Style vs. Savings – Spring Shoes

THE STUDDED STRAPPY SANDAL

MANOLO BLAHNIK (Style) VS. NINE WEST (Savings)

Manolo Blahnik Studded Strappy Sandal $895

Nine West Kentaro Studded Sandal $89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINNER:  The Nine West Kentaro is a great deal – while the studs are not as prominent, both shoes have a 4 inch heel and are in a great neutral color. I choose SAVINGS.

THE RUFFLED T-STRAP SANDAL

NANETTE LEPORE (Style) VS.  STEVE MADDEN LUXE (Savings)

 

Nanette Lepore Savage Lover Stiletto $375

Steve Madden Luxe Brake Ruffle T-Strap Sandal $74.94

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINNER: The Nanette Lepore Stiletto offers a more rigid ruffle and more delicate straps while the Steve Madden Luxe Sandal has a rounded ruffle and thicker straps around the ankle and toe. The Nanette Lepore seems dressier and would be perfect to dress up a sun dress and wear to a spring wedding. The Steve Madden sandals have an edgier feel and would be great with a mini. I love… both. TIE.

THE METALLIC CUT OUT PLATFORM

DIOR (Style) VS. NYLA (Savings)

 

Dior Extreme Cutout $780

NYLA Shika Cutout Platform $79.95

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WINNER: While the NYLA has all of the same details- all the way down to the studs placed strategically in the same places- this shoe is just too bulky. The Dior Extreme is just the right balance of rock star and glam- STYLE.

EXOTIC PRINT PLATFORM

PRADA (Style) VS. Nine West- Boutique 9 (Savings)

PRADA Jeweled T-Strap Platform $1100

Voula by Boutique 9 $160

 

 

 

 

WINNER: The Prada sandal is full of details that only a designer shoe can offer- a jeweled t-strap, (natural python leather!), and a bamboo heel. But- the Boutique 9 Sandal is gorgeous and while it still isn’t a total steal at $160- I feel like it would be more wearable. This was a toughie but: SAVINGS wins.

Fashion Week- Spring Style 2009

New York’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week kicked off yesterday with big names like BCBGMAXAZRIA, Perry Ellis and Nicole Miller. So far, it looks like spring is going to be all about interesting necklines, grecian-inspired flowing fabrics, and an interesting mix of black, grey, purple and orange palettes. Mini and Maxi dresses were shown in most of the shows with strappy sandals in every color. Below are some of my favorites from the first day of Fashion Week:

 

 

BCBG Max Azria styled a one strap dress over a striped shirt dress, creating a feminine but casual look with yellow gladiator heels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above left, Michael Angel used a beautiful pattern of greys, black and purple to create this sweeping dress. Nicole Miller created the patterned dress on the right that hugs the lines of the body a little more than Micheal Angel’s Dress. Flowing styles like these have already been seen by multiple designers during the first day of fashion week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BCBG Max Azria also showed this red, draped mini dress. The bottom is similar to some of the styles he has shown in his Herve Leger lines. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion Week continues through next Friday so check back for more great highlights!