High Heels: Wonder and Woe

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No surprise here—high heels have been both the wonder and woe of the female sex for generations. Each season, heels inch higher and higher, leaving the stiletto-clad feet of millions in major distress. Swollen feet are just the beginning of your problems—bunions, blisters, dead or ingrown toe nails, and in worst cases, foot deformities can result from wearing uncomfortable high heels, which constrict the natural shape of a woman’s foot.

Add this to the fact that high heels are usually paired with skin-tight jeans and body-binding skirts—painful, we know, but it’s a fashion thing—and you may end up with even more discomfort in addition to your throbbing soles.

The easiest way to avoid all this (apart from making not-too-tight fashion choices) would be to wear flat shoes, of which there are a growing number of fashionable options. There are ballet flats, loafers, moccasins, brogues, sandals, and even sneakers, to fit the bill. But if you aren’t willing to give up your stiletto addiction, try to at least add more comfort to your high heels. Choose a pair with a platform in the front, as this will decrease the pressure at the toe and make walking much easier. Also, make sure that your shoes have a cushioned instep, which should lessen the amount of soreness your feet may experience afterwards.

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Saks Fifth Avenue Searches For The World's Sexiest Shoe

Saks has got a contest just for you shoelovers. Saks Fifth Avenue and Footwear News have teamed up to find the sexiest shoe of 2010. Together they are launching the Sexy Shoes contest, which kicks off on September 16 and will end with the unveiling of winning pair on October 18 at NYC's 10022 SHOE boutique on Saks Fifth Avenue's 8th floor.

Chosen by the editors of FN, the Sexy Shoes contest features 23 pairs of swoon-inducing designer shoes from the likes of Brian Atwood, Manolo Blahnik, Chanel, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin. Voting is open to all, either online or in-store — just in case you want to take them for a test drive before you cast your vote. All Sexy Shoes will also be available for purchase online or in-store and the winner will be announced on October 16. We already know we want 'em all!
 

Here's my choice:

Pretty no? 

If you want to cast your vote, head on over to Saks now and stand a chance to win $1500 Saks Fifth Avenue Gift Card. That's a lot of shoe shopping money right there.

Lust List: Forever 21 Shoes

For a little while I was crazy with the shoes sold at People are People. But when I saw the shoes at Forever 21 website and how low the price tags were, I had to restrain my self from emptying the bank. I may as well pay the store a visit before the month end so I can shop for the shoes I am going to wear to my friend's wedding.
In the meantime, here's my lust list:

Sexy is back with these very stylish peep toe heels. Shiny and smooth, with a slightly padded insole. The heel height is approximately 5 inches. I think this would be perfect. I would be 5'6 in a go. Haha!

Lightly pleated along the straps, these wedges have a solid leatherette construction and keep things chic and sexy. Back heel height is approximately 4.5 inches. I don't know if this will fit the dress I am wearing. I still like it though.

Covered with tiny shiny dots, this stylish platform heel fashions a peep-toe front with a bow accent. Lightly padded insole. Textured outsole. The heel height is 5 inches. Love the bow accent, so cute!

Start an inferno with these edgy and chic platform heels fashioned with circle-shaped centers and studded trims. The open-cut sides slim your feet while the back zipper placket allows you to easily slip these on or off! Lightly padded insole. The heel height for this shoes is 4 inches. I think this is my most favorite in this list.

Alejandro Ingelmo for Chris Benz Spring 2011

How fast time flies... It's been a year since Lancome and Chris Benz announced the new name for the Pout-a-Porter lipstick used for the NYFW Spring 2010. And this year, I'm zoning in to the shoes used for the show.

DESIGNER: Chris Benz.

WHERE: The Atrium at Lincoln Center.

FRONT ROW: Caroline Manzo, Carmen Electra and Kelly Osbourne among others.

VIBE: Chris Benz will always give you color, pattern, and retro. This season, it’s a French ’60s vibe with dramatic side parts, wide skirts and pants, and makeup inspired by French singer France Gall. Orange (big color this season, btw), turquoise, and neon yellow were the main colors here, mixed with muted gray and linen. There was light violet on the eyes and nails (Violet Groove by Lancôme), and chunky heels by Alejandro Ingelmo. It was quite refreshing to see such bold color after a week of all-white collections, but then again, if Benz did an all-white collection, it would be newsworthy!

BIGGEST HIT: The high-waist pleated circle skirt, striped with gray, white, and tan, paired with the beige silk knit polo, piped in neon yellow.

Alejandro Ingelmo was asked to design a collection for Chris Benz, and the result was a combination of the two designers distinct styles. ”We’re two opposites,” Ingelmo said at the presentation. “It’s his quirky side with my sexy design side.”

Even Plain Jane would bloom in a pair of Benz's electric blue floral cigarette pants, worn here with matching platform mules by Alejandro Ingelmo. Fuller skirts and some wider pant legs hit the mood of the moment, and the pleated A-line minis were properly cute. Once again, Benz worked with Loro Piana on his knits, which were judiciously restrained. They had a funny way of sticking with you, actually; when the neon was limited to piping on a polo or small blocks on a bikini bandeau, it packed more punch. This being the Lincoln Center season—Benz showed at the complex's airy atrium—one might've wished a conductor had been consulted. Ask one, and he'll tell you: Nobody plays the whole symphony cranked up to 11.

These shoes are unlike standard Ingelmo designs, which never include fabric or florals. This collection is great but may not appeal to the classic lovers who always opt for the black, white or nude tones. When the shoes arrive for sale they will bear the “Alejandro Ingelmo for Chris Benz” tag.

Let's Talk Shoes

I join cause with other women, we all swoon over shoes. If we have all the money in the world, I bet we would all be buying shoes to our hearts content. Join me as I scour the world over to bring to your plates the shoes that are hip and in, vintage and classic, unique and one-of-a-kind among others.

Join me as well as I attempt to answer this question: "What is it with women and shoes?" If you found the answer to that question already, comment away. Will show shoe pictures for comments.

To leave you with some things to ponder on:

Buy higher heels. “Heels may be uncomfortable, but they make you taller, which makes you confident.” Cheaper than psychotherapy--unless you’re buying Blahniks.

Keep ‘em shined. Keep those leather shoes polished. If not, in our shallow society, you’ll probably be devalued.

Tee hee!!!