Style Cynics

Okay, who brought back the Little House on the Prairie style? I’m normally not one to complain about shoes, but please – you could have pulled these Oxfords straight from the 1800s. I don’t know whose idea it was to affix a heel onto old-fashioned boots, but the look is not sexy. Surprisingly, these shoes are actually in style, and the old sturdy Oxford has been given a garish makeover by designers looking to attract the conservative crowd. I suppose that it might make someone stuck in business-suit hell happy to wear a heel, but honestly, I could find a thousand sexy black pumps that are understated, yet elegant. This is just a style nightmare – and it disappoints me even more when I find that Yves Saint Laurent is responsible for this. I have a lot of respect for this designer, but buddy, you missed the mark here.

The shoe has a two-tone look, with gunmetal grey leather upper and a black patent leather toe. Okay, you’ve attracted me so far. I really like these two colors together, and the look is eye-catching. Then, they had to write the whole thing off by tacking a blonde-wood four-inch heel onto the shoe, which just makes an otherwise normal-looking Oxford look insane. Then, the thin grey laces give the impression that Laura Ingalls is going to come skipping up, brown braids and all. No, thank you. If you are interested, you can find these shoes for $640.00 at Barneys.com, but I’d buy a sexy pair of black slingbacks instead.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand the need for a heel – I’m height-challenged myself. But why not try these heeled Oxfords from Charles David instead? The Frolic Wedge Oxfords are a delicious dark brown with a three-and-a-half-inch wedge heel, which actually gives the shoe some unity instead of making it look like someone smacked two completely different shoe parts together in a drunken fit. They’ve also got a bit of fur trimming, which makes me think of girls wearing these on colorful autumn campuses with cozy vests and skinny jeans. Find them for $102.56 at Zappos.com.

When I think of heeled Oxfords, these shoes are more like what’s in my imagination. If you want a nice work shoe, the Ecco Women’s New York Tie is definitely a candidate. It’s a metallic brown with tonal stitching, an inch-and-a-quarter heel, and a padded insole. Although I’m not a huge fan of the color, I do like the style, and at $59.89, you’re not going to regret the price. They’re at Endless.com.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 30th, 2007 at 9:21 am and is filed under Designer Shoes.