He has a couple of great flats in his line — feminine and stylish with great, luxe details. Isn’t the turquoise a great color?

I’m a fan of tough-looking shoes, and Christian’s heels and boots don’t disappoint. Hardware and zippers on shiny, leather-like material — I love it!

The best part? You can snatch these up for no more than $50. Now that’s fierce!

Oh Deer!, “Sandy”; Bakers, “Fontana”; Madden Girl, “Adaline”; Mossimo for Target, “Winna”

Spice…

Mossimo for Target, “Philomena”; Naughty Monkey, “Exhibit A”; Naughty Monkey, “Bandit”; Payless, “Naomi”

And everything nice.

Payless, “Nadia”; Mossimo for Target, “Palesa”; Mossimo for Target, “Penina”; Classified, “Slime”

Of course, “sugar, spice and everything nice” doesn’t quite capture the wide spectrum of shoe styles available.. How would you describe yours?

Buying a pair of Jimmy Choos can easily set you back more than $600, but Jimmy Choo’s new line for H&M will be sure to please shoe addicts with its cheaper prices (most of the shoes will range in price from $99 to $129). The collaboration will not only feature women’s shoes, but also handbags and a men’s collection of shoes and accessories. This is the first time H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand, and with a brand like Jimmy Choo, I’m sure we’re in for a treat. You’ll have to wait a little longer to get your hands on these items, though — the collection’s slated for release on November 14.

Photo credit: H&M

One of my favorite style blogs is Sea of Shoes, where seventeen-year-old Jane Aldridge showcases her outfits, fashion inspiration and, of course, her amazing shoe collection. By day, she’s a uniform-wearing student at a high school with a 1 1/2 inch heel limit, but after school, she’s a fashionista in her own right! 

 Photo credit: Jane Aldridge at Sea of Shoes

Now, in addition to being a popular style blogger, she can add “designer” to her resume. In July, Urban Outfitters will be releasing J. Aldridge by Sea of Shoes, a capsule collection of three shoes she’s designed, inspired by “some of the elements of [her] favorite pairs.”  The black studded gladiator heels will be $98, the knee-high peep-toe boots $178 and the lace-up flats $58.

 Photo credit: Urban Outfitters

These are certainly exciting collaborations, but will I be buying anything? Probably not. While the prices are cheaper than that of a regular designer shoe, I just can’t justify spending $100 on a pair of shoes in my post-grad status.

I suspect a lot of women (post-grad or not) are in the same boat. What about you? It’s fun to window shop, but at these prices, will you be taking anything home?

Yes, I graduated from college! Here are the shoes I wore on my graduation day:

I bought these a year ago for $16 at Ross and had never worn them. Notice the picture on the left of me trying to discreetly massage my feet with a smile on my face!

Graduation means freedom and an entrance into the “real world” (which, in the current economy, is a bit scary for the class of 2009), but on a more materialistic note, it also means graduation presents. I’ve been blessed to have a loving and generous family, and I received a lot of great gifts — most of which went straight into my savings account, as it should be with any grad.

Anyway, with a $20 Victoria’s Secret gift card (and a very well-timed 25%-off-a-single-item special), I was able to score these 4-inch Colin Stuart heels for under $30 — and the original price was $88!

What do you think? What shoes do you have your eye on this summer?

SpareSoles are perfect for fashionistas who forgo comfort for style and sport killer heels (emphasis on “killer”) on party nights. (We all do it!) Light and portable, they’re easy to tuck away into an evening bag or clutch. While they don’t provide much support, they’re sure to relieve achy feet from four and five-inch heels during formal events and functions.

Help your pal make the most of the shoe collection she already has by giving her a pair of shoe clips. Shoe clips are an easy way to add new life and flair to a plain pair of shoes. Try Absolutely Audrey or Shoeworthy – some are even made out of vintage brooches and pendants!

You can also think beyond the shoes and about what will make her comfortable — what does she want after a night on her feet? Maybe this Davies Gate Seeds & Grains Best Foot Forward Super Luxe Foot Set will do the trick! It includes a Buckwheat Buffing Soap, a warming Mustard Seed Foot Serum, and a hydrating Cardamom Foot Butter. And, of course, comfy terry slippers are always a winner — and these are even monogrammable.

For a bit of humor, give her something fun but useful like a high heel cake server or stiletto letter opener.

Stiletto by Caroline Cox is a historical analysis about how the stiletto heel has been perceived since its invention (elegant or vulgar?). And if your friend is concerned with keeping up with the trends, sign her up for a subscription to Lucky magazine — each issue displays practical translations of runway couture to real world style.

None of these options quite right for your shoe addict friend? Send a Piperlime gift card her way and let her choose her gift — shipping is free, it never expires, and with their wide selection, she’ll definitely find a pair of shoes she loves!

Until now.

Behold my new smokin’ hot pair of pewter peep-toe booties! I saw them on Forever 21’s website and instantly fell in love with their rock-star fashionista vibe. And at $24.80, I’m able to try out the trend without too much of a commitment.

Check out some pricier alternatives: one by Steven by Steve Madden and another by Moschino.

Moral of the story: Step outside of your box once in awhile. Buy something that you wouldn’t normally wear but still appeals to you. Chances are, you’ll freshen up your wardrobe — and build a style that’s a little more you!

I’ve never been really big on flip-flops. Sure, there were those uber-Californians in my high school who wore their battered flip-flops faithfully through the dead of winter (60 degree weather, oh my!), but that was never me. The ones I had were never that comfortable, plus they always ended up breaking somehow — not good for frequent beach trips, let me tell you!

Then, on a music trip to Brazil two summers ago, I discovered Havaianas. Since then, Havaianas have become my favorite brand of basic rubber flip-flops, hands down — I refuse to wear anything else. Made from Brazilian rubber, they’re durable, come in a rainbow of colors and prints, are extremely inexpensive, easy to clean sand off of, and most importantly, they are incredibly comfortable. It sounds gimmicky, I know, but I swear they add a spring to my step!

The basic pair of Havaianas. I own this style in both black and white, and it comes in so many colors, even metallics (I especially like the pretty fuschia ‘Acai’ color).

They’re also made with slimmer straps for those who want a lighter pair of flip-flops with a sleeker look. This style, like the basic style, comes in a rainbow of colors — the metallic nude color is shown above, along with one with a pretty gold design.

Looking for a little height with a whole lot of comfort? This style adds a wedge to the basic style, which is quite helpful to the vertically challenged such as I.

And, of course, the Brazil-representing style! Although I’m not Brazilian, I have a pair of these, and I justified my purchase using the fact that I’ve been to Brazil. Of course, no such justification is needed to own such a cute pair of flip-flops — plus, they were fun to wear while the World Cup was going on!

So, Havaianas = the best flip-flops ever. Seriously. Go out and try a pair — hopefully you’ll love yours as much as I love mine!

The perfect shoes to wear during fickle weather? Flats and skimmers, of course! Unlike sandals that might give your feet a little too much exposure during the low temperatures of the day, and unlike boots that scream “winter!”, flats and skimmers give you comfort, keep your toes warm, and many are cheap enough to snap up a good number to give you different looks (most of those I’ve included here are from Payless or Target).

Flats and skimmers for the spring should be freshly light-colored and made of material that can weather the occasional rainfall (meaning no suede or velvet — those are materials for the holiday season!).

I’ve never had a reason to wear boat moccasins (seeing as a trip to the water to me means a beach trip rather than a trip to the lake), but I still find this twist on the traditional boat moccasin incredibly cute. Obviously these would be worn on a casual (or whimsical!) day.

Pewter flats are incredibly versatile and can be worn during any season for nearly any look — with black tights and a mini in the winter, with a pair of jeans in the spring, with a dress or skirt in the summer. And because of the neutral color and metallic sheen, you can also match them with any color you choose to wear.

I know I said that skimmers keep your toes warm, but I couldn’t resist including these adorable peep-toe skimmers! The gray-blue color is perfect for spring, but the faux-crocodile print keeps them from being too sweet.

The faux-leather weaving on these flats provides unique, luxe, and classically ladylike details for an incredibly cheap price.

I like buckle details on shoes — it’s a very simple way to take a shoe from plain to sophisticated (or dominatrix, depending on how the buckles are placed!).

Other places to look for skimmers and flats? H&M and Steve & Barry’s. H&M has a great selection of both casual and more dressy skimmers for relatively cheap prices, and I bought a pair of gold and black clover print ballet flats from Sarah Jessica Park’s Bitten line at Steve & Barry’s for $8.98. Unfortunately, neither one of these websites have online stores, but that just gives me an excuse to make a trip to the mall!

Exciting. Yes. Stressful? Certainly. It’s a three hour concert with three major works (including Mozart’s Requiem!) — and we will be standing for the whole duration. Meaning that I’m going to need shoes that I can actually stand in for three hours straight.

As comfortable as they are, flats are out of the question. I’m short, and I need some added height. Spice Girls platform shoes won’t suffice in the style department. And as visually appealing as a stiletto heel is, let’s face it — they’re just not that comfortable, at least for standing stationary for a prolonged amount of time. All my weight on a square inch heel for three hours? No thanks!

This is where the wedge comes in. Spreading your weight over a larger area equals more comfort, which is what I’m mainly concerned about. And with the added height, I’ll be able to comfortably see the conductor over everyone’s heads — allowing me to focus completely on singing the right notes!

Admittedly, wedges aren’t exactly worn a lot in the winter — it’s challenging to find a warm, closed-toe, dressy pair of wedges. But when comfort is a priority, a good pair of winter wedges is a necessary component of a well-rounded shoe collection.

While these black suede Steve Madden wedges fulfill the concert hall requirements (closed-toe, black shoes), they are also available in brown, grey, and purple for after-concert activities.

A really fashionable pair of dressy wedges is so hard to find, but these Seychelles fit the bill — they’re comfortable without sacrificing style.

The combination of faux patent leather and faux suede on these shoes makes for an edgier, younger vibe.

Shiny and sleek, these wedges are classic and timeless. Think pearls and champagne.

And now for a couple of winter wedges in a color other than basic black! These wedges also come in black, white, and fuschia, but I prefer the punchy turquoise/teal color.

Feeling bold? Check out these patent platform wedges. They’re available in ten colors, including sapphire, royal purple, and dark red.

Although I was extremely tempted to order the black suede Seychelles, one look at my bank account balance quickly put that thought to rest. Therefore, I think I’ll just be pulling out an old pair of Payless wedges I purchased two years ago for this weekend’s concert. Maybe after payday?…

Enjoy the long weekend, everyone! (And wish me luck!)

While it’s a little typical for the holiday, the color red is extremely appropriate — it’s attention-getting, powerful, and passionate. And red shoes are just the thing to channel your inner “smoldering temptress”, as Satine says in Moulin Rouge. Here are just a few I’ve found:

This strappy, suede and patent leather pair of evening shoes just screams vixen. They’re definitely not for the faint of heart!

If you’re vertically-challenged like me (or even if you’re not!), wear these glossy peep-toe platform heels. The platform is actually metallic — something different to catch the light while you’re strutting around!

Want a more classic option? Try these peep-toe pumps, both in faux suede and faux patent leather. ($14.99 and $24.99, respectively — not bad!)

And, of course, my favorite kind of shoe: the classic and versatile pointy-toed heel.

I hope all you StyleFeeders have the perfect Valentine’s Day you’ve always dreamed of! Stay safe, stay comfortable (by carrying a pair of spare ballet flats…or by asking for a foot massage!), and most importantly, have fun!

The sale section of Steve Madden’s website is like a candy store where the really yummy items are mostly $34.99 and under. Here are some of my favorites in that price range (just in time for to indulge yourself for Valentine’s Day!):

I have a ton of black dresses — I brought seven with me when I went home during the holiday season! However, I’m getting tired of the whole black dress/black shoes combo, and that’s where these python-print shoes would come in. Neutral but noticeably different, they’re a classy but not tacky way to channel the animal-print trend.

I fell in love with the following shoes as soon as the graphic loaded on my browser. Not only is this pair unlike any of the shoes I own, but I really like the criss-crossing details — and for $27.99, it’s definitely a bargain!

Brown leather peep-toe pumps make a great everyday shoe for an office environment.

I actually own this pair in black. Not only are they classic (meaning I’ll be wearing them for years), but the pointed toe elongates my legs, making me look a bit taller — which is always appreciated, considering I’m 5′2″!

Black suede shoes are always classy and elegant, but the gold heel on this pair gives it a little more of a sexy vixen feel.

Want a bold, fun color? Try these pretty teal evening shoes.

And now for something completely different: these floral-print d’Orsay-style peep-toe pumps would go great with a white sundress (when it gets considerably warmer, of course!).

Many of these styles are available in other colors, so if you see something you like but aren’t too crazy about the color, go ahead and click — chances are it’s available in one you do fancy! Act quickly, though — sizes are selling out!

Then I encountered temperatures below 50 degrees and this thing called snow, and the need for boots became apparent to me. (Plus, I realized that I was missing out on a whole aspect of seasonal dressing!)

So, join me on my quest for the perfect collection of boots, won’t you?

These calf-high pewter leather boots look comfy and stylish — and they’re actually from Crocs’ new line, You by Crocs! Quite a deviation from their earlier work, no? (They’re also available in black and chocolate lambswool.)

A pair of cognac slouchy boots are a must for fall/winter dressing, and I bought these brown double buckle boots over the holidays — at a very affordable $39.50!

Want a different and more fashion-forward option? Try these unique buckle fabric boots — plus, they’re on sale for $9.99, meaning this risk won’t set you back too much.

If you’re like me, you have tons of light day dresses you love, but are forced to put them away during the chillier winter months. Problem solved — depending on the type of dress, you could wear it with black tights and a pair of flat slouchy boots like these, completing the effortlessly cool look with a scarf, sweater, and a pair of great sunglasses.

I’ve always been a little wary of ankle boots, but I’ve found three that seem to be a little less predictable and more interesting than the ones I’ve seen before.

The details on these Seychelles make them a little less abrupt and much more stylish than the standard visible zipper. The slightly metallic sheen also makes it look a little rugged yet still decidedly feminine.

I love the scalloped edge on these soft and luxe-looking booties.

Looking to add some color to your boot collection? Try these blue ankle boots — not too bright but still different enough to punch up your outfit.

What about you? What boots are you longing for this winter?

Shoes make or break an outfit and can make you feel more confident — as cheesy as it sounds, there’s just something about finding the right pair of shoes to go with an outfit that instantly lifts your mood. (Am I right, or am I right?)

I love shoes just as much as the next girl, and I blame part of this obsession on my heritage. I’m Filipino-American, and Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos was reported by Time magazine to have owned 1,060 pairs of shoes — one of which was battery-powered and sparkled in the dark!

But really, who can blame her? There are flats, boots, sneakers, pumps, heels, sandals — and then there are the more specific categories: ballet flats, oxford pumps, this past summer’s gladiator sandals, peep-toe heels, etc. Of course, one of each type of shoe is never enough — and this can lead to a huge collection if you’re not careful!

Fortunately, shoes don’t have to be expensive in order to be stylish. As a financially challenged college student, I buy the majority of my shoes at Payless, Target, DSW, and the sale section of Nine West (which I highly recommend!). I love it when people on the street ask me where I got my shoes — and I can tell them I got them on sale at Target for under $20!

I’ll be blogging here on the Tastemaker Diaries as your resident Shoe Addict, bringing to you my favorites, both dressy and casual, from the ever-so-covetable high-end brands to the affordable and more attainable low-end brands. Just so you know: I don’t proclaim to be an uberfashionista. I’m just into having a collection of good quality, practical shoes that I can use year after year, as opposed to simply having a huge collection of shoes. I’ll be bringing that element into my blogs, as well as my love-them-at-the-moment obsessions.

I can’t wait to meet all of you and learn about your tastes in shoes! Until next time…what shoes are you obsessed with this holiday season?