories or just plain slutty?

-Katie

(Images from net-a-porter, The Cut, and style.com)

Fast.

KATIE

Is it meant to be? Is it fate? It must've been destiny that brought me to Need Supply's website to discover that this glorious thick, block-heeled, leather, silver Jeffrey Campbell shoe is not only on sale for $50, but available in only one size: my size.

I shall make these gems mine.

-Katie

Brown Booties

JAX

via and

I need lace up brown boots.  Obviously Jeffrey Campbell is my only option.  Which should I go for?

Brōg

KATIE

As a poor person (aka, college student), I hadn't checked out Urban Outfitters' website in a while, due to their general price-quality imbalance. However! Today I was looking at their shoes, when I noticed how many great oxfords they have. Yes, yes - I know that oxfords are more than likely a dying trend and that I shouldn't be investing in them now. But really? How can one resist these:

Swiss-dotted? Leopard calf hair!? METALLIC TOE-TIP!>!@

In the great words of Rachel Zoe, I die.

-Katie

(Images from Urban Outfitters)