Nanette Lepore shoes, which debuted just last year, are sugar, spice and everything just right; a mix of trendy now and Lepore girlishness. This season they stand on bases of chunky heels and wedges, with uppers detailed, scribbled, or at least colourful. A nod back to vintage times, most of these shoes would perfectly suit the antiqued images of pin-up girls - a la Betty Paige.

With pricepoints in the 400s, the heels are sky-high, but Lepore does a second range for Keds, sandals and ballet skimmers, some mimicking the "higher" designs. I urge fans (like I) not to let these lower-height and more affordable shoes go, and true devotees to scoop up at least one pair of these early-on haute designs for history!

Immediately we see Nanette knows her craft, and can make a shoe with the rest of the masters.

Purchase Nanette shoes at Neiman Marcus and her line for Keds at Nordstrom.

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Here are my opinions on what’s hot or not in shoes NOW:

In now are chunky sandals a la Chloé. Pictured: their version of a Canvas Slingback Purchase here.

Boots that aren’t too warm and aren’t too Fall, so unique! These flowered boots are by Miu Miu. Embroidered calfskin boots by Miu Miu. Purchase here. ON SALE! and going fast.

Those sky-high platform wedges soooo prevalent last year by Christian Louboutin are now boring me to tears. Puh-lease. Move on. Or not? Purchase here.

According to New York Post’s Page Six

“Anna Wintour is as picky with words as she is with her wardrobe. According to one Vogue-er, ‘They are expanding the Vogue Web site and getting more involved with the Internet. But Anna hates the word ‘blog’ so much, she refuses to call anything on her site a blog and has charged her staff with coming up with a new word that isn’t as garish-sounding. She wants it ASAP - in time for launch.’ However, a source close to Wintour said, ‘Anna just doesn’t want people to refer to stories as blogs, because they’re not. It’s an improper use of the word.’ A rep said, ‘Anna has nothing against blogs.’

Oh! Blog, blog, bloggity blog! Gosh darnit. Don’t alienate us, we’re hip and we have a powerful voice.

It’s true that some people are uncomfortable with “blog”, so many choose to leave the word out of site titles or domain names. It makes sense to follow that if you’re looking for closed-minded people to still dedicate time to visiting you, but it’s silly. Many readers of Slashdot didn’t used to realize they were devoted readers of a blog. Why was it so underground and nearly taboo?

But it isn’t blogging itself that Anna has a problem with, it’s the word. Although the reason is unknown (and isn’t it interesting to wonder why?). Don’t you think that all website surfers would like blogs just fine not knowing what they are? But many people discredit articles if they’re found on a blog. They think the content or information is unreliable.

Well that must stop! Blogs are what they are, mostly opinion, personal views even on professional blogs. Bloggers are writers or just passionate fans, all experts in their fields. Throw us a bone.

Maybe their new terms could be “the Vogue Bone.” Tongue in geek chic! Whatever “new” word her staff picks, let it honour the medium, please.

*Via Bag Snob*

In site news, this coming week is Spring Break for me. I’ll be largely on vacation. See you around though!

Photo credit: AM New York

And the Heavenly music plays in behold of this shoe. Louis Vuitton’s Andalucia Wedge Sandal has the little logo charm flowers from their monogram print, on a t-strap. Love! It also has a sculpted two-toned, wood/cream wedge heel and rivited and gold straps.

What a perfect LV shoe.

The Andalucia has a 4″ wedge heel and sells for $725 through eLUXURY.

I saw this Louis Vuitton ad in my Glamour, and I was inspired.

The model’s like a wood nymph, swinging flying floating. A child playing designer dress up.

I even created three wallpaper/desktop graphics, because the image was so beautiful. Check them out on our new Art page.

Zappos.com, the shoe shop website with free both-way shipping and great customer service, now sells apparel. (In addition to handbags, and also new: accessories.)

They still offer both-way free shipping on every item, plus every product still has the capability for reviews, although these new product lines are too new for there to be any/many. If clothing, sunglasses, etc. etc. get filled with reviews, online shopping could truly be revolutionized.

Brands they offer are Michael by Michael Kors, Diesel, Kate Spade, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Lucky, Roxy, Paul Frank and others, most unknown.

Zappos is a great place to shop online for clothing and sunglasses, especially, due to fit & flatter issues and Zappos’s return policy. Zappos truly makes it easy to return, and use your online account to tell if an item is past return date, but actually—they give 365 days!

Now they just need to add more brands, from bargains to more designers.

In other Zappos news, they’ve now incorporated Bill Me Later, the separate entity online creditor, into their checkout options—Helpful!

Will you be shopping Zappos.com for more than just shoes? Have you already? How do you like them?

The styleosphere is abuzz and some of it appalled over a new (now pulled) Dolce & Gabbana advertisement.

The image in question is below:

Some go so far as to say it appears to depict gang rape, but I’m positive at max it is much tamer.

Okay, it’s sex ed time from usual prudie-Ella.

Sure, the man-on-top is holding “down” the female’s hands, but there is absolutely 0 struggle from her. At worst, she is aloof and none-too interested. But her body language shows she is only acting coy, for her pelvis is “reaching” for her partner.

Three men look on, but this can’t only signal gang rape, but instead of course just a naughty kinkier game.

I think the ad is actually so standard in our society that I wonder why I’m explaining my views. Hmm. Am I wrong? What do you see?