Fashion: An Unusual Platform For Shoes

Last season, heels on women's shoes took on innovative shapes, including chain links, flowers and spheres. Now shoe designers are giving wedges and platforms the makeover treatment. Towering at 10 centimeters high, Louis Vuitton's Powder shoe, in shimmering calf suede, features carved resin soles to match the architectural bent of the brand's fall 2008 collection. The unusual two-tiered toe is complemented by a faux stiletto heel, and the resin makes the shoes surprisingly light ($1,130; louisvuitton.com). Alberta Ferretti's sculptured wedges also have a strong architectural feel, with the toe turning up like a boat ready to sail ($450; net-a-porter.com). Stella McCartney's Patent Platform Pump in nude faux leather features antiqued silvertone plate detail on the heel ($1,145; neimanmarcus.com). Yves Saint Laurent reworks a classic Japanese look in its Vernice Ankle Wrap Wedges with a cutout sole, resembling the traditional slippers worn by geishas ($870; saksfifthavenue.com). For evening, Christian Louboutin updates the metallic trend with a silvery wedge decorated with small mirrored baguettes ($1,480; onpedder.com/list-of-stores). And Dior cleverly blurs the line between wedge and stiletto with its cutout peep-toe wedge sandal in purple suede ($925; bergdorfgoodman.com). Just don't trip.

© 2008