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In between taking Manhattan with sister Khlöe, posing for (and getting upset with) fashion magazine covers and gallivanting through the tabs with her hunky athlete boyfriend, Kim Kardashian is the chief stylist and co-founder of subscription shoe and accessories start-up ShoeDazzle. If three makes a trend—counting Christian Siriano's Send the Trend and Kate Bosworth's JewelMint—, then the prolific Ms. Kardashian was definitely onto something with this $39.95 a month fashion subscription service. Since it's been two years and two celeb subscription services since the launch, we decided to drop in on the ShoeDazzle Spring and Fall Preview at the London Hotel in Manhattan.
The preview featured a range of shoes, as well as a range of handbags and statement costume jewelry that are (or will be) all available for $39.95. The first highlight that greeted us when we walked in were the celeb designs for charity. ShoeDazzle harnesses its high-profile co-founder's circle of influence by recruiting celeb pals to design shoes with all profits benefiting a charity of the star designer's choice. Past collaborators include Scary Spice Mel B., with a patent pleather cream platform pump with bedazzled heel, and more recently, Jenny McCarthy, with a racy-looking black studded platform Mary Jane. The upcoming designer is Kristin Cavallari and her fuchsia wedges, which have caused a bit of a copycat kerfuffle. The rattan wedge and ruched bow detail were noted as being a bit too similar for comfort to another fast fash shoe design, but a PR rep pointed out that apparently the company's designer who worked with Kristin was the culprit and not the former Hills villainess.
A look through the main portion of the collection: The strappy styles, disco-ball sparklies, SoCal bright and Hollywood bold patterns and hues, plus towering platforms definitely call Kim Kardashian's red carpet style to mind. Keeping us ladies who need to actually walk somewhere and possibly enter into a corporate environment in mind, the line is also debuting a Classics collection (featuring a couple flat styles and also a cream Loubie-esque peep-toe slingback) and a Casuals line of shiny kicks and flat gladiators.
ShoeDazzle has also branched out into handbags, which for $39.95 each are definitely not leather (like the shoes), but are quite referential to current designer ones (massive Valentino rosette, check). ShoeDazzle is also moving into the Send the Trend and JewelMint category with costume jewelry. Subscribers probably get the most bang for their buck here, as some of the pieces are grouped into sets of two for the monthly fee. We liked the glittery, silver disco necklace paired with a hammered silver-esque bangle and also a silver hoop earring and necklace duo. The chunky turquoise and gold statement necklace (paging Countess LuAnn from Real Housewives of New York City) and turquoise and gold looped chain necklaces would pass for much more expensive pieces, too.
Next up for ShoeDazzle: A Carmen Electra charity collaboration with some sort of sparkly confection (no surprise) to drop in July.
· Christian Siriano Hops on the Celeb Fashion Subscription Wagon [Racked]
· Kate Bosworth Launches Latest Celeb Fashion Subscription Service [Racked]
· ShoeDazzle [Official Site]
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