*Deal of the Week* Free Shipping on Shoes for Mother's Day

Although it may be a little late to order shoes for mom for Mother's Day, 6PM is offering a weekend deal in honor of the occasion, and for mothers to shop as they kick back and enjoy the much-deserved day devoted to them. For three days, you can receive Free Shipping on all purchases over $100. This will automatically apply; no promo codes are necessary. It goes for all styles, all brands, all strata of pricing. I am just ad ridiculously surprised as you are, but for some reason these 'Atlanta' woven moccasins caught my eye. There's something preppy and classy to them, updated with a metallic sheen but still simply enough to be considered casual. Just don't pair them with 'mom jeans' and I think you'll be fine. Now on sale for over $100 off their original price!

Expires: May 9th, 2010

Shoes I Hate

We all know that 90% of this blog is an excuse for me to talk about what kind of shoes I love. That's why everyone knows that I'm obsessed with: 1) boots; 2) architechtural heels; 3) shoes with zippers; 4) green shoes.

But there's another side to that coin: dislike. As it's oft mentioned, I happen to hate sneakers. I also hate Crocs and Uggs. (And I mean this in a general sense, not when these shoes are needed for practicality, like hiking, gardening or trekking through the snow.) Here's another one for that list--and this may be the shoe that I hate most of all--fringe. I hatehatehatehateHATE fringe shoes. Behold the fringe mania of my discontent:



This trend hit the mainstream last year on winter boots before creeping up on summer shoes. But though these warm-weather variants call back to the very debut of the fringe trend, tell me: how absolutely fugly are these booties? I know I can't change your mind if you're a fringephile, since my very own best girlfriend insists on wearing her fringe-bedecked footwear out even to bars where we hope to meet men. But I beseech you, dear reader, not to wear anything with fringe, star-print cutouts and gives the illusion of cankles. I beg!



Why did someone have to staple that ugly swatch of fringe felt to an otherwise cute sandal?



This flip-flop is just as attractive--if not more so--without the fringe, yes/yes?




And these--sans fringe, these blood-orange beauties would be perfect for a cocktail dress, right? (Actually, on these heels, I can truly see the appeal of the fringe--to tickle your toes as you slide them on! Hey, that's fun!)




For that special occasion when just the top of your foot gets a wee bit chilly?




...because your ankles wanna go out dressed as little hula dancers, and you can't stop them?

Throughout the weeks as I painstakingly comb through shoe sales and shoe deals, I keep running into this loathsome trend, each shoe more ugly than the last. When I see the fringed shoes on the streets of New York City, it appalls just as viscerally. I have never seen fringe shoes that don't look utterly pointless. If I've ever found one pair that seemed half-decent, it was this bizarre blend of fringe sandal and boat shoe, from Payless:




There's something so chipper and Tiffany-esque about the coloring and design that you can almost overlook the fringe. Almost. At least it kind of sneaks up on you, other than these costume-like variations:




This is legitamately called "The Cherokee" by O'Neill. No joke. Someone tell me how this fits into the brand's surfer babe beach-bum aesthetic?






Of course, if you go all-out moccasin, it's more understandable to see the stamp of fringe, but then you're wearing a moccasin, so it's really pretty lose-lose.

When winter comes, I intend to do a secondary round-up of boots and booties with fringe trim. Assuming, that is, that the trend will persist in a few months' time. I'd like to pretend it'll just go away like a bad dream but, alas. If I cannot get my dearest and best friend to quit wearing fringe on her feet, I suspect my meager pleas and protests won't breach the masses anytime soon.

*Deal of the Week* 30% Off Spring Shoes at Payless

If you're already looking for Spring styles, check out Payless this weekend. It's the last few days you can save up to 30% off Spring shoes, and preview some of the styles you'll be seeing come March. Now, I'll be the first to admit it. I always check out Payless for playful, trendy shoes I might want to wear for one season and then discard. They're affordable enough to try something new, without feeling penny-foolish if the look suddenly nosedives. We all know what it's like to fall out of love with the shoes in a few weeks. My sale faves are the Dexter Parker Buckle Mocs. I've been trying to find loafers for almost nine months, and I can't find the right balance of cute and casual and cheap. But these might just be them, especially for only $22.99! And I'm lovin' that slight point on the toe... There are also wedges, espadrilles, flats and sandals--so go check it out before the shoes you'll want when the weather warms up return to their normal prices!

Free Shipping on All Orders Over $60

Expires: February 9th, 2009

10% Off Old Navy Shoes & Free Shipping!

This deal is only for online shoppers, but you can now save 10% off your order when you spend $75 on merchandise. Sounds like a perfectly fair deal to me! PLUS, you can have those new shoes shipped to you for free with code SHOPNSAVE. With these two great offers combined, it's time to get your clicking finger ready so you can save on shoes such as these Women's Suede Moccasins, available in seven colors!

Code: SHOPNSAVE

Expires: January 16th, 2009

Free Shipping on Men's Shoes from Jos. A. Bank

As part of a pre-Thanksgiving Day sale, Jos. A. Bank is offering Free Shipping on orders totaling over $175. It's a great time to order some new shoes from leading brands like Cole Haan, Johnston & Murphy, Allen Edmonds and Jos. A. Bank. Or how about buying dad some cozy warm moccasin slippers for the holidays? Made of shearling and leather, they're now on sale for only $32.99. You know his pair from last year are pretty threadbare by now; it's the perfect winter gift.

Expires: November 22nd, 2008

Quelle Horreur!

Sioux Khaki Cow Suede Moccasions, by Blowfish @ Lulu's

Now, I know that Blowfish shoes aren't necessarily traditional. But there's quirkyness, and then there's... these. Moccasion-style bedroom slippers, trying to pass themselves off as shoes that a person might consider wearing in public. (What kind of person, I cannot fathom.) (Okay, I can fathom; I'm just refraining out of tact. Hey, there's a first for everything.) And then to add insult to fugliness, there's the price. Sixty-seven dollars, for a pair of Sioux shoes. No amount of beads and suede can justify these being $67. Especially since the only acceptable purpose for these is shuffling down to the dorm basement to do your four loads of laundry, and then shuffling back upstairs to finish your paper on Yeats. And even then, that's what flip-flops are for, and those are $2.50!

Thankfully we know that Lulu's has a range of adorable shoes that make up for this one oversight. And Style Bard readers get to save 15% on their order with code: stylebard. But don't abuse your privileges! If you use that code on shoes like this, I will take that code away from you. Yes, I will. Don't try me.

Back to School Sale

Ugh, I am sooo glad I'm not in school anymore. Didn't you hate those days when you're just settling in to summer and suddenly all these ads pop up for Back to School sales, reminding you of the inevitable return to the classroom? Well if you're heading back in a month or so, I'm sorry to be doing this so soon but hey -- *I* didn't make the sale! I'm just an innocent bystander. Anyway, the part where you buy new back to school shoes is the -least- painful part of going back, IMHO. So let's ease into it with 30-70% off from 6PM, such as these Dark Pink Suede Moccasions - 'Jenny' by Nine West Kids, now 44% off. And there are more great choices where this comes from--already school-dress-code approved!

Free Standard Shipping on Orders Over $100 - Flat Rate Shipping $6.95.

Expires: Limited Time