In a shiny, soft gray, with a big black button and baby platform, something about this Stella McCartney rubber wedge boots vibes a little 35-year-old girl.

But the real crime is that these aren’t leather…

The way that this Lanvin rubber wedge boot is almost only one width drives me mad…

I had to warm up to this Celine rubber wedge boot, but I fig the stamped logo will miss most people’s notice, and any of its cheese is outweighed by a rubber wedge boot equal parts pretty and practical. Pretty Woman patent black leather is waterproof, and a platform rubber wedge has treads so you can trek through snow.

I’ve to to consider function over form, sometimes. Los Angeles winters are harsh…

The concept of Black Fleece is smart: Brooks Brothers gone bro. But a kitten-heeled, peep-toed spectator pump? I get the wit, but that heel is more dated, ironic or not…

I’m over extra-padded, peepshow-style platforms. As much as I love a little Beyonce theater, real style is about choosing fashion that frames your beauty, not distracts from it. So I dig Brian Atwood “Candy” sandals — the shoe’s minimalist architecture isn’t about distracting glitz, but making your leg longer. You’ve got to have at least one heel high enough to style your leg a straight line from the tips of your toes to your thigh — that’s heaven.

3½” of stiletto won’t do that, though. Skip this version of Brian Atwood “Candy” sandals in black, and buy the taller Brian Atwood “Candy” sandal in white, for less dough. If five inches of pure stiletto sounds intimidating, buy the shoe anyway, and wear it around your room, without anyone or anything else…

I bought this Brian Atwood “Candy” slingback in black last week when I was in New York. I walked into Intermix in Soho sporting a pair of black patent Lerre sandals, peeptoe’d with a slingback, but walked out in these Brian Atwood “Candy” sandals. I hate owning two of a kind of anything — and I’ve also got a pair of black Givenchy slingback peeptoes — but these Brian Atwood sandals are more simply sophisticated, and that extra inch of heel stretches your legs another mile.

Now I want the white patent Brian Atwood “Candy” slingback. Five inches of pin-thin stiletto, strapped to your feet with two slivers of patent leather. It’s that architecture — and how it restructures your walk — that gets me…

Wanting.

I love stingray, especially in steel, especially over steel heels.  The Donna Karan Collection shoes I’m “wearing” I found on sale at Loehmann’s, which is my guilty pleasure: I love the hit-or-miss hunt there.  Too bad these darlings weren’t also lying on some shoddy table, tagged less than a benjie…

Wearing.

You need to see the python in person: it’s a sharp chartreuse, and the scales are flaking off softly, so you get a rich pastry texture. That five inch heel doesn’t hurt how your legs look, either…

Hating.

The beauty of Donna Karan Collection shoes I love are in their bold simplicity. Cheap baubles are just distracting… ]]> http://www.kristopherdukes.com/2009/07/08/donna-karan-collection-shoes-k-is/feed 0 http://www.kristopherdukes.com/2009/07/07/stella-mccartney-espadrilles-k-is http://www.kristopherdukes.com/2009/07/07/stella-mccartney-espadrilles-k-is#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:21:31 +0000 Kristopher http://www.kristopherdukes.com/?p=2619

Wanting: Stella McCartney Espadrille with Closed Toes

Espadrilles are choice for summer: an ambitious arch is easy to wear when its woven into a relaxed wedge.  I’m a sucker for closed-toe espadrilles: I like the classic contrast with the open back…

Wearing: Stella McCartney Espadrilles with Scarf Ties

I bought these Stella McCartney espadrilles on sale at Intermix and wore them every day on my vacay. The knotted scarf ties are great, but what really got me was that woven wedge.  I love the lines; it exaggerates the arch of the shoe…

Hating: Flat Stella McCartney Espadrilles

All you need to know is that these Stella McCartney espadrilles are flat… ]]> http://www.kristopherdukes.com/2009/07/07/stella-mccartney-espadrilles-k-is/feed 2 http://www.kristopherdukes.com/2009/06/19/web-snob-links-cause-youre-a-snob-offline-too-12 http://www.kristopherdukes.com/2009/06/19/web-snob-links-cause-youre-a-snob-offline-too-12#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:01:27 +0000 Kristopher http://www.kristopherdukes.com/?p=2596 55 Secret Street can’t stand the rain but loves Rx for Brown Skin’s Protect and Defend Moisturizing Sunscreen .
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