SATC

Imitation = Flattery? SJP Angelica and Maddalena Pumps vs Manolo Blahnik "Something Blue" Hangisi

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To say I’m utterly disgusted and disappointed would be putting it mildly.

When I saw that the SJP collection was coming to Bloomingdale’s, I thought I would go by and see how the collection, which I’ve reviewed previously, was expanding.  I figured I would see some pretty yet boring pieces along the lines of the initial styles.  I was not expecting to see something shocking.

But I was absolutely floored to see that SJP had utterly ripped off possibly the most iconic shoe from all of Sex and the City – the Manolo Blahnik “Something Blue” Hangisi pump.

Here is the Angelica from the new SJP Collection at Bloomingdales (The similar ‘Maddalena’ style is at Nordstrom’s and has a pointier toe.) –

And here is the Hangisi. The shoe which is essentially the emotional touchstone of Carrie and Big’s resolution in the movie.  The shoe he proposes to her with. The shoe bought for her wedding, abandoned and then worn for the simple ceremony they ultimately had. A shoe created just for this movie by Mr. Blahnik.

In some articles the leveraging of the style is more blatant. Heck in the Bloomingdale’s item description, they even include a reference to “something blue”. I know the Blahnik team is involved in the SJP Collection, which makes it even more disappointing. Why not use her line as an opportunity to do something new and delightful.  It can’t be the price point because these heels are over $500 (ironically, that is what they said the MB’s were in the movie. Now they’re over $900), not exactly a bargain.

So am I being too harsh? Are they different enough? Or are they leveraging a little too heavily on the SATC/Carrie magic and not creating any magic of their own?

Read more in the Imitation = Flattery series.

Buying in Belk

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I was randomly in the mall yesterday and went into a department store I almost never go into… Belk. Belk, to me, is in the same tier Dillards, Macys, etc. Somewhere between JCPenny’s and Nordstroms. I almost never even go into these stores.

[REVISED: I received a comment (which you will see below) that I came off a bit harsh in describing the stores above so I revised my text a bit to what is there now. I wanted to clarify – I generally don’t go into any of these department stores because I don’t like the overall experience. It doesn’t have much to do with the price or the merchandise (although quality can vary which is why there are different stores) but generally I find them a pain. Personally, I like the shopping experience at Target 100x’s better than I do at any department store in the mall. Is is the lighting, the layout, the sales people? I don’t know. ]

As I walked around with my friends we noticed a few cute dresses and were looking at the brand. They were Kristin Davis. Charlotte York Goldenblatt of SATC fame. And she was everywhere in that store. They had clothes and purses and jewelry.

And shoes.

As I walked through the shoe department and saw her display, I wasn’t overly impressed by the styles of any of them. But one shoe did catch my eye, although not in a good way. The “Amber” Platform sandal.

Ummmmm…. remind you of anything?

Not only was this line not overly expressive of her style or the character’s style, but they are ripping off shoes identified with another character!

What’s going on here?

I’ll grant them that some of the dresses are kind of cute but this is just wrong!

Reinterpretations

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

If you have any familiarity or love for Sex and The City, you probably were aware of this shoe from the movie. It was everywhere last fall and is still selling online.

And if you saw the movie, you couldn’t help but see it because Patricia Field had it in every other scene it seemed like.

Pat likes to bring the SATC style to the masses by selling similar pieces in her store (arglye thigh-highs, check!, giant flower pin, check!, floaty dresses and half-gloves, check!) but she is also doing this with her line for Payless it seems.

I was on looking to see if there were any cute rainboots and stumbled upon this:

This can’t be anything but a dumbed down version of the Dior sandal. Yes, I know we can’t all shell out almost $800 bucks for the original. And I can’t say this is some one interpreting a trend or even aware of the trend. We KNOW Pat is aware of this shoe. I hope she got some sort of approval becauase this is just doing a bad rip-off.

And it doesn’t need to be this way, even if it is made for payless. I call it a dumbed down version because the color is bad, the heel is unecessarily thick, the platform is just too chunky.

Maybe these are the things she had to do to keep from getting sued but Dior but I still think it is close enough for that.
Personally, I think they should just not have bothered. These took away all of the design elements that made the original a tough but sexy sandal (although not a style I could pull off well) and made it tacky.

What are your thoughts?

Both Ends of the Spectrum

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Wellllll…. the other day I came home and there were two packages waiting for me. And upon opening them, they pretty much showcased my two opposite ends of the style spectrum.

On one hand we have these delicious blue Manolo Blahniks. I know. More blue. But how could I resist? You recognize them, right?

No?

Want a small clue?

Does this help give a hint?

Okay, here’s the big reveal. Ooops! Spoiler!

So. Those are delicate, rarified, decadent.

The other box contained these…

These are some kick-a** Ann Demeulemeester boots. I adore the triple lacing. It’s hard to appreciate how completely over the top these are unless you are in person. I tried them on when they arrived and the hubby was a bit taken aback I think.

To fully appreciate these you have to take a peek over at Sea of Shoes. Jane and her mom have 2 pairs each! Obvioulsy well-funded ladies to be sure.

But they both do a great job of styling their high-heeled pairs in a variety of ways, from causual to Victoriana to almost equestrian. I don’t have nearly the closet options they do but I think I would wear these with dresses, jeans, pencil skirts and more.

Very different choices indeed. But I love them both. They kind of represent what I feel are my two sides.

Now, the question is… do we keep them.

As always, a very difficult decision.

I’m thinking. I’m thinking.

At the Crossroads

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

So I am finally wearing my Proenza Schouler sandals that I got on sale. These heels are way higher than they look. Kudos to SJP/Carrie for trotting around in them, even if it is only for a shot or two during filming.

I have a vision to get a cute mustard colored skirt to wear with them, but in the mean time I decided to wear a denim pencil skirt, a black cami and the hook and eye jacket from Patrick Robinson for Target. What’s cool is that the hook and eyes on the jacket are a brass metal and it picks up the hardware on the shoes.

Mine are brown leather on the heel rather than the snakeskin version from the movie.

I am totally convinced that all they did for the movie was just cross buckle the straps. I wore them the traditional way but here they are both ways.

From the outside the cross-buckles look cute and the shoe still fits well but you do get a bit of a gap where the bottom strap attaches to the inside of the shoe. So I’m not totally convinced. But I’ll probably give it a go with a different outfit.



This is a very graphic and tough-ish shoe. I’m a fan!

Working at Cross Purposes

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

Remember my second favorite outfit from SATC: The Movie? What? You don’t have that list memorized???

Okay, to jog your memory, it’s this Proenza Schouler outfit…

I especially liked her sandals. A bit chunky, graphic, a little nautical in there, strappy but not delicate.

All of the images I’ve seen of these shoes are as above – with the ankle strap and instep strap configuration. But all of the movie images show them on Carrie as having crossed straps. This leads me to believe that they simply cross-buckled the straps. Top strap attached to the bottom buckle and bottom buckled to top.

Clever, huh?

Well, I’m going to test that theory out, because, while the snakeskin covered heel version is nowhere to be found, I did score the brown leather version on sale (thank you again, Barneys!)

Sometimes I love having an off shoe size!

I hope I don’t scrape myself up on the heel studs.

I didn’t expect the straps to be leather. They looked more canvas but I guess I was wrong.

I hope the straps fit in the cross pattern. It will be like having two shoes in one.

One more SATC: Movie commentary. Like we need more of those!

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First off – If you are even more of a procrastinator than I am and have not seen the SATC Movie and you don’t want any spoilers, please stop reading now.


Yeah, I know everyone and their brother has given a rundown on the movie and picked apart everything from the fashion to the shoes to the wall color and the brand of sheets on Charlotte’s bed.

Whatever.

I’m slack, okay. I get it.

And even though I was actually in New York the day the movie opened, I didn’t go until just last night. But, I like it that way. I don’t mind knowing stuff about the movie. Heck, I bought the book and read it before I went. What was great was the movie was pretty empty so I didn’t get all distracted by other people in the theater. And I went by myself so I wouldn’t have to share it with the hubby (especially since I don’t think he was totally into it. Not sure why.)

Rather than do a big overview and deconstruction of all the nuances, this is more of a list (albeit a long list) of impressions and the stream of consciousness thoughts that went through my head while I watched the movie. Some of which I was texting the hubby at home as it went on. Generally I thought it was good although a bit choppy in the beginning and the banter seemed a bit forced compared to the show. But I expected that due to the change is format.

1. Why the hell are they using a stupid Fergie song as the movie opener? Yuck!

2. Labels & Love? I never really thought that the girls were label whores. Yes, they like designer clothes but they didn’t wear anything just because it was from a designer. It was fashion they loved. I don’t consider that to be the same thing. Maybe it is nowadays.

3. That Smith Jared turned into quite a man, didn’t he?

4. My favorite outfit in the whole movie is Carrie’s white vest and slacks with the pink shirt, hatbox purse and black accents.

5. I love that Carrie wears that belt throughout.

6. I. Adore. Anthony

7. OMG! What the heck happened to Candice Bergen? I’m not trying to be mean but she’s swelled.

8. I’m sooo glad they didn’t have a ton of Vogue staffers (especially that insufferable Andre Leon Talley) all up in the movie getting screen time.

9. I have to admit it. SJP looked amazing in the Vogue shoot. I thought she looked good in the magazine shots but that could have been lots of airbrushing and soft-focus. Maybe they touched up the footage but she looked good in the dresses, especially the Vera Wang and the Lacroix.

10. Carrie cannot read with emotion at all. Get Gary Oldman in there to read Beethoven’s love letter.

11. Second favorite outfit – the Proenza Schouler outfit she wears to the library. Especially those shoes. Darn! Plus, that library is gorgeous.

12. Saying “Let’s just get it over with” during sex? OUCH!

13. I know it’s not really a Disney coloring book but it sure looks like it.

14. Love the jeans outfit Carrie’s wearing when she sees the closet for the first time. Per the book, SJP was just wearing that on the set for a fitting and Patricia Field suggested she wear it for the scene.

15. The Closet – WOW! Not that I would want that exact one, but the dream of so much space… sigh!

16. Fashion show montage – better here or in The Sweetest Thing????

17. Who packs boxes in those clothes?

18. You’d think they’d be used to seeing Samantha by the 5th “homecoming”. Geez.

19. Okay, yeah, I’d squeal for the 2nd bottle of Champagne.

20. LOVE how Samantha shuts down Karl the d**khead at the rehearsal dinner. Loved it! But I’m not sure about those earrings with the collar of the dress.

21. Wait a second! Why are they letting the 4-year-old (five year old?) carry that $5000 cupcake bag. God dammit!

22. Carrie looked alternately scary and gorgeous. Under her veil she was transformed. It reminded me of how Astair transforms Hepburn’s image in Funny Face.

23. All of the girls looked just gorgeous in their bridesmaid dresses especially Charlotte. I love that the crew nicknamed the dress “The Black Swan”.

24. When Carrie beats Big with the flowers, I was a bit taken aback. She’s was a little crazed. And frankly I thought it a bit of an over-reaction. I would have been a bit afraid of her.

25. Best acting of the movie – Charlotte’s face as she yells “NO!” at Big. It was spot on. Worth it to see the movie again just for that moment.

26. I thought the whole “waxing” and having Charlotte “Poughkeepsie” in her pants was kind of unnecessary.

27. Although in the later scene it is funny when Carrie says the fact that she had pooped herself meant she was all done with the bad karma for the year.

28. Did anyone notice that Carrie’s phone is all duct taped up? She’s not a technology girl. So she doesn’t spend her money there. Nice detail.

29. Oooh! And when Carrie’s listening to her voicemail from Big on the day of the wedding the mailbox voice said it was from September 20th. That’s my wedding day! Ha!

30. Did she not notice the Asian guy had walked in wearing a pair of hot pink heels? Seriously?

31. Okay, who has not heard about Bag, Borrow and Steal. I mean, I knew of them about five years ago when they first started. Also, to borrow a bag you still pay a rental fee for each week – like $100+ a week depending on the bag. If Louise is so broke how can she even afford that? It’s still expensive. And the whole thing with her and the “labeled” bags just kind of creeped me out. It’s why all these young girls are going into serious debt trying to keep up with women who are more established and have more discretionary income. So Louise is still trying to keep up.

32. Plus, I can’t see Carrie ever caring about that service. I don’t think she would be down with the whole borrow and return thing. It’s like pretending you own something. I don’t like it.

33. So here’s a observation that could be so thin it’s practically see-through but let’s stretch the metaphor – I’m very glad it’s a rescue dog but a) didn’t they say it was a “she”? b) girl and fixed dogs only mount to display dominance. Is that what Samantha is doing with sex? and c) I’d say it was a bit of a compulsion with the dog. Is sex a compulsion with Samantha? Just reading too much into it possibly.

34. Sublimating with food. Ha!

35. I can totally understand Charlotte’s fear about having so many good things and being terrified that something terrible was going to happen. Who doesn’t feel that sometimes?

36. Dang it! Yes, I cried a bit during the New Year’s Eve scene.

37. No one who loves shoes that much would wear white kid leather booties to run out into the snow and sleet.

38. Where was Vivienne Westwood at the end of her fashion show?

39. Miranda looked really really good on Valentine’s Day.

40. Stupid Vogue masthead “beauty shot”. We get it. Vogue. Sponsor. Can we be done already?

41. “I’m an emotional cutter.” Funny line.

42. I’m glad that the girls are a part of creating their own problems, that they recognize it and then work to fix it.

43. A friend had a good point – Louise spends three months in NYC then gets her engagement? What a cop-out.

44. Hello! Penis!

45. Dang it! Cried more on the bridge. Stupid emotions!

46. Carrie’s apartment – Love the new wall color. Not a huge fan of the floral couches.

47. When Samantha tells Smith she wants to leave him I was surprised he wasn’t more surprised. I would have expected him to think she wants to move back to NYC not leave him.

48. I don’t think that once Samantha left she would still be scarfing down food on the plane. Would she?

49. Charlotte looks like a big ol’ beach ball in her polka-dot dress and pink coat – but I think she would revel in that since she’d wanted the baby so badly.

50. I love that deconstructed jacket with the floral rosettes Carrie wears when she goes back to the closet to get her heels.

51. I hate the fact that the “Something Blue” heels in the movie have a higher and skinnier heel than the ones they are selling now. I just know it! Oh yeah, and that’s a heck of a price increase from $525 to $895 (or $945 or whichever it is today).

So there you go! Think there will be another movie?

Blue for You

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

UPDATE – If you are interested in getting the Something Blue Manolo Blahniks, they are on pre-sale at the Bergdorfs site for $895 (and fixed on the Neiman Marcus site too – they were previously listed for $945, weird huh?).

I’m not sure what’s going on with the pricing changes but I would go for the order asap. And take a screen grab too.

If you don’t live in the state of New York, Bergdorfs is the better way to go. There is free shipping and you won’t have to pay sales tax.

Just an FYI!


UPDATED AGAIN on 6-28-08 – Now they’re both at $945! What the hell is going on here?

Borrow some money, Get something blue

Posted on by Shoe Daydreams

I haven’t seen the movie yet and so I can’t speak to all the specific details, but even I know what’s the deal with this shoe from the SATC movie.

Here’s a much prettier way to get a piece of the movie (better than the Eiffel Tower bag if you ask me) if that’s your motivation. I’m guessing that this will become an iconic shoe just like the Sedarabys and the Campari Mary Janes.

They are gorgeous, and in one of my favorite colors.

I wouldn’t have turned these down as a wedding gift! Although, the hubby’s done his share of finding gorgeous blue shoes. So no complaining allowed from me.

The (soon to be iconic, if they aren’t already) Manolo Blahnik Something Blue Satin Pumps are on pre-order now at Neiman Marcus & Bergdorfs.

Let the races begin!

UPDATE: New Pricing!