Rene Caovilla, Spring-Summer 2010 Collection, Floral Ruffle Sandals, $975 (above)

Founded by Edoardo Caovilla, a student of the Italian industrialist Luigi Voltan, who returned from America to build on the historic Venetian shoemaking tradition. Later, Edoardo Caovilla chose a path between craftsmanship and couture, and in the 1950s his son, Rene Fernando, continued to develop the concept by creating a bond with art. He focused on the top segment of the market by becoming a sculptor of sophisticated evening shoes, elegant jeweled creations, sensual, ultra-precious chaussures. Today, Rene Caovilla brand name is well known worldwide as a symbol of style, quality and chic high-end couture footwear.

Our favorite pieces from Rene Caovilla Spring-Summer 2010 Collection are: classic black sandals featuring black pearl and pleat satin flower soutage with matching Swarovski crystals.

Rene Caovilla, Spring-Summer 2010 Collection, Black Satin Sandals (above)

We also love the gorgeous fuchsia satin pump sandals featuring elegant knot sumtuosly decorated with Murano glass beads and Swarovski crystals.

Rene Caovilla, Spring-Summer 2010 Collection, Pink Satin Sandals (above)

The jewel of the new collecton is the most elegant, sophisticated and refined gold sandals featuring thin leather straps and a cluster of crystals at the top.

Rene Caovilla, Spring-Summer 2010 Collection, Gold Jeweled Sandals (above)

1. Heidi Daus Mother-of-Pearl 10-Row Graduated Necklace.
The necklace, measuring about 20-1/2″L x 4″W, instantly captures your attention with an enchanting allure. This trully exquisite piece of jewelry features 10 graduated rows of round dyed blue mother-of-pearl discs (approx. 15mm).

Heidi Daus Mother-of-Pearl Necklace (above)

The scroll-design end stations and toggle clasp feature pave-set, round indicolite-, aquamarine- and chrysolite- crystals, CRYSTALLIZED Swarovski elements. Prong-set, round indicolite- and erinite-color crystals and aquamarine-color crystal baguettes stud the showstopping design.

Heidi Daus Mother-of-Pearl Necklace (above)

2. Emilio Pucci Metal-Arm Sunglasses.

These sunglasses have turquoise plastic frames with Emilio Pucci signature cutout detail, tonal gradient lenses, printed interior, silver-tone logo plate at temples, and 100% UV protection.

Emilio Pucci Turquoise Sunglasses (above)

3. Salvatore Ferragamo Mia Peep Toe Cutout Pump.

The jade colored shoes are going to take your breath away. Both contemporary and classy, delicate and making a statement, contained and flirty – this pair is truely a state-of-the-art piece. The shoes have a gorgeour Oxford perforated and cutout detail, as well as perfect 3 1/4″ stacked heel. Do not wait too long to add these to your collection – they are almost gone.

Salvatore Ferragamo Mia Peep Toe Cutout Pump (above)

Loriblu Gold Leather Sandals adorned with Swarowski crystals ($768) (above)

In 1978, the Loriblue brand sucessfully introduced the most popular style “Mignon”, the extremely feminine shoe that was made of leather stripes plaited together that was immediately considered trendy and innovative:  a model that one could wear all year long, no matter what the season was. This was the year of the the Loriblu boom, when 110,000 pairs of “Mignon” shoes were sold. Loriblu became an international company, maintaining its creative heart inspired by the consumers’ taste for handcrafted details in footwear.

Loriblu Gold Leather Sandals adorned with Swarowski crystals ($966) (above)

While developing a unique style and brand maturity, Loriblu marches into the 80’s with another innovative choice from a creative viewpoint and from more research into handcrafts: this was the age of the “jewel sandal”. Rhinestones, crystals, Swarovski crystals started a lively but sophisticated fashion trend, which in 1996 reached its greatest expression through the creation of a unique style: “The golden shoe” was made in occasion of the “Scarpetta d’oro” award for style awarded within the footwear industry. The Golden Shoe was a symbolic shoe, made entirely of gold, diamonds and zircons with an estimated value of 50 million lira of the time.

Loriblu Spring-Summer 2009 Collection Ad (above)

The Loriblu’s precious footwear approached the 90’s and the new Millennium, enriching the brand’s personality by promoting research on the product and by paying attention to the company’s mood. During the 2007 Luxury Trade Fair a particular golden slipper was exhibited and admired, this footwear was created for a prestigious customer and was made with exclusive materials: black decorated satin on one ankle strap, 18k golden heels and natural river pearls.

Loriblu Spring-Summer 2009 Collection Ad (above)

Today, many Italian and International Celebrities are captured by the Loriblu shoes, the new object of feminine desire. The footwear goes beyond the boundaries of the accessories sector creating out of the ordinary and unexpected combinations that signifies Loriblu’s approach to the glamourous styling: an ethereal sensuality that now also involves men, ready to satisfy the most demanding tasted and most vivid imaginations.

Loriblu Sandals adorned with Swarovski Crystals (above)

The pleasure and elegance that has always characterized Loriblu, where the richness of every single creation goes together with absolute comfort, is clearly appreciable in the exclusive and precious “jewel sandals”. Even more than during the past, decorated like real art works, thanks to a particular research on stones and crystals all hand fixed. Jewel for feet, worn and loved by the most famous celebrities.

Printings playing with tones and the most luxury materials, where a joyful and forever young woman can look at her reflection in a pond full of light.

The shoes by Loretta Pettinari are characterized by their exclusive attention to detail. The artfully created products represent a mix of Italian creativity, search and quality. Loretta Pettinari brand has been developing and nurturing its very unique style for over 25 years, with the company’s main goal being to consolidate its position in a more and more demanding market, to acquire experince and expertise needed to help refine the brand’s style, and to constantly search for new materials and shapes.

Loretta Pettinari – Spring-Summer 2009 Collection (above)

The new Spring-Summer 2009 collection by Loretta Pettinari features bold colors and artistic combination of different materials and textures. The shoes and slingbacks combine metallics and patent leather for a chic look.

Loretta Pettinari Sandals – Spring-Summer 2009 Collection (above)

The sandals and matching bags feature a bold combination of red and snake-textured leather with metallic touch-ups. Pleat and bow details work together to create an elegant look.

Loretta Pettinari Shoes & Bag - Spring-Summer 2009 Collection (above)

The classic red shoes concept gets a contemporary twist being adorned with patent leather buckle details. The metching red bad will make almost any outfit look like you are dressed up for a special occation.

2. Manolo Blahnik - Jeweled D’Orsay – $715.00

3. Miu Miu - Jeweled Sandal – $750.00

4. Manolo Blahnik - Something Blue, Satin Jeweled Pump - $945.00

5. Dolce & Gabbana - Rosette Pump - $695.00

Manolo Blahnik “Caymino” slingback sandals (above)

Linea Paolo “Farris” Mary Jane Shoes (above)

The first pair of Robin’s Jean was created in January of 2005 by designer Robin Chretien, born in 1957 in Grenoble, France. The son of a pilot and a designer, he was fascinated by his country’s haute couture movement—but more so with images from America beaming into his life in the French Alps. “As a kid I must have watched The Wild One and Easy Rider hundreds of times,” says Chretien. “For me, growing up was always about motorcycles, denim jeans and leather jackets.”

It makes sense, then, that with the combined influences of his creative mother, the prevailing fashions in France and, of course, the très cool denim-branded Americanism showing up in his cinematic favorites, Chretien’s first job would be in the fashion industry—and that his focus would immediately be on denim.

“I started in the business at sixteen years old,” says Chretien, currently one of the leading denim designers in the United States and the head of Robin’s Jean Company, his own fledgling line of popular designer jeans that are selling out at the hottest boutiques in the country. “A couple of years later, I was opening fourteen stores for a large company, involved with the merchandising, staffing, buying and sales.”

But Chretien had always wanted to do more than handle the business side of clothing. Fascinated with the designs of the world’s best denim companies in the 1970s, he started designing his own denim brand in his twenties, and he knew immediately that he had found his passion. His jeans were carried in the fourteen stores he worked for, but he wanted more.

“It was during my first visit to Los Angeles in 1981 that I fell in love with the United States,” he says. “I promised myself that I would return to start my own denim brand there, and build a new life.”

But it was another 15 years before Chretien made the move across the Atlantic, just in time to be a part of the birth of the designer denim movement that has been sweeping the nation for the past several years. The Los Angeles-based Chretien started his American career at denim giant Blue Cult as a designer and head of product development.

In 2002, Chretien parted with Blue Cult and helped start a new line: Hudson Jeans. As the only designer in the company, as well as the manager of all product development, he was the brains behind the brand that quickly became a celebrity favorite. His 170 SD style, with their signature back pocket flap, became a huge success. Later, Chretien gave the jean a longer inseam and dubbed it the Super Model, and sales went through the roof.

It was during this time that the designer denim craze was at its height, and Hudson was one of the leaders in the crowded industry. Jeans had begun regularly selling for between $170 and $350.

“People want novelty,” Chretien explains. “The market demands a level of quality, and the cost of giving people what they want and producing in the United States drives the price to these levels. Also, producing a new collection every three months and bringing it to the people is no simple task.”

Chretien soon realized that he would never reach his full potential with Hudson, a company that wasn’t his. So he left to start his own.

“You live and learn and have to move on,” he says. “So, rather than waste time, I started Robin’s Jean Company.” That was in late 2004.

By January 2005, Chretien had completely reinvented his take on denim and had released the first pair of jeans from his new line. They were an immediate hit with the many store owners who had been familiar with Chretien’s work at Hudson.

Today, Robin’s Jean is produced from start to finish in Los Angeles. The fit of Robin’s Jean is what differentiates the brand from the others. Robin’s experience in the denim industry has allowed him to perfect his proportions and the placement of each detail. Robin’s Jean are flattering on all body types. They are made mostly of stretch fabrics, which are comfortable and help the denim to hold its shape. In the back of the jean, the rise is a little higher, which helps to minimize the gapping problem. With their signature embroidered wings logo (stitched either prominently across the back of the jeans, or more subtly on the back pockets or pocket flaps), slim silhouette, universally flattering fit and unique wash techniques, Robin’s Jeans have gathered steam at unprecedented rates.

Chretien says that he can’t give away the secret of how his jeans manage to flatter virtually any body shape. But he says it’s all about paying attention to the intricacies of the human form.

“It’s about proportion and the placement of each detail, and understanding how the body moves,” he says. “I’m always happy to hear that people love the jeans I make, but it always comes down to the fit. It doesn’t matter how much you embellish a pair of jeans. Th ey have to be flattering and sexy.

“Of course I pay attention to trends, but not to just chase them,” he continues. “I am always thinking about new styles and looks. Sometimes I have to stop my car to sketch a new silhouette or detail. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to draw an idea that I was just dreaming about.”

The collection currently features three outstanding styles for Women and Men, available in multiple washes with the signature logo on the back pockets:

Skinny Leg Jean: Narrow cut denim with a late 70’s, early 80’s Rock-n-Roll appeal. Very fitted and body conscious, tapered at ankle.
Straight-Leg: In between wide and narrow hem, with the original shape bock pocket and embroidered wings on rear. Cut to appeal to a more classic and couture sensibility for denim.

Christian Louboutin, Point-Toe Patent Boots (above)

To me, the only downturn in these boots, otherwise perfect, are self-covered (leather covered) heels, which I find quite impractical.

Yves Saint Laurent, Large Tribute Tote (above) 16″W X 16½”H X 2″D

Linea Paolo “Brennan” Oxford Pump (left)

One woman asked me if these were Balenciagas, and when I told her they were not, she said that mine were the knock-offs of Balanciaga style. Not offended a bit, I only began to wonder, if Balenciaga was first to introduce the cutout booties style, and if so in what season, beecause as far as I know, this trend really started catching in the Spring / Summer of 2008, but is continuing to gain popularity, and many Spring 2009 lines are introducing styles with these features.

The cutout booties provide the high-cut coverage of a bootie, combined with the airiness of a sandal. They can be have cut away sides, open toes, cut out heels, or any combination of those features, cutout booties are for all seasons from early Fall to early Summer.  Cut out booties usually have high heel which adds some sex apeal to mult-seasonal dressy look. They can compliment almost any simple of dressier outfit from jeans to dresses.

I looked through the internet for those Balenciaga boots or shoes that looked so similar to my Linea Paolo “knock offs” but could not find any, but this pair that looks somewhat similar.

If this is what she meant, than I choose my Linea Paolo boots, or oxford pumps. While searching for Balenciaga cutout booties, I came accross other styles that look more similar to my Linea Paolo booties. One is leather oxford pump by Philosophy di Alberta Feretti.