Manolo answers, it is the Mo’Nique!

Congratulations to the Manolo’s internet friend, BetsyPHD, for being the first to correctly identify this week’s Oscar-winning personage of note.

This girl is 16 years old. I know she looks like she’s in her late twenties, but being Lindsay Lohan’s younger sister will do that to you.

Here’s young Ali Lohan wearing a pair of Fendi wedges last seen on big sister Lindsay. First she starts borrowing Lindsay’s heels, next it’ll be her leggings and “ankle gloves”, then it’ll be her alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet.

I actually think Ali wears these shoes better than Lindsay did. Lindsay wore them with those shiny leggings and grandma sweater, and y’know, Lindsayed-up the outfit, and just like that, the Fendi wedges were wasted. I actually like Ali’s look, even if it is a bit too old for her. What do you think?

I Don’t Like You in that Way

Michael Brown, new and emerging shoe designer from Virginia, sent me a pair of Monticello Gabriella sandals, one of 37 new designs from the 2010 Monticello Shoes Spring / Summer collection to wear and review. I even got a sneak peek of Gabriella while she was in still in the sketch stages…

I must admit the sketch doesn’t do this studded strappy sandal justice.  This style is gorgeous! And even more gorgeous in person!  Gabriella arrived in a cool flip-up shoebox (definitely a keeper in my closet) wrapped in custom tissue paper and included a velvet shoe bag. I was in love before I even tried them on!

In fact, my sister was here when I opened them, and said she wants these for her bridesmaids to wear when she gets married as she’s always dreamed of a “brown” wedding. Of course, she needs to find a boyfriend first.

Monticello shoes only come in whole sizes (I’m usually a size 7.5), so I requested a size 8 and albeit a bit big, they fit well and are true to size. The swooping strap always makes feet appear smaller, so I’d definitely recommend for those with larger feet.  The heel height is closer to 5″ than the advertised 4″, so I had to get used to wearing such high of heel. I stretched some calf muscles I never even knew I had while wearing these! At least I’ll have plenty of time to get used to them before my sister’s wedding!

My guess is that celebrities will be knocking at Michael Brown’s door once they hear word of the Monticello collection. And I can say I wore them first!

And now, a big thanks to Racked NY, who noticed that the Ready-to-Wear versions of these ‘magically popped up’ online yesterday. If you are interested a review, Racked NY also hunted them down in-store and took them for a  trial run to test for comfort and walk-ability.

So, if you loved the Christian Siriano spring 2010 runway looks, now is your chance to own a pair.

At $80 each, they are a bit pricier than your average Payless offerings. But then again, I fondly remember being a much younger me and grabbing a pair of cute black pumps at Payless for $6.99 after I had finally worn my last pair into the ground.  The most expensive items in the store in those days topped out at $21.99.  So, I may be a little bit skewed in my price comparisons.

In this case, it’s probably better to go with my husband who has paid enough attention to price increases  over the last decade to be more realistic about these things. He understands and occasionally notes, ‘That’s not a bad price these days’ on anything under $150.

Anyway, you might want to hurry if any of these styles have you crushing hard. You never know whether they will sell out;  leaving you desperately trolling the online auction scene for a pair in your size – at painful and ridiculous markups,  to boot.

Christian Siriano for Payless ‘Cut it Out Ankle Cuff Pump’ $79.99.

Christian Siriano for Payless ‘To The Point’ printed platform pump $79.99.

Christian Siriano for Payless ‘All Done Up’ Maryjane pump $79.99.

Oh, and if you like a retro-accessories shoe-purse match, there’s always this (previously available) Siriano for Payless handbag for your consideration. (It also matches the previously available & less expensive  ‘coast printed satin pumps’ which have a more traditional heel style if ‘the claw’ is not for you.)

Siriano for Payless Large Shopper handbag $39.99.

I would have liked to have seen the paper-bag, bloused, booties show up at retail, but at $79.99 I can see why that may not have been possible to achieve.

It remains to be seen if the Payless budget-shopper demographic will accept higher-than-normal (at least for this retailer) prices for such designer exclusives. I wonder if even these under $100 offerings may be a big gamble for Payless  and their traditional family-on-a-budget audience.

Which brings me to more questions:

Are you happy with the often pared-down  translation of shoes from fashion week to Ready-to-wear? Or do you feel that too much is lost in bringing original runway styles to a widely affordable price point?

Manolo asks, whose shoes?