September 25, 2007

Moonwalker

Ellen Verbeek Shoes

Without it, werewolves would be bald, Holly Golightly wouldn’t have had a theme song, and Jamie McIntire never would have had the guts to slip you the tongue in the seventh grade.

Moonlight is way powerful. For Antwerp-based designer Ellen Verbeek, it inspired a gorgeous new collection of shoes and boots.

Her high-concept footwear is notoriously hard to come by in the U.S., but the line — in pebbly leather reminiscent of the lunar landscape and subdued colors that channel moonlit nights — is available in Seattle for the first time this fall.

Wedges, boots, and Mary Janes mix space-age-era optimism with postmodern toughness (see: geometric heels and patent accents). Bow-adorned black booties are subtly Gothic, and caramel stompers will take the place of your dearly beloved and long departed Uggs.

The shapes may be intellectual, but quality materials (like quilted lacquer for support) make the shoes totally wearable.

In short, they’ll send you over the moon.

Available at Lambs Ear, 3516 Fremont Place North (206-632-2626). To see styles, go to ellenverbeek.com.