The Shoe Diaries

ShoeMall Merchandiser Rachel with Steve Madden

The first shoes I ever remember falling in love with were a pair of Steve Madden wedges. They were my first memorable pair of brand name footwear, and in all my fourteen years I had never seen a more perfect shoe. I lovingly called them my bale of hay shoes – in reference to the fact that the heel was covered in a twisted material that resembled straw. While the style may no longer sound fashionable, the brand remained as one of my favorites.

Later, when I was in college, that Steve Madden love stayed with me. I took a class that involved analyzing print ads. What did I choose to base my project around? A Steven by Steve Madden magazine advertisement. I was drawn in by the ad’s juxtaposition of high fashion and industrial images. It was one of my favorites – a creative image for an equally creative shoe brand. (I tried to find a copy of the ad online but no luck.)

Madden Girl Savvyy Pump

Rachel, one of our ShoeMall merchandisers and contributing trend editor to The Shoe Diaries, had the good fortune to meet the Steve Madden last week at the Footwear News Platform Show at MAGIC in Las Vegas. The two are pictured at the event. So jealous! It would have been awesome to meet the namesake of one of the brands that inspired my love of shoes. Not only that, but she says he loves what he does and it really shows when you meet him in person. Having passion of your own can really help to inspire passion in others! Love it!

Steve Madden Tristano Pump

Rachel was also recently quoted in a Footwear News edition almost completely dedicated to Steve Madden as the brand completes its 20^th year in the shoe business. She mentioned something that really fits in with my personal experiences with Steve Madden: “ . . . [that customer] can grow up with the brand and that’s pretty cool. It creates customer loyalty and a bond. You can evolve with the brand as it evolves.” – (Quoted from Footwear News). I completely agree – with multiple brands to choose from, Steve Madden offers styles for fashionable women of all ages.

Steven by Steve Madden Xtinct Pump

The Madden Girl line, including the Madden Girl Savvyy Pump, is perfect for the high school girl just venturing out into the world of fun shoes. The main Steve Madden line is a good fit for anyone looking for shoes with more mature fashion forward flair. (I’m really liking the studding on the Steve Madden Tristano Pump right now.) Last but not least is the Steven by Steve Madden line – this really takes things up a notch with additional detailing and drama. (Check out the studded sole on the Steven by Steve Madden Xtinct Pump.)

What about you? What was the first brand of shoes you fell in love with? Have your loyalties changed over the years?

Photo By PRPhotos.com

Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher had a very interesting story to share with the world yesterday. According to People.com, the two were on a flight from Las Vegas to New York that ended up making an emergency landing soon after takeoff. Luckily, neither actor was injured. In fact, they both tweeted about the ordeal soon afterward!

Demi and Ashton are pictured at the event that brought them to Las Vegas to begin with – the premier of the movie Spread. Demi looks absolutely amazing in her one strap black dress – very classy and ridiculously toned. (It’s hard to believe that she is almost 47 years old!)

Jessica Simpson Badoline

The flashy shoes she chose for the evening are perfect. They add a little something extra to her outfit without being over the top. Plus, the slight platform makes it easier to pull off such a high heel. The Jessica Simpson Badoline Pump is a good choice for anyone looking to copy this style for their own exciting night out. For all the fashionable men out there, a classic black slip-on is never the wrong choice.

Photo by PRPhotos.com

Say it’s not so! Per People, Dancing with the Stars fan favorite Julianne Hough will not be returning to the ABC hit show next season. It sounds like she would rather create music than dance to it.

Julianne recently made an appearance at the High School Musical 3: Senior Year premier in Los Angeles. Was she looking to get some musical pointers from the stars of this popular Disney movie? I’m not sure, but I do know that she definitely didn’t need any pointers in the fashion department. She looks amazing in the slip dress and adorable pumps she chose to step out in.

If you like her shoes but don’t want to spend a bundle to get something similar, take a look at the Lizza Pump by Jessica Simpson. Fashion at the fair price of $89.95 – what more can you ask for? Plus, the shoes are available in four neutral colors for those of us out there who can never buy just one pair