THE RISE OF THE KILLER HEEL
Autumn/Winter 09 is just the season for the kind of party shoes that scream to be taken out and danced in. It's no longer about just a strappy, delicate piece of foot confection - party shoes have been reinvented with a bold and brazen twist.
These shoes are the fun-lovin' girls that keep you out well past your bedtime - dripping in studs, diamantes and sensational detailing, they add edge to a pretty dress and make anything you pair them with look utterly fashion forward (and like you might be just a little bit of trouble yourself).
However, the best thing about the new breed of party shoes is their wearability. Givenchy and Balmain may have sent their models prowling down the catwalk like she-warrior princesses from the planet Mad Max, but this didn't stop the shoes being completely translatable to the feet of we mere mortals.
And the rules? Well, in this case, more is more. More straps, more studs, more unique details. These shoes just get better the more you customise them. Contrasting materials, like black suede mixed with charcoal snakeskin are key, as are extras like studs, diamantes and quality buckles.
Team them with your daintiest, flirtiest little dress and your favourite leather jacket and suddenly the mix of pretty, and pretty full-on seems just the right look for night.
For celebrity inspiration, take a look at Gwyneth Paltrow's recent red-carpet style or Sarah Jessica Parker in the SATC movie. And then once you're feeling fashion's new glamorous streak, start customising your very own pair with Upper Street's interactive Shoe Designer.
Autumn/Winter 09 is just the season for the kind of party shoes that scream to be taken out and danced in. It's no longer about just a strappy, delicate piece of foot confection - party shoes have been reinvented with a bold and brazen twist.
These shoes are the fun-lovin' girls that keep you out well past your bedtime - dripping in studs, diamantes and sensational detailing, they add edge to a pretty dress and make anything you pair them with look utterly fashion forward (and like you might be just a little bit of trouble yourself).
However, the best thing about the new breed of party shoes is their wearability. Givenchy and Balmain may have sent their models prowling down the catwalk like she-warrior princesses from the planet Mad Max, but this didn't stop the shoes being completely translatable to the feet of we mere mortals.
And the rules? Well, in this case, more is more. More straps, more studs, more unique details. These shoes just get better the more you customise them. Contrasting materials, like black suede mixed with charcoal snakeskin are key, as are extras like studs, diamantes and quality buckles.
Team them with your daintiest, flirtiest little dress and your favourite leather jacket and suddenly the mix of pretty, and pretty full-on seems just the right look for night.
For celebrity inspiration, take a look at Gwyneth Paltrow's recent red-carpet style or Sarah Jessica Parker in the SATC movie. And then once you're feeling fashion's new glamorous streak, start customising your very own pair with Upper Street's interactive Shoe Designer.