Style It: Shoes and the City

Cosabella lingerie has issued the official undergarments for the new Sex and the City movie and our good friends over at Isabella Fine Lingerie are stocking them. Of course, we immediately set out to pair shoes to each. We're starting with the Samantha, described in the official literature as "designed in French Chantilly style lace with fine, micro-dot mesh."

So we chose some shoes that represented Samantha's confident sexuality -- womanly and worldy, aggressive, yet coy, with the faintest touch of feminine frills.

And now we want to know how you would style it. Take a look below, read up on the rules and start styling, you maven you!

The rules: Find a shoe in our online store that best compliments the Samantha collection. Link to it in the comments of this post and describe why you chose what you chose. Style-a-thon ends Saturday, 17 May at midnight; we'll post the winning pairing the following week. Winner gets a private code for 20% off their next online purchase at Lori's. Happy styling!

Also, check out Fab Sugar's Who Wore It Better contest on the Balenciaga Blue and Green Gladiator Sandal, referencing Sex and the City and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Roman Holiday

They're calling it a new trend for 2008, but we all know that ever since Gladiator dream-boy Russell Crowe donned his togs, gladiator sandals have had the green light. Hell, any shoe style that's been around since Caesar crossed the Rubicon has to have something going for it.




We like gladiators because they are a perfect foundation (or, should we say ... tabula rasa?) upon which to build a great summer look. The simple open strap construction and heel cup can take myriad embellishments and turn out a great look.




What you get out of a gladiator is something ancient -- a certain, simple caged sexiness of feet bound in thongs -- that contains yet reveals your feet and ankles. Typically a piece of strapping running up the midfoot from toes to mid-leg draws attention to delicate ankles, leg length, insteps and toes. This buckles to the heel strapping, which points out your calf muscles and provides a secure fit. Because so much of your foot remains revealed, they are perfect under a mid-length skirt with some volume to it; the naked foot look will help make your whole outfit lighter while lending a touch of complexity.

The thin profile of these sandals are ripe for embellishment. Jeffrey Campbell's summer assortment uses fringe, beading and distressed dyes to highlight the foot. Dolce Vita's more straightforward take is sexed up with a late-century kitten heel while Enzo Angiolini uses a broad top piece to highlight the gorgeous red of its sandal.

So save up your denarii and grab a pair for summer.

We’ve been seeing a lot of the larger trends like yellows, turquoises and patent do well but one that took off (and took us by surprise) was the prayer scarf. Remember the pashmina craze a couple years ago? It’s like that, only with more love and peace and optimism (and style) involved. Unlike pashminas, these scarves are a more manageable size, come in engaging patterns with sewn details and are a much more versatile accessory.

Sir Alistair Rai, by Kiran Rai, kickstarted the trend by co-opting the Tibetan khata (a ceremonial scarf offered at the start of a relationship to indicate goodwill and positivity) and hand-embroidering it with feel-good prescriptions of “Love,” “Peace” and “Faith.” Throwing in the color scheme of Tibetan prayer scarves (representing the five elements of earth, air, water, fire and sky) and Sanskrit patterning, these scarves become a microcosm of Tibetan heritage, spreading a codified message of understanding and compassion through fashion. They’ve since been spotted on a range of young celebs such as Jessica Alba, Nicole Ritchie, Ashlee Simpson and the like.

Scarves are an essential wardrobe item because they are so versatile. These prayer scarves, with their festive colors and embroidered detail, are fantastic for gussying up an outfit when you don’t feel like putting in the effort. They are perfect for seasonal transitions or micro-climate locales like San Francisco where weather changes are unpredictable and sudden. Wear them instead of a jacket for quick jaunts, or with a light coat for extended walks out of doors. Lastly, the sheer fabric lends itself to delicate layering and folds, giving additional texture and character to anything from a plain tee to business attire. And in a time of seemingly unending conflict (are we fighting Eurasia ... or Eastasia?), what better look to promulgate than peace, love and understanding?

Yellow Patent is the New ... uh, Black Patent.

Patent leather is nothing new, though 2008 has found it a very popular finish. Combine that with the Spring trends of light, natural and yellow and you end up with some pretty interesting shoes. Yellow Patent! We love this look; it's so ... much that you have to pay attention. Here are some of our faves and why:

Jessica Bennett Forli: The Maximalist
These hot numbers are an instant scene-stealer. Yellow patent with teal patent trim lined in gold, topped with a buckle and set on a stacked wooden heel? Subtle this is not. It's ultra-maximalist so pair it with a relatively simple outfit or let them just peep out from some longer, darker clean jeans. The darker denim texture and bagging at the ankle will contrast nicely with the slick jaune of this 'Jane toe and make the teal just sing.

Franco Sarto: The Mod
A kittenish slingback with a chunky heel, this pale yellow patent shoe will be a summer classic. The spare lines and subdued yellow with white banding are the ground for a popping black button. Pair these up with a darker skirt at the knee or above -- aim to match the button to establish a visual continuity which lengthens your legs. The sling will draw attention to your lovely ankles and the round toe is a simple, understated finish.


Pour La Victorie: Beach Glam
Yellow patent topper with white piping and antique gold strappies. Closed heel. Leather sole. Slightly gladiator, slightly Dallas, the Nanette should dress up a casual outfit -- shorts, bathing suit, sari -- and declare '80s yuppie decadence. (The level of irony is completely at your discretion; we opt for none: the full embrace.

What Would Yul Wear?

Yellow is a central color for the Spring '08 season. But we think Frost penned it best when he declared that "Nature's first green is gold." And whilst it's true that it may be "the hardest hue to hold," we think with a little bit of savvy and a right good dollop of confidence, you too can sport this look without sinking into grief.

To make it easier, we'll make a game of it. Call it "What Would Yul Wear?" As the King Mongkut of Siam, Yul Brynner cuts a famous rug with Deborah Kerr ... but the poor man's got no shoes! While we dig the gold ankle cuffs and the velvet jumper with gold studs, this boy needs some appropriate footies for his next waltz.

Herewith: a selection of Yul-tastic gold candidates for your inspiration and vote. Watch the clip and comment on your choice (below) for this emperor's new clogs. The winner will bask in the satisfaction that revisionist cultural populism in the service of the marketplace lives on in the blogosphere.

And should this fail to win you over to the gold standard, just remember that Fall '08 is a new season and we're quite sure "nothing gold can stay." At least until Spring 2009.

We Totes Love the Earth

OK, cheesy blog post title, but it's Earth Day and we had to force something in there. The content of this post is much less awkward because we're giving away free things!

Lori's has partnered up with Jeffrey Campbell to give away reusable J.C. tote bags with every shoe purchase until our supplies are gone. (P.S.: supplies are limited.) These close-mesh bags are perfect for storing about four boxes of shoes, filling in as a dustbag, carting around your daily miscellany or even a trip to the local grocery.

It's a popular movement. Whole Foods has their "Bring Your Own Bag" campaign, having eliminated plastic bags from its stores, and we've seen similar efforts with Lululemon's laminated fabric bag and a heavy canvas tote from Lush that reflects their packaging reduction manifesto (read: press release).

So here's the question: are reusable bags too much of a good thing? How many bags do you need around the house? Don't get us wrong: we love our Campbell bags because they are perfect for toting shoes hither and yon; we're biased. But still: leave a comment and share your thoughts on the demise of plastic bags and the rise of their supposedly more socially and ecologically responsible replacements.

Jewelry: From the Ground Up

As fashion designers obsess about pale and natural color palettes this season, jewelry designers have followed suit with collections inspired by a blossoming world in springtime. Naturally chic looks this spring incorporate stones, wood, foliage and other such cues from flora and fauna. As Earth Day approaches, show your awareness by sporting an aesthetic drawn from Mother Nature herself!

The designers behind Blue Wild Indigo believe nature’s gemstones, woods and precious metals beat any man-made materials. Their newest designs feature fish, birds and poppy flowers hand-cut from Sterling silver and set on rich walnut grounds.

Tashi’s flights of fancy include a delicate Sterling silver sparrow perched on a branch and a colorful peacock pendant inspired by vintage designs.

Meanwhile Pieces of a Girl and A.V. Maxx have crafted wonderful layering pieces incorporating the silhouettes of daisies, lilies and leaves delicately suspended against a gorgeous citrine.

As long as we keep the rainforests up and the extinction rate down, these bits of nature-inspired will remain be au currant. After all, with five billion years of design trial and error, Mother Earth’s got a pretty good handle on making things that stick. (Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, 2008).

Pre-purchase Calvin Klein PARMA

We posted a few days ago about the return of the Parma - that shoe phenomenon which sold out as soon as we received it - and pre-selling availability. Well, that time has come.

Parma is available for pre-purchase.

We are receiving full size runs in black, taupe and gunmetal. All our stock is available for pre-purchase (not pre-order), meaning we will charge your card when you place the order. This is to help ensure we do not oversell and disappoint anyone. We're expecting the shoe to drop (heh) June 1-15.

This immensely popular shoe was featured in Calvin Klein's national ad campaign and has been a sellout ever since. We think CK really hit the nail on the head with this number which has a hidden platform to give the illusion of height without actually making you teeter.

For some reason we picture Tina Turner as Aunt Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome wearing these to a formal in Bartertown. They've got that straps-on-straps, vampy future-chic thing going on without looking over the top ... which is a good thing. We might not need another hero, but a new pair of heels is never a bad idea.