Yves Saint Laurent Cage Shoes

via modepilot, shoespotlight, luxirare & thecherryblossomgirl

I tought I would post about the very photogenic footwear from Yves Saint Laurent s/s 09, considering how popular and copied they have become (especially the boot.) Most of the rip-offs and YSL themselves offer the shoe with a standard thin heel but these, with the thick caged heel, are the only ones worth noting. They are a very good example of a simple idea pushed really far and incredibly well executed.

New Balance M576 “Made in UK”

via highsnobiety

I love the combination of premium leathers and a running shoe.
Classic colours and mesh.

Balenciaga f/w 10

via style.com

I've been itching to post about these shoes since they were first shown but wanted better images. Well screw it. If I get better ones later, I'll give them another post. They deserve their own freakin talk show.

Kris Van Assche s/s 10 Sneakers

via freshnessmag

I've already posted about this collection - which I would trade a kidney for - but here are some closer looks. I'm even more amazed.

Love

via jak&jil

I love how much Jak & Jil blog loves shoes. Oh, and we both love Dries Van Noten.

Neoprene

Neoprene, which was originally called duprene, was the first mass-produced general-purpose synthetic rubber. Commonly used for many things including wetsuits and laptop cases, here are some examples of its application in shoes. I love how different materials can dictate design, and afford new possibilities, resulting in quite original creations. More on Neoprene at Wikipedia.

top to bottom:
Raf Simons neoprene & leather sneaker via upscalehype
Raf Simons f/w 09 collection showed a strong use of neoprene via gq.com
3 heels by Pierre Hardy via emiblake & iwantigot
Lanvin sneaker via slamxhype
Viktor & Rolf neoprene boot via 00o00
Nike Air Rift White via synamatiq
Nike Air Carnivore Retro "Nearly 17 years ago, it was one of the first silhouettes to use the neoprene boot and a series of straps to create a secure fit around the foot" via burnrubberdetroit

Louis Vuitton f/w 10

via style.com & backstageat

This was a cool show. Very pretty, very sensible clothes with beautiful and crazy and luxurious materials. I really liked the shoes which were also rather simple but kinda out-there because they are a bit of a shift from what has been popular in recent years. Pointy toes and a lack of platforms, which we are so used to seeing now days that it makes the front of these shoes look incredibly flat. This is also accentuated by the distinctive bow.

Maison Martin Margiela Glass Slippers

The thought of glass shoes kinda makes me sick. I imagine them smashing. This video made me feel better as it had me both laughing-out-loud and rolling on the floor laughing.

Alexander McQueen s/s 10 Mens Gladiator Sandals

via browns

I'm not really the biggest fan of gladiator sandals but I am a fan of simple footwear and raw cut leather, and these are done very nicely. They may not look minimalist but they are simple in their design. There is very little stitching and the laceholes also form the ribcage-like straps. That electric blue is also a spectacular colour for patent leather.

Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis Pukk Leather Brogues

via shortlist

This is rather amazing (for a shoe that's full of holes.)

Crocodile Embossed Suede at YSL

via ysl.com

Yves Saint Laurent have relaunched their website with some of their designs redone in new materials. I really love this Crocodile embossed suede - shown here in beige on their very popular, thin heeled, covered platform shoe and in grey on their 'Muse' handbag. Texture on texture might seem like overkill but I can't get enough.

Reebok x Jean-Michel Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat Untitled (Self-portrait), 1982-1983

Jean-Michel Basquiat Bird On Money, 1981

Reebok continues to release sneakers featuring the artwork of the late Jean-Michel Basquiat. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about them but they certainly are interesting.