Posted on: July 8, 2009
In Favor Of ...
Ceci Air Rouched Sandal from Cole Haan: Italian silk strap sandal with rhinestone drops and, of course, Nike Air in the heel and forefoot (\$328) Image courtesy Cole Haan
For Her: The Cole Haan Nike Air Bridal Collection
I've always loved the scene in the 1991 film "Father of the Bride" when Annie Banks shows off her bedazzled bridal sneakers from Sidekicks, the fictional shoe company run by her father George. It's probably because I always saw myself embracing sparkling Keds on my big day rather than risking biting pain halfway down the aisle.
For some reason, comfort and style are opposed when it comes to shoes.
But then there's the brilliance of Cole Haan's new bridal shoe collection. Each shoe sports Nike Air technology - a hidden air cushion within the ball and heel of the shoe - which Cole Haan, a Nike subsidiary, has been putting into its high-end footwear since 2000. And they're stylish. The shoes come in eight styles including a four-inch peep toe stiletto and a ballet flat, and each pair is made in silk satin. Prices retail from $298 to $428. But having comfortable shoes you can wait to take off after the reception may be worth the splurge.
-Melissa Tussing
Samuel Adams Utopias: 24-ounce bottle
27-percent alcohol
\$150 price tag Image courtesy Samuel Adams
For Him: Samuel Adams 2009 Utopias
Sure, a high-end bottle of something is always both welcome and appropriate as a groomsman gift. But the 2009 holiday season allows the lucky man to give the rare gift of Samuel Adams Utopias.
First brewed by the Boston Beer Co. in 2002 (and also released in '03, '05 and '07) Utopias is an uncarbonated beer that clocks in at 27 percent alcohol. The combination of specialty hops, malts and yeasts creates a complex beer that's more an after-dinner drink than a pre-game refreshment.
The '09 batch hits stores in November and comes in a 24-ounce brew-kettle bottle. At $150, it's pricey, but like previous years, the 12,000 limited-release bottles are sure to sell out fast.
-Timothy R. Schulte