The wedge has reigned as the king of spring and summer shoes for the last half-decade or so, but when time came for me to get a new pair, I felt strangely ill–kind of like when watching too many episodes of Jersey-themed “reality” shows.  Luckily, clogs have reasserted their place among shoes as as a legitimate alternative to wedges or high-heeled sandals ever since they showed up at the Chanel Spring/Summer 2010 fashion show last year. Thanks, Karl! This doesn’t mean you have to emulate Karl Lagerfeld’s version or traditional Dutch clogs, though. Everyone from Jeffrey Campbell to Lanvin has jumped on the clog bandwagon with versions that run that gamut from more traditional close-toe clogs to open-toe sleeker versions.

Here are our picks for the cutest clogs of the season.

DV Dolce Vita “Jezebal” clog combines a cute peeptoe with a stacked heel and oodles of style:

Photo: Bloomingdales.com

The Charli platform clog from Jeffrey Campbell more closely emulates the Chanel S/S  2010 clogs and features a convertible strap that can be worn along the front or as a slingback. Wear with pushed down socks and a floral dress.

Photo: Freepeople.com

Sam Edelman’s Flair clog marries the standard clog silhouette with rough-and-tumble burnished chain accents.

Photo: Piperlime.com

When fall rolls around, these clog booties from Opening Ceremony combine style and comfort perfectly.

Photo: Shopbop.com

Following in the footsteps (har) of Melissa plastic shoes, plastic furniture design house Kartell teamed up with Moschino to create the adorable Bow Wow flat for Spring/Summer 2011. Eye-catching and colorful, the interwoven flats with the signature Moschino bow are made of nontoxic thermoplastic and are 100% recyclable! How fashionable.

[via Design Milk]

Fourth of July calls for fireworks,  barbecues and, of course, patriotic fashion. It’s the one day you can wear stars, stripes and three colors without looking silly. Well, you might still look silly, but everyone will have so many Pabst Blue Ribbons in them, you could wear a Ghana flag and no one would notice.

Here are a few picks to show your patriotism. USA!

This chemise from Old Navy is supposed to be for sleeping, but I say it’s for fashionably holding a beer.

Stars and Stripes Racerback Chemise

This bikini from Tilly is a cute take on stars and stripes, using pink and black while incorporating stars and stripes.

This cute finger-painted tee from Yes Style replaces stars with hearts to show your love of country (and love of your country’s soccer team. Meow!).

Flag Print T-shirt

I don’t quite know what to make of these Giuseppe Zanotti open-toe booties from Zappos. They’re either hideous or brilliant. There’s just so much going on. Stars! Eagles! Rhinestones! I have a headache just looking at them. I’m erring on the side of hideous, but to each her own.

Show support for your favorite soccer team with Havaianas limited edition World Cup flip-flops, representing 17 teams–USA, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Argentina, Spain, The Netherlands, Australia, England, Paraguay, France, Japan, Italy, Portugal, Nigeria and Cameroon.

Photo: Havaianas.com

At $24, these colorful sandals are the perfect way to show some nationalistic pride! They’re only being sold until July 11, but will most likely sell out before then. Score them online (haha) at Havaianas or Barneys, but hurry, because supplies are running low. GOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!

With slight alarm, I’ve been noticing sequins popping up on women’s shoes for summer and pre-fall–from Converse kicks to Miu Miu platforms. What accounts for this need for bling on one’s footwear? Is it a longing for the simpler times of Liberace or have we nothing else left to bedazzle? I, for one, will be skipping the sequins and keeping them where they belong–on pasties.

For the comfort-loving professional, I present: Sam Edelman Kat Sequined Oxfords!

Photo: Bloomingdales.com

For the hip-hop sequin lover, check out these Converse All Star Sequins in rainbow colors!

Photo: Piperlime.com

For the glam diva who needs her shoes to make an entrance before she does, how about Miu Miu Glittered Criss-Cross Pump? (I know glitter and sequins aren’t the same, but they are relatives.)

Photo: Bergdorfgoodman.com

Just for kicks (haha!), check out shoes from Liberace’s actual shoe collection from the Liberace Museum in, where else, Vegas.

Here’s his red sequined sneaker, circa 1966.

Photo: Shoeblog.com

And, his beaded pink loafers, circa 1967.

Photo: Shoeblog.com

…if angels wore Alexander Wang lambskin stiletto open toe booties.

Lizard embossed lambskin on the front is lovingly married to grey suede on the back with a curved extended tab at the back ankle. Architectural stiletto heel. Alexander Wang is a GENIUS!

Available at La Garconne.

Sigh.

Romanian designer Mihai Albu has trumped Alexander McQueen’s 10-inch “Alien” shoes to create 12-inch (dare I say, monstrosities) for women to torture themselves with. A former architect, Albu is deemed the “shoe architect” by rich Romanians who pay an incredible $1525 to wobble around in shoes that add an entire foot to one’s height.

Check out some of his creations.

Albu’s architectural background comes in handy when stacking platforms, layering soles and strategically placing one heel to support the other in Cirque du Soleil-type arrangements.

Jimmy Choo’s sneaker capsule collection debuts this summer at $600 a pair, AND they look like a roadkill combination of a Converse sneaker and a garden snake.  And for the price, the only women wearing these will be The Real Housewives of New Jersey “because they’re Choos, honey” and Jennifer Lopez in her next nails-on-a-chalkboard song about designer shoes.

Fringe isn’t generally something I like a whole lot of. I feel like too much (i.e. on the back of a suede jacket in a V-formation or down the sides of jeans) makes you look like you belong on the back of a Hell’s Angel’s motorcycle or that you dropped a whole lot of peyote.

A little fringe, on the other hand, can look fresh and update an otherwise boring outfit. Let’s see, shall we?

I ADORE this Jimmy Choo Tita Fringe Clutch! The snake-embossed leather with suede woven detail on the bottom corner makes it surprisingly modern.

Photo: Nordstrom.com

To fringe your feet, check out DV Dolce Vita’s Aventura sandal. The braided strap and stud detail will have you saying “Yee haw!”

Photo: Bloomingdales.com

To dress up a plain tank top dress, try adding this black fringe necklace by CCC. You may  not be riding a horse, but country chic is now city necessary!

Photo: Lorisshoes.com

I LOVE this lux platform cage heel from Nine West. They’ve come a long way, baby!

Tautou

Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of anything tribal or Aztec (especially after that Mel Gibson movie, Apocalypto) or even Southwest (is New Mexico still a state, BTW?). Anyway, tribal and ikat prints are making their way onto dresses, shoes and even bags this season. I’m not 100% convinced just yet, but after some meditating with my animal spirit and channelling my inner Native American, I might be ready for this trend!

Gucci Ikat Dress with Harness-Strap Detail

Geren Ford Ruffle Miniskirt

Mara Hoffman Guatemala Dress

Marc Jacobs Ossie Aztec Bag

Apepazza Tiger Eyes Sandal