FWF Report: Italian Shoes and Ruby Slippers

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Inside the booth

Fabulous footwear is everywhere this Fashion Week!! Beyond the beautiful boots and heels filing in and out of the shows, there are shoe exhibits here at the tents, too. On Friday, we raised a glass of rose to salute I Love Italian Shoes, a collaborative booth display by the Italian Trade Commission and Italian Footwear Manufacturers. Back for a second season, the exhibit features the best of men’s and women’s Made in Italy shoe designs -- including several super-stylish labels that do not yet have distribution in the States.

Also on display and set in a broad circle surrounding the fountain inside the tents is the Wizard of Oz ruby slipper collection. Over 20 designers, from Jimmy Choo to Betsey Johnson, have recreated Dorothy’s iconic ruby slippers to commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz next year. The shoes, all made with Swarovski crystals, will be auctioned for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation in 2009. They all looked amazing, but the Sergio Rossi pair are downright wicked.

CLICK HERE FOR PAPERMAG'S COMPLETE DOWN-LOW FASHION WEEK SPRING 2009 COVERAGE. >>