Ever since I was a little girl, I fantasized about growing up and wearing pencil skirts with black pumps. The look is a little secretary, part lady and, if done just right, sultry. The black pump is synonymous with sophistication — it is the timeless shoe for a woman.
From a design perspective, the simplest designs are the hardest to perfect, as there is no room for flaw when we know the design well. The nuanced pencil-thin heel, the cut of the toe box, the quality of the leather all come into play. The balance of the heel makes for a pleasant walk or a form of torture when getting into the 4” and up heel heights. While it’s easy to just purchase a pair off the high street, investing in a beautiful shoe that will last for season after season, makes any luxury shoe purchase worth it. What I’m looking for is the basic black pump.
I’ve been looking for ages. Scouring the Internet reading review after review, it was impossible to say… until I tried them all out at 10022-SHOE at Saks!
THE CONTENDERS:
Christian Louboutin Corneille Jazz 100mm Pumps: Amazing toe cleavage with a roomy toe box. Balance of the heel is good and amazingly thin. A little too high for everyday walking, but for a night out, they’re really beautiful.
YSL Two-Tone Patent Pumps: By far the most amazing that I tried on. The point was sexy, and actually made my foot look smaller. The heel was super slim, and overall the shoe looked like a fast car. My only reservation was that they were too sexy for everyday use. But overall, I kept thinking about this shoe long after I tried them on. They were really quite perfect.
Prada Point Toe Logo Pumps: I have a soft spot for Prada. My husband and I had a fight for two days over a pair of Prada pumps, that’s how much I love them. With a 2.75” heel, these point toe pumps are like wearing flats. They’re very comfortable, but have the small heel so they aren’t quite flats. I also liked the rubber sole to keep from slipping on the sidewalk on those drizzly fall days.
Gucci Noah d’Orsay Pumps: Gucci has made a comeback these past few seasons in the shoe department. I really like some of the sexy twists they put on classic styles, and the d’Orsay pump looked beautiful on the shelf. I’m not used to the d’Orsay style, and toe box did not work for me. I did try the Jaqueline studded heel pumps on the display, which I felt would be a more trendy shoe for this season.
THE WINNER:
Dior Python Print Leather Pumps: It was love at first step. While I tend to stay away from platforms as I’m afraid of heights, the Dior’s hidden .5” platform really added a bit of height as well as the comfortable padded insole. The curved stiletto was sturdy and the silhouette of the shoe reflected the 1950’s retro style. I really loved the python print, which could be dolled up or dressed down.
So there you have it. This season, I’m going with the Dior pump, hopefully we’ll see more from Dior in coming seasons!
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