women

The good news is that I really don't need much in the way of new shoes this Autumn. But I have been feeling decidedly dowdy of late and I realized I don't really wear very sexy shoes (cool shoes, interesting shoes, comfortable shoes, arty shoes, fabulous shoes, yes, I have all of those, but sexy shoes? Not a ONE!). I thought I would share the results of my quest with you.

The Peacock, shown above, is available at Embodies.

These yellow pumps from Form and Fauna are very Mad Men, and like the buxom redhead on the show, totally droolworthy. All F&F shoes are vegan and have major eco-cred: "Upper is a biodegradable synthetic, heel is made from scrap alder wood, insole liner is open cell rubber." NICE!

Sexy and classy all tied up together. These are available at Ped.

Everyone who knows me knows I'm a little obsessed with Cydwoq shoes. Their women's boots and sandals are absolute knockouts (I've had a pair of sandals for about three years from this company, and they are wearing beautifully and they are my MOST comfortable sandals ever). All styles are made from vegetable-tanned and naturally dyed leather, handmade in Burbank, California, and these above are so hot! The men's shoes and boots are really fantastic too, and worth checking out.

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It's officially cold in the northern parts of the country, and the best way to really enjoy late fall and winter is to be properly dressed. Layering knits is a comfortable and classy way to keep warm. Try a sustainable silk camisole under a slim cut cashmere sweater, topped with a loose-knit wool vest, and I promise you won't get chilly!

Natural, sustainable fibers, including organic cotton, bamboo, wool, alpaca, cashmere and hemp all blend well with each other, so go ahead and pull a sweater on under a dress, or a shawl over a sweater, or a combination of all four if you're a denizen of one of the close-to-frigid states that borders Canada (not to mention Canada itself!).

Ivana Helsinki

Ivana Helsinki is a Finnish designer well known in the Fennofolk tradition (which embraces imperfection and the weird). Her haute pioneer knit dress is a real charmer that's hand-knit from local wool.

Z.B.D. Designs at Wal-mart

Wal-Mart sells this Z.B.D. Designs sweater that's made in the U.S. from organic cotton and cashmere. An ideal layering piece that will look great open (as shown) and very chic closed at the waist with a sparkly extra-large brooch.

Scheroder-Falzone

This organic cotton large knit cowl neck from Scheroder-Falzone is a perfect layering piece that will work over a shimmery shirt and dark denims for dinner and drinks or over a long-sleeve knit turtleneck and a skirt for the office.

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Depending on your outlook, this is either a great or frustrating year for shoes. On one hand, you have myriad options; whether you're into flats, chunky or spike heels, ankle boots, or thigh highs, they're all out there. On the other hand, it can be hard to know which shoes to wear, and you don't want to waste resources (or money) buying a pair of shoes that's going to go out of style by Spring.

Shoe manufacture is notoriously hard on Mother Nature: leather tanning and dyeing effluent pollute water resources, and shipping the uppers, lowers and finished shoes halfway around the world and back (to be put together by underpaid overseas workers) wastes energy. And all those trendy (and often toxic) clogs, sneakers, platforms and espadrilles eventually end up in landfills.

So make your shoe decisions wisely, both for your wardrobe, your wallet and the Earth.

Ankle Boots

Terra Plana

Ankle boots are really hot this season, and the Maple by Terra Plana is a cool little grandma-chic number, complete with recycled quilt panel. Terra Plana uses veggie-tanned leather company-wide. The Bronte is a sleek black leather bootie that looks like it dropped in from the future and will take you zooming into 2008 and beyond.

Rodarte

Rodarte's above-the-ankle boot is handmade in California from vegetable-tanned leather atop an earthy-looking, 3-inch wooden heel.

Heels

Charmone

Charmone's shoes are environmentally friendly (made from microfiber that doesn't contain air-polluting PVC) and animal-free. Warning! The cinnamon shoe will cause an extreme case of shoe lust among your friends.

Mink

Mink's shoes are for the high-fashionista in all of us. These sparkly numbers, playfully named the Bull, would be ideal for partying the holiday season away. All of Mink's shoes are vegan and are made from eco-friendly materials.

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