The first sight of this trend, for me, was by Prada. I love the patent shades of their Vernice Sfumata clutch. L.A.M.B. offers a rich green Manchester ombre tote. The wallet friendly Caprice tote is a fraternal twin of Gwen’s Manchester tote. Another side of the spectrum is Fendi’s pastel doctor bag….what a sherbet- like treat. And YSL‘s Raspail red and canvas tote reminds me of my favorite painter pants (from 5^th grade).

You’re feet can get into the action in these delightful shoes. St. Christian Louboutin (patron saint of gorgeous shoes) delights with blushing python pumps. Or try tapping your spring toes in Ferragamo’s bright and shiny coral Varina flat.

Sport your Sunday best in Marc Jacobs’ 2 toned Mary Janes or Prada’s Vernice flats. Both look like you’ve dipped your toes in a puddle of paint. YSL’s patent t-strap wedges look like your favorite graffiti artist’s latest work. Clothing, by far, has the most shaded options; all perfect for jump starting our spring wardrobes.

Flirty dresses are still on everyone’s catwalk.

DKNY offers a city favorite, grey and tan neutrals, updated for a night out. Narciso Rodriguez and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti offer black tie paint splattered dresses; perfect to cover up those art studio trysts. Thakoon’s geometric cocktail dress has beautiful shades of ‘ready to dance at a wedding’.

Both Nina Ricci’s tie dye scarf blouse and Vince’s dip dyed shirred top would look great with a sleek pair of wide legged jeans.

IF pastel are your pleasure, then try on Behnaz Sarafpour’s silk tank dress in green verdant hues. Diane von Furstenburg’s Kawai dip dye shift is pure 80’s fun. Vince’s shirred shift dress in will have you seeing the world through rose colored glasses.Dressing is a day at the beach in Go Jane’s Breno tank (reminds me of the Venice beachfront).

Accessories are abundant in ombre, as well. Scarves are always an option for quick change and updates. Modernize your peepers with these sunglasses from Urban Outfitters. Or pop a new piece of jewelry on; La Mer has an ocean inspired watch and perennial favorite Alexis Bittar has a Lucite rose quartz ring that would look great around a Pina Colada.

The ombre trend offers you a solution to choosing a specific color. If you can’t decide, no problem, use all hues at once!

Cork soled shoes have been popular since Carmen Miranda starting shaking her fruity hat but designers have updated the style by adding interesting patterns, metallics, and used cork as material on vamps (not just soles). Finally, a stylish shoe that is inherently comfy. Christian Louboutin offers a pair of heel, while Chadwick’s offers a d’Orsay pump.

Take fashion to new heights with these towering treats: Fendi, Pucci, Prada, (or as I call them…the trinity) and Chanel offer lofty aspirations of wedges and platforms.

Philosphy di Alberta Ferretti offers 2 pairs of stunning metallic…one laminated peep toe pump and one multi colored wedge. Molto bene! Marc Jacobs offers a more earthly height in his flats of slides. You can always count on Mr. Jacobs!

And for all you closeted hippies, or bohemians, dig these Birkenstock alternatives from Phillip Lim (sandals) and Pedro Garcia (suede sling backs). Far out, man.

If you’re going boating this summer, it’s a smart move to carry your goods in a cork bag (cork floats). So if it falls over, just jump in and recover your purse and its contents.

My top choice is either of Fendi’s bags, although I’m edging towards the metallic. Gucci offers a vintage faux cork tote (rent it and save your money for a Hampton’s share). Ebay is a great place to look for vintage cork…the 70s weren’t that long ago.

Donald Pliner has a hefty bowler’s bag trimmed in black patent leather – this is a perfect bag for weekends. Hobo international has a stylish bag with metallic trim. The handle looks very comfy for shopping and cork is naturally lightweight.

For a sleeker silhouette, clutches in cork abound. It’s like they grow on trees….get it, cork is tree bark. Chadwick’s offers a simple sleek clutch while Cammie Hill, Lorelei, and Glorinha Paranagua all use metallic accents for an evening look.

Donna Karan offers a lovely skirt with cork trim. Newport News has a figure flattering cork corset belt – the perfect update.

Cork is being used as jewelry and being praised as a green material, as it’s recycled. Also, the cork harvested as bark, is a renewable resource. So you can be fashionable and attend your favorite earth day celebration with a clear conscious and cute outfit!

Maison Martin Margiela’s cork necklace, with silver chain, is cute. But if you spend your evenings like I spend mine (I’m very happy with my bottle of wine), you could make this yourself in an evening.

I love both of these pairs of these earrings from clickdesignthatfits, one in silver and one in vermeil. The 100 % recycled cuff by Donna Piacenza would look terrific on a suntanned arm.

If all this shopping has tired you out, take a well deserved rest in this cork and bamboo chair by Trevor O’Neil design. Or this rice crispy treat looking chair by Daniel Michalik.

If you need some light to read by, try this stacked cork table lamp or the rubber wood with cork shade, by Kenneth Wingard.

If you’re still a little shy about this whole trend, then dare to add a vanity accessory made from cork. It’s perfect for the bathroom because cork resists mold and mildew.

So spend this spring either buying cork accessories or toasting to your friends and the beautiful weather. I suggest both !

Alligator and crocodile have always been considered luxuries (there are only a few differences b/w the two including their snout shape and what water they live in) . Expensive bags and accessories are readily available. The red Coach crocodile bag is rich looking , even in pictures (this will take a $7000 bite out of you). I am absolutely coveting the Zagalini puffy croc satchel. If I win the lottery this week (because I don’t have an extra $11,800) – this bag is mine.

If you don’t win the lottery or just don’t want real gator, then you too can carry a luxurious gator looking bag. Keywords “printed” , “embossed” , and “textured” are crafty words meaning- leather made to look like something else. This words are tools of the trade …you can save money by going ‘faux” and save the life of an endangered species. Who says fashion can’t save the world?

The beautiful plum Lockheart soft croc ‘textured’ satchel is $725 . Etro’s manlier messenger croc embossed bag is $1000.

The Prada Coco flats feature a black alligator cap on the toe (lovely for $950) or Jessica Simpson has her own offering for under $60 in gunmetal.

Guiseppe Zanott’s preppy pink & green real croc thong is $550 while the ‘textured’ Lambertson Truex orange thong is $595.

*Warning:Only someone with a foot fetish (and in depth knowledge of skins) would notice the difference . Creep!

If thongs aren’t your things…Max Studio has graced us with a refined pair of beige croc print mary janes for $153. But Pucci’s $500 get up and dance criss cross wedges will certainly put a spring in your step…croc texture and all. These look really comfy. If there’s any truth to the whole “secret” then I will be wearing these to my next ” girls’ night out dance party”. (I’ll keep you updated).

Caiman is the lesser known but more available cousin to the alligator. Carlos Falchi is a designer known for his designs using all sorts of skins. But this caiman hobo is truly a modern silhouette and must have (for the must haves that have $3500).

Python is another huge trend right now. Gucci’s $4000 Pelham hobo is made in natural python …and I love it. Kara Ross has decorated her clutch with quartz bobbles atop python. Certainly not your mother’s evening bag.

For a really special evening out…why not show up to the party in this $2000 Armani silver python print dress. And dare to pair it with Bulgari’s silver python bag. No need to buy the Bulgari, as it’s available from bagborrowsteal.com

Not feeling your inner tinman ? Then just drape a pair of Wendy Nichol’s python hoops on your lobes for $165. Or the budget conscious girl can wave her arm with a 9 West snake print bangle on it for $50 (6 fun , springy colors to choose from).

Now, if you’ve been a good girl…you deserve this pair of Miss Dior python peeptoe pumps (try saying that 3 times). Yikes these are gorge ! I couldn’t make it to a cab in these but they might look nice on a shelf. For $560 ….maybe I should just buy another book (for my shelf ). Is it better to look cute or be literate ? Let the debate begin.

Just as glamorous , but far more healthy (sorry, podiatrists) is Cole Haan’s gold python ballet flat for $500. These shoes remind me of Audrey Hepburn . I’ve seen the cutest picture of her , on a bike, riding around a movie studio (wearing flats like these) . I picture myself strolling the piazzas in Rome (with a talk , dark, & handsome Roman;of course ). London Sole can offer a similar pink pair for $65 and just as cute. But instead of roaming in Rome, I’m brunching in Soho. Bring on the crepes !

Michael Kors offers both real python and print for a very reasonable price. The natural python belt, with decorative buckle, is $59 while his Tiara python print flat is $153.

Ostrich has long been a fashion favorite. Not only for its unique skin pattern but also for its durability. My Dad told me the reason cowboy boots are made with ostrich (either on toes or entire boot) is because of its eternal durability. I can just picture a group of cowboys on the range comparing their exotic boots. Sounds like a steamy scene from Brokeback Mountain (RIP Heath…we miss ya). Louis Vuitton featured spry male models with velveteen pants tucked into English style ostrich boots.

The ladies can tote along this Nuti hobo for $3400 or its cheaper “printed ” doppleganger by Adamis for $72 . Both are equally lovely to me.

Everyone needs something a little exotic in their life. So whether you choose to have a Morroccan tagine for dinner or go searching for some exotic skin – let your inner huntress loose ! Diana would be proud.

Products available from the following sites:

jcrew.com, zappos.com , bagborrowsteal.com, coach.com , colehaan.com, saks.com , bluefly.com, 9west.com, ravinstyle.com

You have bestowed upon womankind the absolute perfect gift—the ability to design our own shoes!

I think that it’s just wonderful that for less than the cost of most designer shoes, I can design my own perfect pair with color options that are as decadent as an assortment of gourmet chocolates.

Gingham, green patent, purple nappa…the options go on and on and on in a delicious whirlwind of color.

I put Style Editor Julie to the test.

I wanted to see what inspired styles she might come up with. Would she pair a black heel with a metallic gold upper? Opt for leopard sling-backs with a cork heel? Or maybe it would be black strappy sandals with an orange sole and heel?

See Julie’s inspired designs…

Show us the Designer in You!

Design to your heart’s content…because can you ever have too many perfect pairs? They are shoes, after all.

Go ahead and try it. Pick a style, customize the colors, then tell us about your inspired shoe designs in the comments.

I’ll call this shoe “Tory Burch-esque,” due to it’s super similarities to every resort girl’s favorite designer du jour.

For a twist, I thought it would be fun to meld the mega trend of metallics that have been so fun all summer with a trend we see on fall’s horizons – a love of all things bright blue. Can these two trends coexist in harmony?

I think they’re perfectly suited for one another – a treat for your feet as the dog days of summer transition into the crisp air of fall!

Homage to Christian Louboutin’s famous bright red bottom

Black patent leather is here to stay…at least for another season or two. I love the peep toe; it will look great on tanned legs in early fall and even better paired with textured tights this winter!

I chose red for the heel color a la Christian Louboutin. Hey, not everyone can afford $700 shoes, but it doesn’t mean a girl can’t appreciate luxury – especially when she can create it herself at these prices!

Interiors high style underfoot

The wedge is a summer classic – perfect for a dressy picnic (as anyone who has worn heels on grass can tell you) or kicking off a beach vacation. You get the idea.

For this design I took my color cues straight from a home decorating tip I just read. It referred to the color trend of mixing bright neon colors with muddy 1970’s inspired colors for a funky, unexpected look. I don’t know, they may be fun to wear. Otherwise, I suppose I could mount them above my fireplace and hope that some hip magazine calls to do a photo spread.

So, what inspired designs did you create?