first 2 vertical rows: Vic Matie shoes | 2nd 2 vertical rows: Marc Jacobs shoes available at GravityPope.com

I am so excited to have somehow found this site, a Canadian online shop that delivers shoes in Canada!
Gravity Pope started as a mall store in Edmonton and eventually grew to open more shops out west (Calgary, Vancouver).

Fortunately, there is a huge selection of designer, hard to find, green and vegan and unique street branded footwear that is available for purchase online.

some of my finds:

Alexander McQueen for Puma $159 | opening ceremony ankle bootie $515

zeha berlin oxfords $489 | vialis sandals $180 (sale)

Gravity Pope not only carries most of our favorite brands popular like Blundstone, Converse, Adidas and Fluevog – but most exciting is the coveted designer finds from Fiorentini and Baker & Gidigio (gorgeous Italian leather footwear), fly london and Fred Perry (both UK), Trippen, Vialis and even a Gravity Pope in-house line of trendy shoes (too many to name!).

Gravity Pope also stocks men’s shoes, clothing and accessories.

http://www.gravitypope.com

Photo credit: Raymund Galsim

Designer Appearance by Jessica Jensen and Trunk Show at The Room
Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 12:00pm – 6:00pm
The Room – The Bay, Queen Street

Jessica Jensen Spring Summer 2010

Inspired by the settling storms of the early summer New Jersey coastline, the collection explores themes of calmness, stillness and optimism. Texture is a collection highlight: from fluid wave overlays to classic 45° basket weaves and custom panel weaves. The coastal storm palette invigorates the 39 sku collection as deepened greys and neutrals play off bold colour accents: Storm Grey, Seafoam, Mineral, Dusty Lilac, Citrus, Grape, Blush, Earth, and Black.

(The line is available at an accessible price range, from $498 to $1298. Small leather goods, such as the Envelope Clutch, Wristlet and Woven Coin Purse are $198.)

Jessica Jensen is a graduate of Ryerson University’s Fashion Marketing program. She’s marketed and designed licensed accessories for over 25 international brands including: Roots, Buffalo, Elle, Calvin Klein, Nike, John Varvatos, Michael Kors, and Lulu Guinness. Jensen debuted her signature handbag collection in 2007 and is lauded for her modern design philosophy and affordable, effortlessly stylish, luxury handbags. www.shopjessicajensen.com

In any Google search or in any Toronto fashion rag, Fashion Crimes is the go-to shop in Toronto for magical, unique prom dresses; personalized styling and a guarantee of looking amazing.

However, what I didn’t know about is the amazing selection of affordable accessories Fashion Crimes carries – mostly flashy, trendy and fabulously stylish!

I met owner Pam Chorley and some of the gals who work in her boutique recently at the Fashion Crimes Retrospective & New Collection Preview where Pam looked fabulous in a dress from 1982, the year she opened the shop.

At the event, held at the Drake Hotel, mannequins outfitted in head to toe Fashion Crimes hung from the ceiling while a talented twosome from Parlour Salon beautified guests in the ‘fishbowl’ room upstairs. There was an awesome ‘accessories bar’ with wares on sale from the shop, including:

Jewelled animal rings, funky tights and fishnets, winding metallic-look snake bracelets and necklaces, inexpensive faux spiky bracelets, mini tiaras and glamorous head wear, gold plated Maple Leaf necklaces and the list goes on….

Fashion Crimes
322 1/2 Queen Street West, Toronto

more photos here >>

Evan Biddell and Sonja Andic being being fashion bandits, as ush

Can you see these long feather earrings? My second time – think I might keep in mind for a DIY

How cool is this?! Danielle @ Final Fashion wearing her self-designed Dr. Martens

These bright blue velvet sneakers stood out in a crowded room even among this crazy graphic rug…

Not the greatest view but cool tights…

Marlene Shiff made this grey leather and fur handbag way back when she was designing purses for Bob Mackie (who knew?!) but it is so perfect for now and we all want one (with faux or vintage fur of course).

YSL/Chanel Shoesphoto: jakandjil.com

Sometimes it takes a few seasons, but eventually your favorite styles of shoes will get knocked down a few price levels, by a different company…and fortunately in time for them to still be fashionably wearable…

Obviously I’m not a huge fan of knockoffs, but

1. when it all comes down the fashion chain – unless the label is from a big-time authentic fashion house (Prada, McQueen, Balenciaga or even Manolo Blahniks), they’re all knock-offs in some way. Even more affordable, designer brands (Kors, Jeffrey Campbell, Sam Edelman) have some way or another been “inspired” by their much more expensive counterparts.

2. I am passionate about two things: Shoes and Awesome Deals. (however please note: cheap knock-offs tend to look cheap after very little wear, are much more uncomfortable really, and sometimes (well a lot of the time) aren’t even worth the $50…)

However,  here’s where to find them in Toronto:

Spring Shoes (cheaper sister of the Aldo Group) In Malls or Online

While many of these strappy styles will take awhile to break in while ripping at your feet and leather-look shoes are all synthetic – Spring offers a trendy selection (think many old style ‘knock-off’ Kings: Steve Maddens/Zigi Soho)

All Shown under $60

Trends Spring/Summer 2010: Floral prints | Cork Heels | Oxfords | Blue Suede

Aldo (better quality knock-offs of our better quality knock-off or “inspired by” favorite brands – think Jeffrey Campbell/80%20)

Shoe Trend Spring/Summer 2010: Strappy Wedges | Stacked Cork | Buckles | Tan/Orange/Reddish Leather

The new Balisi location on Yonge St. north of Eglinton independently stands out in its new neighbourhood amongst area favorites Lululemon, Aritizia and Sporting Life – but the residents of midtown Toronto should be very thankful for the injection of uber-cool, exclusive brands and yet another excuse to stray from the ‘North Toronto’ look.

Recently opened, this is the fourth Balisi boutique in Toronto (others on Queen, College and Danforth). Proprieters and partners Rehlee Balisi and Cory Kierstead have been successfully doing their thing for the past four years which is buying and bringing mainly edgy European labels to Toronto, focusing on fearless footwear while growing their retail business in a time of retail uncertainty. Each shop carries slightly different items to match area shoppers, and is staffed by highly experienced stylists.

On Yonge Street, stylist Dale Hodder explained what shoes had memory foam insoles, how to wear what (in ways you wouldn’t figure out for yourself) and what psuedo-celeb clients are going for.

For this article, I tried to distinguish the most contemporary and exclusive labels – and realized it’s all exclusive. The selection of Brazilian, plastic Melissa shoes is off the chizzy, the Vivien Westwood’s for Melissa are plentiful, there are Fly London sandals ; avant garde United Nude, handcrafted Miz Mooz, and my favorite the expensive Neosens. For men, plenty of sneakers and denim. Also, a wall of handbags, mens fashions from Japan, affordable accessories and an interesting little book collection thrown in to the whimsy.

If you’re in the hood, definitely go see Dale:

Balisi
2507 Yonge Street (north of Eglinton), Toronto
416.487-7111
+ http://www.facebook.com/balisifashionsinc
+ http://twitter.com/balisi

Dr. Martens Iconic 8-Hole Boot Turns 50 this Year

by Daniel Wilson

From Curt and Courtney, to That Gaga woman, to Madonna, PJ Harvey, and pretty much everyone in between, every rock star we idolize has worn Doc Martens on stage at some point during the highs and lows of their careers. They cross boundaries from a Bruce La Bruce art porn about gay neo Nazis to a Yohji Yamamoto runway show and have managed for fifty years to say, ‘I’m cool, I’m edgy, I’m practical or I don’t care’.

Even setting aside their fabulous, (and fabulously hard to find in Toronto) designer collaborations with the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Mr. Yamamoto, the Doc Marten brand has offerings for spring and next fall sure to set the chicest or grungiest of hearts aflutter.

Be sure to keep an eye open as they push the iconic 8 hole boot shape into all sorts of new forms. I loved the white boot with flocked black polka dots and a heel (yes, a Doc Marten heel – see below), in glossy black patent leather embossed with a tiny floral print.

And if you happen to be one of the handful of people in the world watching The Oscars this weekend, check out Jack Nicholson’s feet to see the customized silver metallic Docs he will be strutting.

The Dr. Martens Spring/Summer 2010 Collection includes the 8-Eyelet boot in both metallics and in canvas-like TecTuff Express leather, both durable and water-resistant – a more summer-like feel.

In Toronto, find Dr. Martens at:

http://www.getoutsideshoes.com

http://www.neonclothing.ca

http://www.softmoc.com

http://www.docsleathers.com