Say “Casadei,” and I’m likely to think of shoes you would buy at the mall for prom. I’ve never been a fan, but I’m pretty keen on these pumps. Not a hint of the anxious-to-grow-up, suburban teenager to be found!
Thanks to a bumpy, diamond-etched heel, there is enough intrigue going on for me to call these snob-worthy. A carved stiletto like this (in brown, it almost has a hint of totem-pole chic) makes for an unexpected surprise on an otherwise regular old pump. Sometimes snake-embossment is enough to give a pair of shoes flair to spare, but this one needs its novelty heel. Otherwise, it would just miss the cut: the rounded toe is too mild to be super-cool (unlike Yves Saint Lauren’t exaggerated shape) and the narrow platform, though doubled, borders on a feature a sensible heel would have.
Now that it’s on sale, all doubt flies out the door. Whether you want to admit it or not, there is always occasion to wear semi-sensible shoes, and the slight twist of is enough to make you feel like this design has some creative edge. On Luisa Via Roma for $483 (from $690).
Pair with: Wear your “diamonds” in a second unexpected way. Roland Mouret’s silk-jacquard dress, with origami folds defining the neckline, has a shimmering diamond print that will give your heels relevance. On Net-a-Porter for $857.50 ($1,225).
