A Moment of Silence: Georgina Goodman in Administration

Just when you thought the worst of times was over.  Independent shoe label, Georgina Goodman, announced last week that it was going into administration.  


Her designs might have lacked in re-imagination of late, but surely there was still a niche for stripes, diamonte and lots of Love.  I even recall joking about their somewhat inauspicious unit number when they first heralded the opening of their Old Bond Street boutique - "die die" in Cantonese - but this is all still coming as quite a shock. Her label was the first that planted the seed of hope all those years ago that it was possible for Singapore to have a store filled with independent shoe designers; each pair handmade. With love. 


The administrators have already started a massive sale of all remaining stock - 40% off the last selling price.  Far be it for me to dance on a grave but if you've always fancied a pair of Goodman's signature handmade brush-stroked nude leather heels (and you're in London), this could well be your last chance.

Sale Date

Monday - Saturday, 10:00am - 6:00pm Each Day

Location

44 Old Bond Street

London W1S 4GB

Sale Information
Georgina Goodman Store 

Contact Number, +44 (0) 207 493 7673

Gwyneth 1: Scarlett 0

Call it designer bias, but Gwyneth Paltrow's pairing of Victoria Beckham with a stunningly covetable pair of Georgina Goodman sandals (LOVE, literally) completely trumps Ms. Johansson's somnolent Roland Mouret/Christian Louboutin combination. Let the co-star red carpet wars begin!

I've personally found the last handful of collections from this Brit talent a tad too loud (I say this having one of her pairs with yellow/black satin fins). However, my interest is piqued anew with the black/nude colourway lending a punchy "made-you-look" wink whilst still being Upper East Side worthy. Snap up the same pair at Goodman's online store for GBP600 before your size (or resolve) disappears?

(pc: tfs)

A Thoughtful Shopper: Georgina Goodman pumps

I'm of two minds about whether to attempt to part with these Georgina Goodman pumps. They're a deep, rich burgundy and made of smooshy patent - which I adore - but I've more or less decided that pointed toe pumps are just not really "me". Maybe I just need something "new" to go with these... like a printed work dress ala Anna from my 1.5 yards of Liberty fabric (in background)?

Driving A Wedge Into My Heart

Feeling mad MAD love for this wedge heel *covet*  Tragically, I've just about spent my life's worth of shoe money already.  For those who haven't been (too) bad this year, Georgina Goodman's throwing a real decent 50% discount at most of her FW2009 range. 

B.R. / A.R. : Buckle Up Those Shoes

The recession is a funny thing - people start looking for safe items with "legs" that will take them past the trend, or they swing far left and buy crazy fabulous.

I'll get to those Rodarte boots another day (which should just be called Those Fabulous Crotchless Leather Slacks) but for now the pre-occupation seems to be with buckles on shoes. Not your schoolgirl mary-jane buckles mind you, these are big, bold and threaten to give even the slimmest of ankles self-doubt!

Let's start with the Chloe Sevigny's FW09 design for Opening Ceremony: 9 buckles for US$600 , toe to mid-calf, the more the merrier!


Weighing in with 4 buckles, the similarly styled Surface To Air wedges are proving equally popular and on pre-order (US$360):

Georgina Goodman presented a 2-buckle style for FW09. Don't scoff at the slight buckle count - her design features massively chunky straps, plus a colourway variation in taupe/fuschia! Because the design is so understated and all... (love her!)


Where would recession reality be without a fast fashion knock-off? Forever 21 is first out of the gates in this case with their take on the Chloe Sevignity - 5 buckles! While I can't speak for its originality or quality, at US$28.90, this option will certainly provide the most buck(le) for your bang:
{Images from Style Profiles ; Style Bubble & Dazed Digital}

What I'm Wearing : 11.02.09

Inspired by Gwynnie, I've decided to debut my new Georgina Goodman "suspension bridge" slingbacks!

The resolution isn't great on my mobile phone but I've got a Zara blazer, Vice&Vanity brooch, H&M polka-dot top, random HK-bought cargoes on.

Forgive the unfortunate angle in the last pic which makes me look like I have NO ankles whatsoever... *hmph*

I Die...

I'm floating on a MASSIVE cloud right now cos Gwyneth Paltrow was snapped at the Grammys 2009 in Georgina Goodman shoes!

Not only was she rocking a Versace minidress, and wearing Georgina Goodmans... she was introducing Radiohead as performers!!


I DIE... (Rachel Zoe, sue me if you dare but I'm just too over the moon right now to care). I anticipate calls & inquiries about those shoes...

Manolo goes Independent

It's not at all surprising to see independent shoe designers collaborate with some of the most recognised brands in the industry when it comes to executing footwear.

For the large part, most people tend to presume that the more well-known label's designer is a multi-tasking visionary. This isn't entirely unexpected since not all of the collaborative design work is openly credited outside of the fashion industry.

That said, this almost rite-of-passage system has produced many notable teamings such as Georgina Goodman for Luella, Erdem and Alexander McQueen, Nicholas Kirkwood for 3.1 Phillip Lim, Belstaff and Tommy Hilfigger, Rupert Sanderson for Louise Goldin and Camilla Skovgaard for Matthew Williamson and Pucci.

But for Manolo Blahnik to do the shoes for an independent label? That's pretty cool... check out this delicious pair (main pic) the shoe maestro drew up for Boy by Band of Outsiders's SS09 collection. Incidentally, it's only available on special order from the NYC Manolo boutique.

How about more collaborative loveliness (and their counterpart "originals") to help ease the dreaded Friday lull:

(1) Nicholas Kirkwood, current It-boy of shoes, with his trademark platform soles for Belstaff (in white) & his own collection (in bright blue suede):

(2) Bond Street darling Georgina Goodman gives boots the wraparound for McQueen (in brown) and herself (in toffee) :

(3) Georgina Goodman again, this time doing scarf-tied platforms for both Erdem's SS09 runway show and her own collection:


(4) British Fashion Awards winner Rupert Sanderson reinterprets his black Picadilly rainboots for Louise Goldin's SS09 show:

(5) Danish rising star Camilla Skovgaard's shoes for Matthew Williamson's SS09 show and for her own eponymous label:

Yellow Fever

Yellow is a pretty hard colour to wear for anyone with oriental looks. Our bum luck that Pantone's pick for THE colour of 2009 is Mimosa - a sunshiny marigold yellow!

For a quick buy, Gap and Pantone have set up a concept store in NYC which sells, amongst other Pantone-exact colours, a Mimosa basic t-shirt :)

For some inspiration, Giovanna Battaglia, fashion editor at L'Uomo Vogue, was spotted by The Sartorialist in Paris with yellow slacks. I'm quite taken with her pairing of a nuetral grey top to tone down the yellow:

Whilst I scout for some yellow to properly kick-off the year with, this was my first attempt at wearing yellow after a long hiatus:

Top: Vintage from Granny's Day Out, Skirt: Playhound, Shoes: Georgina Goodman, Necklace: Vice&Vanity

Am off to dig out my marigold H&M dress from the back of my closet. In the meanwhile, let's all drool a bit over alldressedup's yellow smocked blouse (yay for quality local design!).

How to Wear : Glam Hoes go back to work

Cousin C and her pal M came by the other day and each picked up a pair of Georgina Goodman shoes, which they debuted at their friend's 'Vaudeville' (aka Bros & their Hoes) soiree at the Raffles Hotel. Thanks for sending over the images!

That said, Georgina's shoes need not be worn with Hoe-themed outfits... for their benefit, I've pulled up a couple of less provocative looks to try with the same shoes :)

(1) For a comfy Burberry Prorsum-inspired office-to-drinks look,
Dress down Holly with these:

Shown (left to right): Burberry Prorsum Resort09 at Style; Paul & Joe shirt dress (here); Urbanoutfitters chunky cardigan (here); Kenneth Jay Lane Snake-Chain Necklace (here).

(2) I'd suggest trying Heidi with a navy blue dress (here), contrasting belt and white bag.
Black lace on ivory is such a neutral that you can afford pair it with a brighter hued dress while remaining appropriate for work.

Shown: Fendi silk dress in navy (here) and Moschino cotton-blend dress in teal (here)