If you have read my Gucci handbag reviews, you know I have been disappointed in the recent designs. Now, that disappointment has spread to the Gucci shoe collection, and for the same reason. Since when does Gucci go after the teenage/ Harley Davidson/ NON professional demographic? First we got the absurdly large and over studded shoes and bags, now we have hearts and tattoos? In the good old days, Gucci shoes were worn by power women, and signified class, beauty and sophistication. These shoes are just the opposite.

Frida Giannini, the designer for Gucci, coined this collection "Gucci Exotica", but in her shoe collection there was nothing exotic. It was strictly classic and wearable designs. Like her Spring 2009 handbag collection, she only offered three different designs. While she has the designs in various colors and materials, from leather to crocodile, it was a little bit boring. The wooden platforms with the mary jane uppers are a classic design and look appropriate and chic in a business environment. Same for the triple buckle ankle strap shoe. The metallic snakeskin heel was the only one that would be more appropriate for the evening. In a season of runway fantasia, Gucci's fashions stood out as the practical label, with more everyday wearable pieces. That is a good quality to have in this global economy, even if it was not terribly exciting.

This the Gucci Babouska Open Toe Sandal. Gucci has dissappointed me this Fall, first the handbags, now the shoes. The huge studs, all over the shoe ruin it. it's waaaay overdone. The siloutte of the shoe is very pretty, if only the studs were much smaller....