We are long time fans and supporters of Swedish Hasbeens so how delighted was I when I visited the Platform section of Magic last week, to discover head designer Emy Blixt was manning the booth! There was a sad moment when it was revealed that Blixt’s co-founder, Cecilia Neuman, had passed recently, but we didn’t dwell–not the place after all, and moved on to design and how impressively this young brand had evolved from the vintage clog silhouette that launched it to an array of streety savvy silhouettes. Blixt said the brand had always been most rooted in its materials story and was evolving from using wood to embracing other natural materials like cork and leather soles.

For Spring 2012, natural leathers remain a theme (see above) with fashion themese anchored around vintage sporty looks from the 20s, 30s and 40s, a tribute of sorts to the women who bucked moral dictate during the era and lived active, athletic lives.

See more shoes, bags and a shot of the delightful Blixt on the next page.

We’re developing a hardcore crush on Adidas Originals Blue line; it’s a push into lifestyle clothes and shoes that is less frilly than Stella and rather has that feminine Tomboy vibe we adore. We only photographed the shoes at the show, but you can check out clothes from the Spring 2012 line here.

See another color of the shoe featured above, plus a yellow, nylon gladiator on the next page.

Okay folks, up until now my Magic/Project posts have been somewhat hampered by the fact that I left my laptop in Brooklyn (it’s always something–one time I forgot bras and only had the bikini top I was wearing!) so get ready for a barrage of posts, which will mostly be shoe themed. This post features “Plastic Dreams” shoe brand, Melissa, famous for its creative collabos. On this page the collaboree is Jason Wu and there is more of him, plus Gareth Pugh on the next page. Images from these collabos showed up a month or so ago online, but I think we have some new colors plus one of the Pugh shoes was only shown in the form of a sketch, though do not quote me on that.

p.s. Massive shout out and thanks to men’s fashion blogger Marcus Troy who organized the “Blogger Project,” which we were invited to participate in while at Project. A well organized, stimulating and super fun experience, which we appreciated the opportunity to be a part of.

More Melissa on the next page.

Native continues to stay a step ahead by using its ear to the street to come up with new designs that are compelling and fresh. We’ve deemed this Spring sandal for women (a first for the brand) the “Birk” for obvious reasons. Needless to say we’re in luv!

More colors on the next page.

New York City is funny–wear these in say, SoHo, and folks might go out of their way to pretend not to notice, but take these for a stroll on my block in Brooklyn and the comments will roll! And not necessarily meanly, more in a recognize way, like, ”I see your crazy fringe chancletas, girl!” Via Bleachblack. For purchase at Nest.

Victoria Spruce’s sculptural footwear made us stop and admire. The Royal College alum was recently was  the focus of  an Njal feature, in which she shared her thoughts on design and life. You can read the interview here, and enjoy more looks of her drool-worthy shoes on the flip. Victoria Spruce (site launching soon) is definitely Highsnobette Approved.

Summer in New York aint over yet–not by a longshot. And yes, even though the heels are not sky high, the soles are still red. Check out another pair of the label’s easy-breezy yet fierce summer sandals on the next page.

Street photographer Tommy Ton has new photos up, captured during men’s fashion week in Milan. We grabbed these pink, fur sandals, which are so perfect they’re bringing tears to our eyes. (Are they Gucci? Someone tell!) Via Style.

New York fashion photographer Julia Chesky snapped the Gucci window recently and got up close and personal with this pair of earthy espadrilles.  It’s a look that doesn’t exactly spring to mind when one things of the slickness that is Gucci, but no matter, somehow they totally work.

We greatly appreciate the multiple-wearing options Sseko Sandals provide, but  mostly the fact that the company  empowers women in Uganda to further their education is what we applaud. Humanitarian aid while it often focuses on giving is even more effective in the long term when it empowers the locals with infrastructures  and skills to survive and thrive. It reminds of the Chinese saying: “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life.”  Read more about the Sseko program here. On the next page a closer look at the sandals . Fashion that does good and looks good, we just adore!