>> Oh, Dear
Dearfoams wants to spread some warm feelings this holiday season. The brand’s “Slipper Fairy Challenge” is offering fans the chance to win an iPad, Flip camcorder or $5,000 in exchange for sharing “some slipper love.” Consumers are asked to submit a video or a tweet recommending someone they think deserves a free pair of slippers. The brand also is giving away three pairs of slippers daily to the first 50 people each week to submit an approved video. The contest ties in with Dearfoam’s holiday message. “Our brand promises comfort, both physical and emotional,” said senior brand manager Rachel Iannarino. Submissions are being accepted on Slipperfairy.com until Dec. 31. Ashley Mason
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>> Taking it Easy
Toning shoes are gaining a little flair. Emporio Armani and Reebok have teamed up to create the first toning sneaker from a major fashion house. Reebok President Uli Becker said the partnership drew on the strengths of both companies. “[The shoes] combine Reebok’s proprietary technologies with the style of one of the world’s leading designers,” he said. Only 1,111 pairs have been produced, and each has been individually numbered. Besides being outfitted with Reebok’s EasyTone technology, the sneakers also feature crocodile-print detailing and come with three different sets of laces. The limited-edition shoes retail for $140 and are available at select Emporio Armani stores and at Emporioarmani.com. A.M.
>> Tiny Treasures
The pocket-size shoe industry just keeps growing. Foldable flip-flop company FlexFlop has created sandals small enough to be stored in a glove compartment, handbag or holiday stocking. The concept for the product came after a long night of dancing in Las Vegas, said creator Stacey Kirsch. “We took our heels off and we were walking around the lobby barefoot,” she said. “It would have been great to pop on a pair of flip-flops.” The bendable slide-ons come in a rhinestone carrying case, printed with phrases like “Shoe Snob” and “Pedi Please.” The Flexxi style, the brand’s thinnest pair, retails for about $20 and will be available in select beauty outlets, boutiques and on Flexflop.com during the holiday season. A.M.
>> Telling Fashion
Author Charlotte Seeling rewinds through the last fifteen decades of fashion in her new book, “Fashion: 150 Years Couturiers, Designers, Labels,” which takes readers through elegant (and some risqué) clothing and the designers who crafted them. With sections like “The New Era of Glamour: When fashion kicked over the traces” and “Dress to Kill: The message is sex,” she cleverly ties the century’s standouts to major fashion and historical movements. The glossy, 500-plus-page book will go on sale in December for $70, through Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble and other major bookstores. A.M.
