Crazy shoe trends

Needless to say, these zip-up, apparently real, hoof shoes caught my attention. I don't know where they came from, but they sure are crazy!

The strappy black shoes on display have a minimum vertical height of 8 inches. So the woman who's brave enough to climb into these killer pieces of footwear would have to place her entire weight on the balls of her toes-without the comfort and support of real heels.

New York Fashion Week paid tribute to the classic story, The Wizard of Oz by assembling a collection of red shoes. The red shoe collection is being recreated at the Hong Kong shoe store On Pedder. 17 international designers participated in what is called The Kansas Project, working with the Warner Brothers producers of the original film.

Why are there foot plates on shoes? As Julian Hakes' wraparound shoes-or the 'Mojito'-suggest, there's really no need for them.

The wraparound shoes were the product of what the designer discovered when observing foot prints in sand. He saw that the force of movement was primarily through the ball and heel, meaning that the foot plate on shoes is essentially irrelevant. He created these interesting wraparound shoes made of carbon fibre (with rubber for soles and leather on the sides) that wrap and writhe around the foot, supporting the heel and the ball while the foot acts as a bridge between the two.

While they certainly don't look like your average shoe, they're interesting to look at-stylish even. I wonder if we'll be seeing these wraparound shoes on the catwalks next season?

I don't know if steel shoes are something you want to go for a long walk in, but this shoe design by Chau Har Lee might make you want to.

The laser-cut acrylic and steel shoe designs by Chau Har Lee are a crazy sculptural design that don't look incredibly wearable, but the fact that wood, acrylic and steel are used so prominently make this a cool design worth looking at (and wearing if you're brave).

Ready to face your fears?

The Kobi Levi Slide shoe is one of many new releases from the imaginative artist. Kobi Levi creates fabulously fantastical footwear that looks more like art than apparel, and though they may not strike everyone's fancy, these shoes will definitely draw everyone's attention.

Other awesome Kobi Levi creations include Blond Ambition, inspired by the pop queen herself, Madonna.

To see more Kobi Levi footwear, click the link below:

Alberto Guardiani Blends Women's Formalwear Essentials

How can you make an outfit stand out with just shoes alone? Try using Alberto Guardiani's $400 high heels. Makeup and high heels are two essentials when it comes to women's formalwear, and these pumps blend the two. The traditional stiletto heel is replaced by a stick of red lipstick, which allows the wearer to make a statement without saying a word.