Who doesn't love to feel comfortable? I love comfort but hate compromising style. It irks me when I see girls in the street with pajamas... yes, I said pajamas!! It's not cute its not sexy, but yes its comfortable. There are many brands that master the art of Comfy chic which I would say would comprise of 80% of my fashion choices. The rest would be hip hugging, ultra uncomfortable baggy clothes!

Vince and Helmut Lang are my favorite clothing brands. The company Vince encompasses itself with loose fitting tops that are sexy yet demure. Silk tops, Long tanks, and most importantly amazing textiles. I feel better wearing their clothes than pajamas. Did I mention I like comfort? My staple however is their leggings. I am such a devotee of Vince Leggings that I haven't worn jeans in 2 weeks. 
Vince is a somewhat monochromatic brand, so my only complaint would be the fact that I cant buy them in every color in the rainbow. Not that I would look cute in magenta colored Leggings but you get the point. 

I currently have 3 Vince leggings. However Vince is not the only brand that does leggings right. Zara is a more popular brand and does great leggings that are released seasonally. Their prices are more modest in comparison to Vince and still deliver great quality. BCBG MaxAzria also has great leggings. they are constructed with thicker textiles more appropriate to colder weather. 

Helmut Lang doesnt fall too far behind. This brand masters the art of infusing comfort into edgy chic. Asymmetrical design with hard edges and soft fabrics. Mixture of Funky prints and subtle colors. Ok, back to leggings. Focus!!!!! Helmut Lang has amazing leather leggings which features different colors and textures. 

So lets get to the important part: Prices!
At the top of the price chart would be Helmut Lang and Vince, with Leather leggings ranging from $800 to $1500. 
Viscose Leggings start at $235. 

Vince Jogger Leggings $235

Vince Leather Cropped leggings $1175

Helmut Lang Reflex Leggings $265

Helmut Lang Stretch Leather Leggings $920

Can't afford these? Don't worry, most of the time I can't either. But I have to admit I do stalk Ebay for these beauties, and once in a blue moon they do turn up for an amazing bargain, and I can't resist.  

What can I say about these Leggings that I haven't already said? Oh yes! How can you style these? These look great with boots, Ballet flats or...... you guessed it...... Isabel Marant sneakers!!! LOL!!

Baya, Bekket, Brian, Betty, Bayley, Bobby, Bluebell..... have you noticed that alot of Isabel Marants famous sneakers start with the letter B! She also seems to like the letter W, with the Wila and Willow. 
Whichever letter she decides to use generally translates into pretty awesome sneakers. There have been countless companies trying to imitate her concealed wedge sneaker, but none have the style and class of hers. Marant was quoted saying: " Everybody who has the wrong one looks quite bitchy, very vulgar, when mine are not at all."
I have to agree. I can spot an authentic IM sneaker from miles away. Wether you like the high top , short boot with laces, all leather or suede, these sneakers can please a plethora of people. 


So how can I get these sneakers?  Well, it's definitely not that simple. Apart from the fact that stores have wait lists, the price is a bit salty. There are only 10 IM stores nationwide. Three are in the US in NYC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. If you are not in one of these cities you will have better luck finding them at Barneys and select Nordstrom locations. Many renowned websites also sell IM sneakers like Net- a- Porter, La Garconne, and Luisa Via Roma to name a few. 

The sneakers can range from $640 to $740 depending on the model and leather type. As most European fashion staples, these also have constant price increases, so its best to get them soon! Cant afford that price, no problem! Websites like Ebay, Poshmark and Bonanza have great prices at times. Keep in mind that since these are hard to come by some people will actually price them higher than retail. Sometimes a lightly preloved pair will be more economical. 

Marant sneakers for $150?? Sounds fishy? Then it probably is. Apart from the obvious inspired pairs from popular brands, there are also replicas, which are exact imitations. Be very careful when purchasing these because nowadays anything can be faked and they could be mirror image of the real deal!

Here are some ways to make sure you are not duped!

Insoles look a bit shiny and when worn will wrinkle and the Isabel Marant logo starts to fade and become blurry.  In the case of the Bekket, Bayley and Wila they all have a structure towards the back of the shoe that resembles a wishbone. This should be raised out of the shoe and have fullness. It shouldn't be flat. The tongue of the shoe is very full and resembles a pillow. There is a flap of suede that goes over the tongue and under the third velcro. 

As you see in this pair the logo looks crisp and the letters are a bit larger than normal. The wishbone shape towards the back of the shoe is flat when it needs to be full and bevelled. This is a great example of a good replica. 

In this pair the wishbone structure looks full and the stitching is not noticeable as in the replica shoe. The Isabel Marant logo is small unlike the replica. 

Apart from these small flaws it is also imperative that you check the sellers feedback. If the seller has 0 feedback chances are they are replicas. Always ask questions regarding authenticity. Where it was purchased, if there is a receipt, and if there is a picture of the box, where the sticker matches the shoe description. Often these sneakers are made in Portugal and will have the marking on the shoe or on the box. 

There are websites like The Purse Forum, where fellow shopaholics aid others in authenticating products free of charge. It is always a good idea to post images to get opinions from others who might also own these sneakers. 

Isabel Marant has recently signed a collaboration with H&M which should start appearing in stores around November 2013. Do you believe a modestly priced pair of Marant/H&M sneakers is in the works?