Shoe In

Alexander McQueen has been designing some pretty amazing shoes lately. The pheasant feather pumps in his Fall '07 collection had me rabidly scouring eBay for an affordable pair in my size. Still no luck on that front, and now he trots out these babies. I love everything about their shape, from square snub toe to spindly, vertiginous heel. Proper and retro and sexy all rolled into one.

I'm also really feeling closed-toe pumps right now. I know it's spring and most people's thoughts are turning to pedicure-baring styles, but I can't help but admire the way the color and shine of these shoes helps one buck that trend but still feel au courant. They're spring-y, but not desperately spring-y. Showing a little restraint in transitioning between seasons while the fashion pack goes new-season mad seems like a good idea.

Shoes by Alexander McQueen. Image from Elle UK Bag and Shoe Supplement, March '08.

"Short Boots", not "Booties"

Please don't call them 'booties'. Booties are what babies wear. They're 'short boots', even if it's a more unwieldy term.

I'm planning to buy a new pair this fall, since I've been wearing my bronze Donald J. Pliners for a couple of years now. I like all three of the above styles.

The type in the first photo will, I think, be a better long term investment, since an ankle height boot is classic. They're basic black, but jazzed up with strappy cut-outs which are somewhere between dominatrix and a cursive culicue. Between the strappiness and the heel shape there's something vaguely eighties about them, but I can live with that. The heel height looks nice and walkable too.

The two styles shown in the second photo are much trendier and therefore seem far more up-to-the-minute in comparison. They'd yield greater glory now but have less staying power, so choosing them is a question of being willing to accept the trade-off. I've always paired short boots exclusively with pants and tall boots exclusively with skirts and dresses. I just don't like the hipster look of short boots with a skirt. But these ultra-low boots are practically pumps, so they might force me to reconsider my short-boots-with-pants edict. In the abstract, I prefer the gathered look on the cream pair, but the black are a way to get the style with screaming it.

First image from InStyle, August '07. Black ankle boots by Alejandro Ingelmo. Second image from Vogue, August '07. Cream boots by Christian Louboutin. Black boots by Sergio Rossi.

Update: Christian Louboutin Knotted Heels

The Christian Louboutin knotted heels I wrote about a while back keep popping up, in assorted colors and materials, in all the August magazines. I'm not sure which version I like best, since they're pretty fabulous in any incarnation.

If I were choosing in a void I'd probably go with the rose satin mules, even though they look like they'd be the most difficult to walk in. (Why is it that the most tempting shoes are somehow also always the least comfortable?) I like the black pumps, but I think they're maybe a little too tame for such a great style; the retro knot and ladylike shape deserves something splashier. And while I love the suede of the berry-colored ones, but I think a great pair of shiny grey pumps would best balance versatility and style.

Given how hard it would be to decide, it's a good thing that choosing between them is a hypothetical question: those pricey ladies defintely don't fit my fall fashion budget. I bet that we'll see some knock-offs from Nine West or a similar line in the near future, though.

First image from Lucky, August '07. Second image from InStyle, August '07 . Third image from Harper's Bazaar, August '07.

Knotted Raspberry Suede Pumps

These Louboutins are terrific. So many of his shoes that have been featured in magazines lately (and even that I've been seeing in the stores) are way too trendy and over-the-top. A couple of years back, during the reign of the 'ladylike look', I remember coveting his shoes as much as Manolo Blahnik's, but that was before he started heeling the most outrageously-clad celebrities.

Maybe these pumps signal an intention to take his designs in a direction that's a little more classic. They're discreet but still ooze personality and look like they'll age beautifully. The rich berry shade would do a good job of perking up fall/winter's subdued black, brown and navy but also look swell paired with brights or pastels on formal occasions in spring and summer.

Shoes by Christian Louboutin. Image from Vogue, July '07.

Sky High Pumps

Who says that work shoes can't be sexy? I think closed toe pumps are some of the hottest shoes out there. Their appeal is similar to that of the entirely covered-up yet totally foxy outfit. The clothes are suggestive because of the way they hug the figure: picture a standard knee-length pencil skirt and figure-skimming crew neck t-shirt. Likewise, the allure of a closed toe pump is all in the shape of the shoe and its heel.

Each of these pairs of shoes gives me hope for the potential of fall work clothes. The black pair fits the basic, boring description of "plain black work pumps". Except that they're about as far from basic as you can get. The shape and ultra high heel save the day. Who wouldn't relish the thought of slipping them on before heading out the door for the office each morning?

The grey flannel pair are a sweeter and more unexpected take on sexy. They're still going to be very versatile, but their slightly scalloped edge and classic menswear fabric gives them personality.

Finally, the shiny leopard print pumps maybe aren't for every workplace but they are undeniably hot while technically staying well within the bounds of work-appropriateness.

Shoes like these are such morale boosters. They let you keep your style-loving self-respect while maintaining your credibility on the job. And as if that weren't enough, they also pair wonderfully with evening looks on days when you're heading out on the town straight from work.

Black pumps, maker uncredited. Grey pumps by Stuart Weitzman. Leopard pumps by Christian Louboutin. Images from Harper's Bazaar, July '07.

Wedge Espadrilles

These classic wedge espadrilles are in keeping with the season’s heavier shoe look. They still manage to look sexy and feminine, though, with their crisp woven straps, ultra high heel and leg-lengthening slingback straps. At this time of the year, when people tend to let it all hang out, I particularly appreciate their closed toe, which is a nice contrast to the beachiness of the straw, and less casual than a toe-baring style would be. In versatile white, they would pair well with everything from shorts to skirts and dresses.

Shoes by Miu Miu. Image from Vogue, June ‘07.

Unlikely: Work Boots

These boots are classic, practical *and* adorable. The thick, distressed brown leather and utilitarian buckles clearly intend business, but the roominess of the ’sleeve’ and the short height read as ‘cute’. It’s footwear reminiscent of the rubber rain boots most of us had as kids, but tougher and more adult. What makes the boots even more appealing is the way these photos pair them with all kinds of lacy, ruffly dresses, creating ensembles that are feminine, but ready for anything.

Images from Vogue, June ‘07

Flats Dilemma

These two photos illustrate my attempts to make the best of a bad situation. What is with the longevity of the ballerina flat trend?

I’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting it out for a good three years now but it shows few signs of abating. By “ballerina flat”, I mean a pair of shoes with a paper-thin sole, a round toe, not even a quarter- or half-inch heel, often scooped low in the front for maximal toe cleavage, low on the sides, and frequently embellished with a bow on the upper. To put it baldly: Why must virtually every pair of non-athletic flats in the stores be a pair of ballerina flats?

Ballerina flats, which look terrific on fourteen year-olds and Audrey Hepburn, do not help most grown women look pulled-together. They conjure associations with youth and naivete and possess a certain informal slipper-like quality. The lack of support and cushioning and their low-slung nature certainly do no wonders for anyone’s gait. With no sole to speak of, they cannot help but make legs look shorter.

Amid this woe, in June’s magazines come two pairs of flats that offer at least a slight reprieve for those of us growing increasingly desperate after years of rotating through our precious, worn cache of stowaway flats from seasons gone by.

First, consider the patent leather numbers. Sure, they have a bow. Sure, their color is reminiscent of the ballet, but there is just barely enough mauve and nude in it to counteract the dusty rose and the tonal brown trim adds some ballast. Also on the plus side, there is an actual heel! And the front is more squared-off than the standard ballerina flat. Then there’s that single, interestingly-shaped and -placed cut-out, instead of a scooped front. Finally, there is the patent finish’s slick contribution. All this adds up to a more elegant shoe than so much of what is now available.

The second pair of flats is a less structured deviation than the first from what has become typical. The upper avoids any question of a low scoop, cutting almost straight across the toes and follows the natural contours of the foot more closely in terms of its general shape. The lack of any sides whatsoever is pleasingly straightforward and does away with the temptation to cut them low. The ankle ties - as opposed to a leather strap and buckle - are wide, soft and of a generous length, lending grace to the functional embellishment.

Images from Harper’s Bazaar, June ‘07.