I was thoroughly impressed with Tory Burch’s fall collection when I first previewed it back in February. I really enjoyed the infusion of a little toughness to what was otherwise a saccharine sweet collection. Now that the merchandise is hitting stores, I’m thrilled that one of my favorite shoes–the lugged-sole bootie–made the cut and will undoubtedly end up on the feet of stylish women everywhere. These lug sole designs are nothing new–remember the Manolo Blahnik Timberlands or the more recent YSL garden bootie?–but Tory manages to offer a stylish and chic shoe at a reasonable price. The ladylike stacked heel is, indeed, ladylike and doesn’t exude those overtly masculine references that shoes like this can often do. The utilitarian nature of the belts on top of the panels of leather and canvas, not to mention the easy access side zip, give it a downtown vibe while the peep toe infuses a feminine touch. At a 4 ½” heel, these booties, even with their padded insoles, are clearly a fashion shoe. But you’ll look damn good.
$395, available at Tory Burch boutiques & www.toryburch.com