Being a shoe lover, there is always a part of me that hopes I’ll find new and beautiful shoes under the Christmas tree. Shoes can be sexy, cozy, practical or decadent. Here are a few ideas for the guys out there on what your lady might like the find under the tree…and why!

Earth Lodge:

Being a person with back issues, Earth Shoes are always on my list. They are great looking, cozy and they have the super cool Kalso Negative Heel Technology which helps to use your physiology to straighten your posture and improve your core strength. These will be great with skinny jeans, leggings or stovepipe pants. There’s nothing like a cute pair of boots to keep you cozy while you work your core!

So if you’re considering some cute boots for the lady in your life, consider Earth shoes. You might overlook them for other name brands – but your lady will love you for the style and therapeutic benefits of these high quality and adorable boots.

Blowfish Hobbit:

I love the Blowfish Hobbit! There’s a reason they are so popular. Super comfortable, cozy without being too heavy and easy to pair with wide leg jeans and leggings alike, these boots are adorable and versatile.

The button detailing makes these boots just different enough to be fun but the classic grey wool means they will work with simple and elegant looks as well as those that are little more funky.

If you have a lady in your life, no matter her age or style, these could be just the ticket for that Christmas surprise. The teenage daughter, your happy co-ed or your stylish wife – they will be amazed at your stylish creativity!

Poetic License Frills:

I have a passion for frilly, decadent shoes. I love shoes that are worth building an outfit around. I love shoes that are awe inspiring and I think the Poetic License Frills totally fit the bill.

They make me want to shop for the perfect little black dress or silver shift. Maybe something in midnight blue?

I can’t think of anything I would love to unwrap on Christmas morning than these beauties – unless they also came with a fabulous dress. They make me sigh with longing and chances are they might work on your lady too!

Penny Loves Kenny Collette:

Perfect for the festive ensemble, the Penny Loves Kenney Collette brings together several of my favorite footwear elements.

First, they’re red – yay! I love red shoes. I only have two other pairs and I know that’s not enough. Every woman should have red shoes in her closet. No matter your mood, red shoes make you feel fierce.

Second, they are ballet flats which means I’ll be able to wear these all day with no issues whatsoever – even as I cook the beef tenderloin.

Third, I love the details. Red snakeskin print, charming black patent strap and adorable buckle. These are clearly supposed to be mine. Santa – hook me up!

If you like your leather, which I do, you need to know how to take care of it. There are obviously a lot of products out there that can keep your suede plush and your leather boots safe from the pitfalls of water, snow and ice, but I got curious to see if I could find a product that was “green” for my leather goods. I’m well aware that some might think using a green product on leather is too little too late – but I still figured it was worth a look.

Home Made Shoe Polish?

The first option I found was pretty interesting. I found this article over on About.com about a homemade shoe polish recipe comprised of olive oil and lemon juice.

This seemed like a pretty interesting option to me but I knew I needed to test the theory. I used a pair of my older and more beat up leather shoes so if they were damaged in some way I wouldn’t be devastated. I admit, I was pretty pleased with the results.

Essentially, you just mix two parts of olive oil with one part of lemon juice. I then whisked them together to form a sort of emulsion. I took a simple rag and rubbed this into my favorite, albeit beat up leather ballet flats.

As you can see, the one on the left has not been polished and the one on the right looks a lot better! Being able to renew a favorite pair of “go to” shoes like these, and for free, is pretty cool! Now we’ll see what the longer term effect is, but this one seems like a pretty easy, simple solution if you need something quick!

Edible Shoe Cream

The next option I found was this edible shoe cream. They call it shoe cream but it’s simply made of 100% organic virgin coconut oil so you can eat it, use it as lip balm or use it as moisturizer. I could see how this simple item would work well on shoes as well as the olive oil idea – and it probably smells even tastier.

Nickwax Nubuck & Suede Proof

After a bit more digging, I came upon Nickwax. I’ve bought three pairs of suede boots this fall and I’m anxious about them going into winter. I’ve been looking for something other than the standard sprays, and this water based, fluorocarbon free treatment might be just the ticket. You can use a spray or a sponge on version and it is biodegradable and non hazardous. I think I’ll be picking this up for my Christmas stocking.

Granger’s G-Wax Nubuck & Suede Waterproofing

Making fewer claims on environmental friendliness, but water based and great for suede and nubuck is Granger’s G-Wax Nubuck and Suede Waterproofing. Granger’s is also known for products like Natural Wash and other camping supplies designed for minimal environmental impact.

No matter which one you choose - remember that taking care of your leather shoes and boots can help them last a lifetime. Using your items until they actually wear out can be one of the best ways to be environmentally conscious - and you’ll find after a few years there will be nothing as comfortable as your well worn and well maintained leather boots or shoes.

I saw this post on the stairCASE on Treehugger.com and the first thought in my mind was all the beautiful shoes I could fit in a storage solution like that. Storage is certainly an issue for those of us who are fans of beautiful shoes.  In fact, I found myself defending my love of shoes just this weekend and storage was one of the issues raised.

The truth is that as a professional woman, mother, athlete and fun lover, I need a lot of shoes to accomodate my style. I have athletic shoes for the gym, comfortable walking shoues and sandals for long summer walks, sexy heels for a night on the town and elegant classics for business meetings. Ok, I also have a wide selection of shoes for fun, but why shouldn’t I? Depending on my mood, the state of my pedicure and the outfit of the day, every girl needs a little flexibility.

As the collection grows, my husband’s shoe closet space exponentially shrinks, so when I see tall, attractive storage, with a step that comes out to accomodate my height for reaching items at the top, how could I not be thrilled? With additional shelving, this could, in fact be, the ultimate shoe rack. I’d be housing my collection, using space efficiently and I’d actually be able to see them all - it’s a win win win situation!

We are very pleased to announce the official launch of our Facebook application.  This application will allow any facebook user to view our entire product catalog and share the products with friends.  You will also now have the ability to become a fan of PlanetShoes.com to show your support.

Facebook Application: http://www.new.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=21301734727&ref=mf

Hello Stiletto Shoe Club - by Melissa O’Shea

What do you do with a closet full of shoes you love and adore but rarely have an opportunity to wear? Show them off at a Hello Stiletto Shoe Party of course.

Hello Stiletto is a free social club for people who love footwear. I mean LOVE footwear….

It’s not about vanity or about needing to conform to societal stereotypes of women. Nor do I ever value my material possessions above the important things in life (family, friends, community). It’s simply about being a collector, an appreciator, a fan of something that indulges my creative side. I own and appreciate shoes like some people do paintings or sculpture.

I firmly believe everyone needs something in their lives that they do just for fun. Because when you get home from work or finished doing the important, serious things in life whether its raising a family or curing cancer, you need a few silly things take the edge off your day. Really what’s the point of being here if you don’t?

Some of my shoes have stories, like the pair my friend Lisa inherited from her great aunt who was quite a fashion plate in her day. They’re vintage Via Spiga handmade in Italy circa 1985, perfectly preserved in their original box complete with the price tag from Jordan Marsh (!!!). Lisa gave them to me because by some cosmic stroke of serendipitous good fortune her fabulous aunt was precisely the same size as me. I relish putting my feet into them. And whenever I wear them I think of the cool lady who bought them.

With this love of shoes and a closet overflowing with years of footwear finds, I suggested to a bunch of friends one day back in 2004, that we start getting together once a month specifically to wear our craziest kicks. We’d use it as an excuse to get together and maybe try out a new bar or restaurant. And with that the Hello Stiletto Shoe Club was born.

On the night of the very first party, friends turned up in everything from the most death-defying stilettos to the funkiest of flats. Some were sparkly, others had bows, one pair had three inches of platform, while others were fairly conservative. However, all of them had a story of some kind and by the end of the night, the fun was contagious. Everyone in the restaurant was in on the party, checking out the shoes and using the topic as an excuse meet and talk to new friends.

Since then “shoe night” has evolved into a full-fledged institution. The Hello Stiletto Shoe Club has almost 6,000 members and chapters in eleven different cities. We even have a pink carpet for best shoe “walk-offs.” (Shouldn’t everyone get to be a super model for a night?) It’s still free, there’s no cost to be a member, and it’s all for the love of shoes.

We always have a good time and some of the events support charitable efforts.

For more details you can also email me at melissa-ps@shoeclub.us

Not only is bamboo awesome for that adorable panda, but it’s great for humans, too! Here’s why:

- Bamboo shoots are YUMMY! You can find them in all sorts of Asian cuisine. Bamboo leaves are also used in zongzi, which you might be familiar with from your favorite dim sum restaurant!

- Bamboo is a low calorie source of potassium, and it’s also used to treat infections in Chinese medicine.

- Bamboo works GREAT for wood flooring! It looks great, it’s often cheaper than other hardwood floor options, AND it’s sustainable.

- According to a Treehugger article, bamboo can also be used to make bikes, paper, musical instruments, and toys.

- You can make clothes and shoes with bamboo. Some of our brands here at PlanetShoes use bamboo, such as Earth, El Naturalista, and more.

- ONE bamboo shoot can be used to make a Didgeridoo!

- In Chinese culture, bamboo is a sign of longevity due to its long life. In Indian culture, bamboo symbolizes friendship.

- Smock, a print shop in Syracuse, NY, created sustainable bamboo paper. Their bamboo paper is fertilizer and pesticide-free, and made in a socially-responsible way in Thailand.

- Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant ON THE PLANET!!!! It can grow as fast as 47 inches 24-hour period in a day! Wow!! Because it grows so fast, that’s what makes it more sustainable than things like tree products. Bamboo can restore itself for use in only 5 years. It also uses much less energy to harvest and produce than most wood.

The World Shoe Association show was held in Las Vegas the last week of July. This is always an exciting time to reconnect with great brands and resources. It is also the first strong read for the Spring 2009 season. The two main trends for next spring are a continuation of “gothic” styles and the emergence of “tribal” fashion. Earth tones and ornamentation will be the strongest influences in spring styles.

PlanetShoes.com will be fashioning these trends into an exciting product offering focusing on earth friendly products, recycled materials and socially responsible brands. We look forward to offering unique brands and products throughout this fall and into next spring.

Barry Bresnick, Executive Vice President