Potato, Poh-tah-toh: Wild Ones

(Left) Nicholas Kirkwood for Peter Pilotto here, (Right) Zara Multicolored Lace-Up Sandal here

I. LIVE. FOR THESE. SHOES. Livvvvvvv for them. They are everything: mixed prints, stiletto heel, lace-up, textural, higher than 4 inches, oh and motherfraggin' FEROCIOUS. Owning these two pairs would mean I could tap out—I could stop buying shoes altogether right then and there (Lying! I will never stop buying shoes).

Still, the fact is, this gloriously noisy duo is (upon deeper thinking) a paradigmatic representation of the harmonious relationship between high fashion, and what we call "fast fashion" today. Brands like Zara, J.Crew, Club Monaco, and Topshop, not only take cues from the pedestalled designers of the "1%," and make runway-ready styles available to and affordable for the masses (thank you!), but what makes these brands in particular stand out, is their ability to build on that inspiration, and create inspiring pieces and set trends of their own.

Case in point, the Zara sandal on the right that is clearly inspired by the Kirkwood pair; it's also borrowing that canary yellow from the Louis Vuitton Spring '13 collection, and that monochromatic patterning from the Marc Jacobs Spring '13 show, and then it's building on those quoted themes—that cerulean and the sort of tribal feel of the shoe are all its own. All the elements are blended together expertly to create something that is "inspired by" but still wholly unique and statement-making in its own right. (OK, I'LL SHUT UP ABOUT THE DAMN SHOES, NOW.) Bottom line, both of these pairs are fantastic in their own way, and if I don't manage to make it to the Nicholas Kirkwood/Peter Pilotto Promise Land, those Zara sandals will get me there at a fraction of the price. Hollah.

Potato, Poh-tah-toh: Mesh Bootie Makeout Sesh

 (Left) B Brian Atwood Michelet Mesh Bootie here, (Right) BCBGMAXAZRIA Gamma Bootie here

And then there's these guys...

(Left) Nicholas Kirkwood Metallic Leather Slingback Ankle Boot here, (Right) Forever 21 Mesh Paneled Peep Toe Bootie here

Very lately, my shoe cravings have been of the shootie persuasion (i.e. shoe-booties), and for warmer weather styles, designers look to lighten up the heavier, more enveloping and protective winter styles of close-toed, strapped-in, all-weather-wear boot badassery. This Spring, that means mesh paneling and cut-outs in the form of peep toes and slingbacks. But that doesn't mean that any of the drama of the winter styles has been lost.

To the contrary, that first set of booties up top packs quite the kick-ass punch, and while the bcbg booties aren't a total steal at $275, they still give the $500 price tag of those B Brian Atwoods a run for its money. And while the second set is a bit more delicate in its delivery, the statement is just as fierce (Danielle of WeWoreWhat demonstrates this expertly). Those Nicholas Kirkwoods are supple and cinderella-like, but they're still statement-makers nonetheless, and while they're definitely un-duplicable (make no mistake about it), the cheapies from Forever 21 actually do a pretty great job of capturing some of those key elements at a much, MUCH lower price range. Long story short: I want all of these.

Wish List: Silver Linings Shoebook...or something

From Top to Bottom: Joe's Jeans Dakota (very 3.1 Phillip Lim, non?), Jeffrey Campbell Townsend, Bass Ely 3, Loeffler Randall Joanna (absolutely perfect)

Metallic footwear is not a feat of fashion (<--pun totally intended) that everyone can pull off (without looking crazy, that is). But that doesn't mean one should shy away from such a challenge. In fact, it means you should probably endeavor to tackle a gilded shoe as your next fashion to-do.

Next to leopard print shoes in all shapes and sizes, silver kicks are one of my greatest shoe-loves; I've got a few different pairs stashed in my closet, but my most recent craving for the flavor has come in the form of silver oxfords and brogues. This is all thanks to Loeffler Randall's Joanna Oxford that came on the scene last Fall, looking sexy as all get-out with a sleek oxford silhouette in a perfect silver patent finish. (Is it no wonder why they sparked an obsession that spanned the seasons?) Take your cue from the Joanna: As you explore the resplendent realm of sterling footwear, remember to stick to simple, classic-feeling forms—like pointed-toe pumps, low-top sneakers, and menswear-chic brogues—without too much (if any) ornamentation. The shoe itself will be your built-in bling.

Potato, Poh-tah-toh

Manolo Blahnik BB Fabric Watercolor Pump here, Charles by Charles David 'Pact' Pump here

Spring has sprung! (Well, at least for the Fashion World it has. In fact, the Fall 2013 shows officially start this weeeeeeeeek, so basically the year is already almost over...) And if there's one thing that Spring has always meant, since the beginning of time, it's flowers—or rather, florals.

The latest iteration of this much-loved perennial Spring trend is the digital watercolor print. Pixelated floral patterns were popping up all over the runway last Fall for the debut of the Spring lines, and lucky for us, now they're popping up in all of our favorite department stores. This pair of Manolos will run you about a month's rent—JUST KIDDING THEY'RE ONLY $650 BEFORE TAX—buuuuuut Charles David has our (my) back with this equally awesome pair for about 100 bucks. SOLD. (Literally, sold. I bought these last week.)

For more eye-peeling watercolor floral gorgeousness, munch on the complete lookbook for the Calla Spring '13 Ready-to-Wear Collection. BE INSPIRED.

GET IN MUH CLOSET

Sport meets sandal meets soccer ball meets tuxedo. (Here)

Shut up shut up shut up I can't handle these. (Here)

More perforated black and white leather and you KNOW these are comfortable. (Here)

Sooooo over the years, (read: millions of hours spent hunched over my laptop mumbling things like, "Oh gawd. BIG TIME into these pants...big time into these pants...” (click-click-click, coffee-gulp, click-click-click) to myself) I have amassed around a thousand wish lists/perpetually filled shopping bags on about a thousand different e-commerce fashion sites, each filled with about a thousand things that I want/need/crave/like to think about (these numbers are pretty accurate). 

I am steadfast in my maintenance and upkeep of these lists, periodically purging the stale or already purchased or “meh, I’m tired of looking at this” items out back into internet oblivion from whence they came in order to keep things fresh and relevant and OBVIOUSLY NOT CRAZY. As I mentioned previously, black and white is everywhere this Spring, and my shoe appetite has been no exception. These three lovelies have managed to make their way to the tippy top of my lists lately, and all that remains to be seen is which pair I will purchase first, muahahahaha!

(Whatever I can’t afford those Jimmy Choos—NEITHER CAN YOU—but I love looking at them and pretending I’m going to get them.)