Croation Shoe Addict app goes global?

If you're already hooked on Instagram (yes, that would be me) then you might like to check out ShoeAddicts.

New to the app world, ShoeAddicts is a complete mobile social network for shoe lovers.

Dubbed, the 'Instagram for shoes,' this startup hails from Croatia, a little country with huge potential when it comes to new ideas and technology (and they just happen to be big readers of this blog).

Creator Anela Senčar says the idea for ShoeAddicts came from her love of shoes, while co-founder Pedja Pušelja was an avid user of mobile networks and applications, forming the perfect team. Anela and Pedja set out to go global with the app so it made sense to get some experts handling the design and coding, enter Marko Prljić (designer) and Goran Vukšić (programming).

As Instagram has a timeline of photos, ShoeAddicts has a 'Shoeline'; feeding photos your 'friends' recently took featuring their most coveted shoes. Sharing your own shoe pics is pretty straight-forward and is pretty similar to the Instagram method but instead of clicking 'like' users click 'Heel up' to show their appreciation.

The attention to detail is impressive but if you're already using (and love) the diversity of the Instagram stream there is no need to replace it, unless you prefer to see a pure shoe photo feed.

I’ll leave you to discover the joy of ShoeAddicts for yourself and make up your own mind.


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Game on World with Nike+

While the Nike+ fitness tracking platform has been around for years, the footwear giant has just unleashed shoes with the technology actually built into the shoe.

Nike+ Basketball and Nike+ Training launched last week in the US, China, UK, France and Germany, creating two new NIKE+ experiences. They will combine with Nike+ Running and the Nike+ FuelBand to create an entire digital ecosystem for athletes and aspiring athletes at every level.

I've had Nike+ Running for some time courtesy of my Hawaiian shopping jaunts, and while I haven't really used it to full capacity (if it was installed in my heels, that would be another story), I love a good gadget.

At the heart of this latest innovation is the Nike+ Sport Sensor, a technology built into each shoe that collects information about the users' movement and then wirelessly transmits the data to a Nike+ Basketball or Nike+ Training app on their phone. The data is then translated into different metrics that deliver real-time feedback and information about either their training session or basketball game.

So what is Nike going to do with all that data? Its first plan for this US Summer is 'Game On, World', which is a series of challenges inspired by pro athletes encouraging all Nike+ users to set their personal bests in various categories.

I could set a serious heel wearing PB if this was implanted in my Louboutins.

No word yet on when these kicks will hit Australian shores. For more go to Nike.


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Turns out you can judge a person by their shoes

From very early on in life we're told not to judge a book by its cover, but it seems that sometimes you can judge people by their shoes.

A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality says researchers from the University of Kansas and Wellesley College found that certain shoe characteristics are telling of the wearer's personal traits. The research, published online this month, explored the concept of thin-slicing, wherein you form impressions based on small amounts of information.

The study asked 63 participants to look at the style, price, colour and condition of 208 pairs of shoes and attribute them with personality traits such as 'extrovert or introvert, liberal or conservative and the degree of their emotional stability, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness,' with most participants able to correctly guess the strangers' temperament.

It looks as though those addicted to high-end designer heels were pegged as high earners, while flashy or colourful footwear 'belonged to extroverts' and shoes that were well kept belonged to 'conscientious types'.

'Practical and functional shoes generally belong to agreeable people, ankle boots fit with more aggressive personalities and uncomfortable looking shoes were worn by calm personalities,' according to the study.

I hate to say it, but some of us have been judging men and women by their shoes for many years. Can you really judge a person by their shoes?


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Husband sues ex for million dollar shoe collection

Noooooo! Take anything but the shoes...

New York hedge fund manager Daniel Shak is suing his ex-wife because he claims she kept him in the dark about her extensive shoe collection, according to America's ABC News, and that it should have been part of their divorce settlement.

Shak claims his professional poker player ex Beth Shak never told him about her mammoth collection of designer stilts when they divorced three years ago, alleging she kept the 1,200 pairs of shoes in a secret room, and now he wants his ex to hand over some coin for his portion of the shoes.

It seems Beth, who is well known in World Series poker circles, is not only known as a card shark - she’s 'all in' when it comes to her shoes and was even featured in the documentary 'God Save my Shoes' about women and their love affair with heels.

Daniel Shak believes her collection is worth about $1 million USD and says he's entitled to about 35 percent of that.

In just a few clicks it's pretty easy for the world to see this is one serious shoe addict. Her personal website bethshak.com and a blog she uses to discuss her obsession (shoesrforever) make no secret of her passion for stilts.

Please. There's not a woman alive who hasn't tried to hide at least one expensive shoe purchase from her husband but I'd seriously question ones ability to hide the purchase of 1,200.

No woman is that good and no man that clueless!

At this point I'd ship him a few used heels and thank him for the global publicity.


(Image: Beth Shak's Facebook Fan Page)



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Shoes of the day

Did someone say shoe sale?




60% off @ DJ's. Hello Fendi, Bally and Christian Louboutin, so nice to see you all again.



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Adidas offends... well... everyone

German athletic company Adidas decided this week to cancel its plans to release a new pair of kicks with plastic ankle shackles, after a barrel load of criticism from civil rights leaders, consumers, pro basketball league officials and players this week.

According to the Adidas Originals Facebook page, where the first images of the JS Roundhouse Mids debuted on June 14, the shoes were set to go on sale in August but four days of mounting public opinion saw the company announce it would cancel release of the $350USD product on June 18, according to ABC News.

The sneakers were created by designer Jeremy Scott and according to ABC News, were inspired by the My Pet Monster toy from the 1980s. Multiple My Pet Monster toys for sale on eBay show the vintage blue toy with bright orange shackles similar to those seen on the shoe.

The shoe received 38,000 'likes,' over 9,000 shares to other sites, and more than 4,000 comments and responses to the picture posted on Facebook with the caption: 'Got a sneaker game so hot you lock your kicks to your ankles?'

Opinions posted support both sides of the debate of whether the shoes have racist undertones.

The company has stood behind the product and its designer, saying in a statement to ABC News. 'The design of the JS Roundhouse Mid is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott's outrageous and unique take on fashion and has nothing to do with slavery,' the company said.

'We apologize if people are offended by the design and we are withdrawing our plans to make them available in the marketplace.'

Opps. Your bad Adidas.


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Shoe of the day

Getting my faux fur on while it's a little crisp in sunny Queensland. Not too many opportunities here...




Teamed with some nude Armani. Love!





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Shoe of the day

A little Louboutin love





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Zara 1 - Louboutin 0

Ouch! Designer Christian Louboutin has taken a stiletto step back as a French court rules customers will not be confused between his designer red soled shoes and a cut-price pair - ordering Louboutin to pay compensation.

There is no doubt the distinctive red soles have become an instantly recognisable marker of the Louboutin brand, a discerning mark of luxury and quality.

But Christian Louboutin’s red-bottomed shoes could face stiff competition from lookalikes after a French court ruled fashion chain Zara could sell heels baring the same coloured sole (red shoe pictured above).

The court ruled that Zara’s cut-price shoe could not be confused with the one made by the high-end designer and last week the Cour de Cassation – the final court of appeal – upheld the original decision.

In one final blow it also ruled that Louboutin, whose shoes are coveted by women across the globe and cost hundreds of dollars a pair, must pay the chain £2,000 in compensation.

The Daily Mail quotes Alexis Mourot, group chief operating officer and general manager of Christian Louboutin, as saying the company would continue defending its soles.

Yikes. These red sole folk mean business. What do you think? Should red remain soley with Louboutin?


Read more at the Daily Mail

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Maloof's stilts

If, like me, you are a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills tragic, then you already love this woman.

Even after Adrienne Maloof gave away a significant hoard of her prized footwear (featured on the show) the woman still has enough shoes to fill a large closet, estimating she has around four or five hundred pairs.

A New Mexico native, Maloof earned a full scholarship to the University of New Mexico as one of the country’s top tennis players and received her degree in political science.

Adrienne moved to Beverly Hills from New Mexico over fifteen years ago. She works with her four brothers and mother on a number of family businesses including the Sacramento Kings, The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Maloof Productions, Maloof Music and Maloof Money Cup. The family's 150-year-old business employs 5,000 people through its various properties. Apparently she initially had zero interest when Bravo came knocking for The Real Housewives until she realized the potential reach and the new found markets she could tap into.

One of her most recent business endeavors is Adrienne Maloof by Charles Jourdan, a capsule collection of footwear produced by the iconic brand Charles Jourdan, which showcases Adrienne’s design acumen. The line was launched in December 2011 and is available in major department stores and boutiques nationwide in the USA.

Love!


Shop Adrienne Maloof shoes now.



(Image Credit: WWD - Robert Mitra)


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Versace's gothic goddess

Donatella Versace has delivered a very strong statement in her Fall Winter 2012/13 ready to wear collection.

Oh these dominatrix'esque fishnet boots... Love!

Watch the full Versace Fall Winter 2012/13 show below.





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A dash of fetish @ Gucci

Cinematic, equestrian and a dash of fetish. See the Gucci Fall Winter 2012 accessories collection through Frida Giannini's eyes (below).

Shoes with hints of fetish. Oh, I like!





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MY WEEK IN SHOES

That is all.

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BURBERRY PRORSUM A/W 2012: LONDON

Here it is fellow shoe addicts, some serious Burberry love.

This is the full Burberry Prorsum Womenswear Autumn/Winter 2012 show, shot in London at 4pm UK time today. (22:58mins, this is for the truly committed).

Love, love, love!

Christopher Bailey's genius status still solid with me.

Ankle boot up people. Stat!





(Source: Burberry)


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BURBERRY'S CHRISTOPHER BAILEY

If, like me, you're loving Burberry's last few collections, you are waiting with great anticipation for their Autumn/Winter 2012 show tomorrow at London Fashion Week.

Here's Christopher Bailey - Burberry Chief Creative Officer, speaking from the Burberry Show Space in Hyde park ahead of the Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2012 show tomorrow.



Excited! This man's a genious.


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MY WEEK IN SHOES

That is all.

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FIVE FINGERS AT THE GLOBES

The annual award ceremonies really do bring out the best and worst fashion don't they?

Something about having to glam-up for the world's media makes some nominees shoe crazy, and not necessarily in a good way.

No matter whether the gown dazzles you can usually make up some ground in the latest collection Manolos, Christian Louboutins or Jimmy Choo heels.

Loving Best Actress nominee Viola Davis's choice of Jimmy Choo Louisa platform sandals but cannot for the life of me work out what The Descendants star Shailene Woodley was thinking?

After the 69th annual Golden Globe awards ceremony, the actress ditched her Marchesa dress and Tabitha Simmons shoes for an entirely different ensemble to attend the In Style / Warner Bros. After Party.

A little more comfy - check, a flowing black gown - check, a pair of Vibram "Five Finger" shoes - what the?

Comfort over style is one thing but this is an epic fail!

Comments?


(Image Credit: Getty)
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HEAD OVER HEELS FOR SHOE CLUBS

The concept isn't a new one but we're used to seeing it with books or wine. It seems the model has taken a fascinating turn with women's Shoe of the Month clubs hotting it up in the USA.

They all work the same way. You start by responding to a short survey, which purportedly allows the club's style maestros to identify your likes and style. Then, at the beginning of each month, you are presented with a selection of shoes designed to your taste from which to pick in your inbox. Choose a pair and they are sent post-haste with free shipping (only in the US). If nothing takes your fancy you are given a small window at the start of each month to decline to participate that month.

From the bargain-basement, no-frills eShoeClub (which offers a remarkable two pairs for $29.95) to the Kim Kardashian co-founded Shoedazzle and the other equally as large Just Fabulous (offering one pair a month for $39.95) to Sole Society Inc. (offering shoes at $49.95 a month) to the highest price tag of the Rachel Bilson backed ShoeMint (coming in at a much higher price point of $79.98).

All of these clubs make similar claims to being on-trend and fashion-forward and all create custom shoes, not shoes you can buy in stores. Most have some kind of celebrity endorsement and claim to have professional style consultants that match designs to the taste of their customers.

The advantage to the online store is obvious, a locked-in database and projected sales. And this market isn't a puny one, according to the Los Angeles Times, Just Fabulous has four million members and Sole Society half a million. Shoedazzle, co founded by reality TV heavyweight Kim Kardashian, has $60 million in investors. JustFabulous projects sales of 2.5 to 3 million pair next year. That's a whole lot of shoes!

While I applaud the merits of shoe clubs I do like to touch feel and experience the thrill of the chase so I'm not sure it's for me. Call me old fashioned.


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