chateau bizarre: hardcore glamour & curious finds, reviewed daily » shoes & boots

Ryz

lilah wild — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:11:55 +0000

A vote-on-the-best-graphic catalog where the usual call for t-shirt submissions gets the rare treatment of shoe design. It’s mostly skate-style canvas slip-ons and a couple of thick-soled low-tops for now – disappointingly, the high-tops section is empty at the time of this review – but good for tastes that run towards the spacey and scientific, splashed with a little pop art. And if you *must* submit a tee image, they do those, too.

Studio Jellyfish

lilah wild — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:23:44 +0000

A Miami Beach “fine art shoe store” that gives bright pop makeovers to footwear and handbags. Ballet flats, platform mules, and ankle-strapped pumps are meticulously handpainted with 80’s-style vamps reminiscent of Patrick Nagel and Roy Lichtenstein, and if you’ve got your eye on a clutch, grab it while you can because it looks like they sell out quickly. And if you’d rather display the ladies on your walls rather than your feet, they also do digital prints.

Birch Place Shop

lilah wild — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:50:27 +0000

Fantasy costumes that push way past Halloween-in-a-bag getups into the realms of maximum frill. Trans and plus-size friendly, the designs are an explosion of lolita/french maid/cosplay ruffles – this is a great place for packing on some serious petticoat volume – with some more grownup occupational attire in PVC flight attendant dresses, boss-lady puff-sleeve blouses, military caps, and satin nurse masks. The lingerie is just as frothy, and accessories include tulle hair flowers, heels, wigs, and little lacy bags to match the outfits.

Covelli

lilah wild — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:24:51 +0000

This dance shoe supplier includes gear for lindy hopping in among the ballroom and salsa stuff. Strapped saddles, slingback peeptoe wedges, sharp little oxfords, plaid maryjanes, wild color in the men’s section, a good mix of stuff to swing the night away, many of them repro’d directly from the actual footwear of the forties and fifties. They also stock clothing from Remix Vintage, Stop Staring, Bettie Page, Steady, Vivien of Holloway, and others.

Sydney’s Closet

lilah wild — Fri, 21 May 2010 19:42:09 +0000

Formalwear in plus sizes, for prom and cocktail parties and weddings and whatever other occasions demand unrestrained plumage. Ruched skirts, draped ruffles, bootcut hems, mermaid silhouettes, bellsleeves, starlet straplessness, swingy knee-length dresses, lots of things that can be turned goth or retro with compatible accessorization. They’ve also got crinoline slips for volumizing, all kinds of metallic evening bags and sandals, and there’s a section for fancy maternity dress.

Berserk Clothing

lilah wild — Thu, 06 May 2010 18:58:00 +0000

Fashion to fight in! A catalog of darkwear that turns out cute’n'evil cotton suitable for rollerderby and other lively pursuits that might involve a bloody nose. The dresses take their shapes from cheerleader and army uniforms, the skirts are emblazoned with polarized skulls, and if you’ve ever felt the burning need to sport handguns across the ‘tocks, this is your store. Knuckle rings, lightning bolts, and medical crosses make up the jewelry section, the armwarmers smother everything from elbow to wrist in brass knuckles, and they stock the footwear trifecta of Demonia, Pleaser, and Bordello.

Voodoo Dolly

lilah wild — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:27:44 +0000

A large catalog of alt brands, the usual suspects of Lip Service, Shrine and Stop Staring are here with Baby Tears, Evil Kitty, Honeydew Intimates and Limb. The styles are all over the map, swooping through goth, fetish, retro, and steampunk, with shoes and accessories to match.

Sofi’s Stitches

lilah wild — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 20:04:51 +0000

A historical dress catalog that gives equal time to long regal gowns and wench wear, presenting pieces inspired by what German noblewomen wore in 1525, or casualwear from the Rhine-Danube Valley – and all the underthings to further shape the silhouette. There are doublets, vests, breeches, and flowing shirts for the dudes, belts, sashes, and arm garters for further accessorization, cloaks and dashing hats, slippers and pirate boots, and pouches for toting around all the ren-faire necessities.

Natacha Marro

lilah wild — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:51:13 +0000

Retro shoes that sharpen maryjane straps and polka dots with stiletto heels. A definite fetish element is present in the concealed platforms and choices of glitter or leather – and it’s definitely there on the boots page, which includes thigh-hi’s – and custom is most definitely welcome through a bespoke service that offers to make you the shoes of your dreams.

Sat’n Spurs

lilah wild — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:44:22 +0000

Western-style wedding wear, where cowboy hats and denim bridal gowns are sprinkled with bits of frontier Victoriana. Gingham garters, brocade vests for the groom, veil-trimmed hats, and they have quite the selection of prim little lace boots to go with the voluminous skirts of the era. The dresses are all over the map, from snow-white fairy bodices to sleeves edged in saloon-girl fringe, flowing “blue jean” trains to the embroidered silk of the “Lassoed By Love” number. And of course they have all the ring pillows and toasting sets and other ceremonial necessities, including cake toppers if the happy couple wants to include their horses in the big day.

Ami Clubwear

lilah wild — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:05:41 +0000

This catalog touts itself as “the positive place for girls” while offering loads of short, tight, ‘n shiny – and some everyday basics, too. Floral batwing one-shoulder minidresses, sweater tunics and ruffled cardigans, leggings with all kinds of crazy prints/patterns/laces all over them, teeny little miniskirts, bikinis and one-pieces, and the beautifying extends into clip-in locks of hair, wigs, and Nyx cosmetics. Candy-striped spike heels and faux-suede scrunch booties can be found in the shoe section, and the accessories include fedoras, tiaras, cinch belts, fringy knit scarves, and gigantic bags for slogging around glamorously during the day.

Sarah Juniper Historical Shoes

lilah wild — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:27:28 +0000

A cobbler specializing in reproductions of Roman, Tudor, Civil War, and a little contemporary footwear, “no cemented soles, no nails, no short cuts made to look like they were made by hand, just the real thing.” 18th century riding boots, mid-1700’s brocade slippers with timber heels, jester curled toes, sandals copied from German excavations. Refashioning a particular epoch’s pain-causing peccadillos into a more comfortable shape is very possible, and custom is extremely welcome – if you have a painting or print that happens to depict the shoes of your dreams, this is the place to send it.

NIMLI

lilah wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:34:56 +0000

Eco-fashion for men and women. The clothes tend towards wraps and ripples of solid color with the occasional print, stocking everything from slinky cocktail dresses to hoodies and what looks to be delightfully comfy loungewear, as well as rubber handbags and synth-leather shoes. Kids and pets get their own sections of apparel, bedding, and toys, there’s whole divisions of furniture and housewares, and the bath and body stuff includes bright purple body glitter.