Good news for all you non-New Yorkers: New York shoe retailer DNA Footwear has taken its operation online, and, to introduce themselves, they’re offering an exclusive 10% discount to all Fantastic Toe readers.

What perfect timing for your spring shoe shopping! DNA Footwear sells all the hottest brands — like L.A.M.B., Betsey Johnson, Apepazza, Modern Vintage, and over a hundred more — so you’re sure to find that perfect pair of shoes for the warmer weather to come.

And, their shoes are really cool! Aren’t these deep red slingbacks from Sacha London ($99.99) fabulous? Or, how about the extremely sleek Lacoste sneakers ($110). These Charles David wedge sandals ($219.99), with a touch of oh-so-trendy turquoise, are also quite wonderful.

But this is just a small sample of the new spring shoes at DNA Footwear; you can check out the whole selection here. And, keep in mind, they also have great shoes for men and kids.

To receive your 10% discount, just input promo code FANTASTIC when you place your order. This offer is not valid on sale items, gift certificates, store credit or any UGG items, and cannot be combined with any other offer. A $49.99 pre-tax minimum purchase is required.

Happy shopping!

While browsing today in the absolutely charming Trina Turk Residential store in Palm Springs, I came across my newest Favorite Thing, a beautiful little book called …Isms: Understanding Fashion.

Appropriate for fashion fanatics and the fashion-curious, …Isms: Understanding Fashion lays out the major fashion movements and trends of the past 4 centuries, explaining each (in its own context), identifying the major players, and, through illustrations and photos, bringing the trend to life.

To wit: Audrey Hepburn — with her simple all-black ensembles — is emblematic of the anti-materialism Existentialist movement. Karl Lagerfeld, continuing a tradition started by Coco Chanel herself, typifies Post-Modernism by fusing high and low culture in his collections (and suddenly this spring’s clog trend makes sense). Oscar Wilde was a symbol of the Aestheticism movement which opposed restrictive and cumbersome apparel — but the clothes also had to be pretty. And so on, across 400 years, 50 trends, and 150 pages.

Sounds fascinating, right? We thought so, too. That’s why we’re giving away a free copy of this book to one lucky Fantastic Toe member. To enter our random drawing, just join Fantastic Toe. If you’re already a Fantastic Toe member, post a picture to your Fantastic Toe collection. Anyone who joins Fantastic Toe, or posts a picture to her collection, between now and March 31, 2010 will be automatically entered to win the book.

We’ll do a random drawing on 4/1/2010, and notify the winner by email. Only US residents are eligible to win.

Wednesday, February 17…Lots of Fashion Week shoe ogling to get to: The fall runways are full of new-and-improved boots (Can you say fur-trimmed suede wedges?)…As usual, the Nicholas Kirkwood-Rodarte collaboration produces amazing runway shoes (You can see them in action in today’s Daily Shoe Video)…Suno shows massive wooden platforms with their brightly printed skirts and dresses…Jean Paul Gaultier collaborates with Melissa to create plastic shoes with 4” heels…Some, but not all, of the Fashion Week attendees cope with winter weather and forgo stilettos for snow boots…Socks with sandals are still with us…Refinery 29 alerts us to the trend of thigh-high socks and spats…In Mardi Gras news, all-female krewe Krewe of Muses sport individually hand-decorated glitter shoes…Handbag.com showcases the top shoe trends for spring (wedge bowling shoes, anyone?)…Here’s something we haven’t seen before: Heels with a double platform, so they can go even higher…The Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology will feature an exhibit on 1940s-era “It” shoe line Delman next month…Vans invites high school art classes to compete in a shoe customization contest…Missoni joins forces with Converse to produce sneakers that look exactly like you’d expect them to look…House of Harlow 1960 previews its spring collection…Lady Gaga pays tribute to Alexander McQueen.

Wednesday, February 10…Model Abby Lee Kersaw speaks out against towering heels on the runway…Speaking of the runway, New York Fashion Week starts today at noon; here’s the full schedule of shows…Daddy Likey lists the 5 things that hurt less than breaking in a pair of Dr. Martens…Kristina Blahnik dishes on her Uncle Manolo, takes more active role in his business…The Shoe Stylist reports on oh-so-trendy shoes with lattice-work…Bergdorf Goodman releases a shoe-shopping app for the iPhone (which does not seem to involve access to exclusive sales on shoes)…Rupert Sanderson goes goth for Valentine’s Day…Shoe designer Karen Bereson anticipated the spring clog trend by several years…Shoe designer Raphael Young puts together a smokin’ hot fall collection…File this under “Duh”: In addition to black dresses and sequins, one staple of the sexy A-lister is stilettos…Speaking of, I wonder if we’ll be seeing these rather awesome sequined Keds on any sexy A-listers?

Monday, February 8…Finally, we can purchase fringe tights, and they’re only $425…File this under “Trends That Won’t Die”: Jean Paul Gaultier’s former model, Thomas Wylde, designs flat black boots covered with tiny skulls…Katie Couric struts her stuff in sexy heels in Harper’s Bazaar…Miuccia Prada shods teenage model Lindsey Wixson in groovy 70s platforms in her newest ad (Also: Somebody please get that girl a sandwich)…Shoe designer Eugène Riconneaus debuts feathery spring collection…Artist Keith Haring collaborates with Tommy Hilfiger on a line of boots and sneakers…CollegeFashion.net recommends investing in a good pair of black heels…One fashion editor loves her Balmain “everyday” boots (I’m dying to see her special-occasion boots).

Valentine’s Day is all about love, right? And you love shoes, right? We’re marrying (get it?) these truisms in a fun new contest that’s sure to please: From now through February 14, 2010, post a picture of a love-themed shoe to your Fantastic Toe collection, tag it “Valentine’s Day”, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a $100 gift card from Zappos.com!

The shoes should have something to do with Valentine’s Day: Maybe you’re planning to wear them on February 14; maybe they’ve figured in a memorable Valentine’s Day from the past. Or, maybe you just really looooooove them. In any case, satisfy our tendency towards nosiness, and tell us the love story behind the shoes.

Anyone who posts a picture (or pictures) of shoes that are tagged with “Valentine’s Day” will be automatically entered to win a $100 gift card from Zappos.com! And, yes, the more tagged pictures you post, the more chances you’ll have to win. If you’re not already a member of Fantastic Toe, you can join here.

You must be a resident of the USA to be eligible to win this prize. We’ll do a random drawing among all entrants on Monday, February 15, and notify the winner by email.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m trying to figure out the new Giuseppe Zanotti Nappa Bianco shoes. High heels, golden swag border, enwrapped with a seemingly tattered American flag.

Are they a symbol of protest, their wearers making a statement about their national despair? If so, these stilettos would be the perfect shoes for the teabaggers – if they weren’t always marching.

Or, is the flag not tattered, but meant to look like it’s blowing in the wind, similar to those giant flags you see at car dealerships? They express fervent patriotism – ideal for the well-shod “real” American, all gussied up for a Sarah Palin fund-raiser.

Of course, they might just be in good fun, maybe even a little ironic, and hence are the perfect accessory for a tony July 4th party, or a Halloween costume.

Whatever that sexy shoemaker had in mind, his flag shoes are definitely provocative. Which, I suppose, makes up for the fact that they’re really kinda ugly.

In other shoe news:

Same old, same old: A Jungian-inspired clairvoyant with the diction and timing of a stand-up comedian crafts fantastical shoes from fig bark and rooster feathers…One editor likes the simple, recession-era feel of Bensimon sneakers…Shoeblog.com points out a  shoe video worth watching…Shoe designer Rachel Comey leans toward androgyny for her fall/winter 2010 shoes…OK, I’m pretty sure I have a problem with this: There’s a space print trend going on, and it’s made it to shoes…Acne wedges with a shiny border make one editor’s must-have list…Are kitten heels making a comeback?…Fabu…Prada has mysteriously allotted only 3 pairs of their amazing chandelier shoes to the whole country…In the corny-but-fun category, The Shoe Stylist puts together a wish list of Heart Shoes for Valentine’s Day.