Put A Wing On It

THURSDAY: DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
Recommendation: Bridgett, TREND Staff Writer
Etsy is a social commerce website that has a variety of handmade/vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. New Jersey Etsy artist Niele is a jewelry designer who's basic medium in art is butterfly wings. Although butterflies are naturally beautiful, Niele's art has a lot of effort and creativity poured into it. The arrangements are gorgeous and the setting of the wings are immaculate arranged.

Shoe Art from Etsy

Vintage shoes, artwork by Ndeur 

Two years ago, Style Gourmand featured the maginificent designs of young graphic artist Ndeur, which included graffiti-type designs done on vintage shoes. When Ndeur decided to move on and focus on other art projects, I thought my source for one-of-a-kind piece of shoe art was was, but luckily I have found "shoe artists" to fill the void. 

Here are some of the best from Etsy sellers:

Obsessions Hand-painted shoes by cocopunkz

Kamikaze Hand-painted shoes by cocopunkz

Bubble gum girl Hand-painted heels by Studio Jellyfish

Sole Trippin by taylorsays 

You can also try making your own footwear masterpiece: checkout this how-to video from Bobsmade.

Spat On: How to Make that Old Shoe Look New Again

Spats are leather or cloth coverings that can be strapped onto the upper part of a shoe and a clever way to give a plain pair of shoes a makeover. This nifty accessory can be found in almost every shape, color and fabric on Etsy, and some seller's even take custom orders. Below is a list of my faves all from Etsy.

Ivory Leather Flower Spats by joiacouture


Turquoise Leather Viviana Cut Out Spats by Ashes and Empires


Royal Blue Leather Spat from Leather Made Nice


Lisette Herringbone Spats with Brass Studs & Scallop
detail by Ashes and Empire


Gizelle Herringbone Spats with Leather Ruffles
& Buttons by Ashes and Empires

50 Things Every a Girl Should Own (11-20)

More from the Times Online list of Fashion Must-haves:


11 A VINTAGE DRESS
One that’s seen much better days — for being very trashy in.

Vintage mini-dress on Etsy.com

12 A PAIR OF MAD SUNGLASSES They should be too mad to go on a date in, but just mad enough to feel liberated.

Vintage-inspired sunglasses from Giant Vintage

13 A SHORT, BLACK BOB WIG Check out of you-ness and be Louise Brooks for the day.

14 A STRING OF REAL PEARLS OR REAL PEARL EARRINGS Great for the complexion, as they diffuse light across your face.

15 A T-SHIRT DRESS One you’ve had since you were 22. Just throw it on and go.

T-shirt dress from American Apparel

16 A PAIR OF MEN’S BROGUES For looking playfully serious.

Vintage Perry Ellis Ladies Brogue Shoes at Etsy.com

17 SOMETHING DELICATE AND ANCIENT It must be kept in acid-free tissue paper — anything made of Victorian lace, for example.

18 DEREK ROSE FLANNEL PYJAMAS For spending Sundays and sickies in.

19 WHITE CORDS Less flash than white denim, more elegant than jeans. Wear with a navy pea coat, and you are Jackie O.

White Matchstick cords from Jcrew.com

20 A KHAKI PARKA Just like the one Kate Moss wore with those Westwood boots in 2000. Never goes out of style, always looks cool — whatever anyone says.

Go to the original article here

Ndeur's Tricked out vintage shoes

"Beaux amis"
From I-pods to credit cards and cars to M&Ms, nearly anything can be customized and Canadian graphic artist Matthieu Ndeur is applying his creative talent to customizing vintage shoes, hand-painting them with his fun, bright street-inspired designs. Simply e-mail the measurements of your foot and the design you would like and soon will have your own chic wearable art. 25 year old Ndeur's designs are also featured in murals, and designs on sneakers and t-shirts.

Get your very own one-of-a-kind pair at Etsy.com (now on sale for $180)


All photos courtesy of ndeur.com & etsy.com

"I love you this much"


"O My"

For more photos and info about Matthieu Ndeur's work http://www.ndeur.com/ or

http://www.myspace.com/ndeurr


"VIP room"