I was over on People.com yesterday and they’ve been getting plenty of pics of the Gossip Girl stars being filmed for this season. Enjoying their fashion as I do, I was particularly inspired by a look Leighton Meester was sporting in one of the images – and particularly by her striking hot pink strappy sandals.

Truly, they are almost like strappy shoeties, but you totally know they price out of the budget of the bargain fashionista so I was determined to find some more feasible options among the Planet Shoes offerings!

The look is outstanding, and the way they have been paired, as a contrast rather than a collaborator in the overall outfit it pretty darned fun.

So what can we find to get this look, or close to it?

The first option I came across was the OTBT Libia in Canary yellow. No, they aren’t bright pink, but the bright hue of these sandals immediately cheered me and I suddenly pictured them with my midnight blue maxi dress and started to bounce on the couch.

These OTBT Grecian inspired sandals are sexy and practical, designed for walking and travel while looking fabulous. The matte leather upper stays supple and offers a snug fit while the rubber sole absorbs shock and the textured sole also gives you traction no matter the terrain.

Next up, a funky option that is both fashionable and eco friendly, the El Naturalista Rana Tharu! I chose this one because I believe it mimics the shoetie styling, and the color, as well as the height – but in a rustic and off beat way.

Offered in a gorgeous bright reddish leather that is literally treated with river stones to give it suppleness and flexibility, this modified up front strappy sandal has a thick and stable heel as well as an ergonomic foot bed made from cork and recycled materials for maximum comfort. The outsoles on this shoe are all natural rubber and offer traction as well as shock absorption. This shoe is also named for the people that inspired them; the Rana Tharu who live near the border of Nepal and are known for their colorful jewelry and clothing.

Oh, I love these! The J Shoes Anya is just delicious. This wedge heel strappy sandal with adjustable ankle strap has a canvas and leather mid sole and a goat suede sherbet pink upper. The soft texture of this shoe is a big part of its appeal, offering a feminine look while the shape makes an artistic statement.

The heel cup especially offer a more bootie feel to what would just be another strappy wedge heel. You can see this emulates to color and strappy theme of Leighton’s fab sandals, and the height without the stiletto heel but this is a more delicate and less edgy look.

So, as the summer progresses, take advantage of the freedom of crazy color on your feet. Several of these styles are on sale right now over at Planet Shoes so indulge yourself and use the style mavens you see in the magazines and on TV to inspire your own look!

Rubber, as we all know, is used in a lot of footwear. We find rubber in the soles, the footbeds and even the body of our shoes all the time. But how much do you know about rubber? Do you know, for instance, that although we can harvest this natural resource with relative ease, that we still make a synthetic version based on petroleum?

So let’s bounce around some good rubber information, shall we?

Like all materials, there are options that are more eco friendly than others. Rubber, or latex, naturally comes from trees – and not just rubber trees! According to our friends at Wikipedia, rubber is an elastomer originally derived from a natural latex found in the sap of some plants. Scientists derived the chemical makeup of natural purified rubber and then began producing it synthetically.

In the eco-friendly shoe world, there are several companies who are making the effort to move to natural rubber, which can easily be harvested from a variety of plants in a sustainable way. Many companies are also employing recycled rubbers to offset waste.

So, who is doing what?

Natural Rubber and Eco Latex

Several companies are using natural rubber and eco latex, harvested from a variety of latex producing plants. Just a few of the plants that can be tapped for natural and sustainable rubber include the Para Rubber tree, the rubber fig tree, spurges, lettuces and even dandelions! Obviously, some plants and trees can produce more latex than others. Para Rubber Trees, in fact, are considered the best producers because it responds to tapping by producing more latex!

Companies using Natural Rubber and Eco Latex

• El Naturalista
• Patagonia
• The North Face
• Zumfoot

Recycled Rubber

Another way shoe companies are moving to more eco-friendly and sustainable policies relating to rubber is by using recycled rubber. Recycled rubber comes primarily from recycled car tires, which are broken down into particulate matter so the steel reinforcement can be removed. Once the steel is out, the rubber is made into a powder which can then be made into other materials, like shoe soles. At this point, because of the challenges relating to rubber recycling surrounding the vulcanization process, recycled rubber is not as widely used as it might be. There are, however, several companies here at Planet Shoes touting their use of recycled rubber in their shoes!

• J-41
• Patagonia
• Rafters
• Simple Shoes
• Terrasoles
• The North Face
• Timberland

Leather within the context of the environmental movement is a complicated topic. Leather has been used for generations but there are two main arguments against leather for shoes, bags, belts and more.

1. Vegans and vegetarians in the environmental movement hate the use of animals for food or products, so leather is unacceptable right off the bat!
2. The typical leather tanning process used in today’s industrial applications is heavy on the chemicals and the industrial waste. This makes many leather goods very eco-unfriendly.

Here is where the complication comes in:

1. Vegans and Vegetarians won’t use leather, but in many cases are willing to wear shoes or carry bags made from synthetic materials. Although these products are considered “vegan” they are, in many cases, not eco-friendly.
2. Leather, although not vegan, is a natural material. When tanned in an environmentally responsible way, its durability and the fact that it isn’t synthetically produced makes it a more eco-friendly option.

So you see, you can get durable, eco-friendly leather which will last you longer and help you buy fewer shoes but that aren’t vegan, or you can cast a sharp eye to make sure you’re purchasing a vegan product that is also eco-friendly and hope that they last!

If you’re going to purchase leather goods, you should definitely know where it came from and how it’s been treated. Likewise, if you choose to purchase vegan goods, make sure they are also made with a commitment to the environment.

We’ve talked about the process of greening leather before. Various large companies are making a concerted effort to follow in the footsteps of smaller shoe makers who’ve already made the commitment to using only “green” leather.

A number of our favorite brands use eco-friendly leather in all or some of their shoes. They include:

• El Naturalista
• Groundhog
• Patagonia
• Pikolinos
• Timberland

Enjoy our eco-friendly leather shoes and stay green this season!

One of the other popular looks coming out of the Bohemian style this spring and summer is the sculptured look – where fabrics and materials are designed to fold and sit in a way that offers a luxurious an interesting visual style.

Chinese Laundry Sudoku - One of the most innovative designs that has taken this look to the next level is the Chinese Laundry Sudoku. This shoe is really different with a dramatic fabric wrap around heel and elegant ribbon detailing. This is like a fabulous shoetie for summer!

The super comfortable faux suede footbed and simplistic thong crate a comfortable, elegant and truly interesting sandal that can work with an upscale ensemble or simply act as a perfect accessory on your boho chic outfit.

El Naturalista Ambar - Along these same lines, but with a bit more structure, is the El Naturalista Ambar. Made with eco-friendly leathers, this innovative wedge has a dramatic ankle tie that keeps this funky boho pump in place. Additionally, El Naturalista uses 100% natural rubber on their outsoles which is durable, flexible and reduces impact on the ankles, knees and hips.

Lined with removable insoles, the textured leather offers a really different, earthy look while the clean lines and contrast stitching maintain the high end elegance you want in a shoe of this quality. The green is considered a new neutral and will work with all of your earth tones!

Blowfish Segment Canvas - If you’re looking for a sandal alternate, consider a sculptured ballet flat. Blowfish is a master at the architectural use of material. The Blowfish Segment Canvas has a really unique look; the fabric is slightly distressed and works beautifully with the BoHo look and the unique folded look, accented with button ornaments makes these shoes a distinctive take on the popular shape.

These flats are also neutral enough to work with a wide variety of looks, so don’t feel constrained. Blowfish shoes are also made with great materials and are designed to be durable and comfortable while giving you that fashionable edge you crave.

Nicole Thrill - Our last sculptural shoe uses less material but dramatic shapes and textures to create a fabulous and sophisticated Bohemian sandal. While our other examples use draping, folding and tying, these flip flop inspired sandals use the thickness and opulence of the t strap leather to offer a great look.

The Nicole Thrill lives up to its name in a gorgeous gold full grain leather upper and unique detailing including a metallic anchor and striking, adjustable buckle. The casual thong sandal will work with almost any outfit you can put together and you’ll be rocking several trends at once – metallic, gladiator inspired and t strap while looking exceptional and innovative.