I first wrote about Cha Cha and Lori Chalmers on blogTO way back in 2007. I still have that bucket bag fetish and I like the ones that Lori creates. It’s called the Mimi Bucket Bag. I’m enjoying the purple animal print one a lot. Lori creates each bag by hand and are available on the Cha Cha website. images courtesy of Cha Cha
Ketsby polished-leather studded ankle boots by Church’s I love, love, love these studded ankle boots. They are the perfect menswear inspired boot with the perfect amount of studding. images: net-a-porter.com
Studs really should be on their way out as a trend but I can’t help but like it when it’s done well.  I think it’s the combination of that Chuck Taylor classic sneaker look and the not so obnoxious studding that help in their appeal. Upper Echelon Shoes (UES) was started in New York by Seth Campbell and Nick Cohen in 2005. Their family backgrounds in footwear and jewellery are combined in the UES design style. They have coined it “Shoewelry”. In early 2010 they partnered with Steven Madden in order to advantage of their production and distribution and expand the business. Seth Campbell handles the brand’s design. There are no Canadian Retailers but Zappos.com andSaks.com carry them online. images: courtesy of UES
My fall 2010 dream shoes are Givenchy. They come in many different options: sequined, leather, patent leather, velvet and wool. Â They also come in different heights. The boots remind me of witches and grunge. Thankfully they have a zipper in the back of the shoe so you don’t have to lace anything up. Very smart. I spotted these pair of Givenchy boots in the wild at Holt Renfrew. They are ridiculously gorgeous and expensive. Â I’ll just admire from afar. images: givenchy.com
I love the clunky and armor-like boots from A.F. Vandevorst’s fall winter 2010 – 2011 collection. Â You can see them in action in the A.F. Vandevorst fall winter 2010 – 2011 runway show. It’s on their facebook page. It’s the best quality one out there but not embeddable. Â The video shows the different styles of the over the knee boots in grey and red. Â I love the red ones. Â This is a great shade of red. Â The clothing is nice too, there were a few exits I liked. images: tooklookbook.com
Luc Kieffer, a jewellery designer from Paris, visited Toronto for the first time during TIFF. A press preview party was held in his honour and I got a closer look at some of his fall winter 2010 – 2011 and spring summer 2011 collections. Luc has worked with many fashion houses like YSL, Balenciaga, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Sonia Rykiel. It was interesting to her Luc talk about the time he met Yves Saint Laurent in person in 1996. Luc collaborated with Yves on his final collection. The Luc Kieffer line was launched in 2006. Luc Kieffer jewellery specializes in high-polished resin with Swarovski crystals. Luc is a chemist by trade and that totally attracted the geek in me. That’s right people chemist = swoon in my books. Chemist turned jewellery maker is off the charts. I was told that Luc was a charmer. I wished I could speak french, it would have been nice to chat in his mother tongue. He worked with Yves Saint Laurent on his final collection in 1996, and has …
CYDWOQ shoes always intrigue me I see them in the stores. They have a striking design style. They are a little bit clunky but exquisitely crafted. I was sent the lookbook and a press release that also gave me some background on California based CYDWOQ and founder Rafi Balouzian. Rafi comes from a long line of shoe-makers and he started CYDWOQ in 1996. He grew up hanging around the family factory in Armenia and made trips to Italy and France. All this time he was learning the shoemaking process from great handcrafted leather artists. Rafi’s son, Ari is the designer and Creative Director for CYDWOQ. CYDWOQ design influences include nature, architecture, automobile design and old films. The shoes are handmade using the best Italian hand painted leather. Natural choices dominate the CYDWOQ product. In shoe construction, the uppers are hand-lasted to the leather insoles using water-based biodegradable glues. Once inspected, the shoes are packed in distinctive cotton bags and recycled cardboard boxes. It is one of the world’s most ecologically responsible shoe firms, setting the …
There is a new Dr. Martens store on Queen Street. It’s taken over the old Neon Clothing space. The store’s décor is based around the furniture and fixtures you could expect to find in the raw and industrial Northamptonshire, England factory. Reflecting the sense of craft involved in Dr. Martens boots and shoes, all fittings used in the store are authentic and durable. In addition to Dr. Martens Originals that have become known around the globe, seasonal merchandising will support the contemporary expansion of the brand. As Dr. Martens continues to identify creative individuals around the world, limited edition collaborations will be released and featured in the new Queen Street location. This location has so many styles of Dr. Martens to choose from, it should satisfy most people’s needs. All the abstract colours are available like purple, yellow and the metallics. I love that there is a Dr. Martens store in Toronto now. I could see a major addiction for 20 hole boots developing if this store was open during my high school and university …
Philip Sparks Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 shoe collection makes me wish I had bigger feet. The tall lace up boots have my name written all over them. I’ve been pining over them since the spring. Since I can’t have them I encourage my male friends to buy them. You can purchase Philip Sparks shoes at online at PhilipSparks.com or in person at Town Shoes.
During October ECCO will have a traveling installation called “ECCO styled” that will stop at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Sherway Gardens and the Toronto Eaton Centre. You can look at it like a little dress up installation. There will be a a wall of ECCO shoes and wardrobe options. Stylists will provide personal consultations utilizing the Fall 2010 ECCO line. You can get hair and make-up touch-ups so that you look great for the photographer that is there to capture the moment. I’ve been asked to participate in this installation and I’ll be at the Eaton Centre on October 15, 2010. You can join in on the fun on twitter by using the #ECCOStyled hashtag. Post your ECCOStyled self. In the spring I attended the Fall 2010 preview for Ecco and I was very, very skeptical. I didn’t think there would be anything I liked. At this point I hadn’t ever seen a shoe at this store I liked during the rare and random times I stepped foot in the store. I was wrong and ECCO …
