Monday, May 30, 2011

Why Do We Buy?

I'm obviously a shoe addict. I buy shoes on an almost weekly basis and my shoe "closet" is overflowing with shoes... I know that sounds great but it's really getting ridiculous. I think I may have a problem.

I was shopping this week and trying on a really awesome pair of glittery sky high Louboutins and was about to buy them when my friend, a sales associate at the boutique, casually asked "What are you buying them for?"

Huh?

What did she mean? I was buying them cause I wanted them! Did I need a specific reason? Do people buy shoes for a purpose other than having a fabulous pair of shoes? This may sound totally silly but I think this just hit me- I buy shoes without actually thinking about when/where I'm going to wear them. It never occurred to me that I was doing this but when I actually think about it, I feel like a total ass.

I blame my job. As a shoe designer we're constantly shopping, or as we like to call it- it "researching". We have to be on top of all the current trends and know all the hot shoes, but a side affect of that is, of course, wanting shoes for ourselves.  I've gotten to the point where I find myself buying shoes just to have them. If I used this "where are you going to wear them" logic, I bet I'd have about half the shoes I have.

Some examples?
Well, these DSquared spine heels are a great example. Where can I wear these? I wore them a couple of times so far. Once to the mall just to show them to all my friends (I'm a total mall rat if you didn't know) and another time or two to I forget where. They're high and fragile and not exactly comfortable, but they're works of art!





Another pair I just had to have? These Fendi Cinderella shoes. I wore them once to the Emmys last year and they were painfully uncomfortable so I never wore them again. But gosh they're beautiful...




Ok, one more! These boots that I just HAD to have. But again, I didn't think about where I'd wear them. I mean, they're suede! I'm terrified to wear them in case I ruin them... but boy are they pretty.






I could go on and on and on. I've decided to clean and organize my shoes and really look at what I have. I need to make an effort to buy more consciously!! I know that doesn't sound like much fun but If I don't slow down my shoes are going to take over our house! Look at this room- it's crazy. I'm like a shoe hoarder!


WHAT A MESS! I'll post an after photo as soon as I get it under control ;)

What about you? Do you think before you buy?? Do you always have a plan before you shop or are you guilty of impulse buying too?



xox

Friday, May 27, 2011

Tumblr Roundup May 27, 2011

My week in shoes:

 (miu miu)

 (chloe sevigny x opening ceremony)

(balenciaga) 

(versace)  

(converse) 

(gianmarco lorenzi)


For more, follow my tumblr :)

Have an AMAZING (and safe) Memorial Day weekend!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Stars and Stripes

I saw these Jeffrey Campbell american flag shoes in Hong Kong (and then again on my homegirl's blog) and they reminded me of something... Hmmm... what was it?



Oh yea! They remind me of the American flag booties I made for Betsey Johnson!




God bless America!

Cece L'amour

Did you guys hear?? I finally have the name of my shoe line :)

Why Cece L'amour? Well, to be honest, it wasn't my first choice. My original name was actually Vie in Rose, which translates to "Life in Pink", but our lawyer found a lingerie company in Canada with the name La Vie in Rose and he thought it was too close, SO... it was on to finding a new name.

My friends call me Cece, or Cece the Bunny so I thought- Ooh! Cece Lapin (Cece Bunny in French) but that's way too close to Fifi Lapin. Another name fail. I was pretty set on incorporating French into the name since it's my dad's native tongue and it was my first language. (Betcha didnt know that!) I needed something personal, but with character. I liked the Cece part but thought Cece Ouaknine was too difficult and Cece Soto was too boring...
Then I thought, L'amour! My last name isn't L'amour but I do love love. ;) Cece L'amour would be my new name! And you know, I actually like it more than my first choice.

Next came the look. I wanted my logo to be super girly and fun, and luckily, I'm married to the most talented logo designer I know. hehe. He came up with this...






And here it is in a prototype shoe...

You like? I love! Next up? We've got to design a super cute box to hold these babies!

I'm super excited to get started on the shoes and to share my ideas and designs with you :) I can't wait to hear your feedback. Thank you all for your loving support, it really means the world to me.


xoxo,

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Why Does it Cost So Much?...

While I was in China, working on some new shoes, I was flipping through some old magazines and I came across this article that I HAD to share with you guys! I'm not much of an article reader when it comes to fashion magazines. I usually just tear through them lusting after shoes on my 'get' list and clothes on my 'when I'm a millionaire I still won't be able to afford this' list. The headline caught my eye, especially since I'm working on making my shoe line affordable to the masses. "Why Does It Cost So Much?"
Good question....

(click images to enlarge)

(2008 Harpers Bazaar)

I love the idea of finding a uniform and building your closet around your own personal look. My problem is that I don't like to have only one look... I love to go from super girly to sort of goth to preppy to whatever!
What do you think about the concept of having a uniform? Do you have one?




Saturday, May 14, 2011

Why So Big?

Ok so there's something I've noticed in the last few years that drives me INSANE! And now that I'm going to tell you about it, you're going to notice it (if you didn't already) all the time and you're gonna be SO pissed at me for pointing it out ;)

What is it you ask? Celebrities wearing shoes that are at least a size too big on the red carpet. Or blue carpet. Whatever. WHY?? 
Maybe it's because stylists usually put the outfits together and sometimes the celebs don't try them on until the last minute? Still, weird. Especially when they're wearing the same brands over and over again. Figure it out ladies.


 TOO BIG.


TOO BIG. 


TOO BIG!


 TOO BIG.

Weird right? And it happens all the time. Thoughts??

(thanks to hottheels blog for a couple of these images)

xox,

Monday, May 9, 2011

Heel Condoms?

A reader wrote me and asked me what I thought about heel condoms.

Heel Condoms?? WTF? Never heard of it, so I checked out...



So basically, Heel Condoms is a pretty good idea with a really ugly name.
You buy these little shoe add-ons that slip onto the heel (like a condom... I guess?) and they transform your plain pumps into bright, fun shoes. I think a lot of them are pretty adorable, I just really HATE the name. I get that it was done intentionally, to get people interested or to shock people into checking it out, but it's really a turn off. When I think of heel condom, I get images of slimy pre lubricated latex covering a heel.
Gross.
These are so cute and girly! They should have a girly name.

Lets pretend like we get to rename the company. What would you call it??




They're pretty cute, right?? I think I'll order a pair to try out. What do you guys think? What should we call them? Haha



xoxo,

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Off to China... Yet AGAIN!

How cute is this vintage Chinese pin-up poster? 


Anyway, I'm off to work on the new line finally! I'm super excited to share the process and will be taking lots of pictures. The name is STILL not official (something I'll tell you all about in future posts) but we're close.

I've got some posts scheduled for while I'm gone and hopefully my Tumblr isn't blocked in China... we'll see.

Talk soon!

xox,

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

POUF, There it is!

I've been looking at the Fall designer shoes on style.com and I've noticed a very strange trend... Poufs!

Look at all these little furball shoes...

Alexander Wang
Sergio Rossi 
 Aperlai
 Brian Atwood
Gianvito Rossi 
Casadei
Louboutin
Diego Dolcini


What do you think of this hairy situation?