This year I attended a Halloween Edward Gorey ball called “The Dwindling Party,” put on by the lovely organization Dances of Vice. Putting on Victorian, Edwardian and other period parties, Dances of Vice makes life in New York just that much more interesting by bringing out all kinds of interesting characters in intense period-modern mashup costumes.

The setting, a loft in Carroll Gardens, was ornately gorgeous and the hosts including the foxy Shien Lee were incredibly gracious.

Photos are all by my fantastic photographer pal, Jake Alper, taken specially for ShoeBlog.

Benjamin Ickies and This Ambitious Orchestra, who runs in the same circus circles as yours truly, was the highlight of the evening for us, with his fun arrangements, voice and accordion regaling.

There were some dramatic dance performance art pieces.

Ah, the outfits. Mashups, indeed. There was a strange and interesting mix of steampunk, goth, Victorian, creepy Gorey, typical skeletons and Halloween stuff, New Orleans, bowler hats, cravats and drag.

And now for the shoes. Which were, of course, dramatic. And there were men in corsets and high heels. No complaining here. Now they get to know what it feels like. And some of them looked better than I do in them!

Pilgrim shoes go dark and goth!

Senor below had quite the Senorita look going, and it was impressive how evenly he stood on those stilettos!

These look like they could be on ModCloth!

Those sock-boot straps are so big right now.

I was impressed with Madame below, who was already tall, but with these platform pumps, towered above most men there that night, and still was graceful. The fake blood was a nice touch to her sexy referee look.

Hope it was a fantastic Halloween for you with some great shoe sightings!