Pint-Size Designer’s Leave An Even Bigger Fashion Footprint

Tiny twosome Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have teased us for months with news of their first-ever shoe collection, a collaboration with Steve Madden.  “Design aesthetic” this.  “Style philosophy” that.  Yeah, yeah show us something, already!

Mary-Kate gave us a taste of their designs when she sported a promising prototype (try saying that three times fast) at Fashion Week.  It was cute with a hint of the unexpected, just what you’d expect from the blonde titan who regularly outfits herself like a slightly mad Himalayan Sherpa just to grab a venti latte at Starbucks.

So, behold.  Their Elizabeth and James shoe collection hit stores recently and we are . . . under-whelmed.  Objectively it’s fine.  It’s a mix of trendy and traditional silhouettes at a relatively reasonable price ($195 to $500).  Well, reasonable compared to three-digit couture, anyway.

We had high hopes for a “oooh, pretty!” inhale.  But instead of a Alexander McQueen-esque edge meets Betsey Johnson WTF-ness, the line is a bit “hmmm, where have I seen that style before?”

Take a gander:

Mary-Kate’s been spotted rocking these suede flat gladiators so they’re definitely downtown-darling approved but they’re also the newest residents of Meh-ville, in our humble opinion.

And these menswear-inspired moccasins.  MOCCASINS.  The word alone offends us, never mind what they look like.

The look are missing something: like, a slew of buckles and  zippers and cutout details.   And . . . feathers.  Yeah, that would have been AWESOME.  Or at least visually interesting.  It’s as if deciding which over-sized layer to mix and match with which bedraggled, too-long pair of pants zapped Mary-Kate and Ash of all their creative energy.

That said, some looks did catch our eye:

What size queen couldn’t use four extra inches of fabulous? We j’adore the ‘Haley’ slingback strap and the sexy arch of naked foot these reveal.

And if you’re drooling over the season’s fetish footwear look, but aren’t ready to fork over big bucks for shoes like Louboutin’s ‘Differa,  ‘Luella’ is a brilliant alternative.

Word is, the Olsens will stick with Steve Madden for another shoe collection next season.

Are thigh-high boots on the way??

Sleek, sexy and sky-high.  Make a statement without saying a word in these BCBG slingbacks.

By ShoeMinx “Uncle Jessie” Fan 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