As a podiatrist who also happens to be a shoe fetishist – or is it the other way around? – I’m always on the lookout for gorgeous shoes that will also fit “problem feet.”

Michael Kors has really hit the jackpot with some of the selections from his Fall 2010 line.  Many of the pumps feature a high cut, which is a distinctive, beautiful look that conveys a classic elegance.   More importantly from a podiatric standpoint, a high-cut shoe is a great choice for a wider foot, especially a wider forefoot.  A high-cut shoe also gives more allowance for bunions and hammertoes – giving you more of that all-important “wiggle room.”  And although some of the narrow toes in this collection aren’t as utilitarian as rounded or square toes, I still found them to be roomy enough to allow for corns.

Check out Kors’ stunning Cutout Pump, with its straps that both hug and reveal the foot – could there be anything sexier?  But it’s your feet that will thank you as much as your inner fashionista – because the high cut of this shoe will let you waltz without wincing.

Cutout Pump

Also take a look at the Lug-Sole Pump, which is available in either black or a beautiful brown-and-black mélange pattern.  This knockout design features eye-grabbing details like a lugged rubber sole that not only equips you for navigations through the urban jungle, but combined with the padded leather insole creates an entire foot-cushioning platform that eases the strain on your over-stressed metatarsals.

Lug-Sole Pump

Another must-see is the Over-the-Knee boot, which is so stylish and comfortable you may find yourself formulating entire wardrobes around it.  The low wedge heel provides superior comfort and stability while still providing enough attitude to match your fiercest city style.

Over-the-Knee Boot

I’m so pleased to see Kors’ current collection considering not only what looks good, but what feels good – allowing even finicky feet to flaunt top-notch fashion.

Kitten heels came prancing back onto the runways this season and we’re excited to see them on women’s feet this fall.  Naysayers claim they aren’t real heels, but I say they’re a très adorable style that’s manages to be stylish, sexy, AND practical – how many other shoe styles can claim all three of these disparate attributes?!

The kitten heel is the brilliant solution that teeters between a flat and a high heel.  It offers a variety of advantages – it makes the leg look longer and thinner than a ballet flat, but puts less pressure on the ball of the foot than a stiletto.  Wearing kitten heels decreases the risk of pain, numbness, or neuroma in the foot.  There is less risk of Achilles tendonitis, and less risk of injury as well – you’re not nearly as likely to take a spill in a pair of kitten heels.  Your feet will be happier in kittens!

The great thing about the compromise of the kitten heel is that it lets you hike from Prince Street to Park Ave on a nice day, no cab required – but still lets your hips twitch in that Burberry pencil skirt and elevates not only your height, but your attitude too.  Or, for tall women who want a heel that doesn’t make them tower over their peers, the kitten heel is a perfect choice.  It’s also a secret weapon for those of us with wide, immigrant feet that spill out of flat shoes – in a kitten heel I can stay close to the ground, but keep the downward angle that helps my foot achieve a slimmer, tailored look.

The kitten heel, which is characterized by a one- to two-inch heel that’s slightly inset from the back of the shoe, was once the domain of Audrey Hepburn.  You can never go wrong referring to the regal beauty’s classic style, and the kitten heel pairs well with the newly reworked ‘50s and ‘60s silhouettes that are making a comeback this year.

Kitten heels are also being worn with thin, patterned ankle socks and feminine touches, such as bows and ribbons, to accentuate their girlish nature.  Of course kitten heels also feature on ankle boots and can be successfully matched with extra buttons and slim trousers for those favoring the Victorian look.

You can even wear kitten heels with jeans – tapered of course – and a ruffled top that keeps the outline sweet.  Or make it modern by working them into a look that features pinstripes, plaids, or other textured patterns.

Keep it comfy, keep it cute, keep it kitten!

 We’ve all heard the story of Cinderella, the classic folk tale a/k/a The Little Glass Slipper involving a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances at the mercy of her evil stepmother and stepsisters whose life is transformed because she can fit her foot into a tiny glass slipper.  The tale has so many variations that span all cultures.  In French folklore it’s called Cendrillon, ou La petite Pantoufle de VerreIn and in a 19th century German version of this rags-to-riches story, the evil step sisters get the brilliant idea of tricking the prince by chopping off parts of their feet to get the slipper to fit.   If it had worked Cinderella might have still been doing housework as one of the wicked women ran off with her prince.   

At one point or another, most of us have had Cinderella fantasies…I personally feel like a hybrid of Cinderella and the Woman Who Lived in a Shoe who had so many children she didn’t know what to do.    In my case though, it’s not the kids that are taking over my life – it’s the shoes;  I have so many that I’ve sometimes contemplated moving to a bigger home to accommodate them…they seem to have taken on a life of their own.  It’s fitting that my collection was featured on French television; even though my forebears were hardly well-off, the term “well-heeled” originated in France.   Legend has it that several centuries ago, the queen wanted to look taller and slimmer and more glamorous so she commissioned a local cobbler to create shoes with higher heels.   This became a fashion trend that only the very rich could afford – so “well-heeled” became a synonym for being rich. 

Most women would agree that nothing makes them feel sexier than stilettos.  This makes perfect sense of course; the term “Vamp”- which is the front covering of a shoe – is derived from the French term “avant-pied” which means “before the foot” and has become a synonym for “Hot Mama.”   And of course, I completely relate to the slogan “If the shoe fits buy it – in every color.”   I love it as much as “Life is Short – Buy the Shoes” …and I think that’s what inspired me to get into the work I do.  I never wanted my foot size or any problems I might have below the ankle to come between me and the perfect shoe.  And my mission of course is to spread the joy…”Shoes for Everyone!” as Carrie Bradshaw proclaimed in SATC2.

It’s fitting that Tony Hsieh who is creating quite a buzz with his “Delivering Happiness” movement is the genius who started a little company called Zappos, which was later bought by Amazon reportedly for billions.   Because what gives a woman more happiness than new shoes delivered to her doorstep?  A rhetorical question to be sure…but I think it’s true…just ask Cinderella…

Sex and the City 2 premiered last weekend and despite some tepid reviews from the critics about the thin plotline as usual – it was all about the fashion.  Although NYC has been called the 5^th character in the ensemble cast – the City played a minor role this time around since the fab fashion 4 spent much of the movie in Abu Dhabi (which was actually Morocco).    Aside from the money shot of Carrie’s glittery gold Christian Louboutins – as well as some funky black-and-blue caged heels – one of the most memorable scenes was shoe shopping at the Souk where fashionable footwear sold at rock-bottom prices.

Although I have been wearing stilettos for most of my life – I wouldn’t necessarily advocate wearing them to ride a camel in the desert or pack them for a vacation in Abu Dhabi.
However – here are my recommendations on the essential shoes to pack for any vacation:

1.        Ballet slippers – a top choice for chic daytime wear; they come in many varieties and whether they are Chanel or Sketchers.  Since they don’t have much support, you can purchase Dr. Scholl’s foot pads or get fitted for insoles before.

2.        Platform foam or higher plastic soft sandals – they are fashionable, dry off easily and take 10 pounds off the way you look in a swimsuit.  Colors should be neutral and/or black and shades that match the skin tone elongate the leg, giving a leaner illusion.

3.        Walking Shoes – Cole Haan has a line containing comfy soles made by Nike, and JP Tods moccasins are chic and cushy.  Sandals from the Flip Flopp line work well for grassy or beach locales.  And don’t forget appropriate soft socks.

4.        Exercise Wear – Depending on your sport of choice, you can either pack a running shoe or cross trainer.  The Sketchers line carries a variety of double duty styles appropriate for the treadmill and elliptical and can also be used as a choice for chic daytime wear (see #1, above).  For activities requiring true ankle support, lightweight hiking boots might be appropriate (provided you also pack antibiotic and bandages to be proactive about soothing blisters).

5.        Evening Heels – In this era of towering shoes – from stilettos to platforms – higher is not necessarily better.  Ideally a heel should be 2 to 2.5 inches high to allow for dancing; again, best color choices are neutral or black.  If you have room for a second pair, you can go to nosebleed level but to keep your balance, platforms are a better choice – and your feet and lower back will thank you later.

Last week, a co-worker’s 10 year old niece waited patiently for her in the Institute Beaute waiting area where I have my “shoe museum.”  Favorite shoes from various stages in my life are in glass cases because to me they are true works of art (and because I ran out of room in my home).   When it was time for the young girl to leave, she calmly told her Aunt:  “Those Louis Vuittons are calling out to me.”

 At the risk of sounding like a typical boomer and talking about how I walked ten miles to school each day in the snow (up hill) – the shoe landscape as it is today is different than it was “in my day.”

 Today some publications call me “Podiatrist to the Stars” and articles talk about my “Park Avenue Practice.”   But that’s not where I started; I grew up in Brooklyn and my French immigrant parents found it hard to make ends meet.    The idea of having new shoes – let alone expensive new shoes – was a completely foreign concept to me.   When I started earning my own money – my first big purchase was new shoes – I Miller to be exact – from Bergdorf Goodman. I still remember those shoes and the feeling I had when I purchased them.  They were patent leather Mary Janes with toes that were both round and square at the same time and I felt beautiful the minute I put them on my feet.  But of course, many shoes have made me feel this way which is why they take up so much space in my home and my office.  But that’s for another blog.

 To pay further homage to I Miller back then – in the 60s – he was to me and many women what Manolo Blahnick is to Carrie Bradshaw and the girls of Sex and the City today.  Before establishing the I. Miller Shoe Company, Israel Miller started his career as a designer and maker of shoes for the theatrical profession in New York.   He took over and remodeled a large building in Times Square with an inscription reading “The Show Folks Shoe Shop Dedicated to Beauty in Footwear.” The company both designed and manufactured women’s shoes and became a leading importer of shoes with a national chain of more than 200 retail stores, popular throughout the 1920s-1960s.

                This week women across the country are gearing up to see Sex and the City 2 – a movie about four friends, their love for each other, their trials and tribulations, their devotion to fashion and – of course shoes.  Along with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte – Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo have played major supporting roles.  And rightfully so.  From Cinderella to Carrie Bradshaw – the shoe is the thing.  I know I’ll be watching in anticipation and hoping I don’t need to rent additional space to accommodate my growing collection.

 (Next week: shoes to pack for vacation)