It may have been the shoe to wear during the 60’s before finally giving way to the high heel and other high wire acts (think Steve McQueen) but now the one inch pump (ok 2 inch on occasion) is finally making a triumphant return to the fashion stakes.
dailymail.co.uk: Dubbed the ‘petite pump’, the new ‘It shoe’ featured in the collections of Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Chloe and Chanel, has been the heel of choice for fashionistas at London Fashion Week, and takes inspiration from the Sixties when stocky heels — such as Roger Vivier’s Belle, worn by Catherine Deneuve in Belle du Jour, and Ferragamo’s bow-decorated Vara — were in vogue.
Screaming low-key elegance, it has quickly become the shoe for discerning stars of all ages.
While Chanel muse Ines de la Fressange has always been wed to her Ferragamos, this summer both Zooey Deschanel and Kate Bosworth stepped out in one-inch pumps. Alexa Chung followed suit in Yves Saint Laurent Ingenues and Lana Del Rey eschewed stilettos for Carvela Lindy pumps on the red carpet.
As a gentleman who has watched his fair share of girlfriends wince, complain and mangle their feet in high heel atrocities he can only sigh in relief that most of you ladies don’t feel periled to have to wear high octane shoes that do very little service in your day to day comfort and navigation. True some of you gals look quite the gas in your high heels but frankly there’s also nothing quite so sexy as a woman who can elegantly control her gait as she scurries nonchalantly down the street. Something unfortunately one is loathe to do in high heels…
With foot retailers now taking notice of the switch back to practicality, comfort and of course perennial chic, look out for LK Bennett‘s line, Pretty Ballerinas as well as Kurt Geiger. For those of you with some extra width in their spending budget there’s also Gianvito Rossi, Christian Louboutin, Sam Edelman and Diane Von Furstenberg.
Isn’t it time you liberated yourselves ladies…?
