Neiman Marcus is running a promotion through Nov. 6 — sign up for the luxury retailer’s e-newsletter and you’re registered to win a $3,000 Manolo Blahnik shopping spree at neimanmarcus.com.

Glass-half-empty Sam: “That’s what? Four pairs of shoes? Or three really good ones?”
Glass-half-full Sam: “That’s still three more pairs than you had before.”

And be glad you don’t live in Canada (to any Canadian readers, I apologize, but): Up there, before you can win, you have to correctly answer a skill-testing question! (And by “skill-testing” they mean “math.”) Here it is, amid the other rules and regulations: (224×18) + (9672/12) - 1119 = ??? Sure, anyone with a calculator could pull it out — it’s not like they require you to do it on the spot, with only pencil and paper — but still, doesn’t it seem kind of odd?

Here in AMERICA, Sammit readers have the chance to win a slightly less glamorous prize — but there’s no math involved. All you have to do is answer: Is that shoe up top — the Something Blue satin pump by (given the theme of the Neiman Marcus contest) Manolo Blahnik, of course.

I have to say: I think they are a pretty color, but the crystal brooch isn’t particularly thrilling — come on, this is the best you could do, Shoe Glamour Shot Photographer? And they’re also $945, which I think is pretty extreme considering they’re satin and you could buy this pair of leather boots for the exact same price and several other pairs of Blahniks that I find much more “wow!” than the blue ones.

But what do YOU think? Click on the choice you agree with, or create your own opinion as an option.

ammit

ammit

Plus, post your comment below, under “Leave a Reply,” to be entered to win a prize. This week’s winner will receive a satin-lined canvas clutch designed by Matt Murphy for MAC and filled with MAC products — a Lip pencil in Spice; Eye Kohl pencil in Teddy; eye shadows in Shroom and Satin Taupe; Lustreglass gloss in Wonderstruck; Lipglass in Oh Baby and Prrr; Lip Conditioner; and bronzing powder in Matte Bronze. I’ll pick one winner from the entries received by Friday, Oct. 10. Good luck!

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 9/22/08
The shirt: Lightweight cotton long-sleeved button-down by J Crew
The pants: Zaf jeans by Diesel (Last Chance)
The shoes: Sneakers by Skechers (Last Chance)
The scent: Odeur 53 by Comme des Garçons
Listening to: “The Theme From Frank” by Fannypack

sammit

I should point out that this week’s Shoe Hot or Not contender is kind of a fait accompli: My friend Amy already has purchased them to wear at her wedding.

And, I believe, she bought the “Organdy” pumps by Michael Kors in this color.

(more…)

Christian Louboutin didn’t take last week’s not-so-constructive criticism lying down: The designer, whom I had once interviewed during a personal appearance at Neiman Marcus, fired off a furious e-mail, wondering how I could accuse him of laziness when he had put out shoes like the pleated purple suede d’Orsay pump above.

“Keep trying, Christian,” I replied. “I feel like I’ve seen that shoe before … on Miss Piggy, to be exact.”

After some genteel cursing he offered up the suede and leather lace-up bootie, to slightly better fanfare,. But I still wasn’t feeling wowed.

“Christian, show me something amazing,” I said. “Show me something some incredible it will make readers gasp. Something that’s iconic and sexy. Something that’s … not available in California.”

So he did.

(more…)

First, two pairs of shoes that are NOT this week’s contenders. First, a pair I don’t even think count as shoes, but rather ankle bracelets with attached heels.

(more…)

From the beginning the voting has backed me up: Last week’s shoe really does deserve the scorn I heaped upon it.

So I was feeling pretty good as the week progressed. Then on Friday, when I started cleaning some stuff off my desk, I found a release from ShoeMall.com that made me shiver.

Seriously, shivers of fright. What the hell? How can two separate shoe designers have thought this was a good idea? And even if Steve Madden had “taken inspiration” from another brand and created his own “homage,” why why WHY would he choose last week’s shoe?

(I will give him credit, though: If I had to choose one, I would choose this Saavoy version over the other. Maybe that’s why, with both on sale, it costs more than the BCBGirls sandal.)

I had saved that press release (about colorblocking being a trend) because of another shoe on the page: the Shine sandal by Luichiny, above. I sort of liked it at the time, but I didn’t love it, so I thought it’d make a great shoe for y’all to weigh in on.

The gold — warm enough, or garish? I could go either way. And the burgundy and red together are giving me a little grief. I like it much better when the photo is only a thumbnail, but when it’s blown up bigger, I start to dislike it more.

(And the same shoe in this color combo? Not an option, ever.)

I did think this Casey slide, also by Luichiny, was kind of interesting. But I wonder if when you walk on it, the wedge heel is kind of springy and collapsable. More comfortable, but if the polyurethane coating on the outside buckles a little, leading to wrinkles and creases, the shoe would look bad after a while. Still they’d be kind of fun with a swingy little minidress for an afternoon party.

Anyway, back to this week’s question: Is that Shine sandal — the one in the big picture — hot, or not? Cast a vote by clicking on the answer of your choice below. (Or, if you like, create your own category.)

ammit

And those readers who post a comment in the “Leave a Reply” section below will be entered to win a free bottle of Clinique Happy perfume spray. I’ll pick a winner from the comments left by Saturday, Sept. 13. Good luck!  UPDATE: Congratulations to Mary, whose comment was chosen as the winner.
ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 9/1/08
The shirt: Cotton polo by Abercrombie & Fitch (Buffalo Exchange)
The shorts: Camouflage-print shorts by Mossimo (Target)
The shoes: I, um, haven’t put any on yet today. Probably flip-flops, when the time comes.
The scent: CK One Summer 2008
Listening to: “Sex (I’m A…)” by Berlin (iTunes is set to the “Not Recently Played” playlist)

sammit

You know how your mother said if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all? I am keeping my mouth shut about this shoe.
(more…)

We’re doing things a bit backwards this week: I’m starting with the prize before getting around to the shoe.

(more…)

So, first off, my kudos go out to Prada for using Linda Evangelista in some of this season’s ads. (Right-click the photo above to see it larger.) Quite a few designers have drawn from the ’80s superwell lately, and it’s nice to see some recognizable, individual faces, as opposed to a blob of interchangable Eastern European child blondes.

(more…)

Last night I dreamed I lived in San Francisco.

This wasn’t necessarily an odd thing — yesterday I got back from a four-day trip to the Bay Area and my first-ever trip to the city. (The above photo is the street outside my friend Joe’s front door. Actual angle correct.) And while I recognize that I was there for a limited time, doing mostly touristy things, and availing myself of the kindness of friends who are way better off than me … I loved it.*

On the last day we hit Bloomingdale’s — a good way to know what we’re in for when the one opens in Scottsdale! — where I walked out empty-handed but with an idea for a twist to this week’s Shoe Hot or Not contest.
(more…)

I never understood people who say there’s “too much” stuff to get through – yes, I’m looking at you, former newspaper readers. (And former magazine subscribers, and …)

For one thing, “too much” has never been a problem for Americans, home of Costco and Sam’s Club and super-size meals. For another, most of the time it’s not like it’s all tossed in there willy-nilly – there’s some organization to let you pick and choose what you read/consume. (more…)