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Last update - 23:37 20/06/2007 Plastic: the new leather? By Ilit Mainemer We saw only the beginning of the trend last summer, and this time around, plastic shoes are everywhere. Once reserved only for the beach, they have recently reappeared in the smarter form of ballerina flats, which could go well with dresses and trendy bags. This is certainly not an Israeli invention. Even Marc Jacobs new Jelly Mouse line features plastic versions of flats designed in a variety of leathers, satin, velvet, crocodile and even pony fur. The Brazilian Melissa label, sold locally in the Irit shoe store chain, offers an entire collection of shoes for day and night, with or without heels, platforms and stilettos, all of them 100 percent synthetic, some covered in fabric or velvet and glorious color. Local designers also rose to the challenge. Dana Sidi, a 25-year old second-year student at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, saw similar shoes abroad and thought, "They could be a hit." This season, she is selling rubber shoes of her own design manufactured in Hong Kong, and has no doubt that they are evening-appropriate as well. "My black shoes, which have a brilliant sheen, are particularly suited to evening dresses," she says. Advertisement On the flip side of this trend is the somewhat less attractive group that includes the lackluster Crocs seen everywhere. Shlomit Slavin elevated the local housekeeper's flip-flops to new heights and named them "Hoki," correctly assuming that they would be a hit. But it is hard to understand why she would willingly expose the population to these utterly charmless "shoes." They appear as if they might fall from the foot at any moment and they expose the toes in the most unflattering way possible. Slavin's explanation sheds new light on this subject. "They received a warm welcome," Slavin says. "People adore them; they're happy. It started with celebrities and stylists and now involves a very broad spectrum. This trend reverberates because flip-flops are controversial. They arouse a lot of emotion and smiles. People remember all kinds of things, good and bad. One woman might remember getting hit at home with these flip-flops. Another remembered running down to the bomb shelter as a child, and that one of them fell off on the way. Another told us that she cleaned the house in these for 15 years. "In Europe," she adds, "there are none of these connotations and they adore them over there. I have already sent a shipment to Rome and London and another to Australia and Canada." Orit Razili of the Razili chain calls this an example of "urban, street-wear fashion - something for cool, young women." Bizarre trends are nothing new and what was once off-limits may suddenly become ultra-chic. But it is fair to hope that this trend will be short-lived. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Photoshopped launch Did Iran doctor an image of its provocative missile test launch? 'Hitler was a good boss' Nazi bodyguard describes the fuhrer's last moments in a Berlin bunker.   1.   Leather supports the cruelty of the slaughterhouse 00:28  |  Paula Moore 21/06/07   2.   Plastic the New Leather? 00:53  |  Rachel 21/06/07   3.   CROCKS = HEIGHTISM 18:54  |  tall one 21/06/07   4.   Hoki Sandals 18:36  |  Jane Tarrago 02/11/07   5.   Hoki 04:30  |  Amanda Clatworthy 04/11/07   6.   Hoki 00:44  |  CJ 11/07/08

Read & React Did Iran doctor an image of its missile test launch? Responses: 68 Hitler's bodyguard: The Fuhrer was a good boss Responses: 42 Police source: Anyone but Olmert would have been arrested by now Responses: 14 Ari Shavit: The real problem is America Responses: 18 H.A. Hellyer: Who speaks for Europe's Muslims? Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain Is the Arab love affair with Obama over? (WTR) On Iraq, Obama draws to the ground of reality Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain Iran's bomb-building potential more than doubled (WTR) More Headlines 10:26 Police questioning Olmert for 3rd time in graft probe 08:03 ANALYSIS / Olmert won't be able to recover from this interrogation 10:10 IDF officer, civilian wounded by Palestinian fire near Qalqilyah 12:05 Hezbollah swap set for midweek, barring last-minute changes 10:02 Dollar up to NIS 3.378, day after BOI decides to buy $100m daily 12:03 Israeli wedding halls install credit card facilities for guests' gifts 11:12 Five people killed in seperate car accidents overnight 07:15 Defense officials: Renew diplomatic pressure on Syria as Hezbollah rearms 05:36 Hitler's bodyguard: The Fuhrer was a good boss 09:00 Arab state tells Israel it won't oppose Iran strike 02:50 Ex-soccer star Revivo leaving Israel following underworld 'banishment' 06:49 Did Iran doctor an image of its missile test launch? Previous Editions Select Day 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun

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