When people ask me my age, I often give a smart mouth response.  ”My mind thinks I am 25, but my knees think I am 85.”  My old knees are a result of bad running mechanics, high heels and a really, really stupid mountain bike accident.   

My mind LOVES the five inch double platforms we have seen these past few seasons, however my knees are another matter.  Lately, they have been choosing how high my heels will be.  When you wear heels above 3 inches, it puts ALOT of stress on your knees.  So if you are wearing 4 1/2 inch heels everyday give me a call, I know a great orthopedic surgeon. 

Shomore told us about Andre Leon Talley’s opinion about the absurd heights our designers are taking their heels.   Gioia Diliberto agrees. ”It is nearly impossible to find a pretty, feminine shoe with a normally high heel, say three and a half inches.”  [Huffington Post] 

I can relate.  I decided to see just what I could find with a heel 3.5 inches or less.  Let’s see what I found.

Taryn Rose Canela  is a neat shoe with a cute ornament on the toe. The heel’s width offers stability.  The foot bed had a high tech paddding.   Taryn Rose shoes have been kind to me because she is an orthopedic surgeon turned shoe designer.  She feels my pain.

 Chrisian Louboutin offers more than hidden platforms with 6 inch heels.  I am seriously considering purchasing these heels.

Christian Louboutin New Decoltissimo 85  $565 at Net-a-Porter.

  I really like these next shoes.  They are not gladiators (too tired), not too odd looking, but different enough to be interesting.  There is a red and grey combination that is attractive.

  Loeffler Randall Geneivieve $332 at Shopbop.com 

Another interesting design that isn’t the same frilly, girly flower sandal we see everywhere. 

Eilene Shieldsfor Zero + Maria Cornejo Tia

Initially, I found nearly all shoes with less than 3.5 inch heels were either variations on the pump or a slide.  I looked a little harder and found some designers who had some unusual designs that met my 3.5 criteria.  Eilene Shields and Loeffler Randall had quite a few unusual designs.  Cole Haan has several feet friendly designs. 

If two fashion editors are talking about insane high shoes, then others are too.  I am willing to bet the designers will be offering more shoes in the mid-heel range soon.

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While economic events have been a bit dreary over the past six months or so, it’s nice to see that we won’t have to worry about being stuck with spring shoe options that are either conservative or gloomy.  

So, what am I seeing at online retailers as well as in every brick-and-mortar store with a shoe section?

Color.

What kind of color? From Payless to Macy’s to Saks, just about every primary, prism-based color is on tempting display.

So, if you like bold colors, then this is the season for you.

Here are some (mostly) high-end highlights.

Red:

Christian Louboutin ‘Madame Claude’ D’orsay Pumps $795 at Saks.com

Valentino ‘Mena’ Day Wear Pumps $695 at Saks.com

BCBGMaxazria Patent and Rafia* Sandals $250 at Saks.com

Orange:

Dior ‘Klimt’ T-strap Sandal $570 at Saks.com

Miu Miu patent leather wedges $570 at Net-a-porter

Yellow:

Christian Louboutin Platform pumps $736 at Saks.com

Brian Atwood ‘Riva’ patent sandals $725 at Net-a-porter

Green:

Roberto Cavalli satin basketweave sandals $915 at Net-a-porter

Brian Atwood Suede Sandals $710 at Saks.com

Blue:

Christian Louboutin ‘New Simple’ pumps $675 at Saks.com

Oscar de la Renta V-Pieced open-toe platform pumps $755 at Saks.com 

Loeffler Randal ‘Graphic’ wood platform sandal $575 at Saks.com

Violet:

Miu Miu ‘Sandali’ cork* sandals $585 at Saks.com

Miu Miu suede pumps $495 at Saks.com

Costume National slingback flats $560 at Saks.com

What if you want to play with the whole rainbow instead of just choosing by the individual color?  Well, multi-hued styles are available too. Heck, many of us are just starting to experience 2009’s first rainy, spring-time weather; it’s as good a reason as any to bring your own rainbow to the party.

Nine West ‘Mudpie’ bamboo*-wrapped slide $88.95 at Endless.com

T.U.K Rainbow Heart Strap Heel $60.50 at Zappos.com

Jimmy Choo Open-Toe Sandals $825 at Saks.com

Brian Atwood ‘Margie’ rainbow sandals $565 at Saks.com

Sergio Rossi patchwork knee-high boots $1500 at Net-a-porter

Here’s to a colorful and optimistic spring.

* See, you really can’t get away from cork & rafia this year. 

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Ok, so my title is a bit over the top, but I’d rather perish than live an existence without shoe shopping. I may have cut down on my clothes shopping, but shoe shopping is a bare essential! I’ll be wearing a potato sack in Great Depression 2.0, but my shoes will gleam like a brand new shiny silver nickel, even if I have to cover Keds with aluminum foil or spray paint them silver!

In San Francisco, Gimme Shoes is one of my new favorite stores. They just have fantastic taste, rejecting vulgarity in favor of classic, classy styles. The lovely designer Louisa Parris told me she got some of her runway shoes for the Gen Art Fresh Faces in Fashion event from Gimme, and after several visits, I can see why. I stopped by the Gimme in Hayes Valley and saw this irresistible Belle by Sigerson Morrison origami flat and Repetto boot.

They are having a winter sale online where you can find the delicious likes of Loeffler Randall, Dries Van Noten, Chie Mihara, 3.1 Philip Lim and Yohji Yamamoto. Check it out here.

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It’s no secret that I have a love affair with the Loeffler Randall shoes, and it’s also no secret that I love a good deal. Which is why my eyes sparkled and my fingers itched to do a little online shopping when I caught whiff of Barefoot Tess’s generous sale on that very brand! Just enter LRN30 at checkout for 30% off ALL Loeffler Randall shoes. Spectacular! Especially considering that this includes the “Dorrit” sandal, featured in just about any fashion magazine summer issue:

Pretty in metallic, adorning your foot with a tinsel necklace made of shiny leather ruffles, this sandal is one of my favorites for the season.

But wait! There’s more! While you’re there, check out their famous Trunk Sale, and take an extra 35% off already marked-down prices when you enter code 35OFF at checkout.

Have a beautiful, sunny weekend, everyone–and don’t forget to celebrate the warmth of the season in stylish sandals!

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Don’t forget to submit your comments here to be entered in our giveaway for a $100 coupon at Barefoot Tess.

You’ve got today and tomorrow, and then the lucky winner will be announced on December 23.

Not like you need further temptation here, but just in case, take a look at what $100 could help bring home to your closet.

These sassy Chie Mihara Lumi t-strap flats are on offer

as are these Corso Como Candy asymmetrical maryjanes.

There’s this delicate Estella peep toe from Loeffler Randall

and (to keep this from being an all-black shoe post) this super cute Delman Mona ballet flat, which comes in, yes, black, but also in silver, gold, and this pretty pinkish copper color.

So comment away while you still can, and maybe one of these pretty pairs will be coming home with you. Self-gifting is a great tradition of the holiday season, after all.

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