Cruelty Free Friday: Melissa Patchuli II Heels

I will not tell a lie. Bulgarian women really know how to rock some killer heels. I have not yet mastered tottering over the surface of cobbled city streets here in Sofia nor do I have the impeccable pedicure that merits showing off my digits in stilettos. Given my 'predicament', I was instantly drawn to these latest vegan show stoppers by Melissa Shoes.

The Melissa Patchuli is available at Kaight NYC and features a sexy 4" wedge heel with 1" platform and flirty peep-toe plus ankle strap. This new subtle lavender hue with brown stripe seems as if it would be flattering on either fair-skinned or bronzed gams. 

Each pair is crafted from 100% recyclable, technologically-engineered injected thermoplastic that easily molds to feet for maximum comfort. Hypoallergenic, breathable and odorless. A huge step forward in cruelty free fashion for the animal kingdom as well as women who want to be able to go the distance in high style.

*via Kaight NYC's blog

DIY 'Shape Shifting' Melissa Booties

Whether or not you are a devoted fan of Melissa Shoes (aka Melissa Plastic Dreams) is really a matter of personal taste and attitude about PVC chic. A favorite footwear company amongst the vegan set, these uber-hip jellies just keep on tapping into a Rolodex of cool designer contacts for their featured collaborations.

As reported on T Magazine's blog, Melissa's has now teamed up with Gaetano Pesce, the legendary Italian architect and designer, for the creation of these 'DIY booties' composed of interconnected PVC circles that can be crafted into customized flats, sandals, or flip-flops, by simply cutting away the jelly discs for either free form or symmetrical shaping. Sounds good in theory, but what happens when you cut away too much or do not like your own whittling? Pesce encourages us by stating, "This is the future of mass production. With the technology we have today, we can give people something that is half done and ask them to finish it." Hmmm, go figure.


*image and find via T Magazine's blog

Jean Paul Gaultier + Melissa Stilettos on Tap

The latest collaboration in the Melissa Shoes lineage is with none other than Jean Paul Gaultier. Personally, I am not really the plastic stiletto type, but for vegan fashionistas, this adds a whole new dimension to their loftier goals. Available in black, caramel, beige, lime and tangerine, the shoe will be launched in June 2010. Read more on Dazed Digital.