This was one of the sharpest women I saw during the summer, not only for her fierce taste in shoes, but for the sharp-as-a-tack skirt she’s wearing, too. She had on a nice white blouse to round things out, but that’s to be expected from a woman with this refined a set of fashion sensibilities. When this woman roared by, my hair stood on end – she really knew what she was doing, what she was wearing.

So what’s the big deal? Check out those great slingbacks she’s sporting, reminiscent of the slingbacks that started becoming more popular again several years back amongst the sharper ladies around town. I always thought they looked especially nice on businesswomen with fitted skirts, or in any context involving business or formal wear.

They were also just the shoe lost by Carrie on Sex in the City way back in the day. Remember that one? (Thanks, Shoewawa!) It’s being brought back by these Jimmy Choo’s 10th birthday collection this year, but for a lot of Korean women who are 1) really into sandals, and 2) tend to follow trends in large numbers, enabled by the fact that generally Korean women are more homogenous in terms of foot size, skin tone, and body shape than in the more multiethnic societies, the summer slingback’s star never really faded here.

Factor #3 that makes summer more exciting here is the fact that Korean women generally never go below anything less than dress casual when wearing shoes – high heels or some kind of fashionable hard shoe is de rigueur here – and in the summer, it’s nearly a rule. You’ll always see (and hear) young women click-clacking their ways around the streets, and you certainly will never see women carrying home their shoes in bags while wearing tennis shoes home on commutes.

Here’s another view of that sharp skirt and wide belt. And do I spy a Louis Quatorze purse? Smart and tasteful, fashionable yet economical style – that’s the kind of classic elegance with a bit of flash that caught my eye. Her walking with confidence and a sexy switch didn’t hurt things, either. Go on, girl!

어머머머!

이쁜 신발을 신고 싶지만 발이 아프다고? 명동, 압구정, 홍대에 있는 거리를 sexy하게 다니지만 발의 건강이 걱정된다고? 이젠 걱정 ~ 끝! 얻을 수 있으면 이 Cole Haan(콜한)에서 만든 stiletto heel은 “pain-free”이라고 해요, 언니들! 에엥? 진짠가요? 믿기 어렵다고 하지만 이 신발안에 Nike Air가 들어가 있다네요! (Thanks, Shoewawa, for this bit of news.)

(클릭하시면 확대된다.)

(Click to enlarge.)

“어머머머” 맞아요.
근데 그렇게 편할까? 진짜 한번 신고 하루종일 다녀봐야 되겠네요, 언니들? 누가 그렇게 해보고 평가를 했으면 좋겠는데…. 이 신문기사에서 나온 인터뷰에, 고급 슈디자이너 Gina에 의하면 air cushion이 있어서 꼭 편해지는 것아니라고 말했어요. 구두의 “last”(구둣골)도 중요하다고 주장했어요. 한국독자 여러분, 밑에 사진을 좀 보세요.

For my English readers, please refer to this article on these Nike Air-enabled stiletto heels (and here’s Cole Haan’s site)! Are they comfy? We over here at FMS would like to know. In the article, a shoe designer refers to the importance of the shoe’s “last”, which is the source of one’s comfort or discomfort. It’s why we don’t buy cheap shoes, right? Here’s a picture of a “last” – the mold from and on which shoes are made:

I picked up this picture from a story on how Salvatore Ferragamo was starting to make custom shoes for men, which ran in the Korean press. 방금 영어로 설명한대로 이 기사 읽어보면 이것이 “shoe last”의 사진이네요. 찾기 힘든데. 휴.

The shoe also comes in black patent, as well as the brown suede (수웨이드) style above. I think the shoe is a good one for certain people, but is a bit too Cole Haan-conservative for me. Conservative? Well, better than that description is…hmm…well – it just doesn’t slap me across the face and make me want to buy it and see it on someone. The heel’s a little thick and the look is a bit traditional for me. A hot shoe for a bit more mature woman?

대부분 한국 아가씨들의 취향은 아니지반 - 저 개인적으로도 꼭 그렇게 죽이는 정도로 끌리는 멋진 슈아니라고 생각해서 - 많이 편하면 쓸만한 거죠? 근데 아쉬운 점은 발볼이얇은 것밖에 없대요. 어떡하죠?

Anyway, this certainly looks like an interesting idea. If we had good padding and good lasts, wouldn’t that make for one comfortable high heel? 질이 좋고 잘 만든 “last”으로 신발을 만들고 또 Nike Air같은 재질이 모든 여자의 신발에 들어가있었으면 좋겠네요. 아까 기사에서 바로 이멘트가 나왔더라고요: “남자들이 stiletto를 신고다녔으면 이런 기술이 몇백년전이나 벌써 나왔을 거야!”라고 말했어요.

맞는 말이네.

There’s an old shoe fashion maxim in America – “no white shoes after Labor Day” – which just passed this weekend. But is it such a hard-and-fast rule?

I agree with Manolo the Shoeblogger completely when he says that it depends on how you work the shoe. Especially with its black trim, worn with the proper smart, prim-looking suit or more casually, with a pair of nice jeans – these Via Spaga shoes can look great, no matter what the time of the year, as do these Caligarius shoes that are even cuter and more casual than their Via Spaga counterparts above.

As Manolo the Shoeblogger says, “the Manolo has only the single rule: If the shoe looks good, the shoe must be worn!” In a story from The Galveston County Daily News, called “White After Labor Day? If that’s your thing,” this sentiment is echoed.

“Fashion rules were made to be broken,” said Patricia McCune, who tracks trends for J.C. Penney Co. “Actually, the way that fashion is going now, the big thing is for everyone to express their individuality. So I say whatever expresses your individuality, go for it.”

Last year, Manolo’s Shoe Blog (http://shoeblogs.com) offered the same advice.

“The correct rule is always appropriateness,” Manolo wrote. “It is indeed not appropriate to wear the flip flops to meet the Mr. President. However, it is most appropriate to wear the super fantastic white shoes anytime the weather it is clement.”

I say, go for it, ladies! Just know the difference between a white shoe that looks like it’s in the wrong season, versus something that’s white and tasteful anytime.

Ah, the 80’s.

Well, as you already have probably noticed from the clunky Uggs boots revivals over the past couple winters (depending on the continent you’re on, it may have been earlier than this), the 80’s are back with a vengeance. Actually, saying so this way even sounds like a movie from the 80’s – Uggs II: Back With a Vengeance – and gives me chills.

That look was dead and I wanted it to stay that way.

Last summer, I spied a girl in the Chamsil TGI Friday’s wearing black stirrup tights and pink pumps. I almost lost my lunch. Luckily, I just coughed on my beverage and spit up a little; just as luckily, the trend didn’t hold – and in fact wasn’t a trend. That girl was just a little too eager to return to the 80’s (when she was probably 7) through the fashion magazines she was reading. Oops, girlfriend – jumped the gun!

But this trend is much more worth betting on.

However, I am pretty confident in reporting that tights – in a seemingly more sensible look – are coming in. Check out Hilary over to the right in those tights and killer pumps. Yowsahs!

It’s gonna be the new thing, and a perfect match for many girls here in Korea who have been wanting to respond to the rising skirt lines, but haven’t had the 자신 to wear them. For the shorter-the-better miniskirt girls, this will also be a way, through sleeker and sheerer tights, to keep wearing those minis into the colder months. Worn with a pair of smart pumps (strappy summer sandals + tights = HELL, NO!) and you’re just too sexy!

And it’s a flexible look. For the more conservative wearer, it can get you looking pretty casual, and you can wear just about anything over it. Just check out my girl Drew Barrymore to the left, of recent “I looooooove Baskin Robbins” fame in Korea.

So, the combination of the short mini and tights is in total effect in Korea. Check out the report over at Glam.com and prepare to return to the 80’s, but with more flair and flash. I don’t mind the 80’s – hell, I’d like to watch cool ninja-themed movies again – nor do I mind retro fashion trends, as long as they come back sans the stuff that makes me cringe.

And if you don’t believe me, remember the pic of our soon-to-be-model, the girl from the bus? She knows what’s up.

And obviously, so do I.

One last thing. Can I just give a few fashion tips for the fall and winter months? I know no one will listen, but I just need to say it anyway. Korean girls – please, for the love of Pete, over the next few months, please, please follow these basic fashion rules:

• No stirrups!
• No jelly shoes!
• No baggy tights with neon pumps!
• No tights and strappy summer sandals!
• Leave the Uggs alone unless you have the outfit to match (not with your old pair of jeans, please)!

Oh, the horror!