FabSugar

On Our Radar: Women Choose Shoes Over Bags

FabSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:00:22 PDT

Can it be? Have shoes replaced bags as the hottest fashion item? If so, I'm not complaining. I have a growing collection of bags, but as of late, I've become quite bored of the options out there. But the Spring shoe department, which houses such rarities as this MIu Miu Cutout Harlequin Bootie ($890), is a whole different story.

It seems the trend of naming bags after models and celebrities is now being used on footwear. Giambattista Valli has created a Victoria shoe in honor of Mrs. Beckham, while Calvin Klein made a Suri shoe, named after Tom Cruise's daughter. Also, unusual designs and materials used on bags is now being used on footwear. If that's not proof enough, department store Harvey Nichols has reported a 15 percent rise in shoe sales this season and a higher demand for runway heels. Adversely, a recent survey has forecast an 18 percent drop in handbag sales. It's also being predicted that women will soon spend more money on expensive shoes than bags. Do you buy it?

To see some of the aforementioned shoes,

View 7 Photos ›

(L-R: Giambattista Valli's Victoria shoe as modeled by the muse herself; Calvin Klein's Suri flat; Christian Louboutin; Vanessa Seward; Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti; Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta) Bauer-Griffin

Shop It Out: Covetable Shoes From The Hunger Games

Lucky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:33:48 PST

Lucky magazine is one of our favorite sources for great shopping tips. We're thrilled to share this fabulous story on The Hunger Games costumes from our friends at Lucky!

When I first read The Hunger Games trilogy, I preferred to compare myself to story's brave heroine, Katniss Everdeen. But as much as I admire the resourceful tribute of District 12, I have way more in common with the image obsessed Capitol citizens. Let's be honest here: if similar events happened in New York City, you bet I'd be watching it go down on E! and loving every second of it.

It seems that the Panem masses and I also share another passion-a love of amazing shoes. Capital Couture, a fashion and gossip forum for the residents of the fictitious city, has a section dedicated to the footwear of well-heeled locals.

Although none of the shots provide shopping credits, I couldn't resist searching for these dreamy shoes in the real world. Some of the exact pieces are available online now and the ones that aren't have similar options available. Click through the slideshow below to get the looks for yourself.
Hot pink is an apt choice for attracting attention in the trend-obsessed Capital or, you know, next month's Fashion Week.

B Brian Atwood sandals, $325, shopbop.com

Click over to Lucky to see and shop the full story.

For more fashion and style from Lucky, here are more Lucky stories.

Bookmark These Cyber Monday Deals Now!

Marisa Tom — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:57:50 PST

No point in losing that shopping momentum, right? Now that you've got your Black Friday strategy mapped out, it's time to canvas the Cyber Monday landscape for the best retail deals and steals starting now. Luckily, the shopping madness will be confined to your computer screen and the speed and precision with which you can click "purchase" on that cyber cart of goodies. All you'll need to do is tap into your tech prowess to navigate these fabulous designer discounts. To help you along the way, we've broken down everything you need to know to have a stylishly savvy and successful Cyber Monday. Just keep reading for all the best bets from around the web. Happy clicking!

Cyber Monday Deals

Madewell: Enjoy an extra 30 percent off sale items and free shipping with exclusive promo code ENJOY.
Bloomingdale's: For purchases of $250 or more, take $50 off plus, free shipping when you use FREESHIP11.
Intermix: Take an extra 15 percent off sitewide 15% off with promo code CYBER15.
BHLDN: Shop the coolest selection of wedding dresses and bridal accessories now through Wednesday 12 a.m. EST. With promo code THANKS, you can take an additional 30 percent off all sale items on the site.

For more online steals, just keep reading.

Chanel Goes Kiddie This Season With an Interactive "Kids Space"

LilSugar — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:03:38 PST

Coloring books are so last season. Not content to merely appeal to women of a certain age and financial standing, Chanel recently launched a "Kids Space" on its website, where lil ones can virtually color in Chanel classics like purses, blazers, and shoes, then print out the finished product. It's not just about drooling over accessories, though; Chanel has also installed a memory game where lil ones test and improve memory skills by matching as many pairs of Chanel icons as possible before time runs out.

Warning: it's very likely that Chanel fans a little older than the Kids Space's targeted demographic will have a little too much fun daydreaming about Chanel heels and quilted bags with their ideal color combinations. The kiddies might just have to wait their turn.

Ingenious marketing ploy targeting very young future customers? Or just another fun, harmless activity for tots?

26 Fresh Ways to Reuse an Old Yoga Mat

Health — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:06:03 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on FitSugar.

By Su Reid-St. John

If you’ve just eked your millionth sun salutation out of that thin, raggedy rectangle you call a mat, it might be time to spring for a new one. But what to do with the old? Certainly, you could recycle it or even donate it if it isn’t too far gone, or you could tap your inner Martha and try a little creative repurposing:

1. Hang it horizontally in your garage to keep car doors from scraping the walls.

2. Use it as a kitchen mat in front of the stove or sink.

3. Lay it under your sleeping bag on your next camping trip; it won’t provide much in the way of cushioning, but at least you won’t feel every rock and stick.

4. Scrub the heck out of it, then cut it up as liners for shelves and drawers.

5. Make it into floor covers for the backseat area so your kids’ muddy shoes and cleats won’t ruin your mats.

6. Carpet the tree house!

Health.com: Blast It Off With Yoga

7. Cut it into small circles and use them under furniture legs to protect the floor.

8. Wrap it around that attic beam or basement pole you keep running into.

9. Put it under the litter box so the cat won’t track stuff all over the floor.

10. Cut it to fit under slippery rugs to keep them in place.

There are 16 more things to do with that old mat, so keep reading.

Link Time: Rachel Bilson Fronts ShoeMint, Steve Jobs's Signature Style, and More

FabSugar — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:18:37 PDT

Rachel Bilson is heading up the latest "mint" - ShoeMint - InStyle
The Queen would "not be amused" by a Kate Middleton Vogue cover - The Cut
Go inside the London headquarters of Ben Sherman - Racked
Burberry is the first fashion brand to release a music single - Vogue UK
Fendi pairs luxury and structure on its Silvana Croc & Stingray bag - Purse Blog
Conde Nast tells Milan to get over herself - The Fashion Spot
Double entendre: Roseanna at Le Bon Marché - Vogue
More than pretty candles: Tocca is relaunching its ready-to-wear collection - Lucky
Happy birthday, tuxedo! The sexiest suit turns 150 years old - Refinery29
Deconstructing Steve Jobs's classic, timeless geek-chic - The Daily Beast

Alexander Wang Spring 2012

FabSugar — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:15:01 PDT

Alexander Wang took sport to its sleekest edge with his Spring 2012 collection, which was shown in a raw industrial space - Pier 94 in Manhattan - with stadium-style seating that surrounded four large mirrors. Models walked amongst the mirrors with slick, wet hair wearing performance-inspired pieces: "technical" polos, cargo pants, utility vests, track suits, hoodie jackets, cycling tanks, mesh jerseys, motorcross sweatshirts. Of course, this isn't Nike, it's Alexander Wang, so pieces were done in graphic botanical prints that softened Wang's signature edginess, or layered over sexy swimsuits with seriously sexy accessories, like the white Joan ankle strap mule. It's said that ladylike dressing - thanks to women like Kate Middleton - will dominate fashion's collective consciousness in the years to come. Tell that to Alexander Wang, who brought the season's sporty trend downtown to his turf and injected it with a sleek coolness that not even the most polished of women will be able to resist.

Trends: Sporty, pixelated florals, utility separates, mesh, sheer layers.
Colors: Tangerine, acai, robin's egg, intarsia knits, and botanical ombré.
Key Piece: A cropped hoodie jacket, leather minidress, any of the botanical ombré pieces.
Accessories: Large leather weekenders that looked like golf bags, leather bandannas, the white ankle strap shoes.
Who Would Wear It: His downtown muse Erin Wasson, and girls with a similar edge, like Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

Cynthia Rowley Spring 2012

Hannah Weil — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:57:18 PDT

With gold embellishments and garden-party-inspired prints, Cynthia Rowley's set the tone for a beautifully femme and still entirely modern Spring 2012. Models hit the mirrored, metallic runway in a contrast of botanical prints on slim-fit pants and waist-cinching jackets and blazers, while LBDs and knits got a dose of the same gold accents that Rowley echoed again and again on shoes, soccer-inspired patchwork bags, and even gilded shorts. Rowley delivered a collection that manages to be equal parts sophisticate and cool girl - statement pieces in all-over florals that get a chicer edge thanks to sharp tailoring and a perfect palette.

Trends: Contrast stitching, head-to-toe print, botanicals and florals, laser-cut detailing.
Colors: White, black, red, gold, florals.
Key Piece: White botanical print blazer and slim-fit black floral print pants.
Accessories: Gold and white heels, mirrored shades, quilted soccer handbags.
Who Would Wear It: Polished, feminine girls who still like to take risks; Olivia Palermo and Leighton Meester.

Shoes-Off Screening to Be Phased Out at Airports

Emily Co — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:04:48 PDT

It's such a chore walking through the airport screening these days. Your shoes, outerwear, and jewelry come off, and your electronics and liquids have to be taken out of your bags and dumped into a tray.

There's good news and bad news for passengers sick of these screening rituals. The good news: the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano recently announced that travelers won't have to take their shoes off at airports in the future. Before you start jumping up and down for joy, here's the not-so-good news: the technology needed for scanning shoe-wearing passengers does not exist yet, and won't be available soon.

And for those who find the liquid limits for air travelers tedious and confining, no hope on the horizon there. Napolitano says, "The technology isn't quite there yet, and it won't be for a while, but I think one of the first things you will see over time is the ability to keep your shoes on, and one of the last things you will probably see is a reduction or removing the limitation on liquids."

What are your pet peeves about the airport screening process?

One-Minute Makeover Tip: Add Bright Heels

Hannah Weil — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:00:41 PDT

To counter the frustration that comes with a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear or appear just a little more put-together, we've culled our stylish community and pulled from our savvy editors for the quick-hit solutions to making over our looks in a mere minute. Today, one of our favorite styling tricks: add bright heels.

A pair of bright heels (or flats, or wedges) adds instant dimension and interest to any look, really. Test drive the effect with a basic look, like a white tee and denim. Stepping into a bright pair of shoes will amp up that ensemble instantaneously.
Why footwear? Investing in a playful pair of heels is a safe way to spend, since your feet aren't likely to change sizes. Of course, if you fear the color you choose won't be "in" for very long, opt for a budget-friendly pair. If you do opt for a more expensive pair, keep it in a classic color, like red, that isn't likely to go out of style.
Bright shoes are also a safer way to experiment with bolder colors. If, for example, you've always loved lime green or orange, but feared you couldn't pull it off with your complexion, shoes are the perfect way to add the colors you love in a less-obvious way.
Keep a pair of bright heels in your bag or your filing cabinet. Then, think of them as your secret weapon - slip them on before date night or on your way out of work for a quick outfit refresh that doesn't require stopping off at home.

Photos Courtesy of JustPatience, steffysprosandcons, and allydarling.