Alexander McQueen 219632 Platform Sandal

The cool thing about creating any kind of art, whether it’s painting, writing, music, or yes, fashion, is that it lives on after you’re gone. The bad thing is that sometimes, that art, in whatever form, might not be something that should live on. Hundreds of years later, we still appreciate sculpture and paintings created by artists like Michelangelo and Da Vinci. We still listen to compositions written by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. Can you imagine a hundred or so years from now anyone listening to Britney Spears and calling it any kind of art? I’m kind of embarrassed for us. Those future people will have to wonder what the hell we were thinking, making that bimbo famous for her music. If some future archaeologist unearths this blog at some point, let me just apologize for that crap right now, ok? Anyway, even though Alexander McQueen is gone now, his designs are still here for us to enjoy. If you already own any of his designs, hold onto them and make them last! And if you don’t, you can still get at least one thing of his before they’re all gone. His name and company might, and probably will continue, but nothing that company produces will ever actually be designed by him, so get an authentic original now. You can start with this Alexander McQueen 219632 Platform Sandal.

Its full name is actually Alexander McQueen 219632 WADM1 2363, but that’s just a bit cumbersome to say, don’t you think? So I added the platform sandal part myself. You’re welcome. This is a kickass spring sandal. Not for everyday, and definitely not for the beach or the boardwalk, this platform sandal is made for looks and not utility. The strappy upper is all leather, and the straps twist at the center of the vamp, and at the ankle, contrasting from the cheery Tuscan yellow to a dark brown. The lining and insole are also leather, as is the outsole. You wouldn’t expect anything less from Lee, would you? At five inches, the heel requires some balance, but the one-inch platform will make it feel like just four inches. Yeah, much better. The coolest detail, though, is the wishbone shaped buckle closure at the ankle, which you have to see up close to appreciate. Surprisingly, the sandal is on sale. It’s normally $1,069, but you can get it right now for $478 at Zappos.com. Let’s face it, that’s a steal for a McQueen design.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

Steal or not, 478 bucks is still pretty steep. Besides, you’re probably saving up for that awesome summer vacation you’re going to take, or for your upcoming June wedding and honeymoon. Ooh, just wait until you see what I’ve got lined up for all that! Anyway, let’s get back to spring sandals. If you can’t afford the McQueen sandal, the Frye Joy Huarache Sling sandal is the next best thing. Ok, it’s not. Come on, look at that McQueen sandal. It’s hard to match that design. Still the Joy is a pretty spring sandal, also in a springy yellow. In fact, it looks like it’d probably be more comfortable, don’t you think? The upper, lining, and footbed are all leather, so the sandal will form to your foot the more you wear it. The sole is also leather, but with a rubber heel tap to add traction. This is a great feature on any show with a 4.75-inch heel, even if the 1.25-inch platform offsets it a bit. There’s a little cushioning in the footbed for even more comfort. I love the braided straps, too. And get this—if yellow’s not your thing, the Joy also comes in blue, green, orange, purple, red, violet, cognac, dark brown, and natural. If you can manage it, get a couple of pairs. The Joy is $198 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

You can still get a similar look for even less with the Pierre Dumas Blonde-2 platform sandal. It’s also huarache-inspired, but with more of woven look than braided. The yellow leather straps are interwoven with natural leather ties for a contrasting detail. The adjustable ankle strap gives you the perfect fit. The Blonde-2 also has a five-inch stacked heel, which is offset by the 1.25-inch platform. It’s also available in tobacco brown, if you prefer. Get both since it’s only $49 at Piperlime.com.