Cool Hunting
With Louboutin's candy-apple red soles becoming as ubiquitous as Paris Hilton sightings, and Pierre Hardy's coutourtorous designs as wearable as a Jeff Koons sculpture, you know it's time for a new crop of shoes. Lesser-known labels that still pack a distinctive punch are a rare breed, but these six inspiring collections more than fit the bill. Among them are notables Miroike, Scorah Pattullo and Finsk. Berlin-based Miroike first gained notoriety for their innovatively draped leather boots; their knee-high gladiator sandal for spring is a standout and stunning enough for evening. (Pictured above right). In conjunction with former Alexander McQueen affiliate Rikke Hjelde, Johnnie Pattullo and Frances Scorah created a dynamic range of classic-looking shoes with a twist—from lace-up pumps to velvet platform sandals. Their buckle-down shoe booties in glittery star-printed suede and soft winter-white leather are currently setting our hearts aflutter. (Pictured below right.) Julia Lundsten of Finsk creates elegant, sculptural heels from Finnish birch-wood, with its rings and knots sometimes stained varying colors. She then tops them off with pieced leather uppers that bear dimensional leather squiggles and flaps. (Pictured below left.)Read more..

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by Naomi Nevitt When is a sneaker more than a sneaker? When it's a boot, too. Stockholm-based footwear label Gram Design has crafted a kicker that's just that: part city sneaker, park hiking boot. With a focus on clean lines, subtle humor, and refined classics, three-year-old company Gram kicks shoe-making forward, without stepping on the toes of functionality or comfort. Gram's 406g style is...
by By Christene Barberich and Piera Gelardi Common Projects—Perforated Leather Slip-On CP has become the go-to brand for forward-thinking guys who take their feet as seriously as the rest of the package and these subtly stylish perforated Jazz-oxford hybrids are the reason why. $365 from Common Projects Band of Outsiders for Sperry—Canvas Topsider The ultimate summer shoe steps up its game thanks to Band...
Earnest Sewn and French footwear company Repetto are collaborating for limited-edition eco-friendly shoes as part of Barneys "Greencaste" line. Together they enlisted Cone Denim, the country's oldest denim factory (and the same one that's behind Loomstate's green jeans for Barneys), to ensure a 100% organic product. In fact throughout the entire weaving process, starch is the only addition to the natural fiber. Read more......
by Loryn Hatch Constructing shoes is no easy feat. As designer Kristen Lee explains, "They're the only piece of fashion that you actually walk in—they have to perform." Lee launched her women's modern-by-way-of-slightly vintage line as an answer to all the "shoes out there being designed by men for this idea of a sexy woman," she says. "I wanted to make feminine shoes with...
by Paolo Ferrarini of Future Concept Lab Walking a mile in martial arts master Bruce Lee's shoes is a dream likely to never happen, but thanks to French label Bagua we can at least put a little Kung-Fu feeling in our step. Based on the centuries-old iconic design of the elegant and lightweight shoe worn by Kung-Fu and Tai-Chi masters, the simple construction and comfortable...
After 140 years faithfully hand-making British footwear, it's no small task to keep things fresh. But Grenson has managed to stay relevant while sticking to their core principles and standards of quality. Recently, they participated in a few exciting collaborations, most notably with Rag & Bone and New York boutique Odin. And last year, they made a long-awaited transatlantic journey to store shelves in...
