Christian Louboutin Zappa Suede Spiked-Heel Pumps, $745

These are another pair of what I think of as “back-to-front” shoes – the back view is so much more interesting than the front/side view that you’d almost want to walk into rooms backwards, just to show them at their best advantage.

In this case, the heel is where all of the action is: the gold stiletto would be striking on its own, especially when contrasted against the soft black suede, but the fact that it also has that cutaway detail which has characterized so much of the winter 2014 collection makes it even more spectacular. Then there’s the gold spiked heel, of course: this is far from the first time we’ve seen Christian Louboutin use this particular feature, and I’m sure it won’t be the last, but each time I see it, I love the way the spiked studs breath new life into the shoe they’re attached to.

At first glance, I assumed these shoes had a mid-height heel: it’s actually 4″, which is fairly high. I think years of looking at platform soles with 6″ stilettos attached to them has probably conditioned me into seeing anything other than a skycraper heel as “low”, but these should be more than high enough to satisfy stiletto lovers, while still comfortable enough to easily in – or here’s hoping!