When Comfort Wins Over Style

As an advocate for well-made clothes and shoes, there are always exceptions to the rules of “the more expensive, the better”. We assume that price should be an indication of quality: the more expensive, generally, the superior the product. But we all know that there are plenty of ready-to-wear designer garments that do not live up to its retail price tag. It’s especially eye-popping when said product is mass-produced in countries like China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

But what happens when it is a question not about style but comfort that comes into play? More specifically with shoes.

I realized that designer footwear are clearly not made for my feet no matter how gorgeous they looked, or how well-crafted they were. I  had bought a pair of Christian Louboutin slingbacks and a pair of Stella McCartney pumps. Both pairs are gorgeous, but they are not the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. In fact the Stella McCarntey ones are incredibly uncomfortable. Both pairs are made in Italy, an assumption that we are purchasing a superior product. Yet amazingly, Nine West, which are mostly made in the third world countries and considered the fast fashion of shoe brands, is able to create stylish shoes with an added bonus that they are also incredibly comfortable to wear. My toes spread out naturally and are not confined to a narrow foot design. I own 3 pairs of Nine West shoes, and I would choose them over my Louboutin simply because they fit my comfort level to a much greater degree. The bonus is that they cost a fraction of the price. I might as well put my Louboutin under a glass case for display instead.

Whoever said that we must suffer for fashion is rubbish.

We should never suffer for fashion.

It’s unfathomable to conceive that we pay several hundred dollars for designer brands that ill-fit the human foot. I expect my product to be superior in comfort, yet they obviously are not. I even tried to dispell that my pair of slingbacks are just a fluke. I tried on another pair at Holt Renfrew, the strappy booties of this fall’s collection. That pair was even more painful to wear! Superior product? I don’t think so. And what about those easily scratched red soles? Well those are just poorly made soles.

Thus, if fashion is really a matter of personal style and taste, why is it that fashion editors continue to shove down our throats of what’s supposed to be cute and not? Shouldn’t we be able to decide for ourselves what that is? And if we go against the grain - not jumping into the same bandwagon as everyone else to acclaim something is beautiful or awful - are we being unfashionable or just plain honest?

I have the right to say that something is ugly. I don’t care how much time the person spent designing the garments, if it doesn’t please me, I don’t buy it. I’m sure people will defend what they love and retaliate with “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” or “You just don’t get it”, which are vague attempts of justifying one’s choice.

My friend over at The No Shopping Experiment brings up a great topic about Makeover shows. How they are trying to conform certain individuals with “poor taste in fashion” to make themselves more presentable to the world. Yet personality wise, there is nothing wrong with them. And Makeover shows such as “What Not To Wear” belittle these good people by objectifying them based on their looks.

It’s funny many people in the fashion world are so in touch with fashion yet have poor personalities. Perhaps we should be focusing on what really leaves a lasting impression: our selves.

Image credits: Style.com, TLC.com

Pricephile: Nine West

I’ve had reservations about buying Nine West shoes. The company is well known for its stylish shoes, but it also has a reputation much like Steve Maddens in reproducing knock off styles of designer shoes, from Balenciaga to Christian Louboutin.

After a few months of window shopping online for shoes, this year’s Spring Collection at Nine West is difficult to resist. Platforms, gladiator sandals, peep toe pumps, and wedged mules, all in an array of colors are dressing up the store shelves.

I was looking through Zappos.com when I came across Nine West’s Balboa gladiator sandals. It was love at first sight. Gladiator heels are still in style this season and to my recollection, it’s difficult to keep track of all the different designers releasing their own version of Roman inspired footwear. Thus, I believe this pair to be stylish and somewhat original, and certainly not a knock-off of any designer that I know of.

I tried on my pair at my local Nine West store on St-Catherine street. It was comfortable for the heel height and no apparent discomfort in the toes or any pinching from the leather straps. A winner.

I also picked up a pair of wedged strappy sandals, of which it had an elastic strap that held my heel in place. I have an old pair of lace up wedged sandals from Globo, unfortunately after 4 yrs, the pair now gives me blisters after spending only two hours on my feet. A shame I must let them go. So I’m hoping this new wedged pair from Nine West will be a worthy replacement.

Nine West Balboa: $125.00

Nine West Caramba (not pictured): $115.00

Total spent: $240.00

You can check out the total I’ve spent so far during the year by going to Pricephile.

Steve Madden, what are you thinking?

Although I do praise Steve Madden for pushing the envelope in letting their clients customize their own shoes last fall, I’m appalled that they have the galls to blatantly copy designer shoes to sell them off as their own at a cheaper price.

Repeating their offenses from Christian Louboutin to most recently Balenciaga. The pair in question came into light at the Business of Fashion blog where the sporty multi-colored pump has been grossly and obviously copied by Steve Madden. Not only that, those lacy peep toe, construction boot pumps they call “Bombb Nat Nubuck” are also a knock off of Balenciaga’s Fall 2007 line. Perhaps the sales won’t mean much significance to Balenciaga’s financial portfolio, but designers need to protect their designs from profiteering companies like Steve Madden. Even now there is barely a dent or law that cracks down much on counterfeiting, much less crack down on companies who blatantly parade these copies around proudly with their own names stamped on it as if they were geniuses. And yet, they are. Because fashion is perhaps one of the few places where this sort of plagiarism can go unpunished no matter how big the elephant in the room is.

Funny how Steve Madden is expanding to a store within the Eaton Centre soon. I used to like them for making some cute shoes, but now, like Nine West, they’re not original enough to make their own designs and resort to copying for the sake of sales. A shame.

The predicament is typical and expected though. People don’t want, or can’t afford, to drop $500-$1000 on a single pair of shoes, even I haven’t taken the plunge yet to get shoes for that price. More importantly though, I put an emphasis on durability, I’m pretty rough on my shoes as I can get them scuffed quite easily, and prancing around in heels all day is a painful venture. Perhaps I should take heed of my cousin’s advice and start looking at Naturalizer shoes for comfort and classic styles. Growing old or growing wiser?

Above is the Steve Madden’s Balenciaga peep toe boot pump (wow, we gotta find a better name for this…), and I have to admit it’s a hot shoe I’d love to sport myself - but I don’t buy knock offs (and they never carry my size anyway).

Image credit: Steven Madden

Knock It Off! No…really!

I know some of these high fashion designers didn’t invent the wheel or made the most innovative designs, but it takes a lot of galls to knock them off and sell them as your own.

Like these glittery pairs I found on Zappos.com knocking off Christian Louboutin’s pair at a fraction of the price. So far I’m glad I have never bought any knock offs of any sort, (I love shoes, I just can’t afford them) but I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing these if I knew the real thing was out there.

Sandals by Coloriffics on the left, the real Loubous on the right.

Unfortunately, Nine West is a major convict when it comes to knock offs. They’ve blatantly copied last season’s Louboutin with the knotted slingblacks and Prada’s blocky looking banana heeled sandal.

Nine West on the left, Prada on the right.

With fashion being disposable within 6 months time, I believe it’s time to invest into some quality clothing that are classic and never out of style, even if that means buying expensive clothing. I’m tired of fast fashion.

Image credits to Christian Louboutin’s website, Style.com, and Zappos.com.

A Slave for Gladiator shoes

Trend or not, Gladiator shoes are hot. Ever since I laid eyes on those Balenciaga knee high gladiator heels on numerous celebrities like Kylie Minogue (in her “Giving You Up” video) and Jennifer Lopez, I’ve been lusting after a pair. Chanel also made a very strappy pair last year and they were widely photographed on Mary-Kate Olsen one soiree. Alas, I cannot afford to drop $1000 on a pair, so you can imagine how much I really love Nine West.

My Perez Hilton moment. For a mere $92.95.
Image from Zappos.com

How many ways can we wear these shoes? Dress it up and go bare, chic and conservative with black stockings, fun and playful with colored stockings, great with skinny jeans, I can think of so many ways to wear it with this pair.

Alas, the fashion world is a cruel, cruel place.

Size 6 and up only.

My heart cries on the inside.