Shoes: A Different Platform

Last season, heels on women's shoes took on innovative shapes, including chain links, flowers and spheres. Now designers are giving wedges and platforms a makeover. Towering at nearly four inches high, Louis Vuitton's Powder shoe, in calf suede, features carved resin soles to match the architectural bent of the brand's fall collection. The unusual two-tiered toe is complemented by a faux stiletto heel ($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 on the heel ($1,145; neimanmarcus .com). For evening, Christian Louboutin updates the metallic trend with a silvery wedge decorated with mirrored baguettes ($1,480; onpedder. com/ list-of-stores). And Dior blurs the line between wedge and stiletto with its cutout peep-toe wedge sandal in purple suede ($925; bergdorfgoodman .com). Just don't trip.