Hi gang, how’s life treating you? Good? Me too. So listen, I know being a vegan has got to be hard, what with waking up every morning and having to find a way to make it through another twenty-four long hours without bacon, couture shoes and semi-automatic weapons (I’m just assuming on the gun thing, although while we’re on the subject let me give a big shout-out to my gang at Red’s Indoor Range. Monday is Ladies Night. Free gun rental and half-price range time. Ask for Luke.)
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, while I admire your dedication I’m also pretty sure that when it comes to procuring the superfantastic shoes, well…it sucks to be you.
Thankfully it doesn’t suck to be Stella McCartney. Stella, who legendarily disliked her stepmother Heather Mills, and reputedly made a small necklace with a prosthetic-leg charm dangling from the chain, designs all her wares to be “rigorously cruelty-free.”
Here are a few samplings, on varying degrees of sale at Yoox. If you like saving green instead of just being it (God, I hate myself for writing that) use coupon code yoox2008 for an additional 10% off your order.
The above peep toes are almost violently Not Me, but for the right girl –maybe the slightly boho girly girl with the vintage Biba fetish who wears white shortie gloves with her thrift-scored party dresses and sort of wishes she could be Edie Sedgwick just for like, a week– they might be perfect. Also available in a rather nice green.
Here is an almost-nothing lace-up sandal that’s actually quite good. It’s got a bit of a wedge, less than an inch I’d say, and I just really like the proportion. Plus, at only $75 you won’t mind getting the “ecological leather” (by which they mean “cotton or something”) dirty when you and your partner are busy playing another rousing round of The Very Grateful Gladiator.
Less than 60 smackers for Stella McCartney? It is to laugh! These are a thinner bad girl version of the previous sandal. I don’t know why, but when I look at these all I can see is a pair of legs sticking up in an obscured but compromising position off Elvis’ Jungle Room naugahyde couch…in a GOOD way.
Although I don’t choose to eschew animal skins myself (Hey, I’m at the top of the food chain here. See these opposable thumbs?), I understand why some people do. But I gotta say, it really just grates my cheese when people like Ms. McCartney have the nerve to ask 700 smackers for shoes made of vinyl, so I really like the idea of them being on sale.
OTOH, who am I kidding? It’s not like the four skinny leather strings that make up my Blahnik Priscas could possibly be $700 worth of cowhide. Unless the actual cow was that fetching shade of gold and those beautiful little crystals spontaneously grew on its hooves…
Comment by Style Spy — April 3, 2008 @ 11:50 am
As an ex-vegan, I am really happy to see you featuring vegan shoes, even if the post is a bit sarcastic. But, I must point out that vegans and guns are happily not exclusive. You can have your tofu and shoot semiautomatic weapons too, if you are into that sort of thing.
Comment by meloukhia — April 3, 2008 @ 12:07 pm
It does suck to be us when it comes time to buy cute shoes. I’m a vegetarian, not a vegan, but I still stay away from the skins. I can usually get my shoe fix by buying satins and velvets and other clothy pumps. I loved the Stellas until I looked closer…what is up with the nasty plastic? Just make the shoe go all the way up, huh?
But I gotta say, I do love target shooting and I’m damn good at it!
Comment by Never teh Bride — April 3, 2008 @ 12:10 pm
“Stella, who legendarily disliked her stepmother Heather Mills, and reputedly made a small necklace with a prosthetic-leg charm dangling from the chain, designs all her wares to be “rigorously cruelty-free.”
LOL! Plainly she is not “cruelty-free” when dealing with the second wife of her father.
As for the vinyl shoes – the Annalucia remembers seeing them in her girlhood, back in the Paleolithic. They looked cheap and did not wear well at all. Unless the manufacture of vinyl has improved by several orders of magnitude over the decades, she cannot imagine spending good money for them, now or ever.
Comment by Annalucia — April 3, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
I guess Stella figures she can be “cruelty free” while at the same time supporting the big oil companies…
Comment by Toby Wollin — April 3, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Love hearing the bits and pieces of intelligent politics from the group.
We are some smart and aware chics!
Comment by Peaches — April 3, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
Whereas I rather wish we’d stay away from politics here, whether in bits, pieces, or otherwise. Ah, well.
Comment by Bridey — April 3, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Can I just say that I am loving the gladiator shoe trend? I love them.
BTW, my husband and I belong to a gay gun club. How’s that that strange? I’ve gotten to be a fantastic shot in a short amount of time. However, guns would cut into my shoe budget and we won’t be having that.
Comment by Chaser — April 3, 2008 @ 8:55 pm
If all of the animal is used, the meat, the skin, etc… then thank goodness for the leather. I am not Vegan, I eat white meat (bird, fish protein) I hope this offends few. If the animal is respectfully killed and all parts used, then it is as my ancestors practiced (I am 25% Native American). I cannot accept the slaughter of the animal strictly for it’s pelt because waste is disrespectful of the sacrifice. I am not Jewish but when I buy proteins, I try to keep Kosher because I know the animal was treated with respect for giving it’s life.
Comment by Jennie — April 3, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Plumcake! I almost spit out my drink when you mentioned Red’s. I have some fantastic stories from that place. And I’m a vegetarian. :)
Comment by Cat — April 3, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
Vegans are not incompatible with guns, although Canadian vegans are or I’d certainly have been shot back when I worked at Greenpeace for teasing them about smoking so much.
I have also been informed by a raw vegan chef that booze is vegan, as the wee yeast beasties don’t “count.”
Stella McCartney is a genius that it took me a while to understand. I’m very glad to see her working at more affordable price points. Those are still damn cute creations, too. She’s right that green principles ADD value to a brand, not take it away.
Comment by raincoaster — April 4, 2008 @ 3:04 am
Stella McCartney is one of my favorite designers! Love her work.
Comment by Angel — April 9, 2008 @ 7:51 pm