Today’s fashion marketing lesson is brought to you courtesy of Alexander McQueen. He knocked the fashion world off its feet last September with his sky-high “armadillo” shoes, and these outrageous claws have consistently made news in the ensuing months. Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness have worn them to great acclaim, while others – notably the R&B singer Kelis – haven’t quite had the panache to carry them off. Meanwhile, bringing the marketing plan to fruition, the designer’s spring ad campaign features a model  – whom I sincerely hope is getting combat pay – wrapped in giant snakes and wearing a snakeskin version of the shoes.

Of course, outrageous shoes have long been recognized as an effective way to get PR – the Nicholas Kirkwood strap-wrap thigh-high boots come to mind, as do the Louboutin spike shoes and the fall-offable Prada shoes. But I do believe that, from a marketing standpoint, the armadillo shoes outperform these examples by a long shot. I, for one, am totally looking forward to whatever armadillo marketing techniques will be on display at the upcoming NY Fashion Week.

In other shoe news:

Bruno Frisoni’s unicorn shoe – whose horn is made of feathers by Lemarié, haute couture’s “prince of plumes” – unleashes the magical creature in all of us…Speaking of fairy tales, shoe repair shop owner Fabrizio Pasquale creates couture glass slippers, just in time for the Oscars…Brian Reyes breaks with Manolo Blahnik, chooses limited-edition handmade shoes by English designer Georgina Goodman to accessorize his Fall 2010 collection…Ready or not, clogs and shoes with buckles are looking like unavoidable trends for spring (Perhaps kill two birds with one stone with these shoes)…Christian Siriano’s line of shoes for Payless channel both Alexander McQueen and Nicholas Kirkwood – for fifty bucks…If you’re more interested in the real thing, check out these Liberty-print shoes by Nicholas Kirkwood…Rachel Zoe puts nude pumps and statement flats on her list of 20 Essentials; these Givenchy wedges are probaly not on her list of Essentials, but they’re fun to look at anyway…Speaking of wedges-to-obsess-over, InStyle submits Chanel Carnival Wedges for our consideration…Memory foam isn’t just for mattresses anymore – Banana Republic adds it to their spring flip flops…Jimmy Choo introduces suede and snakeskin sneakers.

As we struggle through the doldrums of winter, those of us in colder climes frequently turn our thoughts to the idea of Getting Away. As you look for footwear that supports these thoughts, I submit for your consideration: stone-embellished sandals and heels.

Nothing evokes “island vacation” or, perhaps, “spa getaway” quite like stone-embellished sandals.  Smooth, seemingly water-worn stones adorn the most delicate of straps — is this not the perfect footwear for shopping in St. Thomas or strolling the boardwalk in Maui or enjoying a lovely outdoor lunch overlooking the sea in Koh Samui?

But, this trend is not just for your island vacation. This season’s stone-embellished pumps and strappy stilettos — where the stones are more typically jewel-toned or clear — are the perfect footwear for a fancy evening out, and indeed are elegant and interesting enough to be the star of your outfit.

In the high-heel category, we’re also seeing more “fierce” stone-embellished heels, which are a variation on the theme of stud- and hardware-encrusted heels that was so popular a few months ago.

-Continue reading this post, and see our whole collection of stone-embellished shoes at The Shoe Stylist blog on BuyFantasticShoes.com

Let’s face it: We all know wearing high heels all the time isn’t exactly the best thing for your feet. But, as stylist Clinton Kelly says, sometimes comfort just doesn’t matter — when a shoe is fabulous, wearing it just may be worth a subsequent day of misery.

We understand — which is why we’re so excited to announce that Footminders, makers of the Catwalk insoles for high heels, is giving away a free pair of insoles to one lucky Fantastic Toe member!

Footminders are podiatrist-developed orthotics that ease all kinds of foot pain associated with wearing high heels, including ball of foot pain (Metatarsalgia and Morton’s Neuroma), callous and corns, and tired, aching leg.

And, lest you think: “Eek, orthotics, sounds very ugly!”, don’t worry: Catwalks insoles have a slimline design for an easy fit, and work invisibly with most types of heels, including pumps, court shoes, sandals and boots with low, medium or high heels.

Sounds pretty good, right? Nothing wrong with making wearing high heels more comfortable, that’s for sure.

To enter to win a free pair of Catwalks insoles, just join Fantastic Toe;  if you’re already a member, just follow us on Twitter. If you join or follow between now and 12/31/09, you’ll be automatically entered to win the free pair of Catwalks insoles. We’ll do a random drawing on 1/1/10 among all entrants, and notify the winner by email. (You must be a US resident to be eligible to win.)

If you believe what you read on the internet (I do! I do!), Michelle Obama has succumbed to the footwear trend sweeping the country and purchased a pair of Robert Clergerie over-the-knee boots.

This is indeed a daring move on her part, and tells us much about our First Lady.

Of course, we already knew she cares about fashion, and is prepared to have fun with it. Jimmy Choo is a safe choice, but Jason Wu isn’t. She dressed in chartreuse on Inauguration Day. Designer sneakers are her thing.  (And can I just say how gorgeous she looked at the State Dinner last night?)

But, over-the-knee boots? Are they not in a different category? And she will no doubt be excoriated on some fronts because of it. Some will say that, at 45, Michelle Obama is too old to wear OTK boots. Or, because she’s not stick-thin, they won’t be flattering. She’s the mother of two young and impressionable daughters, for heavens sake! She should be wearing Naturalizers!

To these folks I say: PISH POSH.

I think Michelle Obama is teaching her young and impressionable daughters a very important life lesson here: Be bold in the face of your critics. Do your thing, sneerers be d**ned. Know yourself, and own your choices. How much easier it would have been for her to go conservative, and play it safe – especially given the vitriol of some of her detractors. But she’s not doing that, is she? She’s pulling on her over-the-knee boots and going about her life.

I can’t wait to see what she’ll wear them with.

Robert Clergerie over-the-knee-boots, around $850 at Shopbop.com and Zappos.com

With the holiday season hurtling toward us, and Cyber Monday looming, now is a great time to get your shopping under control. We’re here to help. If you’re looking for the perfect gifts for the shoe lover in your life, take a look at our suggestions below for shoe-related gifts that are sure to please.

Shoe calling cards: Who needs calling cards? Anyone who wants to project a little old-world charm in this age of tweets and wall updates. From Cambria Cove, these “Well-Heeled Calling Cards“are a memorable leave-behind. From $100; order by 12/10/09 to receive in time for Christmas.

Andy Warhol Christmas Gift Tags: If the shoe lover in your life also happens to love wrapping paper and supplies, she’s sure to love these whimsical Andy Warhol Christmas Potpourri Gift Cards and Tags. $12.50 at Amazon.com.

Ida Rak Shoe Sculptures: These gorgeous paper shoe sculptures are a great accent piece for the home, and work just as well in the living room as in the bedroom or dressing room. Starting at just $199 (including shipping and handling), order directly from Ida Rak.

Shoe Organizers/Boxes: Are shoes taking over your shoe lover’s personal space? Storage for shoes are becoming ever more practical and attractive: See tons of options at the Container Store, including hanging storage devices, shelving, and floor models.

If the shoe lover in your life is also a stiletto lover, no doubt you’ve heard her complain that her feet hurt. Demonstrate your thoughtfulness by giving her some of these great stocking stuffers that exist to make the lives of high-heel wearers less painful:

• Footzyrolls makes adorable ballet flats that roll up into the tiniest ball that can be easily tucked into a purse – and yet they unroll into cushioned shoes that will have those barking dogs soothed in no time. Starting at around $25.
• Foot Petals makes wonderful shoe cushions, spa slippers, and other lush products designed to pamper stiletto-weary feet. And, if you shop between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (i.e., November 27-30), you can receive 25% off any order of $50 or more. Use coupon code FPFRIDAY25 to take advantage of this great offer.
• Speaking of foot pampering, Heal-a-Heel socks from Go Girl have a moisture zone in the heel area that helps to soften cracks and dryness, and have open toes so your feet don’t get hot at night. Or, check out Go Girl’s portable and disposable lint sheets, dry sponges that let you easily remove deodorant and powder smudges; their double-sided apparel tape; and much more. Starting at $9. And, you’ll save 15% if you input code FantasticToe when you order; offer expires Monday, November 23, 2009.

Slippers: Obvious? Maybe, but slippers are still a great gift, especially for shoe lovers in colder climes. With hundreds of styles to choose from — from cozy shearling to felt slides — and at any level of luxury, slippers are a great way to keep the home fire burning. Starting at $15 at BuyFantasticShoes.com.

Shoe Calendar: I can’t be the only person who loves page-a-day calendars — and what better daily treat than a fabulous ogle-worthy shoe? Shoes Gallery Calendar 2010, $12.95, at Amazon.com.

Shoe Trinkets: You can find a fun selection of shoe-related knick-knacks and tchotchke at Eklectic Mix Gifts and Designs - perfect stocking stuffers.

Shoes! Give the gift of shoe shopping. When all else fails, a gift card from a great shoe website like Zappos, Piperlime, Shoebuy.com, Heels, or PlanetShoes.com is ALWAYS going to be fun to find under the Christmas tree.

The kind folks over at Planet Shoes have just announced a great sale on slippers. What better way for you to get an early jump on your holiday shopping?

From now through November 19, 2009, you can save 15% when you shop for slippers at Planet Shoes. Just input promo code slippers15 when you place your order. And, they have a great selection of slippers to choose from — over 190 styles of women’s slippers, and as many as that for men and kids, too.

So, click on over to PlanetShoes.com today and stock up on slippers. They’re a great gift for everyone (and maybe pick up a pair for yourself as well).

You know the old saying: If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck…it’s the Chie Mihara Mallard Heels.

Yes, that’s right: the Japanese designer (who grew up in Brazil and has lived all over the world), and is known for designing cosmopolitan and funky shoes, has outdone herself this time. She’s embellished suede, ankle-strap pumps with the cutest little cut-out of a duck head you have ever seen. Anthropologie (who appears to be the only retail outlet that carries them) shows them with stripey tights, and they look fab. I think they’re surprisingly versatile, given how fabulously whimsical they are.

Check out our selections below for other shoes which feature birds — none with quite the creativity of the Chie Mihara Mallard Heels, but they’re still kind of fun.

Happy hunting!