But this gorgeous pair of Corso Como heels belongs to a friend of mine who happily posed for a photo while I tried to wipe up the drool that was puddling under my chin.

See for yourselves.

Corso Como is one of those companies that keeps coming up here at Shoeblog, because they’re always stylish, and made with comfort in mind.  And, yes, my friend who owns the above beauties reports that they are surprisingly comfy and have nice features like rubber soles and padding under the ball of the foot.

Sadly, she found them on sale (well… that’s not sad for her, of course) and they don’t seem to be around anymore.  But I could suggest a loafer version, the Max, which is only about $85 at Endless (that’s down from the original $155, if you’re curious).

 Of course, if you’re unconsolable about missing out on those pretty pretty heels, then you could opt for these other shoes on the street, though I might recommend eating them rather than trying to wear the things.

Yep, they’re chocolate shoes, made by L’Artisan du Chocolat, and you can find them over this way, at the company’s official site.  Not only will these taste better than those Corso Como’s, but they’ll be much friendlier on the wallet as well, since they’re only £17.50 each.

Authentic Shops:


Designer Shoes at Zappos.com

Vivre.com

Launched in the Spring of 2006, Kate & Kass marries the playful and innocent sensuality of the 1960s and 70s with the comfort and practicality of the 21st century. Kate & Kass specializes in a-line, empire-waist, and baby doll silhouettes, drawing inspiration from 1960s films such as Petulia, Rosemary’s Baby, Darling, and Two for the Road, and from female icons like Gloria Steinem, Jackie Onassis, and Jane Fonda, who showed women they could be at once stylish and powerful.

Designed in floral prints and muted, feminine tones, Kate & Kass pieces feature small details popular in sixties and seventies-era garments - vintage buttons, plackets, pin-tucks, pleating, darts, and hidden pockets. Where Kate & Kass departs from the past is in its fabrics; soft and supple cotton blends that breathe and drape easily have replaced the stiffer, more constricting materials of earlier decades.

So, when I saw these cute ballet flats at Ann Taylor I was psyched. They come in gold and silver (got to love those hues for the holiday season), range from size 5 to 11 and cost less than $30 (they’re on sale).

Oh, and Ann Taylor shoes tend to be comfy and cute. Remember the last pair I had that got me accosted in the bathroom?

Plus … you can use your Ann Taylor Friends and Family code and get this pair down to the $20 range. Suh-weet.

Check them out.

Stuffing is better left in the turkey than padding your rear view, but surviving the holidays with your waistline intact is easier said than done. "During the colder months, our metabolism has a tendency to slow down as we become less active and consume more comfort foods. Adding large holiday meals to this equation is a recipe for some serious weight gain," explains Jeff Halevy (HalevyFitness.com) - one of the two fitness experts we turned to in our quest for a skinny start to 2009.

Keep Working Out  What with parties, holiday events, shopping, and other claims on your time, your schedule just went from mega-busy to ridiculously busy...but do you really want to start another New Year off with the same resolution about losing the same extra holiday pounds?  Do yourself a favor, and take Halevy's advice: keep up your steady workout routine throughout the holidays.

Curb Your Appetite  Sitting down at the food-laden holiday table when you're starving is a virtual guarantee of over-feasting. Instead, before any big, festive meals, Halevy has his clients snack on healthy foods like carrots and hummus. Alternatively, drink a protein-loaded, carb-light supplement like Tight Curves. Recommended by Kristal Richardson (KristalRichardson.com), a professional figure competitor and ACE-certified personal trainer, she gives it to her female clients; in addition to nutrition, it also addresses issues of hormonal changes, mood management, and osteoporosis. Available at TightCurves.net.

Nutrition Up Your Feast Halevy, a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine trainer, recommends increasing the nutritional quality of dishes like stuffing, mashed potatoes, or gravy by adding a supplement like My Daily Veggies, made from 100% dried whole organic vegetables in the green, red, and orange-yellow groups.  Each salt-, sugar-, and preservative-free packet contains a whopping two full servings of veggies per packet, as well as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and phytonutrients like lycopene (from tomatoes), lutein (spinach), beta carotene (carrots), sulforaphane (broccoli), and glucosinolates (kale). Available at DrinkYourVeggies.com.

Portions Matter Give the oversized servings of carb-heavy stuffing and mashed potatoes a miss, and load up on protein rich turkey and squash - but keep an eye on your total intake. "In order to keep the stuffing in the turkey, women need to focus on portion control," advises Kristal. Although many of her female clients pile their plates with healthier veggie options, they often don't realize they're still overeating.  The key is to stay aware of what you're eating, and remember: not only will your clothes continue to fit, but you won't be saddled with that unpleasant stuffed feeling afterward.

Walk...A Lot Both before and after a big holiday meal, Kristal advises taking a long, metabolism-friendly walk.

Leave the Leftovers Jeff's male clients, in particular, tend to do a lot of post-feast snacking on carb-heavy portions of gravy, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.  Tasty, yes, but lacking in the important nutrition provided by healthier veggies which don't pack on the pounds.

Both Jeff and Kristal agree that maintaining a balance between nutrition, exercise and portion control is a smart way to keep from tipping the scales after a holiday feast. Your skinny jeans thank you in advance.

- Lesley Scott

(photos: holiday meal - fitsugar.com; working out - thehousedepot.net; couple walking - upenn.edu)

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a personal trainer in your headphones workout & stay gorgeous, even on a budget	...& don't miss:         10 ways to avoid holiday weight gain     how to eat like a hot chick     get skinny with hypnosis     small changes, big beauty results

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Giambattista Valli - Spring 2008 Footwear

The first time I saw these darlings they have been strutted down the runway of Giambattista Valli’s Spring 2008 fashion show where they took my heart by surprise. They instantly rocketed to the top of my wishlist, but unfortunately I wasn’t lucky enough to grab a pair for myself since women across the world have been trying to get their hands on the “Victoria“-shoe which was named after former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham because she was the first to wear these lovely heels in a photoshoot for fashion magazine ELLE.

The year went by and the GV platforms with the killer 6″ heel faded as I was starting to have new shoe obsessions with the likes of Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen or Brian Atwood. Until yesterday when they accidentally crossed my eye again. And they returned with a BANG!

Celebrities & Giambattista Valli

As you can see, I’m not the only one lusting after this dramatic footwear. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Jessica Biel, Mary-Kate Olsen, Victoria Beckham and Nicole Scherzinger have been seen sporting the GV “Victoria” platforms to several events. My personal favorites are Jessica Biel’s fire red pair and MK’s white ones with the hot pink platform and heel. Gorgeous, aren’t they? Which ones do you like best?

Designer Inspiration - Giambattista Valli vs. Forever 21

There is no such thing as an iconic shoe if it doesn’t get at least copied once by the mainstream shoe industry. And this is exactly what happened when >Forever 21 launched their “Vero Neon Platform“-shoes. No question about them being blatant copies available in either black/pink or black/lime for as much as $22.80. But since I couldn’t get a pair of the Giambattistas I really start thinking about purchasing the copycats just for the fun of it. They probably won’t last long or spend any comfort (I think the architecture of the shoe makes it impossible even if the shoe was $600), but that’s not what I expect from a shoe that’s $20. Of course there are always exceptions. And since I’ve never bought footwear from Forever 21 before I guess I just might give it a go and find out myself.

I nearly jumped for joy when I discovered Strap Perfect ($20 for 9). The idea of making my everyday bra a racerback when necessary is music to my ears. Why don't you simply buy a racerback bra? That's a good question, but why give up my favorite bra if I don't have to? With Strap Perfect — which comes in clear, black, and nude — I get comfort plus utility. As far as I'm concerned, you can't beat that.

Splash News Online

* Silk colorblock tank with asymmetrical bottom hem that dips at back.
* Scoop neckline and tank straps.
* 100% silk.