THERE is nothing red shoes can’t solve.
They are the ultimate accessory, a dollop of lip-smacking color that makes a sober gray suit look frisky and a simple black dress look racy. Slithering into a pair of red shoes is like slipping into lacy lingerie – you can’t help but feel sexy.
No wonder they’re everywhere we look these days.
There’s self-styled femme fatale Maureen Dowd in red pumps with head-to-toe black on a recent cover of New York magazine. (Read: I’m hot.)
There’s Scarlett Johansson in chunky-heeled, patent red pumps with tight-fitting denim jeans on the runway for “Imitation of Christ.” (Read: I’m cool.)
And there’s Pope Benedict, whose predilection for red Prada loafers (Read: I’m metrosexual) is raising eyebrows at the Vatican. Too bad he doesn’t live in New York, where Vogue columnist Andre Leon Talley spiced up his black tie at the recent 7th on Sale gala in a pair of spanking red Manolo Blahniks.
The poster girl of the power of red is Keira Knightley, who wears nine different pairs of red designer shoes in a whimsical “Wizard of Oz”-inspired layout in the December issue of Vogue.
“There is a sexiness, eroticism and exuberance to red shoes that’s always been appealing,” says Sally Singer, Vogue’s features director, who believes the sleeker the clothes, the saucier a red shoe appears.
In the new, lavish coffee-table tome “Blahnik by Boman,” (Chronicle Books, $85) photographer Eric Boman cunningly captures the porn-like appeal of red heels.
In one shot, liquid red patent T-straps, for instance, lie there, heavenly, next to a spilled pool of nail polish. What woman wouldn’t want to click those heels together?
“Red shoes are a way to wear color without feeling too over the top,” Vogue’s Singer says.
“A red dress is a wonderful mansnatching kind of thing to wear, but for those of us who feel we couldn’t pull that off, a pair of red shoes are a good option.”
Shoe designer Kate Spade (who works behind a bright red desk) says she’s a prime example of someone who would love to – but can’t – carry off the killer red dress.
“I have to do red with accessories,” says Spade, who has a thing for red flats and Mary Janes. “Every woman should have one pair in her wardrobe. They give off such attitude – they’re actually fun to wear.”
According to Singer, the fetish for red shoes promises to be at the sole of next season’s fashion trends.
“We’re going to see a lot of lipstick or autobody-shop shiny red shoes for spring,” she says. “I think of them as an
exclamation point for the feet!”
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* Classic pumps, $69.95 at Steve Madden, 540 B’Way
* Terre Peck suede pump with rhinestone buckle, $285, at Eric shoes, 1222 Madison Ave.
* Roger Vivier patent flats, $475, at Saks Fifth Ave.
* Crystal-enrusted sling backs, $79.95, at ninashoes.com
* Jewel-embossed peep-toes, $230 at Coach, 595 Madison Ave.
* XOXO satin pumps, $65, at zappos.com
* Sequined pumps with crystal detailing, $790, at Sergio Rossi, 108 Wooster St.
* Satin pumps with crystal ornament, $285, at Stuart Weitzman, 625 Madison Ave.
* MaxStudio butterfly sandals, $109, at Designer Shoe Warehouse, 4 Union Square
* Kate Spade patent Mary Jane’s, $360, at neimanmarcus.com