It's always good to see what Balenciaga are doing with their footwear (even if you'll never afford a pair) because they seem to be so influencial it's possible to predict entire trends based on their latest offerings. But this is one I can't see becoming too mainstream any time soon. Stingray? You'd better believe it.
The beige stingray section, which looks soft and kind of bobbly, sits at the two straps at the front of the shoe and at the three ankle straps at the top.
£1,140 at Net-a-Porter
Related: Balenciaga spring 2010 runway collection | Balenciaga gladiator sandals with studs
I'm all for designers going out on their own, but Stella' McCartney's range really stands out as being the dullest collection we've seen for spring/summer 2010 yet. Cork wedges in uninspiring styles look orthopedic and grannyish whether in neutral tones or primary brights, and don't even look particularly comfortable with their oddly skinny straps.
With such an emphasis from other designers on crazy styling, unusual fabrics and challenging the norm, I have to admit I'm really surprised by the mundanity of this range. Where are the mind-bending heels, the fun textures and the embellishments?
I'll be honest: I'm disappointed. I own Stella McCartney footwear and am not usually a critic, but she really needs to inject some of the playfulness and fun of her current collection into this very underwhelming range.
Related: Stella McCartney Boot Bargain at The Outnet | Stella McCartney cherry detail t-bar sandals
[image: coutorture]
Footwear is really going to take a turn for the weird next season, and nobody is embracing the madness quite as enthusiastically as good old Alexander McQueen. Some of these shoes look like ice sculptures, catching the light in their shimmering, knotted forms, while others look more like patisserie gone wrong. But what stands out most strongly in this irregular collection is the creative use of textiles - particularly the futuristic, oil-slick metallic fabrics.
It's not difficult to see why more creative and crazy styles are creeping into the mainstream now, is it? It's thanks to designs like these that we can expect to see more colour, more unusual an alluring texture and more metallic bling in next season's footwear - and I say bring it on!
Eel skin is a material we've seen far more of in bags and accessories than shoes, but here, YSL are using the waxy, fishy fabric to create texture and toughness in these rather extraordinary 'exotic pink' heels.
The heels themselves are every bit as exotic as the leather: they're a positively vertiginous 4-inch stiletto, given a slightly rough-cut edge by the eelskin, which I think lends them the appearance of chiselled wood. The hidden platform and clonky toes also remind me more than a little of those Vivienne Westwood shoes that sent Naomi Campbell flying, so wear these with caution!
$895 at Saks Fifth Avenue
Related: High Street vs. Designer: Steve Madden takes on the 'Tribute' sandal
I almost don't want to post about these boots because I've decided that this is the year I buy a really decent pair to last me well into the new decade - and these may just be the main contenders.
With the 40% off, these Stella McCartney boots are bordering on high street prices, which seems too good to miss. They're a classic shoe-boot style that would work with skirts, trousers and almost any smart/casual ensemble with some very cool design trappings. I'm loving the gold 'arch' under the heel that injects that special little flash of quality.
So there you go. I really want these, but I'm feeling so generous that I think you should take advantage of this great offer, too. Just don't go buying them in a 4, or I'll send the boys round....
£190 at The Outnet
Related: Stella McCartney cherry detail t-bar sandals | Stella McCartney super pointy toe high heeled courts
Forgive me for presenting you with an ugger like this so early on in the week, when you've probably barely eased yourself out of slippers and into your flatties just yet. But the alternative wouls be letting a design error like this one pass by without comment, and we couldn't possibly allow that!
Having twigged that the desert boot is a good style to play with at the moment, Marc Jacobs has 'tweaked' the look by adding a heel that owes more to a piano stool than anything you'd normally wear on your feet. The heel in itself is rather interesting - but it doesn't sit right on the chunky platform, which would look equally fab with a similarly chunky heel. Or have I got it all wrong, and am missing the genius of these strangely discordant shoes?
£515 at Colette.
Related: Clarks celebrates 60 years of the desert boot | Gap designer edition heeled desert boots
We've all heard of polishing your shoes so well that you can see your reflection in them, but these sandals from Thakoon really take that concept to another level: they're completely covered in mirror mosaic tiles that reflect the world perfectly, with a super shiny heel to match.
With a hint of Art Deco and more than a passing ressemblance to a disco ball, these stunning sandals have got to be the ultimate party shoes. They're brand new from Thakoon, who also relesed a pair of dazzling ankle boots in the same ultra-reflective materials. Sadly, this isn't a style I can see the highstreet pulling off with much panache...
£875 at Net-a-Porter
Related: Dress to impress with Gucci's mirror shine stilettos | Topshop's £50 version of Victoria Beckham's mirror-shine shoes | Juicy Couture mosaic print wedges
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