Karen Elson For Nine West Vintage America

If you have been following me for a while you know that I am a sucker for all things vintage and retro looking.  I was intrigued when I heard that model, musician and muse, Karen Elson was partnering with Nine West's Vintage America line to create a limited edition capsule collection.  While Elson has made a living wearing designer duds, her own style is decidedly vintage with a hint of goth. What would this collection look like with Elson holding the design reigns?  Well here is the answer, a little victorian, a hint of rock and roll and a little glam.  The collection consists of shoes, bags and jewelry, evocative of the victorian era;  carpet bags with skeleton key adornments, granny boots in black leather with contrast glittery sparkle sides, gold chains with key and lock charms.  I was hoping that there would be more pieces in the collection, I think the designs could be more varied, but what is there covers the scope of Nine West's usual offerings. The most successful pieces design wise are the MIDNIGHTSUN knee high laceup boot (I already own something similar) and Sorrownwoe crossbody bag.  I personally think that the price is a little high for Nine West's target consumer, with prices ranging from $32 for the jewelry to $269 for the tall lace up boot.  The entire collection is available now.

MIDNIGHTSUN Knee High Boot, $269

SORROWNWOE Crossbody Bag, $69

So what do you think of the line? Do you have a favorite item in the collection? Are you tired of design collaborations between designers or models and mainstream retailers/lines or do you want more?

Let's Discuss: Crazy Heels and the Towering Heights

An assortment of mad, multi-story shoes from Alexander McQueen's seasons past.

I am really petite, and take great pleasure in donning a lovely pair of heels to give me a little boost.  However I do have a limit, my high heel height limit is 3.5".  If I go beyond that limit I become a teetering, tripping mess.  I know some women would scoff at my inability to wear a 4" heel, but even 4" heels seem quaint compared to the new heights that heels have reached.  Not only has the heel height been climbing, the rest of the shoe has been pushing the limits of what would be considered footwear and what should be a sculptural work of art.

I know crazy high heels are nothing new, designers have been sending them down the runways the last few years.  I recall a wave of shock when Alexander McQueen's armadillo shoes hit the runway a couple years ago.  Sensationalist artwork mostly, but then women started wearing these feats of engineering, well it was mostly Lady Gaga, but others soon followed suit.  Now those seriously strange soles are no longer the trademark of ostentatious designers, maintstream shoe manufacturers are selling sky-high, sculptural stems. I have gathered up a selection of current styles that are dangerously high and/or wonderfully strange.