It’s the last day for promo code “SPICY09“, which means it’s the last day to get up to 70% off all sale merchandise at Betsey Johnson.

The promo code takes an additional 40% off the sale price, for a total discount maxing out at 70% – a killer, killer deal to be sure.  The Disney-esque flower dress I tried on in Las Vegas when I met Betsey is on sale at $179, striped leggings are $30, shag fur coat is $178 (this was one of the Opening Ceremony x Betsey Johnson pieces) and there are a whole host of other amazing pieces on for mega clearance.

There are still a good selection of sizes left, so get in there before the code expires!

There is no argument here – rose printed leather is an incredible thing any way you spin it.

MadeMe has created their masterpiece hooded leather bomber jacket to be of extreme individuality, for those who wear them set themselves apart from the rest of the lemmings.

They’ve still got small to large sizes available, each for $298.  MadeMe ships internationally (their flat int’l rate is $15 US), so nobody is left out of their flowery magic.. how excellent!

Keep a memory neuron aside for this brand – their SS10 collection will be a kicker!

All you’ve got to do is comment below and let Solestruck and demiCouture what your favorite pair of shoes are and why they turn your crank.

The contest is open now (Friday, December 18th) and closes December 26th; all accepted  entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM.  On the 27th, a winner will be declared by random drawing and contacted via e-mail.

Ensure that you comment with your actual email address so we can get ahold of you.

You can win your pick of any of Solestruck‘s shoes.  This is the place through which I acquired my Jeffrey Campbell Clinics, so they’ve got excellent stock.

Solestruck ships worldwide, so anyone can enter.

GOOD LUCK ALL!!

UPDATE:

Thanks to everyone for entering… we have our winner!

Everyone knows how mental I am over American Apparel’s floral lace pieces, and this takes things to a whole new level of awesome.

These are the AMAP floral stirrup tights, and as a lovely comrade of mine would say, “this solves the crotch problem with the bodysuit!”.  That’s right folks – you’ve got easy access and a swank new pair of leggings from American Apparel – all of your other problems are officially benign.

They’re $42 a pop, but as far as lace leggings go that’s pretty decent.  Besides, AMAP is made in the USA with fair labor and work ethics, unlike a certain cough Forever 21 cough.  I’ll be super hyped when these begin to be released in crazy colors… till then!

The Mini-market zipper boots have been a hit since they were released, and as such are quite difficult to find.  If you do locate a pair, they’re going to cash in at about $400.

Jeffrey Campbell has re-released the Pixie boot, which is a suede take on the Minimarket zipper wedge.

This boot’s minimalistic styling will positively accentuate nearly anything you wear it with, and at $195 won’t leave you broke as a joke.

I know there are a handful of JC die hards that have been waiting for this design to be re-released, so now is your time! Get ‘er done!

The Pixie comes in sizes 6 – 10, with half sizes available.

We’ve all seen the extreme trudgy hipsters who don their Mexican woven hoodies and whatnot, but this is a new lease on the Hispanic peasant weave.

These are the Huipile boot ($135), and they’re like your favorite blanket transformed into footwear.  If you’re a guy who is tired of the same ‘ol brogue or leather boot, this is a fun alternative.

These Huipile designs by Osborne are hand crafted in Guatemala using fair trade and locally sourced materials, so you can feel awesome about supporting local families and economies while wearing some rip-ass new booties!

Awesome possum.

For you review, I’ve compiled a hideous triangle of the fugliest footwear that can currently be found on too many feet.

These are all fashion crimes.  This does not take into account ‘practicality’ as an excuse; as far as you should be concerned there are no excuses to put any of these monstrosities on yourself.  If you’re thinking I’m loony tunes and there are some incidents when these would be OK, book yourself an appointment with a physician.

Yes, these are all crimes – Crocs, FUggs, flippy floppies, heeled sneakers, cork wedges, sweater boots, lucite heels, hairy boots (of any variety), sandal boots and pretty much all clogs.

If you’re ever in doubt, please review the Triangle Of Crap Footwear before doing anything you will regret.

Not everyone can afford a full on pair of leather leggings, and we all know deep down that all those faux pairs may want you to think they’ll look leather-like, but they won’t.

You want affordable, edgy leather leg wear and you’ve found it.

Jeffrey Campbell has delved into the territory of slashed footless leather leggings, aptly named the Coin Slash.

These babies are packed to the thigh with cut up leathery goodness and are – wait for it – $65 US per pair.

Yep, for that pale sum you can dress up nearly any pair of heels, wedges, booties – anything you already have in your footwear collection.

This isn’t something you should screw around waiting over; if you love them (and I know you will!) then get on down to Solestruck and grab a pair.  They ship worldwide, are prompt and offer amazing customer service.

I’m sure you can recall Prada’s leather hip waders on the FW09 runways, but they were entirely impractical due to the price, heel and sheer extreme appearance of the boots themselves.

Jeffrey Campbell has done a redux to save us – we have been gifted with the aptly named Obscene boots.  They are currently in stock at Solestruck shoes for $250 a pair, which includes a belt to keep up those true thigh high wader boots.

The Obscenes are leather, of course, and studded all the way up the boot shaft from bottom to top.  While these aren’t something you would go fishing in, you could go hook some eyes from Point A to Point B.

Now that’s obscene!

I took my Cazz foldable flats with me to Mexico (where I currently am), and found them to be incredibly useful.  So much so, that I’ve forsaken all other footwear for the Cazz!

They’re working so well in this tropical climate because they slip easily off (but stay on well), can fold up in your bag for beach walking and have soles that are bendable enough to be comfortable on short range walking in towns and such.

The best part is they’re leather, cost under $18 CA a pair and come in three colors that will go with anything.  I only wish they had day-glo versions!

How’s that for an easy vacation footwear fix?

As far as I’m concerned, this is the mother of all dainty footwear.  She boasts flower brocade without being tacky, studs without appearing aggressive and a wedge that keeps the bootie typical.

Ladies and Gents, this is the 80%20 Mayne boot, and it’s under $200 CA.

80%20 is a brand that you may not have heard loads about, though they pack a subtle punch to complete whatever effect you’re shooting for when dressing.

These are some beautiful boots.. if you want to be in the Good Holiday Books, gift this to a style loving recipient – they’ll love you for it.

With the recent torture of Balmain at The Outnet for [up to] 85% off and still largely unattainable, it’s time for a little nugget of good news.

Aldo has recently released the COUSEY; it’s a zippered ankle boot in the style of Balmain’s design.  This design is made from leather and sports a very similar thin heel as the Balmain does.  The COUSEY is still budget friendly at $160, and comes in sizes 6 – 11 which is grand as Aldo’s size 11s fit as 10s.

Keep these in mind for Boxing Week deals; save your buying for yourself ’till after the holidays.

I don’t even want to take the time to create an image for this..

GET TO THE OUTNET! SIGN IN! THEIR BALMAIN POPUP SALE JUST STARTED AND PRICES ARE UP TO 85% OFF!!!

These are incredibly iconic pieces at such steal prices… distressed jeans, chainmail dresses, embellishments and animal prints GALORE!!

TAKE ME THERE!!

Throughout the annals of history, there has always been a class system.  While most view this as detrimental to society as a whole, classist groups do have numerous qualities of redemption; so many that I’m inclined to view classism as an overall positive.

While many may view André Leon Talley is spitting in the face of his duties as a Vogue Editor-at-large to become a judge on America’s Next Top Model, he’s doing what one of every corporate royal family must do; throw themselves at the public’s view.  While it’s clear dear André is being used as an end of life crowd interest tool, there appears to be an underlying reasoning to why he has allowed this to take place.

Let’s take the Vogue family to the British Royals; one wouldn’t catch Anna Wintour or Queen Elizabeth making a mockery of themselves on such a television show.  Enter the late Princess Diana, the People’s Princess – she flouted the royal traditions and won the hearts of the commoner; most similar in action to André’s acceptance on the ANTM panel.

Every world needs its daring rule bender [whatever industry one may be in], and it’s the class skeleton that holds the industry from chaos and eventually returns its world to thriving normality.  Without this backbone, many would question the likes of Anna Wintour, for she would be not nearly of a publishing leader and Vogue would certainly be less much of its corporate tour de force, credibility and mystique.

We need the Tallys and the Wintours equally; without, there would be no Wintour, no figurehead of power.  While some may scoff at her need in the fashion industry, none can disagree when it is said she has shaped the modern fashion industry.  Without moguls such as her, there is no greatness, no sense of incredibly expectation.

Let’s all be relieved André made the choice to bump elbows with Tyra and the new crop of averages on ANTM – he is  playing his part, and the monarchy lives on.

These are the Jeffrey Campbell Morrow boots.  If they look familiar, it’s because you’ve probably seen them on the runway at Alexander Wang made the originals.

These ‘inspired by’ wonders are a knock out price wise at $203, and according to my source at Solestruck ‘look even better in person’.

They just hit the shop yesterday but are still in stock – Solestruck currently has sizes 6 through 10.

(yes, I’m still in Mexico… I couldn’t leave the internet without shouting about these boots!)

I’m off to the Mayan Riviera for two weeks tonight, so for those regular readers out there things may get a little dry.  I’m allotting one hour a day to internet time (yes, that includes writing!) so things keep fairly current and my inbox doesn’t explode in my face upon return on Christmas Day.

I’m going to try to do a vlog style thing with my iPhone and YouTube account, but until I know it works there won’t be a link published.  I’m going to check out cool Mexican hot weather style, and and particularly delicious tacky tourist images I can drum up.

Till then, I’m off to YVR to have some retarded sun exposure and utilize each one of my 24 mix and match bathing suit pieces from American Apparel.

UNTIL THEN, ADIOS!

David Lynch is typically known for his surrealist films, not designer collaborations until just recently.

Recently Louboutin recieved the Lynch treatment in the form of fetish image stills, featuring some incredible Loub one-offs that were completely vertical when worn.  The photos are included below for your enjoyment, particularly the first image which has shadows that create the look of am armless model.

Lynch isn’t stopping there – he is set to complete a Lady Dior commercial spot, which is quite odd in itself.  Dior is one house I cannot see lending itself to noir surrealism; they are no McQueen or Pugh when it comes to bucking the boundaries of visual design.

Apparently the commercial will be a secret agent style storyline, which is continuing from previous directors’ work.  The only way I can see this being Lynched (forgive the term!), is if the train had a limbo room where little people spoke backwards. 

The only thing I’m sure of is the finishing product will be [like all Lynch works], quite exceptional.

Georgia Jagger, the girl who looks like a genetic mashup of Erika Christensen and 90s singer Amanda Marshall has been named by the British Fashion Awards as model of the year.

This is like naming Pixie Geldof model of the year after the walked down Vivienne Westwood’s runway with a jiggling gut - what a farce!

While we’ve all seen odder ducks succeed on the modeling front, I have no doubt that Georgia’s fame stemmed from her parentage – not her skill on camera.

She was cast as the face of Hudson jeans, which was very uninspiring.  It was incredibly transparent that she was chosen for the publicity, not for her talent.

In 2008, Jourdan Dunn was awarded the BFA’s title of Model of the Year, and that was a brilliant choice.  Jourdan is eathereal, takes care of her body and looks as model-like off shoot as she does on; Georgia’s look is clearly the work of some talented estheticians and nothing more.

A BFA model of the year should versatile, and capable of more than one slack jawed, massive toothed look.

I call an end to this celebuspawn nonsense!

More often I’m hearing incorrect corporate and private usages of the term ‘couture’, and it’s driving me bananas.  This is the dictionary definition of couture:

cou·ture  (k-tr, -tür)

n. 1. The business of designing, making, and selling highly fashionable, custom-made clothing.

2. Dressmakers and fashion designers considered as a group.

3. The high-fashion clothing created by designers.

---

[French, sewing, from Old French cousture, from Vulgar Latin *cnstra, from Latin cnsuere, cnst-, to sew together : com-, com- + suere, to sew; see sy- in Indo-European roots.]

If you’ve been one of the many pining for Chloé’s studded belt style wrap boots, a less price intense boot has been located at Aldo.  They are the BEYNON, and at $170 are approximatley $440 less than their big sisters.

Bear in mind that these are synthetic, though I’ve seen (and felt) them in person and you can’t really tell.  I’m of the mind that $170 is pretty hefty for a non-leather shoe from Aldo, though if you’ve been searching for this design style it’s a worthwhile buy.

Either way, this is one grunge loving stompin’ boot one could wear to a runway show or grabbing snacks at the grocery.