No, I’m not referring to diamonds. I’d take ten pairs of Louboutins over a diamond ring any day.  If you haven’t noticed already, I have a (HUGE) thing for shoes. I believe  it’s the shoes that completes a look both for men and women. On that note, I would like to share some noteworthy finds that caught my eye recently:

Red Studded Sandals by Valentino

I’m not a huge Valentino fan, but I like the red with black accents- in fact, studs are so ‘in’ these days. These would look good with a black miniskirt (in a heavier material) or a mini dress w/ a red/black clutch.

Baby Pink Strappy Booties by Giuseppe Zanotti

It always boggles my mind to call these types of shoes ‘booties’, btw. In any case, ’booties’ are hot these days and these particular ones stand out mainly due to the color- one of my favorites, Baby Pink! Besides being reminiscent of Hello Kitty, the color makes them playful and much more wearable during the summer time. If you have been to their store, this Italian shoemaker makes shoes look more like art pieces than what shoes are actually made for- to protect body parts. A bit uncomfortable, but we are all familiar with the phrase, ‘no pain, no gain’, right?

Image Source: Harper’s Bazaar

Turquoise Booties by Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere

I must have stared at this photo for a good minute or so (I usually flip through them until something captures me). Everything’s so strikingly beautiful- the dress, background, styling, and the shoes! Oh, the shoes- it’s one thing that I like ribbons and ties on accessories, but adding navy blue/violet to turquois? and in velvet and mesh?! Totally glamorous. My quick research suggests that Ghesquiere briefly worked for Jean Paul Gaultier, which explains why the designer came to mind at first sight.

Shoes (Booties? Pumps? not sure to which category these belong to, but who cares as long as they are cute) by Alexander Wang

According to a recent issue of W, while Wang hasn’t been around for very long (his collection made its debut last fall), he’s become one of the most sought after designers  not only due to his creativity but also his business approach. While others may insist on a certain style that sells well one season, he goes after something dramatically different even after an extremely successful season. Being only 25 works as an advantage for him as a designer, giving him a tremendous opportunity to explore unlimited possibilities.

These black shoes would look wonderful with a short tweed jacket (think Chanel) and shorts in same material.

Thigh-Highs by Emilio Pucci

As a lot of you fashion-conscious people are aware, thigh-highs will be hot this fall/winter. I don’t know how practical or wearable they are, but coupled with bold printed mini dress and fur, they look pretty hot.  I had always been fascinated by his use of bold prints and bright colors, so I did a quick read on his biography- and found out that he lived quite an interesting life. With a doctorate in Political Science and a skiing scholarship, he spent his early years in the Italian Air Force before becoming a fashion phenomenon. The source notes that his very first fashion project was designing  for a ski team during his college years.  I guess a gift always has its ways of being discovered.