Clean, Simple Stilettos or Chunky, Embellished Platforms for a Day of Work and a Night of Play?
posted by: freePOrnaoa in Celebrity Shoe Style, Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes on November 12th, 2008
After several years of being slightly unsure as to whether I could sport anything beyond moderately sexy business shoes like Banana Republic black alligator cutouts or mahogany woven Cole Haan pumps while working in one of New York’s most uberconservative Midtown buildings, I’ve really been enjoying the fresh recent attitude toward what’s business appropriate below the ankles.
These days, I can wear the fun, sexy shoes of Velvet Angels, headed by former LAMB and Harajuku Lovers shoe designer Joe Ponce (his training really shows!), to work. In their current picks, the platform of course reigns supreme, but it’ll be interesting to see their next collection and whether they do any embellished heels or crazy straps or florals, as most of it is pretty simple.
Would love to hear you guys weigh in on this debate: a friend of mine wears the most incredible pumps in her daily Midtown business life, sometimes in a sexy shade of red that spices up a knee-length business-appropriate skirt. I can completely see her wearing this shoe, the Envy by Velvet Angels ($249 at Endless.com), in its flare of red.
Her argument is that a t-strap cuts off the line of a woman’s leg and prevents it from looking longer and more graceful, and that chunky heels and platforms also make the leg look clunkier, which a thin stiletto doesn’t do.
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March 12, 2010 at 4:06 pm, Great New Finds at the Fashion Footwear Association of New York Shoe Expo | Prada Gucci Dolce Gabbana said:
[...] Last time we wrote about Velvet Angels, we were loving on their fierce red heels. And they’re back in red again, with wildly embellished boots and booties. Almost none of the shoes in this post, by the way, are out in stores. [...]
November 24, 2008 at 5:43 pm, NadiaThinks said:
I am with you on some points and with SexyMidtownOfficeWorker on others.
I disagree that a circular strap is always wrong, especially if you have very small ankles. I think if you have small ankles and well defined calf muscles, a circular strap (if THIN) can draw attention to the delicate feature and look sexy. I do think that fat circular straps are always a no and can go trashy QUICKLY.
That said, despite having tried on chunky heels and finding them comfortable, I cannot bring myself to buy them. I love love LOVE thin stilettos and think that they are very flattering & perfect. I also think you can find fab embellishment & glamour for a night out without “messy chunkiness.”
That said, embellishments do draw the eye nicely, and if you are going out on the town, plain stilettos will not do. Manolo pumps may look great by day, but they’re not for a glam night out.
and THANK YOU for posting about the Velvet Angels shoes–love them and hope they design more quickly!
November 19, 2008 at 8:35 pm, trainingheels said:
Ah, I see. Well, I think that can sometimes look ballerina-like, but it might be best kept to ladies with longer, more graceful legs. However, do that circular ankle strap wrong, and it can look low culture (okay, trashy) pretty easily.
A chunky heel makes such a statement to me! I love the chunky, funky, at times even clunky! I guess I just have a passion for weird, oversized and platform. Wood cone platform heels are some of my favorites, and I decry the season with new trends and difficult weather that will carry them away.
November 19, 2008 at 2:29 am, Sexy Midtown office said:
As the friend in question I have been instructed to reply to this posting. I would certainly love to own those Envy's, they are indeed reminiscent of the red pumps I have used to spice up my business casual in the past. However, I must clarify my argument about the straps. T-straps are in fact not the problem, it's actually straps that go all the way around the ankle in a ring (like these from Calvin Klein http://www.6pm.com/n/p/p/7407497/c/145383.html) that really cut the line of a woman's leg. As to the argument about chunky heels- I stand by it 100%. You can certainly get more embellished shoes without that messy chunkiness.
November 16, 2008 at 10:32 pm, heney said:
I don’t think I’ve seen a picture of her for years without sunglasses on.
November 16, 2008 at 10:37 am, trainingheels said:
The red for when you're feeling classic and hot, the yellow for when you're feeling funky! Why do we have to decide, why can't shoes magically morph colors with our moods like mood rings?
November 13, 2008 at 2:48 pm, AC said:
Oy! They come in yellow too!! How will I ever decide……??
November 13, 2008 at 2:47 pm, AC said:
J'aime so very much those envy's! I think I may just buy them to wear in my uberconservative midtown building. My own contribution to the economy. And my boring office.