One Man's Perspective on Sexy Shoes for Women

Often, when you think of sexy shoes, strappy stilettos come to mind. But sexy shoes come in a myriad of styles and heel types.
A chunky platform or a slight kitten heel sandal can be every bit as hot as a six inch spikey heel. And color is every bit as important as cut.
So here are some tips on choosing a sexy shoe.
Tip Number One: If it looks professional enough for the office, it probably isn't hot enough to be considered sexy. Of course, if your "office" is a high fashion retail store or an exotic dance club, you are exempt from Tip Number One.
Tip Two: Quirky shoes, or shoes with embroidery aren't going to cut it. If the word "zany" is applicable, move on.
Tip Three: Beware of sensible shoes.If they look too comfortable, they're probably not sexy. This does not mean sexy shoes can't be comfortable. It's just that many times, they don't look comfortable.
Tip Four - Colors and Patterns: White is sexy. Plain and simple. Show me a white shoe and I'll show you a shoe that is either sexy, or can be played off as sexy. Maybe a touch overstated, but white is the deal when it comes to sexy shoes. If you have a dark complexion, it shows off your rich color. If you are pale, it's the one color that will make you look less pasty.
Outside of white, the ubiquitous red shoe is good. Black is fairly safe, although dark casuals with shorts can be risky if the shoes are chunky or have no heel. Metallics are almost always super sexy. Patent leather is also hot.
Patterns, especially busy ones, are not a good sign. Conversely, buckles and bling are often featured on sexy shoes and they are good indicators you are heading in the right direction.

Footwear industry steps in to shoo tax

Footwear makers and retailers are trying to stomp out a Depression-era U.S. government shoe tax, a move they say could save American consumers hundreds of millions of dollars annually and kick-start relatively flat footwear sales. Trade associations and their members, such as Payless ShoeSource, Nike Inc. and Columbia Sportswear Co., have been lobbying U.S. lawmakers weekly since the summer to get them to exempt certain categories of footwear — including all children's shoes — from import tariffs that can run as high as 67.5 percent a pair.

The Shoes of Christian Louboutin

The first exhibition to examine the career of this influential designer, Sole Desire: The Shoes of Christian Louboutin, will be on view at The Museum at FIT March 13 through April 19, 2008.
Christian Louboutin’s red-soled shoes have combined wit, glamour, and a certain “je ne sais quoi” to embody the perfect blend of sex appeal and beauty. The first exhibition to examine the career of this influential designer, Sole Desire: The Shoes of Christian Louboutin, will be on view at The Museum at FIT March 13 through April 19, 2008. It is organized and curated by FIT graduate students in the Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice Master of Arts program.
The exhibition will showcase examples of Louboutin’s work from the collection of The Museum at FIT and the archive of Christian Louboutin. Not only will it highlight his innovative designs, but it will illustrate his understanding of today’s clientele and his contributions to contemporary fashion.
Born in 1963, Louboutin began his career early, sketching shoes at age 11. Frequenting nightclubs during his formative years, he was forever influenced by their high fashion and glamour. In 1988, after freelancing for design houses such as Maud Frizon, Chanel, and Yves Saint-Laurent, Louboutin joined Roger Vivier, a legend in shoe design, where he learned the importance of presentation. In 1989, after finishing his work with Vivier, Louboutin took a leave from fashion to work as a landscape designer. He successfully returned to the industry in 1992 with a collection of his own that integrated an Asian influence and the inspiration of gardens in the designs of his shoes and boutiques.
As his career developed, this designer brought the seductive stiletto out of the closet and into mainstream society, carrying along with it ideas of sexuality and eroticism that characterize the style of the Louboutin shoe.