Shoe Envy

via A Haute Mess

Jeffrey Campbell. The name inspires a worshipful eyeroll towards the heavens in fashionistas; a kind of glazed look and a sigh, not unlike the way you talk about the lover that 'got away.' Tick. Exam. Clinic. Thow in those terms and the eye glaze becomes an outright aura of content.

Jeffrey Campbell burst into the fashion scene in 2000, launching his line of shoes from inside his L.A. garage. They were quickly sought after for not only their innovative design, but outstanding prices: $124 for a genuine suede and leather wedge boot. (Similar designs by Ashish or Topshop go for $310!) And so Campbell got himself a devoted fan following, schoolgirls and suited-up execs, all of whom lovingly call him 'JC.' He loves them back in turn, having an entire section on his website dedicated to them, entitled 'JC Girls.' And those girls range from celebrities to fashion bloggers, to everyday girls walking down the street. The sheer versatility of his shoes is unmatched; literally ANYBODY can wear them. And while many have heard of the name Jeffrey Campbell, it doesn't carry with it the same weight as, say, Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik. It's a shoe you wear because it's simply a hot shoe, not a hot price tag.


While Jeffrey Campbell is definitely on trend with wedge-mania (the Mary Roks, above, in black or grey is DIVINE!), the line also offers a variety of other looks. Boots, flats, sandals- there is something for every kind of girl, and with any embellishment you can think of. The gold studded, glam rock wedge Exam is a personal favorite, but Solestruck.com offers over 20 different categories. His flats, in plaids and super bright colors, and booties are also bestsellers and look good paired with just about anything.

Katy Perry in Jeffrey Campbell Hayley-Stud flats

That's the beauty of this brand: everything is cute, affordable, yet fashion-forward. There are towering heels for the Lady Gaga in all of us, and the cute ballet flats for the days when even KATY PERRY wants to feel demure. There's nothing to lose! Especially since the brand is sold at Karmaloop, Solestruck, and Nordstrom's among other fine retailers. (Head over to jeffreycampbellshoes.com for a complete list.)