We End the Year with a New Giveaway

We are ready to write this year off. Let's face it: common consensus is that this year sucked. We've found a palliative for the pain. It's called "winning free stuff." And thus we bring this year to a close with something of a ray of hope: the chance to win a pair of the Ugg Dakota! We chose this particular shoe because, frankly, we like the pink leather deck shoe tie. We also like the suede and the super-nubbly-cozy-soft shearling lining, but, mostly, it's the pink. So cute and fun and happy! So non-2009!

Sign up and let's usher in a new year and a better decade. Happy New Year to all our customers and readers and good luck in this latest giveaway!

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Jessica Z. of St. Louis, the lucky winner of any Jeffrey Campbell shoe we carry. Her pick? The s-s-s-Slither. Long as the serpent it brings to mind, Slither's (way)-over-the knee tooled cowboy is one sexy boot. Well played, Jess!

And to all our entrants, a big thank you for supporting Lori's and patronizing the site. Keep an eye out for our next giveaway (and an exclusive special in your inbox). Happy holidays!

Urban Planning: Jewelry for the Cityfolk

We recently divvied up our jewelry collections to make room for a trend we've seen about town. We're calling it "Urban Planning" because, like city fathers Daniel Burnham or Robert Moses, we're making no small plans to reinvent the city look. This season that means an emphasis on bold, confident bib necklaces littered with glass gems, rhinestones and a grab bag of materials. (More, after all, is more.) Pyramid studs, nailheads, chain and metal beading are huge. You will find them on strappy leather thongs or wrappy strings of stones and metal.

The look might be called "luxe accretion." Build your look through a piling-on of glamourous baubles. Put bracelets over bracelets. Necklaces are layered like a precious version of the geologic record. We've also seen a lot of materials applied within the same piece: silver and gold, pearls with crystal, dogs and cats living together ... we digress. The point is, bring it. Like the city's denizens, your jewelry is a collection of unique characters restlessly coexisting and in the rub making a culture come alive.

This is a look you can dress up for an NYE ballroom or pair with a badass boot like the JC Brit (in piture above) for am edgy, kool kid tension (how ironic depends on your capacity for tragic hipness or perhaps the number of single-gear bikes you own). However you wear it, wear it with confidence. Big ego, people! And a happy holiday.

Lobster Claw!

Alexander McQueen recently sent models down the runway wearing the most out-there shoes we have seen in a long time. As covered in T, The New York Times magazine, the shoe resembles a lobster claw. Crustacean couture? We can't imagine wearing them, but we also can't imagine not at least trying to wear them. On the foot or off, we simply can't look away.

Designer Sighting: Steve Madden

How cute are these two?? During the recent buying trip to New York Lori ran into fellow shoe dog Steve Madden. She was excited for Spring 2010, not to mention running into the Man himself. Keep an eye here for pictures of upcoming styles and trends from Steve Madden and more.

Shoe of Sam

Lori Andre and Sam Edelman share a moment over this hot-cha five-incher at the shoe shows last week in New York. We love the metallic finish and the classy Art Deco detailing that reminds us of the grand entrance of the Empire State building by way of Fritz Lang's Metropolis. This shoe arrives any second now! Keep an eye on our Sam Edelman selection and snap it up. Can you even imagine how hot this would be for holiday partying? Neither can we. Oh, this was also the featured shoe in Edelman's national ad campaign, so don't dally. These will not be here long.

What we can imagine is some very exciting moments in spring when the new Sam Edelman arrives. Strappy sandals are in abundance, as are men's details (especially oxfords). A strong theme we see running through the collection is an experimentation with ultimate clashing: still more studs in deliberate patterns, espadrilles with tie-dye thongs, rhinestones and snakeskin and leather. It all works toward ornamentation overload. Effusive embellishment. A visual barbaric yawp that talks of excess, optimism and restless curiousity. In short, joie de vivre. And with snow on the ground in Chicago, a little joie is a comforting prospect!

UGG Winner!

Congrats to LeAnn V. of Rochester, NY for winning the UGG blue/white Scuffette in our most recent giveaway!

There is still time to enter our current giveaway of Jeffrey Campbell shoes. Whichever pair you want, if we have your size, it is yours. Enter the giveaway by December 15th and we'll pick one winner. Now that's some holiday gift!

Wrap That Gift!

We're tickled, well, pink by our new holiday gift wrap. Our standard pink gift boxes are now accented by a gorgeous, gauzy, metallic pink bow wrapped with a pink-and-black gingham ribbon. Gift wrapping is FREE on all bags and accessories (sorry, no shoes at this time) through December 25. To get your order wrapped, simply drop us a note in the Gift Message field at checkout, along with any message you would like included. Easy!