PUMP IT UP
Jennifer Mejia
a great pair of pumps jazzing up black & white
I’m going to begin this post by saying, “Sorry, I’m not sorry.” If there is one thing I believe in splurging on, it’s a good pair of shoes that you can wear for years. And unfortunately, those that are made well and can stand the test of time in durability and style don’t usually come cheaply. There is the occasional exception, and I have a few. But if you look in my closet, I have nice shoes. And I’ve had them for years. Seriously. Many a decade or more. You can’t get much more classic or more sexy than a well-made pump.
Shoes are an investment. I have one rule for coats and shoes that will remain in style beyond this season’s trends: Buy the best you can afford. Why? Because they are one of the first things everyone sees. They are versatile and can be worn with many things. And they can elevate a look that is built from lower priced (and sometimes even a lower quality) pieces. They can last for years. If you care for them—get them reheeled and resoled—you’ll have them for a decade or longer, as well.
Every woman needs a classic black pump. A nude. And one that is a little snazzier to dress up an otherwise boring outfit—a brighter color like pink or electric blue, animal print, an embellished style, or one with a sexy touch like a sheer component or sexy slingback or strap.
Pumps need to fit well and shouldn’t be terribly uncomfortable. Notice I didn’t say they should be “comfortable.” Believe it or not, when I used to work in Beauty, I wore stilettos every day. I’d wear them from home on my walk to the subway, from the subway to the bus stop, and from the bus stop to my office. And when I stopped working and started wearing flats more, my feet actually hurt in flats. My point is that your feet get used to whatever they’re in the most. So if you don’t wear heels a lot, they aren’t going to feel like sneakers, and you may not want to sprint in them. So just make sure you can walk a decent distance and can stand in them for a while.
A few of my favorite brands that I can personally vouch for are Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Aquazzura, Manolo Blahnik, and Gianvitto Rossi. They make the classics, they’re made to last, are as sexy as they come, yet can add the right amount of pizzazz to make them a show-stopper without being too trendy. I’ll end on a hopeful note…there is a newer brand on the scene called Schutz. I purchased my first pair over the summer, and I love them. Many of their styles are high on style but more reasonable on price. I’ve featured a pair here that is similar to the very popular “plexi pump” by Gianvitto Rossi.
If you can only splurge on one pair, make it black or nude/camel. And I’d go with patent leather. I promise you will find that you can wear them with everything. Dresses, jeans, trousers. Trust me. Simply click on the images below to shop.
