MUST–HAVE FASHIONISTA FOOTWEAR

*Superpointy toes – The fashionista shoe has a pointy toe. We cannot stress this enough. While you might be tempted to go round-toed when this snub-nosed design comes around once every five years, the fashionista shoe is always pointy. So pointy they´re almost elfin. Why pointy shoes? Because they scrunch the toe, narrow the foot, and give your look a certain dangerous edge. Round toes are just too, well, Minnie Mouse and cute, not sexy.

Två par Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes replicor, jättesköna!

*Four-inch heels – Fashionistas cultivate a long-legged look, even if they´re four-eleven, and four-inch heels are best for achieving the proper skyscraper effect. Three-inchers are typically the fashionista´s “sensible”, even “comfortable” footgear. Three- inch is a day shoe. A work shoe. Four-inch heels spell nighttime drama. Five inches, and you´re strutting in tranny hooker territory, which, depending on the occasion, is not such a bad thing.

Vuitton Balmoral replicor och Steve Madden Lalo

*Wedgies – The wedge look goes in and out of style, but when it comes to poolside fashion, stilettos will make you look like you´re trying too hard. So what´s a girl who wants extra bathing suit appeal to do? Wear the wedgies, which are very easy to walk in an surprisingly comfy. They also work well with extra-long jeans that scrape along the floor as you walk, miniskirts, and shorts.

Marc Jacobs replicor och Louboutins lace up

*Cowboy boots – Home on the range and in the city, too. Especially if they´re Dior.

Miss Capezio Butterfly boots och vintage Dingo Boots

*Thigh-high boots – For the sexy Julia-Roberts-in-Pretty-Woman look, without the streetwalker sensibility.

Bebe boots och YSL Satin boots

*Ankle boots – The basic boot for underneath pants and to make a statement with short skirts.

Louboutin boots och Dior boots

*Knee-high boots – The standby for fall´s knee-length skirts.

Versace boots och Louboutin boots

*Evening shoe – Night dressing calls for a little sparkly drama, a touch of satin, and decadent details like crystals, pearls, and a very slinky heel. Evening shoes also work well with jeans and tank tops. Very downtown-girl Kate Moss cool.

Chanel och Gucci

*Mules – Perfect for summer in Capri...or Connecticut. Just be wary: There is nothing that holds the shoe onto your heel, so sometimes you have to grip your toes to keep the shoe on your foot as you prance. Not good for the back, but what´s life without a little struggle?

Båda Dior

*Printed shoe – Embroidered tapestry is a well-heeled luxury. The rest of your ensemble can be plain as folk, and the shoes, the centerpiece, will make you stand out.

Rene Caovilla och Oscar de La Renta

*Slingbacks – Much easier to wear than mules due to the strap that wraps around the back of the heel.

Chloe och Jimmy Choo

*Strappy sandals – Foot bondage! Nothing like sexy, sexy straps to enhance the curves of the foot when you´re stepping out in a slinky dress, a modern tuxedo, or cutesy short shorts.

Gucci Corset och Sergio Rossi

*Sneakers – The fashionista sneaker is a very important part of the footwear collection. Even if we´re tripping about in stilettos, at some point we have to run errands (dry cleaning, grocery store, taking Pierre, the mini-Yorkie, to the vet). For these instances, it is helpful to acquire the proper sneakers. Fashionista sneakers are either old-school (Adidas, Pumas, Tretorns, K-Swiss, even checkered Vans) or high-tech (Nike sneaker clogs or designer numbers by Samsonite, Yohji Yamamoto, Prada, or Jil Sander – all of which are reminiscent of bowling shoes), in interesting fabrics (leather, suede, denim) or unexpected colors (orange, silver, black patent). The fashionista sneaker is never one that could be mistaken for an early-eighties aerobic-class mainstay.

Prada och Chanel

Note: Shoe upkeep and maintenance is key. Save all boxes and cloth or felt bags that come with designer shoes. Take Polaroids of the shoes and tape them to the outside of the boxes so that, when they´re stacked in your closet, you know what is what.

Go to a shoe service place and get tips put on the top portion of soles so you don´t wear them down easily. Wash shoes after you´ve been in the rain or the snow, as moisture warps the leather. Treat all suede shoes to waterproof them. And get a suede brush for suede shoes, too. When not wearing shoes, keep the tissue paper inserted in them in order to preserve the shape of the shoe (otherwise you´ll risk toe crushing). Search for a fantastic shoe healer who can cure all boo-boos. In Manhattan, everyone, from the Manolo store to Anna Wintour, relies on Shoe Service Plus in Midtown.

Ur: The Fashion Files by Melissa de la Cruz & Karen Robinovitz