Posts Tagged ‘shoes’

Thanks to Jason Segal’s resurrection of the Muppet franchise, Generation X-ers have been able to pleasantly hear bits of their own childhood pop culture repeated by their very own children. Imagine, kindergarteners rambling on about Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear rather than Dora and Spongebob!

Encourage this Muppet obsession with a pair of Adidas Superstar 2.0 Kermit Shoes, the almost punishingly stylish new sneaker. There’s a men’s version too, in all green, but this one settles for white with deep-green stripes, “The original hip hop” and a pic of Kermie emblazoned on the side, and, best of all, Kermit’s iconic collar cascading over the shoe’s tongue.

Adidas Superstar 2.0 Kermit Shoes, $50

There are all sorts of situations where it’s useful to have an extra pair of shoes ready for the kids. They step into puddles. They forget their boots in the rain. Not all dog owners clean up their messes. But who wants to lug a heavy old pair of shoes in their already-overstuffed bag?

Footzyrolls are basically glorified slippers with the innovation of a street-safe sole, and can roll up into a teensy, tiny light little package that’s easy enough to throw into your giant mama bag. Then when the Great Deluge or Horrible Accident happens, you’re ready to go. Being glorified slippers (that don’t look like slippers, so no one will give you the hairy eyeball), Footzyrolls also last awhile: The smallest size will work from a toddler size 12 to 13, the largest goes from 3.5 to 4.5.

Footzyrolls, $30

Every third girl on the playground seems to be wearing Skechers Twinkle Toes shoes these days, but despite the name, the toes don’t actually twinkle so much as present a hard shine from their cheap plastic surface. You want shoes that really twinkle? You want the tricked-out Converse shoes from Baby Bling Things Boutique.

The proprietor of said shop is probably best known for her crystal-covered pacifiers, seen between the lips of many a celeb and hipster child. But pacifiers are quickly outgrown, and even the cutest will soon be tossed in the garbage. Shoes live on for a long, long time and get a lot of wear, and a pair this cute will surely be passed from girl cousin to cousin, all around the familiy.

The Bling Pink Converse Clear Diamond is a classic Converse, with the toes resplendently covered with clear crystals, glued on one-by-one by hand. When the sun hits them they look like a disco ball, and when work by a running child, they shoot little rainbows all over the playground.

Bling Pink Converse Clear Diamond, $70-$100

It’s baby shower time for the mom who’s had names picked out since she was 7. Little Lola Antoinette already has personalized stationery, and she’s still a zygote.

Get on board with Uncommonly Cute’s new build-a-bootie program. Design your own signature baby shoe with a customized style, color, font and design (in sizes 0 to 3 years). Prices are fairly comparable to (impersonal and oh-so-common) soft-soled shoes, so why not jazz it up with a magenta monogram.

Help that carefully named kid put her best foot forward.

Available at uncommonlycute.com.

You can buy cheap versions of Naturino’s Red Glitter Mary Janes at discount stores. They’re just as sparkly–but you get what you pay for. The discount-store versions have slippy, thin, inflexible bottoms, they’re hard to move and to run in, and they wear out so quickly that before they’re even outgrown your child will be begging for another pair.

Naturino’s nicer take on the classic Dorothy-style sparkly red shoe is wider and cushier, with gripping rubber soles. You can even climb in them! Even up to the very tippy top of the monkey bar ladder. And with smoothly-functioning velcro straps across the top, they’re almost as easy as Crocs to put on. These are the shoes that can go from a party to preschool, comfy and fabulous at the same time.

Available at shoegardennyc.com. 

Is there some kind of law that every new walker has to wear Robeez? Yes, they’re comfortable, yes they protect the tender toes from rocks and dirt and strange objects left lying in the sandbox, but they’re awfully ubiquitous, and kind of homespun looking, too.

Adorn your kid’s feet in something a little less cutesy with Trendy Trackers, soft suede, leather, and canvas shoes that resemble Mommy and Daddy’s sneakers. They’re just as soft and slip-on-able as Robeez, but, being neither decorated with happy sunflowers, bug-eyed frogs, or fluffy teddybears, they’re a lot easier on the eyes for those who don’t go for that kind of stuff.

Available at trendytrackers.com. 

Your mini-monarch is low on her pink and sparkly supplies, but you can’t bear to buy another tutu. Always thinking ahead, you’d like to prompt her toward more sophisticated taste.

Zid Zid Kids imports the gorgeous little babush, a handmade Moroccan ballerina-esque leather slipper. The limited-edition cult faves are perfect for dress-up, but totally chic (and sturdy) enough to wear outside the playroom. These shoes typically sell out faster than you can say “Marrakech,” so snatch up a pair before the gold and silver booties are gone.

Unless Princess Jasmine, Jr. already put in a pre-order.

Available at milkshop.com.

There was a time when you couldn’t wait to hear the pitter-patter of little feet. Then you realized that sound usually coincides with little shoes strewn all over the place. These days, persuading the tots to put away their Crocs is like trying to get Juicy Juice from a stone.

Before you resort to bribes, consider a seriously cool gimmick. Rakku Designs’ Shoe Wheel, now available in a kiddie size, is easy and, most importantly, fun to use. Slide up to twenty pairs of kicks into the expandable plastic pockets and show kids how to spin the wheel to make selections and put things back.

Now, where’s the whirligig for video game controllers and Dora dolls?

Available at rakkudesigns.com.