My newest favorite website of all time forever and ever, Onthecheapliving.com, has just gotten even better…today it’s featuring the Rain!  The site is the brainchild of Brooklyn’s own Natalie Afshar, who posts adorable and affordable little gems daily.  She has amazing taste, and finds really incredible, unique, and interesting pieces- from shoes and accessories to art and great restaurants.  The layouts are all completely original, and the site is crazy cute!

Today is the day that the first of our fall styles make their debut as part of Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale!  Be the first on your block to rock some new Miz Mooz!  Stand up right now and go get the Solis.  You can thank me later.

http://shop.nordstrom.com

Welcome to our brand-spankin-new feature, the Retailer Spotlight, in which we introduce you to our beloved retailers, giving them a chance to shine.  Miz Mooz can be found in some of the coolest stores around, and we want everyone to know about it!

First up, ShoeFly, which boasts 3 stores in the D.C. area, an online boutique, and an owner gracious enough to be the guinea pig for this feature…thanks Jen!

The first hint that ShoeFly in Arlington, VA isn’t your average shoe boutique is the 9 foot tall black and white photo of local rocker Jon Shaffer that serves as the back wall of the retail store.   That is, of course, if you can pull your eyes away from all the great shoes long enough to take notice!

As a transplant to Washington, DC, Jen Marfino was inspired by a longtime dream of owning her own business, and the vision of her sister Sue, who has two successful stores in their native Buffalo, NY.   Jen left her position in tech sales and opened ShoeFly in 2003 on a mission to provide unique and wearable shoes at price points that were not over the top.  A directive which, along with Jen’s funky aesthetic and all-around-awesomeness (she rollerblades! She makes a mean manicotti!), deem her a perfect retailer for Miz Mooz.

ShoeFly has now expanded to three retail locations, situated in neighborhoods that can be described as Urban Villages, where one can do three of my favorite things- eat, drink, and shop!  These walkable enclaves of both independent and national retailers, restaurants, and nightlife offerings attract a range of shoppers, ShoeFly caters to women (and some men) ages anywhere from 14 to 82, who all share in the love for great shoes!  ShoeFly also offers parties dubbed “Shop Like a Rockstar”, private events with a portion of proceeds going to a charity of choice.

Fishing for compliments, I asked Jen why she loved Miz Mooz for ShoeFly, and she responded, “We love Miz Mooz because you blaze your own trail”, and the feeling is mutual!  She also cited our different yet wearable styles, classic silhouettes, and creative embellishments as reasons to keep coming back to Miz Mooz.  When asked what Miz Mooz shoe she couldn’t possibly live without, Jen gave a special shout out to the classic Casablanca boot- holla!

We’re thrilled to have Miz Mooz in ShoeFly, and hope you’ll stop by and say hello when you find yourself in the DC area.

http://www.shoeflyonline.com

Notice the awesome photo on the back wall!

Shoefly

This blog is pretty rad, but we can make it radder. And by we, I mean YOU, dear reader. Let’s get to know each other better. Dim the lights, settle in, and have a good heart to heart.

We’re seeking submissions for reader spotlights, so tell me all about yourself and send pictures taken of you in Miz Mooz- you may be chosen to be featured on the blog! We are interested in anything you may want to share. Are you secretly an aspiring shoe blog writer? Let’s make that dream a reality! Baked a shoe shaped cake? Send me a slice! Just want to say how great Miz Mooz is? We’ll take it!
Our favorite contributions will be rewarded…*cough,shoes,cough*…

I’ll be getting the party started, so stay tuned for my next posting, in which I reveal my not so secret identity, and in the meantime, get to work on your amazing submissions!

I watch The Bachelorette. There, I said it! I watch it, and I love it! It seems that the feeling is mutual, as my girl Ali wore Miz Mooz on the show! You can read what Dana Weiss of The Possessionista had to say about it right here:
http://www.possessionista.com/2010/06/bachelorette-fashion-ali-fedotowsky_29.html

I was interviewed for Running With Heels, an awesome shoe site. Here it its for your reading pleasure.

http://www.runningwithheels.com/index.php/2010/06/our-trip-to-coney-island-for-miz-mooz-shoes/

New York City based footwear brand Miz Mooz didn’t have to look too far for inspiration when creating its spring collection and what better way to celebrate the warm weather season than a trip to Coney Island? The popular summertime spot’s vibrant colors and energy of the amusement park and boardwalk translated into this collection of various shoes ranging from metallic sandals, studded clogs, to rugged cowboy boots. The unique and fun styles really caught our eye, which led us to satisfy our curiosity about the private label brand. If you’re just as intrigued, check out what we asked Cheryl Matson of Miz Mooz. She tells us about the hottest trends of the season, how to wear them, the company’s future plans, and gives us a peek at the top 10 must-haves from the Spring ’10 collection. Read what she had to say.

Running With Heels: Tell us more about the inspiration behind the Spring 2010 Miz Mooz collection?

Cheryl Matson: The buzz words while creating our Spring 2010 collection were fun and color, which lead us pretty quickly to Coney Island as our main source of inspiration. The bright vibrant colors and quirky energy of Coney Island’s amusement park and boardwalk lent incredibly well to our sense of design and love of vintage styling, and encouraged us to play with color, texture, pattern, and trim. We are a decidedly New York brand, and it felt apropos to pay homage to such an iconic New York landmark. Of course, we also had to take a field trip out there for “inspirational” Nathan’s Hot Dogs and rides on the Cyclone!

RWH: How would you describe the Miz Mooz woman?

CM: Miz Mooz appeals to women of all stripes, though there are a few traits that especially draw people to our brand. The Miz Mooz woman appreciates unique design and quality materials. While she stays on top of trends, she is far from a slave to fashion, and would rather set trends than follow them. She is sophisticated, but definitely has a good sense of humor and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

RWH: If you had to choose the top 3 must-have styles from the S/S collection, which styles would you choose?

CM: Our clog construction has been incredibly hot this season, the Hazel being number 1. It’s is a great throw back look with a modern feel. Our classic Miz Mooz shoe, the Devi, was another great style. I’d also include the Vento and the Histeric, two shoes that are more fashion forward, and have been blowing off the shelves.

RWH: What would you say the biggest trends are for the season and how does Miz Mooz translate that for an everyday look?

CM: Clogs and menswear inspired styles are huge this season, as well as going into fall, and are two categories that can easily veer from fashion to costume. The Miz Mooz versions (Hazel and Rain in the clogs, and the Histeric oxford) are subtle in their design details, with moderate lasts and our classic rich leathers so they avoid looking like they were swiped from your parent’s closets. The key is a slight nod to the defining characteristics of each style, as opposed to an outright copy.

RWH: There seems to be many great vintage and retro-inspired shoes in the spring collection. Is old new again?

CM: Until we start growing 35 toes, old will always be new. No one is reinventing the shoe, instead we look for ways to improve on comfort and fit, and keep the consumer interested with unexpected details that they won’t find elsewhere.
RWH: What factors do the designers keep in mind when coming up with each collection every season?

CM: We always want to build on our previous successes and create the shoes that our loyal customers keep coming back for, year after year. In addition, to stay relevant we try to create things we haven’t done before, and continue to experiment with new shapes and styles. Whenever we create a new design, we have to ask is this Miz Mooz? Staying true to our roots while moving forward is a constant balancing act.

RWH: Any plans to expand into accessories? Any other future projects you’d like to share with our readers?

CM: We’ve just launched a few men’s styles, and are experimenting with handbags for a capsule collection next spring. We also have a killer new website, and are expanding our presence in the social media world, so please friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and read our blog!

Take a moment to check out how great the Bonito sandal looks in the July issue of Real Simple magazine! I want to find a short, breezy white dress to rock with everything on this page.

Bonito

This is it kids. The Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the mother of all holiday weekends. The one that says “summer is here”! Summer. The best and most fleeting of seasons. Beach trips, and bike rides, and hours lounging in the park, and dining al fresco. Women across the country are revamping their looks accordingly. Jeans turn into teeny cut off shorts, perfectly blown out hair becomes a sloppy pony tail, and rubber flip flops become de rigueur. And this, my friends, is my problem. Why the rubber flip flops?! They belong on the beach, that’s it. I’m sure I will get at least one piece of hate mail, but come on ladies! Your feet deserve better. Why torture yourself wearing something non-cute (it’s true), that leaves your precious toes so close to the grime of the sidewalk? Frankly, it is frightening. Now, I’ve heard all the arguments- they’re so comfortable –um, no, they’re not. Or- they’re quick and easy to put on- as if anyone is so busy they don’t have time to bother with a strap or a buckle. This summer I encourage you to step it up a bit. If you insist on a flat, why not try the Bonita? It is available in subtle snake print metallics, and closes with a zipper. How about the Alto, with an itsy bitsy square heel, and a non threatening buckle? If you’re game to take my challenge further and go for some height (I dare you) check out the Remi. It is still a casual sandal, but with a gorgeous woven leather strap, and will look hot hot hot with those cut offs! Your feet do so much for you, now is the time to treat them right. Life is short, wear great shoes!

Alto

What is it with women and shoes anyway?! While I hate to admit it, this is one stereotype that is pretty spot on. And, I may add, not a bad thing!! I may be on the extreme end of the spectrum, as I’m in “the biz” and all, but even my sisters in arms who can count their pairs on one hand will agree- there is no joy in shopping quite like a brand new pair of shoes. You spy them on the shelf, and your breath quickens. You pick them up and turn them over in your hands as a nervous smile starts to creep onto your face. Waiting for the salesperson to bring your size is agony. Then the moment arrives when you slip your foot into the shoe, and all is right with the world. For some women it is in finding the perfect, comfy flat. For others it is the bedazzled sky high stiletto. Or a suede wedge. Or a patterned pump. Or a flat, knee high boot with a buckle in the perfect shade of Bordeaux that will look soooo good with that old pair of jeans/skirt/mini dress in the back of the closet! Or…ahem… all of the above. Shoes don’t care that the daily trip to the gym has been replaced with the daily trip to the bakery, they still fit, and they still look spectacular! So let’s celebrate our (healthy and completely normal) obsession with our footwear. Let us bathe in the beauty of our boots! Let us bask in the shine of our stilettos! Let us frolic in the fabulosity of our flats! Say it with me now…shoes…shoes…Shoes…Shoes…SHOES…SHOES!

So, we hate to brag (no, we love it), but we’re pretty famous over here at Miz Mooz. Did you see us on the cover of the New York Daily News this morning? How about in this month’s Lucky Magazine? Time Out New York? Redbook? Real Simple? We’re becoming quite the media darlings! It won’t be long before we are whisked past the velvet ropes at hot spots across the country to sip champagne in exclusive V.I.P. rooms. Canoodling with movie stars and hob-nobbing with heads of state and international dignitaries. Jetting (privately, natch) to Belize for the weekend, just ‘cause. But we promise not to forget our adoring fans. Let’s do lunch. Have your people call our people, mkay? Ciao!