One of our very dear friends has made the claim that she does not want an engagement ring. Her reasons are true and steadfast and while many might slam her as a raging feminist, there is something emphatic and free spirited about her choice. It’s a decision that she’s had a hard time defending, not only to the older generation, but among same-age friends as well. The truth is, it’s nobody’s business why she does or doesn’t want a ring. In a society like the one we live in today it’s just as beautiful, timeless, and maybe even more sincere to have an alternative to the traditional engagement ring. The same might be said for shoes. In fact, the wedding gown, customary wedding vows, time-honored wedding rings…and well, let’s face it, the whole “orthodox wedding” in general, is changing. Since we know we’re not alone in our alternative thoughts, we’ve decided to give a little shout-out and ode to our fellow non-traditionalists. You’ll face slightly less obstacles with a non-traditional wedding shoe, it’s true, and as for the whole alternative engagement ring, well that’s an entirely different beast altogether. Here’s a few of our favorite alternative wedding shoes:

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something BLUE! These uber fun and dressy satin heels from Christian Louboutin just became our fantasy wedding shoe!

The fantasy shoe that still fits the classic standards of a wedding shoe with the added bonus of flavor and bling! These embellished peep-toes from Jimmy Choo are dreamy!

Simple would be putting in lightly, but the Calvin Klein - Lexa II (Ivory Satin) - Footwear is a ballerina flat you’ll be able to wear all day…and night long.

Green might be the last color you’d think of pairing with your white wedding gown, but the soft and subtle hue of these Caparros - Joelle (Martini Green Silk) - Footwear have us totally convinced.

Go very berry modern chic and wear your something blue right on your feet. The Badgley Mischka Randall is the perfect balance of classic meets modern.

For a green-themed casual affair try the White Glitter flats from TOMS Shoes. As an added bonus, the entire wedding party can wear them (in different colors) too!!

It’s flirty and girly and cheeky and fun! Yellow gives a sweet little pop to these Nina - Critia (Canary Luster Satin) - Footwear dress sandals. The feminine flower embellishment will look great once your dress is bustled for the post-nuptial festivities.

If a ballerina flat will fly than why not a flat sandal as well. It’s your wedding, after all. These pretty, flower-embellished thongs from Barneys are the perfect accessory for a beach wedding.

Carrie Bradshaw did it in SITC, so why can’t you. These Stuart Weitzman - Paradise (Midnight Satin) - Footwear are the perfect wedding “gown” accessory whether you’re eloping in Vegas or putting on a platinum style formal affair.

Become a fan of The Shoe Dish on Facebook! and Follow The Shoe Dish on Twitter.

Came straight to this page? Please visit The Shoe Dish for tons more.

Have questions or suggestions for shoedish? Please email shoedish@gmail.com.

In need of an additional shoe fix? Visit Fantastic Toe today to join the network of the shoe obsessed, create a membership, and share your shoe collections and stories with other like-minded individuals. Fantastic Toe members get lots of yummy discounts and can be automatically entered to win great prizes!! Enter the promotional code, Shoedish, when you join.

Here’s a funky little flat for your Flat Tuesday shoe role call. Shoedish thinks these are pretty. We’re not sure what it is, but we have a thing for the weave, in all it’s varied forms, but woven shoes are amongst our favorites…who would’ve guessed it? These woven square-toed flats from Rachel Roy are complete with a mixed-material weave made of PVC, fabric, and polyester woven together in an artfully abstract messy and mismatched pattern. If Picasso had designed shoes, these would have been his masterpiece. The Avila from Rachel Roy are available at RachelRoy.com for $99.

*Shop Rachel Roy New Arrivals + Receive Free Shipping on Orders +$100

Become a fan of The Shoe Dish on Facebook! and Follow The Shoe Dish on Twitter.

Came straight to this page? Please visit The Shoe Dish for tons more.

Have questions or suggestions for shoedish? Please email shoedish@gmail.com.

In need of an additional shoe fix? Visit Fantastic Toe today to join the network of the shoe obsessed, create a membership, and share your shoe collections and stories with other like-minded individuals. Fantastic Toe members get lots of yummy discounts and can be automatically entered to win great prizes!! Enter the promotional code, Shoedish, when you join.

‘Tis the day for flats and these pretty star-bedazzled flats from Gisueppe Zanotti have hit the ‘IT’ list. You likey? We likey! A cross between haute couture and a rudimentary class in home economics, these paint-by-numbers-inspired rhinestone embellished ballerina flats remind us of all those bedazzle-your-electronics websites for phones, iPods, and the like. We have no problem blinging your accessories and what better accessory to bedazzle and bling out than your shoes. $375 might be a bit pricey for a DIY-looking pair of casual flats, but we still like the idea. Not much of a DIYer? Well, if you can swing these, go for it! The Giuseppe Zanotti - I96216 (Nero) - Footwear is available at zappos.com.

Become a fan of The Shoe Dish on Facebook! and Follow The Shoe Dish on Twitter.

Came straight to this page? Please visit The Shoe Dish for tons more.

Have questions or suggestions for shoedish? Please email shoedish@gmail.com.

In need of an additional shoe fix? Visit Fantastic Toe today to join the network of the shoe obsessed, create a membership, and share your shoe collections and stories with other like-minded individuals. Fantastic Toe members get lots of yummy discounts and can be automatically entered to win great prizes!! Enter the promotional code, Shoedish, when you join.

Visit Shuzsociety today and enter to win these pretty casual toe-cap ballerina flats from Attilio Giusti Leombruni’s (retail $295). Featuring a black patent toe, black nappa base, chic pewter belt, and complete with a combination leather and rubber sole for maximum comfort, these shoes are the perfect addition to just about any shoe closet. To enter, login or register (you must be a member to win) and RATE the shoe. It doesn’t get much simpler than that! These signature Attilio Giusti Leombruni flats will be awarded to the winner of the “fab friday” giveaway on February 19, 2010! Enter TODAY!

Become a fan of The Shoe Dish on Facebook! and Follow The Shoe Dish on Twitter.

Came straight to this page? Please visit The Shoe Dish for tons more.

Have questions or suggestions for shoedish? Please email shoedish@gmail.com.

In need of an additional shoe fix? Visit Fantastic Toe today to join the network of the shoe obsessed, create a membership, and share your shoe collections and stories with other like-minded individuals. Fantastic Toe members get lots of yummy discounts and can be automatically entered to win great prizes!! Enter the promotional code, Shoedish, when you join.

Shoes or chocolate? Some people say that chocolate is better than sex, which is bewildering, but to those people we pose the above question. If chocolate is better than sex and shoes, than what trumps chocolate? I mean, we LOVE chocolate, but really? We’ll take shoes over just about anything, including two weeks worth of groceries and a guaranteed roof over our head. We’re pretty sure that most of you feel the same way. Chocolate only adds to the sumptuous love affair we have with both shoes and sex, but could never take either ones place. In our perfect world, we’d be eating chocolate while having sex wearing our favorite 5-inch stilettos. Hey, a shoe whore can dream! If you feel the same way, than check out the ongoing sale going on at Omelle, where your box of shoes comes complete with a melty gooey holiday sale, just in time for Cupid’s big day.

*Note to readers: If you choose chocolate in both instances - chocolate trumps shoes and sex - than you have no business reading this website.

Become a fan of The Shoe Dish on Facebook! and Follow The Shoe Dish on Twitter.

Came straight to this page? Please visit The Shoe Dish for tons more.

Have questions or suggestions for shoedish? Please email shoedish@gmail.com.

In need of an additional shoe fix? Visit Fantastic Toe today to join the network of the shoe obsessed, create a membership, and share your shoe collections and stories with other like-minded individuals. Fantastic Toe members get lots of yummy discounts and can be automatically entered to win great prizes!! Enter the promotional code, Shoedish, when you join.

Today, news and media blasts about women racing marathons in stilettos for charity and the latest super stiletto are front and center in fashion news, but it wasn’t always that way. In the mid 1800s, the world saw social and economic change, women joining the industrial workforce, and women’s suffrage. This rapid shift changed the face of women’s footwear. Women began to exercise their rights as individuals and exorcise constricting fashion. Broad-heeled, no nonsense shoes, like the saddle shoe, the brogue, flat lace-up sport boots, the ghillie, and of course, the oxford became a favorite of women on protest marches. When Katherine Hepburn began to wear them, however, the common sense shoe went from common, uninspired, and determined to mysterious, fashionable, and daring, landing the oxford and other men’s footwear styles for women into the book of fashion classics. Today the oxford flat has returned and it’s even better than ever. Here are a few of our favorites:

Become a fan of The Shoe Dish on Facebook! and Follow The Shoe Dish on Twitter.

Came straight to this page? Please visit The Shoe Dish for tons more.

Have questions or suggestions for shoedish? Please email shoedish@gmail.com.

In need of an additional shoe fix? Visit Fantastic Toe today to join the network of the shoe obsessed, create a membership, and share your shoe collections and stories with other like-minded individuals. Fantastic Toe members get lots of yummy discounts and can be automatically entered to win great prizes!! Enter the promotional code, Shoedish, when you join.