And in my usual Mizz Tissa style I’m shopping and sharing my online favorites. Since I don’t have Mariah’s closet or wallet, I can’t possibly afford to buy everything I like (and my tastes change, so its a good thing) but here’s a few I found this week that I consider my current favorites.

The satin Stuart Weitzman ‘Glohotbi’ is a great looking sandal with a 4½” heel with and ½” platform, and typically retails for $335 (40% off at time of this post, so $200 at the moment). An excellent deal for a great looking pair of heels.

Gucci’s ’Britt’ is a strappy sandal worth noting, with a satin upper, rhinestone ornament, side buckle, and a 3½” satin covered stiletto heel. They’re about $625, but 2o% off currently. Something about these make me think of Cinderella.

This pair from Jimmy Choo are unforgettable! The ‘Serena’  is a 4 inch heel and an instant classic which you’ll wear again and again, which is fortunate as they’re about $900 (20% off at time of this post). These ones would go under glass in a revolving pedestal. I wouldn’t hide a pair of heels as lovely as this in the closet! Sigh… Someday…

The above image is not in fact available, but the creation of 3d artist Tim Cooper of based on the Lamborghini’s  famous Gallardo Superleggera. I do like the carbon fiber heel though.

Originally created for Catherine de Medici, who wasn’t vertically challenged, but wanted to stand tall alongside her fiance’s mistress who was slightly taller. This was around 1533, so the soon to be king having another woman was probably a sign of the times. Giving her an extra 2 inches and a sway when she walked, Catherine de Medici’s more more towering physique was a wild success.  By the end of the century both sexes wore high heels and a person who had authority or wealth was typically referred to as “well-heeled.”

A centruy later France’s King Louis was wearing heels with little battle scenes… and across the pond the Massachusetts Colony had passed a law banning women from wearing high heels,, assumed it was to ensnare a man. and they would be tried as a witch ! Needless to say, the high heel scene cooled off for a while.

A half century later high heels started to become popular again. When high heels made their comeback, some wearers were comfortable in five- or even six-inch heels. As with corsets, high heels were claimed to be not only harmless, but beneficial to the health because, as advertisers stated, high heels helped alleviate backaches and stooping and made walking less tiring. But critics cited that high heels created a more sexually aggressive gait and compared the high heel to a “poisoned hook” to catch an unwary male. Some even associated the high heel with the cloven hoof of a devil or a witch.

Entering the twentieth century, heels became even more popular when higher hemlines encouraged visible, elaborate, high, slender Louis heels.  Then it was Hollywood, with the elegant the look and stars’ shoes like Ginger Roger’s that created a new interest.

The Pièce de résistance was when French designer Christian Dior and his collaboration with shoe designer Roger Vivier developed a shoe with a narrow heel, and voila the stiletto was born. Stiletto, an Italian word for a small dagger with a slender, tapering blade was the perfect description, and an overnight success.  Fast forward to modern times and there is no shortage of sandals, stilletos and even  heelless high heels by Manolo Blahnik. Now an everday site, high heels wearers no longer need to worry about being called a witch. In fact, our biggest concern we have now is filling our closets with Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin or Giuseppe Zanotti. That’s my picks anyway…

For example, I was at the mall the other day and saw the coolest boots (of course, they were sexy) that I have ever seen! The were knee-high, black patent leather with a super-shiny, silver stiletto heel. For added interest, they had two bright silver zippers- one on the inner calf, one on the outer. My immediate thought was that if your pants were too tight and you were unable to cross your leg onto your knee to put them on or take them off, the second zipper would save the day. The store manager told me that they would be a great footwear accessory to anyone wishing to be Catwoman for Halloween! Wow, what a concept- a perfect excuse to buy the coolest boots on the planet- one that could be taken up a notch since my 10-year-old son will be Batman for this festive holiday, and my husband is planning to be the less-intimidating (and nearly effortless, but still festive) Bruce Wayne. Finally, a great excuse to buy these incredibly sexy boots (reasonably priced, too!) and wear them–and if the need ever came up again, I would have them.

On my ride home, I started thinking about the shoes and boots that I have in my closet and those that have been put away for being “out of the current trends” or simply lack of use. Black, platform, knee-high boots with a thick, chunky heel came to mind. “I could be Gene Simmons of KISS!” Not this year (due to my newly acquired patent-leather boots), but definitely in the future. After all, Gene Simmons and his reality show “Family Jewels” is quite popular, and KISS simply must be planning their next farewell tour. Yup, Gene Simmons in the future is definitely a must-do!

Thinking back to my Halloweens of yesteryear, a vivid memory of dressing up as a hooker comes to mind. I had two male companions for a party one year, and I had these great purple velvet thigh-highs with a stiletto heel, which I bought just for the occasion (not so reasonably priced, but I was young). One of the guys I was with was a prison guard at the time, so he wore his uniform to the party- which looked like a police ensemble. The other guy wore boxers and a white, wife-beater-styled tank top. His arms were in front of him and his hands were bonded in handcuffs. A hooker, the trick, and an arresting officer was our theme for the evening.

 So I got home from my trip to the mall and started thinking about different Halloween costume ideas that I could one day utilize-based upon sexy shoes and boots. So of course, I hit my fave shoe website (Mizztissa.com) and started poking around. I found lots of fabulously, sexy shoes and boots that I could find “excuses” to wear via the magic of Halloween. My personal favorite? I could be a Greek or Roman Goddess with the option for use at future Toga Parties with the “Chic Ultra Strappy Sandal” (see picture), ideally in black.

It’s now become the opinion of some podiatrists that a woman can change her heel habits to avoid complications later. Advice to avoid potential issues in the future include using orthotics or arch supports to reduce problems, as can a broader toe box, so toes are less constricted.

Victoria Beckham was spotted with her entourage wearing some killer heels at a mall in Los Angeles. Just last week she was spotted wearing her heelless Antonio Berardi PVC boots, but it looks like she’s back to regain her title as queen of the stilettos. We can’t tell by the photo, but wondered if she is holding her son’s hand so he doesn’t wander off, or for stability.

Before you get too excited, you should know that the new pointy toed shoe style will be more austere, with  little cutouts, high-rise T-bars, and fabric inserts. There will be all kinds of detail in the shoe.

If you’d like to read more, try The return of the killer heels.

Killer high heels don’t have to mean what they do to your feet, thanks to the Stiletto Survival Kit. Inside the kit it comes with a variety of petal shaped insoles to non slip straps, and back of heel protectors to make your killer high heels a little kinder to you. While it may not be the end to such lovelies as blisters and bunions, it provides a noticable difference in reducing them, and more comfort.

The latest of these high heel trends is the decorated heel. For several decades, the actual heel of the high heel has been simply, well, overlooked.

Christian Louboutin started using what became his signature, a red sole and heel, and that may have been when other designers started considering what they could do with the heel. (Please comment if you can add to this theory)

We now have heels which are elaborately embellished or decorated, and that’s not all! The heels have transformed into amazing pieces of art. They have also transformed the heel completely to the point that it is becoming about design. Exciting times for shoes lovers everywhere!

We now present some interesting recent trends and developments in high heel design…

Christian Dior – Diamante heel

Jimmy Choo – Mondrian heel

Christian Dior

Miu Miu floral carved heels

Miu Miu heels with crystals