So, hence the rugged skinny pants on their way in the mail hopefully to arrive soon at my door can’t wait.  As for the boots, it’s tricky because I don’t want to repeat that phase I lived through in college…I actually bought and wore construction boots, unlaced.  So uncomfortable slipping off my feet with every step, and so silly, looking back on it.  But I guess that was the style.  I do not want to look like I’m wearing construction boots, combat boots, or anything else infantile and angry.

Back to dragon tattoo style…tough yet chic.  Back in college I was going for tough but I forgot the chic part.

Boots worn in the noomi style are influenced by combat boots and by 90s fashion, but they are truly of 2012, updated.  They are to be paired with noomi style dark skinny pants with lots of scrunchy wrinkly folds at the bottom.  The boots should also have a sloppy, open look to them, with the laces open at the top and may the tongue of the boot flaps out a little…like you just don’t give a damn!

However, I kind of actually do give a damn…I mean I have a job and all that, which I wish to keep.  So I need a Noomi style boot that’s also a bit elegant.

Well now I’ve found the perfect boot.  It’s the Graanie Boot by Steve Madden.  Here it is in brown, but of course I just ordered Noomi black.  This picture shows how you can leave the top parts unlaced, tying the laces around the ankle in an unconventional way…but it still looks kind of polished and office-ready.  A little hint of dragon tattoo, without looking angry, let’s say.  A little bit of benevolent noomi.

Long sleeves counter the extreme look of the shoes, and the nude color also tones down the shocking blue.

The dress is by Calvin Klein and it’s called “Juve”.  I hate the ugly shoes on the model. The bag is Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Berkeley Aztec Tote.  The ring is Dara Ettinger Lark Ring.

Again, my theory is that you can put all the bling you want and use whatever colors you want, but adding a touch of classic design elements or a nod to history or something classical will balance the look so you ‘re not wearing what look like Lady Gaga hand me downs.

Take these shoes, for instance.  Jean Michel Cazabat is a French shoe designer known for fancy, blingy, colorful shoes that ooze sex appeal.  He has put shine all over this particular pair…but don’t you agree that somehow, covered in metal beads, the shoe isn’t over the top?  I can imagine wearing this to dinner, a party, heck even the office if paired with the right thing, like pants.

Imagine a $20 shoe from a popular shoe chain store often seen next to grocery stores or in malls…a shoe covered in bling would probably look like something a circus performer would wear.  That’s because you can’t just take any ol’ shoe and put bling all over it.  The shoe’s design has to be correct for bling.

This is what I mean: This Jean Michel Cazabat shoe has a draped, chandelier effect on the sides, where the leather is curved.  To me, this harkens back to traditional sandals worn in India, and to drapey ankle bracelets or even to stacked bangles.

The reference to stacked bangles is another sign of great designer heels…a reference to current fashion trends in clothing, echoed in shoes.  Stacked jeweled  bangles are also very in right now.

Note the arrangement of the bling on the shoe: there are some pretty complex patterns going on there, and also some contrast in color between the light and dark bling.  That is some pretty intense beadwork there.

And, finally it’s about balance…so much bling, pattern, so much going on with the glitz, you wouldn’t want a chunky heel or even a platform.  You want the rest of the shoe to be as light and non-present as possible.  Hence the skinny heel and virtually no leather showing except what’s keeping the shoe together and anchoring the bling.  The weight of the bling is balanced by the airy, barely-there look of the shoe itself.

He’s also worked in a current shoe trend…the exposed heel zipper.  This element can look very industrial and zippery and heavy but the graceful shoe evens things out for a modern sophisticated look.

Details: 4″ heel, covered heel in leather with metal details.  They also come in nude leather.

The platform on these classy designer platform heels is quite extreme…a 1.5 inch platform is a lot of chunk down there.  This of course adds an inch and a half to the heel height, which is classic Guess…insanely sexy shoes but not raunchy or tasteless.  A whopping 4.75″ heel – stiletto no less- will definitely make a statement.  But the oxford stitching, mary jane buckle strap and monochrome design tone down the look of shoe so you’re not screaming with your feet as you walk down the street.

OK, so one of the big trends right now is designer high heels with a spiky, studded rock-like crystal formations.  Sometimes it’s all over the shoe and sometimes it’s carefully placed in strategic areas of the shoe.  The Sam Edelman “Scarlet” platform pump in the picture here falls into the latter category.

This isn’t just a set of high heels with spiky crystals and studs all over it.  It’s a set of designer high heels that have incorporated the studdy trend into a classic, beautiful shoe that I for one would wear even if there were no spiky trend going on right now.

He’s taken a very familiar shape: the T-strap high heel.  By adding a peep toe he’s made it a much lighter-looking shoe…sometimes T-straps can get frumpy looking.  He’s also added the on-trend stiletto heel that’s placed squarely in the center of the back of the foot.  There’s like an overhang, maybe an inch between the heel base and the back of the shoe.

Then the final touch is the super-textured lumpy bits of spikes and rock-like studs.  If you were to cover the shoe in all that bumpiness you’d have an ugly shoe…too rock-like, too chunky, terrible silhouette.  But by adding the bumps just to the back of the shoe, he’s created a piece of art…a true set of designer high heels.

See?  The ultra feminine peep toe, the soft thin leather strap and the ultra slim stiletto heel all work to offset the chunkiness of the spikes so you have a great looking pair of designer high heels.

Designer heels

First of all, not all designer heels are created equal.  High heels are just that: a pair of women’s shoes with high heels.  Almost any designer can design a shoe with a heel that’s elevated.  What makes designer heels is a knowledge of what looks good, to begin with.  On top of that, makers of designer heels take risks in their designs to make striking, beautiful shoes for which women will be willing to pay more money than a mere pair of high heels.

Creators of designer heels usually have a fashion background so they know what works.  Sure, any shoe designer can be creative but who wants a Lady Gaga shoe or a costume shoe?  Coveted designer heels are the ones that take risks with trends but remain wearable, flattering, comfortable, and practical.