Sharon

Shoes with Spats & Gaiters

I snapped a photo of this pair of sexy black heels with spats, from Isabella Gregorio’s personal collection in Como, Italy this weekend. Ssshh, don’t tell her!Â Â The label reads “Juliet Juliet”. Spats or gaiters (which are usually longer), cover the instep and ankle, and are usually detachable from your shoes. They were fashionable for gentlemen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and have worked their way back into modern ladies shoe design in the last few seasons.

Want more spats? The first pair below are Prada 2008 Collection, the second are L.A.M.B.

$LAMB Shoes Crowther Tex Shoe$

And here we have individualÂ â€˜Gaiterettesâ€™ from LesFrivolities at Etsy.com:

You wear these over shoes or ankle boots that you already own. Prices range from $55.00 to $155.00 per handmade pair.

Katie Anderson (LA)

Katie Anderson (USA) busted out these studded Top Shop shoes with those gorgeous floral patterned stockings, in Como Italy on the weekend for Swing Crash Festival 2009. Everyone was asking, “Are those tattoos?”Â Incidentally, when not globetrotting with Minn Vo as a Lindy Hop instructor, Katie is a shoe designer in LA.

Katie also showed up in some pretty gorgeous head gear over the weekend, including this giant black satin bow mounted on an alice band (Forever 21), which she had pinned down to look like a vintage hat, and a red velvet rose set against her platinum blonde hair. Fantastico!

Boys rockin’ the vintage at Swing Crash Festival ’09

As usual in Italy, the boys were just as well dressed as the girls at this year’s Swing Crash Festival, in Como. And let’s face it, men in vintage suits was one of the main reasons I got into swing. Got any more pics of swing boys rockin’ the vintage and looking fine? Send them through: shaz@swingfashionista.com Uuhh, for the blog, honest.

Above, Vincenzo Fesi & DJ Ivan. Here’s a few more from Swing Crash 2009, notables including Pontus Persson, Peter Loggins, Todd Yannacone, Guiseppe Olla & Juan Villafane:

‘Nicole’ Lace Shoe Boots

Nicole Lace Shoe Boot at La Maison De Luxe

Stop Staring Revisited

carlainstopstaring

Since seeing Carla Heiney and a few other ladies rocking out Stop Staring’s new “Raileen” dress at this year’s Rock That Swing Festival in Munich, I thought it was time we revisited Stop Staring Clothing, and it was worth it! They’ve always been a staple of retro dresses for swing ladies, but recent seasons have seen the addition of some really glamorous dresses, in the range of $100 – $150 USD. Check them out at www.stopstaringclothing.com