She’s in fashion

As the days get shorter and darker, it gets harder and harder to drag ourselves out of bed and into work. Luckily for a shoe lover, the girls in the Vogue office can always be counted on to make the day merrier and brighter. These beautiful, classic black patent Prada pumps (above and below), for instance, would put a spring in anyone’s step. They belong to beauty queen Rita, whose Valentino heels and Massimo Dutti Chelsea boots have previously guested on this blog.

For a shot of super-cool style, check out fashion writer Nana in her “Serena” platform bootees by Loeffler Randall (below). 

You may have spotted Katya Z’s leopard print last month on the blog. Her “Anouck” Chelsea boots from Alexander Wang (below) have smart leather ribbed sides and braided leather collars at the back, but of course the standout detail is their metal hinge-effect heels. They flash across the office as Katya darts in and out of the fashion cupboard.

Two (of many) things to love about fashionista Liza: her beautiful smile and her gorgeous Burberry wooden wedges (below). 

Stylist Elena B has an eye for killer details (the Attilio Giusti Leombruni ponyskin brogues we blogged in October for example). Love these cobalt blue Giuseppe Zanotti peep-toe heels with the zips up the back – and love the way she teams them with seamed stockings.

I had to include these (below) because sometimes all you have to do is look down to feel like things are looking up.
Representing the art department, your Shoeblogger in Corso Como bootees. These are baby-soft black leather (so soft in fact that you can only pull them on with the aid of a shoehorn). The heels are metal spikes, cup-shaped under the sole, and buckled with a matte leather harness around the ankle. J’adore.

But my favourite look of the winter so far has to be this (below).
Elena S’s Miu Miu leopard-print ponyskin platform Mary Janes earned their own blog post back in the summer. Here, prefiguring the s/s 2012 trend for print on print (it’s going to be huge) she rocks them with tiger-striped hose. And the effect is electric. Anna Dello Russo eat your heart out.

Browns beauties

For fashion lovers worldwide, Browns boutique in London is a seminal shopping destination. Founded by the legendary Joan Burstein (aka Mrs B.) and her husband Sidney in 1970, it started as a small boutique on the ground floor at 27 South Molton Street and now spreads through five connecting townhouses. The visionary Mrs B. is credited with discovering John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and Commes des Garcons. "We buy only pieces we like, we edit tremendously," she says. 
(Thanks to RunningInHeels for the picture.) 

Across the street is Browns Focus, which "is targeted at the sophisticated, cutting edge market." And a few doors down is the less talked about but utterly addictive Browns Labels for Less, which – well, you can imagine what that's all about.

On a recent weekend back in London I went to pay hommage at the South Molton Street shrine and came away with these:

These are Burberry Aviator stiletto clogs. The uppers are dusty tan leather tough enough to saddle a pony. The hefty lug soles are girded about with a stippled shiny band of something that looks like duct tape. The heel is a cool five inches of graphite attitude. Swoons.

 Burberry's Aviator boots were the hit of last winter's season, but these still feel exciting for the coming fall. Somehow I picture myself wearing them with stirrup pants and a Tom Ford cable-knit sweater in Cortina d'Ampezzo, channelling Claudia Cardinale in The Pink Panther whilst Tyler Brulé whips us up a fondue Vaudoise. Schnapps anyone?

Wet Wednesday in NYC

London girls responded to last weekend's cooler temperatures with slouchy summer boots, but when I arrived in NYC on Wednesday to hot New York August rain I found that Manhattan ladies had taken the boots trend a step further – wellingtons.

They were in every colour, pattern and label. Who knew the sexy lingerie label Victoria's Secret also make pink rubber boots (above)?

Hunter Boot Ltd have been manufacturing wellies for 150 years. They provided boots for the British Army, notably for soldiers to wear in the flooded trenches of World War I, and have Royal Warrants from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Now Hunters come in rainbow hues, including magenta (above). I particularly like the space age silver ones below.

More designer labels: these very chic green wellies by Marc Jacobs (above) and the ever-popular Burberry check (below).

There were also plenty of classic black wellies. The girl below said hers were actually kids' size.

These shiny rubber boots (above) are from Strawberry – and brand new. I like the cowboy shape below (''I forget where I bought them, it was online.'')

Sitting out the damp in Union Square: Air Wair Doc Martens.