The September glossies will be stuffed with suggestions on what to buy for fall, but who can bring themselves to think about thick knits and nubbly wool coats when it’s still mid-August? Shoes, however, are a different story. They satisfy that “buy now, wear now” craving, without getting you sweaty just thinking about them. As always, designers are offering styles that span the practical (ladylike flats, solid ankle boots) to the fantastical (bewjewled red evening heels). Instead of last season’s stiletto pumps, we’re seeing a surge in stacked heels in a range of hues (H&M’s forest green, J.Crew’s bright blue). Boots span the spectrum as well, with rag & bone’s commuter-friendly gunmetal version and Gianvito Rossi’s bondage-inspired stilettos worthy of Carine Roitfeld. Click ahead to see all of these and more in our slideshow, beautifully shot by Stuart Tyson — and be sure to hit enlarge to check out every last detail so you can be sure you want to buy them. (P.S. We’ll cover tall boots later in the season, because we need something to look forward to in October.)
Prop styling by Donna Castro and Mary Ellen Munguia.