DSquared2: Stripper-influenced Shoes

Last week I was browsing through one of my magazines, (I think it was Glamour, which I don't remember subscribing to so receive these for free) when I stumbled upon one of the outfits showcasing Spring/Summer '10 designer apparel that featured DSquared2 shoes. These heels were special in that every single bit of the shoe looked like a "stripper" shoe on crack. Everything from the black platform, transparent straps and metal studs just screams exotic dance shoes! But these shoes were not made by the well-known stripper shoe brands, Pleaser, Tony Shoes or Ellie. These sandals are actually the creation of identical twin brothers, Dean and Dan Caten, designers of the new high-end fashion label, DSquared2.

What I love about all of DSquared2 shoes is that they have rubber soles that are great for traction. Not enough designers keep comfort and safety in mind when they design shoes for women, which usually means clients have to take it upon themselves to pay for the upgrade out of their own pockets. I usually get rubber soles put on the bottom of my heel and sole of the shoe. It's worth it.


From left, "Lisabeth" Transparent Boot ($1,142), "Lisabeth" Transparent Boot w/ detailed metallic inserts ($1,956.00) and "Lisabeth" Leather Boot w/ detailed metallic inserts ($2,119.00)


Transparent Sandal w/ detailed metallic inserts ($1,301.00), Black leather sandal w/ detailed metallic inserts ($1,392.00).


Transparent pump w/ detailed metallic inserts ($1,118.00), Black leather pump w/detailed metallic inserts ($1,291.00)


Hot pink sandal ($792.00), Neon orange ankle boot ($972.00)

Shoes are definitely the highlight for both DSquared2's menswear and womenswear collections for Spring/Summer '10. Honestly, I don't think it's been a better time to be a man in today's fashion world. The shoes are amazing! I'm absolutely jealous that I can't wear them!

To complete my badass look...

My new shoes came in! And my first reaction was UGLY UGLY UGLY UGLY UGLY. Why didn't I listen to my instincts and just say no? I just had to buy them because the 6 inch version looked so hot! But they didn't have my size in the 6 inch so I decided to get the chunky 7 inch hoping that it would be ok since I'm so short to begin with anyways.


As soon as I put them on I knew that I lost a chunk of cash. Well I took them off and decided to eat my boredom and sadness away. I've been letting my food cravings run wild the past two weeks and I need to chill because Vegas is right around the corner!


Since I haven't put my new pole up yet, I've been trying to practice just the sultry part of pole dancing. It's so much easier without shoes on, but then eventually I decided to try the moves with my new pair of shoes sitting outside the box. I was giving them a second chance to redeem themselves. And the second time around they didn't look so bad. I liked how they looked like so much I decided to put on an outfit that I would probably pair with the shoes...which ended up to be my pvc hot shorts, a studded belt and loose black tank top (which I love and hope lasts forever!).


I wear a lot of black. I can't help myself. I think that it just looks sexier and makes you look more dark and mysterious which I guess is the look that I'm trying to go for. After putting on the outfit, I decided that yes these shoes weren't a bad investment after all and that I could make it work as long as I wear tiny ass shorts to make my legs look longer.


On a side note I've been playing with my hair style lately. I've been trying to grow out my bangs to get the parted hair-do that you see in so many designer fashion shows that models wear. But I only get so far before I decide to chop my bangs and go back to my fringe...which I'm VERY close to doing again.


What's your opinion? I think they make me look a little different from the other girls and they cover my ugly forehead and emphasize my eyes. I guess I'll never find out what I look like without bangs.

My Alter Ego Is a Bad ASS Chick That Does Brazilian JiuJitsu

I'm about to make a really bad mistake or one of the best decisions for my pole dancing shoe collection...and I blame it on the coffee I'm drinking this morning.

Last evening I decided that I wanted to get a pair of black ankle boots that look very similar to the ones Alethea Austin wore at the 2010 USPDF competition. I was already looking at ankle boots around the time I viewed her performance online, but then I totally switched and decided to go with showing some skin after I saw how good they looked on her.

I really wanted to get these below but they don't have my size on either the Snaz75 or Forplay websites...

Pleaser Delight-1027 5 3/4 inch heel



So I'm going to get these!!! Yes yes I know that you're thinking that they're almost 7 inches...but have you seen how short I am? I don't think anyone will notice.

If you look closely, they're the same exact pair as the ones above...just with a higher platform.

Pleaser Sky-332 6 3/4 inch heel



I like the design of this heel, but hate that it's 8 inches. It's monstrous.

Pleaser Xtreme-873 8 inch heel


What's funny is that I actually talked myself into not buying another pair of heels until next month...but then I checked my e-mail this morning and Forplay sent me a 20% coupon code and I was swayed the other direction. Some things were just meant to be I guess.

In regards to the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu title...YES, I have decided to enroll in Ralph Gracie's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy. FINALLY. When I used to live in a studio in Berkeley, I would run by this place all the time on my way to the Berkeley Marina. I would stop and stare and grab a pamphlet...consider walking inside to ask questions...get chicken shit scared and run away. But I just wasn't ready. And I didn't see any girls. But who cares? I'm a bad ass chick right? So I'm going to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

What's Another Shoe?

I don't like buying black shoes any more. I have way too many of them. BUT I don't own a pair of black platform pole dancing shoes. I guess it's important to have a basic pair you can wear with everything...so I got a pair.

I ordered these Pleaser shoes from Snaz75 and the came within days. If I remember right the platform is 6.5 inches...maybe more. I don't have an issue with wearing chunky heels because I'm so tiny, so every half inch counts!

They don't look that high do they?

Latest Shoe Obessesion

I promise that I don't sit around all day looking at platform heels...it's just that when something inspires me I go try to find the same exact pair. While I was watching an interview on Youtube about a pole dancing project that fuses artistic dance with pole dancing, I couldn't take my eyes off a pair of pink see-through heels like the ones below...only that they had ankle straps. Help me find them please!



While I was scouring my favorite site for pole dancing shoes I stumbled onto some other ones that I haven't really seen before. I could totally wear the gold and silver ones out and wouldn't look like a stripper!




AND I love the gladiator-style platforms. Especially the black and gold ones! I know exactly what I can do in these...CLIMB!

Sublime

I got home last night and a lovely surprise was waiting for me by the door. My new "lime green" glow-in-the-dark platforms! I didn't get to open the box until I got to the studio, and when I did I was shocked at how high the platform was and how more yellow it was than green.

I tried to convince myself that 7 inches isn't too high, but once I brought them out I got the same response from the dancers. But I put them on for class and I walked out with no broken ankle! For the size they are, I was surprised that they didn't feel like weights.

The only issue I have now is trying not to look like a hooker. Haha.

BTW, I do plan on getting a pair of these hot pink glow-in-the-dark 5 3/4 platform heels that everyone seems to have. They'll definitely be more tame.

Happy Chinese New Year!

For Chinese New Year, you're supposed to wear red for good luck. Good thing my Tony Shoes order just came in!



They're just as beautiful as I remember them online. Only now I'm curious what the white pair would look like. The only issue I have with these shoes is that the ankle support could be better. I might have to puncture a hole in the strap to make them tighter.



Due to the buckle on the pinky side, they might be difficult to climb in...but where there's a will there's a way! I'm gonna make it work! I need to give myself a pedicure before I let you see my toes in them!

Indecision is Annyoing

Shoe shopping is exhausting. I'm relieved that I'm actually done. For now.

So the easiest decision was my Vegas poolside heel purchase. Since I couldn't find this particular style online in my size, I'm ordering them through the catalog that Poletential has. These are Anthony's by Tony Shoes style A-608. I got the silver pair to go with the rhinestones on my bikini.



Since rhinestone isn't the best to wear for practice, I needed a basic heel I could easily climb a pole in. I spent a good amount of time deciding between the hot pink or lime green, and finally decided on the green. I actually put it to a vote, and the majority said green. These came out to be $45.99 from Snaz75



It's not only these green heels that have caught my attention. I'm also really dying to get me a pair of these Nike AirMax2009 running shoes ($160)...



Ok, so the last one was the most painful. I wanted the red, black and white. And since this one is leather (versus plastic) it's going to cost more. The price varies from $89.99-$100 depending on who you're buying it from. Snaz75 sells it for $95.99.



I finally decided on the red ones because I wanted a stand out pair and they really caught my eye. If I end up really liking this style I might decide to get the white or black down the road.



So now that I've started to collect pole dancing shoes, I'm going to have a definite problem finding a way to store and display them. Luckily, the same dancer who recommended Snaz75 also had a solution to storing shoes!! She actually uses a shoe rack bought from The Container Store ($30) that neatly displays her shoes in the open and keeping them accessible. Problem solved!

Snaz75: Your One Stop Shop For All Your Shoe Needs

So now that we've covered the top brands for your stripper heel needs, where do you buy all of them? I was lucky to find out from a fellow pole dancer of a website, www.Snaz75.com, that sells platform heels at very reasonable prices. I love Snaz75 because I can find all the top brands including Pleaser Shoes, Tony Shoes, Anthony's by Tony, and Ellie Shoes on one website instead of having to go through multiple ones.

Poletential Studio will finally start carrying Pleaser Shoe catalogs! Yess!! But I can't wait to have my glow-in-the-dark heels any longer! Plus the rhinestones on my heels I use right now are really cramping my climbing style.

Right now Snaz75 is doing free shipping on orders over $75, so I'm stressing out right now on which ones to get! Pink or Green?!?!

Pole Class: Day Five

Do you remember these?



Imagine the shocked look on my face when I saw one of my fellow dancers take out her brand new heels...



Do they look familiar?!?! I know the flash on my camera makes them look brighter than they are, but trust me they look exactly how they look in the picture above...absolutely beautiful. I honestly couldn't stop looking at them during class. Forget learning new pole moves, look at her shoes! Neon is so in now. It's really strange how I've become so attracted to it lately, since I usually wear really dark colors.

Today's Total Pole class was very knee intensive. You should see the bruises all over my legs. I'm starting to wonder how I can minimize them, especially since summer is just right around the corner...well almost. Damn Ground Hog's day. 5 more weeks of winter?!

The moves Amber taught us today were the Front Hook, Back Hook, Front Hook into the Back Hook, Side Climb, Knee Hold and Gemini. By the time it was the last 5-10 minutes to dance free-style, all I wanted to do was just stop and relax.

What was really amazing, was that Amber (instructor) and Christine (advanced dance student) were both on a spinning pole doing the same moves simultaneously. I've seen it in videos before, but to see it live and just a few feet away from me was crazy. Afterward Amber warned us that it takes a lot of practice to use a spinning pole...warning taken. I won't be trying that any time soon, but I would like to in the future.

.....................................................................................
Knee Hold:

Use inside hand to grip the pole (high). Hook inside leg to the pole with the back of the knee so that your leg is parallel to the ground. Use outside hand to grip underneath your leg on the pole. Thumb should be pointing down. Lift outside leg so that your knee/shin is resting on the pole and your ankle is hooking with your other ankle. Push your hips outward and leg go of outside hand that was gripping underneath your leg.

Gemini:

Gemini is an inversion similar to the Scorpio. Instead of using one foot/ankle to hold you against the pole, you hook the back of your knee and then let your other foot drop so that it's vertically parallel with the ground. In this position you need to use your side (skin!) to grip the pole. Let go with both hands.

Side Climb:
Start with gripping the pole with both hands and inside leg hooked to pole at the knee so that it's parallel with the ground. Lift your other leg up so that it's resting underneath your other leg. At this point you should straighten up and re-grip your hands higher up the pole. This is setting you up so that you can climb sideways up the pole. You can move both your legs sideways at once or one at a time. Repeat.

Front Hook:
Grip the pole with inside hand (high) and step forward with inside leg. Use outside hand to brace the pole as you step with your outside leg (around the pole). While keeping outside leg on the ground as long as possible you swing the inside leg out. Your outside leg should eventually wrap itself around the pole.

Picture of Reverse Back Hook:


I found super helpful photos of pole positions...
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ipole.tv/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/cimg9096-5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ipole.tv/%3Fpage_id%3D75&usg=__GpWhBXxUkO-4495msvxZnzT-cSc=&h=1449&w=1431&sz=384&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=dcgxPCYcs6TQTM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=148&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dknee%2Bhold%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rlz%3D1R1RNFA_en___US355%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1

Bikini + Rhinestone Encrusted Heels = My Summer Uniform

I was thinking about my heel collection yesterday, and I came to the conclusion that it's very boring and uber conservative. There is a definite trend. Almost everything is black and has a peep-toe. My two requirements for shoes apparently.

I've decided that I haven't been doing my tiny feet any justice. In addition to buying some new pole dancing shoes, I need to get another pair that I can wear with a bikini when I'm tanning. I love the ones that the Malibu Strings model is wearing...but since Malibu Strings is only in the business of bikinis I have no idea where to find those heels. The ones below I found on LiquidDreams.com, but I don't know the brand.



Ellie Shoes also paired some heels with a bikini in their catalog. I found this picture that comes close to it. The heel is more simple than the one worn by the model above, but they're still really cute.




I'm trying to figure out when I started to realize that heels and bikinis make sense. If you haven't yet, one day you will. See you poolside! I'll be the one having tanning oils massaged into my back.

Pleaser Shoes

I'm not done with my exotic footwear binge. The only two pairs of exotic footwear I own are made by Pleaser. And I'm actually really happy with both of them. One pair I use regularly for my pole dance classes and my thigh-high, lace-up, patent leather, platform boots I hide in my closet.

Since Ellie shoes has a shortage of pink platform heels, I looked at Pleaser's website and found that they actually have tons of different collections. They basically have a collection for every foot fetish out there...Demonia for the gothic chic, Bordello for the Burlesque,





Funtasma for Halloween, Luscious for the glamorous, and Devious for the fallen angels.



These were the pink platform heels I found...



Forplay Catalog actually sells the glow in the dark pair for $54 which isn't really bad, considering that right now they have free shipping for orders over $50!!


This is what they look like under normal lighting conditions..


And then the lime green ones are really fun too!


Besides the pink, I really find myself attracted to Pleaser's gunmetal/chrome selection. They have a "Bond"age line...