I’m always looking for the perfect summer shoe (even in the depths of winter). It’s hard to find an easy slip on shoe that is also super comfortable. Shoe experts swear by these Repetto ballet flats–they fit like a glove and have a tiny little heel, so the foot is not totally flat. Brigitte Bardot wore them in red. Catherine Deneuve is a fan, too. Can’t get better endorsements than that, n’est-ce pas?
It took awhile for me to finally succumb to the Birkenstock trend last summer (I bought two pairs). Now Marc Jacobs is selling velvet-lined Dr. Scholls. What is it with the current fashion craze for ugly orthopedic shoes? Maybe designers are finally getting smart and targeting consumers in the demographic that actually spends money: Boomers (with failing knees and unhappy feet).
Its funny how sometimes you have to read a French blog written by someone in Paris to discover a new shoe designer in Los Angeles. The internet is magical that way. I found these great-looking Birkenstock-esque sandals on a French blog called What Domino Wants. I wore Birkenstocks on and off all summer well aware that they are in no way chic or flattering. But they’re so comfortable! Charlotte Stone an L.A.-based shoe designer whose sandals might just be the answer to the Birkenstock style vs. comfort conundrum.
"Style is about so much more than what you wear. It’s about how you live, what you say, how you stand, what you stand for."
fashion journalist, editor, author, francophile, foodie
I first met Liya Kebede back in 2000 when she was starting out in Paris, modeling for Tom Ford at Gucci and Saint Laurent. Liya always impressed me with her intelligence and poise. At the time she was balancing a new family and a demanding career, all with incredible ease and grace. Read more…