Sole Savvy! life. style. shoes.

SoleSavvy Shoes Cards

2011-09-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hello, All! I've been doing some fine-art and painting lately, and I decided to do a series of shoe cards. I felt the need to get back to my roots and explore some of the artwork and shoe sketches I've done over the years. I'll keep you posted on the finished product...

I could watch this all day! The new Spring 2010 sandals @ NET-A-PORTER.COM

2010-05-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

LATEST PROJECT - Charles Jourdan Revived...

2010-04-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Again, Shoe Lovers! I guess you're wonderin' where I've been"...

I know it's been a while since my last post. I'd been pondering my approach to this blog. This year, I'm doing some new things, and I decided to change the SoleSavvy format a little bit to include projects I'm working on, sketches, as well as my thoughts and feelings about the design process.

So... I'd been working on a little-known shoe project. Shoe lovers have heard of iconic brand Charles Jourdan, which was at its hottest in the '70's and '80's. Other really savvy shoe lovers may have heard last year that the brand was being revived in Europe by French dancer-turned-designer Alexandra Neel. But what you may not have heard is that Charles Jourdan USA was being designed by yours truly! I wanted to share some of the enjoyable moments of the process; see below. You can order the finished product at Lord & Taylor.com , Endless.com , or see the widget at the right to order from AMAZON.COM...

One of my inspiration boards in the China office. I was inspired by elements of vintage Charles Jourdan styles, but I wanted to make them work with the current trends too.

This was the first correct prototype I received: I thought it was beautiful; like sculpture.

More first prototypes and materials I used. The yellow style in the center became the most popular, called "Amari"; my sketch of it can be seen in the first photo...

...and here's the finished style. I think white's the most popular: and we girls know it's hard to find a good white shoe! Below is another style called "Amelia" (below L); and the flat version, which was the original sketch I did for this concept. Below right is the finished version of the 1st proto above.

Originally I had added an ankle strap, but the company wanted to simplify it. I'm not sure if my beautiful first proto made it in the final cut though...K

Fashion Design "The Day Before..."

2009-09-08T10:20:00.001-07:00

If you want to go behind the scenes of REAL fashion design, The Sundance Channel has an all-new series for insider access to the highly creative world of contemporary fashion. Called "The Day Before", it showcases the designers, influencers, artists and trends at the forefront of international style and glamour. The clip above shows a multi-designer homage to Sonia Rykiel for all she has done to influence them. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the outfit chosen by Ralph Lauren, for his salute to Ms. Rykiel, was one from my time as a designer there, and featured a shoe I designed...Premieres Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10PM.

"It's All About The Shoes...Always"

2009-05-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

...That is, according to Isaac Mizrahi and Kelly Rowalnd on this week's episode of "The Fashion Show" on Bravo TV. And of course I couldn't agree with them more! I have to admit that I wasn't sure about this show, now in its fourth episode. But this week's episode was by far my favorite. The contestants had to create an outfit based on an iconic shoe of the season. If you haven't seen the show yet, it's Bravo's new reality show where fashion designers compete to have their collection produced at the end of the season (and its replacement for "Project Runway"). The show features shoes which were also covered earlier in the season here on SoleSavvy!

See "The Fashion Show Thursdays at 10/9 Central on BravoTv...

Fall Shoe Preview...

2009-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

OK 'Shoe Fanatics', I didn't want to "spring" this on you too early. We've just gotten past the rainy and snowy season, after all. But since the Fall '09 shows have already taken place, I thought I'd just give you a sneak peek at some of the amazing styles that have hit the runway for next season. These styles can certainly be classified as "art", and I had to take a moment to highlight them.

We can get back to finally enjoying Spring later...

Many thanks to Style.com!

Homage to Antonio

2009-04-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Antonio Lopez (1943-87) was one of my mentors as a fashion illustrator. He was a sweet man, and an amazing talent. He and many others are being honored this month by the Society of Illustrators in New York, with an exhibition called "The Line of Fashion". Here's my tribute to Antonio, which features some of his brilliant illustrations of shoes...

http://societyillustrators.org/museum/line_of_fashion.cms

All illustrations courtesy of "Antonio's Girls", Congreve Publishing Company, Inc. New York, 1982.

Spring Coverage

2009-04-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

What's the one shoe style must-have for this season? A closed-but-open sandal that gives coverage to the foot; one that even ascends toward the ankle.

If you're a savvy shopper, this style can be seasonless, and can inspire you to re-style your old threads into a fresh, new look. The Chloe shoe above was one of my favorites from last year; a work of art...

The King of...Accessories?

2009-03-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

*In case you haven't heard, the auction of Michael Jackson's personal collection of memorabilia has been either postponed or called off...

Who says Michael Jackson is history? Michael Jackson turns 50 this year (yes 50. I know that because I always knew how many years older he was than me...notice how skillfully I said that?), and the Guardian UK has put together a 50-image slide-show of iconic photos in his honor, as well as a slide-show of images from the auction of his items. With the fashion of the '80's back in vogue - along with excessive lifestyles falling out of vogue - it's an interesting dichotomy of our past meeting the present. For those who don't know, he's due to perform in the UK soon, but the concert sells out instantly every time they add a day. Last I checked, it was up to an incredible 45 days...

To see the slideshow click here...

THE SPRING 2009 SHOE TRENDS!

2009-03-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are your Spring 2009 Trends for women's footwear. As the tempurature starts to warm up all over, it's natural that we start to think about what we'll wear for Spring. I know the economy's a challenge, but even if we use the trends as a guide to freshen and revamp the pieces we already have, we'll feel as if we have a new spin on things. I've included items in all pricepoints, because there are all sorts of ways to liven-up your style this Spring.

Speaking of the economy, there's a trend that I won't mention that reflects back on depressions past. Rather, let's uplift our spirits by focusing on our first trend:

C O L O R, which can be found in shades from sherberts to primaries, in everything, from clothing to shoes to accessories (pictured, R-L: Belle by Siegerson Morrison, Roger Vivier, Michael Kors, and SeeVees, the sneaker company whose inspiration comes from the '60's and has partnered with color firm Pantone to create sneaks in custom colors). Our next trend is:

T R I B A L - Details with an ethnic twist focus on craft and detail that originates with our collective forefathers (pictured, L-R: Jimmy Choo, Xhilaration by Target, Siegerson Morrison, and Louis Vuitton).

On the opposite end of detail is:

G E O M E T R Y - Clean and caged; the new gladiator shapes take their cues from the future; metallics and high-tech materials are key (pictured, L-R: YSL, Robert Clegerie, Type Z, Stella McCartney). And finally, we have what I like to call:

"R E C Y C L E D C H I C". This is our most 'green' trend; the new patchwork', using parts and remnants of many diverse materials, stitched together with hand-crafted details to form an exciting new whole: how American! Pictured, L-R: Marc Jacobs, Gucci, MiuMiu, Mossimo at Target, Tory Burch.

The HOT MATERIALS to watch for this Spring:

Python in every way: colored, metallic, natural.
Bright Patent - plain or mixed with other materials mixes
Metallics - All colors, plain and mixed
Fabrics - high-tech, textured solids mixed with other materials, and prints

Have fun, be inspired, spend wisely, and assert your individual style.

Thanks to Brian, for the SeeVees shout...!

"Pastry" Kicks Back To The Community!

2009-03-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

"Rev. Run" and the Simmons family are wisely training their children to be entrepreneurs with a conscience. Mini-mogul daughters Vanessa and Angela Simmons have a fun line of sport-inspired shoes, clothing and accessories called "Pastry". It's a wildly popular line (last I heard, they'd made $40mil last year) which this season features bright colors and sweets-inspired names like "Glam Pie" and "Fruit Tarte" (shown at right). Even more exciting is their philanthopic angle. They've used their visibility (born first from TV shows "Run's House" and now their own, called "Daddy's Girls") to start "Pastry Cares", which highlights children who are ill or in need of transplants, and "Pastry Gives Back", a monthly contest which encourages young women to give back to others...Bravo, Ladies!

True Colures...

2009-02-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

This week, the much-heralded all-black July '08 issue of Italian Vogue received the award in the fashion category at the 2009 Brit Insurance Design Awards. The issue broke sales records, and was called "a cultural watershed" by the presiding panel of judges. Meanwhile, back here in the states, the current trend continues: if you're Black and on the cover of a major fashion magazine (let alone on the inside), you're either a supermodel (ie: Naomi, Liya, Beverly) or superhuman (ie: Oprah, or First Lady Michelle Obama, who graces the cover of Vogue March '09 ).

However, if you're tired of waiting for the rest of the world to catch up, you can experience all that beauty now in Colures, a big, beautiful, glossy, high-fashion, upwardly-mobile magazine out of London (shown at left: issue 5. Mariah Carey's on the latest issue). In it you'll find lots of great inspiring articles about women of color around the globe, great fashion and accessories, history, travel destinations, and beautiful photos of beautiful brown-skinned women - all the time. I bought the first issue at a newsstand in the airport in Barcelona, and was happy to lug it around with me for thousands of miles 'til I could bring it back with me to the states (the first issue was a whopping 9.5X12.5" and 250 pages). So if you've already paid your subscription to Essence, put your money where your mouth is, and show your true Colures...pun definitely intended.

The New Screening Room

2009-02-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

This is genius. YouTube has a site called called "The Screening Room", where you can see independent films. Every other Friday, they post 4 new films. And I'm certainly not promoting alchohol, but Grey Goose has created its own site in conjuction with YouTube, called "The Grey Goose Vodka Channel". In honor of Black History Month, you can see projects from the African diaspora as well as African American films and profiles, which feature artists, writers, designers, and musicians you may not have ordinarily heard about. One such profile, from a wonderful show on The Sundance Channel called "The Next Garde", is about fashion designer Tracey Reese, who, in my opinion, still hasn't gotten her 'props', and makes some of the prettiest dresses around.

Walk This Way...

2009-02-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

Lessons Learned from a Historic Inauguration.

All images and text, copyright Karen Pugh Lascaris, 2009.

So, I started my year off big: I traveled to the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. How do I describe my experiences in words, while making them relevant to a shoe-related blog? Let's get the basics out of the way: What shoes did I wear to the Inauguration? By day: my warmest and most comfortable, like 99% of the 2 million folks there. Ditto for the clothes. By night, to the Midwest Ball: some strappy gold ones I designed, because by that time I was still so cold it didn't matter. I couldn't feel my feet anyway.
Now, for the important stuff: it was an incredible experience, and amazingly, five things stood out as examples for how to live your fullest life from 2009 onward. To begin:

#1. Find your vocation in life, pursue it wholeheartedly, and you will be rewarded. While watching the Inaugural concert on Sunday, then the Inaugural ceremonies on Tuesday, I couldn't help but think not only about the Obamas, and how their lives are a testament of dignity, integrity, service, and excellence, but this was also true for so many who stood beside them on the platform on those days.

#2. Have Faith, Persevere, and be courteous to others. The day of the concert, whenever we tried to find our way into the concert, my friends and I were told, by at least 10 rangers and policemen we asked, "NO: they're not letting anyone else in". But how could that be, I thought? We had tickets! And we hadn't even gotten to the right entrance yet, so we found one who would show us the way. He gave us directions, which we followed, and upon arriving there, were were given tickets by a very nice young woman and the wonderful security guys, to upgrade our status. We persevered - and ended up in the front section of the audience. Which brings me to:

#3 - Develop Endurance: And take care of your body. After the concert, due to over-crowded trains, we walked 4 miles home. On Inauguration Day, we found ourselves again walking for miles in even colder weather, passing through the dreaded "Tunnel of Doom", then standing for hours with thousands of others. But it was all worth it, because: #4 - If you don't take the "No's" in life as your answer, you may have the experience of a lifetime: or at the very least, your desired outcome. We watched as thousands - with tickets to the Inauguration -got discouraged (again by the cops who said "No") and walked away without getting in. When we finally got to the gate, there was nothing holding us back at all! We walked forward to the reflecting pool and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with 2 million others who were there for the common good, to witness the historic swearing-in. And we of all colors, backgrounds and faiths, bowed our heads and said The Lord's Prayer together.

#5 - Prioritize! Maybe you can't do it all in one day, but if you prioritize, you can do it all. I heard many stories of people who partied so hard in the days before, their feet hurt too badly to attend the Inauguration (they were in the wrong shoes - see it always comes back to the shoes!)! Or they missed the President's attendance at their Ball because they insisted on taking a limo, when the only reliable mode of transportation in DC was the metro.

I saw so many things I will never forget. I saw people who were blind, physically challenged or disabled, in wheelchairs and on crutches, as if on a great spiritual pilgrimage. I saw a family that mirrored Obama's own: an African father, a white mother, with their two young children - a boy and a girl (true. All true). Random people, unknown to each other, hugged, and behaved kindly toward each other: a true spirit of Love was in the air (I even hugged a man just for taking my picture. I felt he needed it). The biggest lesson of all, I think, is to find something you truly believe in, something bigger than yourself, to get behind; to stand up for. As Martin Luther King once said, "You don't have to see the whole staircase: just take the first step". Who would have thought that some of life's valuable lessons could be extracted from navigating through millions of people? Although, if you think about, that's life anyway, isn't it?

'Tis The Season for: "THE BEJEWELED"...

2008-12-27T13:56:00.000-08:00

...or encrusted...or...Whatever you want to call it, do sparkle this Season.
Enjoy the Holidays, and Have a "Soleful" New Year!

And If You're Not Spending Enough Time On The Computer..

2008-12-22T18:36:00.000-08:00

If you've found yourself lamenting about the sad state of television as I have (and have found yourself instead hooked on YouTube and Facebook during the evening hours), you'll be happy to know that there's now a solution. Hulu.com is an online media site which allows you to watch TV programs - past and present - for free. At the moment it seems to be skewed toward "Gen X" demands, but this has the potential to be big, and its bound to expand. Hulu has movies too: so if you're frustrated about having to pay over $100 per month for watching bad cable, or if you're missing TV's Golden Age, we may soon be able to safely turn off those over-priced cable packages and just stay glued to our computers all day...

Rediscovering Your Inner Princess-(It’s All in the Shoes)

2008-11-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

My friend Venus is a real beauty. She’s intelligent. Great sense of humor. Flawless skin and high cheekbones. Perfect teeth. Hour-glass figure. Enviable, natural “D’s”…Unfortunately, she’s taken to blending in with the background lately. And to do so, she’s hiding behind that all-too- familiar “armor” of baggy gray sweats and chunky work-out sneakers.

When did we start to feel bad about our individual sense of beauty and “Womanlyness”? Weren’t we Princesses as young girls? Back then, being a Princess wasn’t about getting the Prince – it was about being whatever we imagined ourselves to be. As women, we’ve been through so much to affirm our rights, but somehow many of us seem to have come out the other end more stressed, less fulfilled, less ‘pursued’, and less married.

Venus is “a little more single” than she’d like to be. She feels she’s been in a slump, and she’s trying hard not to let it affect her confidence. Her confidence? She always seemed so sure of herself, having all of those attributes…But, as I found myself staring at her well-worn 10-year-old Reboks, I thought to myself, “Hmmm - Maybe it’s the shoes”…

Sweats have become daily “out-in-the-street” apparel; but, unless you’re wearing Norma Kamali, what else can you wear with them? Sneakers. Trainers. Tennis shoes. Whatever you want to call them ladies, they’re just not sexy. And unless you’re working out, you may not catch (or keep) Prince Charming in them either.

OK – I know you think I’m oversimplifying things. But - have you ever tried dressing from the shoes up? Might you end up with a totally different result if you started your day with your favorite pair of leopard kitten-heels? I’m not making this up – just look at the hundreds of make-over shows on the air. Have you noticed the faces of those poor, bewildered husbands, who’ve lost their lovely wives, now slumped-shouldered under yards of cotton jersey? It’s time to push past just “being comfortable” to really feeling good about ourselves again. And, in this shoe designer’s world, it all starts with the shoes (Leopard kitten heel shown at right: one of my designs, currently at Charles David stores).

Somehow, the work-out shoe has ‘sneaked’ its way into our daily wardrobes. Back in the career-driven ‘80’s, we were introduced to the work-out shoe en masse. Outside of the gym and working out at home with Jane Fonda, women took to wearing them with their business suits and sweat socks (remember Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl?). Then a “Casual” Revolution swept the land – which turned into “Casual Fridays” at work (Ugh. Flip-flops at work? Unless you’re a lifeguard, just say “no”…). The athletic shoe is part of the “Stay-at-home Mom’s” uniform too. I’ve heard many times over, “I just can’t run after little Jeremy in anything else!” Maybe not, but I think Big Jeremy might prefer to see you in something a little different before he gets home. Just ask him. Better yet – show him.

Of course, we all need to be fit. I’ve become fascinated with new forms of working out that combine our need to be womanly with our need to stay healthy. Belly dancing, pole dancing, and lap dancing classes are springing up across the country and on TV. I recently attended a really great class at “Flirty Girl Fitness”, a women’s gym which incorporates pole and lap dancing into its work-out routines. I loved it. Interestingly absent from those classes - the bulky sport shoes.

Dorothy clicked her heels three times and got what she wanted (she had what it took all along). Cinderella left her glass slipper behind, but her Prince Charming knew that she was the only one who’d fit it. As girls, we knew we were Princesses – no one had to tell us that. And now we women need to find our “Inner Princess” again. Venus is replacing those sweats with a sheer flowered top and great-fitting, stretch-denim skinny jeans. You can also try denim a pencil skirt, or a cute casual dress that flatters the waist. And I always love a metallic or animal-print ballerina flat, but there are great rubber-soled sport-inspired shoes that are feminine and colorful too, like Puma’s Sabadella PL (shown at right).

I think we women love shoes because there’s a little bit of magic still inside every good pair. I say: find a comfy pair that’s pretty too - it’ll bring all of your old clothes to life, and you’ll walk with a little more joie de vivre!
© Karen Pugh Lascaris, 2008.

YES WE DID - As A Nation

2008-11-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

It's so quiet here in my neighborhood this morning. But it isn't just quiet: it's peaceful. America has taken the high road: we want to be a better, wiser, stronger nation; and we proved it last night when we elected Barack Obama President of these United States. This is the position that I steadfastly believed he should hold, from the time I read his autobiography over three years ago. However, I am still amazed, like so many others, to have seen it happen in my lifetime.

For the first time I felt the hope that we really can be judged on "the content of our character", as Martin Luther King wished. And that we all take to heart the verse from the Bible used often, by many, during this campaign season: "To whom much is given, much is required". The world is watching, and it has that hope for us too, so let's do all we can to uplift each other and make this a better place to live for all: because we can.

Sigerson Morrison at Target!

2008-10-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

Target continues its trend of enlisting the hot designers to create new lines for their stores, and you can now find a new shoe line by Sigerson Morrison there for a limited time only. Some styles resemble their higher-priced versions, and if you haven't gotten your "jeweled flats" for the season - one of the Fall-Winter trends - there's now a budget-friendly way to answer the call. Designers Kari Sigerson and Miranda Morrison started their company in the early '90's, and are still - oddly enough - one of the few women's shoe companies owned by women! They've continued to be a favorite among those "in the know"...

The Fall Collections Salute "The Modern Woman"

2008-10-18T13:42:00.000-07:00

TRENDS FOR FALL 2008

Footwear Trends for Fall 2008 salute “The Modern Woman” - with a look back to 1970’s sensibilities. Now before you run for the door, trying to awaken yourself from the nightmare of bright huge platforms, worn with bell bottoms and polyester flowered shirts, remember that the seventies was an era where women were coming into their own for the first time. We were entering college in record numbers, starting and creating careers, and feeling a sense of freedom and possibility for the first time in American history.

This season, fashion takes up where that era of emancipation left off. In clothing for Fall 2008, you’ll find: sweeping floor-length “maxi”-coats; plaid blazers in smaller, tighter silhouettes worn with a wider-legged trouser; Halston-esque simplicity (signaled by the return of the Halston brand); skinny stretchy Studio-54-inspired leggings in high-tech winter materials, worn under cozy trapeze “Baby doll” tops.

There’s a change in proportions for clothing this season, and the new shoes are no exception to this rule (shown above: Narciso Rodriguez). As usual, there’s something for everyone, and you can always find the classics like the sexy pointed-toe pump, and the sexy strappy sandal – but even those die-hard staples have been re-cut, re-colored, and updated this season. Look for shoes with:

Coverage – The shoe-boot craze of last Fall continues for Fall 2008, but this trend also “extends” to high boots too, which are extra long and covering the knee. Open-toed booties, higher-cut pumps and closed-but-open sandals are also represented here (shown R - Balenciaga).

Thicker Heels – On pumps, boots, sandals, low and high. Geometric ‘70’s Color-Blocking - We’ll see a variety of textures and/or colors mixing together graphically on one shoe; jewel-toned materials are cut in Modernist or Abstract fashion (shown -L : Marni).

Minimalist Lines – This is the opposite of the trend above. “Think modern” – columns of refined leather simply wrapping the leg, as in simple chic flat boots, or pumps newly-cut to accentuate the leg.

The Elegance of Gentry – Old world country: think Ralph Lauren when he first started out. Defined by tie-up riding boots, which can either be ankle or knee height, rich suedes and rough or distressed leathers used in refined styles (shown R - Bally).

Superwoman Status – This refers to any shoe that makes a woman feel that she can take on the world – while still looking cute! This can be anything from a sexy thick-strapped platform sandal in high-tech materials, or comfy poly wedges in stretchy poly Lycra and a mineral little shine.

And what’s the hot Fall 2008 Color “Must-have”? Iris Blue, a bluer purple also seen in ready-to-wear collections this season. With steel gray being a popular clothing color for Fall, a great shoe or shoe boot in Iris Blue is the perfect way to modernize your look (shown L - Roger Vivier).

- © Karen Lascaris, 2008.

Welcome to Sole Savvy!

2008-10-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome Shoe Lovers!

Hello All! Allow me to introduce myself. I, like you, am a Shoe Lover. So much so that I've devoted much of my time to shoes over the last 15 years or so. I've been sketching them, designing them, shopping for them, consulting with others about them, and traveling the world just to see new versions of them! The times are definitely changing, but in times like these we can still indulge in our dreams. And what better to dream about than SHOES! We girls love 'em, and here at SOLE SAVVY we'll discuss the why we love them, where we buy them, what we wear with them - and how they make us feel. I'd love to hear what you have to say, and feel free to share your favorites with us.

The Spring 2009 Collections are upon us, but it's not even Winter yet, so I think we can start by reviewing the trends and catching a few sales. But don't forget to recycle: buy wisely, take care of your shoes, and your shoes will take care of you!

As Always, 'Sole-fully Yours'...

(shown above: Dries Van Noten).