Every Clog Has Its Day

Sighting: Zara platform sandal

As much as I love ogling shoes online, I get a special thrill when I spot a pair I like in person. Instead of dancing before my eyes in a shimmering arrangement of glowing pixels, the shoes themselves are right there in front of me offering the possibility that I can make them my own. Next on the list of comparable experiences left over from our evolutionary hunter/gatherer roots: window shopping. Same kind of acquisitive thrill...moderated only by the necessity to enter the store and track your quarry to its hiding place. (For nighttime window shoppers add to that the mental note to come back when the store is open.)

Knowing that we're always poised on this blog to move in for the kill, my daughter sent along this shot of a lovely pair of Zara wedge platform sandals that she spotted while out with friends in SoHo. You can check it out for yourself on the Zara website (it's the shoe evocatively known as Ref: 1308-301), but I think they look even more appealing in situ.  

 

A Chanel clog...up close

You know you'd love to own these shoes. But there's something about being able to make next month's mortgage payment that seems much more appealing. Well, it doesn't cost anything to look. And thanks to eBay seller ysl_and_more, you have a chance to take the size 41 pair she has on sale into your virtual hands and inspect its many features closely. Then if you still can't find a reason to resist her asking price of $1349.00, there's a handy little Buy It Now button waiting for your click. Just remember that fashion is no excuse for foreclosure.

The direct link to the auction is here.

 

The verb "to covet"

Three separate styles from Rachel Comey neatly sum up everything there is to know about desire. This New York designer originally launched her label in 2001 with a menswear collection. But when women started walking out of stores with the smaller sizes tucked under their arms, the brand shifted focus. Along the way they also became known for their well-crafted shoes for both sexes. I've had quite a few Rachel Comey styles show up on my radar, several of which I've blogged about in the past. These three pairs were recently available on eBay. And though the auctions may have ended, it's good to know such shoes exist...and may be listed again. Preferably in your size or mine.  

 

Top two nubuck pairs were posted in the eBay auctions of iluvjuliancasablancas, and both sold for a handsome price. The leather size 8 pair at the bottom wound up with 0 bids. If they catch your eye, you might contact Nicole via her denimsnob site on eBay and ask if she'll list them again. 

What's New? (as of April 28, 2010)

Time again for another edition of Hey, It's Only Money! But before you respond with that pained wince of self-recognition, try to take solace in what fellow reader Kiki told me recently about her own passion for clogs:

As I've gotten older I've realized that some things have stayed with me. My love for clogs is one of them. 

I hear the wisdom of the ages echoing in those words. Remember the ancient admonishment to "Know thyself"? I think embracing and celebrating the things you enjoy is one of keys to a life well lived. Money can't buy you happiness. But following your bliss can. And if your heart leaps at the sight of a well turned heel or a sturdy block of wooden sole, you need to take notice. You're clearly not one of those people who put on shoes just because they don't want to stub their toes. So why behave like them? Let your passion soar. And keep in mind the other bit of wisdom Kiki sent along and realize "the value of buying for cost per wear."

Life is short. There's no reason you have to be!

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1.  Brayden clog by Tory Burch

I can imagine the consternation at Tory Burch world headquarters. Only a year and a half ago they'd caused a minor splash with their chunky high-heeled platform clogs. The shoes came. They saw. But sadly they did not conquer. All they had to show for their efforts was a murmur of appreciation from the outskirts of the fashion community. It was time to move on. 

 

Next thing you know Karl Lagerfeld is sending his models across the stage doing the buck and wing amidst a set design straight out of Green Acres (I still haven't figured out the connection he was envisioning between barnyard and clogs), and fashion pandemonium breaks loose. Literally. The country, nay, the world is suddenly going crazy for clogs. Alder wood futures have gone through the roof. Bloggers around the globe are weighing in on the virtues or lack thereof of this return to a bygone fashion. And Ms. Burch and company find themselves in a dilemma. They wish to remain at the forefront of fashion, yet how do you capitalize on a style you've retired just a couple seasons back?

The answer is simple. Release that shoe with a little variation! You've got the leather cutting dies and lasts on hand. Just swap in a different material, and hey, presto! What's old is new again! It's a strategy that has reinvigorated many a fashion design. And why not? If the market is there, meet the need! Orders are being taken now in the full range of sizes at Nordstrom.

   

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2.  Clog sandals by Marc by Marc Jacobs (Germany)

And while we're testing the limits of your "cost per wear" computations, let's take a moment to appraise this unique style from German website mytheresa.com. I can't deny that I love this shoe because it's so different, yet at the same time there's something very European about the look, something that tells me it may not fare as well on this side of the Atlantic. It definitely reminds me of a number of other clog designs I've seen on continental e-shelves that never seem to make an appearance on the web servers here. Perhaps they truly are cut for a different set of tastes. But it certainly would be fun to give them their day in the U. S. marketplace. 

  

 

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3.  Wood bottom high heel sandals by Marc by Marc Jacobs (U. S.)

This design of this pair, on the other hand, just screams "AMERICAN!". At least to my eyes. This pair is available through Bloomingdales. Maybe it's just as well they limit what they release in this country. I certainly can't afford to buy everything I like. 

 

 

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4.  Jolan red platform court shoes from Kurt Geiger

Before disembarking from Europe entirely, I wanted to call attention to this high rise pair from the Kurt Geiger online shop. They have them listed as evening wear though I trust they don't have anything too formal in mind! The chain detail over the leather instep is a nice touch. Something to provide a little more visual interest while you strut your stuff under the black lights and strobes on the dance floor. 

  

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5.  Jola black or beige platform court shoes from Kurt Geiger

It certainly wouldn't be fair for me to mention the Jolan from Kurt Geiger without also acknowledging the Jola. Especially considering that it costs £100 less! Suffice it to say that one of the many things that makes me wish I lived in the U. K. is the selection of shoes at Kurt Geiger.

   

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6.  Clog pumps by Comme des Garcons

Meantime, for a bank account depleting experience without even having to leave these shores, you can't go wrong with this exceptionally sturdy take on the clog pump. It's a high throated shoe that calls to mind the look of the war years. Not Vietnam or Korea. World War II. Also worth noting are chunky heel, the contrasting color accents below the upper, and the miniature nail heads embellishing the perimeter of the sole. Saks carries this style in both khaki/orange and white/black. Sad to say, you'll need to make these last a lo-o-o-ng time to truly get your money's worth. Hint: the first half of the price is "Oh, my God, these cost...."

 

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7.  Ankle strap clog by Mia

Then, as I always like to end with, a shoe or two priced for those of us with a close eye on where the pennies are going. A trip to Urban Outfitters can easily drive your credit card to its limit, but I was pleased to catch sight of this long lasting Mia style on their website. I remember having a clog sandal like this pair years ago, and I loved it. (Anybody remember the old Anna brand?) I'm really digging this shoe with a new, higher heeled silhouette. They're the pair to knock around in barefoot...or to use to showcase a pair of whimsical socks. And if you need a little something to ponder while you're deciding whether or not to order these clogs online or run down to your local mall to pick them up in person, ruminate on what led the layout designer to headline this pair as "Denmark Clog" when the first line in the description says "crafted in Sweden."

 

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8.  Redlite clog by Steve Madden

And finally, the most clog like clog of the bunch. Steve Madden once again delivers style without all the cost. This fun yet practical shoe comes in four different colors: Black, Navy, Chocolate Brown, and Cognac. Best of all, it's currently marked down on the Steve Madden web store. If you've been sitting on the fence about making a purchase, feel free to take that as a sign.