Despite all the great, cute, and fierce roles she took post-Clueless, the lovely, late Brittany Murphy will always be remembered best as beloved Tai–a quirky little character who had all the qualities of those other roles, packaged into a slightly imperfect bundle, just like us normal girls.

So thanks Brittany, for giving us one of the most likeable characters we’ve come to love. For you, all the best patent Mary Janes; to be worn with over-the-knee socks only.

Red Jimmy Choo Kindlepa pump ($492).

Colin Stuart patent Mary Jane from Victoria’s Secret ($29).

Elie Tahari Sasha pump ($352).

Vaneli for Jildor Danby black patent pump ($75).

And what else to end with, but the legendary Manolo Blahnik black patent leather Mary Jane ($645)?

Thanks to the New York Post, we all now know that “Lindsay Lohan wannabes now can dress just like her. The actress is selling off second-hand clothes on her family’s Web site, Lohanhouse.com. Up for grabs are a pair of Stella McCartney black leather boots and jackets, jeans, hats and handbags, starting at $25.” (I tried clicking the “Authentic Shop” button but nothing happened. Sigh.)

Lohan-like black boots from Stella McCartney

Less weird, more star studded: Clothes Off Our Back is a 501c3 foundation that hosts charity auctions of celebrity attire. Through Feb. 26 you can bid on a pair of Ruthie Davis shoes that Beyonce wore to fashion week’s “Fashion Rocks” red carpet event, and autographed. Proceeds benefit Feeding America, The Art of Elysium, Hope North and H.E.L.P. Malawi.

Web site Who What Wear talks about the recent 7th on Sale — “Touted as the ‘world’s biggest sample sale’ the event was started in 1990 by the CFDA and Vogue to raise money for services and housing for people living with HIV and AIDS — which includes designer goods and celeb-worn items like “the four-inch Calvin Klein heels Madonna wore to the Vanity Fair Party.” Can’t make it to the 7th on Sale gala? Shop the ebay’s Fashion Vault. (Currently the site is readying for the next designer sale, but interested shoppers can sign up for alerts.)

Calvin Klein heels, worn by Madonna to the opening of "RocknRolla"

Across the pond, The Daily Mail reported today that “Stars from Robbie Williams to Boy George have contributed footwear to be sold from the boots of 40 smart cars at Covent Garden in central London. All money raised by the sale, hosted by auction house Christie’s, will go to the HIV and Aids awareness charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust.” Shoes for sale include “a pair of Dr Marten’s boots signed by the cast of EastEnders.”

Botega Veneta t-straps

Charity auctions are great, but if you just want to feel famous and aren’t invited to a fundraiser gala, Celebrity Owned on ebay sells shoes, accessories and apparel previously owned by “Hollywood stars, designers & producers.” Newly arrived: a pair of red and purple Bottega Veneta t-strap heels, size 38.

Furthering the argument that leather-free footwear can be fashion forward, two of the planets most stylish vegans are teaming up to produce an animal-free line of shoes.

Stella McCartney's Koiec flats for Adidas

The U.K.’s Spinner Music broke the news: “Morrissey is to design a range of leather-free shoes with designer Stella McCartney. The designer, the daughter of Sir Paul, said the designs are in the early stages but she hoped they would be in stores next year, the Daily Mail reported. ‘I’m working with Morrissey on a line of leather-free shoes which I’m really excited about,’ Stella McCartney was quoted by the paper.’We are still in the early stages, but the shoes could be launched next year.’” (Also on the horizon: “McCartney is also reportedly set to work with fellow vegetarian Leona Lewis on a new clothing range.”)

New York Magazine’s The Cut blog had this to say: “Finally, the void left by Natalie Portman shall be filled!”

Stella McCartney vegan sneakers for Adidas

Joke all you like; McCartney can deliver. Back in 2004 Discovery Company Treehugger wrote, “High fashion isn’t usually associated with sustainability–at best it does a little greenwashing here and there. But in the case of Stella McCartney, high fashion makes an exception. Miss thing inherited more than just rock royalty genes from Daddy, she inherited Mom’s good-hearted love for animals. All of her clothes are animal-free, including the shoes, which, amazingly, even forego PVC-based plastics in favor of materials derived from plants.”

McCartney’s current footwear lines include an Adidas laceup with a textile upper and synthetic outsole, and a faux-suede perforated bootie to which blogger The Shoe Goddess gave serious props. “While I may think that everyone needs a pair of suede booties for their wardrobe, Stella McCartney has given a beautiful alternative with her faux-suede gray perforated booties,” she writes. “These booties are of course even more interesting and unique because they have the perforations throughout the shoes. The holes are absolutely stunning and turn the shoe into a canvas and creating a piece of artwork on the shoe itself.”

Stella McCartney perforated bootie

So what will Morrissey bring to the project? The former Smiths singer manages to keep his own shoes out of his publicity shots for the most part, but his immaculately tailored suits are epic.

Can you spot Morrissey's footwear?

Racked.com muses, “While the collection is probably going to be more fun that Natalie Portman’s, it has posed a major dilemma for us. What’s the best Smiths reference to make in this situation? Grazia went with ‘Shoplifters of the world uniting…’ Fashionista wrote, ‘We guess all those pleases paid off and he’ll be getting what he wants this time.’”

Recently, DJ and sometimes Lindsay Lohan kanoodler Samantha Ronson teamed up with Supra to produce a high-top sneaker. “The shoes are a version of the brand’s Indy pair but in a new set of colors — distressed black suede with a gold detail and white sole,” wrote New York Magazine’s The Cut Fashion Blog.

According to Ronson’s Web site, she’ll have a new sneaker out late this month. ”Originally not planned for a public release, we’ve decided to drop a limited run of these hyper-colored TK’s after hearing your cries for blood. 600 pairs of each colorway will be produced,” Ronson writes.

Samatha Ronson's hyper-color TKs

(Ronson’s brother Mark designed a shoe for Gucci for Fall 09  — which looks, oddly, like a 1980s deck shoe.)
Hello Kitty — celebrating birthday number 35 — also designed sneakers styles. “These two renowned companies have designed limited edition sneakers to honor Hello Kitty’s 35th anniversary,” said BeautyStyleWatch of HK’s collaboration with Asics. “Not only are they comfortable to wear but they are so totally hot to look at!”

Hello Kitty by Asics

And the LA Times blog writes, “When we thought Hello Kitty domination was beginning to wane, we came across these Asics sneakers and just about died and went to Hello Kitty heaven.”
Coming in Jaunary, according to Converse Shoe Store’s blog, the footwear company will release “several shoes dedicated to The Clash. Most notably is the Converse London Calling shoes which celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the album. There will also be a pair of Converse Shoes that look like a jacket with buttons and Chuck Taylors with The Clash logos.”

Converse's The Clash print

Parisian boutique Colette collaborated with Reebok on a redesign project. Explains excellent women’s sportswear blogger FemaleSneakerFeinds, “Reebok’s celebrating the 20th birthday of their Reebok Pump by collaborating with 20 elite shops to design their own versions of these classics. Here is Colette’s take, and I love ‘em!”
The catch: According to SuperXOfficial, “Only 30 pairs of these kicks will be produced so either catch a flight to France on November 16th (the day they drop) or check eBay on the 17th in the a.m.” We’re passed those crucial dates, but it’s still worth checking.

Reebok Pump by Colette

This summer, Vanessa and Angela Simmons (daughters of Run-D.M.C.’s Joseph Simmons) added to their Pastry line, which is kicks rather than cakes. Reports Sneakers and Shoes (who has been following the line since 2007), “Pastry is doing alright. I see women wearing them every other day in one way or another.”

Pastry sneakers

Love these looks? Look no further!

Jessica Simpson

The Delma Janis

Lauren Conrad

The Corso Como Rachel II

Hillary Duff

The Faryl Robin Dahling

Anne Hathaway

The Corso Como Boca

While I enjoy reporting on celeb-fueled footwear lines, this Fall’s offerings are less of the occasional mention and more of a full-on deluge of A lister-backed collections. So here’s a roundup of who’s designing what and when shoppers can expect to test drive the star-powered shoes:

1. Nitrolicious reported that singer Beyoncé will launch the Sasha Fierce (Beyoncé’s alter-ego) for Deréon Collection. Beyoncé’s mom/mamanger Tina Knowles described the line to WWD as “edgier and trendier;” in addition to outerwear, handbags, lingerie, jewelry and eyewear look for “heavily studded shoes.”

Sasha Fierce for Deréon

According to Style Guru, the line, which launched in September for back-to-school shopping (because what 9th grader doesn’t need heavily studded heels?), “comes at a very affordable price ranging from $25 to $75 and is available at Macy’s and Dillard’s.”

2. It its Oct. 23 issue, New York Magazine’s fashion blog The Cut revealed that, on the heels of Heidi Klum’s dropped jewelry line, the Project Runway host will launch a 48-style show collection for Fall 2010. (Or, says StyleNews, the collection will “be the first to hit stores in February 2010 and will include everything from sky-high stilettos to tall boots.”) Writes the blogger, “The inspiration is the same as every celebrity’s with a fashion line — what’s currently in her closet.”

Louis Vuitton's 2009 Spicy Sandal, worn by Klum

The project, according to  WWD, is a collaboration with “Modern Vintage and Majestic Mills co-founders Rick and Brian Cytrynbaum.”

3. In all the excitement about the launch of the Olsen Twins’ Olsenboye line of J.C. Penny (they’re promoting it in a cupcake truck!), has Mary-Kate and Ashley’s other project — the Elizabeth and James line — fallen under the radar? Say it isn’t so! Nitrolicious previewed the 2009 Elizabeth and James footwear collection, pronouncing it “so amazing.” Pictured here, the lace-up flat ankle boots, available at Saks.

Elizabeth and James ankle boot

4. Paris Hilton frenemy Nicole Richie is to (says blogger Fantastictoe) partner “with Modern Vintage shoes and Earnest Sewn jeans. Richie will add a line of around 20 shoe styles to her House of Harlow 1960 label for spring of 2010.”

5. Black Eyed Pea Fergie’s shoe line, launched in Spring of 2009 through endless.com, is offering up fall and winter looks like a shearling-lined boot and a magenta suede peep-toe. Blogger Fergie Freak writes, “Recently, I have been asked about where to get some of the fabulous shoes Fergie has been seen performing in. Well, it turns out that they are part of her own line of shoes. She’s come out with a lot of new styles for the fall.” (A poll on Beauty Xpose’s Foot Fetish Friday showed that voters were evenly divided when it came to the hotness or notness of the singer’s spring footwear.)

Fergie's magenta kid suede heel

At the Greater Washington Sports Alliance (GWSA) 2009 Sneakerball that “chick” may have been Sheila C. Johnson, Lindsay Czarniak, or Cristy Oglevee.

Sheila C. Johnson (pictured right)

For 6 years running the GWSA has honored outstanding members of D.C.’s sport’s community at this unique black tie event that encourages attendees to wear tennies with their tuxes! But I had to wonder, do women actually ditch their stilettos for sneakers?

As I approached the venue in my pink sparkly Converse, I was slightly apprehensive; however, my fears were assuaged as I saw not just men, but many women sporting sneakers as well. I talked to several women who fessed up that they too were afraid they would be the only heeless gals, but in the end swapped their pumps for Pumas anyway. Quite a few ladies, though, could not part with their heels and sported some killer stilettos. The hands-down most asked question of the night? Why on earth WOULDN’T you wear sneakers?! Most of the guys assumed it

Mike Easby, Mrs. DC Deanna McCray, and Justin Scango

was a vanity issue, but Mrs. DC, Deanna McCray raised a very valid point. Her evening gowns are hemmed for heels (as are most of ours), so wearing sneakers would leave her dress dragging on the floor. She promised she tried–and wanted to–wear sneakers, but they just wouldn’t work.

As for the guys and gals that sported sneakers, there were some very impressive shoes! Converse were probably the most popular choice as one can find them in an array of colors and textures. I also discovered that Nike and Puma make some pretty sharp sneaks as well! My absolute favorite shoes, though, were the DIY projects. Sheila Johnson spruced up her sneakers with ribbon laces in shades of salamander, and I was totally jealous of Julie Hoyt who added rhinestones to the toes of her silver Converse (why didn’t I think of that?!).

It’s the line launch that caused the groan heard round the world: Lindsay Lohan’s mom, Dina, plans to release her own footwear designs. This is the concise Tweet from New York Magazine’s In the Cut:

@cutblog We just got this release and kind of died RT @glamour_fashion just found out dina lohan is doing a line of shoes called “shoe-han.”

Dina Lohan

Go ahead and google “shoe-han.” I dare you.

Actually, The StyleList is aiming for fairness if not gushing enthusiasm. “We’re happy to report that all of the shoes will be under $100, and the collection will launch around Mother’s Day 2010,” the blog writes. And, in Lohan’s own words, “The line is not called ‘Shoe-Han!’”

Though that might change in the next six months, since every fashion blogger out there is tossing the moniker around.

HecklerSpray posted a press release that reads, “Dina Lohan, diva and star of the hit E! show ‘Living Lohan,’ as well as mother to actress and starlet Lindsay, will be holding a major press conference and media reception on Thursday October, 8 at 2pm at Trump Plaza… to announce a creation of her new own shoe line, ‘Shoe-han’ as well as becoming a national spokesmodel for the popular LoveMyShoes.com retail designer ladies footwear stores.”

And for those whole like a little snark in their news, Here’s New York Mag’s more detailed missive: “The line will be sold on LoveMyShoes.com and the site ‘hopes’ to launch them worldwide by Mother’s Day. ‘Hopes’ because there remains the sliver of a possibility that fervent demand for the footwear won’t overcome the entire globe.”

The big question, of course, is what will the shoes look like. For now, that remains to be seen, unless we can go by this photo posted by ShoeBlog.

Popular opinion cold change should Lohan’s collection present shoe shoppers with the perfect footwear, but a casual poll posted at PopEater reveals that 91-percent of online votes do not plan to buy from Shoe-han.

When a friend of mine, a confessed shoe addict, feverishly posted a link to Shoe Dazzle on her Facebook page, I was intrigued. And a little frightened. It’s just that the site (a shoe club that functions much like those ubiquitous CD clubs of the 90s) sounds too good to be true.

An offering from Shoe Dazzle

You take a survey. A team of expert stylists (apparently including reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who launched the online business) make personalized recommendations and then once a month (for the monthly membership fee of $39) you receive a new pair of shoes.

First off, how can an online survey detect my very individual taste in shoes? And second, for $39 am I buying a whole lotta pleather?

Well, according to About.Com’s Plus-Size Fashion, yes on both counts. “While the shoes were synthetic, I can’t say that I was particularly surprised, due to the price.” But: “Despite the fact that the shoes were not leather, they were carefully stitched and molded, and did not give the impression of cheap or inexpensive footwear, which is extremely important to me.”

More Shoe Dazzle selections

Other members also seem not to mind the synthetic material. Cyndi, a commenter on Upscale Swagger writes, “I am a Shoe Dazzler…great looking shoes, well made for faux leather, brillant idea Kimmy, Shoe of the Month club!”

Actually — and maybe surprisingly for a Web-based club run by a celebutante  who posed nude and released a workout DVD before launching her shoe service — the clammor of Shoe Dazzle is mostly positive.

Splendicity: “Remember when I mentioned I was shopping over at Shoe Dazzle? I got my package of awesome grey sky-high heels, and I thought that you might like to hear about what I thought. . . besides the fact that they were, um, awesome!”

The cagey Marchesa

It’s really easy to forget how incredibly lucky we are.

Whether we blow our money on expensive takeout, tumescent rent, or simple daily wastefulness, we often–no matter how frugal we may fool ourselves we are–live lives of excess, whether or not we can afford it.

Vanessa Minnillo and Kelly Rutherford at DSW Presents: Step Up & Step Out’s Champagne Brunch, Photo Credit: Kristen Somody

And then we see a glimpse at the people who truly can’t. The people who struggle for that every carton of milk, every metrocard, and realize we are blessed. And it’s that blessing that makes it our duty to stop obsessing about ourselves and start contributing to the world around us.

This past weekend, I had the honor of being a guest at DSW Presents: Step Up & Step Out, an event that started out a champagne brunch and started out the hottest shoe sale of the year.

It was held at the super-fancy W Hotel, and began with a VIP champagne preview brunch and a designer shoe sale featuring labels from DSW Shoes and interactive style lounges. Sales helped raise funds for the Step Up Women’s Network program in New York.

Film and television personality Vanessa Minnillo served as honorary chair, accompanied by shoe-lover and Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford! The event’s host committee was lead by DSW spokesperson and renowned stylist Bobbie Thomas. The DSW event benefit the female empowerment charity Step Up Women’s Network,and Vanessa spoke at length about the importance of having women role models in her life.

The network raised money through sales of fabulous shoes – and the day was all a very good time, as VIPs tried on fierce stilettos and sipped pink champagne. But it had a bigger message: Indulge in the fabulousness of our lives, but remember to share our blessings, and be there for the next generation as the generation before has been there for us. One day, not so far away, they will be raising their own glasses…in equally smashing stilettos…and making a difference for someone else out there.