AVATAR SHOES INVADE FASHION RUNWAYS!

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - ALIEN PLATFORM Not exactly what they are wearing on Pandora, but fashion designers from NY, Paris, & Milan have been showcasing platform shoes that are out of this world!

The trend has been rising for a few years  now, and who can say when it will reach it's peak or shall we say summit?   It seems that women have always wanted longer legs and smaller feet.   To say these shoes give you height, is an PANDORANS FROM AVATARunderstatement!  Balenciaga, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Ferragamo all have amazing platform shoes  for Fall 2009 and Spring 2010.

JOHN GALLIANO -GALACTIC GYPSY ON THE RUNWAYNo one can compete with Lady GaGa as the poster girl for the platform trend.   GaGa is an international style icon, and her image is as powerful - as her sound.    Her incredible video for BAD ROMANCE featured dazzling creations by Alexander McQueen.  With all her talent, maybe GaGa is from a galaxy far, far away.  She recently told Oprah that she had the idea of painting herself blue, long before Avatar came out.   Maybe James Cameron will ask GaGa to be in the sequel!LADY GAGA "BAD ROMANCE" - ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

Of course Ferragamo is no stranger to platforms.   After all, Salvatore Ferragamo was the first designer to show the platform ( in fact, he received the first ever shoe patent for his cork wedge platform back in the 1937).    The image of his multi-colored platform wedge from the early 30's is known around the world.FERRAGAMO CIRCA 1932FERRAGAMO FALL 2009 - LUISA - PLATFORM STILETTO

For Spring 2010, the House of Ferragamo celebrates the legacy of Salvatore's innovation with a group of shoes inspired by the sea - and the iconic Ferragamo platform.    With countless folds of leather, painstakingly crafted by hand and studded for texture,  each shoe is a work of art.  Ferragamo was the first designer to utilize "sea leathers" or skins from the ocean.   Stingray, eel, python, and various fish skins were all in the designers collection in the 30's.FERRAGAMO GIORDANA - $1,150.00

The spring 2010 collection is full of neutral metallic options that are as hot with jeans as they are with that little party dress. The house has also just revamped their website - making purchasing on-line so much easier - click FERRAGAMO

Everyone knows that shoes have taken over as the HOT accessory in women's fashion.   You can rock your jeans from last year, but shoes are one item you want to invest in each season.   One or two great pairs can keep your entire wardrobe relevant.   

BALENCIAGA "TOY" SHOES - 2007/8In August of 2007, these colorful killers by Balenciaga ran in a story in Elle Magazine.  Inspired by toys (Legos), at the time they seemed really far fetched.   Fast forward a few years, and they seem to be right in step with the trend!

*Jason Jobson is a representative of Salvatore Ferragamo Inc.

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Creatures from the McQueen Lagoon!

McQUEEN SPRING 2010 - PHOTO- MARCIO MADIERACan someone give Alexander McQueen some happy pills?  The self appointed bad boy of British fashion, bankrolled by Gucci Group, Mr. McQueen dragged us through another season of making pretty models look ugly through a one note gimmick.     

For Spring 2010, the inspiration was an apocalyptic view of the future, where melted ice caps have created some type of hybrid human-sea creature.  WHAT?  The girls looked like some strange breed of antelopes, with long legs swallowed by ugly shoes creating a hoof like effect.  Hair followed suit, styled into mini horns or antlers.   The overall look is a cross between two movie images - Silence of the Lambs, and The Mothman Prophecies.  

Mr. McQueen, Can't you just design beautiful clothes for women who spend alot of money?McQUEEN - SPRING 2010 - MARCIO MADIERA   What is the problem?   Maybe you missed your calling as a costume designer for science fiction movie studios.   It's not too late!  Please do us all a favor and stop wasting runway time with these twisted visions of a misogynist's view of women.   I think the next year of your life would be better spent on an analyst's couch, rather than creating two more collections like this!  

I remain convinced McQueen is overrated as a designer, at least of Women's RTW.   I have owned a few pairs of his designs for Puma - which are great, but don't let a friend wear this RTW.  JENNIFER CONNELLY FOR BALENCIAGA Another design house in the Gucci Group stable, Balenciaga, showed a better version for Spring 2009 of a futuristic dream than this McQueen collection could ever be.    Jennifer Connelly is the face of Balenciaga and she showcased those beautiful creations, which by the way were an homage to the Balenciaga archives from the 30's.   Mr. McQueen, time to do something original - and commercially viable - pronto!

GAGA FOR BALENCIAGA

Lady GaGaNo, not Lady GaGa - although we love her - she is GaGa for Thierry Mugler!  We are GAGA over the latest Balenciaga Collection that Nicholas Ghesquiere showed in Paris on Thursday.    The collection was directional, wearable, and so Parisian chic!  While words like commercial are not always used as a compliment in the designer fashion world - in this economy - believe me - it is a compliment.  Nicolas Ghesquiere Ghesquiere draped silks and velvets in a way that was more Venetian shades than rouching - but it worked.   Nicholas toned down his out of this world aesthetic that has dominated his last few collections and gave us soft and supple and luxe by the mile.   These are the type of pieces that women will continue to spend large sums of money on.   When one look can make a woman feel feminine, sexy, and cover her arms all at the same time - its recession proof!  I'm sure department store buyers will be rewarding designers who can manage to serve up excitement on the runway - while still creating looks that will have registers ringing at full price next fall!