Gladiators salute

A stroll around west London on a hot Saturday afternoon confirms that gladiator sandals are unavoidable this summer, so best to embrace the inevitable and admire the most original. The graphic black and white ones above are from H&M (my model didn't speak English, but her boyfriend was quick to tell me she just bought them the day before). I spotted more than one pair of these this afternoon, so perhaps they don't qualify as all that original, but the monochrome, metal, and thick ankle strap is definitely a trend in itself. Ditto rocking your gladiators with black leggings.

Brand new meets retro

Lynnette is a beauty expert, and she brightened our Monday girls' night out with these fab retro Van Dal peep-toe courts. Her pedi is the opposite of retro – "Jade is the New Black" from the O.P.I. Hong Kong Collection, summer 2010. Remember where you saw it first.

Supermarket chic

Late Sunday in west London, spotted a girl wearing these great clogs in the supermarket. We applaud the wearing of three-inch platforms to pick up groceries!

Photo-view footwear

Lots of fab footwear at last Thursday's viewing for the Photographs sale at Phillips de Pury in London. (The sale itself takes place on May 20 at 5pm). Elena, above in the ankle-tied leather stilettos, is an artist – and one of her subjects is shoes. www.strygina.com


Two variations on Yves Saint Laurent. At top, classic black patent straps, and above, the gorgeous Chloris 105 for S/S 2010 in brown suede. (That's nearly $900 worth of brown suede, by the way.)

You can't go wrong with a classic pair of black patent Louboutins, as Tamila, above, demonstrates.

Alice in Westminster

Spotted these great patent lace-ups on Wednesday evening in Westminster. I love the slightly Alice In Wonderland yellow-and-navy candy-striped heels (coincidentally the colours of the brand new LibDem-Tory coalition just up the road...) Their owner, who was wearing a very chic little navy coat, told me they are "just Camper".

Gold chain #6: customised Converse

Spotted on a grey Monday evening in west London, these amazing gold-studded Converse High Tops (the studs go right round the heels.) I chased the wearer to find out where she got them – "I made them myself!" On-trend, economical, creative, and cool – we are impressed.

Street art style

Friday in London, an early evening book launch for ''Beyond the Street: The 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art'' at Phillips de Pury. In attendance, lots of cool artists (Alexöne Dizac, Matt Small, Blek Le Rat) and some very cool shoes. Above, Lina from Berlin in Martin Margiela.

Love Fiona's ankle boots (where from? ''America!'') and in awe of anyone who can balance on a three-inch (8 cm) nail...

Ultra-cool and absolutely classic: red suede stilettos with a five-inch (13 cm) heel, worn with jeans and a trench. Observe the vertical drop from heel to ball of foot. Awesome.

Gold chain #5: on the High Line

I am over gladiators already. However, the simplicity and elegance of this girl, relaxing in the sun on the High Line last weekend in a young Greek goddess kind of way... well, it works. It certainly worked for the guy sitting next to her who insisted on art directing her ankles for my shot.

Saturday night fever

10.30pm, Saturday night in NYC: simple, classic, but with a retro vibe. She could have been en route to CBGB to listen to Debbie Harry or the Ramones circa 1974...

Gladiators look to be big again this summer (yawn) so kudos to anyone who can come up with an original and attractive variation on the theme. Like these extremely pretty ones, spotted on Broome Street, combining fine leather strands with metallic beaded cuffs. And her white pedi adds the finishing touch of cool.

Rocking the blues

Blue suede shoes have been a classic since 1955, when Carl Perkins kicked off, ''Well, it's one for the money..." (Legend – ok, Wikipedia – has it that Johnny Cash gave Perkins the idea for the song. Carl said, "I don't know anything about shoes. How can I write a song about shoes?'') This week's smash hit is Arianna and her fabulous 21st-century style queen version: JC de Castelbajac high-heel buckle-cuffed blue suede ankle boots. These boots – and Arianna – really rock.

Sunday Burch

If there is one label that seems to say 'New York' (at least to the visiting shoe blogger), it's Tory Burch. As soon as the sun comes out, it starts glinting off thousands of those complicated little 'TB' logos all over Manhattan. I shot these three in the space of twenty minutes and four blocks on Broadway.

Gold chain #4: clogs on King Street

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a girl on King's Road, Chelsea (London) wearing a fabulous pair of gold clogs, but missed the chance to take her picture. I've been thinking about gold clogs ever since. So when I saw these on Saturday evening in a Vietnamese restaurant on King Street, Soho (NY) I was, as they say, stoked.

Saturday afternoon in Manhattan

Spotted on Grand Street: very cool sandals combining patent leather, bandage straps, and an aqua suede wedge heel.

Hot chocolate brown leather wedges, seen at 14th and Hudson. Love the brown pedicure too.


This girl and her mom were out in the Meatpacking District. I admired her gorgeous mid-heel black patent sandals, the flowers at the ankle perfectly set off by a delicate lilac pedicure. ''I'm so glad you said that,'' said our model. ''My mom bought them!'' Another triumph for moms' taste in shoes.

Gold chain #3: cowpoke bling

Vintage gold cowboy boots at the Hell's Kitchen Flea.

Sofia Bonita, NYC

Though tempted by the vintage Ferragamo in Hell's Kitchen Flea on Saturday morning, what I actually bought was this pair of leather, wood and bead flip flops (or thongs, as we do not call them in England.) They are handmade in Brazil and sold by Sofia Bonita, who is passionate about her shoes and the people who make them. All the shoes have the same angular sole, leather with a metal strip in the centre for support, and wooden block heels, but the uppers and beading on each pair is different. They are extremely comfortable and proved a particularly wise buy later in the day when the temperature hit 87°F (30.5°C)...

Vintage heaven in Hell's Kitchen

If you're looking for vintage pumps in New York, Hell's Kitchen Flea Market on 39th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues is a good place to start. About 10am on a Saturday morning, no crowds, you can have your pick of Chanel courts, Dolce & Gabbana slingbacks, and lots and lots of gorgeous Ferragamo spectators.

Chambers Street 9am: TGIF

Friday morning in NYC, heading to the subway. I loved this lady's red patent mock-croc peep-toe slingbacks. (The guy panhandling on the corner approved: ''I see you have an eye for fashion.'')