ruthie davis & the ice pump
I liked this ruthie davis image as an illustration/piece of art (wouldn't it make a neat poster?), but my favorite shoe here by far is the third row from the top – the ice pump, particularly in that delicious mint green!
gift guide #2: his and hers athletic
whether it's a new years resolution or healthy habits that have them up and moving, check out these get-up-and-go sneaks for the exerciser in your life.
every woman needs a pair of sneakers that are...
versatile. $125.
bright kelly green. $65. 
high-quality. $305. 
totally out there. $110.
and every man needs a pair of sneakers that are...
pure white. $64.95. 
suede. $80. 
a shameless advertisement. $60. 
totally out there. $114.95.
stay tuned: from running to rendezvous, hip hip shoe-ray's official holiday 2010 gift guide takes a turn for the punch bowl.
nighttime designer
when I'm drifting off to sleep at night, I often find myself picturing shoes I wish I could design. a few nights ago, I wanted to marry this jacket by the gap:
with these anna oxfords by frye:
so it would be like a textured, multicolor oxford heel. does such a thing already exist? if so, where and for how much?
gift guide #1: little girl & little boy
christmas is a magical time for all, but for none more so than children. I remember one christmas eve – I was probably 6 or 7 – I stayed up late to watch christmas-themed movies on TV with my mom. we cuddled up on the sofa and I gazed at our tree, alit with colored lights and dozens of handmade ornaments. it all seemed so transformative, beautiful and removed from any other time of the year.
which is why hip hip shoe-ray's 2010 gift guide kicks off with shoes for the little ones!
every little girl needs shoes that are...
sparkly. $50. 
patent leather mary janes (with bows!). $49. 
good for running around (and not a trace of pink). $25.
totally out there (they even light up on the toes!). $40. 
and every little boy needs shoes that are...
retro. $45. 
dressy but comfy. $40. 
classic (with some flair, of course). $20. 
totally out there (can you imagine putting those on in the rain?!). $25. 
stay tuned: run, skip, walk and jog your way to hip hip shoe-ray for tomorrow's installment of the 2010 official holiday gift guide.
hip hip shoe-ray's 2010 official holiday gift guide kickoff
it's the first ever (and hopefully first of many!) hip hip shoe-ray official holiday gift guide. this week, instead of hip hip shoe-ray’s regular daily posts, you’ll find a shoe-buying guide for those in your life who are near and dear. from cozy slippers to the best kicks for an evening out, we’ve got you covered. a glimpse of what’s to come: 
hope you enjoy. happy holidays!
louboutin bonus!
can you think of anything better than a hand-stitched, ribbon-trimmed, classic satin peep-toe platform, signed and numbered by christian louboutin? no? well, it gets better: 100% of the proceeds from louboutin's "peace of shoe" will benefit microfinance in poor countries via the Grameen Foundation.
the shoes – which come in champagne, lavender and hot pink – recently debuted at the los angeles and miami louboutin boutiques.
okay, okay, they're $1,495. but remember, you're doing good in the process!
image via cool design and more.
designer spotlight: christian louboutin
these days, it seems that wherever there's a high-profile starlet dressed to be seen, christian louboutin's red-lacquered heels are right there beneath them – literally. (take blake lively, for instance, who bought more than 40 pairs at a recent invite-only sample sale...um, wtf?). and earlier this week, footwear news named him "person of the year."
so I've been wondering: what's up with this guy, anyway?
the stats:
from: france
birthday: january 7, 1964
launched shoe line: 1991
known for: red-lacquered soles and sky-high heels
three interesting facts:
1. as a child, louboutin would often sneak out of school to watch the showgirls in paris because he was spellbound by their ornate, theatrical costumes, which he later said served as a primary source of inspiration while designing his shoes.
2. the shiny red soles that have become louboutin's signature were patented by him in 2007. even so, thousands of knock-offs are floating around the internet, despite louboutin's many efforts to halt counterfeit goods.
3. why the red soles? louboutin has said that he felt the shoes "lacked energy," so as an experiment, he applied red nail polish to the sole of a shoe he was designing. "this was such a success that it became a permanent fixture," he said.
five louboutins for which I would give my left arm:
okay fine, six:
top image via million looks.