A good low pump is hard to find–you know what I’m saying? When you’re looking for a subtle lift without the discomfort of 3 inch+ heels in a dressy and interesting shoe, but you want to avoid the triple-whammy of 1) flat-as-pancake-soles, 2) thick low heels, and 3) stodgy black pumps of nondescript origin–your options are limited at best.

Which is why I cherish this Georgina Goodman snake leather pump with yellow leather trim and flirty but non-fussy bow on the vamp:

That’s what I call kicking heels–all the style, none of the discomfort, and supremely versatile (I can imagine wearing them with a pencil skirt for an office look, or with a mini skirt or even jeans out and about town with friends). Plus, my yellow obsession this season has been well documented (can’t help it! It’s a HOT color, people!). The only thing slightly unfriendly about them is the price tag–they’re $405 at Joseph’s, but hey! as we shoe lovers know oh-so-well, beauty and versatility come at a cost.

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Not Shoeblog, that’s for sure–and hopefully, not you, dear readers and shoe-lovers. We know you crave a happy, well-adjusted, and well-fitted shoe, appropriate for all your spring needs; we know you don’t want to be either dowdy or so sweet they could send you into a diabetic comma. So here, let’s contemplate a few of the season’s offerings in terms of the floral trend. We’re looking for, say, a sweet-and-sour with a side of hot-and-spicy (as opposed to sweet-on-sweet with a side of bland). Let’s see!

These Maloles “Perry” slingback flats, in a tiny floral print, feature the classic ruched-toe we’ve come to expect from Maloles, and a chunky black ribbon to balance the sweetness with a dark side ($318 at Zappos, or $295 at Plaza Too+S&H).

The saccharine overtones of the antique floral pattern of this “retrofitted flat” is tempered by the cord piping and rope laces with leather tassels ($78 at Anthropologie):

And also at Anthropologie, and also in the non-bank-breaking  bracket, are these  cute ankle-strap flats, with a dark, stormy edge ($68):

These “Tarantella” wedges limit the floral pattern to discreet patches on the vamp and heel, and tops it all with a dark bow ($98 at Anthropologie):

Although I can’t recommend a 4-inch heel to anyone, I still love the pattern on these Pink heels ($78 at Anthropologie):

When it comes to floral shoes with an edge, however, I think these take the cake:

Paul Smith floral oxfords, oh my! $574 at Zappos.

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Judging by his brow-raising, heavy sighing, and piercing stares when it comes to my expanded (90+) shoe collection, you’d think my husband is your typical male, impenetrable to the allure of footwear. Not so! He’s a veritable shoe snob of extremely discriminating taste, who knows exactly what he wants, and usually gets it.

And as a rule, he gets it from the UK. There is something about British craftsmanship that is just irresistible to him. Plus, the cost of shipping to the US is usually absorbed by the fact that they deduct the VAT (which can be around 20%, so quite substantial).

I’ve thought of that when browsing the famous Asos shop, a site I don’t usually visit so I don’t feel envious of our British fashionistas for having such cheap, adorable choices at their manicured fingertips.

But you know what? I might consider international shipping charges for these adorable colorblock slingbacks (say that three times in a row, fast):

They’re made by Bertie (anyone know this brand?) and cost $120 (£60).

These Asos cutout snakeskin silver flats are only about $60 (£30):

These adorable Scorah Pattullo ankle laced low heels are now on sale for $184 (£92), more than half off:

And these Swear gold-and-black contrast shoes–only about $62 (£31)–are positively glamorous:

Have you every ordered shoes from abroad? How was your experience? My husband’s experience with British retailers has been stellar (for one thing, Royal Mail is faster than USPS and absolutely reliable, and for another, see the VAT issue, above). I’m seriously tempted by this Asos cuteness!

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Happy Easter to all of our readers out there who celebrate it.

And of course, this wouldn’t be a Shoe Blog without a footwear suggestion of some kind, right? So in case plain old pastels just don’t do it for you anymore, consider adding an edge with this sheer hand-painted organza floral pump from Dolce & Gabbana, with the unexpected contrast of a wooden conical heel:

The Dolce & Gabbana ‘Watercolor’ pump is available for preorder at Nordstrom for $995.

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I’ve always been a fan of Dries van Noten; I love his ethnic inspiration, his colorful prints, his inventivity. It’s like wearing a work of art! Same goes for his shoes (well, with one notable exception). The collection he presented for Fall 2008 is equally artful and tasteful. Tell me you don’t want at least one of these pairs for your collection!

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