Hellz Bellz meets Vans

Fans of Hellz Bellz, the New York street fashion brand, will be keen to know that they recently collaborated with  Vans for a limited edition pair of kicks that are in stores now. The re-imagined Hadley and Sophie shoes were introduced a couple weeks ago at an epic NYC launch party. Check out, the ‘Tomboy Chic’ Hadley (leather, zipped High Top) and ‘Edgy Femme’ Sophie (glittery, die-cut lace up) retailing at $85 and $65 respectively.

File this under Pretty Chic.

Another shoe review: MBT

Guest Post by Shelley Miles

I have been an MBT shoe fan for years, but my last pair was worn beyond repair and I was MBT-less for the last year.  So you can imagine my joy when I recently received a new pair of MBT M.Walks.

MBT stands for Masai Barefoot Technology and these shoes were designed to simulate walking barefoot (without the stones and thorns) – stimulating the body to actively balance itself.  This encourages better posture and better fitness because more muscle groups are engaged in balancing the body while walking.  The company’s marketing materials refer to these as the “anti-shoes.”

Rather than a flat sole, MBTs have a curved sole that rocks from front to back, and allows movement from side to side.   Inside the shoe, your foot stays fairly flat.  As you walk, the motion of the shoe simulates the way you have to adjust your body while walking on sand, engaging many muscle groups and improving posture, and reducing stress on joints.  A number of studies have been conducted showing the effects of walking in MBTS on knees, ankles etc.

When you first try on MBTs, the first thing you’ll notice is that the sizes run really small.  You’ll usually need a pair a full size larger than you usually wear.   These are not cute shoes – they are clunky and heavy looking.   The curved sole takes some getting used to and you need to adjust your walking techniques to get the most benefit out of them – taking short strides.  And they are expensive – at Zappos, they range from $130 to $275.  The Model I have, the M. Walk is for $168 on Zappos.  However, Resole America can resole your MBT’s to protect your investment.

Once you get used to them, your feet never want to take these shoes off.  They are the most comfortable shoes I’ve every worn.  They feel great to walk in.   I can feel the muscles in the backs of my legs, my back and stomach engaging when I walk.  It feels good to rock on them when standing still.  They really do take the strain off your knees even when walking on concrete.   These are the shoes to wear walking around any city, or any time you will be on your feet for hours.  And as an added boost for those of us on the short side, the thick soles add some coveted inches.

Over the last few years, a large variety of new styles have been added to the MBT line, everything from sandals to boots. The new women’s lasts are slimmer and a little less clunky looking than those in the past. .  In fact, they have their own kind of cool.  I’ve been stopped many times by people asking me where I got my MBTs.

(Disclosure:  A pair of MBT’s were provided to this writer by the manufacturer for the purpose of reviewing them. All comments and opinions are personal. )

Red Hot start to Fashion Week

Beginning today, with National Wear Red Day, millions will celebrate the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. Everyone can participate in the national movement by wearing their favorite red outfit, or Red Dress Pin.

And beginning next Thursday, February 11, 2010, The Heart Truth will bring the Red Dress to life once again on the runway at New York Fashion Week with the debut of the Red Dress Collection 2010.

Fashion Week is an eight-day preview of the fall looks of 100 or so designers. And for the sixth year in a row, the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection fashion show will feature celebrities on the catwalk in red designer dresses promoting the anti-heart disease campaign.

The event, which features singers, actresses and supermodels in red designer dresses, is held to raise awareness about heart disease — a leading killer of women. The show uses the glamour of fashion to highlight risk factors such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels, and lack of exercise which are leading causes of heart disease.

In the past Uber-model Heidi Klum, who rarely graces the catwalk these days outside “Project Runway,” walked in the skimpiest dress – a short two-layer slip dress by Marc Jacobs with thin spaghetti straps.

Last year, The Fashion Show paired America’s top designers with 20 “Women with Heart”, including  (above) Daisy Fuentes for Pamella Roland, Vivica A. Fox for Jenny Packham, Hilary Duff for Donna Karan, and Lynda Carter for Carolina Herrera.

Look for heads to turn at this year’s event as well which will feature participating designers such as: Badgley Mischka, Betsey Johnson , Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Max Azria, Vera Wang, Zac Posen and others.

See InStyle’s slideshow of the 2008 collection for ideas on how to “Dress Red” this week and give yourself an early Valentine’s Day gift.

Ladies night at the Grammys

Last night’s (January 31) Grammy show was a hit and from beginning to end it was Ladies Night.

Among the ladies that ruled was Beyoncé who scooped up six awards – a record for a female artist. The R & B superstar had ten nominations and walked away with trophies for Song Of The Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Contemporary R&B Album.

Beyonce missed out on the album of the year, after Taylor Swift became the youngest artist to win the coveted Grammy. In doing so Taylor broke a record held since 1996 by Alanis Morissette, who was 21 when she won for Jagged Little Pill.

The 20-year-old was also the first solo female country winner ever of the award, and the first female pop winner since Celine Dion won in 1997 for Falling Into You. She also won the Grammy for best country album, and a pair of awards for her song White Horse – female country vocal performance and best country song.

Fans were treated to a number of incredible collaborations between modern marvels and living legends  such as Lady Gaga & Elton John and Taylor Swift & Stevie Nicks) and stunning set pieces including a memorable one by Pink.

So who had the best performance? Gaga and John performed “Poker Face,” “Speechless” and “Your Song” in an over-the-top spectacle that fit both of their massive personalities. Beyoncé’s take on “If I Were a Boy” and Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” showcased  incredible vocals.

Taylor Swift’s performance of “Today Was a Fairytale,” “Rhiannon” and “You Belong With Me” presented elements of country, straight pop, bluegrass, folk and classic rock.

For me,  the best peformance of the night was Pink who proved she’s Pretty Awesome.  She wowed the crowd singing”Glitter in the Air” while suspended in the air, spinning and singing like something out of Cirque de Soleil.  I think I read that she was a gymnast when she was younger but whether or not that’s true,  her athleticism was apparent.  By this time, CBS has probably pulled all the YouTube versions down for copyright infringement, but if the one below still works, be sure to check it out!

Maria Sharapova signs record-breaking contract with Nike

If you’re an up and coming sports superstar, you may be interested to know a bit about the business of sports.

This week it was announced that Russian tennis champ Maria Sharapova has renewed her sponsorship agreement with Nike for $70 million (yikes) over the next eight years, the largest endorsement deal for a female athlete in history. The contract tops Venus Williams’ five-year, $45-million deal signed with Reebok in 2000, and includes the launch of a clothing line designed by Sharapova, for which she will get a share of the profits.

Nike, the world’s largest athletic-shoe maker, has worked with the Russian tennis player for 11 years. Since winning Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 17, Sharapova has become one of the biggest draws on the WTA Tour and the world’s best-paid female athlete.

The deal extension comes less than a year after Sharapova returned from a right-shoulder injury that sidelined her for nine months and forced her to undergo surgery. The best part of the new eight-year deal with the 22-year-old athlete is that Nike is looking beyond her retirement. And Masha’s agent has said that she’s becoming more and more interested in having a hands-on creative role in companies she’s works with as well as an ownership stake.

Sharapova currently makes close to $22 million a year in prize money and from endorsing companies including Tiffany & Co., Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ltd. and Canon Inc., according to Sports Illustrated. She was the only woman in the magazine’s July list of the top 20 highest-earning non-U.S. athletes.

Sharapova has won 20 Women’s Tennis Association titles including three majors. In August 2005 she became the first Russian female tennis player to be ranked number one in the world. She took a 10-month break from the court after undergoing shoulder surgery in July 2008, but has proven herself a force to be reckoned since her comeback, advancing to the semi-finals of the French Open last year and pulling her world ranking up to 14th.

Golfers Creamer, Gulbis get signature shoes

Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis are two of the LPGA’s biggest crossover stars. Even if you’re not a golf fan, you may recognize Gulbis from  reality TV shows  like “The Apprentice” or her many magazine covers. Creamer’s Citizen Watch commercials ran during NFL games providing mass exposure and she reps Kraft Foods among other corporate brands.

Now, each of the fashionista players has designed a signature golf shoe for TaylorMade-Adidas. Creamer, known for her pink outfits and hair ribbons (she’s often referred to as the Pink Panther) has a pink shoe (surprise) with the graphic of a bow on the sides and insole. The shoe will even come with optional lace ribbons instead of normal shoe laces.

The red leather Gulbis show has rhinestones embedded in the ankle collar, tongue and heel. There is a detachable lace tag with hr swan logo, which also appears on the insole. In Latvian, Gulbis means “swan.”

According to corporate reports, these shoes are the first line of signature female golf shoes produced for the mass market. The Signature Natalie shoe will retail for $100 and the Signature Paula for $120.

These shoes are so cool that they might be a reason to take up golf if you don’t play.

Sharapova partners with TAG Heuer on sunglass collection

Tennis star Maria Sharapova is internationally known for her flawless tennis swing and impeccable sense of style, on and off the tennis court.  Now TAG Heuer Eyewear and Sharapova have collaborated to design a new collection of sunglasses that deliver both function and fashion. With the Maria Sharapova Collection by TAG Heuer Eyewear, women will enjoy chic sunglass designs that are also comfortable, durable and crafted from the highest quality materials – all key features signature to the TAG Heuer name.

Avant-garde, ultra-feminine and incredibly comfortable – the Maria Sharapova Collection by TAG Heuer Eyewear includes two distinctive styles. The iconic aviator style includes a sleek line at top and bold thick frame that combine for a cutting-edge look. The oversized round style is elegantly sculpted, offering 3D curvy coverage worthy of the red carpet. Both styles feature Sharapova’s signature discreetly laser-etched into the shatter-resistant, ultra-light lenses, which offer 100% UV-A and UV-B protection.

Material highlights such as superbly smooth black acetate hand-polished to a mirror finish and racecar-grade stainless steel stand out from the crowd. The Maria Sharapova Collection by TAG Heuer Eyewear is available in black with gray or gradated lenses, or in three other trendy color combinations: an ivory frame with blue lenses, tortoiseshell with brown lenses and dark plum with pink lenses.

The Maria Sharapova Collection by TAG Heuer Eyewear will be available in stores March 2010 at a pricey $250.00.

Burton goes denim & plaid to outfit the US Olympic snowboard team

Earlier this month, Burton unveiled the US Snowboard Team Uniforms for the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.  And in sharp contrast to other nations, the Vermont based company has  given the team a distinct ‘un-uniform’ edge – utilizing well worn denim plus a special red, white and blue plaid.  When the US Snowboard Team steps onto the World’s stage this February in Vancouver, they will look and feel unmatched with designs that speak to both individuality and heritage, key hallmarks of the Burton brand and the snowboard culture.

The Olympic uniforms feature a fresh and progressive style while also managing to pay tribute to more classic Americana fashion staples. The pants seamlessly integrate the look of real, worn, vintage denim (very cool), and the jackets feature plaids adorned with leather patches and chenille crests with both pieces incorporating the performance benefits of Gore-Tex fabric.

All product development at Burton is rider driven and this Olympic outerwear is no exception. Burton held a roundtable discussion with top pro-snowboarders and Olympic hopefuls Elena Hight, Mason Aguirre, Danny Davis, Kevin Pearce, Jack Mitrani, Luke Mitrani, Steve Fisher, Scotty Lago, and Louie Vito to review design concepts for the outerwear before arriving at the final creation.

“Since its inception, Burton has been a rider driven company,” said Jake Burton, Founder and Chairman of Burton Snowboards. “For the creation of the US Snowboard Team uniform, we listened carefully to the riders’ needs and used their input to ensure that the final fit, fabrics and overall design would maximize their performances and take these riders to the podium. It was also absolutely critical to ensure these Olympic uniforms were worthy of bearing the Burton name.”

“Although we are creating a uniform, our first objective is to express the individuality of snowboarding. As such, we are taking vintage American looks and interpreting them in a very unique and unexpected fashion.” says Greg Dacyshyn, Senior Vice President of Creative at Burton.

Looks like they’ve successfully managed to straddle both patriotic and street-influenced factors for the Games. What do you think?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday

If you slept in this morning, never fear. There’s still time to take advantage of  “Black Friday,” the post-Thanksgiving free-for-all where everyone celebrates yesterday’s gluttony by going on a huge holiday season shopping spree.

With consumer spending down, merchants are putting even greater emphasis than usual on the importance of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. (Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday season.)

So, in order to do our part to stimulate the economy, here are some deals you can take advantage of:

Black Friday and CyberMonday Deals:

Sports Authority: Shop the circular during the 10 Hr Door Buster Special on Black Friday at SportsAuthority.com! 5am to 3pm on 11.27

Sports Authority: 15% off your Order on Cyber Monday at SportsAuthority.com! Exclusions Apply. Valid only on 11.30

Champion: Get free shipping with a $50+ order at ChampionUSA.com! This offer is valid now through December 1st!

ESportsonline: Save 20-50% + Free Shipping on Gifts for Women in the eSportsonline FOR HER Holiday Gift Shop.

Amazon: Visit Amazon.com to find great Black Friday deals and get FREE Super Saver Shipping on millions of items.

Olympic athletes to sport vintage-inspired style

The Countdown to the Olympics includes a lot of important  preparations, not the least of which is what the athletes are going to wear at the Games.

As he has done before, Ralph Lauren will have a hand in outfitting the athletes. His  affinity for Americana will be on full display  at the Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia — complete with a patriotic palette of red, white and blue, along with stars-and-stripes flags and, of course, polo ponies.

Long-sleeve T-shirts with big bold graphics printed on the chest are part of the Olympic Village wardrobe, as well as white warm-up jackets with red and blue stripes down the sleeves and old-school alpine ski sweaters decorated with reindeer.

The closing-ceremony parade outfit includes a mostly red and blue shawl-collar sweater with antique buttons, a newsboy cap, a plaid shirt for the men, and a navy ribbed turtleneck for the women.

“We took a lot of inspiration from the 1930s games, reaching into the heyday of the Olympics and bringing to a more modern sensibility,” said David Lauren, the company’s senior vice president of advertising, marketing and communications.

During an Olympic fashion segment on the TODAY show, freestyle skiers Sho Kashima and Emily Cook modeled the closing ceremony outfits, including the vintage-inspired newsboy caps, cardigans, alpine boots and fleece pants.

Ralph Laureh, who dressed the American athletes for the summer games two years ago, has signed on with the U.S. Olympic Committee through 2012 in London to provide ceremonial clothes as well as recreational looks. It’s also creating the outfits for the Paralympic teams.

While the winter athletes will sport Ralph Lauren for the open/closing ceremonies,  Nike will rock the podium. The sportswear giant, who has also signed on as an official supplier for the winter games, will provide apparel and footwear for Olympians — for the competition, on the medal stand, and for wearing casually in the Olympic village. Focusing on incorporating sustainable “considered design,” Nike’s design team researched the variety of winter sports conditions the athletes are likely to encounter, from icy storms to heavy snow, and created fashionable modern looks that will also be available to the public at Niketown stores.

Nike unveiled the medal stand looks — blue waterproof down jackets — on short track speed skater J.R. Celski and snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler during the Olympic fashion segment on TODAY. The jackets featured 100 percent recycled fabric, 800-fill down insulation, and a unique faded fabric print that is customized for every single jacket.

With Nike and Ralph Lauren teaming up with the USOC on the fashion front, at least the U.S. athletes will sport a winning look.

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