Though they say I’ll be spending the next 7 days in a bathrobe and/or naked at various spas across the Czech Republic, I know that I’ll want more than just a plain white terrycloth backward snuggie. I’m ready to style the spa, but I’m also packing smart. Here’s the Czech list for what should be brought on a Spa-cation. I’ve never been on one before, so if I’m missing anything crucial, I’ll let you know at the time I need it most.

And less like Lindsey Wixson at Versace. 

1. Walk like a model. Models are specifically trained to walk in the manner that best carries them on any heel. Check the breakdown beneath Karlie Kloss in Lanvin:

As if a string is attached to the crown of your head, pull your neck upward, then bring your chin down.

Elongate your torso by bringing your shoulders back and down.

With a slight lean back, bring the bottom of your ribcage in toward your spine.

Tuck your pelvis under and forward.

Your stomach should be flat and your abs engaged. This takes the pressure off of your spine and onto your muscles.

Smize.

Scroll through what editorial stylists saw the genius in the Norden Wedge (and understand why I’m wearing them today and, really, forever).

Photos from Terry Richardson’s Diary

Thus, Barneys struck a one-year exclusive with Walter Steiger, and hope to watch it grow.

Get your mouth watering for them here:

1. Walter Steiger: The most groundbreaking shoe in existence at this moment is the Walter Steiger Ishi, or as I like to call it – the inverse platform. Instead of the typically shaped heel that places all of the pressure of your body onto the ball of your foot, this downward slope places your weight mainly on the heel and arch, leaving your balls and toes just chillin’. That is until you roll forward and stand on point.

**The first time I saw these shoes they were drawn on a napkin. I found myself in an in depth conversation with someone at the Timo Weiland after party during Fashion Week in February about the state of shoes on the market. I had been searching tirelessly for a pair that didn’t exist. I explained to this person what I’d been looking for – a giant walk-through-puddles height platform that rolls forward at the toe, with solid ankle support. Excitedly, he reaches for napkin and pen and draws this. This person was Paul Steiger, Walter Steiger’s son. At the sample sale he invited me to that followed Fashion Week, I got these platforms and have since worn them to bits and pieces (they even survived a Bassnectar show, as they are now my favorite shoes to dance in). Then this morning, I went to the showroom and previewed the Fall collection where I got to try on dance in Spring’s #1:

2. Prada: Colorful striped elastic bands that hold your foot tight call for attention. The rubber sole gives you stability.

3. Alexander Wang: Zip it, flap it, lace it. You’re still showy in nude.

4. Rodarte: Engraved leather, whittled heel. That totem pole commands a look.

5. Modekungen: Black and white platform – a nod to Prabal and your dual personality.

6. Jeffrey Campbell: Arch support, who needs it? Just chop it off and leave a wooden cutout in its place.

7. Emilio Pucci: A Pucci print catches the eye, no matter what. These could make even a LBD psychedelic.

8. Julian Louie for Aldo: The ikat draws the eye and reminds of peaceful tribes.

9. Carmen Raffia: The color will blend in with your leg, thus transforming your platform incognito. Plus, the flat lean-to front sole begs the on-point stance.

10. Two Lips: The lime straps off the spine will stack you up jazzed.

11. Giuseppe Zanotti: Gold plated thick strapped flats can enhance your look without the height.

12. Balenciaga: The striped platform will hypnotize.

13. Opening Ceremony: Strapped salmon on a heel/platform that will make people wonder if you’re wearing it upside down.

14. Jeffrey Campbell: JC makes the list twice not only for its glorious affordability, but these are freaking mary janes sitting on a rainbow!! These have the capacity to alter your state of being entirely.

15. Alexander McQueen: These will actually alter your soul. The heel is a flutter of gold leaves from a coral reef deep in the sea of dreams.

16. Lanvin: Tanned fringe layered over a wooden wedge burns in the spotlight.

17. Opening Ceremony: The brightest cheetah is the boldest, and his bootie is tied with leopard chiffon. Two cats are better than one.

18. Opening Ceremony: OC is back with the  most bizarre loafer I’ve seen in my life. Made purely of woven leather strands, they are one of the few flat conversation starters.

19. Fendi: Tri-sole platform makes a new covetable shape.

20. Pierre Hardy: A red patent strip in the back makes passersby do a double take.

Find shoes that will start the conversation and you’ll stand taller. The flashier shoes you have, the more you’ll be able to repeat your fabulous layering basics.

Which shoes have transformed you?

Look Five: Spring Spins Sheer and Long

The Sheer Tie Dye Skirt: $175

The dyed effect on this clear piece brings ethereality. It’s meant to layer, so I kept my blinding purple American Apparel tights on underneath. The leggings are low slung, and I’ve hiked the skirt up, leaving my skin only partially exposed, good for a summertime peekaboo.

The Summer Vest Dress: $195

Hitting floor length and speckled with florals, this garment is flexible in its wear. Pull it open for an all-encompassing vest, or close it for a lovely sweeping dress. And it gives me slight vibes of Easter Sunday, which I suppose makes sense, as it’s been reborn.

The Cashmere Crop: $105

Soft and delicious is this little top. It squeezes right into this look, its lavender picking up the purples throughout. In the mid-weather Spring, it’ll keep you cuddling warm with a jacket, but will still be working alone with a high waist. The shoulders stay aloft with substantial facing, acting as its own shoulder pads.

Want more from The Reformation? Check what I did with Look 1, Look 2, Look 3 and Look 4. Happy Shopping.

The Reformation NYC | 143 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002, (646) 448-4925

Photography by Christopher Hall

Shoes by Walter Steiger.

The Height: Aside from turning me Glamazon (the 4.5” platform puts me at a staggering six feet and change!), it allows me to blow past puddles like it’s nothing. The feet will never get wet. These kids are resilient.

The Sole: The shape of the outer sole is such that it allows me to roll rather than walk. It’s curved ever so slightly at the toe and the heel. This is especially useful on the dance floor as I glide from front to back, and can even stand damn near on point in them.

Next I must try these Walter Steigers that will actually keep me on my toes.

The Color: Electric blue and and orange that’s been happily mistaken for red and hot pink bounce off of the shoes. The white keeps it bright.

The Socks: You’re right, they’re not part of the shoes, but these shoes do appreciate a good socking. These particular Native Americanish socks are from LF. Pairing the luminosity of the platform with the vibrancy of the socks, they don’t appear to be fighting one another, but rather teaming up to make something even brighter.

Word of Caution: These shoes take practice. If your foot is not accustomed to a giant platform like this, you’ll need a bit of a buffer before you can wear them with absolute confidence. Keep your balance centered so you don’t roll an ankle – if you slip to one side, it could take you right down. Don’t get discouraged, just hop back up onto your platform horse and ride your sexy strut down to the nearest disco and/or brunch (they work just about anywhere).

But you can’t wear them on April 5th – that day is the One Day Without Shoes.

Photography by Tom Mendes

The contents of someone’s bag tells a lot about them. And here at FashionIndie, our bags can’t keep their goddamn mouths shut.

Sam – Louis Vuitton backpack

My favorite moment was about 4 hours into our Blogger Break Room when we had like 80 people simultaneously getting spa services, drinking champagne, being fabulous and magically nothing went wrong!

Rebecca Minkoff mini wallet
Camera
Grey matte nail Polish
Keys
Gucci aviator sunglasses
Fashion GPS front row seat and after party drink tickets to L.A.M.B. and Ivana Helsinki
Taxi receipts
A fat pile of business cards
NYFW credential badge
Dollar bill from the VMAN Magazine party
Louise Manna body wrap jewelry
3 pens
Moleskine mini notebook
Liquid black eyeliner
Maybelline lipgloss from the Tents
Lotion
Vitamins

Amanda – Bag made from recycled plastic bottles from Love Brigade

- These are my favorite sunglasses of ALL TIME. I bought them at my favorite old lady consignment store like 6 years ago. The case is from Topshop.
- My wallet is full of maxed out credit cards and a $5 bill, so sad.
- I keep vitamins with me in case I start to feel under the weather during fashion week.
- There’s nothing worse than when a nail breaks, so obvi a nail file is necessary.
- iPod, headphones, self-explanatory.
- Notebook and pen for notes and doodles.
- My Canon EOS 20D camera – I’ve been snapping photos all over town.
- My many keys
- Deck of cards from the Malan Breton show yesterday.
- My everyday beauty essentials – hairbrush, makeup brushes, Make Up For Ever Powder, Sephora eye shadow palette, Smith’s Rosebud Salve, Burt’s Bees, Benefit Bad Gal Liner, MAC Satin Lipstick in Rebel, Sephora lip gloss and Maybelline Falsies mascara
- Hand sanitizer for public transportation horrors.
- The collection description sheet from the Son Jung Wan fall/winter 2011 show.
- Business cards from Fashion Week that must be filed away!

Lester – H&M tote

While typing up my list I realized I’m basically a woman. And am fine with that.

Sequined clutch — I don’t care for man wallets
Interview mag with Tom Ford
Nail polish remover — for the 2 bottles of nail polish I got from Blogger Break Room
Headphones
Hand sanitizer
Notebook
2 pens
Duane Reade Cold & Sinus Relief — I crawled over the fashion finish line with a fever and god knows what else
T-Mobile crap since I “lost” my phone and had to get a replacement
Carmex
Programs from various fashion shows, including Richie Rich and Kimberly Ovitz
Box o’ biz cards
Trial size deodorant, baby powder and lotion, should I spend yet another night on someone’s couch
Stain remover pen (LIFESAVER)
The Socializer under eye treatment
Orbit gum
The First Wives Club– one of my fave movies so I decided to check out the book
Body oils (red Egyptian musk and Sandalwood)
Lanvin perfume, Arpege
Lollipop from Cocktails and Couture
Press pass from Diesel
Cough and eye drops
Mirabella eyeliner lip and cheek ink and
Compact — I got so much free make-up even though I don’t wear any of it. Now I have a reason to start.
Gloves
Christian Siriano Payless pump Polaroid
Swiss Army knife should I ever need to cut a bitch

Jess – Faux fur bodybag from LF

1. My brand spankin’ new Macbook pro, that I would have died without. Frequented that AOL StyleList blogger’s haven with it on the regs.

2. Multiple sparkly Milani nail polish. I did my nails everywhere, painting over layers to change up the colors constantly. There was a rotating slew of colors that cycled through the bag this week.

3. Lipsticks: Illamasqua: The Box (rouge), YSL fucsia, Iman (Pat Field‘s) Jaguar

4. Business cards. Gave out about 75, received at least as many.
5. Several WWDs and Daily Front Rows. I do admit I love reading the Daily.
6. Tickets. Many. Some I’ve disposed of, some made it. Some standing, some seats. None actually with my name on it.
7. Various runs of show. Ones that have lingered in my bag: Timo Weiland, Anna Sui, Dennis Basso, Alexandre Herchcovitch.
8. ESSENTIAL: Blackberry. Can’t believe it took me this long to talk about it. Maybe because I’ve done so much damage on it that it actually just broke. Fashion Week broke my phone…. now…. iPhone?
9. Because that’s not an iPhone, that’s an iPod touch and it’s been keeping me cat walking myself from place to place.
10. Biggie camera. I spent 3 years, that’s 6 seasons in the PIT with this guy. Not this year. Now I just got to use it on celebs backstage, at presentations and the like.
11. WIRES. OMG. My bag was like a radio shack. Heaven forbid I should be without a charge.
12. Small purse. Vintage. Used it when I stashed the big lady mama at the after party coat checks.
13. Wallet. Duh.
14. Deck of cards? The last free gift to remain in this bag. They’re usually the first to go when I get home.
15. Voice recorder, which I ditched for my Blackberry video camera.
16. Pashmina – much lighter than a laptop case. I didn’t wear it, my MacBook did.
17. Vintage Korean flower cardi I wore yesterday. I took it off when the world got mild.
18. Urban Zen literature – got my reikis healed (?) in the AmEx Skybox. Still confused about the process, but I felt great after.
19. My handy dandy notebook. All of my show notes are in this little thing.
20. Napkin from Timo Weiland’s after party on which Paul Steiger (as in Walter‘s son) drew shoes for me. I’m going to the press sample sale today!

That is all that remains. I’m surprised I didn’t find at least 3 Frappacinos and a slew of Fijis, but I lightened my load as I went along.

Mac – Faux croc tote from 21Men

I used the camera to take amazing photos all over NYC this Fashion Week.The Coke Zero is used solely for caffeine purposes but Lord knows I dont need any empty calories. I have two pairs of sunglasses to switch up my eyewear but maintain my air of mystery. The Marc Jacobs ones were gifted to me by stylist Robert Verdi as was the Kenneth Cole cologne, Reaction (the scent is fresh and young).  Finally the latest copy of VMAN for the train and cab rides all over the city. And yes I still have the dollar that was in his mouth.

Coke Zero
Powerade
VMAN
Sony Camera
DOTS Wooden Bracelts
Forever 21 Sunglasses
Marc By Marc Jacobs aviators
Notebook
The Daily
Brush
Chapstick
Fashion Indie Vol 2 mixtape
Biz cards
Cash
Metrocard
Pens
Hand Sanitizer
Ray Ban glasses case

Josh – Laptop bag

At the Richie Rich show I heard several people say, “Oh my god! That Rod Stewart impersonator looks so convincing!” I later learned that person was the real Rod Stewart.

Olive Leaf Extract Pills
Vitamin C
Shades
Icebreaker mints
3 $15 iTunes gift cards
Apple wireless mouse
Apple ear buds
GQ magazine
3 Random pens
1 Show invitation
Notepad
Small USB dog that humps computer
Sony voice recorder

I came across this fabulous black and silver sequined platform shoe during one of my fashion magazine binges at the local News and Photo Shop. The designer is Walter Steiger, and I immediately went home and looked up more of his designs on Myprestigium.com. The flashy, vivid colors and unique shapes might be too much for every day, but they are remarkable statement-makers. Not to mention perfect for a delightful drag queen night out!