The Red Carpet Won’t  Be The Same Without You

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, no doubt you’ve heard about R&B “It” couple Chris Brown and Rihanna.  A week later and details are still coming out about the alleged altercation that rocked the Grammys in a way that no one could have ever expected.

All of us here at ShoeMinx HQ adore RiRi for her fearless trendsetting ways and fierce footwear.  How could we not?  The “Umbrella” singer wears knee-high lace-up boots for a casual shopping trip as easily as most women who would simply slip-on a favorite pair of flip flops.

From the catwalk to the concert stage, the Barbados beauty regularly snaps up the hottest shoe looks before they even make it into the pages of a fashion spread, much less the shelves in Barney’s stellar shoe department.  Her Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte heels are signature Rihanna.  Not many could pull off such a fashion-forward look with such ease and panache (cough*Beyonce*cough).

And how does she prowl the stage in those super high heels anyway?

No doubt Rihanna would’ve upstaged everyone else on the Grammy red carpet.  Well, except for maybe M.I.A.  Whatever the facts of the current situation, we wish her a speedy recovery and hope that she’ll be able to move on.  As Posh would say, her “everyday is a catwalk” fashionista outlook is MAJOR and will be missed.

By ShoeMinx Style Watcher Paige Muller

And We’re Telling You, Her Star Power is Undeniable

Former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson brought tears to our eyes during her emotional Grammy performance (God, can you believe that Diana DeGarmo finished ahead of her?!).  Since she stepped back into the “Spotlight” for the first time since her family tragedy at the Super Bowl (in totally covetable Sigerson Morrison gladiator wedge heels, BTW.  Yes, we know.  We’re the only ones that could find a fashion moment in the middle of a major sporting event), the newly crowned Grammy winner for best R&B album has never sounded better and she looks svelte and beautiful and dressed to perfection.

Her red carpet look at the musical awards show was one of our faves and her on-stage look was just as flawless as her “hand me some Kleenex, I’m getting furklempt” rendition of “You Pull Me Through.”  In a gently figure-hugging sparkly LBD and matching peep toes, she’s giving some wicked  hip action and cleavage, er lung capacity, that Oprah would admire.  The very picture of a diva staking her claim.  Beyonce, you’ve been served.

Let’s hit rewind to the sassy little number she wore to music titan Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy fete:  She’s appropriately covered up — giving the man who controls your music career a heart attack by unleashing the girls would not be wise — but the figure she cuts is totally bad-ass (Adele, THIS is how you flaunt and flatter your curves to their best advantage.  See, you don’t have to be a Hollywood bobble-head to show some sass).  And those Balenciaga heels need to find their way into our closet.  Utterly delicious shoe candy.

We hope that the Sex and the City alum will be signed up for a return engagement in the sequel so that the dreamgirl will continue her enviable parade of shoes that we’re pretty sure Sarah Jessica Parker’s Manolo-lovin’ alter ego Carrie Bradshaw would blow her rent money on.  The Givenchy lace ankle sandals she sported at the NAACP awards are definitely worth the credit card APR.

Jennifer’s story to this point has been one of tragedy and triumph on par with the movie role that won her an Oscar and her composure and grace in the eye of the media maelstrom has been nothing short of remarkable. She’ll be unstoppable when she’s back 100%. With a tour and marriage on the horizon (with every fiber of our being we pray that Patricia Fields will whip up a frou-frou confection of over-the-topness for her walk down the aisle in!), we hope the only drama in her life in 2009 will be whether or not to invite Simon, Paula, Ryan and Randy to the wedding (if yes, we strongly suggest seating Paula far away from the bar).

Sniffle.  OK, enough with all the sappy stuff. Bai Ling, don’t think we didn’t notice that Pepto Bismal pink reject from David’s Bridal that you turned up in . . .

By ShoeMinx Idol Paige Muller