We are obsessed with cutout wedges right now. They're hot, they're fun, they're easy to wear. They can add an edge to any outfit, yet they're versatile enough that you could easily wear them to class or a club.

L.L. Bean is one of those companies that make a bit of everything. However, don't make the assumption that they are a jack of all trades, master of none, instead consider the full phrase which continues, though ofttimes better than master of one. Thanks, Wikipedia!

L.L. Bean is focused on the outdoors. They make everything from kayaks to baby strollers, tents to sporks. Really. They also have a great line of footwear for the whole family that is as stylish as it is functional. Aesthetics are not sacrificed for performance, or vice versa.

With due respect to Martha and the Vandellas, summer, more or less, is here, and the time is right to get outside and enjoy it. Dancing is optional, but please watch for oncoming traffic.

Designers at little-known Australian shoe company Melissa have been given a gift that's better than anything money could buy: legendary punk designer Vivienne Westwood has collaborated with them on a new footwear range, which fuses elements of Westwood's trademark quirky style with an innovative style of shoe-making.

We just got back from a run. We went an incredibly short distance in a disgustingly disproportionate amount of time. We might still be running.

Of course, it could have been that time stood still once we made the mistake of choosing our footwear as our focal point. How can we breathe and push with a beige pair of 1997 on our feet? It ain't easy.

Hence our little perusal of the Saucony website. Saucony makes running shoes. They "exist for runners." They offer a line of footwear that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional. Comfortable, too.

Attention all suckers for luxury products -- this is the shoe for you. These flip-flops are made with a "patent pending ultra-sports shoe base" and feature "hand-matched crocodile straps for magnificent comfort."

Somehow, this means that they're worth $400 -- a price so high, that it makes these rather unfortunate looking sandals are the "most expensive production flip-flops in the world."

Do you like spending at least $300 on a pair of casual sneakers? Really? Will you buy us a pair? We wear a size 12.

If you do like dropping a bit of bank on a quality and stylish set of footwear then you have come to the right place.



Check out the new kicks below, but keep your sticky fingers off the case, most of these shoes will set you back a car payment. You can do whatever you want with your own pair, buy them here.

We've all been there.

Walking along the street, just minding our own business, when all of a sudden the sky gets a tad bit darker and torrential rains begin to pour down.

Luckily, you have a umbrella with you. So, your clothes and body don't get too wet, but your shoes are never this lucky.

In fact, if you're wearing anything white or made out of canvas on your feet, their next destination will surely be in the trash because no amount of bleach is ever going to bring them back to their original pearly white state.

Well, the Norwegian brand Swims feels our pain, and as a result, have created rubber soles that adapt to fit over any shoe, protecting them from all types of bad weather. They come in a variety of colors, which means they can be color-coordinated with practically any outfit.

Marc Jacobs propelled the brand into the spotlight when he used the rubber soles to waterproof ballerina pumps for his spring/summer 2008 show last year.

Buy

Back in 2000 or so, when I watched Gladiator for the first time, I remember it spurred a number of thoughts. Things like, "Can one person really make a difference like that?" and "Russell Crowe really shouldn't wear a shirt. Ever."

But, I'm quite sure I didn't contemplate how to bring the fashion into my own life.

Whether I planned it or not, the gladiator sandal is making a big appearance this spring. According to Style Bakery (don't you love that name? Like they're baking up yummy, fresh styles just for me!), the gladiator sandal is poised to be an "it" shoe this season.

You can pair it with casual looks, like tie-dye or denim, or get funky by pairing them with more formal looks. Of course, you could always wear a toga ...

We've tried, on a number of occasions, to persuade you that, whatever you do, you should avoid the dreaded Crocs at all cost. They're funny looking. And nobody who sees you wearing them thinks you're "fun" or "funky" -- I promise.

But your fashion concerns may pale in comparison to the threat of physical danger. I've written before that wearing these absurdly-colored monstrosities while on an escalator could have some serious consequences. A number of people (especially children) have suffered foot injuries by wearing the particularly grippy footwear, and there's a few horror stories floating around about mangled (or even missing) toes. Yikes!

Now one family, who claims their daughter was "severely and permanently" injured after her Croc got stuck in an escalator, is suing the shoemaker for $7 million.

The Croc response? "The popularity of our shoes has helped draw attention to a long-existing issue that we think is very important -- escalator safety." Which seems to imply that the company believes escalators routinely eat toes, no matter what kind of shoes you're wearing.

So how come no one else is being sued?

[via Consumerist]

Wish you were getting more action in the bedroom? Maybe it's time to change your footwear. Apparently women who wear high heels have better sex -- and not just because you legs look hot in stilettos.

You might think this is information I overheard at a sports bar, but in fact the conclusion is based on research -- by scientists! I kid you not, someone actually paid to do a study comparing high heels and sex. And in that study, lead by Dr Maria Cerruto of the University of Verona, found that wearing "moderately high heeled shoes" makes for better bedroom antics.

The reason, says Dr Cerruto, is that wearing heels "directly works the pleasure muscles linked to orgasm." So ladies, if you need a little umph between the sheets, try a pair of heels, and give your pelvic muscles a workout.

[via Shiny Shiny]

Granted, it's not exactly sandal weather right now. But spring is right around the corner -- so it's not too early to keep your eyes out for some warm weather footwear. And as long as you're at it, why not do a little something for the planet?

It seems that what supermodel Gisele Bundchen was thinking. She's not just wearing a new sandal designed to raise awareness about water conservation -- that's all she's wearing. The new Ipanema sandal (which Bundchen designed) was created to support a campaign called Y Ikatu Xingu, which is working to protect the Xingu watershed in the Amazon basin. And what's even more exciting, is that Gisele is featured on the website -- wearing sandals, some water, and her birthday suit.

After all, nothing gets people more pumped up about saving the planet than naked celebrities.

[via Green Daily]

Without a doubt, Victoria's Secret makes some of the most popular underwear on the planet. They seem to strike just the right balance between comfort and appearance -- with something for just about every woman, on every occasion.

So it's a little surprising that they would create such an unbelievably hideous pair of boots. For $129, you can own these oddly tall, extremely glitzy, and disturbing tacky creations. I suppose it's up to you to find a good excuse to wear them.

Maybe they'd make a good costume choice for your burlesque routine. Or...

Actually, I can't think of another good use for these. Can you?

[via Fab Sugar]

Not everything that's cool in its own right deserves to be combined. For instance, I love eating ice cream. I love watching TV. I would not love eating my television.

Apparently this was not so obvious to whoever designed these Manolo Blahnik Dark Denim Kiddies. While I'm as enamored with my Converse Allstars as the next person, and would probably dig having a denim pair, turning them into $699 pointy-toed heels (currently on sale at $299 -- I wonder why) was the dumbest fashion mistake I've seen since Louis Vuitton tried pawning his $2,400 laundry bag off on hapless celebrities like Kelly Osborne.

But maybe I'm being harsh. After all, I don't wear heels, so ladies, this is really your problem, not mine.

Shoes can make or break your look, so I'm usually willing to drop a lot of money on a decent-looking pair of kicks. However, the most durable, comfortable, versatile pair of shoes I've purchased in recent memory was an $18 pair of gray Jack Purcells from Urban Outfitters a couple years ago. I was proud of myself; it was quite the bargain.

Looks like Old Navy might be the next place I'll find my shoe deal of the century. These exceptionally cool, patterned slip-ons just went on sale on the company's website -- selling for a mere $20. I don't how they fit, as I've yet to try on a pair in person, but the flannel design is right in line with the Seattle grunge revival, plus it would be a nice way to give a nod to the crispy October temps.

I had all but given up on Old Navy ever again creating anything that didn't look like it was intended for a generic suburban high school sophomore, so this will be a good excuse for me to poke my head in to see if times have changed.

[via See Jack Shop]