Footwear Revolt: Hush Puppies Colab with Anna Sui

If only Elvis were alive to croon "Blue Suede Shoes" to stiletto-fatigued fans who will be fashion forward this Fall in electric blue mary-janes, by Hush Puppies for Anna Sui, which debuted on the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Designers take note: pain-free affordable footwear that doesn't need to doom the wearer to lugging around an extra pair of shoes in a 10-gallon purse. I predict a running of the stores for the moto boot, tap shoe and ghillie styles when the line arrives this September at Nordstrom and Anthropologie and an e-stampede to hushpuppies.com. Maybe Anna Sui's Boho Barbie will be hoofing Hush Puppies for Fall 2011.
Price range: $100-$210
Sizes: Med 5-10,11,12 and Wide 5-10.

/nancy brenner

Fall 2011 Trends: Hemlines do double duty as dusters...

Photo: Dan Lecca for Cynthia Steffe

...for your floors, unless you have a handmaiden to lift the bottom of your dress as you scurry about town. Boy blazers, boy flats with shoelaces, menswear-inspired plaids, shapeless bulky sweaters - for girls - why do designers design to dress dames like dudes? Guys look out for a little extra competition from women tomorrow at the Barneys Warehouse Sale who may be stocking up for themselves for Fall 2011. Leather everything. A resurgence of jade, emerald and sea foam greens -- redheads, this is your season to rule. Lush luxe fur looks in rainbow of hues. Sleeves on dresses are back - finally. Opaque tights - use those Lord & Taylor coupons now! Cozy neck wraps. Antique gold. Red. Color me happy.

/nancy brenner

Fashion Week: Tibi: What's In a Shoe?

A shoe malfunction at Tibi drew rounds of applause as the shoe-liberated model proudly strutted the catwalk in black opaque tights at the 2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week show.

Too bad all the models weren't wearing Tibi's standout glitter black flat with a silk ankle strap closure with bow details. Other wardrobe challenges -- if you are not graced with the gift of height, you may need to put your tailor on speed dial for the new longer mid-calf lengths.

Commodity prices crimping your gold bug? Add a liquified coated gold lace V dress or a damask gold jacquard dress to your fashion portfolio. Will either be a be a pick for front row attendees Vanessa Hudgens or Olivia Palermo?

/nancy brenner

Fashion Week: Tracy Reese Shoes

Roach killer heels in burgundy and black at Tracy Reese (bottom).

c/o nancy brenner

Fashion Week: Report from the Front - Zang Toi

So is there anyone who doesn't love Zang Toi designer and his handmade in Manhattan $30,000 nude colored Grand Finale gown (black beading in Mumbai) modeled by runway newbie Jill Zarin? Toi offers the opulance once afforded by Russian oligarchs with emerald hue-furs and and matching gala necklace with heiress chocker. ABT Ballet's new principal dancer Cory Stearns ruled the runway and the audience who collectvely lean forward to absorb his swashbuckling presence. Models swished down the catwalk with skyscraper hair that would make Marge Simpson wish she had a little more height in her beehive.

The show was part the Who's Tommy, Madonna at Madison Square Garden, and a night at the opera sans fear of falling performers, like Spider Man. Silks, tafettas, cashmeres at if-you-have-to-ask-you-can't afford-it prices had the Davos crowd in a pre-market crash, "what unemployment numbers?" kind of mode. Melinda Gates is a frequent front-row fan.

Buddy, can you spare $30,000?
 
/nancy brenner