Stylehive Blog

Recession Chic: Cute Boots For $100 Or Less!

idabone@stylehive.com (Ida Hsiang) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:25:40 PST

Every woman, whether she admits it or not, has a shoe addiction. Stiletto pumps should have a home in every woman's closet and strappy anythings add sex appeal to any outfit. The real power player in the woman's shoe department, however, is the boot. Tall, heeled, slouchy or whatever the style, boots always make a statement when you put them on. Whether you're trying to achieve casual comfort, add an edgy vibe, or be an all-out sex kitten, there's a style of boot that will do it for you. With all the variety in boot fashion that is now available, it's not a bad idea to invest in a quality pair or two to add to your shoe collection. Quality leather boots can be a little hard on the wallet and, while I'm not saying that they wouldn't be worth it, maybe your bank roll just can't quite handle a designer pair at the moment. That's no excuse or reason to not join the latest shoe craze and rock some killer boots so click on the slideshow to see some favorite leather boots for $100 or less!

Haute Deal: Badgley Mischka-Style Sequin Pumps For Under $25!

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:19:40 PST

It's no news that the trend this season is to drench just about anything in sequins: blazers, cardigans, tanks, etc. And as a girl who is instantly drawn to anything with a little sparkle (like a kitten to catnip), I'm all about the emergence of bedazzled pumps, just in time for holiday cocktail parties and New Years' Eve -- the ultimate excuse to bling yourself out like a human disco ball. However, fancified heels usually come with an super-showy price tag to match, like these lust-worthy Badgley Mischka Hart Pumps ($190) that would most likely have me dropping the shoe back on the rack like a hot coal. Lucky for us bargain hunters, however, good ol' Forever 21 has a nearly identical pair (can you tell which is which?!) for a mere $22.80! Considering a sturdy pair of sequin pumps probably aren't what you'd consider an everyday wardrobe staple, I think it would be safe to opt for the style steal in this case. But if you've got the extra $167.20 and really feel the urge to spend it for the sake of the designer name (okay, and the extra sequins on the heel), it's up to you!

Shoe of the Week: The Melissa 'Ashanti' Bootie

facadeindreams@stylehive.com (Anna Yu) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:19:40 PST

While the first thought of plastic shoes brings me back to my childhood summers playing in parks while wearing jelly shoes, they're not something I'd typically wear today. However, Brazil-based Melissa Shoes has been on my fashion radar for the last few years and I think I'm ready to take the plunge into plastic shoes again. If you're not familiar with Melissa, you may have heard some of the other world class designers the company has worked with including Vivienne Westwood, Alexandre Herchcovitch, and there's an upcoming collaboration with Jean-Paul Gaultier. Following their motto "Plastic Dreams, Melissa has produced 50 million pairs of shoes over the past 25 years in an eco-friendly way. The Melissa Ashanti bootie has completely charmed me with its fashion-forward silhouette and since they're completely waterproof, I can finally say goodbye to my clunky rain boots.

What: the Melissa 'Ashanti' bootie
Price: $88
Where to Buy: revolveclothing.com
Who: facadeindreams was the first to add the Melissa 'Ashanti' bootie to the Hive!

Where the Boys Are: Women's Lace-Up Brogues

idabone@stylehive.com (Ida Hsiang) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:28:40 PST

For a couple of weeks now I've seen a few women here and there wearing what appears to be their boyfriends' shoes. So I looked it up on Google, and sure enough, it's a real thing, an actual trend for fall and winter. It makes sense in context, I guess -- with all the gender-bending fashion we're seeing now and in the coming season, shoes were bound to follow at some point. Personally, I like my shoes comfortable, so this is a welcome change of direction as far as I'm concerned. Of course, you don't have to raid a man's closet in order to get the look; lots of designers are doing shoes for women that are inspired by styles that have traditionally belonged to men. Check out these Christian Louboutin "Fred" Patent Leather Lace Up Jazz Shoes, cute as a button. Imagine pairing these up with a your favorite Current Elliott boyfriend jeans. Could be very, very cute if played the right way.

Brought to you by our friends at TheFind!

These Platform Pumps Make It Chic To Be Square!

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:20:40 PST

Pointed, rounded, almond, peep toe... you may think you've got your bases covered when it comes to shoe shopping, but there's a new style on the block that's ready to take over. Square toe platform pumps are popping up everywhere lately -- designer and bargain brands alike -- and are bringing that ballerina-inspired pointe shoe look to the style scene. The flattened toe provides a vintage feel, especially if you go Mad Men style with a pencil skirt, while the platform gives the look a modern edge. Be careful when indulging in this trend, though -- if you're looking to elongate your legs, you might not want to throw out all your pointed pumps and replace them with their snubbed-toe counterpart! However, all you leggy girls can lust after the trend without fear! Of course, your credit card may have reason to fret if you go overboard... check the slideshow to see a selection of hot square-toed platforms!

The Budget Babe Spots Cute Boots For Under $40 At Forever 21!

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:23:40 PST

From over-the-knee and fold-over styles to peep-toe booties, few stores can deliver cute, cheap boots under $40. Enter Forever 21, a happy place we can always turn to when times are tough on the wallet yet ripe for fashion. Buckles, studs, cuffs and zippers can all be yours at these manageable prices. For runway-inspired looks at rock-bottom prices, browse Forever 21's current offerings. While the cheap route isn't always the way to go when looking for a long-lasting staple that you'll depend on to take you through the upcoming seasons and beyond, it's great to have the option of saving when it comes to bolder styles and trends you want to test out. We especially love these lace-up cut-out booties and this buckled pair! Head over to The Budget Babe to scroll through the full selection of steals!

8 Bandage Booties And Pumps That'll Have Your Feet Under Wraps!

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:22:40 PST

Sure, it's always sad to see a once-hot trend overstay its welcome, but the good news is that some of our favorite styles don't necessarily leave the racks forever -- they just migrate to another department! What the Herve Leger bandage dress (or its more affordable counterparts) did for the body, the bandage bootie does for the feet (well, sort of). We won't go as far as describing the footwear trend as "feet-con" in the spirit of "body-con," but the thick-strapped look is similarly sexy in its banded, wrapped-up appearance. Put a sexy spin on the classic Mary Jane with this banded suede pump by Acne, or go strappy (and save!) with a multi-textured gladiator-style heel from Forever 21. Take a look at the slideshow for 8 varied takes on the bandage heel!

Hot In The Hive: Purse Flats!

xgalexy@stylehive.com (Alex Gambardella) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:22:40 PST

Who says you need to sacrifice quality for comfort? Purse Flats are comfy portable shoes that fold up neatly into a cute accompanying clutch to salvage stiletto-sore feet on the dance floor, out on the town, or even during long meetings at work. Since they've been spotted on Mya during her "Dancing With The Stars" rehearsals, you gotta figure they must be pretty comfortable, not to mention sturdy! Sure, they're not as affordable as the vending machine Rollasole version, but a portion of the proceeds is donated to support underprivileged youth! Plus, since I have yet to find a shoe dispenser at any club I've been to, Purse Flats sound like a pretty dependable alternative on the go!

Price: $240, includes purse & flats
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add Purse Flats to the Hive.

Hot In The Hive: Giuseppe Zanotti Swarovski-Embellished Sandals

facadeindreams@stylehive.com (Anna Yu) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:22:40 PDT

Giuseppe Zanotti was born in San Mauro Pascoli, an Italian town by the Adriatic Sea with a long tradition in shoemaking. He's been making shoes for over twenty years, first as a design apprentice and now for his eponymous line. His designs are known for being high quality, unique, and of course, totally sexy. One of his latest creations is no exception to the rule. His Swarovski-embellished sandals are over the top and super glamorous. I think they'd be the perfect pair of shoes to wear if you're going to a fashionable Halloween costume party whether you're dressed as a witch or even as Victoria Beckham. Of course, if you're going to spend over $1000 on a pair of shoes, you've got to be able to wear them again! You can wear them to get over an ex or to all the holiday parties coming up soon. If you don't know how to already, start learning how to handle all the compliments you're going to get!

Price: $1150
Who Found It: facadeindreams was first to add the Giuseppe Zanotti Swarovski-embellished sandals to the Hive.

Chucks Never Go Out Of Style!

idabone@stylehive.com (Ida Hsiang) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:18:40 PDT

It's really strange to go out now and see that Converse Chuck Taylor high-tops are still being worn by school kids. I think of Chucks as the shoe that sort of defined Generation X, and to see that they're still so popular is kind of nice. Chucks are great because not only do they look cool, they can be adapted to go with just about any casual outfit, and to say that they're comfortable is the understatement of the century. You even see some people pushing the look to the limit, wearing their Chucks with formal wear. There's really no end to what you can do with these shoes. The good thing is that these days, you can get Converse Chucks in all the standard colors, but also in some interesting new styles. So whether you're into classic looks, or rule breaking, there will always be a pair of Chucks out there for you. Click over to our friends at TheFind for more on these cool kicks!