Are You Open- or Close-minded?

So? Are you in or out? (We mean your toes of course.)

Shoe trends this spring are rife with selection. From revamped jazz shoes to gladiators and clogs to boots (not to mention the bounty of socks, knee-highs and leggings), choice is one thing we have plenty of. It's the season of the sandal ... so why are we still thinking boots? Changeable weather makes both an option (not to mention a very versatile wardrobe season).

The versatility of Spring looks are showcased quite nicely on our favorite twin celebrities Tia and Tamera Mowry. (Photo from getwhitit.com.)

Spring makes a virtue of less being more, as in sundresses not sweater dresses; shorts instead of pants; bare legs and sandals replacing boots and jeans. As tulips push out of the soil and the clouds disperse, hemlines rise, fabrics get thinner and our now-liberated toes peek out from our shoes. Isn't spring a quiet sigh of relief the world over? (Well, perhaps not Rhode Island. Sorry guys.) After months of cold temperatures, closed-toe shoes and heavy coats, we dream of the moment when we don our first sandal.

At least, that's the party line. More often than not spring is a tempest of wild weather, moody skies and fluctuating temperatures. Deciding what to wear requires forethought. This helps explain why lighter-weight boots are still huge. They look great with sock and leggings trends and are perfect under a floral skirt.

So where do you stand? Do you embrace this Spring mercurial temperament with a new pedicure and fresh pair of sandals or do you opt for the versatility of the closed toe boot? Take the poll and let us know!

Make a Statement, Start a Conversation

Every season has its statement piece. From the fedora's bohemian chic to last summer's kill-or-be-killed-for Prada Butterfly rimmed sunglasses (so lovely!). Thanks in part to fashion guru's Rachel Zoe, we now see the rise of the statement piece. Big, chunky, bright, bold, sparkly, unique, vintage and whimsical pieces are back in.

Butterflies, flowers, trees, candy colored, rhinestones, chains, glass, whips (okay, maybe not whips but you get the point) ... and much more. Come to think of it, we can't think of a size, color or pattern they don't come in.

So what is a statement piece?  And is it really a statement we want to give or do we want to spark a conversation? Is the statement about you or what you are wearing? (If no one knows you are trying to make a statement ... what is the point?) A statement can speak volumes to the passers-by about your personality, your style and possibly your marital status (just saying).

I was at a jewelery market recently (my ultimate past-time) on the look out for my statement piece for the spring/summer season. I tried on every ring possible, Whimsical, bold, bright and artistically designed, but, ultimately, different.  I was ooh-ing and aah-ing at the wonderful selection when another statement maker darted in and stole my ring! (Nevermind I was the one just ogling away).  I tried to convince her she wouldn't like it. That didn't go over so well. We began to peruse the table together and came across a unique brass ensemble which dangled across the hand like a soft chain whip (again with the whip). We both agreed it was nice – a bit much for our taste but too cool to ignore. I passed on it but my new friend remarked, "If nothing els, it is a conversation piece." There it is. Why do we love statement pieces? Because ultimately they kick off an interesting conversation.

So we're giving you a chance to start a conversation. Enter on our Facebook fan page for a chance to win a statement ring each day this week. A winner will be selected every day. No purchase necessary (though we recommend you become a fan for secret deals).


Enter the Ring-a-Day contest


 

Spotted: Sam Edelman on Ashley Greene

Twilight Zone:  Ashley Greene sports Sam Edelman's Dawson

Well, well, well. Here's Twillight's star Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) looking oh-so-effortlessly chic on a casual stroll in Sam Edelman's Dawson.  See what we said about the gladiator look? Just pair this strappy version with an easy outfit (and a bottle of Fuji water) to look smashing. Perhaps this Spring/Summer's must-have sandal?

We have Dawson in Mineral Blue. White is coming soon!

Okay, Ms. Ashley we see you. We love the tan and longer coiffure.  A radical change from the "pale face kids" we so loved (and can't wait to see again).  Long live the "Twillight" saga!  Long liv– wha? Sorry. Got carried away.  Where were we ... shoes? Right. The Sam Edelman strappy glad is ... Eclipse-ing other trends – sorry! Just could. not. resist. Long live "Twilight"!

Lori's Gets Real Simple

Shoes, shoes and more shoes greeted the guests of Real Simple magazine as they were treated to a shoe shopping experience at Lori's on Armitage.  From Vince Camuto, Jeffrey Campbell and Mia to Italian designer exclusives, guests were given the run of the store.

We like to host in style. As guests entered they were given a warm Lori's welcome and treat, including Jeffrey Campbell's fiercely red No You Din't nail polish and a Real Simple run-down of six spring trend must-haves. Then began the melee. Remember kid-in-the-candy-store syndrome? So much to choose from of so much you want you are paralyzed by desire? Welcome to Lori's.

Some guests were overwhelmed by the large selection; others hunted specific styles. Some were more savvy, stacking up potential purchases, but never slacking their pace.

The big hits of the evening? Vince Camuto and Jeffrey Campbell, of course.

The guests were not alone in their delight. The Lori's team also had great fun! They were happy to work with one of the Real Simple's sales team, Patti Costello, and her guest. We left the evening with a number of shoe-satiated shoppers and not a small dent in our inventory!

 

Clash of the Titans?

The trends of Summer '09 are back with a made-to-order twist. Fringes, embellishment, fabric, buckles and booties ...are now conveniently located on your favorite new ancient sandal style. That's right: gladiators are back and stronger than ever.

Glads are a Spring must-have for every shoenista. They are comfortable, versatile and stylish. From sundress to casual suits, from day to night, whatever your style for the moment, the day or the foreseeable future, we've got gladiators to pull off your look.

For Spring/Summer 2010 we're rolling back the clock to, oh, say, 45 BC. Caesar's hanging around the Rubicon, those darned Gauls and Germans are acting up (again) and like usual the Appian Way is just a logjam at rush hour. Italian-made gladiator boots like the Janet and Janet 25025 (below) are perfect for urban trendsetters or the Praetorian Guard.

Not all of us are ready for a scrap; some of us are lovers. Like most art forms Roman, the original is Greek. We're happy Sam Edelman can channel this with the Damian (left) and Hazel. It's Clash of the Titans meets Sex in the City with Sam's jewel-embellished gladiator booties. Expect forward top detail like steel loops, crystal grommets, side buckles and polished stones. Try it by day with a casual suit or by night with skinny jeans and sequin top (of course, always fetching with an easy, everyday chiton).

Some of us are just a tad more patrician. For the Senatorial class, we've got Glammed Glads for shiny, classic, powerful fun. Boutique 9's Promised is an example of a classic thin, super-strapped glad.  Even with zipper hardware and metallic shine, it is a cool Spring sandal, perfect for a trip to the Aegean.  Spark up a basic black dress, but be sure not to overpower the shoe with accessories.  Let the Promised be your statement piece.

We all know if it's not about bread, it's about circuses. So send in the clowns! Colorful, bold and sassy gladiators have fringes and rich hues. This is what makes Industry SLS10-81GB so hot. Need we say more? Yes? OK! This Spring is all about colors: bold, rich and bright. Add a little fringe, some fabric and voilà: a boho-chic piece.  Mix and match with other bold colors for pop or pair with a neutral outfit to make your shoe the star of the show.

Those Romans. Always incorporating from the countries they conquered! Especially those pesky Germanic tribes. Put some rebel in your gladiator look with this recipe: scarlet red lipstick, harem pants, Rachel Roy draped harem tank and Goth Glads. Very Gypsy, very Euro for our risk taker fashionistas. Dolce Vita Neve are studded, zipped and slimming for any foot.

 So: what Style are you?

Callsign Charlie.

Oh Charlie!

To the tune of Oh Jimmy
Charlie, Oh Charlie Mack /
When are you coming back? /
My feet were missin' you /
I couldn't wear my spring jeggings and cuff shorts without you ...


 
We sing with glee as we announce the return of Jeffrey Campbell's Charlie. This uber-popular, five-inch, wood heeled leather clog, makes its debut online and in Lori's stores this month. We are on pins and needles, biting our finger nails and preparing for battle: women everywhere vowing to fight to the death to be the envy of all with a pair of these beauties on foot.

Charlie is a long lost love who returns after a sudden disappearance, begging you back. You feel vulnerable, wounded, betrayed; he's irresistible. Would you make him wait? Would you grab him hungrily? Just look at him. Isn't he irresistible?



Well this heartbreaker sold out within minutes upon arrival last month, so we say jump. We mean it this time. Second chances don't roll around often. And wouldn't you rather be stylish than happy?

Oooooo! And we almost forgot. Before Charlie is displayed for sale, we are giving away a pair to a very lucky lady, as in giving-away-for-like-free.  Registration ends March 31st. Enter now to win.

So who loves Charlie the most. Is it you ... or you?
 

To Pedi or Not to Pedi?

As Spring blooms with color so do our open-toed shoes. Trapped for months in the confines of boots, socks and stockings, our feet are bursting to get out. Our toes yearn for fresh air! We happily oblige with peep toe booties, sexy strappy sandals, espadrilles, gladiators, the list goes on.

But are we really ready to answer the foot’s calling? Prepping for spring shoe wear requires investment ... or does it? Pedicures, reflexology, foot masks, and pumice stones (a must after winter wear) are some of the lengths to which we go for spring shoes. However, we’ve all seen the opposite, those No she din’t moments: Killer heels framing stubby toe nails; nails unkempt enough to make Edward Scissorhands cringe; and, really, not polishing within the lines?

Some of us gawk at this girly ritual. Others embrace it weekly. Because we love you, we want your opinions and stories. And we will share your wisdom and experience with all the shoenistas around the world on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Help us make every woman a "10" in a great pair of Jeffrey Campbell Mariel platforms. The first fifteen to respond receive a free bottle of Jeffrey Campbell’s fiery red nail polish, ‘No you din’t’!

Expect to Look Your Best with Jeffrey Campbell

Pregnancy & Newborn magazine knows how to dress you whether you are sporting a bun in the oven or a recent mom. Jeffrey Campbell is a must. While the pumps in the spread inspired by Amy Poehler's look in the March 2010 issue are no longer on the site, there are plenty of options from our favorite designer. (And the Felicity clutch is in stock.) Click the picture to see all our Jeffrey Campbell!

No Springtime for Italy, but some Pizza

Following a week straight of rain and damp weather, things are looking up in Florence. Lori is en route to Milan for the trade shows, spending a few well-deserved weeks in Tuscany with friends and family. This week she met up with perennial gay crush Mauricio Celin of Nicole in Bologna for a day of lunch and shopping.

Shopping, unfortunately, seems to be hard to come by this season. With Italy still feeling the effects of the global financial faceplant, there is little to no new merch from independent boutiques and designers this season, adding to the weather gloom. (Though we are happy to report Ms. Andre came across a delightful little denim blazer number for her current obsession: the all-denim look.) While we personally are dubious about the return of the proletariat, we have been proven wrong before.


Perhaps the best find pre-Milan has been the miracle of Pizza Man. Lori declared it to be the best pizza shes ever eaten (margherita, then a Napoli-style capers and anchovies). Followed by the best espresso she's ever drank. All this preceded by the best trip to the Uffizi ever taken, ever. (Someone's in a good mood.) 


Word on the street is that the low, utilitarian hiker/combat boot scaled down to women's sizes is poised to be huge again for fall. Lori adored the one by Fruit/NOW from Fall 2009. Keep an eye out; you may be able to snag a pair.

House of Harlow

ooOOOooo, we've got a good 'un coming in this spring. We're excited to announce that House of Harlow by Nicole Ritchie will arrive mid-March. Her shoe collection is the follow-up to her popular House of Harlow 1960 jewelry line and apparel collection.

The collection takes inspiration from Ritchie's preference for fashion of the '60s and '70s. This spring that translates into a lot of modified boho styles. Look for riffs on the moccasin, "strong embellishments and tribal details." (Scare quotes to denote the PR bites ricocheting around the 'nets.)

We like the softly structured uppers as seen in the Malorie, finished with whipstitching; or the Native American-inspired bead embroidery of Maddie and the Saloni sandal.

The Tilly perforated jazz shoe has wonderful lines. That cream color makes these perfect for the lighter days of spring.

Ritchie named the collection for her daughter, Harlow Winter Kate Madden.

Rodarte Lights it up.

Lori's in Italy (don't even make us recount the harrowing 50 hours it took her to get there). While the cat's away ... the mice will scour the web for info on Fashion Week!

We've always been a fan of Rodarte. They're willingness to take and break trends – as well as fashion new ones from whole cloth – speaks to a restless curiosity and constant poking about at the boundaries of fashion to see what sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy can see.

What happens when you cross the explosion of a textile mill with honky-tonk music? Fall 2010. Beneath the wrapped, twisted, patched layers of fabric and the varying weights and opacities and, yes, blacklight, were light up shoes. Yes! Light up shoes! We love. Our neighbor's kid had these; we simply never made the connection to the runway. That's why we write blogs and the Mulleavys design things. Jealousy aside, well done!

Thanks to @ThePopCulture and photographicpictures.com for posting images we could steal. Check out the show on showstudio.com.

More and Better: Enter the Model

So here's the deal, friends. You answer our survey (located on the homepage) and we take your suggestions to heart and try to make our site better. True, some times we roll our eyes maybe just a little bit or make faces or throw our hands in the air and head to Starbucks but MOSTLY we say "hey yeah ok let's do that." One of those things is the on-foot catalog shot.

Why haven't we done this before? Honestly? Because it is time-consuming and expensive. Why now? Because you want it and we have some very generous friends and we're imposing strict time limits on Facebook (but mostly the first two). We completely agree with you that seeing the shoe on a foot or a cuff on the wrist is incredibly valuable when making a decision about buying online. So we wanted to share some initial shots. They are also scattered throughout our catalog. Give us your opinion. We know we need more wardrobe (thanks American Apparel across the street!) and more styling (Any takers? Call us! We pay in hugs and kisses.), but this is a start and we're excited about it.

However we are not about excuses. We are about giving you awesome shoes and jewelry at great prices on a site that's kick-ass. Please take a look here and answer the poll. We read each and every poll and survey you fill out ... and take them all the heart (even the snarky ones).

And coming soon? Customer reviews. More ways to shop. More ways to save. Private sales. Un-private sales! Sales of every stripe! Lookbooks, cookbooks, cooked books, whatever you need to love us as much as we love to hear from you. So, in a word: thanks. And keep it comin'. We'll keep it going.

A Sorel Spot.

Like everyone else, we are are in love with Sorel. Like, love-love. The love is not just ours. WWD recently wrote a fall preview on the Columbia-owned line from which we quote:

Bold colors, fun plaids and details — including contrast laces and menswear accents — make traditional boot player Sorel’s fall ’10 women’s collection a more fashionable one. The company, a division of Portland, Ore.-based Columbia Sportswear, may be continuing its fashion-forward initiative, but traditional winter features such as waterproof materials, fur trims and outsoles with ice-ready traction ensure that the boots and shoes can handle harsh weather. Sorel’s fall line will deliver to better department stores, outdoor shops and boutiques in August.
– Jennifer Ernst Beaudry Fall Preview: Sorel - WWD.com

What's so great? Sorel's retro look, easy pricing and hardcore winter foot protection have turned practical into the fashionable. They are simply the core of classic winterwear. In fact, we hope Sorel does not get too fashionable; they're old school ways are what grabbed our attention. If spring weren't looking so good, we'd be wishing it were fall again ... Regardless, our order is placed, the boots are coming. Just keeping you excited the whole year 'round!

A Clean Sweep

We've picked a winner for the UGG Dakota giveaway (congratulations Tanalyn R. of Missouri!) and have rolled out a new one! We are super-excited to present the QUIRKY!!! This complex platform pump brings a lot to the table: teal patent heelcup and trim, teal gingham upper, woven wicker sole, one-inch platform, 4-1/2-inch heel, citron bow over a peeptoe. (Pause to catch the breath.) Whew. That's a lot. But it works! All these different elements work in conjunction like a complicated, fashiony machine to work the spring trends.

And it can be yours for free. Simply sign up for the giveaway with your name and email. No purchase necessary, but we would appreciate naming your first-born Lori as well (hey, might help, eh?) We will, of course, then bombard you with all manner of sales, slogans, promotions, and hysterical discountery. Kidding! We kid. We'll send you weekly updates (OK, bi-weekly usually) on new product arrivals, giveaways like this one and sales. If you no-likee, you unsubscribee. Easy-peasy.

Thanks for playing. Get excited. It's free shoes!

Spring Jewelry Arriving

New spring jewelry is arriving in-store and online! If we don't get to see the sun this winter, at least we can play dress-up! How are we dressing up? Very kind of you to ask. Well! For starters, we're still into the multi-layered necklace look or big statement pieces, except now the statement pieces are getting all crazy-like with big chunks of wood, rocks, beading, cloth and ribbon ties.

Earrings-wise, we've likewise moved to natural materials: wood beads, polished stones ... you know. We're also stocking up on pendant earrings with floral motifs, lots of filigree and intricate patterns of stone and glass gems.

These stretch rings we have are just the dandiest baubles. Easy fit, easy on the wallet. Rings in general remain big and bold with strong floral leanings and lots of ornamentation. Ostentation is the new demure. Exuberation is the current even-keel.

So shop the collection. Pick up an easy piece to freshen up your look for the coming spring!

Lemmie at that new spring jewelry

Clog Blog

If there's one thing we love more than shoes, it's people telling us how great our selection is. A tip of the hat to Every Clog Has Its Day for their coverage of the Jeffrey Campbell Charlie clog we received early and plan to have stock in throughout the season.

Coming Soon: Jeffrey Campbell SPRING!

First Look: Jeffrey Campbell Spring Lookbook

The fab lads at Jeffrey Campbell were kind enough to give us a sneak peek at their Spring lookbook. We collaged it with some photos of ou recent orders for your viewing pleasure. The TIC (above) is coming back in this fantastic natural duck canvas with brass tack sole.

Our prediction is that the Charlie (below) will be the huge hit of 2010 with its clog lines and platform heel trimmed in the same thumbtack heads seen on the Tic.

Trend Report: Leggings in 2010

Last week we took a cheap shot at denim leggings, or rather, the branding of denim leggings. (Lori’s insisting we call them “leans” in lieu of “jeggings,” but we’re having none of it.) We have nothing against denim leggings – we heart them quite a bit – but socks had to have their moment. We’ll circle around to leggings soon enough (probably at the expense of socks; we are so fickle).

In the interim we had a chance to sit down with some industry friends in New York working in the hosiery trade and talk about once and future trends. Men are not excluded: in the interest of a well-heeled (heh) story, we got the skinny on menswear trends as well.


Lori’s: Let's start with a review of 2009. What did you find were the big trends?

Women’s: OPAQUE. We had a huge push for an opaque leg. We also saw a trend in patterned opaque

Men’s: Casual. Men are dressing down more than ever and even if they are dressing up they are probably wearing casual socks, meaning heavier weights.


Lori’s: At the store we did brisk business with a lot of patterned leggings and embellished pieces – zippers, studs, sequins, etc.

Women’s: Embellishments for spring 2010 will be seen in socks using Lurex yarns in a playful way carried through into fall as a bolder spangle-like option. Still lots of shine!


Lori’s: Now that we are in 2010, how are those trends evolving or new trends emerging from them? What will be the must-have colors and textures for spring and fall?

Women’s: Spring colors will start off soft with lilacs, pinks going into splashes of dark tangerine followed by saturated pinks. We are seeing textures evolving in an interesting way by combining sheer and opaque. For fall we’re seeing a lot of deep greens like spruce, forest and loden with aubergines for a sophisticated leg using rich textures.

Men’s: Spring is “ath-leisure”: a combination of casual and athletic. This translates into casual socks with arch support, cushioning, anti-microbial and wicking properties. Fall is always the classic argyle! The argyle comes in a casual and dress weight. Colors trend towards heathered/marled looks. Brown heather, oatmeal heather, loden, wine heather. The fashion color is Royal Purple seen in pops of color on a sophisticated dress sock or a heathered plum on a casual sock.


Lori’s: Which are your favorite looks and how would you accessorize them?

Women’s: My favorite spring/fall look is an anklet peeping through ankle boots paired with cropped or rolled skinny jeans, a great tank and cardigan topped off with a cozy scarf! My favorite winter look is a mini paired with a solid opaque leg or texture leg worn with a peep toe heel.

Men’s: Socks are where men can really step out without being too much. The banker that has to wear a suit can wear an over-the-top dress sock with shots of purple in the pattern. The more casual guy can hide the pink contrast on the heel and toe of his sock in his shoe.


Lori’s: What is the "look" for spring?

Women’s: An oxford paired with an anklet or crew length sock worn with a relaxed pair of shorts.

Men’s: I think that the overriding element for spring is more athletic type socks and no-shows or peds for guys so they can wear their loafers with a no-sock look.


Lori’s: For fall?

Women’s: Dresses are still very important for fall so we will continue with an emphasis on the leg seeing rich textures and bursts of saturated colors.


Lori’s: How are leggings a part of that look?

Women’s: I still think the legging will be important in 2010. It’s an easy, comfortable wear.


Lori’s: We have a huge demand for denim leggings – the ultimate skinny jean. What's your take on it?

Women’s: Personally I love the look, paired with a comfy tee and/or sweater … making sure the length hits just right!

Men’s: The overall trend for guys are socks that work for them – anti-microbial and wicking, arch support, mesh top for breathability, placed cushioning so the sock is fit for left and right wear, socks that don't shrink when you wash them. SmartWool technology: the sock is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A seamless toe or a reinforced heel and toe for comfort. Socks that stay up and don't fall down the leg over the course of wear.

Jaded by Jeggings? Sock It to 'em.

Cutesy terms make you want to barf in your face? Blame the marketers, not the merchandise.
We've got you an option.

This right here is what is known in markety/retailing circles as a "jegging." The etymological smashup of "jeans" and "leggings," certain salesy types apparently thought the article itself was not enough of a sell on its own. (It is, but more on that in another post.) Thus, coin a cute name and let fly!

Can we sidebar for a second? Why are we always contracting everything? Why are we always coming up with names for things that already have names? (Shooties, anyone? Glittens?) What? Point the finger at ourselves? Guilty as charged. We are both pot and kettle when it comes to contributing to the degradation of our mother tongue. But, hey, they said the same thing about Chaucer. He got into the Canon and contributed nary an emoticon.

Can we sidebar from our sidebar for a second? You've gotta admit a language that can build an emotive sub-lingual shorthand out of its own punctuation is pretty clever, if not in the process cannabalistically sabotaging its inherent inventiveness and eloquence. :-/

OK! Basta! The point of this purpled prose is that we hate the name, not the thing. However ... some of you might also hate the thing. So we're going to scrap all this and talk about socks. Socks! This humble, oft-overlooked aspect of our wardrobe is coming into the forefront as a compliment or replacement for leggings, denim or otherwise.

They understand this in London.

With strappy or open shoes and peeptoes, the sock provides warmth in winter but, more importantly, a much desired visual element. Sparkles, patterns and bulk (think thick men's Army numbers – a favorite). These aren't some grungy pair of athletic socks. The socks of 2010 possess a casual chic, a je ne sais quoi hiding in the quotidian. An alternative. We like having choices.

So if leggings and their markety permutations are't in the cards for you, reach for the sock drawer. You just might find a new look in that forgotten corner of your bureau. :-)

Ribbed for her pleasure. This image ripped from Vogue.co.uk.

Au Natural: Spring Accessories Report

Lori and Nichole are busy shop- erm, working the accessories shows in New York. We caught up with them on the phone and got the low-down on what's hot in the coming months.

From bags to brooches the buzzword is "natural." Perhaps the nation's ecobession with green has turned spring palettes neutral, or it may be a fresh take from fall's black mood. Or simply spring's perenially lighter mood. Any way you slice it, we're seeing a ton of beige, cream and taupe accessories with heavy embellishing, appliques, and splashes of bright color.

Strains of ethnicism, craft and tribal influences – dormant during the fall boot craze – have been revived. Materials move away from leathers to cotton canvas, wooden beads and big, chunky yarns.

Necklaces remain big and layered. Unlike fall's leather-and-metal, elegant rhinestone-crusted estate pieces, this spring we will make statements with ethnic-inspired designs and natural materials.

Mix-matched fabrics and bright colors on a neutral base dominate the bags. No one color stands out as the season's "it" hue. Applique and embellishment in broad strokes cover large shoulder bags. Some styles are arriving soon; the majority will arrive in February and March.

Pregnancy & Newborn

Hey Kids! Pregnancy & Newborn magazine recently featured our Carlo Fellini clutch as part of their rock and roll lifestyle editorial. Pregnancy may make those high heels problematic; thank god for accessories! Thanks to the good folk at P&N for the feature. And we've got plenty more Carlo Fellini where that came from. What we love about the line is the exquisite care that goes into choosing details, fabrics and shapes for these clutches. Every one feels very considered. Perhaps that's why it makes such an apt choice for the expecting – with everything on your mind, let Carlo Fellini take charge of making you look fantastic.

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!