Steve Madden’s Art + Sole

I bought a pair of Steve Madden black and white polka dot wedges when I was 16. They were adorable—cute little criss-cross ankle strap, magenta labels on the inside. I loved those shoes. I still love those shoes. They’re probably the oldest ones in my closet—or a close second to one other pair.

By CC Staff

Almost ten years later, they finally gave in to my abuse and one of them broke. I cried a little, I’m not going to lie. So I decided that I would take them into a repair shop, and pay more to have them fixed than I did to buy them to begin with.

When I picked them up from the shop, I was so happy to see them, I put them on straight away—with my gym clothes mind you—and strutted them for the rest of the evening. Hardly taken them off since.

And this is just one of my many pairs of Steve Madden shoes I’ve owned throughout the years. I love him. I don’t care that he went to prison for a little—all the more hours for him to dream up beautiful décor for my feet.

But I question what’s going on with this new contest he has going on. Art+Sole is a really cool concept—you, his devoted buyers, get to select the next model of shoe to come out for the fall line. Seems great—for the people, by the people. That’s America right there.

Except the five finalists are ugly. I mean… a couple of them are OK, but the others—FUGLY. He didn’t design any of the models—people from around the country entered their designs. But Mr. Madden did select the finalists, and I’m seriously disappointed.

The first finalist—Yi Ning Hsu– has designed this little white anklet boot with “ethnic” beading that makes it look like a moccasin except not as cute. And moccasins are already not that cute. I loved ‘em when I was five, but now with a stiletto heel? Scary.

Another finalist, Dave Tezanos, modeled his design after Santa’s boots. Seriously? Um, he wears those to trudge through snow, and jump down people’s chimneys. They’re not stylish. They’re not even practical and almost stylish. Just… don’t go there.

Yet another finalist, Angie K Ng, has entered the sneaker heel. Those were really bad the first time around. Why are we trying to rock that style again? Some things are just not meant to be. The 80’s came back into style, but we left the neon bike shorts alone. Let’s just lay the sneaker heel to rest.

So get on-line girls, and vote for the not ugly ones (my fave are the red boots). When you vote you are entered to win a $100 shopping spree at Steve Madden. Which I would love, so long as they don’t put those Santa Boots anywhere near me.