Recently in Women's Shoes Category

Let's face it, not everybody can stay abreast with the latest fashion and style designers has to offer season after season. With that said... through the undiscerning eye, this Long Boot with Horseshoe Heel by Marc Jacobs would seem like shoe repair gone bad or you tried repairing it yourself. The horseshoe heel is pretty innovative though and Marc Jacobs is in the forefront when it comes to new, sometimes odd heel design. There's also the chance of getting stuck on pavement cracks or any surface the heel can accidentally latch to.

Marc Jacobs Long Boot Horseshoe Heel $1025.34 Browns Fashion

Retail giant Macy's is having a great sale on boots and coats! Save up to 40% OFF plus an extra 15% OFF when you use your Macy's Star Rewards card. And if you're an email subscriber you probably received a letter from Macy's president with a special code that can save you an extra 20% OFF! That's why I suggest my dear readers to subscribe to your favorite stores' email so you can get exclusive offers like this. Happy Shopping!

Ruffles are commonly used as trimmings on skirts and dresses. Bridal gowns and ball gowns come to mind when I hear ruffles. Honestly, I never favored ruffles. I didn't like the unnecessary volume they add on clothing. And when one of my friends told me earlier this year that Prada is coming out with ruffled shoes and handbags, I wasn't a bit excited.

All my presumptions of tacky, hideous shoes and handbags, I had to take back when I saw the chic, modern and innovative applications of ruffles. I was guilty of not giving ruffles the benefit of the doubt and underestimating a designer's capabilities. So, I stand corrected. Nowadays, I'm a ruffle lover! I particularly love apparel that has asymmetrical tier ruffle design.Thread Social has a collection of ruffle dresses that are so chic! The silhouette, feminine and sexy yet elegant.

Word of advice, there are still pretty offensive usage of ruffles out there. Use your 'fashion commonsense'  when shopping. If you think a ruffle top is ugly at first sight, trust your instinct and move on to the next. Here are a few items you can use as reference when shopping. Have fun!

Thread Social Dress $595.00 ShopJake	Prada Tessuto S Tote $995.00 Saks Prada Ruffle Ankle Boot $534.00 SALE Saks
Alice + Olivia Ruffle Skirt $440.00 Shopbop	Vince Asymmetrical Tiered Ruffle Top $195.00 Nordstrom

The start of the holiday season is just around the corner and invitations to parties and soirees will start pouring in. Most holiday parties are in the evening and cocktail dresses are of course the norm. But not mandatory. Black apparel will be the color of choice by most people and there's nothing wrong about that. 

Most of you may have heard or perhaps, members of invitation-only shopping sites and communities. To be quite honest, I was disappointed with the sites that I was once a member of. Most of them were fluffed! The site features, like top designer brands, deep discounts, daily sales, giveaways, etc. that enticed me to become a member of their 'fabulous' and 'exclusive' community, were nowhere to be found. So, I've been apprehensive and mostly ignoring invitations to join such sites.



Ideeli is having it's Extravagant 4 Day Shopping Event! Starting today and ends on Sunday the 9th. Discounts of up to 90% off. Designers include Botkier, Christian Lacroix, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Nina Ricci, Prada and Sonia Rykiel to name a few.

Nordstrom.com launched Jimmy Choo's Resort 2009 Shoes and Handbags Collection. As expected from Jimmy Choo, chic and fashionable designs that are definitely must-haves for Spring and Resort 2009. Brightly colored strappy sandals shoes and totes are stand outs amongst the usual black, browns and grays colors. I personally love the 'Poppy' Strappy Sandal. The fluorescent colored patent straps and translucent heel makes 'Poppy' one trendy and sexy sandal. Unfortunately, most items from Jimmy Choo Resort 2009 Collection are only available to pre-order at this time and will ship as soon as possible. Also, limited quantities are to be made available. So, if you want to get a hold these fabulous shoes and handbags have your name on a pair or two pre-order now! Have fun.

With a couple of Crimes of Fashion, Valentino hasn't faired well here on TheSmartStylist.com. And just for the record, I'm not singling him out. I have the outmost respect for his creativity and consider him as one of fashion's most important and most influential person. As for the fashion offenders that I deliver into justice week after week, they can be a criminal this week and a hero the next. Besides life is to short to hold a grudge on something that's ugly.

Valentino Gladiator Sandal  Pre-Order $595.00 Saks

No offense, but I got tired of seeing flat heeled metallic gladiator sandals. They are in any and every store that sells footwear! Yet, oddly enough I've only seen a handful of people actually wearing them. Heeled, gladiator style and cut-out sandals on the other hand are hot right now. (l) Gucci 'Marion' High-Heel Sandals $995.00 Saks (r) Dior Cut-Out Platform Sandals $780.00 Saks

Saks is having its Shoe & Handbag event where you get rewarded for shopping shoes and handbags from top designer brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. Now that's what I call a 'Win-Win' situation. And if you're to take advantage of this spend some and get some event, I recommend this Gucci Tattoo Heart Slingback, Gucci 'Pelham' Shoulder Bag and Yves Saint Laurent 'Lola' Satin Slides. Have fun Shopping! Event ends November 3rd.

Coinciding with this fabulous event is the Denim Sale, enjoy a 30% discount on Rock & Republic, 7 for All Mankind and True Religion jeans. (l) Rock & Republic Jeans $141.40 (r) True Religion Skinny Jeans $120.40

(l) Marc Jacobs Tank Top $78.90. (r) Milly Silk Blouse $143.90. And that's not all! Get discounts of up to 40% on designer apparel, shoes and accessories.

Personally, I have to give Saks kudos for these smart and fabulous sales... until I get my credit card statement. Here are some of picks from Saks.

Vanguard designs, chic and fierce are the words that come to mind when I hear Alejandro Ingelmo. Instantly I was a fan when I came across one of his fabulous shoes, 'Thriller 2' (shown below: $1059.00 Zappos). I also love the fact that Alejandro Ingelmo has both a men's and women's collection, equally edgy and fashion-forward.

One word came to mind when I saw this pair of 80%20 'Dani' Hidden Wedge Boot, 'canckles'! 80%20 is obviously milking the hidden wedge boot design which is predominant in their fall collection. The calf-high hidden wedge boot are ok but nothing to go gaga over. 80%20 enough with the hidden wedge design, start producing some real shoes, OK? My verdict this is 80% ugly, 20% not so much.