Shoes.... I Wish!

First off, I love shoes. A good pair of shoes can make even the simplest of outfits work and stand out. To me, shoes are art. Some people collect paintings, some collect antique furniture; budget permitting, I would collect shoes. Men's shoes, womens shoes, whatever. Unfortunately, when it comes to shoes, what you pay is what you get. If shoes are cheap they're not going to last, and they're probably going to be pretty standard design-wise. Shoes that don't appeal to the mass-market are not going to be available on the high street, and so they're going to cost that much more. And so generally I just look. And I wish.

These are currently top (FOR NOW!) on my wish list

1. Alexander McQueen - Black Riding Boots which are £475 at Selfridges

I don't seem to be able to find a picture of them anywhere, and they aren't available on his US Online store.

2. YSL - Jonny Boots which are $795 (£398) from www.ysl.com

No need to explain this one, now is there?! YSL have done the boots for quite a while now, but I've only just decided that I want them. Beautiful aren't they? Heels are SO the way forward for men. :D Isn't this all so exciting?!

3. Slightly more affordable are the Canvas Zip Boots from All Saints which are £150 on their website.

www.allsaintsshop.co.uk

What draws me to them is that they're a "new", updated version of the standard rugged military boot (which All Saints also have, exact same style as the zip boots, but lace up) which has been around for the last few seasons. And for that price i really don't think you'll find anything else quite like it.

4. Vivienne Westwood - Pirate Boots, available to order for about £300 from her Conduit St store, they take around 6 weeks

Whoever doesn't have them, wants them. Kate Moss picked up a pair in a vintage store a few years back, and suddenly everyone wanted them. Westwood started producing them again, and they're still selling! An absolute British classic from Westwood's Pirate Collection (A/W 1981-2) which are instantly recognizable - I'd love them in black!

5. Vivienne Westwood - "Rocking horse" shoes, available to order for around £300 from her Conduit St store

I want the above "golf" version in black and white. The soles are made of actual wood, and apparently take some getting used to to walk in. I first spotted them on a man on Pete Burns's partner, Michael Simpson, when he wore them to their Civil Ceremony. I have actually ordered a pair, but I'll post more about it later. Also another British design classic, these shoes are more assosciated with punks and Japanese Gothic Lolita, a sub-culture of teenagers that draws much of its inspiration from Victorian style and Edwardian fashion.

6. Dior Homme - Black Patent Derby - £120 (Yes, only £120!!) on www.diorhomme.com

Nothing special, just standard patent leather dress shoes, slightly pointed but with a rounded toe. But, instead of buying similar one's from Office, empy your penny jar and hey presto!, you've got Dior Homme shoes!

7. Jeffrey West - Rochester Rossmore which is £250 on www.jeffrey-west.co.uk

I love pointy shoes, for what reason I still don't know. They're supposed to make legs look longer, although I've honestly never really noticed a difference. Better still are patent leather pointy shoes! And to top it off, they are Jeffrey West and so have a slighty higher heel. These also have the scarlet/red "inferno" sole, so they're as close as us guys will get to matching up to our Christian Louboutin wearing girl friends