LOOKS FOR LESS: Runway New Years

New Years glitz and glam always calls for a new outfit. Something about champagne and a midnight kiss that demand you look your best. But fashion splurges are about as common these days as finding true love at a New Years party. That doesn’t mean you can’t look like you stepped off the runway as you waltz into 2009. Here are three lusts and musts for the special evening:

Dolce and Gabbana Stretch Sateen Bustier Dress: (Saks Fifth Avenue $525)



Jenny McCarthy looked sophisticated sexy (a crazy tan) in a D&G black corset dress. This sleek number is a perfect go-to dress for any evening event. But at $525, this look is too steep for anyone without a hired stylist and a Hollywood income.

Bebe Shirred Corset Dress: (Sale: $69)



Instead, try Bebe’s version of the same style. With a show-stopping piece like this, magic is bound to happen. The stretchy front adds room for all the bubbly your heart desires. And because it’s so simple, you won’t mind recycling this dress from party to party. Just change up the accessories.

Burberry Nova Plate Platform ($410)



Shoe lovers beware: these Burberry prorsum collection platforms are fierce. The five-inch heel makes any fashionista drool. Made of silver patent leather and nova plates down the front strap, these personify decadent spending (and wearing).

Steve Madden Rufles (Sale: $69.95)



Mimic the look with Steve Madden’s Rufles style, with a similar five-inch heel and platform design. Ruffles replace the silver plating, but the payoff is a more affordable price (sale!).

Kors by Michael Kors Fur-Trim Wool Coat ($750)



Cover up from the cold with a winter pea coat that features a fur trim. This chic wool jacket ties at the waist, and the collar is made with coyote fur. Fit for any non-PETA celeb.

Forever 21 Dora Faux Fur Coat ($54.80)



Animal activists and smart shoppers prefer this gray pea coat with a faux-fur-collar embellishment. This coat makes you look polished, poised, and ready to party, all without breaking the bank. Save that money for the Moët and Chandon.

TRIPLE THREAT: Lace It Up

Why should corsets have all the fun? We think heels and boots deserve a little lace action.

These Joie Vintage Oxford Booties can be dressed up for nighttime or dressed down with a pair of tight jeans. You can either tuck the laces inside the boot or let your flirty side show with a little bow on the top. Find them at Neiman Marcus for $350.



Uggs adds a twist to their classic pull-on boots. A little lace-up detail sets you apart from everyone in the Salt City. These Uggs retail for $230 at Uggs.com



Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s patent-leather stilettos lace up at the top with a simple bow. It adds a bit of fun to another pair of classic iconic black pair of pumps. Find them (but not the price) at: alessandrodellacqua.com

REVIEW: Bigfoot Mystery Revealed

The mid-80s gem Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others by The Smiths blared in my head. Nightmarish visions of John Waters’ Baltimore Footstomper (pictured in action, below left) haunted me. Somehow my right foot had somehow grown an entire shoe size.

This is more common than one would think. Podiatrist Arlene Hoffman says up to 60% of the population has mismatched feet. And my tootsies were now what “shoe swappers” would dub a 14/13 (the right shoe is always listed first, although in 80 percent of cases, the left foot’s bigger), but there was hope. The internet was rife with shoe swaps. Consider this:

1.Oneshoetwoshoe.net
While this website sounds like something out of Dr. Seuss, it’s much more practical. Maybe a bit too practical. Selections ran the gamut from running shoes to Birkenstocks. Let’s just say the “sensible” shoe set will be happy here. The Naturalizer “Prissy” pump was the only shoe we could find with an actual heel, but at $24.99 for each shoe, the pricing was competitive with other sites and often times even as much at $15 cheaper. Plus, shipping’s free.

2. Healthyshoestore.com/conditions-different-sized-feet.html
This is another site the Birkenstock set will love. Just wondering, are lesbians predisposed or just preoccupied with what was once dubbed “happy feet” by comedian Steve Martin? (There’s even an entire section on women’s golf shoes, need we say more?) But the clog section is fun, albeit a little expensive with clogs just south of $100. Still, with both a giraffe and hot pink plaid pair, you can’t say it ain’t fun. Not so fun? This site will only cough up free shipping if you spend $75 or more, but returns are free and easy.

3. Oddshoefinder.com
This site is kind of annoying. It requires a login and is more search-based than scrolling through pages of tiny thumbnail shoes (and really, is there anything closer to heaven than that?). This is the mother of all shoe swap sites and really created the market. So if you have a specific shoe in mind, you might want to take advantage of its search capability. A few of our searches turned up lots of Steve Madden and Kenneth Cole, but only one pair of Manolos. Then again, we are a size 14/13. Mens!

PROFILE: Kustum Kicks

The text message from fellow classmate and designer Megan Kimber reads: "Be there soon." We agreed on a 5 o'clock departure. At 4:58 a dark Saturn Vue pulls up. Sitting in the SUV, the driver's minute frame appears even tinier than usual. Wearing sunglasses and all black (her trademark), she motions for me to hop in. We jet off.

I accompany Kimber on one of her prized escapes to Carousel Mall. Although rush hour amps up the traffic, my friend keeps her calm, blasting her all-time favorite, Nirvana. Me, not so much. Today I'm more than friend. I commissioned Megan for a personal project, and today I play the role of client.

In 2005, Megan began her own business, Kustum Kicks. Inspired by Kimber's passion for music and fashion, Kustum Kicks specializes in hand decorated sneakers. According to www.kustumkicks.com, it's “a place where you can choose the converse/vans designs of your dreams.” Like the designer, who labels herself somewhere between Goth and punk, the creations scream authenticity and employ an assortment of media, including bleach and paint. They also attract celebrities like Bert McCracken of The Used and Syracuse University students by the scores who pay from $90 to $120 for the kicks.

At the mall, Megan directs me to Journeys, the capital of alternative footwear. All the employees welcome her back. She smiles and introduces me to Mark, who assists me with a pair of black high-top Converse. The two catch up on the latest shows and ponder whether to eat or not to eat meat. I listen, fascinated by the exchange. Within minutes, I complete my purchase, and we move on to Hot Topic. Megan's turn to shop.