The Blues

The bike, the blues, the Louboutin shoes.

Gentlemen Prefer Heels

It's no secret that when it comes to footwear, men almost to a head prefer heels on a woman. I think in the male fantasy, we'd step off the stoop always looking like Cassie and Lauren in a Sean John ad.

And most of us willingly indulge this preference: We do feel sexier when we're strapped (to heels!), after all, and we (for the most part) appreciate the extra love we get in the streets for making the effort.

But in New York, a pedestrian city that sits on killer sidewalks, running around in killer heels can be taxing, even injurious. Some of us resort to the Superman-in-the-booth quick change from flats to heels.

Though there's something inelegant about ramming your bare feet into a pair of peep-toes on a subway platform as you balance latte, oversize clutch, and mag.



So give the arches a break! To be shod in sole-ful shoes can be appealing...right? [Laughs] I nominate Christian Louboutin's dazzling Fred Flat Lace-Ups as a counterpoint to your most flirty frocks. (Above, variations on the dance shoe by Louboutin and Repetto.)

Blue Magic

I'm not the first to fall hard for a pair of blue suede shoes. A certain peanut butter-and-banana sandwich-loving rock 'n' roll icon famously warned that you could do just about anything but step on his beloved footwear. For spring/summer 2009, Christian Louboutin's Ron Ron shoe in turquoise suede (blue pump, above) is an instant pick me-up. The powdery hue plays off the signature red soles to perfection. Walk hard.