The streetwear and athletic crowds have long been able to get their customized kicks via on demand platforms like NIKEiD, which inspired similar options from Converse, Reebok and Adidas. Australian startup Shoes of Prey stepped in to fill the role of the more fashion minded shoe customization platform, but there hasn’t been much on offer as far as branded options go.

Prada’s new customized shoe program looks to be the first to change that.

“Customers can create a Made-to-Order Décolleté pump or peep toe — choosing between an array of five finishes, 27 colors, sole colors, and shoe-box colors. You can even opt to have your initials monogrammed on the soles. {The Cut}”

In addition to the obvious choice of color (there are 27 for satin, 14 for suede), customers have a choice of five primary materials, three heel heights and three sole colors – fortunately, none anywhere close to red, so any combination should avoid upsetting other shoemakers.

The Italian luxury label already offers made to measure men’s clothing in certain stores, as well as lettering on luggage and bags, at the request of customers.

It will be interesting to see if the most popular custom requests will make their way over into seasonal ready-to-wear collections if there’s strong demand for a particular color or fabric.

For the moment, it seems the program is being rolled out to stores, so don’t count on an easy, online DIY shoe builder a la Shoes of Prey or NIKEiD if you really want a pair. There are also none of the more adventurous shapes that make Prada (and MiuMiu) shoes so recognizable; so if you’re dreaming about a pair of shoes that you saw on the runway – but in a slightly different shade or height,  unfortunately they are still just a dream, thought perhaps one that isn’t quite as far away.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Studded Flag Well-Worn Hi, $64

You may have heard that the theme of this year’s Met Gala is Punk. Which seems a bit odd at first, considering the event is organized by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, whose standard look of sheath dresses and Chanel glasses  is way more prim & proper than punk.

Then you have the fact that Kanye West is rumored to be the performer, and Beyonce (she of the sparkly bodysuit nipples) one of the celebrity organizers. Both musicians have their rebellious moments; West, on multiple occasions, Beyonce’s “I’m not bubblegum pop” attitude of late telling other singers to Bow Down to her NSFW tromp l’oeil costumes. Still, even the risk takers are more fashion punk than OP (original punk).

We’ll bite though – while Wintour’s type of fashion doesn’t seem like the most likely pairing, movements have to evolve to stay alive. The fact that punk has lived long enough to become a point of inspiration for the unlikeliest of editors, to break into the unlikeliest places says something for the strength of the original idea.

Not even Jimmy Choo could bring us around to the boot that puts the ug(g) in fugly, but after a bit of research we encountered a few UGG styles that didn’t makes us recoil in disgust. A few were – wait for it – actually attractive (as opposed to simply not ugly). Really!

That’s the good news: if you’re really compelled to wear UGGs outside (no judgments for what you stick on your feet behind closed doors) there are versions out there that won’t make you look like you’ve thrown in the towel on fashionable footwear. The bad news? The original is still the most popular style we spotted. The downright ugly? That would be the price of some of the best looking versions. Even though the standard style isn’t cheap (starting at $200), some of the better looking options step into serious designer shoe territory at more than $1000.

That said, all options keep some aspect of the comfortable shearling lining that made the originals popular in spite of their outward appearance. And the argument can be made that anyone willing to spend a few hundred dollars for the original footwear atrocities shouldn’t find it too much of a price to pay to spend a little more for style. So in preparation for those times when the weather gets ugly, but you don’t want to, there’s finally an UGG for that.

UGG Collection Aniela in Flint (Also available in Army)

$995 @Zappos

UGG Collection Giorgina in Leopard (Also available in Black)

$650 @Zappos

UGG Collection Donata in Indigo

$1195 @Zappos

Also available in Black/Espresso @Nordstrom (sizes 11 & 12 available) and Natural for $1095 @Zappos

So this boot is pretty pricey, but it also looks insanely warm and comfortable for a heel. The heel isn’t too thin, and the rubber grips on the bottom of the small platform make it look safe enough for icy or wet sidewalks. Depending on how low it’s unzipped, it does start to stray into the “animal eating your leg” look that we aren’t so sure about, but just a little of the sheepskin lining looks surprisingly on trend. Surprising enough that we’re still wondering if this boot is really an UGG. The Indigo color that mimics a pair of well worn denim is our favorite, but the Natural (a light, distressed leather) and Black/Espresso versions are pretty good as well.

Louboutin sought an injunction that would have stopped Yves Saint Laurent from selling their red-soled shoes, but Judge Victor Marrero wrote in his ruling: “Because in the fashion industry color serves ornamental and aesthetic functions vital to robust competition, the court finds that Louboutin is unlikely to be able to prove that its red outsole brand is entitled to trademark protection, even if it has gained enough public recognition in the market to have acquired secondary meaning.” {NY Daily News}

In other words, even though they filed for a trademark, Marrero’s opinion is that a color shouldn’t have been approved for a trademark in the first place and Yves Saint Laurent is free to continue selling their red-soled shoes while the larger case of trademark infringement is being decided.

Louboutin can always appeal the ruling,  but the judge’s position doesn’t provide much optimism for an eventual ruling in favor of Christian Louboutin. In addition to being expensive and time consuming, once a certain number of judges agree that any rulings are legally sound, appeals can be rejected before they’re even started.

Looks like it may be safe to order those DIY red soles soon.

Endless.com, the online shoe store launched by Amazon before they acquired Zappos, is rolling out free international shipping on orders over $100 for more than 50 countries. {TechCrunch} International orders under $100 ship for a flat rate of $10. Australia, Canada most of the European Union (France, Germany, etc.), Mexico, China, Japan and the UAE are just a few of the countries included.

Even though Zappos is officially part of the Amazon empire now, it’s good to see that both sites are continuing to innovate. For Zappos, that’s meant expanding their product offering to include apparel and homeware, while pulling out of Canada to focus exclusively on the US market.

Endless clearly has different ideas about non-US shoe shoppers, and seemingly thinks international sales are an area that can be profitable. On the help page detailing the shipping options, we learn that purchases will go through the Amazon Global program that estimates and collects an import fees deposit at checkout.

For US readers who’ve never had the pleasure of dealing with customs fees and duties this may not sound like a big deal, but here’s why it is: though it seems antiquated in the age of the internet and online shopping which is supposed to break down borders, the taxes, duties and import fees on an item can sometimes cost as much or more than the item itself. We’re not talking some remote country you’ve never heard of either; from personal experience the UK and France can levy some heavy duty duties on everything from Forever 21 tank tops (cheap products) to higher priced luxury items sent from stores outside the EU.

It may just be dumb luck, but in our experience it doesn’t seem to work the other way, and that must-have dress you spot on a UK site never arrives with any costs beyond the exchange rate and shipping.

So while shipping costs are only part of the problem, by making that free Endless can slightly reduce some of the burden on international shoppers looking to take advantage of lower US$ pricing and wider selection than what’s available on domestic sites. By working those fees into the checkout process from the beginning, international shoppers won’t have to worry about spending $100 on a pair of shoes to find out that they have to pay $80 in import fees.

Interestingly, Endless has a sister brand called Javari that operates sites in the UK, France, Germany and Japan. The selection on those sites is much smaller than the US site, so the new shipping offer could find its way on to the localized sites as a cross promotion.

Christian Louboutin's famous red soles are inspiring lines of shoe sole accessories designed to imitate the look

Have you been lusting after a pair of red-soled shoes, but found yourself without the hundreds or thousands of dollars necessary to make that happen with authentic Christian Loboutins? Fakes from Chinese etailers abound online, but if you prefer your knockoffs a bit more crafty do-it-yourself red sole options are becoming easier to come by.

First up is budding 16-year-old Irish entrepreneur Tara Haughton, who offers red shoe sole stickers through her company Rosso Solini. {Stylelist} It will cost you $25 for three pairs of stickers shoe stickers to transform the bottom of your heels from what’s likely black or beige to a more vibrant shade. While we’d be embarrassed to kick up a red soled heel to show a sticker peeling off, Haughton does offer a rainbow of other colors and patterns that are pretty interesting. There are baby blue sole stickers for brides, yellow stickers if you want in on the neon trend in a subtle way, and prints including polka-dots and animal print. All of which could introduce an eye-catching aspect to what’s normally a forgotten part of the shoe – similar to Louboutins, minus the embarrassment of looking like you were trying to make your shoes something they’re not.

What if you need something a bit more permanent though? Save Your Sole, a London based company, offers half and full soles in a variety of colors including, of course, red.  Half soles will set you back £9.95 (roughly $16 at current exchange rates) while a full sole is £12.95 (about $21). If you’re not a cobbler on the side, you will have to enlist the services of a professional shoe repair shop to have your shoes resoled, but the results should last longer than stickers. If you want to get a bit more hands on, the company also sells touch up sole paint in a variety of colors for £18.95 ($31) that should work for a few pairs of shoes.

And finally, if you’re in New York, Madison Avenue Spy {via the Cut} reports that Andrade Shoe Repair on the Upper East Side has the materials in stock (they use the same red rubber that Save Your Sole sells) and will pimp your soles for a mere $22-32 in total.

We know what the Louboutin reaction to those making red-soled shoes has been (a good old fashioned black and white lawsuit), so we have to wonder how sustainable these ideas are. It’s unlikely Louboutin will be able to sue every shoe repair who offers red sole repair, and stickers aren’t exactly part of the manufacturing process. Even without lawsuits, just be aware that while the red sole may be the most prominent visual indication of a Christian Louboutin shoe, stickers or colored soles do not a designer shoe make, and designer shoes (or being mistaken for wearing them) doesn’t automatically equal style.

It’s not that we’re opposed to comfort – heels these days are high enough to trip up even our favorite fashion victims, and we won’t even get to the podiatrist bills later in life that fashion footwear can lead to; but comfort is no excuse for wearing the ugliest footwear you can find. In spite of that, we know some of you are going to be browsing for a pair of Crocs anyway. As a public service, we delved a little deeper into the line and found a few styles that are not completely hideous – some are even… kind of cute (yes, we were shocked too).

As a company, we love the generosity Crocs demonstrated when it came to earthquake victims in Japan, and that does make us feel good about supporting them – just try to do it in a pair of (comfortable) shoes that aren’t a visual disaster.

Crocs Adrina Strappy Sandal

$35 @Zappos, Shown in Grapefruit/Oyster, Black and Aqua/Celery

We really love jelly sandals for summer, and these are actually a nice take on a traditional warm weather shoe. There are enough straps to draw memories of your favorite childhood pair, but not to the point of looking too young.

Crocs Sexi Flip

$30 @Zappos, Shown in Grapefruit/Pulse (neon orange), Bronze/Espresso and Citrus (neon yellow)

We’ll agree with a person leaving feedback about these shoes that calling anything from Crocs sexy or “sexi” is a stretch we’re not prepared to make, but the color combinations on these are pretty cute. The orange colorway is our favorite for the combination of neon colors and color blocking (which we’re big fans of) for a surprisingly on trend sandal that’s simple and attractive.

Crocs Carlie Flat Animal Wave

$50 @Zappos

We’d never suspect these were Crocs by looking at the animal print and classic cut, and that’s what makes them really appealing.

Crocs Crocband Flat

$35 @Zappos, Shown in Navy, Bubblegum (light pink) and Yellow

These shoes have the misfortune of sharing a name with a more traditional Croc shoe, but we won’t hold that against them. Sometimes sneakers aren’t practical for summer when you just want to slip on a pair of casual shoes, without being bothered with laces and the little bit of extra effort. These look to be a happy medium, and they even retain some of the rainy weather appropriate appeal of more familiar Crocs.

Crocs Adrina Flat

$40 @Zappos, Shown in Citrus/Celery, Ultraviolet/Berry, Grapefruit/Oyster and Black

Strapped or circled, the jelly outers with brightly colored insoles on this line won us over.

After months of speculation as to who might acquire the 15-year-old luxury shoe and accessory label, Jimmy Choo has been acquired by Labelux for £500 million (approximately $806 million at current exchange rates). {M&A Deals}

Labelux is a privately held Austrian luxury goods company that includes Bally, Derek Lam and Solange Azagury-Partridge in its portfolio. In March of last year CEO Reinhard Mieck hinted at the possibility of an acquisition, though he didn’t name any brands specifically. “If we find something which fits fantastically, plus would be available, we might even acquire this year but we are definitely not in a hurry,” he said at the time. “We look at the long term potential of brands rather than short-term profitability.” {BusinessWeek}

Though other suitors reportedly included luxury behemoths like LVMH, it seems like Labelux’s approach may have been a better fit for Jimmy Choo.

With £150 million in 2010 sales (approximately $241.5 million at current exchange rates) the label isn’t exactly an emerging brand, but Labelux sees an opportunity for even stronger growth.

“Jimmy Choo is an outstanding brand with enormous growth potential and the ability to deliver material growth synergies across our group,” Mieck said.

Labelux is the third company to hold a majority stake in the label, which was launched in 1996. Phoenix Equity Partners first acquired a 51% stake in 2001 for £9 million, which it later sold for £35 million to Lion Capital. Lion Capital also purchased shares from Jimmy Choo’s management for £110 million in total, and later sold their shares to TowerBrook Capital for £185 million.

The latest sale is by far the brand’s largest, and gives TowerBrook the biggest return of any investor so far. Tamara Mellon, who co-founded the company, has maintained a 17% ownership stake in the company and will continue in her position of creative director. Jimmy Choo CEO Joshua Schulman will also remain in place in his existing role.

The deal is expected to close in June 2011, and may give Jimmy Choo the resources to make a long desired push into the growing Asian luxury market.

Can you identify which red sole shoe is YSL, and which is Christian Louboutin?

If you see a flash of red on the bottom of a woman’s shoe, your first thought might be that those shoes are by Christian Louboutin. That’s certainly what Christian Louboutin thinks your first thought will be, because they recently filed a lawsuit against Yves Saint Laurent in Manhattan which claims that “Defendants use of red footwear outsoles that are virtually identical to plaintiff’s Red Sole Mark,” and that the shoes “is likely to cause and is causing confusion, mistake and deception among the relevant purchasing public as to the origin of the infringing footwear.” {NYDN via the Cut}

This is certainly a unique case, given that Yves Saint Laurent isn’t exactly selling shoes at knockoff prices. Loboutin was one of the first designers to use a colored sole to brand his footwear, but should someone be able to trademark or copyright the placement of a color?

In the photo above, the color of the sole on the Yves Saint Laurent tribute sandal (left) does look a shade different from the color of the sole on the Christian Louboutin sandals (right).  It’s worth noting that the Yves Saint Laurent shoes are part of a collection that includes yellow sandals with a yellow sole, and the Cut says that the collection these shoes are from also includes navy shoes with navy soles, green shoes with green soles, etc.

The slight difference in shade might be a matter of photography and lighting though, and to someone who’s not an avid fashion fan, it’s not difficult to believe that someone could mistake the Yves Saint Laurent shoes for a pair of Louboutins based on the sole coloring. At $795 (the price of the YSL tribute sandals pictured), that doesn’t dilute the Louboutin brand in the same way that a $100 exact replica might, but it could certainly harm the positioning of red soled shoes being something exclusive to Christian Louboutin.

While we can certainly see, and support, Louboutin’s position in this case, we also have to wonder if it might set a bad precedent. Will Chanel be able to sue bag makers who create quilted leather goods? That wouldn’t just include counterfeiters, it would make Marc Jacobs and plenty of established fashion designers susceptible to punishment as well. When dots begin to take over fall wardrobes, will one designer decide that another’s look too similar to theirs?

Should this actually make it to court, we’ll be tracking the decision.

As if the people of Japan haven’t been through enough, they’ll now be receiving 100,000 pairs of Crocs.

We kid. Mostly.

Crocs CEO John McCarvel announced that the company would send 100,000 pairs of the distinctive plastic shoes to Feed the Children and other relief organizations providing support to the people in Japan who’ve been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. That’s in addition to establishing donation points for the Japanese Red Cross in Crocs stores, and online at crocs.com. {Racked}

Even though it’s spring, it’s still not all that warm in Japan, so we do have to wonder how useful the holed shoes will be in the short term. The gesture is laudable, but practically speaking sandals probably aren’t the first footwear choice people would make when dealing with cool temperatures. In the case of anyone trying to survey damage or recover any possessions from hard hit areas, you probably don’t want an entry point for debris that could contain sharp objects either.

Finally, as you may have guessed, on the style side of things we’re not the biggest fan of Crocs for anyone over the age of 10. Not including any style disasters they may be responsible for though, we’re huge fans of companies who step up to support people in need.