ZOMG Shoes – Old Navy
Old Navy straddles the local-source outsource thing, offering cheapie shoes in-line with its low-cost brand clothing within its own site, and then partnering with PiperLime shoes, which as far as I can tell is aimed at people who wear Old Navy but who speak the secret language where we are judged by the expense of our shoes. There are some major brands to be found – Steve Madden, Calvin Klein and Charles David – and expenses more associated with Gap Inc’s Banana Republic brand. I suppose in the mind of major designers, such pricing is a concession to low cost/consumer fashion.
Old Navy is also sneaking in a low-key 80s revival, with the material from jelly shoes in a form other than jellies. I have purchased a pair of these in black, but because it’s been an unusually snowy April in Minnesota, I’m unable to report my experience as of yet.
Oddly, nothing from PiperLime stands out to me as suitable for lasting style – and nothing looks all that comfortable to me. However, Old Navy in-house seems to actually be moving forward in that direction.