StyleSpy with Katrina Szish

Marc Jacobs' iconic "mouse" shoe is officially celebrating it's 10th, although the designer has offered countless charming and increasingly figurative incarnations during the decade.

As a means of celebrating the shoe's icon status, Jacobs did what only Jacobs can do:  He masterminded a collaboration so brilliant that it ensures the (limited) anniversary edition will transcend mere icon status. 

This shoe isn't a shoe -- it's art. 

Jacobs enlisted the help of my most-revered urban artist, KAWS (aka Brian), to craft the latest mouse flat.  KAWS is known for his postmodern graffiti art, some of which resembles Mickey Mouse.  Thus, in addition to his automatic hip-factor, he is a man who knows mice.  Well played, Marc.

Only 200 pairs of the black flats exist worldwide, and they are available immediatement at Paris' drool-inducing Colette.

Whether or not you collect KAWS pieces (like I do), I don't know that I would recommend wearing these shoes.  Just display them on your vanity or bookshelf, and keep the packaging should you ever want to auction them "MIB" on Ebay...or at Sotheby's.

Until now, my all-time favorite Marc Jacobs collaboration was with Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton.  I bought myself an original cherry blossom monogram bag and managed to get Mr. Murakami to sign it at a gallery opening (a "vintage" snapshot from the 2003 event with my apparently very serious and very scruffy friend Michael Taylor). 

To my nearly uncontainable delight, he not only signed the bow-clad bag (pictured above!), but he DREW A PICTURE on the inside flap.  Needless to say, that bag doesn't get out much.  Who needs a retirement fund when you've got that baby stashed away?!

My weekend plans?  A visit to www.Colette.fr followed by a Vespa ride across the Williamsburg Bridge to track down the artist...and a signature.