An ode to wedges

[Shomore]

I love wedges. They give you height without pain (or, at the very least, they minimize the pain), they provide comfort,Â* padding, and arch support, and they are often quirky, innovative, whimsical, and plain ol' fun. I don't want wedges to go away anytime soon, but unfortunately, if trend spies are to be believed, they are gently phased out of the fashion spotlight and replaced with vertiginous, slightly chunky and/or whimsical heels. The wedges you can still find for the new season are definitely more toned down, stripped of nearly all the bells and whistles that the designers played with a mere 1-2 seasons ago.

Just so you don't forget the fun to be had with wedges, I've reached into the deep underbelly of <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fsale%2Fdepartment%3Ftskay%3D 3FD17CD71" target="_blank">Yoox sales</a> and pulled out a few quirky models.Â* Links, in the order of appearance, are below.

<a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/mcqueen.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/mcqueen.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/alaia-wedge.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/alaia-wedge.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/mj2.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/mj2.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/dg.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/dg.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/lesilla.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/lesilla.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/parisi1.jpg"><img src="http://www.shoeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/parisi1.jpg" /></a>

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fitem%2FYOOX%2FALEXANDER%2BMC QUEEN%2Fdept%2Fsalewomen%2Ftskay%2F3FD17CD7%2Frr%2 F1%2Fcod10%2F441153512D%2Fsts%2Fsr_salewomen801" target="_blank">Alexander McQueen wedge</a>, $344.

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fitem%2FYOOX%2FALAIA%2Fdept%2 Fsalewomen%2Ftskay%2F3FD17CD7%2Frr%2F1%2Fcod10%2F4 41005342D%2Fsts%2Fsr_salewomen801" target="_blank">Alaia industrial wedge</a>, $304.

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fitem%2FYOOX%2FMARC%2BJACOBS% 2Fdept%2Fsalewomen%2Ftskay%2F3FD17CD7%2Frr%2F1%2Fc od10%2F440981951A%2Fsts%2Fsr_salewomen801" target="_blank">Marc Jacobs architectural wedge</a>, $135.

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fitem%2FYOOX%2FDG%2Fdept%2Fwo men%2Ftskay%2F3FD17CD7%2Frr%2F1%2Fcod10%2F44129418 1F%2Fsts%2Fsr_women801" target="_blank">D&amp;G Art Deco red wedges</a>, $240 at Yoox.

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fitem.asp%3Fsec%3D1%2526tskay %3D3FD17CD7%2526cod10%3D441030151Z%2526sts%3Dsr_sa lewomen80%2526dept%3Dsalewomen1" target="_blank">Le Silla wedge with diamante orchid brooch detailing INSIDE the wedge</a>, $168.

<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=GtIWDismrvk&amp;subid=&amp;offerid=119970 .1&amp;type=10&amp;tmpid=2678&amp;RD_PARM1=http%3A %2F%2Fwww8.yoox.com%2Fitem%2FYOOX%2FPARISI%2Fdept% 2Fsalewomen%2Ftskay%2F3FD17CD7%2Frr%2F1%2Fcod10%2F 440988722W%2Fsts%2Fsr_salewomen801" target="_blank">Parisi spiderweb wedges</a>, $148.