I bought one of Aldo’s DIY kits this week. I am sure that any craft store would sell the same studs or even better ones, but I thought the price was pretty reasonable for this little kit ($4) and a lot of people won’t be bothered to go to a craft store. I am not sure I will put this on a pair of shoes, maybe something else, I’ll post the results when I have them.

I like that Aldo has decide to launch this range, it is very on-trend for recessionistas, and it is a fun way to update shoes. I thought the studs thing would be going out of fashion, but apparently not, especially since the new Lousie Goldin for Topshop shoes are generating A LOT of hype. I want them.

No studded shoe will ever compare with these Sonia Rykiel shoes I got years ago when I was working there. Their box is labelled “The Shoes”, they have had quite some history, and have travelled many places. My favorite incident was when I broke both heels off falling down the stairs at Claridges Hotel, coming out of Mick Jagger’s penthouse suite. Thankfully I had a great shoe repair in London! These never went into production, so there was only ever a small number made (maybe 4 or 5?) which makes them even more special.

THE shoes

Aldo also had these leather straps you can add onto boots. These are also pretty cool, I would put them onto biker boots. (I don’t have any biker boots, but am contemplating buying some. They would be practical for the weather here in Vancouver, rain every single day, for 23 hours a day.) The Aldo photography and layout looks a bit dodgy tho…

I am sure nearly everyone has seen these photos somewhere by now, but they are still WOW!

Originally posted on vogue.co.uk, the photos really do show how extreme the Alexander McQueen Spring Summer 2010 runway shoes are. I am sure the commercial versions will be toned down a great deal, which will make these press samples a real treasure once they come out of press circulation. I am looking forward to seeing how the Spring Summer magazines are going to photograph them, and,  I am sure Steve Madden will have trouble copying these.

It was announced last week that the Rodarte boots from the Autumn Winter 2009/2010 collection (designed by Nicholas Kirkwood) will only be available in Dover Street Market in London. I toyed wit the idea of calling to se if they had any left in my size, not that I can really afford them (they cost £2250) but they are so bloody fantastic it might just be worth it. In the end, I didn’t call, knowing full well that they were probably sold out before they even arrived in store.

But it does make me think…I find it a bit strange that Rodarte designs pretty nice dresses, but their shoes are AMAZING. It seems there is a major discrepancy between quality of shoe design and quality of dress design. No offence to the Mulleavy sisters, who are great designers, but their shoes are from another planet, a very rock’n'roll planet at that.

Rodarte AW09/10 boots designed by Nicholas Kirkwood (image from www.dazeddigital.com)

In fact, my dream shoes are a pair of the Louboutin spike stilettos from their Spring Summer 2009 collection, and I’ll take a pair of the matching gloves too.

Rodarte Shoes SS09 designer By Christian Louboutin (image from www.harpersbazaar.com)

Rodarte Shoes SS09 designer By Christian Louboutin (image from www.harpersbazaar.com)

The Rodarte Gloves (image from www.hintmag.com)