Designer Vegan Deal: Charmone Shoes

I've been very MIA the past month -- and may be for a while longer as to regular posting. But I wanted to highlight the Greenloop's massive close-out sale on Charmone pumps and boots from last season (though still perfectly acceptable style-wise for 2010, in my opinion). The Greenloop came to my attention when a couple of my friends sent me an awesome gift certificate. I spent a portion of the gift certificate already, and just used the rest to get the right pictured "marco-polo" pumps in the moss color. As with all Charmone shoes, they are vegan. Originally $229, they are on close-out for $49. They also come in a slate (grey) version. Find the moss color here and the slate color here.

The Greenloop also is offering Charmone's "darjeeling" booties for $49 (originally $269). They come in the pictured black and a green. They have a 3.75" heel (same as the above pumps) and are made from a vegan micro-fiber "suede" that give them a velvety look and feel. Find the black here and the green here. Also check out Charmone's "dragonwell" tall boots -- originally $299, on sale for $59 -- here.

Wednesday's Work-Appropriate Shoes: Pointed Toe Pumps

I found these pointed toe pump with a 1" heel via DSW. The heel is what drew me to them; it's very difficult to find vegan shoes with a low heel. The shoes come in the pictured purple and in four other color combinations: navy with lighter blue, black on black, dark brown with yellow, and light brown with dark brown. My favorites are the pictured purple and the light brown / dark brown combo. The shoes are made from synthetic materials. They are $24.95 (compare at price is $40); find them here.

Wednesday's Work-Appropriate Shoes: Wanted "Drape" Pumps

Piperlime is holding a "secret sale" -- extra 20% off all sale shoes and handbags today and tomorrow (July 22 and 23) -- use code: JUST4U. These Wanted conservative pumps are on sale for $29.99 right now; with the extra 20% off, they will be $23.99. I would pair the pumps with a full, conservative black or grey suit, or with a dress to make the dress look a bit more conservatively professional. The pumps come in the pictured black and a light grey with a wooden stacked heel. The heel height is 2" Find the black pumps here, and the light grey pumps here.

Vegan Purchase: Steve Madden Pumps

I purchased two pairs of vegan Steve Madden pumps at Designer Shoe Warehouse -- "DSW" (does anyone call it by its full name anymore?) -- a week or so ago and have been searching online to find a link to them, but have been entirely unsuccessful. Accordingly, I took semi-okay pictures with my iPhone and am posting them.

The pumps have 2.75" heels (perfect height!) and a pointed, yet not-too-pointy toe. As clearly indicated on the inside label, they are made entirely of man-made materials . . . vegan . . . how rare to find vegan Steve Madden pumps! I purchased them (1) in the shiny black, which, while shiny, I find to be matte enough to wear with almost any suit, and (2) in a tan/taupe, which pairs perfectly with my lighter summer suits. I also wore the tan/taupe pumps with a black suit that has tan pinstripes to rave reviews. The shoes were $59.95 each, "compared with" $79.99. I highly recommend these if you can find them at your local DSW or similar.

Wednesday's Work-Appropriate Shoes: Kitten Heels

I've been looking for a certain type of kitten heel for months and months and months -- black, pointed toe (not the round that seems to be everywhere), a one-inch heel, perhaps some decoration to make the shoe intriguing. I finally found a pair . . . via Payless no less! Their "American Eagle" brand black kitten heel features a one-inch heel, a pointed toe, and pleats around the toe. I haven't tried the shoe on yet (going this weekend), so I can't attest to comfort. The shoe is vegan though -- made from manmade materials. Regularly $24.99, the heels are on sale for $19.99. The shoes also come in a "raspberry" color; find them here.

Wednesday's Work-Appropriate Shoes: Charmoné Bellini "Rosemary" Shoes

Charmone Bellini is one of a few designers of high-end vegan shoes. Their mission "is to create beautiful, luxurious, sexy shoes that are also sustainable and cruelty-free. Every shoe incorporates European design and quality while using only animal-free, eco-friendly materials." The shoes are made sweatshop-free in Italy and Brazil; they range in price from $120-$220.

Of their current offerings, my favorite is the "Rosemary" shoe. It comes in the pictured dark brown with black and grey grosgrain ribbon cross-straps, and a lighter brown with taupe and dark brown grosgrain ribbon cross-straps. The heel height is a perfect 2.75 inches. The shoes are $179. Find the pictured dark brown here and the lighter brown here.

If you aren't into wearing the faux-suede in the summer, I also enjoy the "Star Anise" shoe, which comes in the pictured "smoke" and an "espresso" that incorporates some faux-suede. The shoes also are $179 and have a similar 2.75 inch heel. Find the pictured smoke here and the espresso here.

Wednesday's Work-Appropriate Shoes: Shuella

Great for getting to the office, though not exactly appropriate for in the office, Shuellas (a combination of shoe and umbrella) are just that -- umbrellas for your shoes. Shuellas are made from a waterproof vegan substance (aka - rubber); come in a convenient reusable pouch complete with a cloth to wipe off excess water before returning to the pouch after use; have a nonskid bottom; can slip over any type of shoe, including heels; and come in the same sizes as shoes so that your shuella actually fits comfortably over your shoes. Though I don't own a pair, I'm very intrigued.

Shuellas are available in a variety of colors, including black, of course. They are regularly $49.95, which includes shipping; for a limited time (now through April 24), you can get them for $34.95, including shipping, by entering the Shuella website through a special Daily Candy reader link, which I am revealing here.

And, to put under your Shuellas, check out Naturalizer's "Diverse" pumps (pictured left). I definitely categorize these pumps as classic, conservative, professional -- 2 1/4" heel -- great for pants suits that will cover the ultra-conservative criss-cross straps at the top. They are made from a fabric upper; the remainder is synthetic (though, I can't vouch for the content of Naturalizer's glue). Originally $69.95, onlineshoes.com is offering them for $59.99, including free shipping. Find them here.

Another Nude Pump

In response to the post yesterday highlighting Neuaura's "Caroleena" pearl-colored pumps, a friend wrote me, "No!!! The Kohl's nude pump!!!!" So, here's the Kohl's pump that my friend can vouch for as "comfy and sexy . . . [my date] loved them": apt. 9 Modest Dress Heels in "blush" color (pictured right). The only sizes available online are 6 and 10, but I bet you can find more sizes in Kohl's stores. The pumps are made from faux-patent leather and have a 3.5" heel. Originally $54.99, they are on sale for $19.97. Find them here.

Wednesday's Work Appropriate Shoes: Neuaura Nude Pump

I've heard that nude pumps are the pumps to wear this upcoming season. My pick are these Neuaura "Caroleena" pearl-colored pumps via Vegan Chic. (Vegan Chic was formerly known as Vegetarian Shoes and Bags, but recently changed its name and increased its stock.) I love the oxford-style detailing and their chunky heel. Best of all, they are on sale: originally $83.99, now $73.99. Of course, they are 100% vegan. They come in the pearl-color pictured and "cappuccino." Find the pearl here, and the cappuccino here.

Designer Vegan Deal: Nordstrom Shoe Clearance

Hundreds (literally - about 1,000 pairs) of shoes of are on sale during Nordstrom's shoe clearance. I've picked out most of the vegan items for women that are available in more than one size, though you may want to scroll through and focus on the sneakers and winter boots. I've omitted some vegan items that, to me, aren't appropriate past 21-years-old. For convenience, I've listed them below with minimal description and commentary.

Report "Sammi" Thong Sandal: black, red, silver, teal, or white faux patent with synthetic lining and rubber sole; originally $39.95, now $22.90 (40% off); here.

Report "Sasha" Sandal (pictured in green): black, white, green, or yellow faux patent with synthetic lining and rubber sole; originally $39.95, now $22.90 (40% off); here.

Helly Hansen "Equipe" Boot: black or white with synthetic upper, faux fur lining, and rubber sole; originally $169.95, now $99.90 (40% off); here.

Tribeca "Be Happy" Sandal: black, copper, or pewter synthetic upper and lining with rubber sole; originally $49.95, now $28.90 (40% off); here.

Sperry Top-Sider "Pelican: Tall Rain Boot: black and grey paisley combination in rubber; originally $59.95, now $34.90 (40% off); here.

Chinese Laundry "Shameless" Sandal: black or mink satin upper with synthetic lining and sole; originally $59.95, now $34.90 (40% off); here.

J. Reneé "Kipp" Pump (pictured): black, red, purple combo, black, mazelwood combo, or black, pewter combo made from synthetic materials with synthetic lining and sole; originally $74.95, now $36.90 (50% off); here.

Wednesday's Work Appropriate Shoes: Rampage Pumps

Via Piperlime. Two pairs! First, my favorite -- the "Rajah" -- smooth black synthetic leather with a ruffle detail leading up to the pointy toe. And a perfect 2" heel. Man made balance and synthetic lining. $50. Find them here (free shipping and returns on Piperlime!).

Second -- the "Maria" -- made from the same smooth black synthetic leather; this version has no extra detailing and a 2 1/2" heel. I like their classic style, though I have been looking for 2" heel black pumps for awhile and wish the heel was slightly lower. Synthetic balance and lining. Also $50. Find them here.

Wednesday's Work Appropriate Shoes: Cork Dress Pump

Made by Oh Deer! and available through Piperlime. I admit, this pump may not be entirely office-appropriate, but it is so interesting (perhaps strange is the better word?) that I had to post it. As a friend said, "they look like they're made of particle board that got burned at the toes." Oh deer (or is it dear?) indeed.

The pumps are made from 100% synthetic materials . . . such as . . . wait for it . . . cork! It also has a bone-breaking 4" heel. $165; find it here.

Vegan Purchase: Chinese Laundry Wedge Pumps!

I found them at a discount designer shoe store similar to DSW, but not DSW -- the name escapes me, though I think it starts with an "M." Regardless, the pumps are made from black faux leather and have a perfect 1.5" black wedge. I'm also quite happy about their matte finish, which seems to be hard to find on vegan shoes. In short, I love them! And I love the price more -- originally $60, I got them for $30. Here they are on my feet:

They will replace the Burberry "trench pumps" that I purchased over four years ago at this point. After multiple re-heelings and re-soleing, on Friday, they finally gave out for good: the leather (eek; leather!) on the toes is peeling back rather badly. The main difference between the two shoes is that the Burberry pumps have a 1" heel rather than the new 1.5" heel -- I hope the extra .5" doesn't throw off the look of the suits (doubt it will). Evidence of the Burberry's final demise:

Vegan Purchase: Neuaura Booties

It was gorgeous (gorgeous!) in New York City yesterday (and just about everywhere else on the east coast). I walked around SoHo for a few hours with friends . . . eating, shopping, talking . . . straining my winterized legs until my calf muscles screamed in pain. It was a fabulous Sunday!

While out, my friends and I stopped at Moo Shoes -- at my request, of course. I couldn't resist purchasing the cutest pair of Neuaura bootie-pumps (pictured left): the shiny faux leather combined with the super-soft faux suede and the satin ribbon -- very professional, but with a stylist twist. At 3 inches, the heels are do-able also. There was only one black pair left in my size . . . so, clearly, I had to get them. I am wearing them today with a black Ann Taylor suit (the triacetate vegan) and a cotton-polyester-blend white collared shirt with subtle ruffling around the buttons (a holiday gift from a friend -- love the shirt!). And I intend to pair them with the White House Black Market tuxedo-esque suit I got on super-sale a few weeks ago (see previous post). The shoes were $89. Find them here (they also come in brown -- here).

I also really liked these black Neuaura Lolita flats (1/2" heel), but they weren't available in my size. If you are size 6, 6.5, or 9.5, check them out -- on sale for $39.99 (originally $74).

Sale on Stella McCartney Pumps

Intermix is offering some insanely expensive Stella McCartney items for not as much $$, but still rather insanely expensive. Thought I would note a couple of my favorites of the sale items nonetheless:

Velour Silver Heel Pumps (pictured right): I love the "midnight blue" velour and the silver spiked stiletto heels. I'm not sure how people walk in them for an extended period of time, but I bet they look divine when they do! The pumps were originally $645, now $399. They are available in sizes 36.5, 37, 37.5, 38, 38.5, 39 and 40.

Satin Metal Filigree Pumps (pictured left): these are to dive for; I love them so much, especially the gunmetal filigree thing on the back and, of course, the silver spiked stiletto heels. Again, not sure how people walk in them for long periods of time, but I would be willing to try if I owned these. The pumps were originally $795, now $479. They are available in sizes 36, 36.5, 38 and 38.5.

Intermix's website says both of these pumps incorporate patent leather, but I'm almost positive that none of Stella McCartney's shoes incorporates leather (although she does use silk and wool . . . which sometimes land on her shoes).

White House Black Market Shoes May Be Vegan

White House Black Market is offering two pairs of shoes that are made from synthetic upper (100% polyester satin) and sole. I emailed White House Black Market's customer support and asked whether any part of either shoe incorporates animal products, including the glue used to bind the shoes.

Customer support's answer was: "We do not have access to the information you are requesting. Please contact our corporate office to see if someone can better assist you. The corporate number is 239-277-6200. The office is located in Fort Myers, FL and open from 8:30 to 5:00 Monday-Friday."

The two shoes are: 1) "Twister Pleated Satin Heel" (pictured left, $98): the pumps have a 3" inch heel. If your office allows open-toed shoes, I think these would look great with a black skirt or pant suit or with a dress, especially during the holiday season. They also would be great for office holiday parties and for other parties.

2) "Ornamental Ballet Flat" (pictured right, $78): the flats have faux seed pearls and misty cabochons dangle tiny grey beads. I like their flexible sole and 1/4" heel. They may be a bit too flat for my office, but, again, they would be great for holiday parties, especially those that are a little less formal and/or require lots of standing and mingling.

If you like either and want to be sure that no animal products were used in production, you may call the above number. Maybe if enough people call or email, White House Black Market will start including such information on its website, or, at least, inform its customer service representatives enough to answer what seems like a question that they should be able to answer easily.

More Vegan Shoes

Whenever I say I am a vegan, people ask me about finding shoes or people tell me that it is impossible to find good looking vegan shoes. To be honest, I collected so many pairs of shoes pre-vegan, that I likely will not have to replace very many for a while. But that doesn't prevent me from browsing the web for shoes. In my latest internet travels, I found a few more vegan shoes designers. All three primarily make vegan shoes for women, although the third makes some vegan sandals for men.

1) NEUAURA. According to its website, "NEUAURA provides contemporary, high-quality, animal-friendly fashion footwear for today’s uncompromising consumer." That's me! All of NEUAURA's shoes do not contain any leather, fur, silk, wool, shell, or pearls, and no animal by-products are used during manufacturing and/or finishing processes. The shoes cost $79 - $104. I especially enjoy the "Mariposa" pumps (pictured right in the black, $79). The pumps also come in a mulberry color.

2) Georgette Shoes. The best website to find these shoes is Nimli. Not all Georgette Shoes are vegan; Nimli indicates which are with a little drawing underneath the shoes of what looks to me like a combination of a sheep and a cow. The shoes cost $160 - $410. My favorite is the "Monique" bootie (pictured left in the black, $160). The bootie also comes in brown. With a 2.3" heel, I think the bootie would look great under a pant suit.

3) Rina Shah. Rina Shah makes all animal-friendly products, including handbags, belts, and shoes (for women and men). The shoes cost $50 - $350. Most of her products are available online. In the United States, Rina Shah products are available at Otsu (San Fransisco) and Moo Shoes (New York), among other outlets. I really enjoy the "Crochet" pump (pictured right, $95). Finding the perfect pant or skirt suit to wear with them might be a challenge, but the pumps truly would make the outfit. I also love that you can choose the heel height (2", 3" or 4") of this pump.

Professional Vegan Shoes

The point of this blog is to identify and showcase vegan clothing and accessories suitable for the corporate world. The last post -- Keds -- despite the intrigue of wearing Mrs. Dalloway on my feet, is not suitable for the corporate world, possibly not even suitable for those long weekend hours. So here are some professional vegan shoe options. First 3 for women; second 2 for men.

1) Te Casan by Natalie Portman shoes. Entirely vegan, including sandals, flats, wedges, pumps, and boots! Most of the shoes are in the $250 - $300 price range; tall boots are in the $400 - $450 range. I work in an extremely conservative environment (full suit everyday, jacket must be on when you step out of your office, no funky stuff, definitely no open toe shoes). These "Poppy" pumps (pictured left, $255, 3" heel) are my favorite of her offerings.

2) olsenHaus shoes. I previously blogged on the designer bags; the shoes are just as great. The current line of shoes is mainly pumps, flats, and booties. Slightly less expensive than the Te Casan by Natalie Portman line, the shoes range from $175 - $225.

3) Stella McCartney shoes. Stella McCartney is also a vegan-friendly designer, although her line of shoes is way more expensive than the previous two (in the $600 - $1,000+ price range). Nevertheless, of course, her shoes are gorgeous, and her shoe line includes pumps, flats, wedges (tons of wedges!) and boots (short and tall!). If you can't make it to her boutique in NYC, Neiman Marcus carries a good selection. I love this pull-on ankle bootie made of black faux leather (pictured right, $645, 4" heel).

4) The Vegan Collection shoes. The Vegan Collection is an online shoe company based out of Los Angeles. They offer vegan men's shoes at reasonable prices (around $50!). Best of all, 25% of all profits from purchases is donated to one of four animal-rights organizations (the purchaser gets to choose which one of the four).

5) Vegetarian Shoes. If you can deal with ordering your shoes from the UK, Vegetarian Shoes offers some great options for men, such as this black semi-dressy "Kent Clark" shoe (pictured left, £54.95). I'm not as into the women's options, but there seem to be lots for men to choose from.

Also, Moo Shoes, a NYC boutique, carries tons of women's and men's vegan shoes. Check out their website here. They also carry bags, wallets, belts, cosmetics, and a small selection of clothing.