About the time those doorstop-sized September Vogues started dropping last week, I also got a surprise in the mail.  It was a beautifully crafted book of the new Valas Los Angeles accessories collection and it had some great pictures of the shoes that I’ve had for a couple of months.  These grey suede loafers are entirely handmade in L.A. and, even though I was initially pretty unsure about wearing tasseled shoes, they’ve been the solution to a lot of my fashion conundrums this summer.  

I’ve been out in Palm Springs quite a lot this season and don’t always want to wear sandals with my shorts–trousers with legs are pretty much out of the question when it’s over 110 degrees–so these shoes fit the bill perfectly as well as being ideal with my rolled up cotton Cucinelli pants or a pair of slim jeans.  I was already a big fan of their bags and people gush over my tan leather Valas backpack everywhere I take it but it’s nice to know that I have a new go-to place for shoes, too.  In fact, I’ve been eyeing the loafers in black waterproof Italian leather to go with my darker fall looks.  You can get Valas products for men and women at www.shoptrafficla.com  or farfetch.com.

Speaking of shoes, I popped by the new Charlotte Olympia boutique on Rodeo yesterday.  It’s like a little gold jewel box that serves as a fitting backdrop for the whimsical footwear inside.  The collection for fall 2013 is called “Once Upon a Time” and pretty much covers all the bases of childhood fables and fairy tales from Little Red Riding Hood ballet flats and her wolf on a pair of heels to Rapunzel on platforms with braided “hair” that wraps up and around the ankle.  

I very much liked the dark green velvet heels covered in gold thorn embroidery and dotted with tiny red ribbon roses but I can’t imagine what you’d wear them with and, at $1,100 a pair, that might be something to consider.  Actually, aside from some classic suede pumps in jewel tones with a delicate gold buckle on the toe, I felt that way about a lot of the shoes in there.  They were meticulously crafted and fun but I think they might work better as conversation pieces on a shelf than on someone’s foot.  

The charming sales associate with the Charlotte Olympia trademark spider web on her head mentioned that Hallowe’en was coming up more than once while she was showing me around, so I guess there’s that. But you’d better be going to a damned posh Hallowe’en party to shell out a grand for a pair of shoes with stuffed bears on them.

Much love,

xxJames

[heading]Picks of the Collection[/heading]