I suspect Rihanna has some deep, deep hatred for her shoulders. Otherwise, how does one explain this? And this? And THIS:

I cried a little when I saw that shoulder pads were coming back into fashion, and I curse Rihanna’s persistent promotion of this trend. Shoulder pads make me think of football players. Now, while I don’t know much about football, I do know that there is no such thing as “Football chic” – unless of course you’re Posh Beckham, and this is what you wear to watch your husband play football, which is actually soccer anyway, and thus has nothing to do with shoulder pads in the first place. My point is, shoulder pads have a tendency to make one look like a linebacker. And while I actually have no clue what a linebacker is, I know they wear big-ass shoulder pads and aren’t known for their style.

And what the hell is she wearing on her lower half? Haute couture gym shorts? Is she going with some kind of sports theme here? Congrats, Rihanna. You are now captain of the gayest football team ever.

RiRi topped this look off with a pair of Alexander Wang “Freja” laced zip boots. I’m not sure how I feel about these boots. While many of the peep-toed boots that have come up in the past year have grown on me, these feature an open toe, and to me, the whole concept of a “boot”, in theory, kinda contradicts the concept of an “open toe”. While I like the mixture of lacing and zippers and the double layered top, I just feel like I’m seeing too much toe. Thoughts?

Just Jared

Fred Allard has been Creative Director of Nine West since 2006.  Attributing his inspirations to everything from couture designs to art and architecture, Allard lends his talent and vision to elevate Nine West footwear, handbags and jewelry.  Born and bred in the South of France, Allard has been groomed for the design world since childhood. He followed in his father’s footsteps, attending the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture design school in Paris and then getting a job at a shoe factory.  Soon after, at age 22 Allard became Stephane Kelian’s chief designer.  Eight years later, he switched gears from his niche in the European luxury world to the American market, taking a job at Nine West Group.  Allard’s most recent accomplishments with the brand include the successful launches of New Balance for Nine West, and Nine West Vintage America Collection.

I asked Fred Allard to share with ShoeHunting a little about what’s behind the Nine West brand and his creative vision:

SH: Who is the Nine West woman?

FA: She is a working woman who also craves fashion. She is multi-faceted. She likes to come to Nine West to get her updated pumps for work, but also loves us as her resource for head-to-toe fashion forward accessories.

SH: What inspirations do you draw from when you’re designing shoes and accessories for Nine West?

FA: There are no recipes behind creativity and inspiration. The only lesson I have learned is to open my eyes to see what is around me and to always keep an open mind. Inspiration could come from anywhere; a film, like Avatar, an exhibition of an artist, editorial from a fashion magazine, a trip to another country, etc.  Anything can inspire, it just has to be relevant to the season.

SH: Describe a typical day for you (if there is such a thing!):

FA: My days always begin early (I am a morning person). I am in the office before anyone else on my team so I can check my emails and the new issues of magazines. By 9am, the buzz starts and I am in meetings with the various teams for shoes, handbags, jewelry and our licensees, etc, throughout the day. I always try to escape the office around 7pm so I can hit the gym. At night you can typically find me at a concert or at dinners with friends.  And during all of this, I am tweeting at @NineWest_Fred!

SH: And we love following you on Twitter!  Now, what’s your biggest fashion DON’T?

FA: Don’t wear something that makes you uncomfortable; be on trend, but always remember to stay true to who you are.

SH: Which of the shoes from your collections do you consider must-haves for women this spring, and this fall? Is there a style that you particularly love?

FA: For spring 2010, I love the CONSUELA strappy platform sandal in soft pink – so sexy but the muted color makes it wearable and very chic. The CAPTIVATE flat sandal from Nine West Vintage America Collection is great because it is a ruggedly cool military-inspired sandal.

CONSUELA (left), CAPTIVATE (right)

For fall 2010, I love the FELICITA in black suede or leather for the ultimate sexy shoe bootie sandal (very 80’s). The style ORRO is the perfect shoe bootie on a wedge, which is a great fall trend.  I also love the LORITA ballerina flat with feathers and jewel tones.

FELICITA (left), ORRO (right)

SH: What designers do you look to for inspiration? Who do you aspire to be compared to as a designer in the future?

FA: I really respect Marc Jacobs for his creativity and vision. I think Karl Lagerfeld is the ultimate icon in the industry; all these years at Chanel and he continues to reinvent himself and the brand each season. As we say in France, “chapeau!”

SH: Is there anything else you’d like to share with shoe lovers about your shoes, fashion in general, life advice…?

FA: I am thrilled to see all the shoe booties on the runways for fall 2010; I think they will be the major accessory of the season. I am looking forward to sharing all of our Nine West goodies with you all!

SH: Thanks, Fred!  We love Nine West shoes, and can’t wait to see more!

When I woke this morning, I felt like something was off in the universe, almost like I was Obi-Wan sensing a disturbance in the force.

And then I saw it.

Victoria Beckham is wearing ballet flats. Something must be wrong.

I thought Posh only wore flats for driving, or dragging her kids around Disneyland. So Posh, what’s your excuse this time, huh?! It’s kind of disappointing seeing Posh in flats. It’s like someone poked a hole in her super fabulous image, like Superman without the giant S on his chest, or Kiss without their make-up. She goes down a notch in fabulousness today – although she does look incredibly cute in that outfit. Not fabulous, but cute, nonetheless. In all honesty, it’s kind of relieving seeing her flats, because lord knows that woman must have bunions as far as the eye can see from wearing heels all the time.

This photo was taken while Posh was on her way to Finland to visit husband David Beckham who’s recovering from a torn Achilles tendon – which sounds ridiculously painful. Maybe Posh is boycotting heels to show silent support, seeing as wearing high heels can cause shortening of the Achilles tendon, and hazardous stretching of the tendon occurs when one inevitably switches back to flat shoes or goes barefoot. Be kind to your Achilles! Remember to alternate between different heel heights to keep it limber. Switch it up between high heels and kitten heels, and don’t be afraid of flats. If Posh can do it, so can you!

Browse ballet flats on Shoehunting:

I’m Not Obsessed; MotherNature.com

It took me a little while to figure out what was going on in this picture. At first, I thought Lady Gaga lost a bit of her weave and it was caught on her shoes. Then I thought that maybe it was part of a giant ponytail (I know a giant ponytail sounds stupid, but this is a woman who wore a lobster on her head, so anything’s possible). Eventually, I realized that, in actuality, Lady Gaga’s boots have their own weave. Of course they do! Why wouldn’t you want fake hair streaming down your calves, tripping you as you walk and picking up every stray piece of chewed gum you walk over? It’s just, y’know – screw this, I can’t even joke about it anymore. YOUR BOOTS HAVE HAIR, GAGA. Blond hair, with roots, like it was ripped out of Britney’s weave while she was looking the other way, drooling over a frappuccino. It’s not artistic, it’s stupid. And ugly. Go back to the lobster hat. To your boots I say, get a hair cut, ya hippie.

Gaga’s boots also feature a split toe, which leads me to believe they’re probably by Maison Martin Margiela. I hate these boots. They make everyone (especially Sarah Jessica Parker) look like a horse, or centaur, or some kind of earthly manifestation of Lucifer himself. TOES ARE NOT SEXY. This is why we wear shoes. Thoughts?

Pop Eater

Amber Rose decides to go out for a nice steak dinner. What shall she wear?

Leggings, a corset and crazy one-piece sunglasses, of course. It’s genius, really. It’s like Olivia Newton-John in Grease, if she decided to dump Danny Zuko and marry Darth Vader. Plus, I bet Geordie LaForge would be very turned on.

Honestly, I think the sunglasses look incredibly stupid, but I do like how Amber chose to wear a pair of hot pink heels that pop against her black outfit. They also draw attention to her scary hot pink claws that look like they could pry a Grammy out of Kanye West’s cold, dead hand. It seems Amber, like Mischa Barton, is showing her respect for the late Alexander McQueen by wearing these McQueen heels, which feature cute, heart shaped peep toes.

I’ve been noticing a lot of Barbie inspired, hot pink heels turning up in chain stores and boutiques recently. It’s a perfect colour for the coming Spring season and will certainly catch eyes. What do you think of Amber’s hot pink McQueens?

Alexander McQueen heart peep toe heels available on Shoehunting

Pop Eater

This girl is 16 years old. I know she looks like she’s in her late twenties, but being Lindsay Lohan’s younger sister will do that to you.

Here’s young Ali Lohan wearing a pair of Fendi wedges last seen on big sister Lindsay. First she starts borrowing Lindsay’s heels, next it’ll be her leggings and “ankle gloves”, then it’ll be her alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet.

I actually think Ali wears these shoes better than Lindsay did. Lindsay wore them with those shiny leggings and grandma sweater, and y’know, Lindsayed-up the outfit, and just like that, the Fendi wedges were wasted. I actually like Ali’s look, even if it is a bit too old for her. What do you think?

I Don’t Like You in that Way

Hey, remember Mischa Barton?

What the hell does she do now that the OC is over? I hated the OC. I always thought, “Why would I watch this 90210 wannabe?” And as if those spineless Hollywood execs were listening to me, they remade 90210, which I hate even more than the OC. This is beside the point, however. I know Mischa started her own line of headbands – does anyone know if it’s still functioning? I’m doubtful, seeing as there’s no excuse for paying $200 for some hippie headband. At any rate, Mischa’s still out and about being photographed by the paps, and here she is in Milan in a pair of studded, peep toe sling-backs by the late Alexander McQueen. I love these shoes to death, but not quite enough to drop $700 on them. However, Gabriella Rocha makes a great knock-off for much less:

While both the Alexander McQueen and the Gabriella Rocha models are available through Shoehunting, the Gabriella Rocha “Nanuck” can be yours for a fraction of the price of the McQueen model. What do you think of Mischa’s studded sandals?

Just Jared

I think there’s a reason prison inmates are forced to wear ugly, one piece jumpsuits while serving their sentence behind bars. This is because behind bars is where the whole concept of “the jumpsuit” belongs. Example:

Rihanna’s got her fierce face on. I guess you’d have to when photographers are snapping photos of you right after 1981 threw up on you.

We’ve got side boob and shoulder pads here, people. Throw in some pointy ears and some braces this is what the sluttiest geek girl at a Star Trek convention would wear. Those elaborate sleeves are attached all the way down her legs, which horrifies me. Unless those sleeves double as wings and she can fly (in which case this outfit goes from fug to AWESOME), I see nothing fashionable about wearing an outfit with sleeves on which you can trip. It just seems like one big, ugly safety hazard.

Rihanna wore a pair of nude Christian Louboutin “Pigalle” pumps with this monstrosity. While I like these super high heels, I don’t think they’re right for the outfit. In fact, I’m not sure any shoe would be right for this outfit. Send it back to hell from where it came! I feel like pointy high heels just makes her whole look so harsh – which is probably the point, y’know, so that everyone is afraid to tell her how hideous she looks for fear of getting a pointy shoulder pad to the eye or pointy toe to the groin.

Rihanna, you are not Elvis. Leave the jumpsuit at home. Thanks.

Just Jared

For those of you that are familiar with the ShoeHunting.com community, you will notice some drastic changes to the site today. Have no fear, we have kept all the same features intact, and have made it much easier to navigate the site. You can still save shoes you find online, meet other shoe lovers, rate shoes, and save tons of money by comparing prices, setting price alerts, and finding coupons…and we have made it easier than ever!

If you are an existing member, login to the site with the same username and password as before. If you are not a current member, why not signup and see what all the hype is about: www.ShoeHunting.com

When you log in, the first thing you will notice is that the entire site is organized into three main themes as follows:

Discover: This is where you can view all of the amazing shoes that the members of ShoeHunting are finding. Dive right in and start browsing, rating, and commenting on the shoes.

Shop: In this section, you can search for a style, color, brand, or model that you are interested in. Or if you don’t have anything in mind, click on one of the trending items to see what’s hot. Either route you choose will bring you a place where you can compare prices and save money. If you find shoes you like, why not save them for later by clicking on the picture, and selecting “Save”.

Share: Time to show off those shoes. Use this section to upload the latest pics of you in your new heels. Think of it like a fashion runway!

Aside from these three areas, you will find other useful tools on your user homepage (“My Home”) to the right of the page.

We’ve put a great deal of time and effort into making the site easier and more useful for our members. Please take the time to play around with the new platform, and email any questions or comments to anna@shoehunting.com.

Have fun and let us know what you think. Happy Hunting!

Remember Sebastian, the singing lobster from the Little Mermaid? Remember how passionately he felt about life being better under dee sea?

Turns out he was right.

Life can’t be that great for this intrepid crustacean, who’s life on land consists of being a bedazzled headpiece for Lady Gaga. Everything’s better down where it’s wetter!

I’m not sure where Gaga’s going with this outfit, whether it be another tribute to the late Alexander McQueen and his elaborate designs, or if Gaga’s now Queen of the Crab People. Maybe she just likes demanding that all restaurants and other such establishments that enjoy the media benefits of Gaga’s presence have a 7 foot clearance.

Gaga’s paired her latest ensemble with some glittery lucite platforms by Georgio Armani – the same house that designed her Grammy outfit. While I can’t say that these are the type of shoes I’d wear out and about, I like them for the simple fact that they look like what Cinderella would wear if her fairy godmother turned her into some kind of enchanted hooker. When the clock strikes midnight, all Prince Charming is left with is a fabulous, sparkly, lucite clodhopper. And possibly chlamydia.

And for the record, yes, she is wearing a see-through plastic dress. Maybe she’s planning on going clamming later on to find herself some earrings. Thoughts on Gaga’s platforms and sea creature obsession?

Shudoo News; Gaga Daily

The premiere of Alice in Wonderland is coming up March 5, and designer genius Nicholas Kirkwood has created shoes to celebrate!  These teacup-and-flower-adorned shoes with checkered heels will be displayed in the store window of Les Printemps, the largest department store in Paris.  Compare the real thing above to the original sketch, as seen on ShoeHunting.  Are you going to see the movie?  And more importantly, will you be dreaming of these whimsical shoes?

Jessica Pritchett, an American accessories designer and entrepreneur, will launch her debut collection this Autumn/Winter.  Her line of footwear is made for a diverse mix of women – including those who do not fit fashion industry standards. The debut collection is crafted from rich patent leathers, vibrant suedes, and muted metallics from Tuscany.   Styles include striking booties, fashion-forward pumps, and knee-high boots in sizes 6 to 13.  I’m loving the nod to the 80s new wave music scene, and the bold designs of the collection!  Jessica Pritchett was kind enough to share some information with me about what inspires her and what her shoes stand for.  Keep reading for an inside look…

1. Who is the Jessica Pritchett woman?

The Jessica Pritchett woman is someone who lives for shoes and demands quality.

She is a confident and independent woman who wants to look and feel her best at all times. The Jessica Pritchett woman requires maximum style and seeks shoes that express her personality and individuality. Shoes are statement pieces for the Jessica Pritchett woman.

2. What inspirations did you draw from when you were designing your Fall/Winter 2010 collection?
I drew inspiration from the 80s new wave music scene and maybe even a little bit from the 70s blaxploitation film era for this collection. I love the bold choices of color and design from those decades.

3. Which of the shoes from your debut collection do you consider must-haves for women? Is there a style that you yourself particularly love?

I think the “Pam” ankle boot named for the 70s film icon Pam Grier is a must have for fall. The boot has color-block detail. It looks great with jeans or leggings and comes is so many cool jewel tones. The “Pam” in garnet is my favorite shoe from the collection.

The “Farrah” bootie, named for 80s television icon Farrah Fawcett is another “must have” for fall. I think it is an interesting take on the typical bootie with the gold color and sexy, cut-out front. It also has a 3-inch chunky heel that is stylish and extremely comfortable.

4. How does your background in music and the entertainment industry play a role in how you approach designing and selling shoes?

Since I worked in the music industry for many years, the musicians and songwriters that I have encountered definitely have had a lasting impression on me. Pop culture was definitely on my mind when I designed my first collection. I am a pop culture junkie and I named each shoe after women who were symbols of their eras. For instance, my pump is named after Edie Sedgwick of Andy Warhol’s Factory and my sling back is named for Donyale Luna, the first African-American woman to grace the cover of American Vogue.

5. What was the hardest part about starting your footwear line?

The hardest part about starting my footwear line was finding a factory that was interested in doing larger sizes. Since I have a larger foot, I wanted other woman in my same situation to be able to wear my shoes. Most factories stop at an American size 11. A few factories do a 12 but it’s a standard 12. I wanted to extend the sizes to 13 and do wide widths as well.

6. A lot of care goes into how your shoes are made can you share some of the details?
All of my shoes are handmade in Northern Portugal. The Portuguese have a long tradition of shoemaking so there is a lot of care and expertise that goes into the craftsmanship. In addition to the craftsmanship, all of my shoes have a signature pink color painted on the soles.

7. What designer(s) do you look to for inspiration? Who do you aspire to be compared to in the future?

I love the work of many shoe designers, but the one that really inspires me the most is Nicholas Kirkwood. His use of color and interesting leathers, especially exotic skins, is truly amazing. I love the way he has done interesting things with soles and heels. I can always spot his collection. In fact, the Fall/Winter 2010 collection that Nicholas Kirkwood designed for Rodarte with the candle-dripped heels is so creative.

For more images of the Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte FW 2010 shoes, see obsessedwithshoes.com

In the future, I just hope to be known as someone who loved shoes and wanted to make chic shoes for all women regardless of shoe size.

8. Anything else you’d like to say about your shoes/website/women’s footwear?
My collection will be available for purchase online at www.jessicapritchett.com in August, 2010.  Keep checking my website for stores that are carrying the collection as well.

This is one designer to keep an eye on.  She plans to introduce handbags and possibly other accessories in the near future.

The Fall 2010 A Détacher collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week featured 31 looks with a natural and eco-friendly vibe.  I chatted before the show with the New York-based designer and owner of A Détacher, Mona Kowalska.  The inspiration for this collection lies in a made-up character the designer calls Lady Redneck, who is “sophisticated with a raw edge”.  Models wore slouchy, comfy-looking cardigans, stockings, boots, and sweaters, but twisted up in fashionable ways that made them interesting.  I love how the wool socks peek out above the knee-high boots, and I even like the socks with the brown open-toed sandals (gasp!).

The show had a homespun feeling, but I think Kowalska achieved comfortable yet sexy looks. In any case, it was a welcome change from the glitz and over-the-top glamour of some of the other Fashion Week shows.  If you like boho-chic fashion, you will love the shoes from the collection. I spotted moccasin-like shoes with heels and tassels, collared wedge heels (some suede, some smooth leather), and slouchy boots with half-cone, wooden heels.

Tonight, I had a conversation with a male co-worker of mine about Heidi Montag. These are his exact words about the plastic surgery addicted Mrs. Pratt:

“I don’t find Heidi Montag attractive. You can quote me on that.”

So I did.

I wonder what it’s like to go through such excessive plastic surgery. I wonder what it would be like to wake up one day, look in the mirror and see someone completely different staring back at me. I also wonder what it would be like to wake up one day with nippled bowling balls growing out my chest. I hope Heidi’s got good chiropractor, because those things look like they have their own zip code. The only good that can come from this is if her gargantuan breasts one day suffocate husband/professional douchebag Spencer Pratt. You can quote me on that. And to quote The Superficial:

“[Heidi Montag] won’t stop enlarging her breasts until they dwarf our yellow sun.”

Well said.

Heidi took her boobs out for a walk in a pair of Christian Louboutin “Luly” peep-toe mary janes. I don’t see how anyone other than a hooker would think that 5 1/2″ heels are the right choice for shorts and a tank top, but then again, this is not the first time Heidi has abused Louboutins to achieve trasherific skankery. I’m sure Heidi’s clothing choice had less to do with fashion and more to do with showing off her new chesticles. Mission accomplished, girl. Now put them away before they take out somebody’s eye, or draw small animals into their gravitational pull.

Obviously, a girl that can drop thousands of dollars on a new face and body can afford Louboutins, but for those of us on a leaner budget, check out the Carlos by Carlos Santana “Bliss”:

The “Bliss” has the added benefit in being available in chic crocodile print. What do you think of Heidi’s new body and hot shoes?

The Superficial

I saw the Frank Tell Fall/Winter 2010 presentation at Milk Studios during NYFW, and the presentation was held in one of the smaller studios without standing room. Luckily, I arrived early enough to snag a front row view, and of course my attention was immediately drawn to the wedge ankle boots.  The wedges have a sexy little slit between the sole and the wedge platform.  Models walked out in them in the beige color shown below, as well as black and grey.  I’d love to buy a pair myself…what do you think?

Raphael Young’s shoe for Frank Tell, photo from Stylebubble

Frank Tell showcased short and voluminous silhouettes right along with slender and lean looks.  There was a lot of warrior-like black but Tell also included pale gray, periwinkle, and camel colors.  His inspiration was Star Trek meets the 1980s exploitation film “Cannibal Holocaust”.  My favorite outfit was the baby blue leather mini dress with front drape.

More photos I took at the show: