Scotty, beam us down to Payless to get our Starfleet-inspired kicks

 
Back in May, we told you about a limited-edition "Star Trek" X STPL X Airwalk high-top sneakers that were being released -- just 160 pairs in futuristic metallic silver with NCC-1701 embroidered on the heel, an example of how the future of apparel branding will involve the mining of TV and movie properties.

Now the other shoe has dropped  with a full line of Starship Enterprise-influenced high-top sneakers beaming down to the shelves of a Payless near you, and Payless.com.

Like the limited kicks, this collection was designed by artist Jeff Staple (STPL), and the suede-with-canvas-accent shoes are served up in three Starfleet-uniform-inspired colorways of gold, blue and red and bear the  triangular Starfleet insignia instantly recognizable to anyone who watched the 1966-69 sci-fi series.

At $49.99 they're a heck of a lot cheaper for the "Trek" fan on your holiday list than the $2,900 "Authentic James T. Kirk Captain's Chair" we recently spotted in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog.

-- Adam Tschorn

Of Trekkie kicks and Cobra Snakes

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Photo: The STPL X Airwalk Hi Skate "Star Trek" Starfleet Edition ($49.99) boldly goes where no Enterprise crew member has gone before -- the aisles of Payless -- in colors inspired by the gold (command), blue (science) and red (security) uniforms of the Enterprise crew. Credit: CBS Consumer Products

Deals for $130 and less: Clarks Wallabees

In 1965, Clarks, based in Street, England, introduced a suede moccasin boot that became known as the Wallabee. The shoe was so groovy that swinging Londoners made it a wardrobe staple, along with hip huggers, bell bottoms and pea coats.

The Wallabee has had plenty of revivals since then. The boot fit in well with 1970s Laurel Canyon-inspired head-to-toe denim looks. The shoe rose to prominence again during the Mod revival in the 1980s, when it was worn with turtlenecks and white jeans. In the 1990s, trendsetting New York hip-hop groups like Wu-Tang Clan and shoe-gazing British bands like the Verve (“Bitter Sweet Symphony”) sported Wallabees on album covers.

Now the comfy crepe-soled boots, now part of the Clarks Originals collection, are begging for a fresh perspective. During New York Fashion Week, Wallabees hit the runway in menswear designer Patrik Ervell's spring 2010 show -- and the boot looked just so right worn with khakis, denim jackets and white button-down shirts

But what will really boost Wallabees' resurgence as a wardrobe staple this time around are its accessible prices, $100 to $130, for both women’s and men’s styles, including a chunky-heeled gal's Wallabee.

Clarks, 2148 Glendale Galleria, Glendale. (818) 545-9524. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

-- Max Padilla

Credit: Clarks

The late DJ AM's collection of super-cool kicks headed for EBay -- today!

I'd heard that the late Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, who passed away in August at age 36, was a sneakerhead, but I didn't realize how hard-core he was until I started researching the world of sneaker collecting for a story that appears in today's shoe-themed Image section.

When I was asking around for alpha dogs of the L.A. sneaker scene, several people were quick to mention Goldstein and his renowned collection of nearly 900 pairs of kicks. One of the folks who mentioned the celebrity disc jockey-club owner was Matt Halfhill, founder and editor of sneaker blog NiceKicks.com, and we wondered aloud what might have happened to his extensive sneaker collection.

As the Image section was going to press, we got our answer: More than 800 pairs of limited-edition shoes from that collection will go up for auction on EBay beginning today at 4:30 p.m. and running through Dec. 14 at www.ebay.com/djamshoes.

All proceeds will go to the DJ AM Memorial Fund, an organization described as "maintain[ing] the legacy of Adam Goldstein through extending his commitment to helping others struggling with addiction." Through an organization called Creative Visions, the funds are earmarked for groups and projects that deal with issues of addiction and recovery. 

Among the lot of "dead stock" (sneakerhead parlance for brand-new, in-the-box, unworn shoes) and slightly worn sneakers are said to be a pair of Nike PlayStation Air Force 1s (Nike made only 200 pairs exclusively for a PlayStation party), a pair of Eminem Air Jordan 4s (only 50 pairs, commemorating Eminem's "Encore" album, were made, and pairs have reportedly changed hands for as much as $7,500), Supreme Dunks, Supa Dunks Air Jordan PE's ("PE" stands for "player exclusives," shoes made solely for an athlete but never intended for general release) and all kinds of vintage and retro pieces.

During the auction, 18 of the most exclusive pairs will be on display at the three L.A.-area Undefeated stores (La Brea, Santa Monica and Silver Lake), including Jay Z Air Force 1s, Zoo York Dunks, Pharrell Williams N.E.R.D Dunks and Tiffany Dunks.

The DJ AM Memorial Fund Charity Auction starts today at 4:30 p.m. PST and runs through Dec. 14, with new shoes added every evening through the first week in December.

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: The late Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM, surrounded by some of the rare and limited-edition shoes from his collection of 800-plus. Credit: The estate of Goldstein

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What's on the must-have list of local sneaker cognoscenti?

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Dana Davis’ pop-up shop attracts major foot traffic

Stores may be closing all over town, but last night Melrose Place got a little love with the opening of Dana Davis’ pop-up store.  The store, which took over the old Lambertson Truex spot, right next to Frederic Fekkai’s new salon, will be open until Dec. 3, selling shoes from Davis’ fall-winter collection. 

Celebrities and socialites, including Anjelica Huston, Paris Hilton, Crystal Lourd, Jerry Bruckheimer, Liane Weintraub and Jamie Tisch, came to support their designer pal and fellow social fixture.  Davis’ mother Barbara was also in attendance before dashing out to attend a concert. 

Davis was inspired to create her line of ultra-comfortable shoes when she was having trouble standing for long periods of time due to foot pain caused by her diabetes.  She and  her family  have raised over $75 million for diabetes research, with the Carousel of Hope ball fund-raiser being founded in her honor. She developed a shoe with an orthotic sole that’s as cushion-y as any Easy Spirit, but far more fashionable.  In fact, Davis has figured out how to increase the heels on pumps to almost 6 inches, while still maintaining the comfort of the built-in orthotic.  Those heels will be offered for spring and are sure to be seen on any celebrity who cares about comfort while walking the red carpet.

The Dana Davis pop-up store is open now until Dec. 3 at 8459 Melrose Place, L.A.
Hours: 11am – 5pm. Closed Sundays and Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 – 29.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Anjelica Huston, Barbara Davis and Dana Davis, Bottom: A wall of Davis' shoes/John Shearer Wire Image

Dakota Fanning and Rachel Zoe's playdate with Nintendo at Madison

Rachel Zoe and Dakota Fanning had a playdate on Wednesday at the Madison 3rd Street flagship with Nintendo’s new Style Savvy game for the DS or DSi pocket gizmo.

Stylist Zoe, who’s become a household name with “The Rachel Zoe Project,” seems an unlikely gamer. But she and actress Fanning multi-tasked interviews and styling tips while thumbing away at Style Saavy, $29, in which you pretend you’re the owner of a contemporary boutique, suggesting outfits to shoppers (if, the customer buys it, you score points), buy inventory and watch your balance sheet. Sounds like fun, no?

Zoe’s associate Taylor Jacobson, accessorized with a quilted Chanel bag and Miu Miu motorcycle boots, feigned surprise when I asked whether she noticed women copping her trademark all-black, disheveled platinum hair look.

Zoe and Fanning gave All the Rage a few minutes in between bleeps:

All the Rage: Are either of you video gamers?

Rachel Zoe: This would be a new thing for me. I must convert [in robotic voice].

Dakota Fanning: Usually video games are more action packed -- more masculine -- so, no. I’m really girly; this is the first time I’m interested.

Are you a fan of those Internet style-yourself applications?

RZ: No, but I do know a lot of people who do. I style enough in real life so that’s OK.

What are you wearing?

RZ: Vintage Chanel, Seven jeans and Brian Atwood shoes.

DF: Elizabeth and James.

First-ever Vans pop-up opens at Conveyor at Fred Segal Santa Monica

Vans opened its first pop-up store over the weekend at Conveyor at Fred Segal Santa Monica. Dubbed the Vault Shop at Conveyor, it will occupy the entire retail space until at least mid-January. It's being described as "the most complete collection of Vault by Vans found anywhere" and will serve up a deep bench of the brand’s higher-end, limited-edition product, including some re-releases of sold-out items and exclusive Vans x Conveyor collaborations.

The store opened on Friday with a showcase of shoes designed by artist Taka Hayashi, and we're promised additional featured guest artists (and an entirely new stock of product each month) along the way. Next up? A "Vans Comix" assortment featuring the artwork of R. Crumb, Rick Griffin and Robert Williams.

-- Adam Tschorn

Vans x R. Crumb Collaboration

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Photo: Through mid-January, Conveyor at Fred Segal Santa Monica has been remodeled into a Vans pop-up store, dubbed the Vault Shop at Conveyor, 420 Broadway, Santa Monica. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Credit: Vans Inc.

Trawling the Web for the perfect combat boots

Combat boots have been marching down fashion runways for several seasons now.

However, as a 34-year-old who once lived in my eight-hole Dr. Martens in high school, I've been hesitant to revisit my fashion roots. Sartorial wisdom posits that if you wore it the first time round, you should never don it again. But man, did I love the feel -- and the look -- of that clunky pair of combats worn grunge-style with a baby-doll floral dress or rolled-up jeans.

Clearly my baby-doll dress days are over, but I recently decided that combat boots are more of an evergreen staple than a fleeting trend -- and that being the case, I began the hunt for a new pair.

I started, naturally, on the Dr. Martens website, rifling through the familiar gummy-soled classics in steel- and soft-toe options, in dozens of zany colors and prints. But I quickly counted the brand out, deciding that the boots were too much of a rehash for anyone over 25.

Looking for something a little more refined, I hit up online designer emporium, Net-a-porter. But, surprise! The only combat boots in stock are special-edition Dr. Martens -- a handful of classic lace-ups including a pair in crocodile-embossed leather and another wrought in oxblood patent leather. As cool and fetching as they were, I realized I was pining for a slimmer silhouette.

An exhaustive search of Zappos.com followed -- in which I contemplated a pair of Edwardian-vibe brown combats from DKNY and a no-frills black boot from Seychelles.

Then a Google search sent me way down the lane to an Army-Navy surplus store in Vermont called Barre Army/Navy Store, where I laid my weary eyes on the perfect pair of shiny black leather combat boots. Lean and mean-looking, they were priced, astoundingly, at $38.95.

I pulled the trigger on the purchase, and within a week had them in hand. The full-grain leather will take a while to break in, but they absolutely fit the bill, and look adorable with skirts and tights and rolled-up jeans. And I don't feel like a throw-back. Not even a little.

-- Emili Vesilind

Photo: Dr. Martens Pascal crocodile-stamped boots. Credit: Courtesy of Net-a-Porter

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Aldo's design-it-yourself competition [Updated]

I just stumbled upon a cool-looking contest with Aldo shoes and accessories.  Personalize a pair of shoes or a bag with studs, spikes, color or anything you want, and submit the picture to www.aldoshoes.com/diy.  Judges will choose 10 finalists, and the winner will get to design a shoe or bag for the brand’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection.

The last day to submit is Oct. 30, and finalists will be announced on Nov. 16. It's last minute, but I thought it worth mentioning.  Besides, you may already have some DIY accessories you’re proud of and wanted to share with the world.

[Updated at 10:58 a.m.: An earlier version of this post listed today as the submission deadline and Oct. 20 as the day finalists would be announced. Aldo has changed those original dates.]

Aldo has been doing some interesting things lately, stepping up the design and also appearing in the most unlikely places.  Every fashion plate from Diane Kruger to Beyonce has been wearing its shoes, and Kate Walsh carried a silver Aldo clutch to the Emmys. I’ve got my eye on Aldo.

Competition details here.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

The Ting Tings paint Hollywood neon for Adidas

On Saturday night, the Ting Tings painted the town day-glo at a private party hosted by Adidas.

The British duo whose catchy pop anthems “That's Not My Name" and "Shut Up and Let Me Go," performed at a secret venue behind the Fredericks of Hollywood flagship.

In a bid for collectible cover art for the band's single "Great DJ," partygoers, many of whom had entered a contest to win admission, were given squeeze bottles of neon paint and proceeded to squirt them on the walls and all over each other. Luckily, Adidas was handing out black tracksuits to use as a roving canvas.

The random splattering and fumes caused some targets, including Perez Hilton, to quickly run outside for cover, but the paint-splattered twentysomethings merrily raved on until the band's finale.

Artwork from the event will be displayed at the Adidas Original store on Melrose. 8009 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. (323) 658-6091. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

-- Max Padilla

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Photo: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

Mona Moore shoe store opens West Coast outpost in Venice

Mona Moore might not be a typical Venice shoe boutique. A disco ball hanging in the front window should be the first clue. But if you're a female footwear fanatic whose eyes light up at the mention of Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester and wedge boots, you might want to venture out to this latest Abbot Kinney retail spot.

Lisa Bush and Anna Maria Varriano opened the original Mona Moore in Montreal seven years ago (the name is a riff on mon amour -- "my love" in French). The inaugural shop offered style-starved Montrealers a place to stock up on footwear from L.A.'s own avant-gardist Rick Owens along with European designers. After launching a successful Mona Moore e-commerce site (about 40% of store sales are online), Bush decided to open an outpost on the West Coast this year. She currently lives in Topanga.