Sweet Sunday: Mother's Day in Gianmarco Lorenzi Satin Platforms

Mommy, Dearest...

You wipe runny noses, drive the carpool, sit through recitals and/ or wake up for midnight feedings. You do more in one day than many people do in a week, and like Victoria Beckham, you do most of it in towering stilettos. Today, you deserve flowers... not the kind that wither and die (and require effort on your part to keep alive), though. Instead, you're entitled to a floral pair of shoes. These satin Gianmarco Lorenzi platforms are like a corsage for your feet... and then some. With a needle thin 5.1 inch heel, 1.5 inch platform, they say you have no intentions of running around today. Instead, you'll strut, and the royal blue color, combined with the magenta and blue florettes will have all eyes on you.

Though you'd normally drink mimosas at brunch, replace them with Wild Hibiscus Sea Urchins today (recipe & image by Danielle Tatarin via inovision.ca). The name may sound odd, but there's nothing fishy about the taste of this cocktail made from Van Gogh Vodka, Campari, Hiram Walker Blue Curacao, lime juice, soda water, honey foam and Wild Hibiscus syrup. It'll be semi- sweet, a bit floral and a tad bit tart. Send the kids out with family members and sip away all day. Remember to hydrate, though, because tomorrow's back to the normal chaos.


Happy Mother's Day!


Yours Shoely, 


Me

Shoe News: Footwear News Announces Italian Shoe Designer Awards Winners

Drumroll Please!

New York Fashion Week is in full swing, and we'll deliver our highlights and top picks very soon. Today, though, is all about Footwear News' "Stepping out in Italian Shoes" Popular Choice Awards. In April, the Italian Trade Commission and the Italian Footwear Manufacturers Association teamed with Footwear News to launch a microsite where visitors could vote for their favorite Italian shoe designers. (OF COURSE WE VOTED!) Fifty finalists in five categories were nominated by American footwear industry insiders. Last night, Jamie-Lynn Sigler announced the winners at a fabulous fete, complete with haute Hors d'oeuvres, decadent desserts and an assortment of amazing footwear donning attendees' feet. The winners (and our thoughts) are as follows:

Women's Designer: Claudia Ciuti

Women's Contemporary: Giorgio Fabiani

Men's Designer: Franceschetti


Men's Contemporary: Roberto Guerrini


Innnovative Design: Casadei

Our Thoughts: While we thing Ciuti's shoes are definitely cute, and Fabiani's designs are fine, but when you have other nominees like Gianmarco Lorenzi and Taccetti (who tend to have more eye-catching offerings), it's hard to agree with the selections. We do, however, totally agree with the Casadei nod (the Shoes & Booze team LOVES Casadei). Still we congratulate all nominees and winners.

Much Ado About Shoes: Bourgoisie Shoetique Event

Shoes & Ooooohs!

The Shoes & Booze team has decided to add a new feature to the blog. You see, we often attend fabulous fetes featuring fierce footwear, and we've realized it's only right that we share. Therefore, when you see "Much Ado About Shoes" in the title, you know it's event coverage.

Now, onto business! I attended Bourgeoisie Shoetique's spring affair "The Platform" in Harlem, NY this past Thursday night. (Partial proceeds went to the EIF Revlon Walk.) Haute girls in attendance at the swanky shoe soiree included host Selita Ebanks (Victoria's Secret model), Melyssa Ford (model), Bevy Smith (Big sis to the team & fashion correspondent), cast members from BET's Harlem Heights and my partner in style for the night, Liris Crosse (model/ actress). We sipped wine and tropical Belvedere cocktails while gnoshing on mini crab cakes, macaroni & cheese and other yummy hors d'eouvres. The models and celebs looked amazing, but what got me were the shoes! Models carried illuminated trays displaying some serious foot candy, and there were plenty of treats inside the boutique too! Liris is holding one of my favorite pairs, a platinum platform by Sergio Rossi. I also fell in love with pairs from Gianmarco Lorenzi's bronze hardware platform and Giuseppe Zanotti's black & cream Nero platform. (Both below, respectively.)