Here’s some information about another popular brand. I included this in my colunn, but a last-minute ad ate up the space. So, here it is.

—————-

An ugly duckling doesn’t always need to be transformed into a beautiful swan to be popular. Launched as boating shoes in 2002, these clunky, lightweight plastic shoes grabbed the attention of men and women who never went near the water. They’re cheap, disposable, fun and come in a multitude of colors. They often draw the ire of “Project Runway” fashion mentor Tim Gunn, who says they look like a plastic hoof. That didn’t stop Crocs from becoming a hit with young and old, grungy and groovy

Stuart Weitzman satin evening sandals.

This gladiator evening sandal by Stuart Weitzman screams holidays. This is a show-stopper. It will be in stores this fall,  so keep it in mind if you’ve got strong ankles. That crystal pencil heel could be dangerous for some of us.

What’s interesting about Marmi is that the store is only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It was buzzing when we were there; women were buying  two and three pairs at a time. The store carries 10,000 pairs of shoes with such brands as Vaneli, Sesto Meucci of Florence, Amalfi and Rangoni, and new stock comes in weekly, said manager Bryan Gomez. And, yes, I bought a pair of Vaneli leopard print flats trimmed in black patent. Love, love, love ’em. I’ve already worn them three times. Comfortable, too.  

All shoes are priced $24.99 and $29.99, with savings of at least 70 percent off the original prices. What’s more, there’s a special “pot luck” group by size for only $19.99. Marmi Shoe Rack also specializes in hard-to-find sizes from 4 to 12 in widths slim to wide.

The stores accepts credit cards and cash. No checks. All sales are final.

 To celebrate the Memorial Day weekend, the store will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.  Personally, I can think of no better way to spend a three-day weekend than shoe shopping. In fact, I’ve got my eye on a pair of two-tone patent wedges, so I better scoot back over there and give them another test run around the store. I just hope my size is still available. If you shop at Marmi and see something you love, buy it. It may not be there the next weekend — or maybe even the next day.

Marmi is at the Quail Plaza Shopping Center, May and Hefner.

ALDO men's flip-flop

ALDO stores are offering a pair of free flip-flops with every men’s footwear purchase of $70 or more — while quantities last. The free gift with purchase offer starts May 1. Of course, you can always buy the flip-flops for $15.

ALDO stores are located in Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City and Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa.

Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS Shoes. For every pair sold, one pair is donated to a child in need.

TOMS Shoes knows how a pair of shoes can change a child’s life.  Do you?

You can help raise awareness by going barefoot on Thursday.

For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS Shoes donates one pair to a child in need.  It’s the One for One movement. In three years, more than 130,000 shoes have been given to children in Ethiopia, Argentina, South Africa and the United States.

Often, children cannot attend school barefoot. In Ethiopia, about 1 million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.

To help raise awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have, TOMS is asking everyone to go one day without shoes on April 16.  If you can’t go barefoot all day, then at least slip off those shoes for a little while.

* Go barefoot to the mailbox or on your lunch break.

* Attend a shoeless event. There are several in Oklahoma.  Find them here.

 To learn more about TOMS Shoes, its mission or to find Oklahoma retailers, go to www.tomsshoes.com.

TOMS Shoes. The style is based on an old Argentine shoe. They come in several different colors and patterns.

Pocketflops ... portable flip-flops.

How many times have you limped to your car after a day (or a few hours) in super-stylish stilettos or pointed-toe flats? Oh, the pain.

Never get caught like that again.  Pocketflops are portable flip-flops that you can stash in your purse, glove compartment, backpack or exercise bag. What’s more, they’re eco-stylish.

The foldable flip-flops are made from 95 percent recycled tire rubber and come in a carrying case made of either recycled or organic fabric. The flip-flops come in sizes small, medium and large and sell for $20 each. They can even be customized for weddings, sororities, school fundraisers or organizations.

Floc Designs was founded in 2008 as a manufacturer of products that merge style and eco-friendly materials. Along with Pocketflops, the company also has a line of coasters.

Find them at www.flocdesigns.com.