Photos from www.sock-dreams.com.
Socks are like little sleeping bags for your feet when it’s cold out. They can also make a serious fashion impact.
My friend, Annie, recently turned me on to the most incredible sock selection ever, online at www.sock-dreams.com.
Equally as good as the socks: the prices. This foot fashion is unique and inexpensive.
Here are a few highlights.
Tough:
Kawaii camouflage thigh-high socks, $11.
Feminine:
Lace anklet with ruffle, $5.
Comfortable:
Cable bootie with flowers, $12.
Lacy:
Fishnet anklet with lace tie-ups, $5.
Daring (and lacy):
Thigh-high with woven cross-cross bow, $8.
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One of my favorite Boulder-based shoe companies is closing down. Andy’s Girl (www.andys-girl.com) having a close-out sale 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 20) at their office, 2430 30th St. (between Valmont and Pearl) in Boulder.
Everything must go — even the cool shabby-chic furniture, the chandelier, T-shirts, leather coats…
… belts and purses, most importantly, their boots – in sizes 6, 6 1/2 and 7.
The boots are priced around $50 — a screamin’ deal for hand-made boots made in Brazil. Get them now, because it is your last chance.
Here’s what I’ve said about Andy’s Girl in the past:
My latest fave shoe company, Andy’s Girl, is based here – and their boots are so cutting edge, they can’t even get them in a local store. (Note: This is a compliment. Colorado isn’t exactly high-fashion.)
Boulderite Roxanna Smith started the company two years ago in May, in time for her 40th birthday, after she searched but couldn’t find the style of boots she wanted. Smith, a mother of five and former therapist, had no experience in fashion design, but she had been suffering for years from a shoe fetish.
Having experienced the ailment firsthand, Smith was able to design shoes that were amazing enough to give a high to the most extreme shoe addict (me), and quite possibly end the Iraq war.
The Heidi-style boots are bright-colored suede and flip down from the calf to the sole, making them unique and the ideal height to wear with a skirt of dress this summer.
The Skully boots look like cowboy boots with a skull embroidered on the side.
The Rock It Shorty boots have a low heel, hit about mid-calf and lace up the side, adding a touch of femininity.
Andy’s Girl’s shoes aren’t cheap ($200 or more), and you can only find them online (www.andys-girl.com) or in Los Angeles boutiques. But they are eye-catching – and an example of the American Dream.
As Smith puts it, “It’s a real story of just going for it. Jumping off a cliff and believing if you want to be an astronaut, you can be an astronaut. I wanted to be a shoe designer, and here we are in our second year.”
As for the price, I’m thinking if you split it between, say, three “best friends” with the same shoe size, the price tag is nothing at all.
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Toms Shoes (http://www.tomsshoes.com/) will be in Boulder noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, as part of the company’s national tour.
They will be at Savvy, 1114 Pearl St., followed by The Fitter on the Hill.
The owner of Toms Shoes plans to be on Oprah next month, the month he is expected to donate 50,000 pairs of shoes to children in Africa, according to Savvy spokespeople.
I featured these shoes as a Hot Five item this summer:
Toms Shoes - These shoes were designed to look like the traditional Argentine shoe. For every pair you buy, the company donates one pair to a needy child. They’re called “shoes for tomorrow.” Our favorite style is the white and navy shoes, which look nautical and are ridiculously comfortable. Check them out at www.tomsshoes.com or buy them at Savvy’s on the Pearl Street Mall for $38 a pair – er, for two pairs, that is.
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Aka, you know you are a rock star sell-out when…
Aka, you know rocker style is on its way out when…
And why oh why Neiman Marcus?
(Although I must admit, I like some of the clothes. And I like an occasional Hair Band tune, too.)
I don’t care about the studded Spandex pants. When will they come out with this make-up line? (photo from: http://sedleyrocks.tripod.com)
By MARQUES G. HARPER
Cox News Service
AUSTIN, Texas — Nikki Sixx, the rock bassist from 1980s hair band Motley Crue, is slung in an armchair in the men’s lounge tucked inside Neiman Marcus. Salespeople and models in black eye makeup and rock wear are adding the final touches to a party in the men’s department for the Austin launch of Royal Underground, Sixx’s clothing label.
Check it out here: www.royalunderground.net
Amid the buzz, hair dryers and makeup touchups, Sixx’s attention turns to a nature show on the flat-screen TV.
“Look at that thing. What is that?” he asks.
Everyone in the room looks. It’s a big turtle. And for a moment, Sixx, with his big jet black hair, black attire, rings, tattooed arms and hands, and low voice, almost becomes an everyday Joe.
But he’s not. He has traveled the world in a rock band, lived more lives than a cat, married two Playboy playmates and fought a battle with heroin, which spawned his recently released book, “Heroin Diaries,” and its accompanying soundtrack by his new band, Sixx:A.M.
From the Royal Underground line. (Image from: http://coutureinthecity.blogspot.com/)
Like other celebs before him, Sixx has turned to fashion, with a line of rock ’n’ roll-inspired T-shirts, slim Japanese denim jeans, cashmere hoodies and jewelry in his Royal Underground collection, which is sold at select Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s stores.
But what makes him any different from the Diddys, Paris Hiltons, Jay-Zs and Jennifer Lopezes of the world? Royal Underground, based in Newport Beach, Calif., offers enough rock moxie to be authentically Nikki Sixx. (For example, the holiday line features jeans with a ruler on the seam of the fly as well as selections with Motley Crue lyrics.)
More rock style from the line. (Image from: http://coutureinthecity.blogspot.com)
“I’ve been designing clothes since I was a teenager,” Sixx, 48, says. “Always very instrumental in the way I’ve looked personally and how our bands looked. With M?tley, we always changed our look every single time. There’s something in me that likes to create new stuff. It was a perfect fit when me and Kelly got together and to be able to take it to a retail level.”
The Kelly he speaks of is fashion executive and model Kelly Gray, whose parents founded St. John, a conservative upscale women’s line that’s carried by Neiman Marcus and other retailers. (St. John made waves not too long ago by hiring Angelina Jolie as its model.)
Co-conspirators. (www.ocregister.com)
Now, the duo is expanding the label, which features the symbol for “om” as well as eagles and the Hindu god Ganesh on many of the collection’s wares. Prices range from $100 for a T-shirt to $1,200 for a leather jacket, and overall I see how the selections might fit into Austin’s varied fashion scene.
In time for the holiday season, Royal Underground will add a 20-piece gold and silver jewelry collection created in collaboration with designer extraordinaire Mitchell Binder, creator of the popular King Baby and Queen Baby collections.
King Baby belt buckle, for sale on eBay.
King Baby dog tag with skull design, $150, http://starbulletin.com.
Also, a women’s line will be launched in the coming weeks, Gray tells me in her room at the Four Seasons hours before the Neiman Marcus party last Thursday.
“We knew we wanted to be in women’s,” Gray says. “We had gotten requests when our customers were going to the men’s department to get cashmeres. I love launching during the holidays. It’s so much more exciting. There’s so many more people in the stores. But boy, we’re feeling it now.”
The women’s collection maintains the rock ’n’ roll sensibility of the men’s line, says Gray, who visited Austin about a year ago for St. John.
“It’s a hard look to pull off,” she says. “You need one fabulous pair of boots. Or an amazing leather jacket that everyone stops you for. Royal Underground is that one amazing piece. Our customer wants to be remarkable and remembered. It’s kind of fun after my years at St. John to work with that bold of a palette. It’s not subtle.”
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I just found an amazing eBay shop, Indie Cult Vintage.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZindiecultvintage
These vintage pieces are delicious — and you can get some for decent prices. But still, beware, it is still dangerously tempting to buy one of everything.
Here are some of my faves:
’80s ruffle dress, right now at $9.99.
Cable knit plunging sweater, currently at $61.
’60s lace babydoll mini dress with big bow, right now $9.99.
Actually, please ignore that last one. I want to bid on it.
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